"Master." Hongju and Situ Jinghao had come over to us at some point. I guess Hongju noticed me when I leaned over to look at Situ Jinghao's face, so she brought Situ Jinghao this way.
"Jingyan." The voice was like water, gentle and serene, as melodious as a mountain stream.
This was the first time Shen Qianmo had heard Situ Jinghao speak. She hadn't expected even his voice to be so pleasant. Such a man shouldn't belong to royalty.
"Jinghao, are you feeling better? Why did you come out?!" Situ Jingyan saw Situ Jinghao's pale face and a hint of displeasure flashed in his eyes as he asked with concern.
A hint of apology flashed in Situ Jinghao's clear eyes, but Shen Qianmo felt as if the despair surrounding him had intensified. Those clear eyes seemed to be desperately yearning for life, yet struggling to give up.
"Perhaps we won't see the moonlight for many more days." After a long while, Situ Jinghao said in a low voice, his voice slightly hoarse, just like the despair in his eyes.
"No! Jinghao, I will save you!" Situ Jingyan felt a pang of sorrow when he saw Situ Jinghao's desperate expression.
He understood that Situ Jinghao's despair was not because of the Yin-Yang Powder, but because of the person who administered it—Situ Jinghao's mother, Consort Liu!
Back then, Situ Jinghao took Yin-Yang Powder to save him. Consort Liu not only felt no remorse, but also loathed Situ Jinghao and made things difficult for him at every turn. She even said that she would only have one son, Situ Jingye, in the future.
Even so, Situ Jinghao was only filled with despair. He still begged him to spare Situ Jingye and Consort Liu, who were the only surviving prince and concubine from the previous dynasty. This was the only thing he could do for Situ Jinghao.
"We still have to avoid each other in this palace." Yue Wanwan sat leisurely in Rumeng Pavilion, holding a cup of fine tea in her hand, and gently blew on it, seemingly complaining to Situ Jingyan.
A murderous glint flashed in Situ Jingyan's eyes, and a wicked smile curled at the corner of his mouth. "It's just avoiding some fools. Once I find the Fire Fruit and cure Jinghao's poison, I'll deal with all these fools as well."
The news of Situ Jingyan's return to the palace was not announced to the world. This was also to keep it from Situ Jingye, making it easier to take action secretly and catch him off guard.
Situ Jingyan's tolerance of Situ Jingye for so long was already a great favor to Situ Jinghao. However, Situ Jingye showed no remorse and continued to covet the throne. He even colluded with Consort Liu to plant spies in the palace. Unfortunately, all of this was under Situ Jingyan's control. If they hadn't promised Situ Jinghao not to harm them, they would probably have been dead long ago.
"Fire Island is fraught with danger; quality is more important than quantity." Shen Qianmo put down her teacup, a confident and ostentatious smile playing on her lips.
Fire Island is a taboo in the martial arts world, but that doesn't mean she's afraid of it. The route to Fire Island has been scouted, and she'll leave the palace tomorrow. As for the people accompanying her, she doesn't need too many.
“Hongju will stay in the palace, and Qingzhu has other matters to attend to. I will take Hongmei and Qingsong with me.” Situ Jingyan’s eyes held a hint of seriousness, but the smile on his lips was unrestrained and flamboyant.
Shen Qianmo raised her eyes slightly, looked at Situ Jingyan, and showed a knowing expression. She smiled and said, "We've reached the same conclusion. I've also decided to only bring Qianqian and Shengge."
When Shengge was mentioned, Shen Qianmo's brows furrowed almost imperceptibly. Shengge had been frequently entering the palace to report on matters these past few days, but his eyes were no longer as cold as before; instead, they looked around with tenderness, as if searching for Situ Jinghao.
"What's wrong?"
Shen Qianmo's expression did not escape Situ Jingyan's eyes. Seeing Shen Qianmo's slightly furrowed brows, Situ Jingyan immediately asked gently.
"Shengge has probably developed feelings for Situ Jinghao," Shen Qianmo said, pursing her lips with a mixture of worry and embarrassment.
After all, it's still hard to accept that one man likes another. Although Shenge has fallen for Situ Jinghao, who is dressed as a woman, Situ Jinghao is still a man. Although she and Shenge aren't as close as she is to Qianqian, they've still spent a lot of time together. How could she bear to let Shenge cause such a scene?
"What did you say?!" Situ Jingyan's usually wicked smile vanished, replaced by a look of surprise. He finally lost his composure.
Although his sixth brother was indeed stunningly beautiful, it was still quite surprising that this man liked men. Moreover, that man was as cold and aloof as a thousand-year-old glacier.
Shen Qianmo shrugged, looking as if she was helpless as well.
"Palace Master." Sheng Ge, dressed in black, landed silently not far from Shen Qianmo and Situ Jingyan. Her features remained as upright and cold as ever, but her eyes were filled with some inexplicable emotions.
Seeing Sheng Ge appear silently, Shen Qianmo's eyes flashed with a sly glint. With a hint of provocation, she said to Situ Jingyan, "I remember someone looking down on Qi Yue's guards. It seems the guards of Tianmo Palace aren't all that great after all!"
Situ Jingyan curled his thin lips, a mixture of helplessness and doting. "How strong can the palace guards be? I told you, if you can get into the Enchanting Blood Tower like this, that's quite an achievement."
“Speaking of which, Jingyan even said he would give the Enchanting Blood Tower to me.” Shen Qianmo smiled and said lightly, glancing at Shengge before saying seriously, “But we’ll have to wait until Fire Island returns.”
"Everything is ready. We can depart tomorrow." Shengge interrupted coldly as soon as Shen Qianmo mentioned Fire Island.
He had never cared about anything so much before. Was it because of that stunningly beautiful woman? Sheng Ge frowned slightly. He didn't know why either; he had only glanced at her from afar, and it was as if he could never look away again. Was this what they called love?
But he didn't even know who this woman was or why she was in the palace. He was simply attracted by her divine aura and deeply moved by the story the palace master told him about her, so he wanted to save her?!
"Shengge." Shen Qianmo suddenly interrupted Shengge. Shengge's current state suggested she had fallen for Situ Jinghao, but how could she tell her? Tell Shengge that the woman he was attracted to was actually a man?!
"Hmm?" Sheng Ge raised his eyebrows, his eyes showing little emotion. Although he and Shen Qianmo were master and servant, and although he was usually very respectful to Shen Qianmo, it didn't mean that he would have any emotional fluctuations when he saw Shen Qianmo.
He had been cold and emotionless for a very long time. It wasn't until he saw that stunningly beautiful woman a few days ago that his heart began to beat again.
"The person we need to save is my sixth brother, Situ Jinghao. The reason he dressed as a woman was simply to cover his tracks," Situ Jingyan interrupted Shen Qianmo, his eyes filled with a cold glint.
He understood Shen Qianmo's predicament, but ultimately the truth had to be told. Since Shen Qianmo found it difficult to speak, he would speak for her. From now on, he would do whatever she didn't want to do.
"What did you say?!" Even someone as calm and reserved as Shengge was shocked and widened her eyes upon hearing this news.
But the serious expressions on Situ Jingyan and Shen Qianmo's faces told him that it was all true. The woman he had fallen for was actually a man, and the son of his father's killer. How absurd and ridiculous this was!
Turning away in silence, Sheng Ge's back trembled slightly, and Shen Qianmo sighed almost imperceptibly behind her. Over the years, although Sheng Ge had a rather cold personality, they had always treated each other like siblings. Now, Sheng Ge was facing this situation, which was related to her playful attitude back then. It was truly a tangled mess.
Shengge tried her best to maintain a cool expression, but her mind was already unsettled. She walked quickly and didn't pay attention to the road ahead, bumping into someone.
"How do you walk like that!" Hongju's scolding came, but Shengge ignored it, only raising her eyes coldly with disdain and icy indifference.
But when his gaze fell upon the pale figure he had knocked to the ground, his expression suddenly became complex. Tenderness, resentment, and helplessness were all mixed together.
Perhaps fate just loves to play jokes. Perhaps, after losing his family and everything, he shouldn't have even dared to hope for love anymore.
"Miss Hongju, I'm alright." Situ Jinghao struggled to get up from the ground. Dressed in women's clothes, it was difficult for him to even stand up. His face was still as pale as paper, but the smile on his face made that paleness shine brightly.
"I'm sorry." Sheng Ge nodded slightly and said to Situ Jinghao.
I'm sorry. It's only because he was the one I bumped into. If it had been someone else, I'm afraid Shengge wouldn't have paid any attention.
"It's alright. I think you seem to have something on your mind, young master?" Situ Jinghao smiled slightly, pursed his lips, and stared straight at Shengge with his androgynous face and bright eyes.
Shengge felt as if those eyes, tinged with despair, had suddenly pierced into his heart, and the serene smile on his lips was like a clear spring, washing away all the bitterness he had endured for years.