Should I or shouldn't I?
Shen Yangge wrestled with himself for a long time. Finally, bound by the need to stay in character, he "submitted" to the Crown Prince's tyranny and sat on the edge of the bed.
The slight furrow in the Crown Prince's brow finally eased. His expression remained indifferent, betraying little else.
But Shen Yangge knew he was rotten at his core, so he couldn't judge what went on inside him by appearances alone.
"Green Willow."
Green Willow entered the bedchamber, carrying something.
It was a bowl of pitch-black medicine. Even from far away, Shen Yangge could smell its bitter, foul odor all too clearly.
What was that...?
After bringing the medicine over, Green Willow looked reluctantly at Shen Yangge. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought he was forcing her to do something against her will.
"Your Highness, my injuries have actually almost healed."
The Crown Prince gave him a sidelong glance. "Shen Zhuanxie, illness needs treatment."
Shen Yangge couldn't help reminding him, "Your Highness, I'm injured, not ill."
Left standing to one side, Green Willow was so furious her mouth nearly twisted out of shape. How she wanted to pry open the mouth of the man before her and pour the whole bowl down his throat!
What gave him the right to receive His Highness's favor?
Receiving his favor was one thing, but he even dared refuse him to his face. Anyone else would have been dragged away and beaten to death on His Highness's orders long ago.
Her thoughts warped with resentment, Green Willow smoothed the anger from her face and said in a soft, delicate voice:
"Your Highness, Lord Shen must be afraid the medicine will taste bitter. My younger sister is just the same. Whenever she falls ill, she needs some candied fruit with her medicine."
On the surface, there was nothing wrong with her words. But a closer look revealed that every insinuation mocked Shen Yangge as inferior even to a little girl, without a shred of the courage a man ought to have.
"Candied fruit?"
As though he had heard of some novel curiosity, the Crown Prince finally shifted his unruffled gaze from Shen Yangge to Green Willow, who was holding the bitter medicine.
Green Willow was nearly mad with joy. She quickly adjusted her posture, returning his gaze with alluring eyes as she continued:
"Yes. It's a sweet treat, rather like pastries. When children refuse to take medicine or are afraid of it, adults coax them with candied fruit. They can have it once they've finished their medicine."
The Crown Prince's interest was piqued.
Though Shen Yangge hadn't interrupted, he couldn't stop grumbling inwardly:
[-Candied fruit?]
[-Who wants that stuff?]
[-Even a dog would shake its head at it.]
Having finished his inward complaints, Shen Yangge tried once more to get out of drinking it.
The Crown Prince held out his hand to Green Willow. "The medicine. Give it here."
Green Willow had been radiant a moment ago. Now she looked as though someone had slapped her hard across the face. She handed him the medicine. "Your Highness, what are you...?"
The Crown Prince cast her a disdainful glance. "Go fetch the sweet-filled cakes."
Green Willow gripped the edge of her sleeve tightly and lowered her head, concealing the resentment in her eyes. She answered gently, "Yes, Your Highness."
She forced her legs to move. With every step toward the chamber door, she wanted to stop, turn back with tear-filled eyes, and implore the Crown Prince not to fall for a vile man's temptations.
But after what had happened last time, she dared not act rashly again.
That damned petty official!
One day, she would make him disappear right under His Highness's nose!
Having made up her mind, Green Willow changed her approach to Shen Yangge. She became better at hiding her emotions.
To accomplish great things, she couldn't get hung up on trifles.
With that thought, Green Willow reached the chamber door and beckoned a palace maid over. After sending her to fetch the pastries, she turned and headed in another direction.
She had remembered those eunuchs.
They wanted that damned petty official dead.
"Will you drink it yourself, Shen Zhuanxie, or shall I force it down your throat?"
The Crown Prince held the rim of the pale green bowl in his long fingers. Each was graceful and lustrous, his nails neatly trimmed.
It had been an ordinary jade bowl, but in his hand, it suddenly looked grand and luxurious.
Shen Yangge's brow twitched. Coming back to his senses, he inwardly berated himself for being crazy. Why did he keep staring at this bastard's hands?
What was so special about them?
"I'll... do it myself."
Good medicine tasted bitter. He just had to shut his eyes and swallow it. No big deal.
But when the unbearably bitter medicine filled his mouth, he discovered that not everything was "no big deal" to him.
Just then, Green Willow came in with a small plate of pastries.
"Your Highness."
Green Willow handed the pastries to the Crown Prince.
When she noticed that the damned petty official was holding the medicine bowl himself, rather than the Crown Prince holding it for him, she instantly breathed a sigh of relief.
His Highness was far too exalted to wait on anyone else.
Shen Yangge's brows knitted tightly. He pressed his lips together, his gaze gradually settling on the little plate of pastries in the Crown Prince's hand.
They looked delicious.
Just as both Shen Yangge and Green Willow assumed the pastries were meant to sweeten his mouth after the medicine, the Crown Prince picked one up and put it in his own mouth before their eyes.
He chewed slowly, paying no heed to anyone's gaze.
[-Fuck, you're not just sick in the head. You're toxic!]
[-How childish. Only little kids eat sweets after taking medicine.]
System 615: [Host, you looked rather expectant just now (^-^)]
Stop talking nonsense! He hadn't. He didn't want any at all.
For some inexplicable reason, Green Willow felt cheerful. Watching this petty official seethe himself to death ought to be quite entertaining.
After eating the last piece, the Crown Prince picked up the handkerchief on the wooden table, wiped the corners of his mouth, and set the plate down.
"Bring the Spring Jade Balm."
Green Willow nodded and withdrew.
Shen Yangge looked utterly unwilling as he stammered, "Your Highness, please let me do it myself."
The Crown Prince said, "Hold out your hand."
System, I want to kill the male lead. He isn't the one I used to love best anymore. He's changed. He's become such a freak. I feel like I'm not even a person anymore.
I'm like the male lead's pet. He can keep me whenever he likes and kill me whenever he likes.
System 615: [...Host, please remove "I feel like."] [The male lead really does treat you as a little pet. Whenever he looks at you, there's always a teasing glint in his eyes.] [...Host, the system suggests that you build a good relationship with the male lead first, then stab him without breaking character. That way, the heartbroken male lead will kill you to silence you.]
The system was feeling quite pleased with its suggestion, only for Shen Yangge to say, Stab the male lead without breaking character? Tell me how, System. I'll stab him right now!
System 615: [...It's simple. As long as you strike when the male lead is completely unguarded and not lucid, then flee the capital, it won't count as breaking character.]
Shen Yangge replied, What kind of lame joke is that?
Besides, if he stabbed the Crown Prince while he wasn't lucid, would the Crown Prince even know?
If the Crown Prince didn't know, how would he kill him to silence him?
System 615: [The Crown Prince won't know, but his hidden guards will, dear host (^-^)]
Shen Yangge saw the light at once.
That's right!
Suddenly presented with a clear path to getting himself killed, Shen Yangge's eyes lit up. Without the slightest hesitation, he held out his hand and rolled up his sleeve, baring his arm before the Crown Prince.
"Then... sorry for the trouble, Your Highness."
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