This "she" doesn’t need to be ntioned; everyone knows who she is.
Qiu Yang was furious and exasperated, wondering why His Majesty was so fixated on this outsider female. He looked her up and down, scrutinized her for so long, and still couldn’t figure out why His Majesty fancied her! What kind of Enchanting Soup did she give His Majesty?!
Qiu Yang’s eyes were a sea of complexity as he advised loyally, "Your Majesty, don’t forget what the High Priest said back then, you absolutely cannot..."
Shen Li interrupted coldly, "I rember everything my master said. You just need to answer my question."
Qiu Yang had said all he could, not daring to cause more trouble, and respectfully replied, "Governnt affairs are busy lately. It’s likely the master hasn’t slept yet; she should still be working in the study."
Shen Li nodded, "Don’t tell anyone about coming over tonight."
"Understood," Qiu Yang replied.
The night was thick, but the study was brightly lit, standing out sharply in the darkness.
Bright moonlight stread through the window lattice, outlining that familiar silhouette.
She was bent over her desk writing furiously, sotis resting her cheek tiredly in her hand, sotis rubbing her temples.
The warm yellow light draped over her beautifully, looking like a painting or a dreamy, distant vision.
Shen Li sat quietly on the rooftop, his gaze greedily taking in the sight.
If it were in the past, Shen Li couldn’t bear seeing her work so hard, he would have already brought in hot tea, embraced her from behind, gently kneaded her shoulders, and with so teasing words, coaxed her out of the study.
But now, he could only watch from afar like a shadow that dared not see the light.
A wall separated the two, invisible but clear, uncrossable.
...
Inside the study.
Shen Tang finished reviewing the docunts and chatted with the system.
[Host, let tell you sothing interesting—Lu Ke got a good beating from his brother tonight!]
"Lu Xiao said he wouldn’t be ho tonight; turns out he went back to beat up his brother. Why so hard-handed?" Shen Tang’s mouth twitched, "Is he still dwelling on what happened the other day? Lu Xiao, such a gentle and steady person, wouldn’t go so far as to actually beat soone, would he?"
[You only said Lu Ke wanted to marry you; you didn’t ntion the drugging incident. Who knew, when Lu Xiao went over to question him tonight, the guy spilled it himself! If it weren’t for being his younger brother, his legs would have probably been broken!]
"... It’s hard to stop oneself from being stupid." Shen Tang stood up and stretched, intending to leave the study and rest.
The system suddenly reminded, "Host, Shen Li is here, watching you from the rooftop!"
Shen Tang paused, startled. She had already cut ties with this man-dog, so what was he doing here?
Climbing on the roof to spy at night—how creepy!
Seeing Shen Tang suddenly halt, Shen Li grew alert, scanning his surroundings cautiously. When her gaze swept over to this side, it paused for a mont but quickly moved away, as if she hadn’t discovered anything and continued into the house.
His eyes darkened, and he leaped down, landing steadily in front of her.
Shen Tang frowned, trying to sidestep, but was forcefully blocked.
"Move aside," her voice cold as ice.
"I’ve co specifically to see you."
"Heh." Shen Tang sneered, "The Emperor of the Yiyuan Empire breaking into our territory at night—I’ve been polite enough not to have you arrested, and now you want to trespass in a civilian house?"
Her icy tone carried thick sarcasm, like a sharp blade stabbing into his heart, making it ache faintly.
Shen Li wanted to raise his hand to touch her face, his voice hoarse, "Xiao Tang’er..."
Shen Tang quickly stepped back, interrupting him, "Yiyuan Monarch, please respect the boundaries. We’ve barely t a few tis; it’s awkward for you to call like that, so let’s not get too familiar."
His hand hovered mid-air, slowly curling back. His voice grew even darker, "You and I clearly—"
Shen Tang interrupted him quickly, "His Majesty Jiuli knows very well, my Beast Husband Shen Li died long ago in the volcano, and I’m not familiar with you. Please, Your Majesty, show so respect."
Shen Li’s handso face darkened, his jawline tense, unable to utter another word.
After drinking the Forgetfulness Water, Shen Tang was no longer saddened at all. Seeing Shen Li infuriated like this felt sowhat satisfying.
"Why did you co over tonight, after all?"
Shen Tang yawned tiredly, not wanting more pointless talk with him, "Oh, I heard from Qiu Yang that you and your fiancée are planning to get engaged. What? Did you co tonight to personally invite to your wedding?"
Shen Tang initially spoke offhandedly, but the more she thought about it, the more possible it seed, her face full of surprise, "You even personally ca all this way, as the Monarch of the mighty Yiyuan Empire, you must think very highly of !"
Hearing her indifferent tone, Shen Li felt even more bitter inside, swallowing hard, he softly said, "I wanted to apologize to you."
"Apologize? What’s there to apologize for? I stopped caring a long ti ago. Actually, thinking about it, what you said was true; the worthy own treasures. It was my incompetence that couldn’t protect the Earth Core; you don’t need to apologize."
As she spoke, Shen Tang pushed him aside to walk into the house.
Shen Li suddenly grabbed her wrist, pulling her aggressively into his embrace!
Shen Tang was caught off guard and fell into his arms, the familiar cool fragrance filling her nose. Her back was pressed against his chest, even able to feel his rapid heartbeat and slightly trembling breath.
"I’m sorry..." his voice was urgent, as if afraid she’d run away, "That night, my words were too harsh, hurting your feelings, Xiao Tang’er. You should understand, I never ant to quarrel with you; I never intended to harm you..."
Shen Tang forcefully broke free from his embrace, trying hard not to strike, her voice cold as ice, "Is His Majesty Yiyuan so arrogant as to be completely forgetful? This isn’t your territory! You’d better show so respect! Even if your strength surpasses mine, in the Night Glow Empire, I have ways to deal with you."
"I just ca to apologize." Shen Li’s breath was unsettled, "Xiao Tang, these days, I’ve been contemplating that night. My words were too harsh, making you so... hurt."
He looked at her with disgusted, cold expression, his voice paused, the last two words nearly inaudible.
"Just for those words? You didn’t need to co all this way; I’ve long stopped caring, and don’t bla you either." She said, "I made a mistake that night too—it was impulsive of to fight with you."
"A wrong against a wrong, we’re even now." Shen Tang turned to walk inside, yawning as she spoke, "If Your Majesty only ca for this, then please leave. I’m tired, not sending you off."
The door closed with a "bang," separating them.
Shen Li stared at her now indifferent and distant deanor, as if they were truly strangers who had just t, making him feel even more lost than her frantic accusation that night.
Once, she professed her love for him in person; months later, even hate was absent.
It turned out that he was the only one who hadn’t completely moved on.
Shen Li gave a bitter smile; his hands hanging by his side clenching and loosening, knuckles turning white.
With the pride of a monarch, he should have turned around and left at this mont. But his feet seed to have a mind of their own, following against his will.
Shen Tang had just stepped inside when she heard footsteps follow again.
She turned abruptly, truly impatient this ti, "What do you want, after all?!"
Shen Li picked up the drawing book on the table, "I heard you’re preparing for a competition?"
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