Had this body actually developed a physical fear response to the male lead?
Partway through the banquet, the emperor and empress's conversation turned to the crown prince.
Smiling warmly, the empress said:
"Xuan Zhen, I hear you invited the young master of the Shen household. I'd like to see just what it is about this child that has won such favor with your father and Noble Consort Shen."
So the empress was actually the one who wanted him dead?
Aha, that could work too...
System 615: [As long as you stay in character and don't deliberately get yourself killed, host, you're fine *^_^*]
No sooner had the empress finished speaking than Shen Yangge heard whispers around him:
"She means that one, right?"
"I think so."
"He's actually still alive?"
"Shh, I heard he was already dead, but then his corpse suddenly came back to life! Who knows whether he's human now or something else..."
One after another, the banquet guests turned their eyes toward him.
Only once he had become the center of attention did Shen Yangge rise from his low table, putting on a look of "delighted surprise."
He clasped his hands and bowed. "This humble commoner, Shen Yangge, pays his respects to Your Majesty the Empress. May Your Majesty enjoy eternal youth, blessings as vast as the Eastern Sea, and a life as enduring as the Southern Mountain."
[-Everything I just said was a lie. May you lose your hair every day, grow fat, and get cheated on forever, in this life and the next!]
The empress covered her mouth with a smile. "I thought this child had such an odd temperament... Who knew he would be so charming? No wonder Xuan Zhen let him off lightly."
What? An odd temperament?
The original owner had insulted the crown prince with reckless abandon. He was a complete idiot, always throwing his weight around because of his status. A petty official, yet he had dared to lord it over the crown prince. But he had merely been stupid and far too arrogant.
[-Could he possibly compare to you, flattering your own son to ruin him, making trouble for him at every turn, and wanting him dead?]
[-What rotten luck. How did the words "odd temperament" come out of that filthy mouth of yours? Your whole family has an odd temperament.]
He stood there for ages, but nothing happened.
Shen Yangge's feet were nearly numb.
What exactly did this family want? Couldn't they just get it over with?
Then a woman's tender voice suddenly rang out:
"Sister, Yang'er merely happened to catch His Majesty's eye. Surely that hardly counts as special favor~ As for me, I am rather fond of Yang'er. Just look at him. Isn't he a charming child?"
The emperor patted the beautiful, delicate hand beside his own, agreeing with the beauty at his side. His discerning gaze settled on the young man still standing in the corner with his hands clasped in a bow.
"I heard you fell gravely ill, to the point that no medicine could save you. Since you can attend the palace banquet now, you must have recovered considerably. My beloved Consort Shen said your accidental offense against the crown prince that day was merely the result of a sudden possession."
At this, the emperor turned toward the crown prince seated below him and narrowed his eyes as he continued, "Those insults were not intentional?"
Shen Yangge swallowed, suddenly wanting to answer: No, I did it on purpose. He deserved it. There's something seriously wrong with him!
System 615's interface popped up again with a warning: [Host, you mustn't deliberately get yourself killed. Otherwise, the system will punish you!]
Shen Yangge: What?
He would be punished for deliberately getting himself killed? Why hadn't it said so from the start? He had been planning to exploit a loophole in the system.
So what kind of punishment was it?
System 615 helpfully explained: [Electric shocks, dear~ Of course, besides electric shocks, there are all sorts of other painful punishments. For example, being turned into an animal, or being burned at the stake, imprisoned in a water dungeon... So please don't break character or exploit loopholes, host *^_^*]
Unafraid of death but afraid of torment, Shen Yangge forcibly swallowed back those... treasonous words that had nearly slipped out.
His voice was a little dry, but his answer was utterly earnest. "Your Majesty, this humble commoner did not act intentionally."
The emperor said, "Shen Yangge, though I granted you official rank, I have yet to assign you a post..."
"Crown prince, is there a suitable position in your retinue?"
Addressed directly, the crown prince remained expressionless, as though he had anticipated this and had everything under control. "Yes. A chronicler."
The emperor paused. "What office is that?"
The crown prince replied, "Father, it is a minor historian's post I privately established to record my daily activities."
As soon as he finished, another round of whispers began among the guests. "Isn't that just a court diarist?"
"This is the first time I've heard of anyone besides the emperor using a court historian to record his daily life. Isn't this practically sentencing that petty official to death?"
"Exactly. He'll have to follow him from morning to night, recording everything, won't he? Who would dare follow the crown prince around like that? Poor thing."
"Shh, watch what you say."
Having heard the explanation, the emperor agreed outright, apparently unconcerned that this minor post involved recording and compiling daily activities. "Very well. Since the crown prince has granted you the post of chronicler, you shall assume your duties tomorrow."
Shen Yangge said, "Your servant thanks Your Majesty and Your Highness the Crown Prince!"
[-I'm not pitiful. Not pitiful at all, really. Hahaha...]
Having stood for too long, Shen Yangge swayed noticeably and nearly fell as he bent down, lifted his robe, and knelt to perform a full bow. Fortunately, he managed to bow his thanks in time, sparing himself an embarrassing mishap.
His life had been spared for another little while. Shen Yangge sighed. Dying was so hard. Then the emperor told him to rise.
Like a fish pulled out of its pond, Shen Yangge dragged himself weakly back to his seat.
Life really was unpredictable. One absurd twist after another.
Someone beside him offered him a cup of tea and asked quietly, "Hey, little historian, are you all right?"
The way "historian" sounded so much like "shit official" was really hard to stomach.
He turned to look, but before he could make out the other person's face, the offered cup suddenly wobbled. Tea splashed out, soaking half of Shen Yangge's sleeve.
The other person hurriedly pulled out a handkerchief and apologized softly, "Ah... I'm sorry." His tone was somewhat vexed.
Shen Yangge was silently fuming, but once he saw the other's face clearly, he froze. Hadn't he seen him somewhere before?
Forget it. He's just a kid. "It's fine."
He discreetly shook the water from his sleeve and sat upright again. Suddenly, he remembered who the boy was: the young man who had been bobbing his head when they entered the palace. Hadn't he been sitting up front?
The boy cautiously studied the person sitting beside him. He really is handsome.
That curious, burning gaze was impossible to ignore.
"Are you the person who crawled out of a coffin?"
The boy finally asked his question. Shen Yangge had intended to give one brief reply and then ignore him, but faced with this question, he opened his mouth and found himself at a loss for words.
Could he say he hadn't fucking wanted to, either?
A flurry of hurried footsteps sounded as the dancers entered. Everyone turned to look, and even the boy who had asked the question was momentarily distracted.
Shen Yangge also turned his gaze toward the dancers in the center of the stage. One glance was enough to make him inwardly cry out that his eyes were burning.
The dancers' faces were coated with thick white powder, with bright red painted on both cheeks and a black dot between their brows.
Every twist and swish was "alluring" enough to leave him "stunned."
He simply could not understand this era's aesthetic tastes.
Before you continue