Defeat the system! Kiss my little monster!

Shen Yu ultimately only gave Gouqie a hundred Yang Qi points. Gouqie had just swindled a million from Meiqiu, but he asked for too much and couldn't digest it, which made him feel uncomfortable instead.

Even so, it still wanted to extract some yang energy from Shen Yu.

“What Coal Ball gave me is different from what you gave me. You are the host I’m bound to, while it’s an outsider. I’m still closer to you,” Gouqie Tousi Sheng said, shaking his head.

Shen Yu remained silent. He took off his coat and put it aside, then said, "Alright, if you're not feeling well, then don't talk. I know what you mean."

Secretly pleased with its survival, it lay back on its mechanical bed and obediently withdrew all its light.

Before leaving, Shen Yu turned and glanced at him. The system, which allowed it to barely survive, could fall asleep in less than three seconds; it had programmed itself to do so.

Shen Yu stared at it for a long time. Seeing the mechanical bed, barely clinging to life, stuck on the edge of the window, teetering on the verge of falling, he hesitated for a few seconds before walking over and placing it, bed and all, on his own bed.

Completely oblivious to the fact that it was barely surviving, Shen Yu covered it with a blanket before lifting the beaded curtain and walking into the innermost room of the inner hall.

The person on the bed was motionless. Shen Yu couldn't see Wen Yu's face in the darkness, but he could see that Wen Yu was facing away from the door, wrapped in blankets and pretending to be asleep.

After washing up, Shen Yu quietly approached the bed. Wen Yu's breathing was steady. Shen Yu groped for a corner of his blanket, got into bed, and then put his arm around Wen Yu's waist.

Wen Yu didn't react at all. Shen Yu held him tightly in his arms without saying a word. He traced his hand up Wen Yu's thin spine, from his waist and abdomen forward, slowly finding the shape of his ribs.

It's much better than when I first saw it. It's no longer so extremely thin and bony. It has gained some weight and feels fairly normal to the touch.

Wen Yu buried her face in Shen Yu's collarbone, and for some reason, his breathing gradually became uncontrollable. In the darkness, he silently opened his eyes: "Shen Yu—"

Shen Yu was not surprised at all: "Your Majesty, it's so late, why aren't you asleep yet?"

"How can I sleep with you touching me like that?" Wen Yu said in an unfriendly tone. As he spoke, he also touched Shen Yu's back and asked, "Is Shadow Seventeen gone?"

Shen Yu smiled: "He left long ago, didn't Your Majesty know?"

“I had already fallen asleep, how would I know what was going on?” Wen Yu said without changing her expression. “What did you two talk about?”

He had already overheard Shen Yu and the others' conversation using the Five Senses Insight Pill, so what he was saying now was just a formality. Ying Shiqi was a minor figure in the photography studio, and Wen Yu had originally intended to eavesdrop on some important secrets, but unexpectedly, she also overheard some of Mu Yuyuan's secrets.

He had actually mistaken the person for someone else.

Shen Yu had a clear understanding of Wen Yu's thoughts. It was impossible for him to be completely obedient and do nothing. Since he wanted to eavesdrop, Shen Yu might as well say something nice for him to hear.

This would also save him from thinking about Mu Yuyuan every day and gritting his teeth.

“Your Majesty, I will help you rescue your fellow disciples in a week.” Shen Yu gently rubbed the unevenness on the right side of Wen Yu’s face and continued, “If they want to leave, you should leave too.”

Wen Yu closed his eyes, feeling the warmth of Shen Yu's palm. Upon hearing this, his nerves tensed immediately, and he opened his eyes: "...What do you mean?"

"The Lord has already had his shadow guards prepare a carriage at the palace gate. After rescuing those people, you will blend in with them and leave together," Shen Yu said.

Wen Yu's expression stiffened slightly: "And what about you?"

"Of course I will go with Your Highness as well." Shen Yu said calmly, "On that day, we will split up. If it succeeds, you will put on a mask and leave to meet them first. I will cover the rear with Shadow Seventeen."

Wen Yu frowned: "But if there is no one in Kunning Palace, it will arouse even more suspicion."

“I’ve already calculated it. A week from now, Eunuch Li will come to Kunning Palace at night to collect blood as usual.” Shen Yu lowered his eyes, pinched Wen Yu’s earlobe with his fingertips, and asked, “Your Highness, can you manage alone?”

Wen Yu easily grasped the meaning behind Shen Yu's words. It would be easy for outsiders to become suspicious if there was no one in Kunning Palace, but Li Yongquan rushed to send a living person in to Wen Yu that day.

Wen Yu laughed and said, "If Eunuch Li knew you were after him, he'd be furious."

Shen Yu, however, remained unmoved. He closed his eyes and reminded Wen Yu, "Your Majesty, there are sleeping pills and ropes under my bed. Remember to tie a tight knot when you tie someone up."

"Also, be careful."

Wen Yu hummed in agreement, his nose brushing against Shen Yu's Adam's apple, and closed his eyes, saying, "I'll wait for your news."

“Alright.” Shen Yu pulled the blankets up a bit, covering half of his and Wen Yu’s faces, and said, “Your Majesty, I haven’t finished making the masks yet. There aren’t any good materials in Kunning Palace, so they’re not worth your ten ingots of gold.”

“I’ve already come up with the design. Once we’re out, I’ll find an opportunity to re-carve it for you,” Shen Yu said. “If that golden mask is too heavy, you can throw it away.”

Wen Yu had almost forgotten about this. When he heard Shen Yu mention it, he said, "I'll consider whether to throw it away after you make me the new one."

Shen Yu closed his eyes. He seemed to have expected Wen Yu's answer and readily agreed: "Okay."

Shen Yu and Ying Shiqi set the date for their operation for midnight a week from now. In a little over half an hour, Li Yongquan would come to collect the blood as usual, leaving Wen Yu with a gap in the time to make preparations.

Wen Yu's leg injury has mostly healed, and his skill has recovered to about 70-80% of what it was before. Although he is not as strong as he was at his peak, dealing with Li Yongquan is not too difficult.

Shen Yu gave Wen Yu the entire route map for leaving. He wouldn't stay in Kunning Palace then; Wen Yu would have to figure everything out on her own.

A week passed in the blink of an eye. Shen Yu paused as he left the inner hall. He turned around and looked back. Wen Yu stood behind the beaded curtain. His long hair reached his waist, and the half of his face that was exposed was flawless. He was still wearing the white jade robe that Shen Yu had seen on the day he arrived.

Shen Yu watched him standing in the shadows of the inner hall, and he remained silent for a moment, lost in thought.

Wen Yu seemed to sense something. He walked a little towards the brighter area outside and asked, "Shen Yu?"

Hearing the voice brought Shen Yu back to his senses. He smiled and said, "Your Majesty, see you in a little while."

Before Wen Yu could answer, Shen Yu turned and walked out. The inner hall doors opened and closed, and the room fell silent again.

Taking advantage of the darkness, Shen Yu quickly walked through the deserted passageway to the marked area in the backyard.

Shadow Seventeen's whereabouts are unknown, but he is generally reliable when it comes to getting things done. Shen Yu didn't know what methods he used, but he did manage to steal the key to the secret passage that Mu Yuyuan always carried within a week.