Shen Yue saw that the man had not moved, so she took the umbrella handle from Fu An and shielded Cheng Qian Gong from the wind and rain outside.
She of course knew what Cheng Qian Gong was asking for, but she wouldn't offer it herself. Now, with the initiative in her hands, Shen Yue didn't mind making Cheng Qian Gong wait.
In fact, Shen Yue shouldn't have come out as soon as it started raining. Doing so would only expose her weakness and show that she was soft-hearted.
However, Shen Yue knew Cheng Qian Gong was stubborn and might stand there until he fainted without leaving. It was better to let him suffer a little less.
The two stood very close, and Shen Yue could feel the cold emanating from the man. Her fair and delicate face was expressionless, her long, thick eyelashes seemingly outlined with a halo of light.
Her full, rosy lips were pursed.
Looking only at her appearance—
Fragile and beautiful, pale and vibrant, like a rose that could be plucked at will.
But in reality, her heart was the complete opposite of her appearance: sinister and venomous.
She was somewhat unhappy because Cheng Qian Gong was being stubborn with her for someone else.
Cheng Qian Gong remained standing, not breaking free from Shen Yue's hand. Perhaps it was because he had a request, that he endured the discomfort. His fair and clean face was like a jade carving, his tone tinged with a faint chill, "Your Highness, I have a request."
He knew exactly what he wanted.
Suppressing the sourness in her heart, Shen Yue raised her dark, moist eyes to look at Cheng Qian Gong. "Speak."
Her voice was as gentle as a feather, her tone as luxurious as jade beads falling onto a plate, her gaze tender and focused, as if gazing at… the person she loved most.
Cheng Qian Gong's gaze shifted slightly. For some reason, he seemed to avoid her eyes. He turned his face away, his skin cold and white. His perfect profile was sharply defined, and a hint of coldness in his brows and eyes brought to mind the chilling beauty of ice and snow.
He didn't even want to look at her.
"I beg Your Highness to spare the Crown Prince's life."
Cheng Qian Gong was always like this, never beating around the bush with Shen Yue. Perhaps it was due to his confidence, he spoke directly without any pretense.
Was it perhaps his overconfidence that dared him to come alone to Shen Yue to beg her to spare the Crown Prince's life?
Everyone knew that the Fourth Prince and the Crown Prince were mortal enemies, rivals, a matter of life and death. Letting the Crown Prince go was like releasing a tiger back into the mountains.
Who was Cheng Qian Gong?
Where did he get the confidence to believe Shen Yue would agree?
Yet, Cheng Qian Gong had inadvertently grasped Shen Yue's Achilles' heel.
Her cold, soft hand was raised.
That hand, slender and beautiful, with fingers as clear as snow.
She gently caressed his face, then turned his sideways posture to face her. The man's expression was stern, his thin lips pressed into a straight line. As if unable to bear the indignity, he lowered his dark eyelashes, concealing the look in his eyes.
Shen Yue curved her rosy lips slightly, her expression beautiful yet cold, as if tinged with a hint of indifference.
"Then what will you give in return? To exchange for the Crown Prince's life."
Her cool fingers, like cold jade, roamed his face, extremely ambiguous and somewhat provocative.
Her meaning was clear.
This was within his expectations. Since Cheng Qian Gong had decided to come, he had already prepared all his countermeasures. He had always been able to endure, and these humiliations meant nothing to him.
He grasped Shen Yue's slender wrist. His long eyelashes fluttered twice, then he raised his eyes, his tone like frost and snow, "Exchange me."
Cheng Qian Gong paused, seemingly feeling his tone was too indifferent. He slightly restrained his harshness, softening his voice and asking, "Your Highness, is that enough?"
Shen Yue's fingers froze imperceptibly. She stared intently at the man before her, trying to discern any different emotion on his face.
But the result was disappointing.
Cheng Qian Gong remained calm and composed, still as radiant and elegant as a jade-like gentleman.
It made Shen Yue seem somewhat disheveled.
Shen Yue had obtained the person she had always wanted, but she didn't feel much joy, because she knew it wasn't sincere.
At this moment, Shen Yue felt as if her heart was being swallowed by darkness, bit by bit.
She just couldn't understand, why such a difference between people?
Some people were truly incomparable.
Shen Yue smiled, and in her eyes, as dark as a tranquil lake, there was a captivating, alluring light.
Her voice was soft and melodious, reaching him like a gentle breeze.
"Of course, it's enough. From now on, you will stay by my side."
Shen Yue's smile always carried a hint of coldness, as if there were no people she cared about, nor anything she longed for.
Even towards the jade-like gentleman, she was lazy and casual, as if Cheng Qian Gong were a pleasing toy.
Perhaps there was no difference.
Cheng Qian Gong closed his eyes slightly, feeling a surge of resentment in his chest.
He thought he would be indifferent, but ultimately, he had overestimated himself.
—
A gentle breeze stirred the curtains by the window, rustling the golden bells hanging under the eaves, creating a clear, ringing sound.
Cheng Qian Gong changed into clean clothes, his hair half-wet and draped behind him.
Candlelight flickered within the room, casting the low-hanging bed curtains in a soft, translucent glow. The faintly rising incense smoke drifted languidly, inducing a feeling of indolence and weariness.
Shen Yue saw that the man's hair was still wet. She paid no mind to it, fearing he might catch a cold. She took a clean white cloth and, just as she stepped in, she saw the man lowering his head, his movements stiff as he fumbled with the dry clothes he had just put on.
Completely caught off guard by Cheng Qian Gong's actions, Shen Yue clutched the white cloth in her hand. She didn't speak to stop him but watched him quietly.
Finally, the man was left with only a thin inner garment. Perhaps he couldn't overcome his inner struggle, he stopped moving, standing straight like a pine tree.
His slightly heavy breathing filled the silent room with an unspeakable sense of oppression and darkness.
The exquisite Fourth Prince walked towards the man with a leisurely, languid gait. She could feel the man's tensed muscles.
The distance between them closed. Cheng Qian Gong's breathing grew heavier, the fingers of his hands hanging by his sides turning white.
And then—
Shen Yue walked past him and stood behind him. With gentle movements, she began to dry his still-dripping long hair with the clean white cloth.
Cheng Qian Gong's pupils contracted sharply, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he stood rooted to the spot, as if stunned, for a long time without reacting.
He hadn't expected—
He hadn't expected Shen Yue to simply dry his hair.
Cheng Qian Gong was dazed, his heart trembling, and an inexplicable warmth surged from the depths of his heart.
Due to his momentary speechlessness, Cheng Qian Gong neither resisted nor dodged. Instead, he stood obediently in place, allowing Shen Yue to dry his hair.
After meticulously drying his hair, Shen Yue put the white cloth aside. Then, with gentle hands, she touched his face, like a feather grazing him.
Under the warm candlelight, his snow-white face framed by thick, curled eyelashes and full, rosy lips, she asked, "Are you cold?"
It was still raining outside, but it wasn't cold inside at all.