Asking About Love Songs

Chapter 19

"Even a mountain of gold cannot buy a single inch of true sincerity." A faint smile never left her lips, yet it couldn't conceal the cold sarcasm emanating from her clear eyes. "Alas! The only problem is that Shao Chu's vision is too short-sighted; he can't see the sincerity in the Third Prince!"

Zhu Yu showed no anger, but merely raised his handsome eyebrows with interest, leisurely leaning back on the bed, his gaze unwavering.

"Talking with you, my dear brother Shaochu, is never lonely!" The mellow tone turned languid, but the scrutinizing gaze flashed with a sharp light, full of warning: "A wise person knows to conceal their sharpness when at a disadvantage, lest they bring trouble upon themselves."

"Perhaps Shao Chu boldly thought in his heart that the disadvantage did not yet belong to me." Qing Rui's expression was always that of calm and composed.

"Very high self-confidence. My impression of Su Shaochu, the fourth young master of the Su family, is that he is decisive and always makes the wisest judgments in chaos; his sharp words possess a captivating charm." Zhu Yu deliberately narrowed his scrutinizing eyes. "What situation does my beloved brother Shaochu think you are in right now?"

Su Shaochu also smiled and said, "Half the sky, half the earth. Whichever half the Third Prince thinks I possess, that's it."

"You think you're in a position of equal standing!" This statement made Zhu Yu burst into laughter. "I think Shao Chuai hasn't forgotten your current predicament of being unable to 'control' yourself!"

He rose and went to the snow jade table, leaning forward until their noses were almost touching. His sharp eyes locked onto the other person, and the long golden red bead on his ear, which reached down to his shoulder, brushed against the elegant face before him as he moved.

"In your wounded and imprisoned state, where does your confidence come from that makes my beloved brother believe you have control of the other half?" Zhu Yu gripped the chin of the man who had been holding his head high, his gaze sharp and piercing. "This prince is truly interested to hear how much persuasive power Su Shaochu still possesses in his sharp words at this moment."

"Alas! That's far too much of an honor for Shao Chu. In the current situation, it's already a blessing to have survived, especially since you, Third Prince, are an extraordinary person in this world. What power does Shao Chu have left to convince anyone?" Su Shao Chu replied with a helpless shrug.

"At most, I'll put up a small struggle, engage in some minor verbal sparring, and see if I can achieve any small result."

"What a pitiful little response!" The gripping fingers shifted to a gentle caress, Zhu Yu's eyes shining with an alluring light. "This prince is all ears to hear what kind of petty words my beloved brother intends to use?"

Stroking those soft, thin lips, ignoring Su Shaochu's narrowed eyes, he caressed them even more intimately.

"Just be careful! If your words don't serve any purpose, this prince... will eat them up." With a threatening laugh, he leaned close to Su Shaochu's lips, almost touching them but never actually covering them, only teasing him with warm breath.

"Especially your lips and tongue, Su Shaochu, have been the object of my longing for for a long time. Before, when I saw the self-portrait you sent me, it was never as moving as feeling your 'real' self in person!" Especially since this reality has finally fallen into his hands.

"The Third Prince's affectionate treatment truly makes Shao Chu... tremble!" Su Shao Chu said, his lips moistened, half-jokingly and half-seriously.

"Is it because you're trembling with anticipation?" Zhu Yu gazed greedily at that uniquely handsome man. "I've said it before, if you, Su Shaochu, agree to belong to this prince, then any conditions are negotiable." Having such a special person by your side must be one of life's greatest pleasures.

"I had no such inclination or interest in it when I was young."

"You're still saying that to me now? I've said it before, I know your true gender perfectly well, especially your body when you were seriously injured and unconscious, I'm very familiar with it." It's laughable that you still respond to him with this statement.

Su Shaochu could only sigh in despair. "Since you, Third Prince, have already taken all the advantages, then you should at least give me a little face. Why be so aggressive?"

"My demanding nature depends on your attitude, my dear brother. Besides, the gender and race of the person I want are not a problem."

"Oh! The Third Prince's... benevolence left a deep impression on me. Fortunately, the Third Prince has no interest in breaking through to the level of species. Thank goodness!" Otherwise, if something like a human-animal hybrid or something came along, sigh... that would be quite terrifying!

"To be able to find joy even in hardship, my brother must be very confident in his little tongue!"

"How dare I show off before the Third Prince? I merely wish to tell a small story, or rather, a true story from the past!"

A story? "The real past?" What kind of trick is this?

"There was a jade bangle, with a bright and lustrous red color. It was a very rare vermilion jade bangle, and it came from a poor woman."

Seeing Zhu Yu frown, Su Shaochu took the opportunity to push away Zhu Yu's chin and casually pulled her away from his body.

"This woman broke all taboos and broke free from the shackles of morality for a man. The affection she gave surpassed everything, and the love she gave was incomparable. Yet, in the end, she was met with this man's cold-blooded pursuit!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yu's smile deepened. "What? Do you want to tell this prince a story of a lovelorn woman?"

"Indeed, a deeply devoted and resentful woman!" Her bright eyes met his with penetrating wisdom. "A woman who was once breathtakingly beautiful and incredibly courageous, yet ended up as emaciated and utterly shattered!"

"Hearing my younger brother's words, it was as if I had seen it with my own eyes." The description is so full of emotion.

A knowing, calculating smile played on their lips as they exchanged glances.

"Does the Third Prince care about this story?"

"I'd say I'm more interested in the motivation behind the story of Shao Chu's love for his younger brother."

"Does the Third Prince not want to know the final outcome? Or... did he already know?"

"My dear brother has already said that his soul and spirit are shattered. Since that is the case, why should we know any more?"

"Even if it's just to express respect to a devoted woman, why shouldn't the Third Prince listen?" Su Shaochu said calmly and composedly, "This pitiful woman was chased to death by the man she loved. Before she died, she even smiled and stroked the man's face, saying with a sad laugh, 'Since we parted, I remember our meeting, how many times have my soul and dreams been with you.'"

What Su Shaochu could never forget was that beautiful face. Ignoring the cruelty of the person she loved, she was only satisfied that she could see him again. Even if he just smiled coldly and shattered her heart with one palm, she would pass away without any regrets.

"I...can finally live forever in your dreams...Your Highness..." Her lips trembled amidst the gushing blood, as if trying to call out the name that lingered in her heart, but she could no longer utter a sound. A generation of brilliance perished in a pool of blood.

Recalling the past, and facing Zhu Yu's eyes, which had turned into unusually sharp blades, Su Shaochu couldn't help but close his eyes, but a gripping force came down his jaw again.

"Your story about loving your younger brother is very touching, but how does it relate to your current situation?"

"It seems that Shao Chu was too self-assured, assuming that the Third Prince would be interested in that jade clasp."

"Is that jade pendant in your possession?" Zhu Yu's expression was subtle.

"The Third Prince just said that Shao Chu described this story as if he had seen it with his own eyes."

Faces so close, breaths almost touching, a subtle, unsettling undercurrent.

"To what extent does your brother understand what he saw with his own eyes?"

"As half of the sky and half of the land, we certainly have enough knowledge of the ins and outs."

"A perfectly balanced stance, but as far as this prince is concerned, nothing is in anyone's control," he added with a cold laugh. "Especially things that should be buried in the ground."

From her previous nonchalant demeanor, Zhu Yu changed her grip on Su Shaochu's jaw to a chokehold on his neck, her fingers slowly tightening.

"The only way to completely solve this is to bury those who know the secret forever!"

"Third Prince... if you feel you've lost, silencing him is indeed a good method, after all, Shao Chu is currently powerless to stop it!" Despite being held captive, Su Shao Chu remained calm.

Knowing full well that the only way to curb the desire to conquer this prince who was always in the highest position was to set a clear line between winning and losing on what he wanted most, and to grasp Zhu Yu's arrogance of wanting to possess yet also wanting to subdue him, was the only way Su Shaochu could temporarily delay him.

Upon hearing this, the fingers that had been gripping his neck softened into a gentle caress, his words carrying a chilling undertone. "Never before has anyone taught me such a masterful balance of likes and dislikes. Be careful, my beloved younger brother, as you walk this tightrope of cleverness. If you lose your balance one day, and my hatred for you outweighs my affection, the consequences of your fall will be worse than death!"

"Shao Chu... I've learned my lesson." After calming his breathing, Su Shao Chu's voice was deep and restrained, and his gaze turned slightly cold as he returned the greeting.

"Jadeite clasp, where did you come from?"

Facing those piercing, sharp eyes, Su Shaochu smiled faintly and calmly said, "Relics and old friends."

"What a fine keepsake and sentimental gift! Just for the sake of this jade clasp, a token of 'sentimental gift,' I, the prince, will spare you, Su Shaochu, this time."

"Since I have received such kindness from the Third Prince, I will certainly return the jade pendant after I recover from my injuries and leave."

"Leave!" Zhu Yu suddenly burst into laughter at these two words. "I'm afraid my beloved brother's injury will be severe and difficult to heal!"

Upon hearing this, Su Shaochu frowned, only to feel a large hand press down on his right shoulder, followed by a surge of counter-force!

"Young Master Su, Young Master Su, Wuyou and Wuchou have brought you your medicine!"

A noisy cheer, like loud shouts, drifted in with the sound of two pretty little girls, one in pink and one in blue, jumping around.

"Young Master Su?!" Upon seeing Su Shaochu lying in Zhu Yu's arms, they rushed over in alarm.

The face held in Zhu Yu's arms was slightly pale, with blood trickling from the corner of her lips.

"Young Master Su, are you alright?"

"How can you still be coughing up blood after such a long recovery period?!"

The two maids, Wuyou and Wuchou, who served the Third Prince Zhu Yu, had always been fond of this young master of the Su family. Ever since Su Shaochu was injured, the two maids had always competed to take care of him.

"It's nothing, just... almost killed me." Suppressing the surge of anger within him, Su Shaochu smiled reassuringly. "Sweetheart, bring me my medicine—uh—"

I've always adored these delicate twin sisters and can't bear to see them looking sad, but the moment they opened their mouths, they immediately coughed up blood.

"You almost lost your life! It must have hurt a lot, right?"

"Your Majesty, please think of a way to help Young Master Su!"

The two maids immediately touched his forehead and anxiously pleaded with Zhu Yu for permission.

"Yes...hehe." Despite his injuries, wiping the blood from the corner of his lips, Su Shaochu raised an eyebrow and teased the owner of his arm, "I say...my dear Emperor, you should...think of a way to heal this strange injury of mine. Why is it that no matter how many...miracle pills and elixirs I use, there's no improvement? It always just hovers in the middle. This miraculous injury is almost becoming my...unique skill."

"Alas! Seeing my beloved brother suffer so much pain and torment, yet remain unchanged, should I offer a word of praise?" The handsome face of the emperor leaned down, stroking the pale face, his tone filled with unbearable heartache. "Tsk tsk, this prince truly feels a deep reluctance to part with your life, my dear brother!"

"Since you are reluctant to part with me, I hope that Your Highness will show some leniency. Otherwise, if things continue like this, I fear that my three souls will remain in the void and my seven spirits will be scattered in the underworld!" Su Shaochu felt a deep sense of regret about his future fate.

"Don't worry, my dear brother. When that day comes, I will find a master to bring back your soul, so that both your soul and body will remain in the Snow Jade Pavilion forever."

It means: Even if you die, you can't escape.

"Such hospitality truly stirs up a complex mix of emotions within me... pain, a pain so intense I don't know what to do." Su Shaochu smiled bitterly. "However, the feng shui here is extraordinary, the scenery is breathtaking. If I were to be buried here, it would surely bring blessings to my Su family's descendants." Thinking about it that way, it doesn't seem so bad.

"Young Master Su, don't say such unlucky things. The pain will go away after you drink the medicine. Wuyou will feed you the medicine."

"If I wipe your face and give you a massage, you won't keep thinking about these bad things."

Two pretty maids who were waiting to serve him rushed forward again when they heard him cry out in pain, only to find that Zhu Yu did not let go.

"Your Majesty, you have spent the night with Young Master Su. It's our turn now."

"Yes! Yan Pingfei is looking for His Majesty outside!"

Worry-free and carefree, they both whine and scolded their master, begging him to switch hands.

"Sigh! These two little nightingales beside me really forget their master as soon as they see you, Su Shaochu." Zhu Yu sighed at the two beloved maids beside him.

"Your Majesty, if you say we're good, then let us stay at the Snow Jade Pavilion to keep Young Master Su company."

"That's right! We've been very obedient and haven't told anyone about Young Master Su's time at the Third Prince's residence. His Majesty said that this way, Young Master Su will stay in the residence."

They did as instructed; the Emperor cannot break his promise.

"Alright, when have I ever disappointed my lovely little oriole?" Zhu Yu chuckled, pinching their rosy cheeks before finally setting them down from his arms. "Young Master Chu, rest well. Don't think too much about when you'll 'recover,' or you'll only get worse. You need to manage your injuries carefully; I'm afraid I might lose my composure one day!"

Leaving behind these unspoken words, Zhu Yuyang laughed and departed.

"Yes! Young Master Su, His Majesty is right. Just relax and focus on your recovery. Overthinking will only make your injury worse."

"Yeah! Maybe if you don't think about it, the injury will heal naturally. Otherwise, you can soak in that healing hot spring a few more times; it's very helpful for healing injuries."

As soon as their master left, the two maids immediately sat down on either side of Su Shaochu, and began to wipe the sweat from his forehead and the blood from his mouth with concern and care.

"Hmm, well said. You're overthinking it. Injuries don't heal 'naturally.' You should take the medicine obediently; there might still be some hope." But no matter how good the medicine or how miraculous the spring water, it can't compare to a single slap from their master! "Especially looking at the two of you, your injuries are already more than half healed." Her delicate and pretty face was much more pleasing to the eye than that sinister face from before.

"Wuyou will feed you your medicine." Seeing that Su Shaochu wanted to take the medicine bowl, Wuyou, dressed in blue, immediately objected and insisted on helping.

"Okay." Su Shaochu, who rarely refused their requests, obediently swallowed a spoonful of the medicine they fed him.

"Wuchou wants some too, Young Master Su, give me the other half of the medicine." Wuchou, dressed in pink, also insisted on being fed the medicine.

"You said I was going to feed the medicine. How could you take it from me halfway through?" Wuyou cried out indignantly.

"I don't care, I want fairness, I want to be fed too."

"Young Master Su, look, Wuchou has broken the contract!"