I Faked My Death After Choosing the Wrong Protagonist - Chapter 25

With the matters inside and outside the Shen household mostly settled, Shen Qingzhuo took advantage of the fading daylight to visit the Bamboo Courtyard, the residence of the Eldest Miss of the Shen family.

Shen Qingzhuo felt that since he was occupying someone else’s identity, it was only right for him to pay his respects to this woman who was his mother in name.

As he had imagined, she was a very gentle and beautiful woman.

Shen Xihuan was dressed in simple, plain green robes rather than the luxurious attire befitting a high-born lady. He had heard that ten years ago, she had requested to move here the most remote corner of the entire Shen estate.

True to her name, she was dignified and elegant; she clearly preferred tranquility. When Shen Qingzhuo arrived, her slender fingers were busy copying scriptures with a brush.

Seeing Shen Qingzhuo, her expression remained neutral, offering only a respectful, faint smile. Shen Qingzhuo thought he might have been mistaken, but as the visit progressed, it became clear that this mother’s respect for him far outweighed any maternal affection. It felt distant.

It was almost as if they weren’t mother and son at all.

Shen Qingzhuo couldn’t help but wonder: Was the original host’s relationship with his mother always like this? What kind of person was the original host, truly?

Upon leaving the Bamboo Courtyard, Shen Qingzhuo encountered an uninvited guest.

Huangfu Ying.

Standing atop the glazed tile wall was Huangfu Ying, dressed in a dark red dragon robe with black patterns. His back was turned to Shen Qingzhuo; clearly, he had calculated that the man would pass this way and was waiting for him.

“Prince,” Shen Qingzhuo said from below the wall. He didn’t look up, instead gazing into the evening shadows.

By the time he had come out, the sky was pitch black. The trees were mere silhouettes, and the sound of the wind was audible. “If the Prince wished to visit, why not inform us in advance? The Shen family cannot afford the charge of neglecting such a prestigious guest.”

Huangfu Ying swept his sleeves and descended from the roof. “You want the Origin-Returning Pill. I can give it to you.”

At some point, Huangfu Ying had produced a pill. When he opened the container, its luster and fullness far surpassed the one from the Cold Moon Palace earlier that day. He held it out to Shen Qingzhuo without hesitation.

Shen Qingzhuo pulled his hand back, refusing to take it.

Nothing is ever given for free. Clearly, Huangfu Ying had no reason to do him a favor out of pure kindness. Shen Qingzhuo got straight to the point: “If I accept this pill, what is the price?”

“Since I saw you at the palace banquet, I have been unable to forget you,” Huangfu Ying spoke with deep affection, yet his actions remained restrained. His words were clear and decisive: “Become my Crown Princess.”

Shen Qingzhuo chuckled, as if he had heard a particularly amusing joke. “The Prince’s terms are too steep. You should keep the pill for yourself.”

Huangfu Ying’s sharp brows furrowed. Before Shen Qingzhuo could walk away, he grabbed the man’s hand. Only then did Shen Qingzhuo notice the signs of a struggle on Huangfu Ying—and the lingering aura of Qi Ye.

“Do you still believe in Qi Ye?” Huangfu Ying asked. “He is no pure, kind soul; he is the most evil demon in existence!”

The last of Shen Qingzhuo’s amusement vanished. Feeling the weight on his wrist, his brow tightened. He pulled his hand back with force.

“What is a ‘demon’?”

Shen Qingzhuo was no longer his usual gentle self; his eyes, now glazed with frost, held only coldness. “I only know that he has been a pitiable person since childhood. He has never harmed the weak or the innocent. He cannot choose what he was defined as at birth it is unfair to him.”

Qi Ye’s pain and fear were things only he had seen.

“You pity him?” Huangfu Ying asked.

“Yes.” Shen Qingzhuo was blunt. Perhaps what was between them could no longer be described simply as pity. He added coldly, “The Prince knows my stance now. If you are here because of Qi Ye, I ask that you return him to me.”

Huangfu Ying’s furrowed brows hadn’t relaxed once. He let out a self-mocking laugh, his complexion looking terrible. “Do you not know? I cannot do anything to him at all.”

If he truly had the power to take the Demon Seed away, things wouldn’t be as they were now. When had he, Huangfu Ying, ever been this disheveled?

Shen Qingzhuo met his gaze coldly, then looked away. “It is better that way. Please suit yourself, Prince; I will not see you out.”

With that, a streak of pale blue spiritual energy flashed through the air. Shen Qingzhuo couldn’t wait any longer and used his Profound energy to rush back immediately.

Behind him, Huangfu Ying clenched his fists so tightly his nails dug into his palms. The first time had been at night and he couldn’t tell; this time was also at night. Both times, Shen Qingzhuo only cared about Qi Ye. He hadn’t noticed that Huangfu Ying was actually poisoned.

It was Qi Ye’s poison.

Though it wasn’t enough to kill him, Huangfu Ying after venting his frustration regained his senses and quickly sealed his acupoints to force the toxin out. Last time he had been careless, unaware that every part of the Demon Seed was toxic; this time, even prepared, he had still lost miserably.

He had even thought Shen Qingzhuo might stand by his side this time. Why?

Shen Qingzhuo returned to the place where he had left Qi Ye. The lights were on, but there was no sign of a person or a dragon moving about.

He stopped outside the door, the moonlight casting a chill over him, then pushed the door open abruptly. Inside, everything was perfectly tidy.

There were no signs of destruction; everything was exactly as he had left it. However, on the large bed in the corner, the thick silk quilt was spread out, with a large lump in the middle. Clearly, someone was inside.

Shen Qingzhuo walked over dazed. As he stood by the bed, a head with long horns poked out.

Qi Ye had known the man was back before he even entered. He had been startled by the cold aura Shen Qingzhuo carried, and seeing that the man didn’t speak, his spirit trembled as he emerged from the covers.

“I wanted to warm the bed,” said Qi Ye, still in his black dragon form. He lowered his head, not daring to look at him. “So it would be ready for you to sleep when you returned.”

Suddenly, he heard Shen Qingzhuo let out a soft laugh, and the icy frost he brought with him dissipated. “Silly boy.”

Shen Qingzhuo stroked his neck and body. “Don’t you know you’re made of ice? Warming the bed like this—aren’t you actually making it colder?”

The black dragon lowered his head to nuzzle his hand. “I’m sorry. I like it warm, but I forgot that I am not warm at all.” He sounded dejected.

Shen Qingzhuo shook his head, his expression full of helpless indulgence. He smiled. “Forget it. I’ll do it myself.”

With that, he quickly prepared for bed, removing the heavy cloak he had worn outside. He leaned against the bedside and reached out to the black dragon. When Qi Ye was human, Shen Qingzhuo would still have some reservations, worrying if certain actions were inappropriate. But now that Qi Ye was in dragon form, he didn’t even count as a “person” in his eyes, so there was no need for hesitation.

Though he still found it miraculous that a human could turn into a dragon.

The black dragon crawled over his legs and knees, carefully tucking his head into Shen Qingzhuo’s embrace and coiling his tail around the man’s hand. It was a light touch; the moment Shen Qingzhuo moved, he loosened his grip in fear.

Although Shen Qingzhuo had just come in from the outside, between the man and the dragon, the man was clearly warmer. Qi Ye pressed against the source of heat, greedily wanting more.

Suddenly, an object appeared in Shen Qingzhuo’s hand it was the Origin-Returning Pill. He held it to the dragon’s lips. “Come, open up.”

Qi Ye didn’t know what it was, but because Shen Qingzhuo gave it to him, he opened his mouth and ate it. Afterward, his dark red eyes looked at him piteously, as if making an accusation: “It tastes bad.”

It was bitter.

Shen Qingzhuo rubbed those horns. “That was the Origin-Returning Pill. If it tastes bad, then I’ll take you out to eat something delicious tomorrow.”

As he spoke, a pale blue light rose with his hand. Before Qi Ye could be surprised, he found himself suddenly unable to move. His long dragon body was spread out in Shen Qingzhuo’s lap. Qi Ye lifted his large eyelids, looking at him in confusion.

More blue spiritual energy surrounded him. Shen Qingzhuo’s hand swept over him with extreme gentleness. During the process, the black dragon’s eyes flickered with a thousand emotions.

Changes appeared on his body as well. Where the blue light passed, the scales were no longer as smooth as before, revealing jagged irregularities. Beneath the tail, a narrow, terrifying wound became visible.

The moment the Illusion Spell was broken, the scent of blood in the room became clear. Immediately following that like beautiful glass shattering the tranquility vanished, and items across the room fell to the floor.

Shen Qingzhuo didn’t spare them a glance. He frowned and asked, “You decided to wait for me to sleep, but you didn’t tell me you were injured?”

The black dragon was terrified. Feeling a warm breath flowing over his body, Qi Ye suddenly realized he could move again. He lay before Shen Qingzhuo, lifting his head until it was level with the man’s hand.

Qi Ye looked up, clearly misreading Shen Qingzhuo’s intent. He was so unsure of what the man thought of him in this state, terrified of being abandoned. Seeing Shen Qingzhuo look serious, although there was fear in his eyes, he didn’t look away, meeting Shen Qingzhuo’s gaze directly.

“Hit me,” Qi Ye said. “You can punish me however you like.”

Shen Qingzhuo, who was thinking about the wound, was stunned. His soft fingers twitched. “When have I ever hit you? Why would you think that?”

Qi Ye looked ready to accept his fate, prepared to admit his wrong. Seeing Shen Qingzhuo remain unmoved, he fell into a brief moment of confusion. Is it not enough?

Since Shen Qingzhuo already knew, then…

Qi Ye looked at him with devotion. “You can kill me too!”

Just don’t leave me. Everyone wanted his life; if it were Shen Qingzhuo, he was willing. He had nothing, but he was willing to give everything to Shen Qingzhuo including this life.

Shen Qingzhuo’s beautiful eyes widened. He didn’t know why the atmosphere had suddenly become like this. He asked with an increased volume of confusion: “What nonsense are you talking about?”

Shen Qingzhuo pressed him back onto the bed and stood up. He took one last look at the wound on the black dragon’s tail. Fearing the boy would do something to hurt himself again, he spoke in a commanding tone: “Stay right here. Don’t go anywhere. I’m going to get some medicine.”

Shen Qingzhuo left so quickly that before Qi Ye could lunge to coil around him, the room was empty.

Qi Ye was terrified. Looking at the mess in the room, the fear of abandonment consumed him. This feeling was more painful than being killed by Shen Qingzhuo.

A boundless cold swept through him. Qi Ye coiled himself into a tight, small ball, painfully striking his head against his tail, using the pain to keep himself conscious. He hated himself. He feared even more that this version of himself would be loathed by Shen Qingzhuo.

Suddenly, the door opened once more.

Qi Ye looked up to see light pouring in. Then, Shen Qingzhuo, dressed in white like an immortal, walked toward him.

Qi Ye was stunned. Shen Qingzhuo really came back? Right this was Shen Qingzhuo’s place. If anyone were to leave, it should be him.

Qi Ye wondered what Shen Qingzhuo would say next, but the man said nothing. He walked straight to his side, slowly unraveling the coiled body and lifting the tail with both hands.

Shen Qingzhuo opened a medicine bottle. He paused before pouring the powder on the wound. “This medicine might hurt a bit. I’ll be gentle.”

Qi Ye stiffened, slowly turning his head.

“Do you want to hold onto me?” Shen Qingzhuo asked.

Qi Ye thought about what “holding on” meant. For a long time, he made no move.

“Then I’m starting,” Shen Qingzhuo said.

The powder fell bit by bit. As promised, Shen Qingzhuo’s movements were incredibly light, like a feather drifting by. The medicine was quite stimulating, but Qi Ye was used to pain; it wasn’t hard to endure. In fact, he wished it were heavier. If Shen Qingzhuo continued to be this gentle, he wouldn’t be able to feel the man’s touch at all.

The two were silent; for a long time, the room was still.

Shen Qingzhuo held the tail, using the pads of his fingers to spread the medicine evenly over the wound. Looking at the flesh exposed by the deep gash, he felt as though his own heart were being squeezed.

Compared to the struggle he had seen upon entering, the black dragon now lay quietly on his lap, completely at his mercy. He was remarkably obedient.

Suddenly, the black dragon, who hadn’t made a sound from start to finish, let out a muffled groan.