Chapter 15

Murong Fu spoke, his voice as still as a bottomless well, devoid of any emotion: "I remember—you are my cousin, Wang Yuyan."

"Cousin, then… do you love me?" As soon as the words left her lips, Wang Yuyan's heart leapt to her throat.

Finally, Murong Fu replied: "I do."

Love?!"

Cousin loves me?!"

Wang Yuyan felt a tremendous surge of joy strike her, so overwhelming she nearly fainted.

Could it be… could it be that all this time she had been imagining things, that the diary's author had been babbling nonsense, and that Cousin had always had feelings for her?

Thinking of this, Wang Yuyan—a gentle, serene lady of noble birth—suddenly jumped up in delight.

Without hesitation, she asked: "Cousin, will you marry me?"

Murong Fu's voice remained calm: "I will not."

Will not!

Those three words exploded like a thunderclap in Wang Yuyan's ears, shattering all her joy into smoke.

Wang Yuyan stared at Murong Fu in disbelief, her emotions swinging from elation to despair, leaving her limbs weak.

She trembled as she asked: "W-why? Why won't you marry me?"

"Because you are unworthy."

"I am unworthy?"

"Yes. I, Murong Fu, shall one day restore the Great Yan and become Emperor. My wife must be a noblewoman of exalted status, worthy of matching me. You are merely the daughter of a wealthy family—how could you possibly match me, Murong Fu? At best, when I become Emperor, I may grant you the title of concubine."

Upon hearing this, Wang Yuyan froze in place.

015 Great sorrow brings no tears, only a flood of weeping

"So in your eyes, have I always been this lowly?"

Wang Yuyan's heart ached with bitter pain; she never imagined her usually refined cousin could hold her in such contempt.

"Could it be… that your fallen Great Yan imperial lineage is truly nobler than I am?"

Wang Yuyan could not help but complain, her voice heavy with sorrow.

Suddenly came a sharp rebuke: "Insolent! How dare you look down on Great Yan? Our imperial blood is a hundred times nobler than your lowly commoners! How can you compare yourself to me?!"

Wang Yuyan was startled by the sudden outburst.

As she heard his words and saw Murong Fu's expressionless face, a chill crept into her heart.

She felt the cousin before her had become utterly alien—someone she no longer recognized at all.

He no longer seemed human, but a demon possessed!

Yet remembering years of unrequited love, she clung to a sliver of hope and asked: "Then when you said you loved me… what was it you loved?"

"My cousin is as beautiful as a celestial fairy—who could fail to love her?"

"You love me only for my looks?"

"Yes."

"If you love me, why have you been so cold toward me?"

"Romantic affection cannot compare to matters of state."

"If I asked you to abandon your quest to restore the empire and live peacefully with me… would you agree?"

"Impossible! A mere woman dares to try to ruin my restoration plans and block my ascension to the throne?! Kill!"

"What?"

"I said kill! Kill kill kill! Whoever stands in my way to restore Great Yan is my enemy! Enemies must be killed! Kill kill kill!"

"Even me? Would you kill me too?"

"You? What are you? Even the Four Great Generals who defy me—I would slay them all!"

Wang Yuyan's face turned ashen. Seeing Murong Fu utter such brutal words with the most casual tone, her emotions surged, her head spun, and her frail body collapsed.

"Miss Murong!"

The two maids hiding nearby, seeing her about to fall, rushed out and caught her just in time.

"Miss Murong, what's wrong? Wake up!" A Bi gently shook her.

"Let me!" Zhu was quicker—she pinched the point between Wang Yuyan's eyebrows.

Under the pain, Wang Yuyan slowly regained consciousness. She glanced at the two maids and murmured dazedly: "Zhu, Bi… you're here."

Strange as it was, Murong Fu's words had left Wang Yuyan with a sense of utter despair—yet not a single tear fell. She simply sat there, numb and vacant.

Zhu urged: "Miss Murong, why not just cry?"

Wang Yuyan neither nodded nor shook her head. She remained silent, as if she hadn't heard.

Seeing her like this, Zhu grew even more worried—was this what they called "great sorrow brings no tears"?

Yet for such a state, even her sharp mind offered no solution.

Then the two maids turned to look at Murong Fu, their expressions complex.

They had heard every question and answer between Wang Yuyan and Murong Fu—and they, too, had been terrified by his cruelty.

They never imagined their Young Master had such a hidden, monstrous side.

Zhu handed Wang Yuyan over to A Bi, then stepped before Murong Fu and asked: "Young Master, do you remember me?"

"I remember—you are one of my maids, Zhu."

"Young Master, do you like Zhu?"

"I do not."

"Why? Is Zhu not beautiful?"

"Zhu is indeed beautiful, but you are merely my maid—a servant. How could you possibly match me, Young Master?"

"Then how does Young Master plan to arrange things for Ah Zhu in the future?"

"Naturally, as a tool to win people's hearts—marry you off to someone worth roping in."

"A marriage alliance?"

"Exactly! Otherwise, you with your lowly registered status, why would I, Young Master, bother having you learn qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting, raising you like a lady from a great house?"

"Ah Zhu understands."

Ah Zhu gave a soft sigh, turned, and withdrew.

She had been clever since childhood, and had long since guessed the answers to these questions in her heart; but since she had been deeply indebted to the Murong family for raising and educating her, she would not harbor resentment on account of it.

Still, hearing Murong Fu confirm these guesses with his own lips left her feeling a little uncomfortable.

After all, the purpose behind their cultivation of her was far too mercenary.

She could understand it, and she could accept it, but the taste of it was inevitably bitter.

As for Murong Fu having no feelings for her, Ah Zhu did not care, because she too had no romantic feelings for Murong Fu—only respect and gratitude.

Coming to Ahi Bi's side, Ah Zhu said, "You go try it too."

But Ahi Bi shook her head like a rattle-drum, refusing: "That wouldn't be right, I… I'd rather not ask."

"Young Master drank the 'Truth Water,' and he won't remember anything that happens during it—what are you afraid of?" Ah Zhu said, puzzled.

But Ahi Bi still shook her head.

Seeing her so out of character, Ah Zhu suddenly thought of something, and her heart cleared.

She looked into Ahi Bi's eyes and said, "You like Young Master, don't you?"

Ahi Bi pressed her lips tightly together and said nothing.

Ah Zhu pressed on: "You're afraid of hearing an answer you don't want to hear, so you choose to run away, to deceive yourself—isn't that right?"

"Sister Ah Zhu, stop saying that!" Ahi Bi said aggrievedly: "I only want to stay by Young Master's side and attend him, and I'll be content—please, ask me no more."

Yet Ah Zhu shook her head: "I'm afraid that won't be as you wish."

"What do you mean?"

"Take out your diary copy."

Ahi Bi did as she was told.

Ah Zhu also summoned her own diary copy, and at the same time flipped to the title page.

【Character: Ahi Bi】

【Appearance: 9】

【Favorability: 9】

【Character: Ah Zhu】

【Appearance: 9】