Chapter 216

Return to Cang Cheng, then we'll talk.

That is, no matter what, we must also force her to make a trip back to Cang Cheng.

Sunlight entered the dwelling, the room tranquil.

【4> Du Shanü did not rise, merely lowered her eyes, using the soft silk to wipe the ink-stained fingertips.

Du Shanü did not rise, merely lowered her eyes, using the soft satin to wipe the ink‑stained fingertip.

Yu Lve hadn't expected to have spoken such biased words; the other party showed no reaction, and for a moment he was unsure what kind of temperament this new head of household possessed.

He could only lift his gaze again, to look at the two figures standing side by side in the corner.

Chinu still kept his head lowered, his nose almost touching his chest, just as he had in his youth, just as he had countless times before.

Apart from that innate, gloomy introversion, no expression could be seen.

And the other, Chen Weifang......

When Yu Lve had previously dealt with him, he knew this refined scholar was certainly a troublesome character.

However, upon meeting those ancient-well-like eyes today, he still felt a jolt in his heart.

Clearly just a fleeting glance, without any emotion.

However, however, in that instant, the depths of his eyes seemed like a giant python swallowing the moon, as if trying to devour all light in the gaze of whoever met his eyes.

This person......

This person seems to have something off about him.

Yu Lve couldn't pinpoint exactly where that oddness lay, pondering it carefully, when he saw Du Shanü behind the desk finally finish wiping her fingers and stand up.

Du Shanü tossed the soft silk she had used to wipe her hands onto the desk, as if unintentionally, and spoke:

"...... Cousin Yu of the Yu family, thank you for pointing me the way. However, since you have borrowed the name 'Liu Liu', hiding your true identity, wandering all the way here, and having witnessed the might of the Yuan Chong crossbow, you ought to have understood——

the former glory of the Yin Dynasty is, to me, not a timely aid in the snow, but merely an embellishment on brocade?"

"How the Yin Dynasty collapsed back then, you should know better than anyone. If one lacks genuine ability, no matter how illustrious the reputation, vying for the world is nothing but empty talk."

After all, how the once-mighty Dayin fell, everyone knows it in their hearts.

Du Shanü said this offhandedly.

Yet to onlookers, it sounded like a thunderous boom.

Yu Lve hadn't expected the other party to guess his identity, and to speak such words for Chinu; his mind and spirit were shaken, and he instinctively stepped back.

His face slightly changed color; he unconsciously looked toward Chinu again, but this time he couldn't see Chinu clearly before a figure blocked his view.

That figure wasn't particularly tall, yet its cold eyes and icy gaze made people's hearts tighten.

Du Shanü stood before Chinu and spoke softly:

"Since Cang Cheng has been mentioned, making a trip back is fine; there's really nothing......

"Just, there is one thing that I particularly dislike.

Outside the door the sunlight was bright, a clear breeze passed through the corridors, but inside the study, as soon as daylight touched her surroundings it gradually sank, slicing a clear-cut line at her feet.

The candle flames lay low and still, the surroundings hushed to an almost oppressive silence.

A step forward from Du Shanü was warm sunshine; a slight shift backward plunged her into deep shadow.

She dwelt in the shadow, like a sprite that had just shed its beastly form and newly taken human shape, her pupils hidden in the darkness turning slowly, carefully scrutinizing the person before her.

She did not raise her voice in questioning, yet her gaze layered upon him, as if dissecting his heart.

The clamorous daylight outside the window was barred by the boundary; the warmer it became, the more it highlighted the chilling, unfathomable corner where she stood, the whole room silent, even the light spots on the floor daring not to sway.

Yu Lve had weathered countless storms, yet ultimately he still could not withstand that gaze.

His heart still trembled; he did not know why Chinu could make her step forward like this, nor to what extent she would do so for Chinu......

Hit?

Scold?

Intimidate?

Rebuke?

No.

For a sovereign lord, these are unnecessary.

Because the next instant, Yu Lve heard a soft voice by his ear:

"When you call me, why do you address me as 'Du Niangzi'?"

Du Shanü stepped forward half a pace, her posture lax, even somewhat listless.

Yet that half-step she took, Yu Lve instinctively retreated a step.

After that step back, he only then belatedly realized what he had just heard——

He actually, actually did not speak up for Chinu?

But why single out the form of address?

What's strange about that......

Du Shanü lowered her eyes, speaking indifferently:

"Cousin Yu, you nobles forget things easily; you only remember what outsiders say—that I am the daughter of the deposed crown prince Hui, wife of the Young Emperor...... After hearing it so long, perhaps even you have forgotten; now I am moreover the mistress of the three cities of this region under the Liangjiang Circuit."

"Even a tiny Tancheng dares to raise rebellion; she truly commands tens of thousands of people and possesses weapons capable of dominating a region—on what grounds could she not contend for the world?!"

"Though Ju Cheng has fallen, in that territory, who besides Du Shanü could have the advantage of being close to the water?!"

She is nobody's daughter! Nobody's wife!

She is, the master.

She today, is Chinu's master.

She will someday be the master of all under heaven!

This person, how dare he call her name directly, how dare he look straight at her, and how dare he......

They bound her with fame and family teachings, casually pointing at her, toying with her feelings?!

"I always thought, my older male cousin is a smart person; he should understand a principle better......"

Du Shanü stepped forward another half step, spreading her shoulders and standing firm.

In just a breath, Chinu understood the meaning.

He walked to the window-side wooden clothes rack, took down the hanging great coat, lightly brushed off dust on the garment, went behind the master, from shoulder to back slowly draped it, stretched out the two sleeves, smoothed the wrinkles, and carefully tied the sash at the neck.

Du Shanü then, in front of everyone, extended her finger and lightly touched Chinu's brows and eyes.

Her fingertip was slightly cool, moving from top to bottom, she rubbed the few captivating moles on Chinu's face.

Her touch was both light and meticulous.

As the fingertip reached his eyelashes, Chinu couldn't help but tremble slightly, wanting to close his eyes.

Du Shanü, however, withdrew her hand at the right moment, turned to Yu Lve, and finally, as if unable to restrain herself, burst into wild laughter.

"You think that before you found Yu Yiai, how did he spend his days?"

"You think that now, with only two cities remaining, they can still be safe and sound—whose merit is that?"

"You think the Yin Dynasty is such a delicious treat that everyone passing by has to take a bite?!!"

"You think, who was it... after Emperor Taizong's death, who helped Yu Yiai guard this realm?!"

Du Shanü laughed louder and louder, her laughter shaking the house so that dust from the books fluttered down.

She saw Chinu's astonishment, and saw everyone's astonishment.

However, she also saw a fleeting...... in the depths of Chinu's eyes.

Heartbroken.

No one remembers Chinu's past achievements; they only recorded his status as a slave, and only noted that his mother was a prostitute whom a thousand men had slept with and ten thousand had ridden.

Thus, how others treated him seemed all 'appropriate'.

People took his existence for granted, as if he were destined to die for someone, to throw himself into danger for someone.

People assumed he could not compare to the Young Emperor, so they dared to, to his face, force his beloved to leave.

That's right.

Everything, is just as it should be.

But now, it has been spoken aloud.

Du Shanü laughed her fill, wiped away a tear of laughter, and in an instant returned to being that hidden, dignified lord whose moods were unpredictable.

She looked at Yu Lve and said calmly:

"...... It has never been that I must rely on someone to gain the world; rather, this world has times when it relies on me!"

"You behave like this today; in the future, if Yu Yiai is deposed without fault, you must claim the chief merit!!!"

Along this way, she has not lacked insight into heaven and earth, nor awareness of her own weakness; but when has she ever truly submitted to anyone?

Who dares to suppress her?!

Who can suppress her?!

On what basis can a few words reduce her Chinu to worthlessness?

On what basis can a few words compel her to set out and follow?

Even if she goes, what then?

In the future, there will be plenty of time for her to vent this resentment!

?? coming coming||ヽ(*￣▽￣*)ノミ|Ю