[-Then I have even more reason not to go with you. I don't want someone keeping me alive for the rest of my life, after all.]
Shen Yangge stayed where he was. "Just go. I'm not going with you."
The man sighed and asked, "Why? There must be a reason."
Why did there have to be so many questions? Did he really have to say it outright: I don't want to live anymore. I'm waiting for the Crown Prince to execute me one day.
Shen Yangge opened his almond-shaped eyes wide and spouted nonsense. "How could I abandon the Crown Prince and leave alone? I cannot do something so heartless and disloyal."
System 615 was practically being turned into a comedy system by its host's words. With disaster looming over him, how was he still remembering to raise the male lead's affection?
And with the male lead absent, no less.
Up on the rafters, Su Shang said, "..."
Had he not heard Shen Yangge refuse to go to the Crown Prince's bedchamber earlier, he might have believed this "heartfelt declaration."
Lord Shen really was a walking contradiction.
"Lord Shen, staying here will only lead to your death. Won't you reconsider?"
[-Reconsider, my ass. Going with you is what would get me killed.]
When no answer came for a long time, the man showed no irritation and calmly accepted it.
Then the door opened again, and silence returned to the room. Shen Yangge listened closely.
Only when he thought the man had left did he slowly relax his grip on the dagger.
A jumble of footsteps approached from beyond the door.
"Lord Shen, the Crown Prince has sent men to protect you, so I will take my leave. Stay here, and don't leave the room without good reason."
After giving those instructions, Su Shang immediately slipped out through the window.
He did not even give Shen Yangge a chance to speak.
Outside the brightly lit bedchamber, the Crown Prince stood beneath a lamp in a pale white cloak patterned with clouds, his hands behind his back and his expression cold.
Even surrounded by assassins, he remained composed, meeting their eyes without a flicker of alarm.
The lead assassin snorted. "So the rumors that there are no hidden guards near his bedchamber were true. This mad Crown Prince really is insane."
"Enough chatter. He isn't an easy opponent."
Several assassins lunged at him together.
Amid flashing blades and flying dust, their leader watched the mad Crown Prince he had so underestimated catch his thrusting sword with one hand, despite not even having a sword of his own.
Two long, pale fingers clamped around the assassin's blade and pressed down.
Clang.
Those two fingers snapped off the sword's tip, which fell before him.
The mad Crown Prince raised his foot.
The assassin immediately moved both hands to his abdomen to block the attack. Yet in the brief instant he lowered his head, it was severed from his body.
He died without ever realizing what had happened.
Every assassin who witnessed it sucked in a cold breath, their scalps prickling. None of them had even seen how the mad Crown Prince had struck.
Every movement had been too fast.
"His sword is hidden in his sleeve! Watch out for surprise attacks! Don't underestimate him!"
With their leader dead, the remaining assassins were hardly worth mentioning. Still, they believed their numbers gave them the advantage. However formidable the mad Crown Prince was, they would eventually kill him.
They attacked one after another, only to gradually discover that rather than exhausting the Crown Prince, they were being pinned in place.
"This is bad! We've fallen into a trap! Retreat!"
But just as an assassin began to back away, a longsword pierced his chest with a wet shunk. He stared at the mad Crown Prince who had suddenly appeared before him, then collapsed, his eyes still wide in death.
Next, countless hidden guards emerged from every direction. Apart from the approach to the bedchamber, nearly every corner was occupied.
"We pay our respects to Your Highness."
The hidden guards spoke in unison, all dropping to one knee and saluting the Crown Prince with cupped fists.
"Su Shang," the Crown Prince said.
"Here."
"I told you to remain in the side hall. What are you doing here?"
An invisible pressure seemed to lurk beneath his languid tone.
Cold sweat broke out on Su Shang's forehead. "I acknowledge my offense."
"Go receive your punishment."
"Yes."
With that, the Crown Prince started toward the side hall. The assassins cried out in shock and fury, "Kill him!"
But scarcely had the words left their mouths before an assassin darted out of a corner and silenced them with a sword across the throat.
Meanwhile, Shen Yangge was still hiding beneath the bed. He had even started chatting with the system.
[-How much longer do I have to wait before I can come out?]
[-I kicked that assassin too hard earlier. My back hurts.]
System 615: [...Hang in there a little longer. It'll be over soon.]
[-Every moment beside that damn Crown Prince, I have to watch out for an accidental death. Why is my life so hard... Does your plan really work?]
System 615: [Yes. I learned it from another system. (^-^)]
Shen Yangge thought, Why does this system seem kind of unreliable?
Just as their conversation was getting lively, the door was gently pushed open. Shen Yangge immediately fell quiet, and the system went silent too, like a timid little quail.
The sound of shoes on the wooden floor was like a wild beast creeping closer without a sound.
Closer and closer.
By the dim yellow lamplight, Shen Yangge saw a pair of black shoes and a pale gold robe hem standing before the bed. The light was too faint for him to make out the embroidery on the hem.
"I never imagined you would be so frightened, Shen Zhuanxie. That was an oversight on my part. Su Shang has already gone to receive his punishment."
No matter how hard anyone tried, they could never imitate that voice that made him want to grind his teeth!
He started crawling out from under the bed, only for an icy hand to grip the back of his neck. "Why is this red?"
The Crown Prince's tone was casual, but a faint trace of displeasure seemed to lurk beneath it.
Shen Yangge had barely poked his head out before the scruff of his neck was seized. He nearly failed to resist the urge to smack that hand away.
The voice sounded above his head again. "Are you angry with me, Shen Zhuanxie?"
[-Let go of my neck!!]
[-You damn bastard.]
Shen Yangge said quietly, "Your Highness, I wouldn't dare. Could you let me come out first?"
His voice sounded a little thick and nasal, as though he had caught a chill.
The Crown Prince gazed at the delicate whorl of hair on his head and hesitated briefly before reaching out to pull him from beneath the bed. The hand gripping the back of his neck still did not let go.
Shen Yangge raised his head, revealing his fair, tender face in the candlelight. Dust stained his cheeks and forehead, but he seemed entirely unaware of it.
Unable to resist, the Crown Prince rubbed the skin beneath his fingertips. It felt soft, smooth, and delicate.
Then he slowly withdrew his hand. "You should share my bed after all, Shen Zhuanxie. That way, you need never worry about anything like what happened earlier..."
[-Well, thank you so very much. No need to worry about anything like tonight? Then what was last time? I nearly got killed.]
"Last time was an accident," the Crown Prince said.
Shen Yangge secretly rolled his eyes, then said with respectful delight:
"Your Highness, I am moved to tears by your consideration. You truly are a wise and righteous man. The chance to serve you is a blessing I earned in my previous life."
[-I must have had eight lifetimes of fucking rotten luck to end up here.]
[-I really don't want to live anymore. When are you going to do it? Are you seriously waiting until my plan succeeds?]
Before you continue