Defeat the system! Kiss my little monster!

This brief exchange of glances stirred a tremor and ripple in Shen Yu's heart. A sense of hatred rose inexplicably in his chest, as if it had been accumulating for a long time, or as if it had suddenly arisen without any reason.

Shen Yu bit down on the soft flesh inside his mouth, the taste of blood accompanied by a stinging pain, drowning out the chaotic sounds and images.

Xuan Lin's brows seemed to furrow with melancholy. He glanced at the black line on Shen Yu's thumb and spoke in a deep voice.

"How is the Empress doing lately?"

Shen Yu suppressed the gloom in his heart, lowered his eyes, and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, Her Majesty the Empress has been resting in the inner palace these past few days, just as usual, and there is nothing unusual about her."

Xuan Lin silently observed Shen Yu's figure. The portrait of a palace maid on his desk was spread out, showing a small square face and round eyes, with the words "Danqing" written beside it.

They all look the same. Xuan Lin touched the side of the woman's face in the portrait with his fingertip, and continued to ask, "Is he still reading medical books?"

“Yes,” Shen Yu said. “The Empress does not allow us to get close to him. He spends most of his time in the inner palace reading medical books by himself.”

Xuan Lin's lips curled into a sarcastic smile with an ambiguous meaning: "Since he likes to watch, let him watch slowly. You keep an eye on him and don't give him a chance to kill himself. I want to see how long he can be so stubborn."

Shen Yu's eyes trembled for a moment before he said, "...This servant obeys."

"However, I am surprised that he would allow you to live in the inner palace." Xuan Lin slowly descended the steps above, stopping in front of Shen Yu. His gaze slid over the fake skin on Shen Yu's face inch by inch. "Does he like you like this?"

Shen Yu's nerves tightened immediately, but he maintained his original posture and said, "This servant does not know."

Xuan Lin chuckled softly, "You don't need to be afraid. If he likes you, just go for it."

Shen Yu was taken aback. He looked up and saw that the deep coldness in Xuan Lin's eyes was almost overflowing.

"Doesn't he consider himself a gentleman?" Xuan Lin's lips curled up silently.

That hidden hatred suddenly rose from the depths of Shen Yu's heart again. Shen Yu's pupils were dark as he stared at Xuan Lin without responding.

After Xuan Lin finished speaking, he returned to his seat on the dragon throne. He had no intention of talking to Shen Yu any further and said slowly, "I have been feeling unwell recently because of the lingering poison from before. Now that you are his personal maid, I will entrust the matter of Qing Yu to you as well."

"Prepare bird's nest soup three times a week. I see you're quite skilled; you should be able to keep him in check." Xuan Lin finished speaking and then gestured to the guards beside him, "If you encounter any difficulties, have them help you."

Shen Yu stood still, looked at Xuan Lin and said, "Yes, Your Majesty."

Xuan Lin didn't see anything wrong. He waved to Shen Yu and coughed to let him leave.

Shen Yu stepped back, pausing at the doorway and glancing back. Xuan Lin's figure was hidden behind the screen, but Shen Yu could vaguely hear him talking to the remaining guards.

Shen Yu withdrew his gaze, picked up the silk that had been placed beside him, and walked back to Kunning Palace.

The Kunning Palace was deathly silent. In the past, there would be palace maids sweeping the outer courtyard at this time, but now everyone seemed to have vanished into thin air, and the entire palace was completely silent.

Shen Yu frowned; he had a bad feeling and walked straight into the inner hall.

The people inside the inner hall were also in a hurry to come out, and Shen Yu immediately stopped in his tracks, almost bumping into them.

"Your Majesty, where are you going?" Shen Yu grabbed Wen Yu's arm and pulled him to a stop.

Wen Yu's expression was unfriendly. He was stunned for a moment when he saw Shen Yu, and his expression became somewhat stiff: "You're back?"

"Otherwise, where am I supposed to go?" Shen Yu smiled at Wen Yu, his gaze shifting downwards and landing on the white cloud boots on Wen Yu's feet. "Your Majesty, you can get out of bed and walk now?"

Wen Yu didn't speak. He tugged at Shen Yu's sleeve with his fingertips, his face grim, and his lips moved slightly.

Shen Yu sighed, picked up Wen Yu, and then took a few steps forward to place him on the bed behind the beaded curtain. Wen Yu initially showed obvious resistance and discomfort, but now he lowered his eyes, his dark eyes occasionally flashing past Shen Yu's neck and Adam's apple.

"What does he want with you?" Wen Yu sat on the edge of the bed, releasing his grip on Shen Yu's sleeve, his tone half-gloomy and half-sullen.

Shen Yu was surprised that Wen Yu was so well-informed. He said, "His Majesty asked about your recent condition. He hasn't been feeling well lately and wants to increase the frequency of blood draws."

Wen Yu sneered repeatedly: "Didn't I force you?"

“What can he force me to do? I’m just a little palace maid.” Shen Yu squatted down in front of Wen Yu. “If there’s anything I’d be asked to do, it would probably be to seduce you and warm your bed for you.”

Wen Yu choked.

Shen Yu seemed amused and smiled at Wen Yu, saying, "He thought you had taken a liking to me."

Wen Yu's pupils flickered uncertainly. He glanced at Shen Yu's face, his Adam's apple bobbing, but he remained silent.

Shen Yu removed the white cloud boots from Wen Yu's feet. The tendons in Wen Yu's feet were still in the recovery period, and the wounds were tightly stitched with fine thread and had not yet fully healed.

His right foot was in better condition, but his left foot, which had recently undergone surgery, had reopened, and the heel of his white sock was stained with crimson.

"Your Highness, what were you rushing out to do just now?" Shen Yu lifted his eyelids and glanced at Wen Yu. He threw the blood-stained white socks aside and lowered his eyes, saying, "The people in Kunning Palace are all watching you."

Emperor Yue summoned Shen Yu simply to gauge Wen Yu's attitude. The palace maids and eunuchs who had been monitoring Kunning Palace suddenly became more subdued today, precisely to see what choice Wen Yu would make.

Wen Yu understood the trap, of course. He pursed his lips, remained silent for a moment, and then said, "If I don't save you, who will? They wouldn't dare to kill me."

Shen Yu paused in wiping Wen Yu's ankle wound. The skin under his thumb was pale and cold, a thin layer covering the fragile, thin bones inside.

“Those people in the photo studio aren’t any better. Do you think these shadows care whether you live or die?” Wen Yu frowned. “They’re the most heartless.”

Shen Yu laughed: "Then who has the most conscience?"

Wen Yu's expression was uncertain. He stared at Shen Yu for a few seconds, then suddenly turned his head to the other side.

Shen Yu reapplied medicine and bandaged Wen Yu's foot wound, then asked, "Your Majesty, is my life... quite precious to you?"

Wen Yu smiled and said, "Don't overthink it. I just don't know how to repair my meridians, and I need your help right now."

Shen Yu raised an eyebrow but didn't speak. Wen Yu glanced at him and inexplicably added, "Where did you hide it?"

"I'm not telling you." Shen Yu threw all the blood-stained bandages aside and said slowly, "If I tell you, you'll kick me. I don't want to die here."

Wen Yu scoffed. He watched as Shen Yu re-bandaged his left foot before changing his position and lying back down on the bed.