Shen Che sat before Ji Cheng with an enigmatic smile, like a lazy lion—a pose meant to deceive its prey. Ji Cheng knew he could pounce at any moment and tear out her throat.
Even before Shen Che spoke, Ji Cheng had lost her composure due to fear. The appearance of Dai Liheng, who bore an uncanny resemblance to Zhu Jijun, was the final straw. Unable to contain herself, Ji Cheng asked anxiously, “What exactly do you want?”
“To make amends, of course,” Shen Che replied with a smile.
Ji Cheng closed her eyes briefly.
Shen Che’s fingers traced the rim of his teacup. “You hate me so much, but isn’t it because I ruined two of your engagements? The Dai and Liu families are just as prestigious as the Ye clan. But as we know, nothing in this world is perfect. You can’t have your cake and eat it too. Surely a clever girl like you, Third Cousin, understands this.”
“I don’t hate you because you ruined those engagements,” Ji Cheng said. She hated him because he had recklessly trampled on her, ruining her entire life.
The smile gradually faded from Shen Che’s face. “Then why do you hate me enough to want me dead?”
It was pointless to say anything now. As for why she hated Shen Che, Ji Cheng didn’t want to revisit those memories. It wouldn’t change anything for her.
Ji Cheng shook her head slightly. “What’s the point of discussing this? I tried to kill you and failed. I’m at your mercy now. If you want my life, Third Cousin Che, I won’t even flinch.”
Shen Che chuckled, “I’m not dead, so why would I want your life? Third Cousin Cheng, you’re so clever. If you were in my position, how would you handle this situation?”
This was exactly what she feared. Sometimes, death was simpler and quicker than living.
If Ji Cheng were Shen Che, what would she do? She had considered it before. To truly seek revenge on someone, death was too easy. A cat always plays with its prey before devouring it. To satisfy Shen Che’s desire for revenge, wouldn’t he want to destroy everything she cared about?
Ji Cheng shuddered involuntarily and bit her lower lip. “Can’t I atone with my death?”
Shen Che smiled. “What do you think?”
Ji Cheng remained silent.
“If Third Cousin Cheng truly wanted to atone for her death, you wouldn’t have waited until now. What are you hoping for?” Shen Che asked sarcastically.
His words pierced Ji Cheng, draining the color from her face. Her heart felt like a blood-filled sac, now emptied, leaving only a deflated husk. She had clung to a sliver of hope. What was she expecting? That Shen Che would spare the Ji family for the sake of their one night as husband and wife?
Only now could Ji Cheng face the naivety in her heart, unable to help but mock herself.
“I’m not hoping for anything. I just know that Third Cousin harbors resentment. If I were to atone for my death right away, you’d have no outlet for your anger, and innocent people might get hurt,” Ji Cheng said honestly.
“Oh? Who are these innocent people? Your Brother Ziyun?” Shen Che asked.
Ji Cheng’s pupils constricted. She had naively hoped that Shen Che was unaware of her relationship with Ling Ziyun, but now she realized she had been fooling herself. However, Shen Che was truly despicable for involving innocent people, so Ji Cheng angrily replied, “Ling Ziyun has nothing to do with this. The decision to kill you was mine alone. It has nothing to do with anyone else.”
“Oh, just like only Su Jun wanted to harm you back then,” Shen Che retorted.
Those who reap what they sow always cut deepest. Familiar with each other’s backgrounds, their exchange was particularly biting. Ji Cheng had no rebuttal. Taking a deep breath, she said, “I’ll play along with whatever game you have in mind, as long as you leave the Ji and Ling families out of it.”
Shen Che smiled. “What bargaining power do you have now?”
Ji Cheng looked directly at Shen Che. “Although I may not be able to live as I wish, I can always find a way to die. Third Cousin Che has gone to such lengths—don’t you want to see me suffer a fate worse than death to satisfy your anger? If I were to die just like that, wouldn’t all your entertainment be lost?”
Shen Che leaned towards Ji Cheng. “If you die, there will always be others to pay your debts.”
Despite her extreme fear, Ji Cheng straightened her back, determined not to let Shen Che see her weakness. With a charming smile, she said, “Oh, but once I’m dead, it’s all over. I won’t be able to control what happens in this world. If others pay my debts, at worst, I’ll repay them in my next life as an ox or a horse.”
Ji Cheng’s stance was clear: Shen Che could exact his revenge on her however he wished, and she would accept his arrangements, entertaining him with her suffering. But if he dared to touch the Ji or Ling families, she would have no choice but to atone for her death.
This pale threat was merely a compromise born of powerlessness, and whether it would be accepted depended entirely on Shen Che’s mood.
Sure enough, Ji Cheng heard Shen Che say, “Do you think I care whether you live or die?”
Ji Cheng cursed inwardly before asking, “Then why do you think I would agree to marry someone like Dai Liheng under your arrangement?”
Shen Che raised an eyebrow. “I don’t care. If you don’t want to marry Dai Liheng, I can give Ling Ziyun to Liu Jun.”
Ji Cheng sprang to her feet, but Shen Che continued slowly, “Just like how you sent Fang Xuan to Gumó.”
The principle of not doing unto others what you wouldn’t want to be done to yourself left Ji Cheng without even a reason to be angry.
Yet, fire still blazed in Ji Cheng’s eyes, her teeth chattering with rage.
Shen Che provoked her further, “Are you wishing Zhe Li had killed me back then?”
“Yes.” Even if it was just to vent verbally, Ji Cheng wanted to answer. She truly hated Shen Che to the core.
“Have you ever regretted it?” Shen Che’s knuckles tapped lightly on the table.
Of course, she had regretted it, but only for involving her family and Ling Ziyun. As for plotting to kill Shen Che, Ji Cheng had never regretted it. Now, she regretted it even less, only lamenting that her allies had been too weak.
Ji Cheng looked at Shen Che, unsure of his reason for asking. Was he offering her a way out? Such a thought seemed too naive. Why would Shen Che give her, Ji Cheng, an easy way out? If she said she regretted it, how would Shen Che mock her?
Ji Cheng turned her head away without answering.
” I never intended to take your life. I should thank you for this incident,” Shen Che said.
Ji Cheng doubted her ears, turning her head back to look at Shen Che in confusion.
“I was just testing the waters, but I didn’t expect Zhe Li to be so moved by your information. Thanks to that, Da Qin can catch its breath for another year or two,” Shen Che explained.
Though brief, his words stirred up a tempest in Ji Cheng’s heart. First came shock, then understanding, followed by helplessness and self-mockery. What kind of person was Shen Che? The things she thought she had hidden from him had been clear as day in his eyes all along.
Ji Cheng wanted to slap herself. She had thought she knew both herself and her enemy, but in reality, she was nothing more than a clown, still prancing about. She deserved her current fate.
But even if Shen Che had willingly jumped into this fire pit of his own accord, it did nothing to help Ji Cheng’s situation. Her intent to kill him left no room for excuses.
“So you see, shouldn’t I be grateful to you? That’s why I’m arranging a marriage for you,” Shen Che said.
Ji Cheng let out a cold laugh. “I won’t agree unless you accept my conditions.”
Shen Che adjusted his posture, becoming even more casual. “Oh? Your father has rushed back to North Jin on business. Do you think if your eldest brother knew the proposals were from the Dai or Liu families, he would agree?”
Ji Cheng stared at Shen Che without speaking.
“He might not know the true nature of Dai Liheng and Liu Jun, but even if he did, do you think he would dare to oppose me? Or do you think your father would protect you this time?” Shen Che continued.
His words were like a blood-stained butcher’s knife, tearing away the veil of warmth in Ji Cheng’s heart. Everyone faces many choices in life. When first confronted with Zhu Jijun, her father had chosen to sacrifice half the family’s wealth to protect her. Ji Cheng could never repay that debt, even if she were to weave grass into ropes or carry twigs in her mouth.
This time, even if Ji Qing were willing to oppose Shen Che, how could Ji Cheng face her parents who had given birth to her and raised her?
“You’re not even human,” Ji Cheng said, tears welling in her eyes.
Shen Che remarked, “A beauty in tears, like a pear blossom in the rain. It makes one wish she would cry a few more times.”
Ji Cheng was so taken aback by Shen Che’s words that even her tears refused to fall. This man was impervious to both soft and hard approaches, as she had long since learned.
“Such control over your tears is quite a skill,” Shen Che clicked his tongue twice. “You’re so clever, don’t you know how to choose? Perhaps if you satisfy my desire for revenge, I naturally won’t touch the Ji and Ling families.” Shen Che said, extending two marriage proposals to Ji Cheng.
One bore the character “Dai,” the other “Liu.”
The two proposals lay before Ji Cheng, her fingers trembling like autumn leaves in the wind. But death wasn’t truly the end of everything—there would be no chance for redemption. As long as she lived, wouldn’t there always be an opportunity? Ji Cheng truly wanted to live a long life just to see how Shen Che would eventually die.
Ji Cheng’s eyes darted between the characters “Dai” and “Liu.” In reality, there was no need for choice. She would not consider Dai Liheng. But she had to admit, if she chose Dai Liheng and suffered miserably at his hands, it would probably satisfy Shen Che’s anger more.
Ji Cheng picked up Liu Jun’s proposal and handed it to Shen Che.
Shen Che smiled. “I thought you would choose the Dai family.”
People like Dai Liheng were bound to die sooner or later. If Ji Cheng wanted to deal with Dai Liheng, she would only need to endure for a while, and an opportunity would surely present itself. Liu Jun, on the other hand, had committed no evil deeds; he merely preferred men. Ji Cheng might not be able to bring herself to harm him.
Ji Cheng wasn’t opposed to choosing the Dai family, but the mere thought of engaging in intimate relations with a man again made her feel disgusted to the point of nausea.
Shen Che’s voice sounded from behind Ji Cheng, “If I hadn’t checked your pulse myself, I’d almost think you were with a child.”
Ji Cheng didn’t turn around, only straightening her back as she said, “I’ve followed your arrangement. Is there anything else?”
Shen Che said coldly, “When you see the Old Ancestor, I trust you know how to respond. Don’t try to exploit her kind heart again, or I won’t hesitate to make an example of you.”
“You need not concern yourself with the Western Regions affairs anymore, but you must continue your cooperation with Yuan Qianhe. Someone will maintain contact with you about this,” Shen Che continued.
Ji Cheng turned back in surprise to look at Shen Che, who sneered, “You should be grateful that you still have some use. Don’t push your luck, or you’ll lose even this last bit of value.”