Chapter Seven: The Grand Performance

Lu Qingqing stared at the man standing motionless with his arms spread wide, her body tensing up, frozen where she stood.

Shen Jin urged her on impatiently.
"It’s not like you haven’t seen me before. Why are you pretending to be so coy now?"

She held her tongue. Truly, you can’t expect pearls from a dog’s mouth.

How had she never noticed Shen Jin’s venom before? Lu Qingqing had always thought he was the best man in the world. Whenever she was bullied, he was always the one to shield her, to stand up for her. But now, his sharp claws were turned against her, and she cursed him in her heart: mad dog!

No wonder the scions of the capital had bestowed such a title upon him back then.

After much effort, she managed to dry him off, but when it came to dressing him, Lu Qingqing could no longer hold her composure. She had no intention of touching him, but there was no way to avoid those critical places. How could she have known that a mere brush of her soft hands would be all it took?

Shen Jin couldn’t restrain himself.

Their eyes met. Shen Jin’s ears flushed red. He coughed twice, then sneered coldly, "Xie Zhiyun isn’t as capable as me, is he? Looks like your days haven’t been so great."

Lu Qingqing wondered if something was wrong with her hearing. How could Shen Jin say something so shameless?

Her silence only angered him more. Shen Jin, never one to tolerate losing, grabbed her and pinned her against the wall, looming over her as he demanded,
"Lu Qingqing, I’m asking you a question. Between me and Xie Zhiyun, who’s better?"

"Shen Jin, aren’t you being childish?" Lu Qingqing could never have imagined that a man with such a fierce physique could ask such a brainless question.

He seized her wrists, his lips brushing her ear as he laughed softly, "If you won’t answer, I’ll leave a few marks on your neck. The marquis’s residence is attending the palace banquet tonight—let’s see what the young madam has to say then..."

"You—you... You’re better!"

Lu Qingqing replied perfunctorily, which only made Shen Jin smile smugly. Naturally, he couldn’t linger long with her. The palace banquet was about to begin, and as the guest of honor, he couldn’t afford any delays.

Watching his retreating figure, Lu Qingqing finally let out a sigh of relief, feeling utterly powerless in his presence, completely humiliated. In the past, she would never have bothered to wait on him, but now, she had a weakness—someone she wanted to protect.

...

Shen Jin had returned victorious from battle, and the palace was holding a banquet in his honor. He arrived with Jiang Jiuyue, instantly drawing everyone’s attention. All were curious about the woman by his side, whom he treated with such gentleness.

"Add another cushion, something softer. Yueyue isn’t feeling well," Shen Jin instructed, leading her to the front.

The emperor’s brows knitted deeply. When Shen Jin approached, the emperor hurried to greet him. "Lord Shen, it’s been a long time—you look even more spirited than before. Good news must be on the horizon?"

"Thanks to Your Majesty’s great favor, and your protection, I was able to return alive from the battlefield," Shen Jin replied coolly.

The emperor’s expression soured. How could he not hear the underlying meaning? It was this very emperor who had once issued an edict against the Shen family. Now, even as he sat the throne, he feared he might not hold it for long, dreading that Shen Jin’s overwhelming power would come back to haunt him.

"The noble consort has not been well lately, or she would have come to greet you herself," the emperor said softly, trying to curry favor. Shen Jin’s only sister was now the emperor’s favorite consort. Unfortunately, she had recently fallen ill with a highly contagious disease and could not appear in public.

"With Your Majesty’s affection, she is sure to recover swiftly," Shen Jin replied, each word a subtle rebuke. The emperor was displeased but dared not show it. He looked past Shen Jin to scrutinize the woman at his side.

"This young lady’s face is unfamiliar. May I ask which family’s daughter she is?"

Jiang Jiuyue coughed softly, her frail body trembling under the sudden attention, unsure how to respond.

Shen Jin immediately intervened, shielding her. "For a woman to sit at my side—who else could it be, Your Majesty? Do I really need to elaborate?"

"Yes, yes. Please, everyone, take your seats. Let us toast General Shen!" At the emperor’s command, the guests all rose together. Just then, Lu Qingqing entered and took her seat in a remote corner. The marquis’s residence was a shadow of its former self; simply attending the banquet was already a great honor.

But in the next instant, Shen Jin’s voice rang out at her ear.

"Tsk. Madam Xie, are you displeased with me? On such a joyous day, you arrive so fashionably late?"

Lu Qingqing’s lips ached, and hearing Shen Jin’s mocking words only deepened her inner complaints. Didn’t he know perfectly well why she was late? This wretched man!

She answered calmly, "General Shen has a keen eye indeed, to notice even someone tucked away in such a corner."

"You—"

Her implication was clear: Shen Jin cared too much, noticing even these minor details.

Having been rebuffed, Shen Jin didn’t pursue the matter further. But the whispers around Lu Qingqing never ceased.

"Now this will be a spectacle—Lu Qingqing used to be Shen Jin’s fiancée. Tsk tsk, clinging to power—her former betrothed isn’t even dead, and she’s already married to the young marquis!"

"Karma, pure karma. The marquis’s residence has fallen, she must be miserable now."

Everyone was waiting for the drama to unfold. Knowing Shen Jin’s vengeful nature, they believed that unless Lu Qingqing shed a layer of skin, she would hardly make it out of the palace tonight.