Shen Yu had not originally planned to go, but Shang Junlin's words reminded him of sothing. Having read so many storybooks where the protagonist always managed to survive against all odds, what about King Yue?
As one of the protagonists in the storybooks he had read after his death, at this point, could he still turn the tables?
"Your Majesty, accompany ," Shen Yu t Shang Junlin's gaze. "After all this upheaval, I should witness the ending with my own eyes."
"Very well."
King Yue's execution was set for seventeen days later. On a day ant for the revival of all things, King Yue would et his death. Shen Yu awaited that day.
In his previous life, at the critical mont, he had struck King Yue's vital point with his sword, rewriting the book's ending. He never knew how the story ultimately unfolded after his death. But this ti, he would not need to risk his own life to send King Yue to hell. He could witness firsthand whether the world would change after King Yue's death.
There was still ti. After learning the date, Shen Yu put the matter out of his mind. The grievances of his past life with King Yue were settled, and the outco of this life would soon be revealed. Rather than dwelling on this, it was better to focus his attention elsewhere.
Just as everything was about to settle, the noble families in court finally noticed the undercurrents stirring among the common people.
If the noble families were determined to investigate sothing, it was difficult for events in the capital to escape their notice. One person first sensed sothing amiss and ordered an investigation. The results shocked him; without ti to ponder further, he imdiately sent word to other noble families.
Before long, news reached the noble families one after another.
"The noble families have already learned about the new printing thod Ah Yu introduced." The small kitchen had made walnut cookies. Shang Junlin picked one up and fed it to Shen Yu.
The cookie was very sweet, just the way Shen Yu liked it. He opened his mouth and ate it. "Have they done anything?"
"They haven't made any moves yet, but I believe within a few days, word will leak that the thod ca from Ah Yu's bookshop," Shang Junlin said, using his thumb to wipe away the crumbs at the corner of Shen Yu's mouth.
"This would eventually co to their attention anyway; it couldn't stay hidden forever. Having them discover it themselves saves us the trouble of finding a way to tell them." The cookie was sowhat dry, so Shen Yu picked up his teacup and took a couple of sips.
"Should I send so people to the bookshop? The noble families will likely make a move soon." Shang Junlin withdrew his hand, the smooth texture of the young man's skin still lingering on his fingertip as he rubbed his fingers together.
"Your Majesty's reminder is tily. I'll write a letter to Boss Ye, advising him to be cautious during this ti," Shen Yu set down his cup and wrapped both arms around Shang Junlin's neck. "As for the bookshop's security, I'll trouble Your Majesty to handle it."
Shen Yu did have Yinghuo at his disposal, but Yinghuo was still developing. Confronting noble families with centuries of foundation in the capital would inevitably lead to oversights. Shen Yu had always valued his capable subordinates and did not want to see the bookshop suffer irreversible damage from such matters.
"I'll have the Hidden Dragon Guards monitor the noble families' movents."
"And the other bookshops we are cooperating with—Your Majesty should have them watched as well."
Shen Yu's bookshop had his backing, but the others did not. No one could guarantee that the noble families would not target them.
"Rest assured, Ah Yu. Regardless, they are helping ease my concerns, and I will not abandon them."
Facing the noble families, those bookshops stood no chance. Without Shang Junlin's protection behind the scenes, they could be easily destroyed.
The noble families moved quickly. After tracing the source, they imdiately approached the bookshops. Boss Ye, having received Shen Yu's warning, was prepared and responded swiftly when the noble families made their move.
The common people vaguely sensed the undercurrents beneath the calm surface. Overnight, many people suddenly appeared speaking ill of the bookshops, particularly those that had lowered prices enough to make so books affordable to ordinary folks.
Since the Capital newspaper was published in cooperation with the court, the noble families did not dare overstep imdiately. They had to test the waters first, determining the extent to which they could act.
The common people remained unaware of these hidden machinations and countermoves.
After spring began, the flowers and plants in Yuzhang Palace burst forth with new vitality. Yuzhang Palace had always been the most beautiful palace in the imperial harem, and after Shen Yu moved in, Shang Junlin enthusiastically filled it with treasures. Now, Yuzhang Palace was even more magnificent than before.
With the Emperor himself residing here, all palace resources naturally flowed in this direction.
The palace cuisine was excellent, and Shang Junlin was ticulous in caring for Shen Yu. Now, in every aspect, Shen Yu surpassed his forr self.
Shang Junlin tied up the young man's hair. Since the capping ceremony was still several months away, Shen Yu still wore no cap; his dark locks were simply gathered at the back with a ribbon matching his clothing.
"Your Majesty grows more skilled by the day." Shen Yu stood up and straightened his robes.
Shang Junlin gently pinched Shen Yu's cheek. "Is Ah Yu satisfied?"
"As long as it is Your Majesty, I am satisfied with everything."
Pleased by Shen Yu's words, Shang Junlin's lips curved slightly. "Ah Yu's lips are truly as if coated with honey."
Shen Yu gathered the hair at his neck. "And does Your Majesty like it?"
"I do." Shang Junlin pressed his thumb gently against the soft lips. "Very sweet."
Shen Yu's tongue swept across, touching the finger on his lips. Facing the man's suddenly darkened gaze, he blinked innocently. "It's not sweet."
"Let taste." Shang Junlin's voice was slightly husky.
With that, he withdrew his finger from Shen Yu's lips, gently lifted his chin, and drew closer until their lips t.
Lips pressed together, suckling, teeth gently grazing, tongues exploring...
Shen Yu half-closed his eyes, responding in kind.
"It is sweet... very sweet..."
Shang Junlin's voice ca as if through a mist, indistinct and hazy.
Shen Yu's body went limp, all his weight supported by the man's arms. His fingers instinctively sought sothing to hold onto, clenching the fabric beneath his hands.
The kiss traveled downward, and before things could spiral completely out of control, Shen Yu halted Shang Junlin's further advances. "Wait, we still need to leave the palace later."
Shang Junlin paused mid-motion. "A little later—we can go another day if needed."
With that, he moved to continue.
Shen Yu quickly raised a hand to stop him. "Boss Ye is still waiting outside the palace. It wouldn't be right to keep him waiting too long."
Shang Junlin let out an irritated "tch" and released Shen Yu. "Why did it have to be now of all tis?"
Shen Yu quickly extricated himself from the man's embrace and straightened his clothes.
His hair had been mussed up a bit as well.
Only after the two had composed themselves did ng-gonggong dare to announce that the al was served.
During the al, Shang Junlin seed to think of sothing and suddenly said, "Just summon him directly into the palace. We won't leave the palace today."
Shen Yu looked up, chopsticks still in his mouth. "What's wrong?"
"It's more convenient to et people within the palace. After the eting, I'll have the Imperial Clothing co by. Ah Yu has grown a bit taller; we'll need new clothes made."
Shen Yu had no strong feelings about whether they left the palace or not, so he nodded in agreent. "Whatever Your Majesty arranges is fine."
After the al, the two took a stroll in the small garden.
This had beco almost a daily routine for them; after every al, Shang Junlin would take Shen Yu out for a walk.
"Your Majesty, His Grace, Boss Ye has arrived at Yuzhang Palace." ng-gonggong approached them to announce.
By the ti Shen Yu and Shang Junlin returned, Boss Ye was already waiting in the hall. Upon seeing them, he respectfully perford the proper obeisances.
"This subject pays respects to Your Majesty, to His Grace."
"No need for such formalities."
"We called you here today to ask about the situation outside. If the bookshop encounters any difficulties, you must send word to , and I will resolve them."
"The bookshop hasn't encountered any major issues for now. Initially, when His Grace instructed us to co-publish the Capital Newspaper with the court, it has now beco sothing of a protective shield. Because of the newspaper, they still exercise so restraint in their actions."
"What about you personally? Have they singled you out to cause trouble?"
Boss Ye was montarily taken aback, an indescribable feeling welling up inside him. He hadn't expected Shen Yu to inquire specifically about his personal well-being.
"In answer to His Grace, they approached privately a couple of days ago. They said they were willing to pay a substantial sum to purchase the new printing thod from , provided I agreed never to use it again nor disseminate it to others." Boss Ye disclosed the terms the noble families had offered.
"They certainly are generous with their spending—ten thousand taels of gold, not including other benefits." Shang Junlin let out a cold scoff.
The atmosphere in the hall grew increasingly heavy. Shen Yu reached out and grasped Shang Junlin's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze. "Continue. Apart from the benefits, what about the threats? What did they use to coerce you?"
The noble families had always acted with overbearing authority. Shen Yu did not believe for a mont that they would only offer benefits without ntioning any threats.
"They threatened the bookshop. They said if I didn't know what was good for , there would be no need for this bookshop to continue operating." When initially threatened, Boss Ye had been filled with indignation. Now, questioned by Shen Yu, the emotions had largely faded.
"For them to dare utter such words, they likely don't know that the person backing is you."
If they knew of Shen Yu's existence, they would surely deduce that the true power behind him was Shang Junlin. At that point, they would do far more than just privately threaten Boss Ye, a re bookshop owner.
Currently, there was no stir in the court, indicating they still didn't know that Shang Junlin had sanctioned these matters behind the scenes. But they wouldn't remain ignorant for many more days. Once they moved against the bookshop, they would discover that this was no easy bone to gnaw.
After hearing the full account, Boss Ye was secretly escorted out of the palace. Shen Yu owned many shops and establishnts outside, but few knew that he was their true proprietor. This bookshop was one Shen Yu had taken over midway through its operation, and throughout the process, he had never shown his face. Apart from Shen Yu's trusted confidants and Shang Junlin, even fewer were aware of this connection.
After Boss Ye departed, the officials from the Imperial Clothing arrived. Tasked with creating garnts for the two most important masters in the palace, they dared not show the slightest negligence.
"Your servant pays respects to Your Majesty, to His Grace." The female officer of the Imperial Clothing led the accompanying palace maids in performing their bows.
Having learned from past experience, this ti they did not attempt to take asurents themselves but instead handed the asuring tools to Shang Junlin.
Shen Yu spread his arms wide for the man to asure him, watching Shang Junlin's bowed head before him. In a low voice, he asked, "Doesn't Your Majesty already know my asurents? Why asure again?"
"asuring again ensures greater accuracy. Ah Yu wouldn't want clothes that don't fit properly, would he?"
After finishing, Shang Junlin reported the asurents to the Imperial Clothing officer, who personally recorded the data with haste.
"Your Majesty, the garnts you previously ordered from the Imperial Clothing have been completed." The officer gestured for the palace maids carrying clothing trays to step forward. "Please, Your Majesty and His Grace, have a look."
Shen Yu raised his eyes to look and imdiately spotted the dazzling red on the maids' trays.
"Ah Yu, see if you like it."
Shen Yu walked over and touched the fabric; the texture felt familiar.
After all, to prevent him from hurting his hands, Shang Junlin had once used red silk made from this very material to firmly bind his wrists.
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