Chapter 29

The moment Ji Xiangyu stepped out of the lounge, she returned to being the cold and aloof Best Actress, her entire presence warning strangers to keep their distance.

Shen Yishu had briefly chatted with the makeup artist several times before. As soon as she emerged, the makeup artist happened to look up and see her, so she hurried out from among the extras to touch up her makeup.

The sun was out, and there were too many people. The makeup artist was so busy that sweat covered her face, yet she had no time to wipe it away. Her tone inevitably carried a trace of reproach.

“Did you wipe off your lipstick yourself?”

“Mm.”

The warmth that had finally faded from Shen Yishu’s cheeks immediately returned.

Ji Xiangyu was standing in front of the director, listening as he explained the emotional focus of her scenes that day.

She leaned forward slightly, her black hair partially concealing her face. Her eyes were lowered, her expression attentive, and her features cool as she occasionally nodded.

She looked exactly as countless fans described her—

Like the distant moon suspended in the heavens, something that could only be admired from afar and never approached.

The silver moon hung high above.

Unless the moon itself chose to descend into someone’s palm, no one could ever touch it.

Yet this very moon in the heavens could never resist teasing Shen Yishu. Whenever Shen Yishu became too flustered to reply, Ji Xiangyu would smile with wicked amusement.

That realization suddenly made Shen Yishu understand that she was special.

She felt somewhat delighted.

It meant Ji Xiangyu favored her, whether that favoritism came from their highly compatible pheromones or simply because Ji Xiangyu found her personality entertaining.

At the very least, it proved that throughout this relationship without a fixed end date, Shen Yishu could temporarily enjoy living off her wealthy wife without worry.

Unfortunately, whenever she remembered that the result of this favoritism was Ji Xiangyu teasing her from time to time, she felt slightly miserable.

In her previous life, Shen Yishu had managed to maintain an abstinent image because she had never liked anyone.

Nor had someone as forceful as Ji Xiangyu ever entered her life.

“Next time you need your makeup repaired, come find me. You didn’t apply it very evenly yourself.”

Seeing Shen Yishu distracted, the makeup artist assumed she was upset.

After all, she had appeared on several trending searches in a row and still had to film opposite Ji Xiangyu on the same production.

“All right. Thank you.”

Shen Yishu finally withdrew her gaze and nodded obediently.

“Does Best Actress Ji make things difficult for you?”

The makeup artist lowered her voice, sounding concerned.

Based on her interactions with Shen Yishu, she did not believe Shen Yishu was a bad person. She even occasionally offered to help with small tasks.

She did not seem capable of doing the malicious things people had speculated about online.

“Huh?”

Shen Yishu took several seconds to understand what she meant.

Then she laughed.

“No. Best Actress Ji isn’t that kind of person.”

The makeup artist glanced at Ji Xiangyu, who was still listening attentively to the director, and lowered her voice even further.

“I’ve heard she often suppresses minor actresses who try to exploit her popularity. Just be careful. You can’t afford to offend her.”

Even though the makeup artist had spoken out of concern for Shen Yishu, hearing those words still made her extremely unhappy.

The smile on Shen Yishu’s face faded, as did the warmth in her tone.

“Who did you hear that from? Jiang Wu?”

The makeup artist heard the displeasure in her voice and froze.

After thinking about it, she realized she had indeed heard something similar from [bailiantales.com]people around Jiang Wu.

She nodded.

“More or less.”

Shen Yishu scoffed and spoke distantly.

“Best Actress Ji is a very good person. She told me privately that she doesn’t care about matters like this.”

“Thank you for worrying about me, but in the future, there’s no need to repeat anything about Teacher Ji that comes from Jiang Wu’s side.”

The makeup artist happened to finish touching up Shen Yishu’s face.

She lowered her brush and answered blankly,

“Ah… all right.”

The extras had not finished their makeup, so after helping Shen Yishu, she hurried away.

Shen Yishu remained standing there for several seconds.

Lin Luosheng emerged from behind her and remarked coolly,

“I never expected you to defend my cousin so fiercely.”

Remembering the makeup artist’s words, Shen Yishu remained deeply irritated.

Everyone in the industry acknowledged Ji Xiangyu’s acting ability and appearance.

However, the fact that strangers believed rumors and assumed Ji Xiangyu had poor character made Shen Yishu feel suffocated.

“Teacher Ji was never that kind of person.”

She ignored the hidden meaning in Lin Luosheng’s words.

Lin Luosheng nodded and prepared to leave, but Shen Yishu stopped her.

“Don’t tell Teacher Ji what was said just now.”

“Are you afraid Cousin will make trouble for her?”

Lin Luosheng turned her finger slightly and pointed toward the extras.

“No.”

Shen Yishu sighed.

“I simply don’t want her to hear people saying unpleasant things about her.”

Lin Luosheng: “…”

She genuinely had not considered that.

Ji Xiangyu had been in the industry for so many years that she had heard even worse things.

Several years ago, Lin Luosheng would still angrily curse those people in front of Ji Xiangyu, but Ji Xiangyu never reacted at all.

Over the past few days, Lin Luosheng had gradually learned to let it go as well.

“She doesn’t care about it herself,” Lin Luosheng explained.

“She may not care, but I do.”

Shen Yishu frowned.

“I don’t want her to hear it.”

Lin Luosheng froze briefly before a smile appeared on her lips.

She finally understood why her cousin’s iron tree had blossomed.

No matter how hardened someone was, it would be difficult not to develop feelings when a person beside them protected them as though they were a child.

Thus, when Ji Xiangyu approached, the two tacitly ended the subject.

The first scene they needed to film was Li Jin being deceived into entering the palace.

In the original novel, Li Jin wore red and rushed excitedly into the palace, believing the position of heir was already within her grasp.

She never expected to walk directly into a trap.

Shen Yishu smoothed her hair and glanced from the corner of her eye at Ji Xiangyu beside her.

Noticing her gaze, Ji Xiangyu said lightly,

“Just act as though you’re about to gain a promotion, become wealthy, and have the sovereign die.”

Shen Yishu: “…”

So this was the proper knowledge Ji Xiangyu had promised to teach her.

The camera crew was ready.

The sound team was ready.

The lighting team was ready.

“Shen Yishu, prepare yourself,” the director called, interrupting her thoughts.

She cleared the useless ideas from her mind and walked toward her mark.

When the director called for the scene to begin, Shen Yishu did not think about promotion, wealth, or the Empress Regnant’s death.

She thought instead that once Li Jin crossed this doorway, she would finally be able to remain openly beside Zhou Yi.

When Lin Luosheng approached, Ji Xiangyu asked her about what had happened earlier.

Lin Luosheng did not conceal anything and repeated it directly. After all, she had never promised Shen Yishu she would keep it secret.

However, while recounting the event, she omitted the makeup artist’s exact words and merely said that the woman had spoken somewhat unpleasantly.

Just as Lin Luosheng had said, Ji Xiangyu did not take such matters to heart.

She was the genuine moon in the heavens, not a false reflection floating upon water.

Nothing in the mortal world could stain her.

She would merely gaze down upon it coldly from above.

However, after hearing that Shen Yishu had seriously corrected the makeup artist, a faint smile still appeared on Ji Xiangyu’s lips.

The usually obedient little puppy would reveal sharp teeth whenever she heard someone insulting its owner.

“Cousin,” Lin Luosheng sighed sorrowfully, “do you think Zheng Shu would protect me like that?”

“She would wait for the weather to turn cold, then randomly choose one company belonging to someone who bullied you and bankrupt it,” Ji Xiangyu replied indifferently.

“That’s true.”

Lin Luosheng narrowed her eyes in satisfaction.

Zheng Shu often bullied her herself, but she never permitted anyone else to do so.

The morning passed quickly, and soon it was time to film the major scene that afternoon.

The director yawned.

It was the season when autumn fatigue struck. The afternoon sunlight left everyone drowsy.

The director rose and walked around to wake himself.

Shen Yishu was sleepy as well.

She had not slept properly the previous night. Her energy had been acceptable throughout the morning, but after lunch, drowsiness rushed toward her.

She was so tired that she wanted to wash her face with cold water.

Unfortunately, she was wearing makeup and could not.

When Ji Xiangyu passed her, she quietly asked,

“Sleepy?”

Shen Yishu nodded listlessly.

“Should I help wake you up?”

Ji Xiangyu raised an eyebrow.

Shen Yishu felt she could read a familiar teasing intention in her gaze.

She had seen Ji Xiangyu look at her this way far too many times.

It usually happened whenever they were alone, and it was generally followed by actions and words Shen Yishu could not withstand at all.

Her drowsiness disappeared instantly.

Then she rejected the offer with complete righteousness.

They were in public.

Even in a whisper, Ji Xiangyu could not say anything too explicit.

What if someone overheard?

Shen Yishu’s reputation as an innocent young Alpha and Ji Xiangyu’s cold exterior would both shatter.

“I’m already awake.”

Shen Yishu was too embarrassed to explain the actual reason.

“What a pity.”

Ji Xiangyu’s voice contained genuine regret.

“You didn’t sleep well, so I felt guilty. I came here specifically to help wake you up so your condition wouldn’t affect filming later.”

“It isn’t a pity.”

Shen Yishu shook her head.

“I’m not sleepy at all now.”

Ji Xiangyu gave her a deep look.

“You seem rather afraid of me.”

Shen Yishu shook her head even faster.

“I’m afraid someone will overhear what you say.”

“Then why didn’t you come find me in the lounge?”

Ji Xiangyu sighed.

“You’re holding a grudge against me.”

She sounded so aggrieved that one might have believed she was the person being teased.

Shen Yishu: “…”

She knew Ji Xiangyu was pretending.

But she still could not ignore her.

“With so many people watching, it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to visit you. We haven’t announced anything yet.”

Shen Yishu found an excuse to comfort her.

“So you aren’t holding a grudge against me?”

Ji Xiangyu’s eyes brightened.

She sat beside Shen Yishu with her back toward everyone else and looked at her from the corner of her eye.

From this angle, only Shen Yishu could see her expression.

Everyone else could see only her straight back.

“…How could I possibly hold a grudge against Sister?”

Shen Yishu felt Ji Xiangyu’s words were utterly absurd.

What pet bird would resent its owner?

“So you don’t dislike the things I say either?”

Step by step, Ji Xiangyu lured Shen Yishu into her cage.

By the time Shen Yishu realized it, one foot had already stepped inside.

She nodded helplessly.

Ji Xiangyu treated her so well and merely took verbal advantage of her occasionally.

In truth, Ji Xiangyu had never done anything particularly excessive.

Shen Yishu, on the other hand, had received quite a few benefits.

Remembering the softness she had accidentally buried her face in that morning, Shen Yishu felt her earlobes beginning to burn again.

“In that case, I’m somewhat sleepy.”

Ji Xiangyu finally revealed her true purpose.

“Can you help wake me up?”

When Shen Yishu stood, she looked around.

Everyone appeared drowsy and was taking advantage of the director’s efforts to wake himself by secretly resting.

She followed Ji Xiangyu and slipped into her lounge like a thief.

She suspected Ji Xiangyu had never approached her to help with Shen Yishu’s sleepiness.

From the beginning, Ji Xiangyu had intended to wake herself up.

The instant Shen Yishu closed the door, Ji Xiangyu turned around and pressed her against it.

The movement was slightly forceful.

Shen Yishu’s shoulder blades struck the wooden panel, making her release a muffled sound of pain.

The same place she had buried her face that morning pressed against her body.

Slender arms wrapped around her shoulders.

Ji Xiangyu buried her face beneath Shen Yishu’s neck, her light breath brushing beside the artery there.

The already powerful pulse became even more active.

Blood surged rapidly through Shen Yishu’s body until heat spread everywhere.

The back of Shen Yishu’s head rested against the door, and she remained dazed for a moment.

Ji Xiangyu had thrown herself into her arms so confidently that Shen Yishu could neither return the embrace nor leave her hands at her sides.

“Hey, hold me.”

Ji Xiangyu tightened her arms.

Her voice was so low that Shen Yishu felt as though her own heartbeat were speaking.

Shen Yishu wrapped her arms around Ji Xiangyu’s waist.

Following the pressure, Ji Xiangyu pressed even closer.

Both women still wore their costumes.

Layers of fabric separated their body heat, leaving only the skin at their necks touching.

Ji Xiangyu stepped backward out of the embrace and guided Shen Yishu away from the door so she would no longer need to lean against it.

Shen Yishu assumed it had ended.

She caught her breath and quietly asked,

“Sister, is this how you wake yourself up?”

Ji Xiangyu shook her head.

She turned Shen Yishu around and embraced her from behind.

In this position, Shen Yishu could feel the shape of Ji Xiangyu’s body even more directly against her slender back.

Ji Xiangyu pressed her face against the back of Shen Yishu’s neck.

The instant her cheek touched the soft flesh there, Shen Yishu felt an intense urge rise from the depths of her soul—

An urge to immediately pull Ji Xiangyu off her back.

It was identical to the impulse she had experienced on their first night when Ji Xiangyu forced her to mark her.

Her body believed that as an Alpha, she had been offended and should punish the person who dared violate her boundaries.

Shen Yishu forcibly suppressed the impulse.

This was the set, not the hotel.

They still needed to film soon.

Ji Xiangyu rested against her with satisfaction.

“Sister…”

Only after speaking did Shen Yishu realize her voice had become low and hoarse.

She paused before continuing.

“How long do you need to hold me?”

“Until I’m fully charged.”

Ji Xiangyu rubbed her cheek lightly against her.

The movement made Shen Yishu experience weak knees for the first time.

Shen Yishu understood that Ji Xiangyu truly regarded her as a portable charger.

She could only remain silent and allow herself to be held.

Unfortunately, while Ji Xiangyu embraced her, neither her cheek nor her hands behaved properly.

Her arms had originally circled Shen Yishu’s waist, but the longer she held her, the higher they wandered.

With her eyes closed, Shen Yishu pulled both hands back down to her waist.

Several minutes passed before Ji Xiangyu finally released her.

The moment Shen Yishu regained her freedom, she sat in the chair beside them.

Her legs were unbearably weak, and she had forced herself to remain standing until Ji Xiangyu let go.

Ji Xiangyu felt slightly guilty.

She opened a bottle of water and handed it to her.

“I’m sorry.”

She explained that during the final day or two of every heat, she had an especially intense need for an Alpha’s comfort.

In the past, when she had no Alpha, she simply endured it or increased her suppressant dosage.

This time, Shen Yishu happened to be beside her, and she genuinely could not restrain herself.

“It’s something I should do.”

Shen Yishu accepted the water and drank heavily.

The cold mineral water rushed through her body and diluted the heat Ji Xiangyu’s actions had caused.

After seeing her lower the bottle, Ji Xiangyu walked behind her and once again wrapped her arms around Shen Yishu’s neck.

Shen Yishu’s body instantly stiffened.

Thinking Ji Xiangyu wanted another embrace, she advised quietly,

“Sister, I can’t do it again.”

Sensing her stiffness, Ji Xiangyu smiled.

“It’s wonderful having you here.”

Those words were like the axe Pangu used to split heaven and earth, cleaving apart the world Shen Yishu had constructed around herself.

She stared blankly as Ji Xiangyu stood, rubbed her head, and continued speaking.

Shen Yishu could no longer hear the words.

Her mind was filled only with Ji Xiangyu’s smiling voice.

It’s wonderful having you here.

It was like an owner stroking the soft fur of the family puppy, praising its contribution and saying the household could not survive without it.

That was the highest possible praise for a puppy.

Outside the lounge, Wang Xing called for Ji Xiangyu several times.

She said the director was preparing to begin filming and asked Ji Xiangyu to change clothes. The makeup artist would arrive shortly to alter her makeup.

Ji Xiangyu answered twice.

Then she lowered her head, saw Shen Yishu’s dazed expression, patted her shoulder, and reminded her that filming was about to begin.

Shen Yishu rose blankly and calmed her surging emotions.

Of course Ji Xiangyu would believe it was wonderful having her around.

Shen Yishu was an extremely qualified portable charger.

Perhaps she would even continue advancing alongside technology until she evolved into a completely automatic charging device.

It was normal for Ji Xiangyu to praise such a convenient charger.

Ji Xiangyu praised her because she was a charger—not because she was Shen Yishu.

After repeating that explanation to herself two or three times, Shen Yishu finally digested the casual sentence.

She calmly straightened her clothing, said goodbye to Ji Xiangyu, left the lounge, and returned to her small stool.

After sitting for several minutes, the afternoon breeze finally dispersed the faint redness on her face.

She called Zhu Li over, asked for her phone, and opened a certain search engine.

[What does it mean when a woman says, “It’s wonderful having you here”?]

After browsing several answers, Shen Yishu found someone claiming it meant the woman had fallen in love with you.

She considered it, then decided that Ji Xiangyu being satisfied with her performance as a charger unauthorized copy was a much more plausible explanation.

Ji Xiangyu changed into armor resembling that of the Imperial Guards.

Her phoenix eyes became determined and sharp, making Zhou Yi appear alive before them.

The entire crew was ready and waited only for the director’s order.

After finally waking himself, the director sat behind the camera and called for the scene to begin.

To save Li Jin, Zhou Yi decided to place herself in danger without considering her own safety.

The Zhou family’s attempts to stop her failed. They could only instruct her to remain cautious and prioritize protecting herself when necessary.

Zhou Yi agreed obediently, but all she could think was that if anything happened to Li Jin, she would personally chop the Thirteenth Prince apart and bury him with her.

At that moment, Li Jin was confronting the Thirteenth Prince and the Empress Regnant.

The sleeping palace was filled with private soldiers holding swords.

A large group of attendants knelt on the ground, every face pale with terror.

“Thirteenth Brother, those who kill their sovereign will be despised by future generations. Have you thought this through?”

Li Jin held a bloodstained sword, her tone calm.

It seemed as though the person surrounded was not her, but the prince before her.

“History remembers only the victor.”

The Thirteenth Prince sneered.

“Once all of you are dead, no one will know the truth.”

Li Jin’s brow twitched.

She was delaying him.

She needed time for Zhou Yi to arrive.

She possessed absolute confidence that Zhou Yi would bring people to rescue her.

Until then, Li Jin needed to preserve her own life.

“If you ascend the throne without legitimacy, no one will obey you.”

Li Jin glanced at the weakened Empress Regnant lying on the imperial bed.

“Why can’t you persuade Her Majesty to appoint you as heir?”

“If I kill every one of you, I’ll be the only person left who can inherit the throne.”

The Thirteenth Prince grinned.

“I don’t require anyone’s acknowledgment. Whoever refuses to obey will simply be executed.”

When Li Jin entered, several bodies had already been scattered across the sleeping palace.

The Thirteenth Prince’s men kicked them aside.

Every soldier now pointed a sword at Li Jin alone.

She wore red robes, the corners of her eyes lifted and a faint, cold smile resting on her lips.

Her sword stance was bold and elegant, intimidating the people before her so thoroughly that none dared advance.

“Thirteenth Brother…”

Li Jin sighed.

“Why don’t we negotiate?”

“Negotiate what?”

Li Jin vaguely heard the sound of horses approaching outside and guessed that those coming to restore order had arrived.

Her sword wrist tightened.

Before anyone could react, she swept the blade through an elegant arc, broke through the encirclement, opened the door, and rushed outside.

A group of soldiers followed closely behind.

Li Jin blocked their attacks as she ran toward the palace gates.

The well-trained Imperial Guards forcibly stormed through the entrance and began fighting the Thirteenth Prince’s private soldiers.

The Thirteenth Prince emerged from the sleeping palace while holding the Empress Regnant hostage.

Li Jin immediately turned to rescue her.

She had never been close to the Empress Regnant growing up.

Turning back now was solely to preserve the dignity of the imperial family.

“Transfer the throne to me, and I’ll allow you to live peacefully through your final years.”

The Thirteenth Prince gripped her shoulder and threatened her coldly.

“All right.”

The Empress Regnant smiled weakly.

She looked at the chaos before her and released a long sigh.

Since ancient times, few members of the imperial family had ascended the throne peacefully.

A bloody night before succession seemed almost customary.

The sky was darkening, and the sun gradually disappeared.

The Empress Regnant sensed that her life was reaching its end.

“Her Majesty is about to deliver an oral decree!” the Thirteenth Prince shouted.

Everyone fighting immediately stopped and turned toward the sovereign.

“By my decree, after my death, Li Jin shall ascend the throne. All ministers must support her with their full strength…”

Before she could finish, the Thirteenth Prince tightened his grip upon her shoulder so forcefully that she had to stop speaking.

“Take it back and issue a new decree, or I’ll kill you!”

His face twisted savagely.

“The Thirteenth Prince… attempted regicide. The punishment is death.”

Before Li Jin could reach them, the Empress Regnant drew the Thirteenth Prince’s sword and used every remaining trace of strength to stab him without mercy.

The Thirteenth Prince had not expected the terminally ill Empress Regnant to retain any strength.

He clutched his chest and staggered backward two steps, staring at her in disbelief.

Having lost the person supporting her, the Empress Regnant’s hand weakened.

The sword fell to the ground.

She collapsed as well, sitting against the railing and coughing up two mouthfuls of blood.

She weakly wiped it away and surveyed the scene before her.

The palace was filled with the Thirteenth Prince’s private soldiers.

Now that their master had been gravely wounded, they knew they could not escape death and fought back even more violently.

Li Jin raised her head and met the Empress Regnant’s gaze from across the distance.

She understood the words formed silently by the sovereign’s lips.

Go.

Then the Empress Regnant slowly closed her eyes and passed away.

“Li Jin!”

Seeing Li Jin standing frozen, Zhou Yi shouted loudly.

Li Jin turned.

Zhou Yi had removed her helmet. Her long black hair streamed behind her in the wind as she ran toward Li Jin with powerful strides.

“Stop standing there!”

Zhou Yi threw her helmet and struck the person behind Li Jin.

Only then did Li Jin return to her senses.

Everyone inside the palace had heard the Empress Regnant declare that Li Jin would inherit the throne.

Her ascension was now certain.

Overwhelming joy left her dizzy.

She caught Zhou Yi as she rushed toward her, delight overflowing from her expression and creating a stark contrast with Zhou Yi’s worried face.

“Were you injured?” Zhou Yi asked.

“We succeeded, Sister! We succeeded!”

Li Jin did not hear her question at all.

“Are you hurt?”

Zhou Yi did not care about anything else.

Even if Li Jin had never entered the palace today and the Thirteenth Prince had still staged his coup, Zhou Yi would have found another way to place Li Jin on the throne.

After such a terrifying day, the only thing she cared about was whether Li Jin had been injured.

“Sister, we can remain together forever now.”

Li Jin looked at Zhou Yi.

At that moment, Shen Yishu thought of many things.

She wondered whether the director would criticize her for adding an unscripted action.

She wondered whether Ji Xiangyu would feel offended.

But Shen Yishu believed that if she were Li Jin—someone who had offered only five parts sincerity in exchange for Zhou Yi’s complete devotion—then at this moment, even Li Jin, whose eyes normally saw only the throne, would wholeheartedly fall in love with Zhou Yi, whose eyes held only her.

Therefore, this was what she should do.

Shen Yishu cupped Ji Xiangyu’s face and kissed her.