Chapter 421
**Chapter 419: The Blade Still Sharp**
A man’s ambition lies in the four corners of the world, and Li Yuanjing had never cared much about his appearance.
However, ever since his abdication, he found himself increasingly concerned about how he looked. He knew that Shen Wei’s feelings for him had faded, and with no other options, Li Yuanjing could only hope to win her over with his handsome features and exceptional skills.
Shen Wei was like a peony in full bloom, showing no signs of wilting over the years, attracting all manner of flowers and admirers. Li Yuanjing glanced at himself; after months of worry and toil, fine lines had begun to form at the corners of his eyes, and nasolabial folds had appeared.
Sigh.
Shen Wei heard his long sighs, which seemed endless. She turned to him and patiently said, “Aging and death are part of life; there’s no need to take it too seriously.”
Li Yuanjing sighed again.
Though she said that, he still couldn’t shake off the burden in his heart. Feeling dejected, he moved behind Shen Wei, wrapping his arms around her waist, exuding a heavy, melancholic aura, like a king cast out from his pack.
Seeing his pitiful state, Shen Wei allowed him to hold her.
As night deepened, candlelight seeped through the window curtains. Li Yuanjing held Shen Wei’s waist, and as he embraced her, his hands slowly began to wander downward.
Shen Wei: ??
The candlelight flickered out, and the night was filled with the rustling of the embroidered quilt.
When dawn broke, Li Yuanjing woke up feeling refreshed, the little bit of confidence he had lost the day before returning to him.
Shen Wei was still resting under the covers, her eyes too heavy to open, with traces of tears lingering at the corners, resembling a lotus flower in the dew at Luoyue Lake. Li Yuanjing carefully checked on her, relieved to find she was uninjured.
Content, he dressed quietly and left the chamber.
What did it matter if his looks had faded a bit?
His blade was still sharp.
...
Days passed.
On a warm summer afternoon, Shen Wei and Li Yuanjing were playing chess on the green grass by the lake.
Back in the royal palace, Shen Wei had pretended to be “not very good at chess,” which often turned Li Yuanjing into her dedicated tutor, tirelessly teaching her the game.
In truth, Shen Wei was a quick learner. Initially, she struggled with Go, but after patiently practicing for years, her skills had improved dramatically, and she was beginning to show the grace of a national champion.
As they played, the two were evenly matched, exchanging moves with vigor and enthusiasm.
“Master, a letter from General Shen,” Caiping said, handing over an envelope.
Shen Wei paused her game and opened the letter.
Shen Mieyue and Sun Qingmei had been stationed at the border for years, sending one or two letters each year. After reading the letter, Shen Wei instructed Caiping, “Prepare the East Garden for guests.”
Caiping replied, “Of course, I’ll take care of it right away.”
Li Yuanjing placed a white stone on the board, his brows furrowing with concern. “Weiwei, why are you preparing the East Garden?”
Could it be that she planned to move him there?
Li Yuanjing was unwilling!
He had been persistently clinging to Shen Wei, finally managing to stay in her bed every night. He reflected on whether he had been too clingy lately, causing Shen Wei to prepare another room for him.
Shen Wei glanced at him, about to respond, when the head steward approached and reported, “My lords, the King of Donglin requests an audience.”
Thud—
Li Yuanjing’s expression darkened as he threw down his piece. “Someone, throw that scoundrel into the lake to drown!”
What a shameless brat!
To covet the Empress Dowager is a capital offense! Last time, Li Yuanjing had reluctantly spared his life, which was already a mercy.
This kid had no sense of repentance and dared to come looking for trouble!
Shen Wei pressed down on Li Yuanjing’s hand and turned to the steward. “What does he want?”
The steward respectfully replied, “The King of Donglin claims he wishes to return to his country. Before he leaves, he wants to bid farewell to the Empress Dowager.”
When Shen Wei had fallen into the fishing village of Donglin, the King had helped her considerably, so she felt a sense of gratitude.
The King of Donglin was impulsive, but he had a good heart. So, Shen Wei instructed the steward, “Go to the treasury and take a thousand taels of silver to give to him. Tell the King I wish him a safe journey.”
The steward left to carry out her orders.
At the chessboard, Li Yuanjing felt a pang of jealousy. He knew about Shen Wei’s past with the King, but he didn’t dare to ask, fearing that Shen Wei might not let him into her room tonight.
Shen Wei placed a black stone on the board with a decisive click and looked up at Li Yuanjing. “The King is a good kid; why do you have to hold a grudge against him?”
She emphasized the word “kid.”
This meant that in Shen Wei’s heart, she regarded the King as nothing more than an immature younger brother.
Li Yuanjing’s mood lightened, and he picked up his piece, happily continuing the game with Shen Wei.
...
...
By the shores of Luoyue Lake, the King of Donglin waited anxiously.
The princess of Donglin feared he would cause trouble and decided to send him back to his country to avoid drawing attention. The King felt restless; he couldn’t let go of Shen Wei.
It was a strange feeling.
He turned to his guard, Zhang Wuge, and asked, “Don’t you think Shen Taohou and Yuan Xier are somewhat alike?”
Zhang Wuge shook his head nervously. “N-no, not at all! They’re completely different! My lord, we should leave the city quickly; I’m not married yet and don’t want to die young.”
The King sighed. Although he had only met Shen Wei once, he felt an inexplicable familiarity, as if they had known each other for a long time. Especially in the way Shen Wei carried herself, there was a hint of resemblance to Yuan Xier.
But the King knew that was impossible.
Yuan Xier was gone, and Shen Taohou had never left Qingguo.
A thousand emotions tangled within him, but the King only knew one thing: he wanted to see Shen Wei again.
Just one more time before he left, even if it was just for a moment...
After a long, torturous wait, the gates of the royal estate opened, and the old steward in a brocade robe stepped out to tell the King, “Your Highness, my master has gifted you a thousand taels of silver, wishing you a safe journey.”
The steward handed over a box containing the silver notes.
The King did not take the box but asked eagerly, “Does the Empress Dowager not wish to see me?”
The steward forced a smile, warning, “I must urge you to leave quickly. This is not a place for you to linger. If you anger the noble ones, your life will be in danger.”
The King lowered his head in sorrow.
Silently, he turned away, gazing at the shimmering waters of Luoyue Lake in the distance. The lake’s water mirrored his tears of sadness.
Leaving Yanjing today, he feared he would never have the chance to return. At twenty years old, the King felt the weight of time, the chill of the world, and the pain of heartbreak.
The unwavering love depicted in storybooks was something he hadn’t even touched the edges of, leaving him a lonely soul with nowhere to turn.
Zhang Wuge supported the King, earnestly advising, “My lord, there are plenty of fish in the sea; why cling to that one?”
Suddenly, the King stopped in his tracks.
He turned around and hurried back to the royal estate.
Zhang Wuge was terrified, thinking the King was about to lose his mind again, and quickly followed to dissuade him. But he saw the King moving swiftly back to the steward, taking the box of silver notes from his hands.
He could suffer heartbreak, but he couldn’t refuse Shen Wei’s money.
After all, it was a thousand taels!
Why not take it?
Holding the box tightly, the King took one last lingering look at the majestic royal estate before leaving, heartbroken.
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