Translated by Manami
Edited by Gaby & Asaki
Shen Yu seats on his bed with his heart in his throat. His lips are parched, and his limbs are numb due to the lack of movement.
The door opens suddenly and in comes a gust of chilling wind that makes Shen Yu squint. He turns around to see Song Qing enter.
“It’s finally time…”
Since he lied to Zhen Beiwang, it was obvious he was going to be executed. The question was whether he would be beheaded, poisoned, hung, or if it would be in another way… With Zhen Beiwang’s personality, he would never let Shen Yu die easily, so he was sure he would die a painful death.
“Lady Shen, the lord asks for you.”
Song Qing’s tone is calm, but that is what Shen Yu is scared of, the calm before the storm.
There are nine wretched souls who died by the hands of Zhen Beiwang. In the end, he too… would share their fate.
Shen Yu gets up and follows Song Qing outside.
The palace’s scenery is beautiful, dark tiles against white walls, corridors full of tapestries, artificial caves and mountains… So this is how the outside world looks like.
It’s the first time Shen Yu has ever enjoyed the palace’s view, and probably, his last too.
Song Qing leads the way to a remote area of the palace. There are guards standing watch, from the looks of it, seems to be a prison.
Shen Yu’s knees almost give out, it takes him a while to steady himself so that he wouldn’t fall.
“This is the prison of Zhen Beiwang’s palace? As expected, Zhen Beiwang would not simply call for my death…This prison will be my grave. If I die here, there probably won’t even be any news of my passing. Then my mother will think I’m still alive, that’s good. She can at least keep hoping for the best.”
“Lady Shen.”
Song Qing calls. He noticed Lady Shen had been absent-minded all day, like a walking dead. When he saw the prison, his face sank, as if he had lost all hope. He stared at the plaque for a long time, deep in thought.
“Let’s go.”
Shen Yu nods, trailing after Song Qing.
It’s a water dungeon. Dark, damp, and so cold that one’s blood would freeze. The only source of light comes from the torches on the wall.
Shen Yu hears the shrieks and wails of the prisoners. He lowers his head, daring not to look sideways. He can hear the clanking of chains and the gurgle of water occasionally.
“My lord.”
When Shen Yu hears those two words, he shivers and falls to his knees, as if he was a lamb in front of a tiger.
Zhen Beiwang is sitting on his throne. Shen Yu does not even dare to look him in the eyes.
“Hm.”
Zhen Beiwang stares at the quivering Shen Yu, feeling a bit displeased. Shen Yu is still so scared of him, even after he treated him well, gave him sumptuous meals and luxurious clothes.
Zhen Beiwang is not a romantic person. All the beauties in the world were like accessories to him. If he felt like it, he would wear them. If he got tired of one, he just had to switch. But, since meeting Shen Yu, he stopped being content with a one-sided relationship. He wanted more from Shen Yu, he wanted his admiration, his loyalty.
“Why are you not wearing shoes?”
Zhen Beiwang noticed Shen Yu’s small, fair feet when he was kneeling on the wet prison ground barefooted.
Shen Yu is dumbfounded. Why would a dying person care about his appearance? When Shen Yu left, he did not even remember to put shoes on.
Is Zhen Beiwang not going to punish him? Why does he even care about his condition?
“Come here.”
Zhen Beiwang signalizes at Shen Yu with dignity.
As Shen Yu can’t refuse Zhen Beiwang’s order, he slowly moves towards him.
Suddenly, Zhen Beiwang grabs his waist and pulls him towards himself. That causes Shen Yu to lose his balance and fall into Zhen Beiwang’s embrace. He has not yet recovered from the shock when he’s met with Zhen Beiwang’s deep gaze.
“The water dungeon is cold. If you get sick again, how much longer are you going to make me wait?”
Translated by Manami
Edited by Gaby & Asaki
Shen Yu seats on his bed with his heart in his throat. His lips are parched, and his limbs are numb due to the lack of movement.
The door opens suddenly and in comes a gust of chilling wind that makes Shen Yu squint. He turns around to see Song Qing enter.
“It’s finally time…”
Since he lied to Zhen Beiwang, it was obvious he was going to be executed. The question was whether he would be beheaded, poisoned, hung, or if it would be in another way… With Zhen Beiwang’s personality, he would never let Shen Yu die easily, so he was sure he would die a painful death.
“Lady Shen, the lord asks for you.”
Song Qing’s tone is calm, but that is what Shen Yu is scared of, the calm before the storm.
There are nine wretched souls who died by the hands of Zhen Beiwang. In the end, he too… would share their fate.
Shen Yu gets up and follows Song Qing outside.
The palace’s scenery is beautiful, dark tiles against white walls, corridors full of tapestries, artificial caves and mountains… So this is how the outside world looks like.
It’s the first time Shen Yu has ever enjoyed the palace’s view, and probably, his last too.
Song Qing leads the way to a remote area of the palace. There are guards standing watch, from the looks of it, seems to be a prison.
Shen Yu’s knees almost give out, it takes him a while to steady himself so that he wouldn’t fall.
“This is the prison of Zhen Beiwang’s palace? As expected, Zhen Beiwang would not simply call for my death…This prison will be my grave. If I die here, there probably won’t even be any news of my passing. Then my mother will think I’m still alive, that’s good. She can at least keep hoping for the best.”
“Lady Shen.”
Song Qing calls. He noticed Lady Shen had been absent-minded all day, like a walking dead. When he saw the prison, his face sank, as if he had lost all hope. He stared at the plaque for a long time, deep in thought.
“Let’s go.”
Shen Yu nods, trailing after Song Qing.
It’s a water dungeon. Dark, damp, and so cold that one’s blood would freeze. The only source of light comes from the torches on the wall.
Shen Yu hears the shrieks and wails of the prisoners. He lowers his head, daring not to look sideways. He can hear the clanking of chains and the gurgle of water occasionally.
“My lord.”
When Shen Yu hears those two words, he shivers and falls to his knees, as if he was a lamb in front of a tiger.
Zhen Beiwang is sitting on his throne. Shen Yu does not even dare to look him in the eyes.
“Hm.”
Zhen Beiwang stares at the quivering Shen Yu, feeling a bit displeased. Shen Yu is still so scared of him, even after he treated him well, gave him sumptuous meals and luxurious clothes.
Zhen Beiwang is not a romantic person. All the beauties in the world were like accessories to him. If he felt like it, he would wear them. If he got tired of one, he just had to switch. But, since meeting Shen Yu, he stopped being content with a one-sided relationship. He wanted more from Shen Yu, he wanted his admiration, his loyalty.
“Why are you not wearing shoes?”
Zhen Beiwang noticed Shen Yu’s small, fair feet when he was kneeling on the wet prison ground barefooted.
Shen Yu is dumbfounded. Why would a dying person care about his appearance? When Shen Yu left, he did not even remember to put shoes on.
Is Zhen Beiwang not going to punish him? Why does he even care about his condition?
“Come here.”
Zhen Beiwang signalizes at Shen Yu with dignity.
As Shen Yu can’t refuse Zhen Beiwang’s order, he slowly moves towards him.
Suddenly, Zhen Beiwang grabs his waist and pulls him towards himself. That causes Shen Yu to lose his balance and fall into Zhen Beiwang’s embrace. He has not yet recovered from the shock when he’s met with Zhen Beiwang’s deep gaze.
“The water dungeon is cold. If you get sick again, how much longer are you going to make me wait?”
