Chapter 50 Entering the Game [VIP]
Chapter Summary: They say she's unconventional. (by Xiu Zi)
The blood from Wei Jingshan's fingertips congealed beside Liu Shiyu's face. He stomped hard on the tattered python robe and brushed past Liu Shiyu.
Liu Shiyu looked up and suddenly shouted behind him, "Wei Jingshan, what exactly do you want to do?"
"I'll show you what happens when you betray me." Wei Jingshan clutched the warm blood in his palm; the pain finally brought him to his senses. He didn't look back. "Liu Shiyu, I told you you'd always belong to me."
After speaking, Wei Jingshan pushed open the door and left.
The guards outside were astonished to see Shangming Hou walk out of Shiguang Hall with his hands covered in blood. They instinctively rushed into the hall, only to find a mess on the floor and Liu Shiyu standing there, bloodied.
Lian Yue followed closely behind. She quickly stepped forward, gently helped the person up, and asked, "Your Highness, what happened? Are you alright?"
Liu Shiyu pushed Lian Yue's arm away without answering. She simply walked blankly to the dressing table and sat down again. Then, she picked up a clean handkerchief from the dressing table and carefully wiped her cheeks. But before she knew it, tears streamed down her face, mingling with the bloodstains.
Her tears contained no fear, only anger.
She spoke up: "No one is allowed to disturb His Majesty's birthday celebration today. Go and clean up Shiguang Palace and help me change my clothes."
Still in shock, no one dared to answer.
Only after Lian Yue waved goodbye did everyone set off.
Inside the main hall, standing behind Liu Shiyu, she couldn't help but ask, "Your Highness, what exactly happened between you and Shangming Marquis? Please tell me, so I can know the truth and protect Your Highness."
Liu Shiyu remained silent, which made Lian Yue even more worried.
“Your Highness, if it weren’t for the late Empress saving me and my brother Lian Xing back then, and sending us to the Bodhi Sect so that we could have a way to survive, where would Lian Yue be today? Otherwise… Lian Xing and I would have died in the catastrophe that befell the Lian family long ago.”
"Later, the Bodhi Sect was destroyed, and we were hunted down. It was Your Highness who gave us protection and even took in Baichuan and Guihai. We will always remember your and the late Empress's kindness and vow to protect them with our lives."
"Therefore, Your Highness, please do not conceal this from me. If Marquis Shangming offends you, I will surely make him suffer eternal damnation."
Liu Shiyu was moved by her words, and she lowered her eyes and said softly, "Lian Yue, may I ask you a favor..."
Seeing this, Lian Yue was terrified and hurriedly replied, "Your Highness, why should I ask you for anything? Just give me your orders."
Liu Shiyu threw the handkerchief away and then said, "Protect Xu Luchuan for me."
Looking up again at herself in the mirror, Liu Shiyu couldn't understand why her life had been so difficult. She couldn't understand why she couldn't live a simple, peaceful life like everyone else.
"Wei Jingshan has already set his sights on him."
"Wei Jingshan's ambitions are not yet satisfied. After today, there may be changes in Jinling. Therefore, I ask that you protect him."
Now that things had come to this, she no longer cared about her own safety; she only wanted Xu Luchuan to be safe.
But Lian Yue hesitated and said, "What about Your Highness? I don't know what you mean, but isn't your safety important?"
"From the day I stood on the platform of the Guiyuan Hall to receive the homage of all the officials, I knew that the rest of my life was destined to be turbulent. If I wished to break free from these constraints, this was the tribulation I had to overcome." Liu Shiyu spoke with unwavering conviction, her words resounding with emotion. "But Xu Luchuan is different; it was I who led him astray into this tribulation. He shouldn't have ended up like this..."
"Lian Yue, do you understand?"
"Yes, Your Highness. Since it is Your Highness's wish, I will do as you wish."
Although Lian Yue understood her, she still couldn't let go. But she couldn't disobey her anymore.
Having received Lian Yue's reply, Liu Shiyu finally felt relieved. Therefore, once the birthday banquet ended today, she would immediately go to see Tang Sheng'an, tell him about the matter, and then make further plans.
Just past 9 AM, someone knocked on the door.
Princess Liu Shiyu's auspicious attire was finally delivered to Shiguang Palace. Upon seeing this, Lian Yue clasped her hands in a fist salute and withdrew. Liu Shiyu was then surrounded by a group of palace maids as they began to do her makeup.
About an hour later, the doors of Shiguang Hall were opened.
Liu Shiyu stood on the steps, dressed in a phoenix-tailed auspicious robe and adorned with a hairpin and crown. She looked down at Wei Jingshan, who had come to greet her below.
When the two looked at each other, they were both as calm as if nothing had happened in the hall.
Liu Shiyu stepped down the long steps, and Wei Jingshan greeted him without changing his expression: "Your subject greets Your Highness. Your Highness is well. His Majesty and the officials have already headed towards Chengxian Hall. Please also come with me to perform the ancestral rites."
Upon hearing this, Liu Shiyu replied calmly, "Let's set off."
And so, the group proceeded in a grand procession to Chengxian Hall.
Along the imperial road, officials stood in rows on both sides. Liu Shiyu walked steadily through the middle, accepting the gazes of the crowd. Xu Luchuan stood in the crowd, gazing at her tenderly as always.
Shen Ruoshi looked around and inadvertently turned his head to see Xu Luchuan's intoxicated appearance. He couldn't help but lean closer and whisper his curiosity.
"Your Excellency, what are you looking at so intently?"
As Shen Ruoshi spoke, she glanced in the direction Xu Luchuan was looking, then turned back and continued, "I heard that you and His Highness won the prize at the last Cold Mountain Banquet. Could it be that you really do what they say? You have feelings for His Highness?"
Xu Luchuan wanted to explain. Unexpectedly, Bai Tao, who had overheard Shen Ruoshi chattering behind him, turned around and kicked him.
This saved Xu Luchuan from having to waste his breath.
After retracting his foot, Bai Tao said in a low voice, "You brat, shut your mouth. If you mess up like this again, you'll be sent to guard the prison."
"I won't say anymore, I won't say anymore. Please don't make me go to the prison."
Bai Tao's reprimand seemed to have an effect; Shen Ruoshi immediately smiled apologetically and fell silent. He stood obediently in the same spot, holding the jade tablet without moving.
...
The ancestral worship ceremony was a complicated affair. Liu Zhizhou and Liu Shiyu led the officials in a vegetarian meal at the Chengxian Hall, and it took them more than two hours to successfully conclude the ceremony.
However, because there was still a banquet to be held, the officials did not disperse.
Xu Luchuan followed the crowd toward the Guiyuan Hall, while Liu Shiyu's palanquin passed by. Officials quickly made way, and Xu Luchuan stood in the crowd, gazing into the distance. Unexpectedly, Liu Shiyu also turned around at that moment.
Their eyes met, and that was all they did.
Xu Luchuan immediately sensed the melancholy in her eyes. He instinctively bypassed the kneeling people around him and hurried after her. But Liu Shiyu's carriage gradually moved further and further away, and so, only that intriguing glance remained in Xu Luchuan's mind.
When he finally stopped his hurried steps, Xu Luchuan remained silent, silently murmuring in his heart, "Ayu..."
The imperial carriage disappeared down the palace road, and the officials set off again.
Xu Luchuan stood frozen in place, letting the crowd walk past him. He thought he hadn't seen wrong, and he had a bad feeling.
Sitting in the palanquin, Liu Shiyu secretly suppressed her longing. She thought: Xu Luchuan, if we could embrace and meet again, we would stand proudly in the light, before the world. If... we never meet again... then I will forget...
But I don't want you to forget me.
Therefore, I must see you again.
...
After Liu Shiyu returned to Shiguang Palace, Wei Jingshan did not come again. Thus, she was able to relax for a moment, and after drinking the flower tea brought by the palace maid, she closed her eyes and took a short nap on the couch.
It continued until sunset at the hour of You (5-7 PM).
The lady-in-waiting knocked on Liu Shiyu's door, and Liu Shiyu got up from her seat and followed the person to the Yunxing Palace for the banquet.
At the banquet, the laughter and conversation of the officials vanished with Liu Shiyu's arrival.
Liu Shiyu walked solemnly to Liu Zhizhou's side. Liu Zhizhou looked up at her and said, "Sister, why do you look so listless? If you are too tired, you should go home early after receiving the homage today."
"Thank you for your consideration, Your Majesty." Liu Shiyu neither responded nor refuted. Liu Zhizhou quickly waved his sleeve, "Sister, please sit down."
As soon as she finished speaking, Liu Shiyu sat down next to Liu Zhizhou.
Liu Zhizhou glanced at the master of ceremonies beside him, saying nothing. The master of ceremonies immediately understood, cleared his throat, and announced loudly, "Long live His Majesty! The banquet begins!"
After the words were spoken, all the officials returned to their positions, ready to pay their respects.
At that moment, Wei Jingshan stood beside Liu Shiyu, who looked back warily. Wei Jingshan, however, only gave a meaningful smile.
The shouts rose in the mountains, countless and powerful.
Xu Luchuan stood among the officials, his gaze constantly fixed on the person seated on the throne. He followed the officials in bowing, and they chanted in unison, "Long live Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!"
Next, it was time to pay homage to Liu Shiyu, but suddenly many different voices came from the crowd.
These voices caused an uproar among the officials and enraged the emperor.
May Your Highness enjoy boundless happiness and longevity! May Your Highness live a thousand years!
In a dynasty like Shaoyuan, no princess, not even the Grand Princess, had ever dared to call herself "Your Majesty." Yet today, Liu Shiyu dares to be addressed in this way, and those who speak out are all her supporters. This clearly demonstrates her "ambition."
Even if Liu Shiyu were to refute him now, he would be unable to defend himself.
But it's clear that this was a trap set by Wei Jingshan. He had gathered Liu Shiyu's followers. He used some unknown means to force them to comply.
Wei Jingshan was ruthless and vicious, leaving Liu Shiyu with no choice but to enter his trap.
The officials' initial murmur turned into agitation, with loyal and stubborn ministers, disregarding the fact that it was a birthday banquet, cursing in the hall: "Witch! Witch! This is utterly heretical! Now a mere woman dares to call herself Your Majesty, what will she be tomorrow, a queen! The world has lost its way! The world has lost its way!"
For every enemy, there is a supporter.
Suddenly, someone spoke up from the crowd: "Your Highness, you have devoted yourself to the people and His Majesty. What's wrong with calling yourself 'Your Highness'? It is you who are stubborn and ignorant. Why is it that only men are allowed to be called 'Your Highness'?"
Amidst the chaos, Liu Shiyu suddenly felt dizzy.
But she couldn't care about herself or anything else. All she wanted was to try to sit up and comfort the young emperor beside her, who had realized that his imperial power was threatened.
Liu Zhizhou looked at Liu Shiyu, a hint of disappointment in his eyes. He couldn't believe it, yet he was also skeptical.
He believed Liu Shiyu, but he seemed to believe even more in everything he saw with his own eyes.
Liu Zhizhou was enveloped in this bewilderment, ignoring Liu Shiyu's outstretched right hand. He rose, intending to leave in anger. But at that moment, for some unknown reason, Liu Shiyu suddenly slumped back on her throne, vomiting a mouthful of blood.
A strong stench of blood filled the air, and Liu Zhizhou suddenly turned around and cried out, "Sister!"
Wei Jingshan stood calmly beside Liu Shiyu, but after calculating the time precisely, he immediately adopted a flustered demeanor. He rushed forward, picked up the half-conscious Liu Shiyu, and exclaimed, "Your Highness, wake up! Your Highness, what's wrong? Your Highness!"
Before closing the book, Liu Shiyu suddenly grabbed his sleeve and angrily said, "It's you..."
Wei Jingshan lowered his head and took her soft, powerless hand in his, and said in a barely audible, disdainful voice, "It's me."
[Author's Note]
Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 16:17:36 on January 4, 2023 and 20:55:54 on January 5, 2023!
Thank you to the little angel who watered the nutrient solution: Gentle Breeze (2 bottles);
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
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