CHAPTER 16: Two Dangerous souls
1143 Words
The palace corridor fell silent.
Snow drifted softly through the open archways while golden lantern light flickered against the polished stone floors.
And standing beneath that dim winter glow—
Chu Wenzhe watched Shen Yue quietly.
“Who taught you how to survive like that?”
The question lingered heavily between them.
Nearby nobles slowed their steps instinctively, pretending not to listen while listening to every word.
Because the Lord of Valin rarely initiated conversation.
Especially with women.
Meanwhile Shen Yue’s mind sharpened instantly.
Dangerous question.
Very dangerous.
She looked calmly at Chu Wenzhe.
Close up—
his presence felt even more oppressive.
The smell of cold wind and faint iron clung to him naturally.
Blood.
Battlefield blood.
This man had likely walked through corpses hours before returning to the palace.
And somehow—
his eyes felt strangely familiar to her.
Not because she knew him.
But because she recognized that kind of gaze.
The gaze of someone who survived too much.
Shen Yue smiled faintly.
“No one taught me.”
Chu Wenzhe remained silent.
Waiting.
So she continued softly:
“People simply learn quickly when no one comes to save them.”
The corridor became still.
Xu Yan, who had quietly approached from behind moments earlier, paused slightly upon hearing her answer.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Chu Wenzhe’s eyes darkened faintly.
Because he understood that answer completely.
Too completely.
The northern battlefields taught the same lesson long ago—
survival belonged only to those capable of abandoning weakness.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
Yet strangely—
the silence between them did not feel awkward.
It felt… understood.
Then suddenly—
Princess Ning’an’s voice shattered the atmosphere.
“Lord Valin!”
The princess hurried toward them quickly beneath layers of crimson silk, several palace maids following anxiously behind her.
Her expression tightened the moment she noticed Shen Yue still standing there.
Again.
Always Shen Yue.
Princess Ning’an forced a smile onto her face.
“Father Emperor wishes to speak with you privately.”
Chu Wenzhe’s expression remained unreadable.
“I understand.”
The princess hesitated briefly before glancing coldly toward Shen Yue.
“Fourth Miss should also remember her status carefully.”
Ah.
There it was.
Open hostility now.
Shen Yue lowered her gaze politely.
“This subject naturally understands.”
Princess Ning’an clearly wanted further confrontation.
Unfortunately—
Chu Wenzhe moved first.
Without another word, he walked past the princess calmly toward the inner palace halls.
Yet before disappearing—
his gaze shifted briefly toward Shen Yue one final time.
Sharp.
Quiet.
Thoughtful.
Then he was gone.
Only after he disappeared did Shen Yue release a slow breath internally.
Troublesome man.
Very troublesome man.
Princess Ning’an immediately stepped closer once they were alone.
The sweetness vanished entirely from her face.
“You seem quite skilled at attracting attention.”
Shen Yue almost sighed.
Why did noble women always sound the same?
“This subject wouldn’t dare.”
Princess Ning’an laughed coldly.
“Don’t pretend innocence before me.”
Her eyes narrowed sharply.
“You think because the Crown Prince and Lord Valin noticed you, you’ve become important?”
Shen Yue remained silent.
Because arguing with emotionally unstable royalty was pointless.
The princess mistook her silence for weakness instantly.
A dangerous mistake.
“You should know your place carefully.”
Her voice dropped colder.
“Otherwise, people who climb too high tend to fall very painfully.”
Threat.
Clear threat.
Interesting.
Shen Yue finally lifted her eyes slightly.
And for some reason—
the calmness inside them made Princess Ning’an suddenly uncomfortable.
“Your Highness is right.”
Her voice remained soft.
“But sometimes…”
A faint smile touched her lips.
“The people pushing others from high places accidentally fall first.”
The princess froze.
For one brief second—
she genuinely felt cold beneath Shen Yue’s gaze.
Then anger surged immediately afterward.
“How dare you—”
“Imperial Sister.”
Xu Yan’s smooth voice interrupted calmly.
The Crown Prince approached beneath falling snow, hands folded elegantly behind his back.
Princess Ning’an immediately stiffened.
“Brother Crown Prince.”
Xu Yan smiled lightly.
“You seem quite emotional tonight.”
His tone remained gentle.
Yet hidden warning lingered beneath it.
Princess Ning’an bit her lip slightly.
She understood immediately.
Xu Yan was protecting Shen Yue again.
Why?
Why was everyone suddenly protecting this woman?!
The princess forced herself calm.
“This sister merely exchanged conversation with Fourth Miss.”
Xu Yan’s eyes shifted briefly toward Shen Yue.
“She should return home safely now.”
Simple sentence.
Clear dismissal.
Princess Ning’an’s face darkened further.
But she could not openly oppose the Crown Prince.
So finally—
she turned sharply before leaving with her servants.
The corridor quieted again afterward.
Snow continued drifting softly outside.
Xu Yan looked toward Shen Yue thoughtfully.
“You handled that well.”
Shen Yue answered honestly.
“I nearly offended her.”
Xu Yan smiled faintly.
“You already offended her long ago simply by existing.”
Fair enough.
Shen Yue internally agreed.
Xu Yan studied her quietly for several moments.
Then suddenly—
he asked:
“What do you think of Chu Wenzhe?”
Direct question.
Dangerous question.
Shen Yue immediately understood this was another test.
Every conversation with Xu Yan felt layered with hidden traps.
Careful.
Always careful.
She lowered her gaze slightly.
“Lord Valin is loyal to the empire.”
Xu Yan laughed softly.
“What a political answer.”
His eyes narrowed faintly.
“But I didn’t ask what the court thinks of him.”
The winter wind swept through the corridor quietly.
Then finally—
Shen Yue answered truthfully.
“He’s lonely.”
Xu Yan’s smile disappeared slightly.
Interesting answer.
Most people described Chu Wenzhe as terrifying.
Cruel.
Cold-blooded.
Yet Shen Yue noticed loneliness first.
Why?
Xu Yan suddenly realized something troubling.
Shen Yue and Chu Wenzhe might understand each other too naturally.
Because both carried the same emotional distance from the world around them.
That realization unsettled him unexpectedly.
Meanwhile—
deep inside the imperial palace—
the Emperor stared coldly at Chu Wenzhe across a private chamber.
No servants remained nearby now.
Only ruler and general.
Silence filled the room heavily.
Finally—
the Emperor spoke.
“You’ve become more difficult to control.”
Direct.
No pretense anymore.
Chu Wenzhe stood calmly beneath candlelight.
“I was never controllable.”
The Emperor’s eyes darkened instantly.
For several long moments—
neither man looked away.
The atmosphere felt suffocating.
Then slowly—
the Emperor smiled.
Cold smile.
Dangerous smile.
“Tell Us honestly.”
His voice lowered.
“If one day…”
“Your army stood outside the imperial palace…”
“Would you kneel?”
The room became deathly still.
And somewhere beyond palace walls—
snow continued falling endlessly over an empire quietly approaching disaster.
- Writer
