232 Untitled (2/2)
Shadow Blade closed his eyes and panted slightly, content with that fact that the kind lady under him didn't dare to push him away with too much force for fear of hurting him. His eyes remained closed as he took the chance to savor every fragrance that belonged to her…
'Ah, her scent is like a flower at the top of a cliff, noble yet amiable, cold yet warm, blooming from afar.'
He opened his eyes and cherished every moment of eye contact they had as though the last hope that was destroyed was once again rekindled.
”How much luck do I have in this life to be able to exchange for a single moment just to have you in my arms…”
His raspy voice was like a soft finger rubbing against fine sandpaper, a melody that would somehow take one's soul away.
Meng Fuyao's heart thumped, but at the same time, she could hear the footsteps getting closer and closer. A servant quickly announced the Regent King's arrival. Meng Fuyao was just about to push Shadow Blade away when Xuanyuan Cheng's cheerful voice resounded from outside the courtyard. ”I have come to pay my respects to the empress and to see if there are any inconveniences that you may have.”
He was surprisingly respectful as he stood outside to wait, but he made the lady in charge report to him what the empress was doing. ”My lady is admiring the moon with her servants.”
Meng Fuyao quietly sighed as she pulled the silent Shadow Blade up. ”Look at the mess. Quickly shrink your bones, and hopefully, the Regent King's visit tonight will not be over an hour… Otherwise…”
But… Murphy's law, you see.
Xuanyuan Cheng's visit dragged on as he sat in the front hall, not wanting to leave. Shadow Blade's ”Chun Mei” carefully ”served” him. From her appearance, ”Chun Mei” was a normal maid that Xuanyuan Cheng had paid no attention to. But before he left, he suddenly started to discuss about the talents in the Seven Kingdoms.
The hands on the clock ticked. Xuanyuan Cheng rambled on jovially; Meng Fuyao listened in trepidation, worrying that Shadow Blade could not maintain his bone-shrinking. Once it was revealed, it would be 'Game Over' for everyone. All she could do was to continue the conversation as naturally as possible while carefully listening to Shadow Blade's movements.
However, after an hour, she could hear the slightest cackling of a bone.
”Ka!”
This sound echoed like a bomb in her ears, almost robbing her of her hearing.
The bone-shrinking was undone!
Opposite her, the smiling Xuanyuan Cheng suddenly kept quiet as his gaze scanned across the room.
Meng Fuyao immediately lifted up her finger that was on her knees and awkwardly mumbled, ”Argh, can't get used to wearing nail sleeves… it broke again.”
On her left middle finger sat a broken nail sleeve.
Xuanyuan Cheng kept his gaze.
Meng Fuyao feared the sound of the bones would ring once more—her nail sleeves could not be broken continuously. She quickly coughed elegantly, covering her lips with her sleeves as she said, ”My bad, Regent King. I cannot get used to the weather in the capital and have caught a cold.” She then ordered ”Chun Mei” to ask Little An to bring her some ginseng pills.
”Chun Mei” bowed as he turned to walk away. Suddenly, Xuanyuan Cheng asked, ”Your Highness has a cold? Oh, dear, how could this be? Chun Mei, get the doctor in the residence to visit.”
Meng Fuyao panicked. It was obvious that Shadow Blade could not maintain his bone-shrinking technique any longer and having to walk to the front courtyard in this state would cause trouble, especially given that she would not be by his side. If Xuanyuan Cheng were to catch him, she wouldn't be able to save him even if she wanted to.
”A mere cold. The imperial doctor has already written down the medication, and if I were to use other medication, they might clash. Furthermore, the night is no longer young, it would be extremely inconvenient.” Meng Fuyao emphasized the words ”extremely inconvenient”, meaning: You, Regent King, in my place at this time of the night is extremely inconvenient.
Unfortunately, Xuanyuan Cheng did not get the hint. With a smile, he replied, ”We are all family. There is no such thing as an inconvenience between us.” And then, he turned to ”Chun Mei” and ordered sternly, ”Go now!”
Meng Fuyao could feel her heart palpitating as her skin crawled. Forcefully calming herself down, she gracefully made her way over and ordered. ”Very well, Chun Mei do go…” Xuanyuan Cheng's expression relaxed. Suddenly, Meng Fuyao leaned forward, and Shadow Blade reached out to help her. Meng Fuyao had now gotten back on her feet and gave Shadow Blade a slap.