He returned to his usual composure, casually flipping through two sheets, "Just these people?"
Shen Tang, "...Does it have anything to do with you?"
Shen Li placed the album back on the table, raising his eyes to look at her, "These people donāt deserve you."
Shen Tang twitched the corner of her mouth, "Then who do you think is worthy of me?"
Shen Li quietly gazed at her, without answering, instead saying, "Marrying these people will be of no benefit to you."
"Every new emperor selects concubines upon ascending the throne. Are you saying this because you donāt want me to expand the harem?" Shen Tang indeed hadnāt seriously considered expanding the harem, but seeing Shen Liās face darken, as if struck at the heart, she found it somewhat amusing.
She looked at him playfully, deliberately speaking up, "Speaking of which, Iāve also been troubled these days. Ever since a Beast Husband died, leaving a vacancy, those ministers are eager to fill my bed."
"They wish they could shove themselves in there to fill the vacant spot."
Shen Liās jaw tightened, his adamās apple moved, "Are you... really planning to take new consorts?"
"Whether I select concubines, whether I take consorts, what does that have to do with you? What right do you have to question me?" Shen Tang said unhappily.
She was very annoyed by his interrogative stance.
Shen Liās adamās apple moved, "Are you doing this because youāre still mad at me?"
Shen Tang almost burst out laughing, "Why would I hold a grudge against you?"
The last time she heard such words was from Yun Han, that arrogant guy, she hadnāt expected them to come out of Shen Liās mouth one day. On second thoughts, Shen Li didnāt know about the Forgetfulness Water, from his perspective, she was crying desperately for him last month, and this month sheās choosing concubines with an indifferent air, no wonder he misunderstands her as throwing a tantrum, still hasnāt truly let go of him.
She restrained her smile, coldly retorting, "Youāre an outsider, are you worth me spending this kind of thought?"
Shen Li was left speechless.
"Moreover." She crossed her arms, speechless, "Arenāt you also going to marry the Empress? Following your logic, is that also to spite me?"
Finding it more and more absurd, "The grand Yiyuan Monarch sneaks in at midnight just to stop me from selecting concubines? Is it that only you are allowed to take a wife, but Iām not allowed to take consorts? What kind of logic is that?"
Shen Li pressed his lips tightly together, unable to respond.
He indeed had selfish motives, but he also knew he had long lost the right to interfere.
The room fell into a deathly silence, even the sound of breathing was distinctly audible, yet there was a tense awkwardness between the two of them.
Shen Tang looked at Shen Liās gloomy face, sighing helplessly in her heart.
"System." She inquired silently, "Can you give me another bottle of Forgetfulness Water? Might as well make him drink it too."
She couldnāt ignore Shen Liās lingering attachment, the deception back then was real, but the affection wasnāt false either.
However, if a mirror is broken itās hard to piece together, better to cut it off completely rather than prolong the feelings forever.
[Ding! Host, the Forgetfulness Water is a special reward, currently out of stock~ but you can use the āDestiny Scissorsā to cut the bond between you once and for all, forever resolving the issue! Friendly reminder: The scissors are one-of-a-kind, use them cautiously~]
Shen Tang hesitated for a moment but didnāt use it.
Using such a precious tool here would be a waste.
Moreover, Shen Li was about to get married, and a male must remain faithful to his female after marriage, not to mention he would be busy raising the Crown Prince once they have children, where would he have the heart to continue entangling with her?
Shen Tang softened her tone, saying, "I understand what you mean, actually... there really was no need for you to come tonight, these days, Iāve calmed down and thought about it carefully, some things, I think you are quite right about."
"You donāt understand me, and I donāt understand you either."
"You have your choices, and I have mine."
"The present you is no longer Shen Li, but Yiyuan Monarch Ji Jiuli, with a new life I donāt understand, it was indeed wrong of me to disturb you last time, but you shouldnāt have come to disturb me either."
She raised her eyes to gaze at him, her look calm, generous, and understanding, "Just like your plan, I will consider Shen Li to have completely left at the volcano, that was the best ending between us."
"In the future, we owe each other nothing, let us not disturb each other anymore."
"May you and I each be well and happy while apart."
Shen Tang said a lot, and Shen Li listened in silence the entire time.
Until the end, he finally sighed lightly, "Xiao Tangāer, my feelings for you... were never false."
Shen Tang smiled, "I wish you and your fiancĆ©e a harmonious union, remember to send me an invitation to the wedding, save me a seat, Iāll definitely come to drink to your happiness."
"..."
Shen Li stared at her eyes for a long time, and this time, he finally confirmed ā she truly had let go, and would no longer be saddened by him.
Thatās good.
He would no longer need to be guilty and unable to sleep because of it.
"Take care, in the future if you need anything, you can always come to me," Shen Li said, taking out a brocade box and handing it to her, "this... you should take it."
Shen Tang opened the box, and her expression changed slightly upon seeing the Blood Jade Earrings.
She clearly had returned them, so why were they back? What does he mean by this?
"An emperorās promise is worth its weight in gold." Shen Li looked down at her, his voice gentle as it used to be, "This was given to you by me back then; thereās no reason to take it back."
He reached out to put them on her, but she stepped back to avoid it.
The action froze midair, Shen Li laughed at himself, putting the earrings back in the box, "These were given by me, I wonāt take them back, if you really donāt want them, just throw them away."
Shen Tang grew completely impatient, apparently, if she didnāt accept them, he wouldnāt leave tonight.
"Fine, Iāll take them." She grabbed the brocade box, looking up at him, "Since you put it that way, I wonāt be polite."
Before the words were out, she went straight to the yard, raising her hand to throw the earrings into the grass, "Whoever wants to pick it up, can pick it up!"
The smile on Shen Liās lips instantly froze, his pupils dramatically contracted, and he was paralyzed on the spot as if struck by lightning.
Shen Tang turned to see the manās ghastly face, his being radiating a chilling, terrifying aura, and her heart trembled a bit, but on second thought ā he did say she could toss it if she didnāt want it, she hadnāt done anything wrong, right?
"Well then, Iām going to sleep, be my guest."
She was about to turn and escape back into the house, but an immense force abruptly pulled her back, and the manās gritting voice sounded in her ear,
"Shen Tang! You... really have hurt my heart!"
"Every time, you make me suffer the utmost pain!"
Shen Liās breath was hoarse with pain, he hugged her tightly to his chest, kissing her fiercely, like a form of punishment and release!
Shen Tang widened her eyes in shock, anger boiling within, just about to curse and push him away.
The next second.
A sudden chill shot through her chest!
Shen Liās hand turned into a claw, piercing directly into her heart!
"Ahāā!"
Blood gushed out, Shen Tang felt such pain that her vision darkened, almost causing her to faint.
She stared at the man before her in disbelief, just because she threw the earrings, he intended to kill her out of spite?!
Was he planning to come kill her for revenge tonight?!
Xiao Jin and others were awakened by the screams, and the scene they rushed into left their blood frozen ā Shen Li had come back! And his blood-stained hand was lodged in Shen Tangās chest!
"You bastard! Let go of Tangtang!" Xiao Jinās eyes were full of rage as he roared, charging forward.
Xue Yinzhou and Jia Lan were also trembling with fury, their auras violent as they launched their attack.
However, Shen Li did not linger in battle, his form flickered and disappeared into the night the moment he let go of Shen Tang.