Chapter 15: Lip Rouge – Her mouth looked like it had been chewed by a dog…

When Shen Xingwan and Yan Jinghuan arrived at the Emperor’s grand tent, the inside and outside were already tightly surrounded.

The Emperor lay weakly on the brocade couch in the center of the tent. Upon hearing the announcement of the Regent’s arrival, he struggled to open his eyes.

“Everyone leave… cough… cough cough… Yan Jinghuan… come closer.”

The Imperial Noble Consort, who had been holding a bowl of medicine and attending to him, frowned and tried to dissuade him gently, “Your Majesty, you just received acupuncture. The imperial physician advised you to rest more. Even if there’s something urgent, I beg you to consider your health and discuss it later.”

“Leave.”

Though the Emperor’s voice was weak, his authority was still unquestionable.

The Imperial Noble Consort’s expression froze, her fingers gripping the bowl turned white. She stared at the Emperor for a long time before finally setting the bowl down. Rising, she walked past the crowd and exited the tent.

The others inside also quickly withdrew one after another.

Shen Xingwan didn’t dare linger either. She turned to leave, but before she could take a step, her wrist was seized, pulling her toward the Emperor.

Startled, Shen Xingwan looked up to find Yan Jinghuan expressionless. He simply shifted his hand downward to grip hers more tightly, not allowing her to retreat in the slightest.

The Emperor gasped for breath, each inhalation sounding like a broken bellows.

As he watched the two approach, his brows furrowed, and his already ashen face grew darker.

“Husband and wife are one,” Yan Jinghuan said as he looked at the Emperor. “I believe the task Your Majesty entrusted must be undertaken by the two of us together.”

Seeing Yan Jinghuan’s resolute demeanor, the Emperor ultimately said nothing more.

Time was clearly running out for him. He didn’t have the energy to dwell on such minor details.

The Emperor reached out, his fingers as thin and brittle as twigs, and clutched Yan Jinghuan’s sleeve. “Zihui… I can’t rest easy…”

Yan Jinghuan grasped his hand firmly and replied solemnly, “With me here, I will ensure his safety.”

“I want him to be Emperor! Cough cough… cough… You… you must promise…”

The Emperor made a final effort to cling tightly to Yan Jinghuan’s hand, his hollow eyes fixed intensely on his face.

“I promise.”

Hearing that promise, the Emperor deflated like a punctured ball, his body collapsing back onto the richly layered brocade couch.

He closed his eyes, his eyelids trembling slightly. After a brief silence, his hand reached into his robe and groped for something. He pulled it out and held it up to Yan Jinghuan.

“I will not cough… mistreat you. Whatever you desire, Wei will aid you.”

Shen Xingwan looked at the object. It was dark and emitted a cold gleam—it was none other than the Tiger Tally, the symbol of command over all of Wei’s military forces.

Stunned, she looked at Yan Jinghuan, only to see his expression remain unchanged. His narrow phoenix eyes were lowered, lips pressed together as he reached out and accepted the Tiger Tally.

“Grateful for the Wei Emperor’s trust. I will not fail you.”

The Emperor, exhausted and feeble, didn’t open his eyes again. He only raised his hand slightly to gesture for them to leave.

Yan Jinghuan put away the Tiger Tally and pulled along the still-stunned Shen Xingwan as they walked out of the grand tent.

The moment they left, the imperial physicians rushed inside to treat the Emperor.

The Imperial Noble Consort came out of a side tent with a stern face. Looking at Yan Jinghuan, she sneered, “So, His Majesty has entrusted the fate of the realm to the Regent.”

Yan Jinghuan’s lips curved faintly.

“His Majesty still lives, though he is ill. Why speak of entrusting the realm?”

He lifted his gaze to meet hers. “Unless… the Imperial Noble Consort knows something we don’t? Are you certain the Emperor won’t recover?”

“You!”

The Imperial Noble Consort’s eyes turned sharp and cold. The smile at her lips vanished. She squinted slightly, paused for a moment, and then forced a smile once more.

But the smile didn’t reach her eyes. Her cold, shadowed gaze swept over Shen Xingwan, causing her to shiver involuntarily.

“You… very good.”

Shen Xingwan lowered her head, unsure whether the Imperial Noble Consort was speaking to her or someone else. All she heard was the rustling of sleeves as the woman left with her attendants, heading back into the Emperor’s tent.

Yan Jinghuan tightened his grip on Shen Xingwan’s hand and murmured, “Let’s go.”

Just as he lifted a foot to step forward, the soft, boneless hand in his grasp slipped away.

His palm suddenly empty, he clenched his hand into a fist and looked up at Shen Xingwan.

The girl had her head lowered. He couldn’t see her expression, and her hands were tucked into her sleeves as she walked forward on her own.

Yan Jinghuan pursed his lips, took a long stride forward, caught up with her in two steps, and reached out to grab her.

His fingertips had just brushed the hem of her sleeve when Shen Xingwan abruptly raised her arm to dodge his touch. She turned slightly, quickened her pace, and ran past him, brushing his shoulder as she fled.

Yan Jinghuan frowned and turned to follow. He deliberately slowed his steps, keeping a measured distance as he pursued her.

When they passed a wooded path, he raised a hand to dismiss his attendants, then caught up in a few steps, grabbed Shen Xingwan’s arm, and pulled her into his embrace, dragging her into a secluded forest.

Just as she was about to cry out, his broad palm covered her mouth. He pressed her against a tree.

Though he appeared lean, his body was as hard as iron, and his strength was alarmingly great. No matter how Shen Xingwan struggled, she couldn’t budge him. Her eyes gradually filled with tears.

Seeing crystalline tears fall from her eyes, Yan Jinghuan’s tightly furrowed brow eased slightly. His hand moved from her mouth to gently wipe away the tears with his cool fingertips.

“You were fine a moment ago…” His eyes held confusion, and more than that, pity. “Why the sudden outburst?”

Her lip rouge had been smudged by his hand. The rich red color spread from her full lips to her fair cheeks. Yan Jinghuan couldn’t help but try to wipe it off. But as his fingertips brushed against her skin, the more he wiped, the worse it became.

The young girl now looked like a messy little cat, more disheveled than ever. Even someone as calm as he was appeared a little flustered.

Shen Xingwan pushed him away, and in the blink of an eye, large teardrops began to fall uncontrollably.

Yan Jinghuan rubbed his forehead, looking at her. “What exactly did I do to upset you?”

“Did you marry me… just to gain the Shen family’s support so you could help the little prince seize the throne?”

Shen Xingwan’s eyes brimmed with tears as she looked up at Yan Jinghuan.

The pain in her eyes surged so fiercely it nearly consumed her—and scorched Yan Jinghuan’s gaze. He looked at her for a long time before finally speaking, “Is that truly what you think?”

“Isn’t it?!”

Shen Xingwan grew agitated, her voice choked with emotion. “You want to help the little prince seize the throne. He’s still a child. If he becomes Emperor, you could control him and take everything you want!”

“What do you want? Wei?” Shen Xingwan stared at him intently. When he didn’t respond, she stepped closer. “Or is it… Dayan?”

Yes, the Emperor had even entrusted the Tiger Tally to him. He wanted to help him seize what he desired. What else could possibly require the military might of Wei to take?

Aside from the throne of Dayan, Shen Xingwan couldn’t think of anything else this prince of Dayan would want more.

She gave a desolate smile, suddenly overwhelmed by sorrow. Could this truly be fate?

Escaping one den of tigers only to fall into a wolf’s lair—In her past life, the Shen family had helped the Third Prince ascend, only to be met with extermination. Must she now, in this life, once again drag them into the blood-soaked battle for the throne between princes?

She absolutely could not let such a thing happen again!

She grabbed Yan Jinghuan’s collar and yanked him toward her.

“So that’s why you agreed to marry me without hesitation? So you too want to use the Shen family’s power for factional struggles? I’m telling you now—that’s impossible! I will never let the Shen family get involved in any political strife! Never!”

Yan Jinghuan looked at her coldly. “So? Are you saying you want to break off the engagement?”

“…”

Shen Xingwan froze on the spot.

Break off the engagement? How could she?

Given the current situation, if she truly did annul the engagement now, she would completely offend the two most powerful forces in Wei. Wouldn’t that mean she could lose her head at any moment?

She stared blankly at the calm yet terrifying Yan Jinghuan.

For some reason, she couldn’t shake the feeling that beneath those dark, composed eyes, a storm of madness was raging.

If she dared to utter a single “yes,” she feared she’d instantly be obliterated, body and soul.

Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced around—the dense forest was eerily silent, with only the cold, sparse moonlight overhead.

She trembled as the strength drained from her hands, and the embroidered fabric crumpled and slipped from her fingers.

“What’s wrong?” He gritted his teeth. “Scared?”

Shen Xingwan shrank back, not daring to meet his gaze, instinctively retreating a step.

Yan Jinghuan stepped forward, forcing her back until she was pressed against the tree trunk.

He reached out and gripped her chin, tilting it up to force her to look at him.

“Do you really think that you—or even the entire Shen family—are that important?”

Shen Xingwan remained silent.

Yan Jinghuan stared at her, then gave a self-mocking smile. “I’ve never needed—or even considered—using a woman’s connections to fight for anything.”

“The reason I brought you with me to see the Emperor today was because I have no intention of hiding anything from you. Since I’m marrying you, I will treat you with honesty.”

Shen Xingwan’s pupils trembled slightly. She stared at him in disbelief.

Yan Jinghuan sighed and gently brushed the stray strands of hair from her face, tucking them behind her ear.

“I promise you, no matter what I pursue, I will not use the Shen family in the slightest.”

His fingertips trailed from behind her ear to her cheek, gently caressing the skin tinted red from lipstick. “Besides, you’re the one who wanted to marry me.”

“If you regret it now…” His gaze deepened. “It’s too late.”

Standing against the cold moonlight, his tall figure loomed over her. Shen Xingwan didn’t dare make a sound. She only felt that a kind of composed madness radiated from him.

Now was definitely not the time to provoke him.

After holding back for a long while, Shen Xingwan timidly stammered, “I… I want to go home.”

Yan Jinghuan stared at her for a long time—so long that her legs began to go numb. She couldn’t help but quietly shift her weight.

His gaze landed on the hem of her dress. Finally, he straightened up and took her hand again. His fingers curled around hers, leading her out of the forest.

Before placing Shen Xingwan into the Shen family’s carriage, Yan Jinghuan leaned down and said softly, “Stay home and prepare for the wedding. The political situation in the palace is unstable right now—don’t wander about. Protect yourself. If there’s any danger, send someone to find me.”

“Mm.”

Shen Xingwan nodded, lowered her head, and stepped into the carriage.

Feiyun helped her into her seat, then suddenly asked in surprise, “Miss, what happened to your mouth? Your lipstick’s all smudged—it looks like a dog chewed on it…”

Halfway through her words, Feiyun realized she’d misspoken. She quickly covered her mouth and instinctively glanced out the window.

But the Regent, who was still standing there watching the carriage leave, looked perfectly composed—his appearance as clean and proper as ever, standing there like a breeze beneath the moon. There was no trace of the supposed “passion.”

Feiyun blushed furiously, lowering her head and giggling behind her handkerchief.

Shen Xingwan saw her expression and realized with alarm that this girl had completely misunderstood and was letting her imagination run wild. She instantly flushed red herself and, both embarrassed and annoyed, gave Feiyun a push.

The two of them returned to the manor awkwardly, freshened up, and were just about to rest when Prime Minister Shen was suddenly summoned to the palace in the middle of the night.

A summons at such an hour likely meant something major had happened in the palace. Madam Shen was so anxious she couldn’t sit still, let alone sleep. Shen Xingwan quickly dressed and went to accompany her mother in her room.

They waited the whole night. Not until the sky had just begun to brighten did a servant return ahead of time to report back.

The servant knelt and reported, “Madam, His Majesty is critically ill. Master, along with other high-ranking officials, will be staying in the palace for the next few days and won’t be returning home. He said there’s no need to worry—just prepare some clothes to be sent over.”

“I see.” Madam Shen nodded and told the servants to gather some clothing. Then she asked, “Is there any other news?”

The servant stood and took a few steps closer, lowering his voice, “Envoys from Yan Kingdom have arrived. There’s word going around the palace that the Third Prince is going to be made Crown Prince.”