CHAPTER 28: Dangerous Trust
959 Words
The storm finally weakened near dawn.
Snow still covered the hunting grounds heavily, but the violent winds from earlier had faded into eerie silence.
A silence filled with suspicion.
Imperial soldiers patrolled every corner now.
No one trusted anyone anymore.
Not after palace guards attacked Chu Wenzhe openly.
Not after assassins emerged from within imperial ranks themselves.
And certainly not after whispers about the Emperor’s involvement began spreading quietly through the camp.
The empire’s calm surface was cracking.
And everyone could feel it.
Inside her tent, Shen Yue sat beside a dying lantern flame while carefully examining the dagger Chu Wenzhe gave her.
Beautiful craftsmanship.
Balanced perfectly.
Deadly.
Not decorative.
A weapon meant to kill efficiently.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Her fingers traced the black handle thoughtfully.
The maid nearby looked nervous.
“Fourth Miss… why would Lord Valin give you something so personal?”
Shen Yue lowered the blade slowly.
Because he thinks I’ll need it.
But she only answered calmly:
“The hunting grounds aren’t safe.”
The maid swallowed hard.
Everyone understood that already.
Suddenly—
soft footsteps stopped outside the tent.
Then a voice spoke quietly.
“Fourth Miss Shen.”
Not a servant.
Not a guard.
Xu Yan.
Interesting.
The maid immediately paled before rushing to open the entrance.
The Crown Prince entered calmly dressed in dark robes lined with silver fur, looking composed despite the sleepless night.
Yet Shen Yue noticed something immediately.
His eyes looked colder today.
Sharper.
More unreadable.
Xu Yan’s gaze moved briefly toward the dagger resting near her hand.
And paused.
Silence lingered for one moment too long.
Then he smiled faintly.
“It seems Lord Valin worries about your safety.”
Direct.
Very direct.
Shen Yue answered carefully.
“The camp remains dangerous.”
Xu Yan slowly approached the table.
“Yes.”
A pause.
“Dangerous things seem drawn toward you lately.”
Interesting wording.
Shen Yue quietly studied him.
The Crown Prince looked calm as always.
But beneath that calm—
something subtle had changed.
Possessiveness.
Not emotional yet.
But territorial.
Like someone noticing another person entering ground they considered theirs.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
Xu Yan sat opposite her slowly.
“Tell me honestly.”
His gaze rested steadily on her face.
“What do you think of Chu Wenzhe?”
Again?
Interesting.
The question itself mattered less than the way he asked it now.
Too quiet.
Too deliberate.
Shen Yue answered calmly:
“He’s dangerous.”
Xu Yan smiled slightly.
“At least you’re honest.”
Shen Yue continued softly:
“But not dishonest.”
That made Xu Yan pause faintly.
Interesting answer.
She met his gaze directly.
“Most dangerous people in the capital hide behind smiles.”
Silence.
Heavy silence.
Because they both understood the implication immediately.
Xu Yan suddenly laughed quietly.
For real this time.
“You truly are fearless.”
“No.”
Shen Yue lowered her eyes briefly.
“Just realistic.”
The lantern flickered softly between them.
Then unexpectedly—
Xu Yan reached toward the chessboard placed nearby.
He moved one black piece forward slowly.
“Check.”
Again.
Chess.
Always chess.
Shen Yue looked toward the board carefully.
Interesting.
This position differed from last night’s.
Now the black king stood surrounded from multiple sides.
Pressure tightening gradually.
Xu Yan’s voice lowered slightly.
“My father made a mistake.”
Direct statement.
Dangerous statement.
Shen Yue remained silent.
Xu Yan’s fingers rested lightly against another chess piece.
“He should have either trusted Chu Wenzhe completely…”
A pause.
“Or killed him years ago.”
The atmosphere turned ice cold instantly.
Even the maid nearby looked horrified hearing such words.
But Xu Yan looked completely calm.
As though discussing weather.
Shen Yue quietly realized something important.
The Crown Prince was revealing his thoughts intentionally now.
Testing her loyalty perhaps.
Or perhaps—
he simply needed someone intelligent enough to understand the situation.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Xu Yan suddenly looked toward her again.
“And you?”
His eyes narrowed faintly.
“If you stood in my position…”
“Would you fear him?”
Silence filled the tent.
Shen Yue considered carefully before answering.
Then softly—
“I would fear the reason people follow him.”
Xu Yan’s expression stilled slightly.
Because that answer cut directly to the truth.
People did not merely fear Chu Wenzhe.
Soldiers trusted him.
The people admired him.
And perhaps most dangerous of all—
he never sought that admiration actively.
It followed him naturally.
Xu Yan slowly leaned back again.
“You really do understand him.”
There it was again.
That strange coldness beneath his voice.
Jealousy.
Subtle.
Controlled.
But definitely there now.
Shen Yue noticed it clearly this time.
Interesting.
Very interesting indeed.
Before either could continue—
another guard suddenly rushed toward the tent entrance.
“Your Highness!”
The soldier knelt heavily.
“The Emperor requests your immediate presence.”
Xu Yan’s expression cooled instantly.
Of course.
After last night’s events, the Emperor would act quickly now.
The Crown Prince slowly stood.
But before leaving—
his gaze shifted once more toward the black dagger near Shen Yue.
Then toward her.
And softly—
“Be careful who you trust.”
Simple sentence.
Yet the meaning beneath it felt layered.
Warning?
Advice?
Jealousy?
Perhaps all three.
After Xu Yan finally left—
Shen Yue remained seated quietly for a long time.
The storm outside had ended.
But somehow—
everything felt far more dangerous now.
Because the conflict was no longer hidden.
The Emperor feared Chu Wenzhe.
Xu Yan knew it.
Chu Wenzhe knew it.
And now—
she knew it too.
Which meant one terrifying truth.
She had already become involved too deeply to escape cleanly anymore.
- Writer
