"Just eat when I tell you to, stop with the nonsense." Na Yan rarely showed such impulsiveness, and in this moment of urgency, he even forgot about the differences in their social status. Hearing his tone, Liu Su stared at him blankly, momentarily lost in thought, as if the person in front of him was still the boy who had held him in his arms and cared for him tenderly when he was six years old.
Nayan felt slightly embarrassed by his gaze and awkwardly looked away: "Second Young Master, why don't you eat quickly? If someone finds out, I'll be the one in trouble."
Liu Su smiled slightly and brought the steamed bun to her mouth, taking bites one by one. The steamed bun wasn't fresh, so it felt a bit dry. As it passed down her throat, she felt a slight friction, but a strange sweetness would emerge from it.
A smile finally appeared on Nagagon's face as he turned and walked out of the house.
"Thanks."
Just as he was about to close the door, he heard these soft words. Na Yan paused, looked up, and saw that Liu Su was still looking at the book in her hands, not at him. A slight smile unconsciously appeared on his lips. Without saying anything more, he silently closed the door.
The last gust of wind stopped at that moment, and the surroundings suddenly fell silent.
Chapter Two or Three: A Small Matter in the Prime Minister's Residence (Part 1)
The banquet held in honor of General Feiqi was filled with celebrities from all walks of life in Chu. Amidst the clinking of glasses and the sounds of singing and dancing, everyone was enjoying themselves. Occasionally, someone would bring up the events of the alliance meeting. Shen Jian drank alone, listening to snippets of conversation. His indifferent expression made it impossible to discern his true thoughts.
After the banquet, he got up to go back to his room. As he passed Liu Kun, he left behind a curt, emotionless voice as they brushed past each other: "It seems that the relationship between Chu and the Yiye Alliance is now irreconcilable..."
Upon hearing this, Liu Kun's heart skipped a beat. He looked up abruptly, only to find Shen Jian had already walked out through the gate, blocking his view. His expression suddenly hardened, his brows furrowing in solemnity: "Someone come here." The person waiting beside him responded with a "Yes, sir," and then ordered, "Go tell the eldest young master to take the tiger tally and be ready to be deployed at any time."
Liu Kun, having secretly pondered Shen Jian's attitude, naturally paid him homage. Shen Jian, who had been strolling back to his room, suddenly stopped. The maids following closely behind him didn't react immediately, and hastily stopped as well, their steps appearing somewhat disordered. Shen Jian glanced back at the servants rushing out of the hall, a hint of a smile flashing in his indifferent eyes. He turned and walked away, not looking back once more.
The arrangement of the side rooms to welcome the envoys was extremely elaborate. They were in a separate courtyard, free from the disturbance of other people.
Night had fallen. Chen Jian blew out the candle, undressed, and went to bed. The silence of the night enveloped them, the wind rustled the curtains, and the rustling of the trees could be faintly heard.
As night deepened and everyone settled down, a figure could be vaguely seen outside the window in the moonlight. The figure was thin and frail, lying on the window paper. The person had clearly come very carefully, tiptoeing without making a sound.
"How about it?"
"Shh—he's fast asleep."
"It's good that they're asleep, then we can go back and report."
"Let's go, let's go. I don't know what the Prime Minister is worried about. Isn't the fact that the Han Kingdom is sending an envoy a sign of reconciliation?"
"Pah, pah, pah, what are you gossiping about? Be careful your life is in danger if the Prime Minister finds out."
"Phew... never mind..."
Faint whispers drifted into the silence, fading into the distance. And then, a quiet stillness settled over the surroundings.
The person on the bed slowly opened their eyes, their deep gaze showing no trace of alcohol or drunkenness. Casually pulling back the covers, they revealed they were dressed in a night-shift doctor's uniform.
Shen Jian's figure disappeared into the night, like a mere shadow. The sparse leaves cast a dark shadow that drifted through the courtyard like the wind, finally stopping in front of a house.
The person inside was still awake. A faint candlelight shone through the crack in the door, illuminating Chen Jian's simple black clothes. He reached out and gently touched the door, which opened with a click. The person inside turned to look at him, offering a gentle smile when their eyes met, but seemed unconcerned about his arrival.
Shen Jian walked into the room and closed the door behind him.
Liu Su placed the book she was holding on the table and casually gestured, "Sit down. Don't be shy."
Shen Jian sat down, glanced at the slender and handsome man, and said, "You knew I was coming."
Liu Su smiled gently: "I don't know." She paused, then added: "But I have a guess, they might come."
Shen Jian remained silent, surveying his surroundings. For the Prime Minister's residence, the entire room appeared somewhat shabby. There were no luxurious furnishings, only a bookshelf, a bed, and an empty round table in the center. However, due to the owner's temperament, although modest, it was kept very clean and spotless. His brow furrowed slightly: "The Prime Minister's second son?"
Liu Su knew that her current treatment was nothing like that of a prime minister's son, and she was used to people's surprise. She simply smiled and said, "It is me, that's right. The Flying Cavalry General of Han?"
Shen Jian nodded silently, then looked at the person in front of him.
He vaguely remembered that when they first met, he went to Shengxiao Valley to find Zhuang Su, and at that time, the young man mentioned the "deceased" third prince of Chu in a meaningful way. The slender figure before him was still the same as before, a graceful scholar, elegant and refined. When he sat there, his long robe fell on his body and looked a little thin, as if he had been suffering from fatigue for many years. Therefore, even in the dim candlelight, his face was slightly pale.
"You know my other identity, right?" Shen Jian, who had been silent, suddenly asked.
A smile appeared on Liu Suqian's face as he readily admitted, "Yes. I miss Prince Chu." He deliberately stared intently at Chen Jian's expression, not seeing any panic in his eyes, and the corners of his mouth widened again: "I discovered it by chance back in Shengxiao Valley, but I didn't tell anyone."
Shen Jian asked, "Why don't you say?"
“Because I felt there was no need.” Liu Su’s expression remained calm, and her words were slow and deliberate. “Father only asked me to keep an eye on the movements of the One Leaf Alliance, and did not ask me to report on any other unimportant matters.”
Is his identity insignificant? Shen Jian raised an eyebrow slightly: "Then, you're not going to tell the Prime Minister that I'm a member of the One Leaf Alliance?"
"This... I'm considering it." Liu Su smiled slightly at him, her words seemingly having no effect on his mind. "If someone from the One Leaf Alliance infiltrated the Han court and then came to Chu as an important envoy, wouldn't anyone be alarmed?" As she said this, there was clearly no sign of worry in his expression.
Shen Jian kept his eyes fixed on his expression, and then slightly parted his lips: "Are you willing to cooperate with me?"
The casual words, spoken lightly, seemed somewhat frivolous in the surroundings; a gust of wind blew them away, and they gradually dissipated into nothingness.
Liu Su looked up at him upon hearing this, showing no fear, but instead smiled modestly and asked, "Why do you think I would help you? The Prime Minister of Chu is my father, so by that logic, I should also be considered a member of the Chu court."
Shen Jian sneered: "Are you really loyal to the court? You're so indifferent to everything, why continue to serve under someone else's roof?"
A smile flashed across Liu Su's face: "Are you trying to instigate me? I am a descendant of the Liu family."
Shen Jian looked at him calmly: "Then, what has the Liu family ever given you? What does a surname mean? Just because someone labels you with a clan name, does that mean you should accept your fate? If you want to attribute this to a 'mission,' then I will go against the will of heaven." Seeing Liu Su's silence, his expression gradually turned cold: "The change of the Chu kingdom is only a matter of time. As for your final choice, that is up to you."
Liu Su looked up at him, the smile gone from her misty eyes. Hearing the words, "I'll defy fate," he suddenly recalled a rumor from many years ago. It was said that the Third Prince, Dian Chu, had actually escaped back to the State of Chu, but the King of Chu, in order to sow discord between the two countries, not only refused to acknowledge him but also had him secretly murdered and suppressed the news.
Liu Su remained silent. Indeed, he was not loyal to the imperial court, nor even particularly loyal to the Liu family.
His mother was originally just a female entertainer. She became pregnant with him after a one-night stand with the young Liu Kun. However, because the Liu family line was dwindling, although his mother was never officially recognized as a member of the family, she took him in and raised him.
He knew that Liu Kun might never have truly acknowledged him as his son, so from a young age, he always performed inferior to Liu Ye in everything he did, never vying with his eldest son. He only did what Liu Kun asked him to do, and never interfered further, no matter what happened. Therefore, while Liu Ye practiced martial arts, he quietly read scriptures in his study, never touching anything like swords or spears.
He wanted to distinguish himself from Liu Ye; Liu Ye was Liu Ye, while he was simply himself—Liu Su.
Therefore, more than ten years have passed in the blink of an eye. Liu Ye has become the foremost general in the Chu Kingdom, while he has been living in seclusion in the Yiye Alliance for many years. Almost no one knows that the Prime Minister actually has a second son. Naturally, even fewer people know that the eldest son, Liu Ye, is skilled in military strategy for conquering the world, while Liu Su is focused on the principles of family management and governance.
Liu Su met Shen Jian's calm gaze, a slight smile appearing on his refined face. Actually, he had originally intended to observe this chaotic world from the sidelines, content to live a mediocre and uneventful life in the Prime Minister's residence… His thin, crimson lips parted slightly, and he asked with a smile, "If I don't agree, are you prepared to kill me?"
Shen Jian gave him a deep look: "No. As long as it's your choice." After saying that, he simply turned and left without the slightest hesitation.
The wind that rushed in when the door was wide open was chilly, and the door swayed slightly in the wind. In the blink of an eye, only Liu Su remained in the room. His gaze fell on the empty threshold, and he suddenly smiled gently: "Third Prince, are you thinking of Chu—Chen Jian? Very interesting."
He got up and went to close the door. As he approached, he looked up and saw the moon's shadow on the horizon, somewhat hazy. He stared at it blankly for a moment, then closed the door. He had no heart to read anymore and turned off the light. His wounds still ached, but he deliberately ignored them as always, and slowly made the bed.
Night had fallen silent, and everyone finally drifted into sleep as the candlelight went out. No one knew that in a humble room within the Prime Minister's residence, something had already occurred that night that might cause chaos and upheaval in the future…
The next day, the Prime Minister's residence was peaceful as always. When Shen Jian got up early, a group of people were already waiting outside the gate. He had no intention of looking for Liu Kun. Instead, he asked a servant for a horse and rode out of the west gate of Luoyang alone. Some people wanted to follow him, but the ordinary horse was as fast as a broken bowstring when Shen Jian rode, and soon disappeared from everyone's sight.
"What? The Flying Cavalry General has left Luoyang alone!" Upon hearing the report, Liu Kun slammed his hand on the table, causing the cups and saucers on the floor to shake violently.
The gatekeeper below was sweating profusely as he relayed the message: "Yes... General Flying Cavalry said that he wants to meet with the One Leaf Alliance today..." His voice grew softer and softer, as if the person in front of him wanted to tear him to pieces.
“One…Leaf…Alliance?” Liu Kun managed to squeeze out three words, his expression dark and unpleasant. The One Leaf Alliance, which had always been on good terms with Chu, was now being openly and brazenly met by Shen Jian, the envoy from Han. The scene of their encounter seemed to flash before his eyes. Liu Kun flicked his sleeves: “Prepare the sedan chair, I’m going to the palace!”
A sedan chair hurriedly made its way to the Chu Kingdom's palace from the Prime Minister's residence, and Luoyang seemed to fall into a deep silence. Meanwhile, within the One Leaf Alliance, however, a completely different, harmonious atmosphere prevailed.
Chapter Two or Three: A Small Matter in the Prime Minister's Residence (Part Two)
The news of the Flying Cavalry General's arrival in the Chu Kingdom had already spread throughout the land, and it had only reached the One Leaf Alliance a few days prior.
Inside the house in Shengxiao Valley, Zhuang Su sat by the window, staring blankly out the window. Since returning to the valley, she felt a strange sense of familiarity. She sighed softly. Indeed, she was a rather sentimental person. Remembering the book she had borrowed from Li Jiu, she picked it up to return it. As she passed the courtyard, her gaze fell upon the person lounging in a chair.
Zhuang Su's brow furrowed slightly.
"Why are you drinking again?" Zhuang Su snatched the wine pot from Qing Chen's hand, her tone slightly raised. "Who gave you permission to drink?"
Qingchen raised her narrow eyes slightly and saw her dark eyes and bright teeth, but her expression clearly showed dissatisfaction. She couldn't help but smile contentedly: "Susu, it's okay to drink just a little."
"Not even a little bit." Zhuang Su's words left no room for negotiation, and she raised her hand to confiscate all the wine jugs.
"Susu, shall we discuss this?" Qingchen raised the corners of her lips slightly, stood up, and reached her hand over from behind.
Zhuang Su instinctively dodged his sudden advance, and just as she was feeling smug, she felt Qing Chen lean in close... A sudden flush rose to her face. The person behind her was pressed tightly against her back, and she could feel his cloying breath on her ear. Zhuang Su was mortified, and before she knew it, the wine jug she was protecting had fallen back into the other person's hands.
Qingchen smiled slightly, a hint of triumph in his expression. He shook the wine pot in his hand, listening to the faint sound of water sloshing inside, clearly pleased with himself: "Susu, I already told you to discuss it..." His voice trailed off, causing Susu's face to flush red, but she bit her lip and said angrily: "If you want to drink, then drink. Anyway, it's your body."
She turned to leave, but a hand grabbed her from behind. Zhuang Su felt herself fall backward, landing in the other person's arms. A familiar scent immediately enveloped her. Zhuang Su was incredibly embarrassed, but despite the awkward position, the other person stubbornly held her close.
"Susu, are you angry?" Qingchen's voice, which sounded like a half-smile, brushed past her ear.
Just then, two figures approached from a distance, but they were too far away for Zhuang Su to notice. Startled by Qing Chen's sudden movement, her heart raced, and she hurriedly broke free from the gentle embrace, biting her lip and saying, "No."
Qingchen glanced at her lazily, a slight smile playing on her lips, but she couldn't help coughing twice.
"See? Serves you right for drinking before your injuries have healed." Zhuang Su frowned and scolded him, reaching out to pat his back to help him catch his breath, but Qing Chen gently pushed him away. His peach-blossom eyes swept past Zhuang Su's body and he said casually, "Chen Jian. You're finally back."
Zhuang Su's hand, which had been pushed away, suddenly stiffened. She felt a clear gaze falling on her back and slowly turned around.
The person standing next to Murong Shi wore a light ochre-red robe, which accentuated his thin and handsome face. His eyes were still deep and unfathomable, and looking at him now, it seemed as if no time had passed.
"Chen... Jian?" Zhuang Su called out subconsciously, then suddenly remembered her intimate actions with Qing Chen earlier. She realized that this person must have seen it, so she glared at Qing Chen secretly, wondering if he did it on purpose.
Qingchen accepted the glare with a smile, remaining calm and composed. She casually placed the wine pot on the table and said with a light smile, "Susu, it's been a long time since you and Chen Jian have seen each other. I imagine you have a lot to talk about?"
Zhuang Su glanced at Qing Chen's expression, then looked up at Chen Jian, only to find that all the words she should have said were now stuck in her throat.
Shen Jian's gaze remained fixed on Zhuang Su for a long time before slowly turning to Qing Chen and saying, "So the Valley Master is the Wine Envoy." His tone, honed by years of experience, carried a unique composure, and his words at this moment seemed devoid of much distinction between superiors and inferiors.
Qingchen waved his hand dismissively and smiled, "I know you have a lot to report, but there's no rush." His gaze brushed past Murong Shi, who knew he was worried that Zhuang Su might have overheard, so she said, "Qingchen, you've been out in the wind for a while now, shouldn't you go back to your room first?"
Qingchen nodded, stood up from the recliner, and suddenly waved his hand in front of Zhuang Su. Only then did Zhuang Su turn her gaze away from Chen Jian after his gesture, and asked, "What's wrong?" Qingchen affectionately nibbled on her earlobe and smiled lightly, "Take me back." As he spoke, his hand was already on her shoulder.
Zhuang Su felt a sudden weight on her shoulder. She hadn't expected Qingchen to make such an intimate gesture in public, and her face felt like it was on fire. Qingchen had occasionally made these somewhat "rascal-like" gestures before, but never in public. Why did she suddenly feel like he was doing it on purpose…?
Zhuang Su frowned suspiciously, but had no choice but to let him fool around. She looked up at Shen Jian and said, "Which room are you staying in? I'll come find you in a bit."
“East wing,” Shen Jian replied briefly.
Zhuang Su nodded to him and carried Qing Chen back to the room in a "carrying" posture. The moment Qing Chen turned around, a faint smile flashed across her lips. She glanced meaningfully at Chen Jian, then smiled and let Zhuang Su go.
Shen Jian noticed the last glimpse of his gaze upon him and felt a chill. Watching the two figures depart, he unconsciously felt a coldness in his palm holding the sword, and he didn't look away until they were completely out of sight.
Murong Shi followed his gaze and said in a calm tone, "You should go back and rest too."
"Yes." Shen Jian withdrew his gaze, not even looking at Murong Shi, and turned to leave.
Murong Shi watched him walk so nimbly, a faint worry flickering in her eyes. Shen Jian might just be a pawn to the One Leaf Alliance, but conversely, the One Leaf Alliance might also be just a pawn in his eyes. Sometimes rights and threats are intertwined, and which one would this person be?
However, Shen Jian paid no further attention to Murong Shi's probing, and simply went to the accommodations arranged for him. His indifferent expression was also tinged with coldness.
Regardless of his public identity, once he joined the One Leaf Alliance, he was merely a member of the Silver Hall. Before the Wine Envoy, he was simply known as "Chen Jian." There was no third prince of Chu, nor a flying cavalry general of Han, within the One Leaf Alliance. He was simply an assassin named "Chen Jian" within the Silver Hall.
Simplicity. Simplicity...
This was just a code name; he didn't actually know who he was.