The Sickly Beauty Substitute Called It Quits

I will release 3 chapters today  to make up for the week  I didnt update. The third chapter is the bonus chapter for kofi donator last week. So sorry, it got delayed.

Shen Yu scanned the study hall; besides Shang Junlin, there were no other ministers present.

"What are you looking at, Ah Yu?" Shang Junlin noticed his movements and asked.

"How can Your Majesty be here all alone, busy like this, without even having dinner?" Shen Yu approached and instructed the palace attendant to place the brought food on a small table.

"How does Ah Yu know I haven't had dinner? Did Meng Chang speak too much again?" Shang Junlin stood up and guided Shen Yu to sit beside him.

"Don't blame Meng-gonggong. He's concerned about your well-being. Even when you're busy, you still need to take time for meals," Shen Yu replied calmly.

Meng-gonggong stepped forward, opening the food box and presenting the dishes. "Even if Your Majesty punishes me, I will still speak up to His Excellency."

"With Ah Yu backing you up, of course you'd dare say anything," Shang Junlin chuckled, not truly upset.

The aroma of the food filled the air. Shen Yu set aside the documents in front of Shang Junlin. "Your Majesty, please eat first. I'm hungry."

"No one should go hungry, especially not Ah Yu," Shang Junlin said, taking Shen Yu's hand and standing up.

Meng-gonggong quickly instructed the servants to prepare the dining area.

The heating in the study hall was not as efficient as in Yuzhang Palace. After a while, Shen Yu managed to warm himself up. Shang Junlin held his slightly cold hand, instructing Meng-gonggong to stoke the fire.

The dishes were laid out one by one, offering both meat and vegetables, their aroma tantalizing. The sight and smell alone were enough to make one's mouth water.

"We had the kitchen prepare a special soup. Your Majesty, please have some," Shen Yu poured a bowl of creamy white soup in front of Shang Junlin.

Shang Junlin graciously accepted Shen Yu's gesture. He drank the hot soup, feeling warmth spread from within.

Shang Junlin ate quickly, despite also attending to Shen Yu, and finished before Shen Yu, who preferred to eat slowly. Not rushing, Shen Yu waited patiently until the man had finished.

Rather than attending to paperwork, Shang Junlin waited until Shen Yu was done eating before leading him to the imperial desk.

"Has Your Majesty been busy with King Yue's affairs recently?" Shen Yu glanced at the documents, authored by Xun Chao, detailing the situation in Yuezhou.

King Yue's uprising had caused a period of turmoil in Yuezhou. Fortunately, Xun Chao's timely intervention had swiftly quelled the rebellion, minimizing damage.

"King Yue has entrenched himself in Yuezhou for many years, deeply entangled with various factions there. To stabilize Yuezhou, these forces must be dealt with decisively," Xun Chao's primary task was clear.

"Things have been progressing smoothly. The only concern is that some of King Yue's supporters have disappeared from Yuezhou," Shen Yu remarked calmly, his finger resting on the edge of the document.

"Yes, I had Gu Huai investigate. One group intercepted on their way out of Yuezhou was heading to join King Yue. Additionally, several other factions remain unaccounted for," Shang Junlin responded.

Gu Huai had been tasked with a new mission and had been stationed away from the capital for years, dealing with the aftermath of those arrested.

"Your Majesty has already apprehended individuals, but who exactly has been behind King Yue all these years? Was Tan-daren acting under orders as well?" Shen Yu inquired.

Following King Yue's capture, Shen Yu had learned from Shang Junlin about recent developments. Regardless, Tan-daren didn't seem to be the true mastermind.

"Yes, the Ministry of Justice has been interrogating Tan-daren, who possesses valuable information. Numerous accomplices have been apprehended, yet the true instigator remains elusive," Shang Junlin admitted, rubbing his forehead.

"Is it that they can't reveal their identity, or..." Shen Yu began, questioning further.

"They can't locate the true identity of the mastermind. Commands have always been conveyed through 'emissaries,' individuals dressed in black with masks obscuring their faces," Shang Junlin replied.

"This person is deeply concealed and highly cautious. With so many people involved, no one has seen their face?" Shen Yu asked.

"No," Shang Junlin confirmed.

"Not revealing their true identity yet commanding such a large force entrusted by the late emperor... It must have been someone highly active during the late emperor's reign but not well known in the current court. Have Your Majesty investigated any influential ministers trusted by the late emperor?" Shen Yu inquired.

"I have. One seems plausible, but he passed away ten years ago," Shang Junlin sighed.

The lead had gone cold.

They still possessed too little information.

Shen Yu in his past life had no inkling of such a force's existence, let alone who was controlling it. Frustrated by his thoughts, Shen Yu had to temporarily abandon the pursuit.

Gu Huai's operational capabilities were formidable. With his troops, he moved stealthily across Da Huan's territories, uprooting hidden forces.

The evidence against King Yue for treason was irrefutable, warranting immediate execution. Considering the upcoming New Year festivities, Shang Junlin postponed the execution.

The Ministry of Justice's main prison was distinct from its clandestine counterpart. It housed a variety of prisoners, with King Yue kept isolated, undergoing daily interrogations.

Stripped of his titles, surname, and expelled from the imperial family, he was no longer the esteemed prince but a lowly criminal.

Shang Junlin sought information from him, knowing he had no hope of redemption. The interrogators, unscrupulous, tortured King Yue for days.

Covered in blood and bruises, he huddled against the wall, flinching at every sound. His eyes were cloudy, expression haggard, bearing no resemblance to the once proud King Yue.

Every inch of his body ached from the wounds inflicted during interrogation. The executioners cared only to ensure he did not die, ignoring non-lethal injuries.

With infections festering, it would have been worse if not for the winter's cold.

Moonlight seeped through the window above his head. King Yue lifted his head, gazing dazedly at the moonbeam.

Cold and enchanting, he trembled as he reached out, trying to grasp the moonlight, only to catch air.

The moon hung high in the sky, far beyond his reach.

Covering his face, he let out a hoarse, bitter laugh through his fingers.

After an unknown passage of time, the disheveled man against the wall remained motionless.

"Your Majesty, the coronation ceremony is approaching. Would you like to review the proceedings for any adjustments?"

The unfamiliar voice stirred King Yue from his thoughts. He opened his eyes to find himself standing in the magnificent imperial palace, surrounded by countless people who addressed him as "Your Majesty," offering him garments and ornaments fit only for an emperor.

He extended his arms as palace attendants carefully dressed him in the imperial robe symbolizing his royal status.

Inside the grand hall, lit by crimson candles, the surroundings outside were dim and suffocating.

"Your Majesty, Shen-gongzi is here."

Shen-gongzi?

Who was that?

Before he could inquire, a slender young man in a light blue robe walked in.

"Congratulations, Your Majesty, your wish has been fulfilled."

!!!

King Yue widened his eyes suddenly. He recognized the person before him—it was Shen Yu, but different from how he remembered him.

The Shen Yu standing before him appeared slightly older than in his memory, his features fully matured, with an indescribable aura of charm that made him even more captivating.

He was calling him "Your Majesty." Was he referring to himself?

"The auspicious time has arrived, Your Majesty should proceed with the coronation."

Everything that followed seemed unrealistically perfect.

Under the adoration of the crowd, he was crowned emperor, becoming the true ruler of Da Huan. Everyone, including Shen Yu, prostrated themselves before him.

Shen Yu seemed to admire him. In his eyes, King Yue saw affectionate sentiments, similar to what he had once seen directed at someone else, but not him.

Subtly, he inquired about the whereabouts of Shang Junlin from those around him. The answer he received was that Shang Junlin had perished in battle a year ago, carrying a legacy of disgrace, an ending King Yue had wished for Shang Junlin.

All his desires had been fulfilled.

Seated on the dragon throne, he looked down upon the ministers groveling at his feet and at Shen Yu by his side, his smile growing broader.

Then he woke up.

The sky was still dark, the moon hidden behind clouds. He was trapped in profound darkness, unable to break free.

For several days thereafter, he would dream the same dream upon falling asleep. The scenes in his dreams became increasingly vivid, so much so that he dreaded waking up.

The contrast between his dream life and his current reality grew stark. King Yue's spirit became increasingly confused. Eventually, the beauty in his dreams seemed like a cruel mockery of his failures in reality. In his dreams, he succeeded, but upon waking, the immense disparity weighed heavily on him.

King Yue's unusual demeanor did not escape the notice of the officials who kept a watchful eye on him.

Initially dismissive, Shang Junlin instructed them not to execute King Yue until they had obtained results, then promptly forgot about the matter.

In the Imperial Study, the head of the Hidden Dragon Guard knelt respectfully, reporting the information he had gathered.

"So, apart from his encounter with King Yue while infiltrating under disguise, Shen Yu had no contact with Gu Huai?"

"Yes."

Shang Junlin tapped his fingers on the table intermittently. Shen Yu's behavior didn't quite add up. Judging from Shen Yu's demeanor, it seemed unlikely he had no contact with Gu Huai.

Shen Yu exhibited many inexplicable anomalies. Unconcealed, as his relationship with Shang Junlin grew closer, Shang Junlin increasingly felt that Shen Yu harbored many secrets.

Various thoughts flashed through his mind. Shang Junlin closed his eyes. "Let's put an end to this matter."

He had a premonition that continuing the investigation wouldn't yield any useful information.

After spending half an hour alone in the Imperial Study, Shang Junlin returned to Yuzhang Palace, his face betraying no hint of anything amiss.

"Your Majesty, come quickly," Shen Yu smiled and beckoned Shang Junlin over. "I've written some couplets and blessings. Your Majesty, take them to the Imperial Study to post."

"Good," Shang Junlin smiled as he walked over, picking up a nearby pen. "Ah Yu wrote them, so I'll write a pair to give to Ah Yu."

Shen Yu had written quite a few, distributing some to the palace attendants, with the leftovers sent to the Empress Dowager, who had once helped Shang Junlin. Shen Yu had a very favorable impression of her.

On the eve of the New Year, the Minister of Justice requested an audience.

"Your Majesty, the prisoner King Yue insists on seeing you."

In recent days, the Ministry of Justice had exhausted every method to extract information, but King Yue had refused to reveal what Shang Junlin wanted to know most.

Ministry of Justice Prison.

King Yue grasped the door of his cell and slowly stood up.

"Shang Junlin, you've taken everything from me!" King Yue's face contorted with madness, his voice hoarse. "Shen Yu was supposed to be mine. You stole him from me! You feel it too, don't you?"

King Yue looked at the imposing man before him and suddenly burst into laughter:

"The things taken away will eventually return to their rightful owner——"