The window lattice seemed to be loosely piled with soft snow. It had been so long since he had noticed the first snow with such a calm heart, it seemed like a lifetime ago
Every day after that had been a burden, and he had to think about which people to please, what expression to put on, and what clothes to wear to please others the most
His slender fingers ran along the edge of the quilt, and his crystal-like eyes slowly turned to the woman beside him. She had long eyelashes and lips of just the right thickness, and Shen Nuo suddenly wanted to know what kind of face she had under the mask that she never took off even when she slept. Were her eyebrows furrowed?
Gently reaching out, he hooked the edge of the mask. Shen Nuo’s heart was beating uncontrollably. Before it had a chance to start, his palm was caught by a warm hand. Shen Nuo let out a low exclamation under the covers
Jun Xu rolled over, her long black hair scattered on the soft armor. The faint fragrance mixed with a hint of blood.
“Did you wake up?’
Junxu’s low, hoarse voice in the morning was a little languid, and Shen Nuo felt a little afraid, but her body couldn’t help but press against her
‘You didn’t used to speak like this, what happened?’
‘To escape from Yizhou City, I swallowed charcoal, and naturally became mute’
Shen Nuo suddenly felt a little heartache, and gently touched her throat
‘Does it hurt?’
Junxu smiled slightly, without saying a word. Shen Nuo rolled over, supporting her body with her arms, and leaned over to look at Junxu
‘I’ve never dared to hurt myself. If I get ugly, my empress won’t like me anymore. That’s why I was afraid to scream when my brothers and sisters hit me, and I desperately protected my face.‘
His fingers entwined Junxu’s long hair.
’My empress said that I have a very nice voice, never cause trouble, and that I’m her favorite child. If I don’t cause you trouble, will you treat me as well as my empress does?”
Junxu sighed. This boy had the same aura as Caihan.
Shen Nuo’s finger gently slid from his throat to his chin, poking at Jun Xu’s mask. Jun Xu opened his eyes
‘You want to see who is underneath the mask?’
The temperature in the room immediately dropped several degrees. Shen Nuo’s body shook and he retracted his hand. A hint of panic appeared in his eyes
‘I… I…’
‘You have seen me before, so why are you still so curious?’
Shen Nuo’s face paled and he curled up his eyes, smiling innocently
‘It’s been a long time.‘
’If I really am the person your Imperial Granddaughter sister is talking about, then I won’t be tolerated in the world.‘
Junxu slowly sat up, and a cool breeze crept into the quilt, causing Shen Nuo to shiver several times.
’By that time, anyone who stands up can make me die without a burial ground.‘
Shen Nuo trembled violently.
’No…no…I…”
Junxu lightning-fast strangled Shen Nuo’s throat
‘Apart from you, Your Majesty, and the Crown Princess, the rest of the Shen family have long since died in palace intrigues. The only remaining member of the family is my mother, and now I am the only one left.‘
’I personally identified the body of the Crown Princess. Your Majesty has long been terminally ill. I know exactly what kind of poison Shen Yao used. Who are you doing this for?‘
Shen Nuo’s face had already begun to turn blue. Jun Xu let go of his hand and coldly watched him slump onto the bed
’Who? Tell me.’
Shen Nuo coughed violently, and crystal tears slid down his face. The corners of his eyes were as charming and compelling as rouge. Jun Xu’s dark red and dark black woolen brocade cloak fell onto his lap, forming a circle. A pale pink outer layer was draped around his waist, and the thick, milky white satin undershirt slipped down, revealing his round shoulders
A fifteen-year-old boy, androgynous.
He stroked his neck, gradually calming down his violent cough, and habitually revealing his pitiful expression that made me feel sorry for him.
Junxu sneered, flicked his finger, and the sharp wrist knife bounced out with a crisp sound. Shen Nuo’s eyes widened in horror, his face full of disbelief.
How could someone know Junxu’s weakness like that? How could he perfectly imitate Cai Xuan’s breath?!!!
Fury made his body excited.
Junxu’s gentle eyes were tinged with an unusual radiance. Shen Nuo involuntarily crawled backwards, but Junxu held his feet back and pinned him down. The blade gently cut through the thick brocade, and the silky fabric glistening in the moonlight slid down both sides of his body.
“You know, the skin is cut in layers,’
Shen Nuo trembled, and the cold blade pressed against his smooth chest. With a gentle push, blood gushed out in a rush.
Shen Nuo suddenly stopped trembling. His eyes exchanged a teasing look.
‘Why didn’t you cut my face? Couldn’t bear to?’
The woman on top of him let out a laugh, as if she had heard something very funny.
‘Couldn’t bear to? Everyone is most reluctant to let go of themselves.’
Jun Xu’s eyes narrowed.
‘No matter how good someone else’s looks are, what can you do?‘
The dagger hooked the mask and gave it a slight nudge, exposing a face scarred from head to toe. Shen Nuo’s mouth hung wide open
’You…
’ “See? How does it feel? What I can’t bear to part with is the value of your face. If I put it in a place like the Red Lotus Club, would it make me a fortune?”
Shen Nuo’s eyes looked deeply into Jun Xu’s, like two pools of deep water. The cold dagger pressed against the side of his waist, making him involuntarily tremble
‘This is the Shen Nuo who makes everyone in the room stand up without kneeling, isn’t it? Without status, this is the ultimate that makes people’s blood boil and want to humiliate them crazily.‘
Shen Nuo’s face did not change
’I can say anything, what bargaining chip do you give me?‘
’What bargaining chip did she give you?‘
’The emperor of Yue.‘
Jun Xu sneered, worthy of her
’Do I have to give you a bargaining chip like this? Am I tired of living?‘
’You can’t become the emperor.’
Junxu raised an eyebrow, and Shen Nuo laughed
‘Emperors all have to shed blood until the bone is dry. Are you really Shen Da? Even if you manage to get away with it, the Qin state will always harass you year after year, causing you endless trouble for the rest of your life. Besides, I don’t think you’re very keen on becoming an emperor.’
‘I’m not going to be one, and you don’t have to be either. I can end the Shen dynasty.’
Shen Nuo nodded and laughed
“Of course you can, but it’s going to be troublesome, isn’t it? After all, there are still so many famous families loyal to the Shen family. When you rose to power, how many people came because you were also one of the heirs to the throne? You must know better than I do that the one with the right cause has the right to speak.
Shen Nuo wrapped Junxu’s hair around her hand and pulled her closer to her
‘Even if I become the emperor, you still hold almost all the military power in the country. Are you still afraid of me?’
Junxu cut the hair that was hooked with a single stroke of the sword and said coldly
“What else do you know?’