Chapter 49
Those words were too heavy. Zhu Yu froze slightly, finding it difficult to connect that cold word, “harmed,” with the Bai Shuzhou before her.
Whether from the original text’s description or her own personal experience, Bai Shuzhou was flawless.
She was cold, proud, rational, and merciful. Her pale blue eyes were always filled with a frost-like distance, like moonlight untouched by dust, yet she would speak gently to children. Her only flaw was that her eyesight was not very good, since she had fallen for that scummy Alpha original body.
White Bird had been transformed from a peacock into a phoenix. Zhu Yu had once heard Xiao Shan mention similar urban legends. Some psychologically twisted people would stitch humans together into all kinds of strange forms and display them, calling it a freak show. Bloody and absurd, frightening even just to hear described.
But Bai Shuzhou was also a victim of the laboratory. How could she possibly be connected to those things?
“She… wasn’t like this before.”
Bai Shuzhou spoke softly of a past she was unwilling to mention. Amid the devastation, the first things that came to mind were actually tiny but bright fragments.
AH-003 was very special. Although her NQ-band value, unique to ability users, was very strong, she had not displayed any special ability.
At first, she had only been sent for treatment because her mental power was too high and had triggered comorbid symptoms, somewhat similar to Bai Shuzhou’s situation.
She was sweet-tongued and clever, often pressing her face curiously against the glass to look outside. She remembered every researcher’s name. Although she could not recognize all the words, she would silently listen to those people talk. When the director called someone, “Xiao Li,” she would follow along and call, “Xiao Li—”
When people looked at her and smiled, she would crisply add, “Sister.”
On the surface, she was obedient, but in private, she was bold and reckless. When following Bai Shuzhou, she had done plenty of bad things. During outdoor time, she would secretly climb onto the wall, grab a broken umbrella, and dare to jump down from high places with Bai Shuzhou. When she did not fall to her death, she excitedly went everywhere announcing, “Super fun!” and almost triggered the alarm.
Bai Shuzhou’s voice was gentle. As Zhu Yu listened, the corners of her lips unconsciously lifted too. Those memories were like a fairy tale, warm enough to soften the heart.
Although Bai Shuzhou only spoke of White Bird, many of the stories contained her shadow as well. Zhu Yu felt that it was not only White Bird; Bai Shuzhou’s childhood had also become a little clearer before her eyes. It was completely different from who she was now, yet strangely continuous.
For some reason, Zhu Yu felt that Bai Shuzhou should have been like that: free, happy, like a clear sky after rain.
Beneath her indifferent exterior was a burning heart. The moon was so close to the human world.
But when Zhu Yu came back to herself, she noticed Bai Shuzhou was not smiling.
The more beautiful the memories were, the more painful the heavy reality became.
Now, White Bird was dazed and very afraid of strangers. Fire burned in her throat day and night without rest.
And Bai Shuzhou would no longer reach toward the sky, narrow her eyes against the blinding sunlight, and smile faintly as she said, “Jump. I’ll catch you.”
“If you mean that you blame yourself because you didn’t protect her,” Zhu Yu said carefully, watching her expression, “then that isn’t your fault. The blame should fall on the people who acted, and the people who benefited from it.”
“If you’re willing to tell me more about that past, I’ll be very happy. I also want to understand you more.”
“We are the closest people to each other. You chose me, and you can also trust me and entrust things to me.”
Zhu Yu hooked Bai Shuzhou’s finger as she spoke with great sincerity. Even the coldest solid ice would be melted by these warm hands.
“Many things…” Bai Shuzhou lowered her lashes.
For one instant, she almost wanted to pour everything out. That desire was stronger than the stirring of her body, and also more dangerous, like a fire burning from the depths of her soul, piercing her heart, refusing to die or rest.
But in the end, she only pressed her lips together. The tip of her tongue swept over the bead of blood on her lip, holding it delicately as she said in a low voice, “I don’t remember clearly.”
This was the tacit understanding between adults. They should stop where the point had been made.
But Zhu Yu nodded very seriously. “That’s true. Your memories are disordered. With such a huge gap, you must be very scared, right?”
Bai Shuzhou said, “I’m not scared.”
Zhu Yu patted her chest. “It’s fine. I’ll stay with you forever!”
Choose me. Trust me. Entrust things to me. Love me.
Bai Shuzhou looked at the young woman’s sparkling eyes and the tear stains on her cheeks, then slowly nodded.
“All right.”
Zhu Yu awkwardly wiped away the tear marks. “That was an accident. I won’t cry again from now on. Actually, I don’t usually like crying.”
“Is that so?” Bai Shuzhou laughed softly.
Zhu Yu’s face reddened as she argued stubbornly, “Yes. This is also part of my plan.”
She was not stupid. As long as she cried, Bai Shuzhou would soften. Since it was useful, she cried.
The two of them stayed warm with each other for a while longer. Zhu Yu conscientiously rubbed away the marks she had just left and carefully wiped them with a warm towel, afraid they would leave bruises.
Bai Shuzhou’s skin was too thin and too pale, fragile as first snow. Even the slightest touch looked startling.
The kiss marks spread across the side of her neck. Even a high collar could not fully hide them. A little crimson peeked out instead, stirring the imagination even more.
Her long silver-white hair scattered down, barely covering her slender, fragile neck.
At some point, her calves had bent. The inside of her thigh had been rubbed red, and Zhu Yu felt extremely guilty as she massaged downward little by little with great gentleness.
She was so focused that she did not notice the quilt deliberately covering Bai Shuzhou’s feet trembling faintly beyond restraint along with her movements.
After confirming that Bai Qianze was not there, Bai Shuzhou specially ordered the Snow Leopard Knights to summon several important ministers and ask about the situation. To her surprise, not a single one knew the emperor’s movements.
Everyone kept their mouths shut. When it came to certain sensitive questions, they would even directly refute and evade her.
“Your Highness, you haven’t been in contact with political affairs for a long time, so you may not understand the current situation.”
“Without His Majesty’s authorization, we cannot disclose anything.”
“You are still recovering. There is no need for you to know these matters. Please set your mind at ease. We will resolve everything properly—”
After many years, this was the first time they had received a private summons from the princess. On the way over after the Snow Leopard Knights relayed the message, the nobles were all quietly muttering to themselves.
Seven years. Bai Shuzhou’s image had long since changed from that once-proud child of heaven into a delicate Omega. She possessed the most moving dancing posture, something she only displayed under the lights.
The emperor had built an ivory tower for her, caring for her in every possible way. The Rose of the Empire, the Ballet Queen—one title after another had long since blurred her into a symbol.
Most people no longer spoke of her astonishing talent. They only mentioned dance or gossip, unless they were concerned with when she could continue the family line and whether she could give birth to a better crown heir.
These ministers, who had once been deferential toward Bai Shuzhou when she was still young, had aged quite a bit over the years. Experience and power had turned into fine wrinkles between their brows and eyes, lightly creasing when they calmly assessed someone.
Those with sharp eyes noticed the red marks beneath Bai Shuzhou’s hair. Their cloudy gazes abruptly shifted to Zhu Yu beside her, sweeping over her up and down, sharper than a hawk’s and making no attempt to hide their hostility and contempt.
The young woman wore a friendly smile. Even in that sharp military uniform, she could not compare at all to the tall and powerful Izelia. Her shoulders were bare of epaulettes, empty, without the slightest pressure an Alpha should possess.
—Shallow, frivolous, foolish.
A mixed-blood Alpha from the slums, filled with inferior genes!
No wonder she had been unable to make the princess pregnant for so many years. Other than manipulating public opinion, what else could she do?
The old ministers’ hostility was too strong, and Bai Shuzhou’s questioning went extremely poorly.
Zhu Yu thought they were being vague because she was present and they were wary of her position, so she deliberately found an excuse to leave.
Standing by the door, her mental power could still seep inside. Although eavesdropping was not very good, those ministers’ attitudes were far too awful. Zhu Yu strongly suspected they would secretly say bad things about her.
Are they insulting me? Really? Let me hear too.
But even after she left, the ministers’ attitudes remained arrogant.
Wearing the tone of elders, they earnestly and painfully lectured Bai Shuzhou that she should prioritize the foundation of the Empire. As a princess, she carried the responsibility of reproducing the dragon race and absolutely could not degrade herself.
Degrade herself?
Bai Shuzhou was silent, suppressing her pheromones as she lightly narrowed her eyes.
There was no anger. Only novelty.
She truly wanted to know what had happened in these seven years, for these people to dare disregard her like this.
Imperial Elder Sister was still alive. The Empire had not changed hands. And she was merely ill, not dead.
She asked about the proportions of the Empire’s financial expenditures, frontline military reports. These were things she had read ever since she first learned to recognize words. But now, everyone was brushing her off, wearing the attitude of “you don’t understand, let me teach you.”
Then the conversation shifted. Openly and covertly, they warned her that she was only an Omega, already twenty-five, which rounded up to thirty, and the most urgent matter was to give birth to an heir as soon as possible. If her partner was unsuitable, then she should replace her.
Each one spoke beautifully, elegant words blooming like lotus flowers, occasionally tossing in some professional terminology.
Zhu Yu had originally been leaning against the wall. Slowly, she straightened, her fists clenching tighter and tighter.
Considering that these people were learned, experienced, and deeply qualified, with titles like ministers of state and field experts, she had still held respect in her heart. Even when she left, she had politely nodded slightly, humble in posture.
But courtesy had not earned respect.
What were these people saying?
You old immortals, who do you think you are? Your hands are reaching all the way into the bed.
Insulting her was one thing. But when those words were placed before Bai Shuzhou, their contemptuous tone seemed magnified several times over, becoming especially grating.
Zhu Yu repeatedly persuaded herself that when outside, harmony was precious. Staying low-key was better. Those old ministers had been nourished by power until they were utterly lawless.
They had power.
A moment later, once Bai Shuzhou had basically understood the situation and memorized these people’s names, one certain minister had already opened her terminal on her own, pulling up photos and profiles, almost wanting to select a consort for Bai Shuzhou on the spot.
Creak.
The door was elegantly pushed open.
Zhu Yu leaned against the doorframe. Her long black hair was tied up neatly, the collar of her military uniform casually opened by two buttons. At her fingertips, she was playing with a dagger absentmindedly. Cold light flowed with her fingers, reflecting a pair of smiling black eyes.
She was still smiling, but her aura had shifted subtly.
Her gaze swept casually over the row of ministers, as though she did not take them seriously in the slightest. She said lightly, “It seems someone called for me.”
Her voice carried a smile, yet it made people’s spines chill for no reason.
The minister who had been speaking loudly of her just now forced herself to remain calm, putting on airs as she sternly rebuked, “Get out. Who allowed you in!”
Unconsciously, she carried a condescending tone, trying to recover the dignity she had lost in that moment of stiffness.
Even if Zhu Yu’s military rank had not been revoked, it was still lower than their status. What more now, when she was only a hollowed-out puppet.
Before she could finish, the young woman lazily swept a glance over her, and the dagger at her fingertips abruptly stilled.
Zhu Yu ignored that person completely. Her military boots struck the floor, making crisp, oppressive sounds. Unhurriedly, she walked straight through the crowd, like a vicious dog patrolling its territory, unrestrained and fearless, finally stopping beside Bai Shuzhou’s bed.
Her forearm was tense. At this moment, she was still a little nervous. But once she met those pale blue eyes that blinked lightly, there was only a very pleased laugh left.
She bent down, moving very close. Silver-white and ink-black hair nearly tangled together.
An ambiguous whisper.
After receiving permission, under everyone’s stunned gazes, that cold-flashing dagger spun faster and faster.
Everyone’s eyes were involuntarily drawn there.
Lifting her forearm slightly, Zhu Yu turned her gaze aside, her sweet smile still on her face. Her voice was soft, yet unusually clear.
“Her Highness is merciful and permits you all to stand while reporting to her.”
“But I—do not have such cultivation.”
Before her voice had even fallen, the dagger shot out abruptly, wrapped in a sharp whistle of wind, brushing past the top of the head of the minister who had been clamoring the loudest just now.
With a fierce clang, it pinned the pure-white plume on top of her hat, symbolizing her noble status, directly into the wall behind her.
The feather shaft was still trembling.
“After all,” Zhu Yu tilted her head, her smile growing brighter and more innocent as she repeated the disdainful words they had used earlier, “I come from a lowly background and never received much proper education.”
“If I do anything, I ask all of you lords to be more forgiving.”
Just a few inches lower, and that dagger would have pierced not the hat, but her head. Or perhaps her eye.
Zhu Yu was not sure either. She had practiced this back in the bar. An octopus retired from the circus had taught her to grip the very end tightly and throw it out with arm strength.
She learned everything very quickly.
In truth, she had accidentally thrown it a little too low. She had not intended to hit the feather, but judging by the result, the effect seemed even better.
The room was dead silent. One could hear a pin drop.
The ministers, who had originally been speaking eloquently, widened their eyes in terror. Trembling, they pointed at Zhu Yu, never imagining even in their dreams that she would be so bold and reckless. They “you, you…” for a long time but could not say another word.
Insulting someone to their face and insulting them behind their back were very different.
Zhu Yu clasped her hands behind her back, her fingers tightly pinching her nervous, faintly trembling wrist out of sight. Yet on the surface, she still wore that perfect smile, even carrying a hint of frivolity.
That military uniform seemed to come alive with her, its sharp lines taut, filled with killing intent.
Bai Shuzhou, who had remained silent all this time, finally moved at this moment, lightly brushing Zhu Yu’s fingers.
Her fingertips gently skimmed Zhu Yu’s burning wrist. A very faint indulgence flashed through her pale blue eyes, and the corner of her lips curved almost imperceptibly.
The gazes of several other nobles still remained on Zhu Yu. Unable to endure such humiliation, they were just about to release pheromones and use their status to suppress her when rich rose fragrance filled the enormous room first.
Emerald vines gently curled back that cold dagger and steadily returned it to its owner’s hand, lightly tracing across her palm.
Zhu Yu caught the hilt with her hand turned behind her. Then, as if no one else were there, she bent down, pressing one knee onto the edge of the bed. In a posture that was almost offensive yet incomparably loyal, she completely covered Bai Shuzhou beneath her shadow.
One hand braced against the soft pillow beside Bai Shuzhou, while the other still held the dagger that had just committed its act of violence.
Then, under the horrified gazes of these most powerful ministers of the Empire, she lowered her head and gently kissed their princess.
Amid the suppressed, bone-chilling, rich rose pheromones, Zhu Yu panted lowly between Bai Shuzhou’s lips. The woman lifted her head, bit Zhu Yu’s lip, and deepened the kiss while lightly stroking her shoulder. At the same time, her icy gaze remained pinned to the faces of those old ministers as they trembled and knelt.
Zhu Yu felt Bai Shuzhou’s cool, slender fingertips slowly brush over her gland. Silver hair fell, and Bai Shuzhou’s voice was cold yet gentle:
“Good girl.”
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