Shen Qianmo reached out and clutched Situ Jingyan's wet red clothes. Her dark eyes seemed to hold struggle and pain. After a long while, she sighed softly and said, "I never knew that you liked red clothes for this reason."
I always thought Situ Jingyan simply liked the flamboyance and domineering nature of red. Little did I know, the red robes were also the best disguise. This made him appear like an invincible, godlike being. But he wasn't a god; how could he possibly be unharmed?
Over the years, he has concealed all the injuries and pain he has suffered with this untamed red outfit; no one can see it, no one knows it.
"Mo'er noticed that too." When Situ Jingyan heard Shen Qianmo's sigh, a trace of sorrow flashed in his eyes, but it was replaced in an instant by his deep, obsidian-like black eyes. The corners of his mouth curled up into a charming and wicked smile, as if the vulnerability he had just shown was not his at all.
He is a strong man. Therefore, he cannot let anyone see his vulnerability. Only by becoming strong enough can he protect what he wants to protect.
“Jingyan, if you don’t want to talk about it, I won’t force you.” Shen Qianmo sighed softly, her dark eyes fixed on Situ Jingyan.
The meaning is clear. If you don't want to talk, I won't force you; if you're willing to talk, I'll go with you.
Looking into Shen Qianmo's eyes, Situ Jingyan felt a mix of joy, emotion, and something else entirely. Shen Qianmo wasn't one to readily express her feelings, so for her to speak so frankly, Situ Jingyan understood his importance in her heart.
He couldn't help but feel a surge of joy. However, this unbearable past was something even he didn't want to recall. Did he really have to tell her?! He didn't want her to share his pain. But he understood that Shen Qianmo didn't like him keeping things from her. Since that was the case, then he would share. Regardless of life or death, joy or sorrow, he would never hide anything from her.
"My mother was my father's most beloved concubine." Situ Jingyan's voice was a little hoarse, not as charming and flamboyant as usual, but it still had the same magic, as if every word could touch your heart.
“My mother is beautiful. Really, very beautiful.” Situ Jingyan’s eyes narrowed slightly, with a hint of mistiness, and a naive smile played on his lips. This was the first time Shen Qianmo had seen Situ Jingyan smile like this, so pure and innocent.
Situ Jingyan's smile slowly froze, his obsidian-like eyes gradually sharpened, and his smile became increasingly sinister, his eyes revealing a hint of sarcasm as he said, "With three thousand beauties in the harem, the emperor's favor is not happiness, but a deadly poison! My mother is so kind and so gentle, how could she withstand the scheming of those women?!"
Shen Qianmo's eyes darkened. Yes, with three thousand beauties in the harem, how could a woman favored by the emperor survive long without some cunning and shrewdness? In this harem, in this royal family, the most detrimental things are kindness and naivety!
"My father's unwavering favoritism has aroused the dissatisfaction of all the women in the harem. They want my mother's life. No, not just my mother's life?! They also want my life, and Jingyu's life!" Situ Jingyan's eyes revealed a hint of ruthlessness, and the smile on his lips was tinged with bitterness and resentment.
Shen Qianmo reached out and tightly grasped Situ Jingyan's hand. Situ Jingyan's hand was not as warm as usual; it was now icy cold. She didn't know if it was because of the blood loss from his injury earlier, or because of his inner demons.
Shen Qianmo could feel Situ Jingyan's barely suppressed trembling. It must have been a very unbearable past. Even someone as resilient as Situ Jingyan would tremble and avoid the topic like this.
Situ Jingyan felt the warmth from Shen Qianmo's hand holding his. His eyes gradually cleared, and a sarcastic yet resolute smile appeared on his face. He continued, "They conspired to kill my mother and me. To avoid implicating me, my mother held my hand and plunged the knife into her heart!"
Situ Jingyan's emotions were somewhat unstable, and the pain in his eyes slowly became apparent. Shen Qianmo almost blurted out that she should stop talking, but Situ Jingyan continued to speak.
“At that time, I was only six years old. I struggled to stop my mother from stabbing me with the knife, but she was incredibly strong. I just watched helplessly as the knife pierced her heart, saw the pain and reluctance on her face, saw the blood slowly flowing out, and saw her die in front of me! And the knife that killed her was in my hand! It was me, I killed her!” Situ Jingyan’s emotions fluctuated significantly, and his voice was filled with barely suppressed grief.
“Jingyan. No. It’s not like that.” Shen Qianmo held Situ Jingyan’s hand more firmly, her dark eyes revealing an indescribable strength as she looked directly at Situ Jingyan, making him feel a warmth in his heart.
Reaching out to hug Shen Qianmo, resting his chin on her shoulder, Situ Jingyan, like a wounded child, recounted the grievances he had suffered over the years in a low voice, "When Father saw that scene, he was so shocked he couldn't speak. I understand that Father knew Mother was framed, but he was powerless to do anything, after all, the power behind those concubines was too astonishing. So from that moment on, I vowed that I would become strong, I wouldn't be like Father, unable to even protect the woman I loved most!"
"Jingyan. I won't let you lose me." Shen Qianmo hugged Situ Jingyan's body and leaned against his chest with peace of mind.
"Mo'er, I will not allow anyone to take you away from me!" Situ Jingyan's words were filled with arrogance and determination, but even more so with deep affection.
"Jingyu was only four years old at the time, and he witnessed all of this. From then on, he hated me intensely. No matter how I explained, he wouldn't talk to me. My father was also angry with me because of my mother's death, and he ignored me. Those women took advantage of my misfortune and bullied me in every way. At that time, I was almost starving and cold, and my life was worse than a dog's! But I told myself that I couldn't die! I had to avenge my mother! I had to gain this world! I had to let everyone who had hurt me know that I was not someone they could hurt!" Situ Jingyan's words were filled with iron will.
“But I don’t remember there being a prince in Tianmo named Situ Jingyu.” Shen Qianmo had heard Situ Jingyan mention the name Jingyu several times, but she had never heard of it before, and she didn’t seem to have seen this prince during her trip to Tianmo.
Judging from his appearance, he must be Situ Jingyan's younger brother. There's no reason why she's never heard of him.
“He died when he was seven. He died by my hand.” A trace of pain flashed in Situ Jingyan’s eyes, and the smile on his lips grew more bitter. He looked up at Shen Qianmo and said sarcastically, “Isn’t it ridiculous that the people I loved most and the people I was closest to all died by my hand!”
"Jingyan." Shen Qianmo didn't know how to comfort Situ Jingyan. Situ Jingyan must have been only nine years old when Situ Jingyu died.
At six years old, his mother forced him to kill her, holding his hands by his own. At nine, pressured by circumstances and with no other choice, he killed his own younger brother at his brother's request. Six years old, nine years old. Still in the bloom of youth, still at an age when they should be innocently playing. But what had Situ Jingyan endured?!
“From the age of nine, I swore that I would conquer the world. I would become powerful! Nothing can stop my determination to seize the world!” A resolute glint flashed in Situ Jingyan’s eyes, and his arrogant confidence seemed to have returned to him. His red clothes, stained with blood, fluttered in the wind, and he exuded a sense of solitude.
Yes. Looking at Situ Jingyan like this used to make her heart ache. She never understood why, why such a confident and unrestrained man would make her feel so sorry for him. Now, she finally understood: it was because he was too confident, too unrestrained, that he appeared all the more isolated.
Lonely and desperate. Crimson blood, a blood-red world. Forcing himself to grow up amidst loneliness and despair. Not even twenty years old, what Situ Jingyan has experienced in the past ten years is probably more terrifying and painful than what I have experienced.
Five years in the Demon Palace. He still felt like he was living on the edge of a knife, suffering unbearable pain. Ten years. He single-handedly built the Bloodthirsty Tower, step by step seizing power in Tianmo, eliminating the rebels, executing the treacherous concubine, and killing his own brothers. Every step of this was stained with countless blood. That countless blood was the pain of others, but even more so, it was the indelible pain and despair in Situ Jingyan's heart.
"Jingyan, I will help you, I will help you take this world!" Shen Qianmo smiled faintly, seemingly calm and collected, but the heartache and determination in her eyes deeply warmed Situ Jingyan's heart.
Situ Jingyan didn't speak, but simply held Shen Qianmo tightly. Shen Qianmo leaned against the wound on Situ Jingyan's chest, but Situ Jingyan seemed completely oblivious, just holding Shen Qianmo tightly as if she would leave if he let go.
Mo'er, meeting you in this life is the greatest fortune of my life. I don't need you to help me conquer this world, I just need you to be with me and rule it.
Situ Jingyan held Shen Qianmo in his arms, silently thinking to himself, but he didn't say it aloud. He felt that some things were better left unsaid, but little did he know that these unspoken words would create a roundabout path between them.
"Jingyan, don't hug me so tightly. Your wound." Shen Qianmo struggled slightly. She touched something wet, which meant that Situ Jingyan had been holding her too tightly and the wound was bleeding again.
Although the Blood Phantom can stop the bleeding and heal the wound to some extent, such a deep cut cannot be completely healed so easily; one must still be careful.
"It's alright. I'm not in pain." Situ Jingyan released Shen Qianmo, a wicked smile playing on his lips, a sly glint in his eyes. He said, "Mo'er has been showing me more and more concern lately. I think we should get married after we go back and rescue Jinghao."
"Who wants to marry you?! I haven't even had a chance to play with the Enchanting Blood Pavilion yet." Upon hearing Situ Jingyan's words, Shen Qianmo's face flushed slightly, a hint of mischief flashing in her eyes, and she said with a playful smile.
Situ Jingyan's smile remained unchanged as he continued, "Mo'er has already married me once. Logically speaking, Mo'er is already my wife."
"That doesn't count." Shen Qianmo pouted, looking like she didn't believe it. She admitted that although it was a temporary measure at the time, she wouldn't have been willing to wear a wedding dress and sit in the bridal sedan chair if she hadn't been sincere. After all, it wouldn't have been difficult to find someone to take her place in the bridal sedan chair.
Seeing this, Situ Jingyan merely raised his eyebrows slightly. He already knew that his Mo'er wouldn't acknowledge it. Moreover, he didn't want a wedding mixed with interests. What he wanted was a unique wedding, a wedding to prove their love!
"Mo'er. Situ Jingyan truly wishes to marry you, to make you the mother of the world." Situ Jingyan said earnestly, his dark eyes filled with unwavering determination.
"good."
With a charming smile, she responded gently. Shen Qianmo's eyes were also filled with seriousness. The Mother of the World. This was the highest position she could be granted, but even the title of Mother of the World came first, didn't it?
"Miss!" Qianqian's surprised voice rang out. Shen Qianmo turned around and saw Qianqian and Xuanming looking disheveled. What had these two done? Had they been fighting? How did they end up like this?
She frowned slightly and said with a hint of reproach, "Qianqian, what happened to you? How did you get like this?"
"Xuanming and I went tree climbing, and we both accidentally fell down," Qianqian said nonchalantly, sticking out her tongue. Xuanming, however, frowned and added with a wronged expression, "You accidentally pulled me down too!"