Chapter 22 Using Emotion as a Cage: She Would Be the Most Powerful Knife
"Hey, isn't this Big Brother?" a familiar voice rang out.
Li Yuheng frowned slightly, then turned around, his face beaming with a kind and handsome smile: "Third brother is here."
Li Kaiyang's lips curled into a smirk as he supported a graceful and beautiful woman. The woman bowed to Li Yuheng with poise and elegance, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Li Yuheng returned the greeting: "Greetings, Consort Rong."
Li Kaiyang also bowed to Li Yuheng, and the three of them exchanged greetings in a polite and respectful manner.
Only Gu Shanyue stood there like a wooden statue, coldly watching the two people opposite him.
Li Kaiyang was about to reprimand her for her rudeness, but upon closer inspection, he realized that the person dressed in palace attire was actually Gu Shanyue.
He exclaimed in horror, "It's you?!"
He still remembered the terrifying incident at the last banquet at the Crown Prince's residence, when he almost had his throat slashed by Wu Gou.
When Consort Rong saw Gu Shanyue's appearance and the dress she was wearing, her smile instantly froze.
She wasn't afraid of infighting among the concubines, but she was afraid of a reckless person like Gu Shanyue who would draw his sword at the slightest provocation.
Gu Shanyue sensed their fear, so she raised her chin and took a step forward.
Consort Rong and Li Kaiyang retreated simultaneously, reacting with incredible speed. Consort Rong's robes were so ornate and wide that she even stumbled slightly as she retreated.
Gu Shanyue scoffed, and Consort Rong barely managed to maintain her composure: "What are you doing in the palace?"
"Your Highness, Consort Rong, you are mistaken. A-Yue is like a mother and a younger sister to me. When I brought A-Yue to the palace to attend the family banquet, even the Emperor did not say a word. How could I allow others to have any objections?"
Li Yuheng spoke in a gentle and eloquent manner, yet his words were sharp and barbed.
Li Kaiyang's expression changed, and he was about to speak sarcastically, but Consort Rong stopped him.
Consort Rong's eyes flickered slightly, and she smiled, "Your Highness is right. It is certainly possible for Your Highness to protect Miss Yue, but Miss Yu has come alone, and I'm afraid she will be heartbroken."
She made a pointed remark, and when Li Yuheng turned around, he indeed saw Yu Jingshu and her group standing not far away, unsure whether he should come over.
"Your Highness Consort Rong should worry more about my third brother. My family affairs are for Father Emperor to decide." Li Yuheng smiled gently, but there was a sharp edge to his words.
Consort Rong's face paled, while Li Kaiyang's face turned red with anger.
Li Yuheng's fate was unknown for ten years. Everyone thought that the position of crown prince would soon fall into the hands of Li Kaiyang, but Emperor Yong never gave in and dragged it out until Li Yuheng returned.
But Li Yuheng was no fool. Even after leaving the palace for ten years, he returned and immediately displayed his talents, winning praise from both the court and the public.
The position of Empress had been vacant for many years. Consort Rong had made countless explicit and implicit suggestions, but Emperor Yong had always played along with her and refused to make her Empress.
If she ascends to the position of empress, Li Kaiyang can be considered the legitimate son, and by using Li Yuheng's ten years away from the palace as leverage, she might not be without a chance of success.
However, all their calculations failed, leading to the current awkward situation between the mother and son.
No matter how angry she was inside, Consort Rong maintained the demeanor of an elder, scrutinizing Gu Shanyue: "Miss Yue, is this outfit meant to make His Majesty reminisce about the past? I originally thought Miss Yue's heart was in the martial world, but it turns out she also yearns for the inner palace?"
It felt good to say it, but she regretted it as soon as she finished speaking. Looking at Gu Shanyue's expressionless face, she felt a chill on her neck.
Consort Rong disregarded etiquette and pulled Li Kaiyang towards Taiwei Palace, fearing that if they were too slow, Gu Shanyue would stab them with a sword.
Gu Shanyue stood behind her, her voice indifferent: "Back then, my senior sister wouldn't allow me to spare your life. Now you're still trying to get closer to me. When do you want to die?"
The word "death" seemed so light that Consort Rong's legs went weak and she staggered, nearly falling to the ground.
Li Kaiyang, supporting Consort Rong, turned around angrily and said, "You vixen, stop being so arrogant! How dare you act so presumptuously in the palace!"
No sooner had the words been spoken than the palace servant who had just left hurried over, bowed, and said, "Your Highness, His Majesty has granted permission."
Li Yuheng's eyes flickered, and he glanced at Consort Rong and her son out of the corner of his eye, deliberately asking, "What was granted?"
The palace servant respectfully said, "Miss Yunyue is bringing her sword into the palace."
Li Yuheng nodded, and when he looked up again, Consort Rong and her son had vanished without a trace.
"They really run fast." Gu Shanyue crossed her arms and sneered.
Li Yuheng laughed and straightened Gu Shanyue's crooked clothes: "Sister's name is renowned, and the Immaculate Sword is a thorn in their side, so naturally they ran away with their tails between their legs."
The two entered the hall, but Bai Yan and Qi Baitong were not allowed to enter and had to wait outside.
As the palace banquet was about to begin, the melodious sounds of silk and bamboo instruments drifted far and wide, the dresses of dancers and singers fluttered like flowers, and the fragrance of incense filled the hall. Even though many people were seated at the tables and small desks, almost no human voices could be heard, only the beautiful singing echoed.
Li Yuheng bowed deeply and said, "Your subject greets Your Majesty."
There was no response after a long while.
Beneath the dragon throne, the valiant emperor, whose hair had turned gray prematurely, slammed his hand on the table. Wine splashed out, wetting his dragon-patterned sleeves, but he paid no attention, his eyes fixed on Gu Shanyue below.
Gu Shanyue was described as nonchalant, neither kneeling nor bowing his head, his eyes fixed on Emperor Yong's discomposure, a mocking smile on his face.
"Ayu..." Emperor Yong's lips moved slightly as he murmured softly.
While others didn't hear, Gu Shanyue, with her exceptional hearing, picked at her ear and said, "The Emperor is getting old, and his eyesight isn't good anymore. If he misses his senior sister so much, why don't you go down and keep her company?"
The eunuch standing beside Emperor Yong immediately shouted, "Shut up! Who dares to utter such nonsense..."
Before he could finish speaking, Emperor Yong raised his hand, and the eunuch immediately stopped talking.
That dress, that extraordinary swordsman's aura, so much like Wu Shanyu back then.
Emperor Yong stared at her without speaking, and the courtiers fell silent. Li Yuheng maintained his bowing posture, while Gu Shanyue kept her head held high, her face cold and arrogant, as if she might leap up at any moment and strike Emperor Yong with a sword.
And indeed, she had the Immaculate Sword hanging at her waist.
Emperor Yong was not unaware that she was Gu Shanyue. In fact, she did not resemble Wu Shanyu very much; the two were completely different in appearance, figure, and temperament.
But when Gu Shanyue put on that outfit, his out-of-place appearance in the main hall always reminded him of Wu Shanyu from the past.
The hall was quiet, with only the sound of wind and string instruments still lingering. Emperor Yong finally sat back down and asked, "Would you... like to perform a sword dance?"
Everyone was shocked, and Li Kaiyang even lost his composure and knocked over his wine glass.
No one could have imagined that Emperor Yong, whose temper was becoming increasingly volatile, would not be angered by such an unruly and rude woman, and even speak with a hint of...hope.
Gu Shanyue didn't care about emperors or so-called rulers; he simply turned and left.
"What swordplay are you talking about? A bunch of vulgar people don't even deserve to see my sword."
Gu Shanyue had originally planned to accompany Li Yuheng, but upon seeing Consort Rong and her son, then Emperor Yong, and the ministers in the hall with their eyes darting around, she felt utterly disgusted.
At worst, I can wait for him outside the palace; that would be a decent way of keeping him company.
If she were to sit in the hall, surrounded by those sanctimonious faces, she couldn't bear it.
Gu Shanyue turned and left. The music in the hall trembled and stopped. The musicians knelt down in fear.
The courtiers all quietly watched the changes in Emperor Yong's expression as he watched the figure in palace attire disappear before the palace gate, as if swallowed by the sunlight.
After a long while, Emperor Yong stood up: "Heng'er, come with me."
Li Yuheng bowed and said, "Yes."
Consort Rong and Li Kaiyang exchanged a glance, their eyes filled with resentment.
He's just a dead person. No one could touch him when he was alive. How can he jump out and ruin their plans after he's dead?
Inside the side hall, Emperor Yong sat while Li Yuheng knelt.
After a long while, Emperor Yong stared at the top of his head, his fingers stroking the intricately patterned gold cup: "Heng'er, your Crown Princess is Yu Jingshu."
Li Yuheng replied, "Your subject understands."
"You know?" The golden cup landed on the table with a soft, unremarkable sound. "Then why did you bring Gu Shanyue into the palace today?"
Without pausing, Li Yuheng replied, "She is like a sister to my mother, and she treats me with utmost sincerity and care. Naturally, I, Heng'er, am willing to repay her in kind."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Yong seemed intrigued: "How do you intend to repay this?"
Li Yuheng lowered his head and said, "I will do my best."
A moment of silence.
Emperor Yong remained silent, and a bead of sweat slid down Li Yuheng's forehead.
Today's actions are risky. With Emperor Yong's attitude unclear, Li Yuheng couldn't help but feel uneasy. "Father..."
"Hahahaha..."
Emperor Yong suddenly burst into laughter. Li Yuheng looked up sharply and saw Emperor Yong barely managing to stop laughing. The eyes that had just been filled with endless reminiscence now looked at Li Yuheng with satisfaction.
"You're very smart. Someone like her would be the most loyal subordinate and the most useful weapon."
Li Yuheng was shocked upon hearing this.
A myriad of emotions welled up within me, almost giving me a sense of shared sorrow.
He thought Gu Shanyue would remind Emperor Yong of Wushan Jade and his youthful days, but was that what Emperor Yong was thinking of?
If Gu Shanyue was just a knife in his eyes, then what about his mother?
Li Yuheng's lips moved, but with reason and restraint, he did not ask the question, only saying, "Your subject is foolish."
"Women of the Jianghu are not like daughters of court officials and noble families. If you want to keep her firmly in your grasp, nothing else will work but to use your affections as a cage. It's just another romantic affair. You're doing a great job right now."
Emperor Yong held the golden cup and gave his young son, who was sitting below him, a meaningful instruction.
"That's not how it is," Li Yuheng thought to himself, "that's not what I meant."
After refuting the argument, Li Yuheng had a change of heart. Although he did not think so, he did want to keep Gu Shanyue.
"Why remain silent?" Emperor Yong asked from his superior position, seemingly displeased.
Li Yuheng immediately knelt down and shouted, "Father Emperor is wise!"
Emperor Yong waved his hand: "Go."
Li Yuheng bowed and stepped back. Emperor Yong rarely spoke to him alone, so it seemed that bringing Gu Shanyue along today was the right decision.
As he stepped outside the hall, the oppressive imperial aura that had been pressing down on him slowly dissipated. He straightened his back and exhaled slowly.
As the evening breeze blew by, he raised his face, but the relaxed smile on his face froze instantly before it could even appear.
"elder sister……"
Above the eaves of the main hall, the full moon was like a jade plate. Gu Shanyue stood with her sword in her arms, her clothes and hair ribbons fluttering in the wind. She was looking down at him with an unreadable expression.
Li Yuheng's heart sank suddenly, as if he had just woken up from a dream, and the fear of stepping off a cliff rose up.
He stepped forward and said urgently, "Sister, what did you hear...?"
A note from the author:
It's going to be a paid chapter tomorrow! There will be three days of extra updates after that, and there will also be red envelopes dropping in the comments section of the new chapter~ Thank you all for your support, muah! [doge emoji with rose in hand]
My next book, "The Man from the Future," is about traveling back four hundred years to love her. It starts in early December, so please add it to your favorites! [cat paw emoji]
One day, a popular post appeared on the forum.
My first love died seven years ago, and suddenly a man who looks a lot like him, but is taller, more handsome, and richer, is pursuing me. Should I accept him?
The comments were varied: "How similar are they? Show us the photos!"
"Could it be the reincarnation of my first love?"
"Seven years of turning into wool, unless her partner is a dog..."
The post went viral, and the poster updated it after a while.
“I’m with him, but he seems abnormal. There’s an entire wall of screens and discs in his study, all of them showing videos of me.”
"He said it was his memory, and that he was an android from four hundred years in the future, who traveled through time to love me and beg for my forgiveness..."
The post went viral instantly.
"Wow, this is a pervert!!! Run!" [jpg]
"A cyborg? Why doesn't he just say he's an alien? He's a complete fraud!"
"On a side note, what are androids?"
"Replying to the person upstairs, androids are robots that are comparable to real people and are indistinguishable to the naked eye. No company can achieve this level of technology!"
"However, he said he came from the future, and current technology can't keep up. So what about the future?"
"And he looks a lot like the poster's first love... Help, I'm getting goosebumps!"
Zhu Yu huddled under the covers reading the replies, her breathing tense, her breath dampening the phone screen.
suddenly.
A cool hand slipped under the covers, gently but firmly grasping the back of her neck, a deep voice sounding.
"What is Xiaobao playing with?"
＊
Her new boyfriend is gentle and considerate, with a strong sense of service. No matter how much Zhu Yu acts up, he never gets angry.
Until that day, in a moment of passion and confusion, Zhu Yu couldn't help but call out the name buried deep in her heart:
"Brother Xiaoshan..."
The room was deathly silent. For the first time, the usually gentle and kind man revealed a fierce expression, his deep eyes seeming to want to devour her bit by bit.
"Thinking of your first love in my bed, it's nice."
"If Xiaobao prefers to be treated roughly, I can satisfy your cute little quirk."
"Love is the downfall of free will. Sadly, my girl doubts whether I possess free will."
"She doesn't seem to understand that XS1982 is a carrier for the application of bionics, biological science, and artificial intelligence."
"And my birth is a miracle created by human girls themselves."
The story is about a male protagonist who travels back 400 years to find the female protagonist, but he can never compare to a dead person. He becomes so jealous that he goes mad and turns into a dark, crawling cyber ghost...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
