Chapter 51: An Additional Chapter for Seven Thousand Reviews

“If he were a good man, why would he tie you up with a rope?”

The prison bars separated the outside world.

Though Shen Yue Rong reluctantly withdrew her hand, she still glared fiercely at Crown Prince Cheng Yun.

The prince shrank into a corner, his face expressionless but his eyes still cautious and guarded.

For the first time, Wen Besang felt an illusion that Cheng Yun was merely a cub.

He couldn’t help but laugh softly and said, “Because he worries you might hurt me.”

Shen Yue Rong immediately moved closer, as if making a solemn promise, and earnestly said, “I won’t harm Xiaowan’s baby.”

Wen Besang nodded. “I believe you.”

Shen Yue Rong beamed with joy, dragging the heavy iron chain on her wrist as she slowly reached out her hand toward Wen Besang.

Cheng Yun frowned slightly from the side. Shen Yue Rong suddenly shot him a glance. Cheng Yun immediately lowered his hand that was adjusting his inner breath and remained still.

With a threatening look, Shen Yue Rong intimidated him for a moment, then reached out again. Her nails, stained with layers of dried blood, gently brushed Wen Besang’s face.

Wen Besang obediently allowed her to touch him.

Then Shen Yue Rong chuckled softly and said, “Little Asang, little Asang! Why call me Asang?”

“Because ‘Sangzi’ means hometown,” Wen Besang replied. “Mother must be longing for her homeland.”

Shen Yue Rong paused, stunned for a moment, then slowly moved to a corner and remained motionless.

Just as Wen Besang was about to approach her, Cheng Yun suddenly coughed. Shen Yue Rong’s martial arts were too formidable; even in her madness, she knew no restraint. That single palm strike had caused him internal injury.

He gestured subtly to Wen Besang with a light beckon.

Wen Besang shifted closer and sat beside him, saying, “Although you were just being overly sentimental earlier, thank you for saving me.”

Cheng Yun wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth. “Don’t get too close to her. She could go mad at any moment.”

Wen Besang nodded.

Cheng Yun clutched his chest, painfully shifting his body to straighten his neck against the wall, tilting his head slightly. “Just now, I truly thought I was going to die.”

Wen Besang, recalling Shen Yue Rong’s appearance moments ago, said, “I believe she really wanted to kill you.”

“…I only made things worse for you.”

Wen Besang tilted his head, as if seeing him so seriously for the first time. The prince forced a smile and glanced away slightly.

His expression was faintly withered, like flower petals scorched by fire, bearing the marks of burning.

“It was worse for you,” Wen Besang said, “But I’m happy.”

Cheng Yun looked at him, a mixture of curiosity and confusion.

Lately, he felt completely baffled, unable to understand what Wen Besang was thinking. Since Wen Besang had moved out of his private chamber, he had been at a loss, trying hard to please him but not knowing how.

“You’re the first person besides my parents who would protect me with their life.”

Cheng Yun was stunned for a moment, instinctively lowering his gaze. “It’s not that serious… I’m fine now.”

The cell fell into silence. Shen Yue Rong remained dazed, seemingly lost in thought, her gaze fixed on the dark, sunless stone cave stretching toward the north—that was the direction of Qi Kingdom.

Wen Besang sat quietly, as if with nothing more to say.

Countless questions churned in Cheng Yun’s heart, yet they all stuck in his throat, a thousand tangled thoughts swirling inside.

Shen Yue Rong slowly curled up and began to sob softly.

Wen Besang stood up and walked over, taking off his outer coat and draping it over her shoulders.

Shen Yue Rong continued to weep, Wen Besang sitting beside her, gently patting her shoulder. His eyes gradually misted, gathering tears that slipped down his face.

Cheng Yun watched them with a complex expression.

Outside, Xie Lingshu and Xie Nihong paced back and forth, unseen through the prison bars.

Xie Lingshu called out, “Cheng Yun, Asang? Are you alright?”

Cheng Yun had no choice but to reply, “For now, we’re fine. Hurry and try to unlock the mechanism.”

Shen Yue Rong finally stopped crying and looked up at Wen Besang, sniffling, “Why are you shedding little pearls too?”

“Because you are crying.”

“I’m crying because I suddenly feel very sad.”

“I’m crying because I see you suddenly so sad.”

…

Cheng Yun pressed a hand to his forehead.

Suddenly a wave of killing intent surged over him. He immediately became alert as Shen Yue Rong stared at him expressionlessly, as if wanting to peel off a layer of his skin.

Cheng Yun quickly sat upright, loosening the outer robe on his body and tossing it to her.

Shen Yue Rong caught it and draped it over Wen Besang, saying, “Take good care of yourself. Don’t let Xiaowan worry.”

“Mm.”

Shen Yue Rong began to sing mournfully, “The night moon veils a dream, spring breeze carries gentle affection, alas… joy slowly flows away with the water…”

Rising from where she sat, she wandered and twirled while singing, the entire dungeon filling with her slightly plaintive song.

“The strings break, the fragrant silk fades…”

Wrapped in Cheng Yun’s outer robe, Wen Besang was immediately filled with the scent of familiar agarwood. He slowly returned and sat beside Cheng Yun.

“Are you cold?”

“No.”

Cheng Yun looked at the messy hair near his ear and instinctively reached out. Wen Besang turned his head away, saying, “Don’t touch me.”

His voice was soft and gentle, leaving one uncertain whether it was genuine resistance or not.

Cheng Yun slowly withdrew his hand.

Shen Yue Rong sang on, then suddenly broke down into sobs again.

Cheng Yun’s heart grew restless. His gaze fell on Shen Yue Rong. “Why is she crying again?”

“I don’t know,” Wen Besang looked around, “But being locked here for twenty years, she must harbor many grievances, things no one knows.”

“And you?”

Wen Besang was momentarily caught off guard. “What?”

“Have you had any grievances recently?”

“No.”

Though he said so, he turned his face away, and from the side, wetness glistened beneath his eyelashes again.

Cheng Yun’s heart grew even more confused. He rubbed his hands on his knees and said, “Why did you cry on Lantern Festival night?”

Before Wen Besang could answer, Cheng Yun continued, “I should be the one crying, right? Saying such harsh words, even shooting down the lanterns already hung… and I haven’t cried.”

Wen Besang remained silent but looked even more aggrieved.

Cheng Yun’s heart was heavy with mixed emotions. “I’m sorry.”

Wen Besang lowered his lashes, resting his chin on his knee. The little pearls slipped silently from between his thick lashes, shattering on the ground.

“Please don’t cry. I apologize. Let’s make up, alright?”

Wen Besang’s voice was muffled. “Why apologize?”

“…”

Cheng Yun didn’t understand why he was apologizing either, but in that moment when death had nearly claimed him, only one thought remained in his mind:

He wanted to reconcile with Wen Besang.

“I don’t know…” Cheng Yun said softly, “During this time, I’ve thought over everything between us repeatedly. I really don’t understand why you toy with me, reject me, give me no dignity at all… but in the end, it’s you who…”

Wen Besang trembled all over and wept more fiercely.

Cheng Yun had to support himself. “Asang…”

“Don’t touch me,” Wen Besang pushed him away softly. “I don’t want to talk to you.”

Cheng Yun’s chest tightened painfully. He took a deep breath and said, “I’m sorry, okay? I apologize. No matter what, it’s all my fault. My fault, alright?”

His throat choked up, then he suddenly calmed down. “I was ungrateful. You obviously didn’t like me, even hated me, yet you still wanted me to kiss you, touch you, hold you… I was the one confused about right and wrong. I was the worst. You knew I was the worst all along, didn’t you? Please forgive me this once, alright?”

The prince’s eyes were dark and moist, his furrowed brow filled with bitter sorrow.

Wen Besang stared at his brows and eyes, and the forced smile at the corner of his lips. “You don’t even know where you went wrong.”

Cheng Yun took a quiet breath, smiled again, his brow relaxing then tightening. He smiled once more. “Then, tell me, please?”

Wen Besang said nothing, his gaze stubborn and discontented.

Cheng Yun was nearly driven mad by him.

“What exactly do you want?” he asked with restraint. “I just can’t figure out what you’re thinking. You want to take revenge on me, I know, I understand. Yes, I was bad to you at first. I’ve tried hard to make it up to you, Wen Besang. I’ve really tried. And now I find I’m becoming less and less myself. No one has ever made me like this…”

“It wasn’t me who changed you.”

“But I can’t help but get close to you!” Cheng Yun snapped. “No matter how much you trample on me, humiliate me, I still like you! What exactly do you…”

Suddenly, a fierce gust of wind came from behind. Cheng Yun was caught off guard and was violently thrown back, crashing into the wall ten meters away.

Xie Lingshu and Xie Nihong saw Shen Yue Rong suddenly move and rushed to the door.

“Asang!”

“Asang!! Are you okay?!”

Cheng Yun fell to the ground, coughing up a mouthful of blood, his vision swirling.

Shen Yue Rong stared at him unblinkingly and took a step forward, but was suddenly pushed back by Wen Besang.

She instinctively withdrew her hand, looking slightly innocent and timid at Wen Besang, like a child unaware of what she had done wrong.

Wen Besang stood in front of her, then turned back to look at Cheng Yun.

His face was pale, struggling as he dragged his body slowly toward the wall.

“Asang?” Xie Nihong’s voice came again. “Are you alright? Are you hurt?!”

“Shen Yue Rong!” Xie Lingshu slammed the iron door hard. “Shen Yue Rong! Do you remember Shen Rufeng?!”

Shen Yue Rong lifted her face and suddenly lunged toward the door.

The clinking of iron chains exploded inside the cell.

Wen Besang stood stunned for a moment, then slowly approached Cheng Yun.

Cheng Yun leaned back, his chin and neck stained red with blood. He smiled faintly and said, “Sorry, Asang… I shouldn’t have been harsh with you, cough…”

This time his injuries were worse than before. A violent cough wracked his whole body, and fresh blood was spat out again. Wen Besang just stood there, motionless, watching.

Cheng Yun felt he had never been so utterly miserable in his life.

He struggled to drag himself to the folded corner of the wall, burying his face in the nook, breathing slowly and silently.

His long eyelashes partially obscured all emotions in his eyes, leaving only the reddened corners and the faint smile tugging at his lips, betraying his dire state.

He wanted to disappear from this world.

Forever, forever gone.

Never to appear before anyone again, especially not in Wen Besang’s presence.