The Sickly Beauty Substitute Called It Quits

10/06/23 - edited

Shang Junlin led Shen Yu over. Upon hearing the words, he couldn't help but glance at Shen Yu.

Before sending the young man back to the capital, Fang Jun wrote about the young man's background in the note. As far as he knew, the young man had never been to the capital and Shen Yu had never been to Subei, so the two should not have any interaction.

Realizing this, Shang Junlin looked at the young man with scrutiny.

Shen Yu carefully examined the young man's appearance. His half-long black hair was casually tied behind his head. He had a handsome face with a hint of youthfulness. His pupils were a lighter color. If he had really interacted with the young man before, it would be impossible to have no impression at all.

"Are you sure it was me you saw?" Shen Yu asked.

Shang Junlin tightened his grip on Shen Yu's hand.

The young man thought for a moment, nodded, and then shook his head slightly under Shen Yu's gaze as if looking at a stranger. "I don't know."

Shen Yu pulled Shang Junlin over to sit at the stone table. "What happened exactly?"

"When I was a child, I saw someone who looked a lot like you," the young man realized now. It had been many years since he saw that person. The man's appearance had given him a great shock when he was young. Today, seeing Shen Yu, who looked almost exactly the same, he blurted out his question.

Shen Yu and Shang Junlin looked at each other. They didn't expect to hear such a thing from the young man.

"Do you remember what happened back then?" Shen Yu asked.

"I don't remember much. I just remember that Subei was in chaos at that time, with wars everywhere. I accidentally fell into a trap set by the people in Beimo and was saved by a person who looked particularly handsome."

Many years had passed, and the young man could only remember the man's face in the moonlight and the cold temperature when he was held by him. It was the first time someone had ever held him in their arms and it was the only time. It was a secret that he would never reveal.

After the young man finished speaking, he glanced at Shen Yu and added, "Just as handsome as you are."

Before coming to the capital, Fang Jun told the young man a lot about the city and instructed him to follow the rules and be obedient. The young man trusted Fang Jun and agreed to everything.

On the way to the capital, the person who accompanied him explained many things about the city to him, including about the emperor and the noble consort. That person told him that the noble consort was like a bright moon and could be recognized at a glance. At first, he didn't believe it until he saw the real person and realized that the person had not exaggerated at all.

As the young man stared at Shen Yu, a flash of displeasure crossed Shang Junlin's eyes.

This was the second person he had encountered who looked very similar to himself, in addition to Shen Yue. Shen Yu lowered his eyes in thought. In his past life, he had lived for more than ten years without encountering such a situation. Was it just a coincidence or had his rebirth changed something?

Shen Yu leaned towards the latter.

Shang Junlin knocked on the table. "Tell me what you know."

Although he was displeased, this matter was likely related to Shen Yu's identity, and Shang Junlin could not simply ignore it because of slight discomfort.

"I remember only these things. The person saved me and put me in a safe place, then left. Later, I looked for him in many places, but I couldn't find any trace of him. Later, I secretly asked around, but they all said they had never seen such a person."

Suddenly appearing and then disappearing without a trace, Shen Yu thought of his mother. Could the person the young man had met have any connection to his mother?

After confirming that the young man really didn't know anything else, Shen Yu gave up on asking and Shang Junlin did not want the young man to keep focusing on Shen Yu, so he asked about the situation in Subei.

The young man had been following Fang Jun and was well aware of what had happened in Subei. Fang Jun had also told him before he came that the emperor would ask him some questions and he should answer truthfully. The young man remembered Fang Jun's instructions and, when asked by Shang Junlin, he recounted what had happened in Subei in a clear and concise manner.

Through the young man's words, Shen Yu and Shang Junlin gained a better understanding of what had happened with Fang Jun in Subei. With a steady stream of supplies being delivered, the situation in Subei had greatly improved. Because the army had been dispatched to escort the supplies, and the Subei army had provided support, there had been no more incidents of bandits on the way.

The group of Hidden Dragon Guards that Gu Huai had brought was focused on investigating the problems among Subei's upper-level officials. Apart from the time they had saved Fang Jun, they had not appeared again. No one knew that they had already infiltrated the inner circle of Subei's officials and were gathering evidence to give them a fatal blow.

Those Subei officials were still dreaming of collecting all the relief supplies sent from various places into their pockets.

"The court is also at fault. They crossed the main city and sent these things to the surrounding small cities. It's just a bunch of fools, what's there to save?"

"You can say that when we're alone, but don't say that in front of those officials who came from the capital."

"I know the extent of my words. Come, let's keep drinking."

The people who were drinking and having fun didn't know that the scythe of death was already hanging over their heads.

"And those refugees are useless, they couldn't even kill Fang Jun in the chaos. Instead, they were caught."

"My Lord, will those people betray us?"

"Do you think this official is so stupid that he would leave evidence behind? No matter how they interrogate Fang Jun and the others, they can only get one result."

"They don't know that Fang Jun only imprisoned them and didn't bother to interrogate them because he already knew the result. Why bother with unnecessary steps?"

Shen Yu and Shang Junlin learned more details about the assassination from the young man's mouth.

"It was a good idea for the disguised refugees to do it. If the plan could succeed, it could provoke conflict between the court officials and the local people, and they could also clean themselves up without a trace. Killing two birds with one stone." Shang Junlin's grip on the cup tightened.

Shen Yu rescued the innocent cup from Shang Junlin's hand, saying, "Your Majesty, why get angry at those people who will eventually be dealt with? Fang Daren has already successfully handed them over to the Hidden Dragon Guard. Just wait a few more days, and those people won't be able to laugh anymore."

Shang Junlin grabbed Shen Yu's wrist and pulled him into his embrace. "If everyone could be like you, Ah Yu, then I wouldn't have to worry so much."

"Your Majesty, don't think about unrealistic things like that. Even if it's me, after being immersed in the officialdom for several years, I can't guarantee that I would remain true to my original intentions."

The temptation of power is great, and maintaining one's initial intentions is easier said than done. How many people have truly achieved it throughout history?

"Let's not talk about that. Is Yan Zheng going to lead his men north soon?" Shang Junlin picked up a strand of Shen Yu's hair and twirled it in his fingers.

The last time they left the palace, they not only saw the young man but also Yan Zheng. Coincidentally, there were many goods that needed to be transported to Subei recently, and there was an army escort throughout the journey. Yan Zheng wanted to take this opportunity to try his luck.

He chose the first location to be Beimo.

In the elegant room, Yan Zheng spoke of his plan, "Beimo's relationship with our Da Huan has been relatively stable in recent years, and I have always had a caravan going there. This is a good time to go to Beimo, where I can borrow the army's escort and gather information."

Shen Yu was surprised by his bold idea, "This is a dangerous time to go there..."

"I know it's dangerous, but it also comes with great opportunities," Yan Zheng poured himself a cup of tea and slowly drank it. "For a merchant, we must not forget the four words 'seize the opportunity.' I believe that the things in my hands can bring me great wealth."

Yan Zheng never concealed his ambition, and he didn't need to hide anything in front of Shen Yu and Shang Junlin. Sometimes, being frank and open would make people appreciate it more.

"Once you've made your decision, I'll prepare what you need. Be careful when you reach Beimo."

Unexpectedly, Shen Yu spoke words of concern. Yan Zheng was stunned for a moment, then said, "Even for the sake of our long-term cooperation, I will come back safely."

Shang Junlin sat beside Shen Yu and didn't react to this conversation at the time. Only after returning to the palace that night did he bully Shen Yu severely.

Now, there were still marks left on Shen Yu's body.

Unexpectedly, Shang Junlin suddenly brought up this matter. Shen Yu raised an eyebrow and said, "His Majesty isn't jealous this time?"

Shang Junlin began to caress the skin on Shen Yu's neck, where there were red marks he had left behind. Not just on the neck, there were more places covered.

Thinking of the youth's skin gradually turning crimson that night, accompanied by low sobs and light panting... Shang Junlin's eyes darkened.

"Ah Yu said, why am I jealous?"

The man's low and hoarse voice entered his ears as if it were that night again.

The man used this kind of voice to ask Shen Yu over and over again in his ear. If Shen Yu didn't answer or his answer didn't satisfy the man, he would be bullied even more severely.

Shen Yu couldn't remember how many things he shouldn't have said that night under Shang Junlin's coaxing. Anyway, the next day he didn't feel good anywhere on his body.

The memory was awakened, and Shen Yu felt a little hot.

"It was indeed in these past two days," Shen Yu forced himself to clear those memories from his mind, "his caravan will follow the second batch of disaster relief supplies."

Time passed in the blink of an eye. Yan Zheng left the city with the rest of the troops. During the rest period, he looked back at the capital and thought that sacrificing those useless people to come to the capital was probably the most correct decision he had made.

In the Yu Zhang Palace.

Shen Yu closed his eyes, his long eyelashes fluttering uneasily, casting a shadow. Tears welled up at the corners of his eyes, and the edges of his eyes were dyed with a layer of rouge, becoming even more charming.

The tall figure of the man in black robes held him tightly in his arms and kissed him forcefully.

Like Shang Junlin himself, this kiss was domineering and aggressive, with a fierce intention to devour the youth.

Shen Yu could only endure it.

"Don't think about other people, or I'll be angry, Ah Yu." Shang Junlin backed off a bit, but his lips were still on Shen Yu's.

"His Majesty is unreasonable. You were the one who brought him up earlier," Shen Yu opened his eyes, and the mist in his eyes had not yet dispersed. His eyes were shimmering, making people sink with just one glance.

Shen Yu hadn't forgotten that it was Shang Junlin who mentioned Yan Zheng first this time. Because of what happened that night, he hadn't mentioned Yan Zheng in front of Shang Junlin for these few days.

Shang Junlin's kiss moved upwards and finally landed on those eyes that he was obsessed with.

Shen Yu closed his eyes and enjoyed this moment of warmth.

"This time, I misunderstood you, Ah Yu," Shang Junlin apologized in a low voice, but his words had a deeper meaning. "You can punish me in any way you want."