Zhu Yan seemed not to hear, taking out the amber that Pan Chi had given her earlier. She caressed it gently, her fingertips lightly wiping its surface.
In the reflection of the surrounding light, it appeared even more dazzling, with deep, rich colors. The insect inside was visible down to the finest detail.
Shen Du found it painfully glaring to look at. He turned his head slightly to look elsewhere, trying not to pay attention.
But it was to no effect. He couldn’t help glancing at it again, his heart growing increasingly agitated.
Unfortunately, Zhu Yan didn’t notice his subtle reactions. Her gaze was focused intently on the thousand-year-old amber.
This poison was identical to the one Zhu Caiwei had been afflicted with before. Without an antidote, it would surely be fatal. Thinking of this, her eyes suddenly dimmed slightly.
There must be a way to save him.
Zhu Yan looked at the insect inside the amber. Once free and alive, it had been trapped by a drop of amber, suffocating to death inside. With its death, it offered humans a song of the long river of life.
Now Pan Chi was also about to form a cocoon. “Breaking out of the cocoon to become a butterfly” actually had another hidden consequence – “being bound by one’s cocoon”. Lai Luofu naming this poison “Breaking out of the cocoon to become a butterfly” meant using others’ “being bound by their cocoon” to achieve their own “breaking out of the cocoon to become a butterfly”.
Without an antidote, Pan Chi would ultimately be trapped inside the cocoon and suffocate to death, his sacrifice heralding her freedom.
Seeing Zhu Yan’s focused gaze, Shen Du’s heart skipped a beat, suddenly feeling stifled.
Thinking of all Pan Chi had done for Zhu Yan, he couldn’t help but worry – could she truly be falling for Pan Chi?
That Pan Chi fellow may seem somewhat frivolous, but he was by no means mediocre. He was accomplished in both civil and military affairs, with an impeccable family background and appearance. He was always devoted and responsible when it came to Zhu Yan’s matters. Standing next to Zhu Yan…
Recalling how Zhu Yan often spoke of divorce, how she was cautious and restrained in front of him but relaxed and cheerful in Pan Chi’s presence, the contrast in his mind couldn’t have been greater. His heart followed his thoughts in their ups and downs. In the late summer weather, it felt especially stuffy and unbearable.
Looking at the food on the table, he felt it had changed flavor entirely.
If Zhu Yan truly developed feelings for Pan Chi, what should he do?
Heh, everyone knew he was alone, the Shen family had long since fallen. Pan Chi had an illustrious family background and noble status. He was also more caring and considerate than himself. He hadn’t forgotten the bloody, terrifying severed head he had thrown into Zhu Yan’s bridal sedan on their wedding day.
So, let her go then. Let them be together. Zhu Yan would surely be better off with Pan Chi than with himself.
No, not. He was determined to cherish Zhu Yan in the palm of his hand. He could never let her go.
His resolve firm, Shen Du realized how utterly foolish his earlier thought of entrusting her to Pan Chi had been.
Zhu Yan was unaware that Shen Du’s mind had already turned over countless thoughts, even imagining life without her. She was solely focused on finding a way to save Pan Chi and repay her debt of gratitude. After a long while, Zhu Yan finally stopped examining the amber and looked up, wanting to discuss matters with Shen Du.
Unexpectedly, her gaze met Shen Du’s. Zhu Yan’s starry eyes flickered slightly, feeling somewhat uncomfortable.
Had he been staring at her this whole time?
They looked at each other, the atmosphere inevitably growing awkward.
“This amber…”
Before Shen Du could finish, Zhu Yan hastily put the amber away, fearing he might do something to it.
The White King of Hell was autocratic and domineering. Even things he didn’t want, he was unwilling to share with others. She felt a bit scared in hindsight – how could she have dared to take out the amber Pan Chi gave her in front of him?
Zhu Yan no longer dared to meet Shen Du’s eyes, feeling somewhat uncomfortable, as if she had done something wrong.
What was there to be afraid of?
Looking down, she saw the food had barely been touched. Her delicate brows furrowed, not understanding why Shen Du wasn’t eating. She then raised her head, meeting the gaze of the man opposite her.
Caught off guard by her action, Shen Du’s eyes narrowed, his face showing a hint of embarrassment. Quickly changing the subject, he said: “Sending Jing Lin to Guangchun Hall was born of some wishful thinking. Now that we know we can’t rely on that, we can only start with Mo Qianzi to find the antidote.”
This was also Zhu Yan’s thought, but: “He probably won’t have the antidote.”
She had come here to tell Shen Du this, but Wang Buzui had said before his death that Mo Qianzi wasn’t easy to control. Would Lai Luofu give him this poison and its antidote?
“Anything is possible. Mo Qianzi is no longer the senior disciple who wore his emotions on his sleeve.”
Shen Du’s brows and eyes lowered as if sinking into memories. He quickly pulled himself out, pain evident in his eyes.
Mo Qianzi was his father’s only living student, and also his lifesaver. Now they stood on opposite sides, meeting as enemies, scheming against each other.
Zhu Yan sighed, placing some food on Shen Du’s plate without a word.
Shen Du came back to himself, his lips curving slightly as he regained his cool demeanor: “Now only Mo Qianzi has contact with Lai Luofu. Even if he doesn’t have the antidote, we can use him to trace our way to Lai Luofu.”
“That’s true. It seems we can only start with him.” Zhu Yan’s crescent eyebrows lowered as she put another piece of rabbit meat in Shen Du’s bowl. “Eat up.”
Shen Du nodded, also putting some dishes on Zhu Yan’s plate. Zhu Yan smiled as she ate, inwardly marveling at how she had never imagined she would one day sit across from Shen Du, sharing a meal and admiring the moon together. Although, there wasn’t much of a moon to admire in Yingzhou City now – only the dark clouds of war.
Lost in thought, she didn’t notice Shen Du looking at her again.
After pondering for a good while, she finally raised her head to find Shen Du staring at her once more. She checked herself up and down, left and right, not feeling anything amiss.
She was wearing ordinary eighth-rank official robes, unstained by dust. Could there be something on her face?
Zhu Yan rubbed her face haphazardly but found nothing strange. She then steeled herself to meet his gaze: “Are you full?”
Shen Du was slightly taken aback. He looked down at the food in confusion, only then realizing what he had been doing. He lowered his head and focused on eating.
This…
Could looking at her fill his stomach? Zhu Yan muttered, all of which reached Shen Du’s ears.
“Cough cough cough…” Shen Du took a sip of water, glaring at her reproachfully before burying his head in his food, no longer paying her any attention.
This…
A man’s thoughts were truly hard to guess.
After the meal, Shen Du stopped Zhu Yan and cleared away the bowls and chopsticks himself. About half an hour later, he brought in a pot of tea and poured a cup for Zhu Yan: “Drink some to help with digestion.”
Zhu Yan took a sip: “Is what you said earlier about finding Lai Luofu through Mo Qianzi feasible?”
So she was still worried about Pan Chi.
Shen Du’s deep eyes betrayed a hint of a smile, tinged with sadness. Zhu Yan, noticing his mood, hurriedly spoke up, “With Mo Qianzhi surrounding the city and the Gannan Road hiding who knows how many members of the Huomeng, as a commander, you must not take risks. I should go instead.”
So that’s what he was thinking about.
Shen Du took a sip from his teacup and began to analyze, “I’ve already sent word to Mengzhou and other cities. Reinforcements from the capital should arrive within seven days. The area around Yingzhou City is filled with strange rocks and dense forests. Although this benefits their concealment, it also makes it difficult for them to launch an effective attack. We only need to hold out until the reinforcements arrive.”
“As for dealing with Luofu,” Shen Du glanced at Zhu Yan, “it might require some special methods.”
“You truly are resourceful, as expected from the leader of the Imperial Guard,” Zhu Yan said with delight, clapping her hands and standing up to refill Shen Du’s tea. Her face was flushed with a smile, though whether it was because of her relief at Pan Chi’s potential rescue or her admiration for Shen Du’s wisdom, it was hard to say.
To Shen Du, the joy she expressed seemed to lack any genuine pleasure. He felt a pang of discomfort in his heart.
Suddenly, a question popped into his mind, a stroke of inspiration that slipped from his lips:
“If… on the day the Huomeng attacks the city, I was on the city wall dealing with Ji Dafu, and I were to be poisoned with ‘Breaking the Cocoon to Become a Butterfly,’ what would you do?”