Liu Su let out a soft breath, her brows furrowed with worry. Perhaps her greatest concern now was Shen Jian's injury…
Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Desolate Valley (Part 1)
Zhuang Su never imagined that she would see Shen Jian like this again. At first glance, she thought he was soaked in blood. She watched as several people carried Shen Jian into the courtyard, and she leaned against a pillar, trembling, before managing to calm herself down. Liu Su then entered, saw Zhuang Su's expression, opened her mouth, but only let out a deep sigh, unable to speak further.
Out of the corner of her eye, Zhuang Su caught sight of a figure in flowing white robes, but instead of the joy of a reunion, she felt a sharp dryness in her throat. A strange sadness washed over her. For a moment, she felt as if none of the promises this man had made to her had ever been kept. Although… she had always wanted to believe him.
"How did Shen Jian end up like this?" Qingchen heard Zhuang Su ask in a trembling voice as he walked in. He raised his narrow eyes slightly, a strange light flashing in them, but in the end, only a playful and indifferent smile remained on his lips: "I think I only said that I would bring him back."
As soon as the words were spoken, Zhuang Su felt a sudden chill run through his entire body.
"Liusu, come with me." Qingchen left with a faint tone, walking past Zhuangsu without giving her another glance. It seemed that she was just an insignificant stranger to him. Yanbei, watching the man's indifferent and resolute back, felt a strange tightness in his chest, but he only gave Zhuangsu a deep look before following him.
"Susu, don't worry too much, everything will be alright." Liusu finally couldn't help but comfort her, gently patting Zhuangsu's shoulder, only to feel her whole body trembling slightly. There was a hint of pity in Liusu's eyes, but then she heard Zhuangsu say, "Second Senior Brother, I'm fine, you can go."
There was a strange, low tone in her voice.
Liu Su's hand paused in mid-air, then gradually withdrew.
Zhuang Su felt his footsteps fading into the distance, leaving deep echoes in the silent air. She bit her lip, suddenly feeling a desolate emptiness. Indeed, when she learned her true identity, everything had changed… She was no longer the “daughter” that man spoke of, and that man was no longer related to her. Apart from Qing Yuan, their relationship remained—that of strangers.
But even though she had clearly figured it out, why did she still feel this kind of sadness?
In truth, sorrow is the most painful word in the world. Zhuang Su reached out and covered her eyes, finding the sunlight that day somewhat harsh. Inside and outside Luoyang City, people and horses were bustling about. The entire Chu Kingdom had been conquered in one fell swoop by the suddenly appearing Yi Ye Alliance, and the Flying Cavalry was stationed outside Luoyang, monitoring everything inside the city from afar.
Everyone was in a hurry. An unusual cloud appeared on the horizon, seemingly an omen of something important.
At this moment, several flocks of wild geese flew across the sky, highlighting the busy scene in the distance. Inside the Chu palace, only cries of agony remained after the wanton looting. Liu Kun and Dian Yong had been imprisoned, and there was almost no one to resist anymore. Everyone was busy making reorganization.
The Kingdom of Chu is about to change. Zhuang Su knew this very well. What she hadn't expected was that Qing Chen actually wanted to conquer the entire world. It turned out that she and Shen Jian were ultimately just pawns he could discard at will… (The monk is sweating profusely; Su Su, you really resent Qing Chen…)
Amidst the flurry of activity, her only worry was the unconscious man. Her medical skills had already improved considerably, so that fleeting glimpse earlier had sent a chill down her spine. Zhuang Su knew Shen Jian's injuries were severe, but she was powerless to help. His kneecap was clearly shattered; he would likely never be able to walk normally again…
Zhuang Su turned around and walked into the courtyard. Even though she couldn't bear it, all she could do now was to take care of him wholeheartedly.
Since returning from the execution ground, Shen Jian had remained unconscious. His body, already exhausted from days of suffering, finally broke down after this ordeal, and he developed a persistent high fever. Zhuang Su dismissed the other maids and stayed by his side day and night, caring for him without rest. Because Shen Jian couldn't take medicine while unconscious, she prescribed several anti-inflammatory remedies and instructed the servants to prepare some ointment to treat the wound on his knee.
For several days in a row, Zhuang Su took care of Shen Jian and didn't see Qing Chen again. Qing Chen didn't come looking for her, and she wouldn't go looking for her herself. Zhuang Su knew that beneath her seemingly indifferent exterior lay a rather stubborn nature. After applying the medicine to Shen Jian, she took a deep look at the person breathing heavily, walked to the door, and looked up into the distance.
Faintly, the sound of a flute floated in the air. It was impossible to know what emotions the person playing the flute was experiencing, but Zhuang Su felt a certain part of her heart being tightly gripped as she listened.
It hurts so much...
But she knew perfectly well that everything before was just a dream. Zhuang Su didn't like that dream. In the dream, a man treated her with utmost kindness, making her deeply fall in love and become infatuated. However, the moment she woke up, she was made to clearly understand that what this man saw through her was another woman—her mother.
Qingchen was the one who killed her parents. He was her enemy. Zhuang Su silently rejected these words, a shadow of sadness rising in her lowered eyes. She knew they were destined never to be together. He was so high and mighty, while she was so lowly. Ultimately, perhaps she should even try to kill him to avenge her parents…
Zhuang Su's hands gradually tightened around her sleeves, the fabric wrinkling slightly under her force. She also knew she couldn't bring herself to do it. So she could only feign indifference, feign nonchalance, then turn away casually, resolutely leaving his side.
At the very least, she no longer wanted to be treated as a plaything and kept by her owner...
Zhuang Su's expression was momentarily dazed. The mournful sound of the flute still lingered around her. She slammed the door shut, shutting out all the sounds. She wanted some peace and quiet; everything was irrelevant to her now.
Zhuang Su walked to the bedside and sat down, leaning against the edge of the bed and closing her eyes to rest. She seemed to have been like this for several days in a row; the lunch delivered at noon was still on the table, but she hadn't touched it. Shen Jian hadn't woken up, and she had no appetite; at this moment, all she felt was unease.
In a daze, Zhuang Su suddenly felt a warmth in her hand, as if a scorching fire had risen from it. In her hazy state, Zhuang Su's brow furrowed slightly, initially not paying much attention, but then her thoughts suddenly stopped, and she abruptly opened her eyes. Shen Jian seemed to feel unwell, his brows deeply furrowed, his sleep restless. He grasped Zhuang Su's hand, and his burning body temperature transmitted through her skin.
"Shen Jian? Shen Jian, what's wrong? Are you feeling unwell?" Zhuang Su felt him gripping the ground very tightly, and for a moment she didn't try to break free, but hurriedly approached to check on him. Just as she got closer, she saw the man's eyes slowly open. When their eyes first met, she felt her heart skip a beat.
When Shen Jian first woke up, his thoughts were still hazy, his eyes unfocused, and he felt disoriented, as if he didn't know where he was. He felt a piercing pain in every inch of his body. As he gradually came to his senses, he saw a pair of deep, concerned, dark eyes in front of him, and he vaguely saw his own reflection in those eyes.
“Su…Su?” Shen Jian murmured softly, seemingly somewhat uncertain.
"Yes. It's me." Zhuang Su was overjoyed at Shen Jian's awakening, feeling a huge weight lifted from her heart. She hurriedly replied, "How are you feeling now? Is anything bothering you?"
Under Zhuang Su's urgent questioning, Shen Jian's lips curled slightly into a smile, a reassuring tone: "I'm fine." He had already received medication, and with Zhuang Su present, recalling the events before he lost consciousness, he knew that the One Leaf Alliance had succeeded in this operation. He closed his eyes tightly.
Suddenly, as if remembering something, his eyes snapped open again, and he seemed to try to sit up. However, after a few strenuous efforts, his expression immediately darkened.
His lower limbs were extremely numb and painful; apart from the pain, he felt nothing no matter how hard he tried.
Zhuang Su felt Shen Jian unconsciously tighten his grip on her hand. Just as he was about to pull away, she grabbed his hand the instant her coolness touched it. Shen Jian was startled for a moment, then looked up to see Zhuang Su forcing a smile, asking him, "Shen Jian, you've been unconscious for so many days, are you hungry?"
Shen Jian felt slightly feverish and a bit drowsy, and his understanding of Zhuang Su's words was somewhat unclear. However, he had no appetite at all, and he wearily opened his mouth and said, "I can't eat."
"You have to eat, even if you can't." Zhuang Su seemed to have guessed what he wanted to say, and cut him off with a single sentence. She turned around and picked up the untouched food that had been portioned out on the table, saying, "I'll feed you."
Shen Jian coughed lightly twice and asked, "Have you eaten?"
Zhuang Su didn't expect him to still care about her at this time, and said, "Not yet."
"Let's eat together." The voice drifted around, sounding weak and unsteady.
"Mmm..." Zhuang Su responded gently, "You eat half a bowl, and I'll eat the other half." As she spoke, since Shen Jian had just woken up, she only scooped out a light soup, mixed it with a little rice, and brought it to his mouth. Shen Jian cooperated and opened his mouth to eat, feeling a moist sensation pass through his throat, which slightly relieved his originally dry and cracked throat.
Zhuang Su fed him bite by bite, her lowered eyes seemingly oblivious, yet she observed Shen Jian's every expression. Although he ate obediently, his eyes remained lifeless, a cold and desolate look, lacking the vitality of a living person. Zhuang Su sensed a hint of death within Shen Jian... She didn't stop feeding him, but felt a heavy weight pressing down on her heart.
She had been hoping for Shen Jian to wake up, but now that he was awake, she was terrified of what he would be like. Shen Jian's martial arts were gone; he couldn't even walk normally. She was at a loss. Yet, she couldn't bear any of his burdens, and she knew she shouldn't have mentioned it to him at all. Just a slight touch would expose the truth, revealing the truth to everyone, and Shen Jian would be even more battered and bruised…
This person needs some quiet time right now.
After feeding Shen Jian, Zhuang Su tucked him in and said calmly, "You still have a fever, so rest well first. Now that you're awake, I'll go get some medicine and have them brew it for you to drink later."
"Hmm..." Chen Jian responded very softly.
Zhuang Su felt sorry for him, but suddenly felt a sense of powerlessness. She picked up the bowl and chopsticks, walked out the door, and gently closed it. The moment the door closed, Zhuang Su noticed Shen Jian's expression; he seemed very pale. She took the bowl and chopsticks back to the kitchen, but had no appetite. After writing down the prescription and giving a few instructions, she returned to the front of the house, but did not push the door open to go in.
Leaning against a pillar outside, Zhuang Su felt a bone-chilling cold seep up her spine, seemingly penetrating to her very core. She instinctively shrank back and hugged herself tightly. Still, she felt no warmth.
"No matter what you become, I will never change..." With a soft murmur, Zhuang Su realized that she had been remembering words from a very long time ago.
There was no sound from inside the room, but I could vaguely imagine the person lying on the bed, their expression blank. My heart aches...
Zhuang Su gazed at the sky, lost in thought. She didn't know whether she should resent the cruel hand of fate, but upon further reflection, she felt she couldn't blame anyone. She didn't know what had happened at the execution ground that day; her only feeling was—she wanted the person who had injured Shen Jian to die. No… perhaps worse than death!
At this moment, Zhuang Su truly felt a surge of hatred welling up in her heart. Even when Aunt Liu told her about her parents' hatred, she had never hated anyone. After all, she had never met her parents, never... But this time was different; the one who was hurt was Shen Jian, and it had to be Shen Jian! Zhuang Su's hands gradually clenched, and her originally calm expression was now tinged with murderous intent.
Actually, she... was never a magnanimous saint.
Suddenly, there was a commotion inside the room, as if something had crashed to the ground. Zhuang Suxin jumped in fright, hurriedly turned around, and rushed in. As soon as the door opened, she saw Shen Jian fall off the bed onto the floor, the bedding in disarray. His hair was slightly disheveled, and he was looking down, lost in thought. Suddenly, he slammed his fist to the ground.
"Shen Jian, what are you doing!" Zhuang Su's heart skipped a beat, and she rushed over to grab his fist tightly. His punch had been hard; the skin on her hand was broken, and faint streaks of blood could be seen. Zhuang Su felt Shen Jian trying to pull his hand away, and her heart ached, so she gripped it even tighter: "Shen Jian, please don't do this! I'm begging you, please don't do this!" In that moment, her emotions were in turmoil, and she spoke without thinking, her tone unconsciously becoming somewhat tearful.
She felt the man's body tremble slightly.
Chapter Twenty-Nine: The Desolate Valley (Part Two)
"Don't worry about me for now," Chen Jian's deep voice came through.
"No." Zhuang Su's answer was almost spontaneous. She couldn't abandon Shen Jian at this moment. She knew that all she could do was quietly stay by his side.
Zhuang Su slowly hugged Shen Jian from behind, holding him tightly with both hands, her forehead pressed against his back, and said in a deep voice, "Unless you kick me away, I will never let go, even if it kills me."
He was calm and silent, with a hint of heaviness in his voice.
How could he possibly push her away?
There was a faint fragrance in Zhuang Su's embrace, simple yet gentle. Shen Jian felt that his lower limbs were still cool, but not as cold as before. In fact, he clearly remembered his despair before, and although the despair was still there in his heart, he knew that he did not want Zhuang Su to worry.
"It's alright..." came a soft voice, almost like a sigh.
Zhuang Su opened her mouth as if to say something, but was interrupted by the sudden sound of a flute rising from afar. The mournful, low sound of the flute, accompanied by footsteps approaching from a distance, landed heavily in Zhuang Su's ears. She felt her posture stiffen slightly.
Whether Qingchen deliberately made his way with every step unnoticed or not, as he reached the door, he glanced casually into the room, a half-smile playing on his lips. He put down the jade flute, a teasing smile curving his lips slightly, and said, "Oh, what's going on here?"
Shen Jian's expression darkened. Zhuang Su hadn't made a move, but Shen Jian gently pushed her away. He glanced coldly at Qing Chen, his expression now revealing only a faint distance and intimidation. He asked, "Alliance Leader, how are the arrangements?" His attitude towards Qing Chen had subtly changed. Shen Jian knew he was no longer just a mere assassin from the Silver Hall. No matter how weak he was, in front of others, the only thing he needed to maintain now was his supreme authority.
"With Liu Su making the arrangements, there's no need to worry," Qing Chen replied calmly to Chen Jian, his gaze lingering on Zhuang Su. After a pause, he said slowly, "You just need to wait to ascend the throne."
Zhuang Su, who had been awkwardly avoiding Qing Chen's gaze, turned around abruptly in surprise upon hearing this. This action brought their eyes together, and Zhuang Su saw a hint of mockery in Qing Chen's eyes, realizing that this person's last words were deliberately meant for her.
“Su Su, my true identity is… the third prince of Chu—‘Dian Chu’.” Although Shen Jian knew that Su Su would find out sooner or later, he didn’t expect Qing Chen to appear so suddenly and reveal it so casually. Shen Jian’s voice was a little hoarse as he looked up at Qing Chen with a deep gaze.
However, Qingchen casually smiled, raised his hand, and gently beckoned, "Susu, come here for a moment." His slender fingertips traced a few ethereal arcs in the air, and his wide sleeves fluttered casually, exuding an extraordinary allure. The gesture was natural, but its excessive naturalness created a sense of distance. Susu had tried to savor the intimacy they once shared, but no matter how she tried to recall it, it felt somewhat distorted. She had a vague feeling that Qingchen had deliberately erected an invisible wall around himself, treating everyone equally, but in reality, it was cruel to everyone, making it impossible for anyone to get close to him.
Before she could react, Qingchen had already smiled and played with the jade flute a few times before turning and leaving. The jade flute twirled in the air a few times, then sank into a few empty arcs.
Zhuang Su stared blankly for a moment, then, when she came to her senses, she hurriedly got up to help Chen Jian, but the man didn't cooperate and just stared at her intently. Zhuang Su was surprised and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing to say?" Shen Jian's expression was strange, but his tone remained cold.
Zhuang Su smiled, "I always felt that Shen Jian was no ordinary person, but I never expected him to be of such noble status." She paused, then lowered her head slightly, "It seems that even Shen Jian will have to be treated with utmost respect from now on..."
Although she was smiling, it made Shen Jian feel inexplicably lonely. His eyes darkened, and he said, "No matter what position I am in, my feelings for you will not change." For some reason, the word "also" made him feel somewhat displeased.
He knew that Zhuang Su had thought of Qing Chen again.
Zhuang Su smiled upon hearing this, but did not answer. She helped Shen Jian to the bed, and after he lay down, she frowned and glared at him sternly, saying, "I'll be right back. You're not allowed to do anything reckless again."
Shen Jian nodded.
Only then did Zhuang Su smile, turn around and walk out of the room, gently closing the door behind her.
The moment the door closed, Zhuang Su's smile abruptly vanished. The leaves in the courtyard outside looked somewhat desolate. She took a few deep breaths, trying to make her expression appear natural. The news she'd received over the past few days had been relentless; rather than saying she was dealing with it head-on, it was more accurate to say she was numb. Forced smiles—that was a particularly fitting phrase for her now.
The wine envoy and leader of the One Leaf Alliance, the second son of the Prime Minister of Chu, and now, the "resurrected" third prince of the royal family... Zhuang Su let out a deep breath, finally feeling somewhat heavy-hearted. The extraordinary nature of each person around her made her feel increasingly "useless." Walking towards the backyard, she looked up and saw a white-clad figure in the center of the courtyard. Her heart tightened for no reason again.
Qingchen is playing the flute again. He seems to have developed a particular fondness for playing the flute lately…
"Alliance Leader, is there something you need?" Even as he spoke, Lian Zhuangsu was startled by the indifference in his own words.
Qingchen stopped playing the flute and turned to look at her. His eyes, devoid of the smile from before, were now filled with a profound depth.
"'Alliance Leader'...?" Qingchen's face held a playful expression, as if he were pondering it for a moment, before he chuckled, "It really is a good title..."
He seemed to like it very much, but Zhuang Su couldn't detect any joy in his tone. She couldn't help but glance away awkwardly and asked, "What exactly does the Alliance Leader want with me?"
Qingchen answered her question indirectly, saying in a low voice, "Come, sit down for a while." He casually sat down on the stone platform and patted the seat beside him. Zhuang Su hesitated for a moment, then walked over as well. The lingering scent of wine on him was intoxicating.
Both of them actually missed this peaceful feeling of being alone, but for a moment neither of them spoke.
rustling... With each gust of wind, a few withered leaves fall, and willow catkins flutter down, creating a strange sense of desolation. Perhaps it's because people's hearts are barren.
Zhuang Su was lost in thought and didn't notice a few leaves fluttering down and landing in her hair. The light dimmed before her eyes, and when she came to her senses, she saw a plain white sleeve gently brush against his face. In that soft moment, Qing Chen's slender fingertips lightly picked up a fallen leaf from the end of her hair. All she could see was the ambiguity in that gesture.
Gently brushing aside an unsightly tuft of hair from her locks, Qingchen brought his slender fingertips to his lips, pausing briefly to reveal his next move. He gave her a very light kiss, as if inhaling the lingering, faint scent of Zhuang Su. This gesture, with its alluring charm emanating from his slightly upturned lips, caused Zhuang Su's heart to race and her face to flush.
Qingchen saw that Zhuang Su's face was slightly flushed. The two were now so close that even a casual deep breath would fall on each other's faces. After his ambiguous actions just now, he did not move away. After a deep look, his expression gradually deepened under that gaze.
Qingchen moved slightly closer to Zhuangsu, catching her completely off guard. She felt her breath catch in her throat and instinctively tried to back away, but there was nowhere to go. She leaned against the thick tree trunk, her heart pounding as Qingchen drew nearer. Suddenly, her lips softened, and Qingchen's kiss landed on hers, plunging her into a moment of ecstasy.