Chapter 40

*Knight and Favoritism*
Zhu Yu always seemed too soft—a harmless herbivore—so Feng Jiyan forgot this young body had been forged on the front line, muscle lines like new silver, each inch holding cold killing intent.
Unlike Bai Qianze’s lofty crush-an-ant pressure.
This came from mountains of corpses. Zhu Yu barely noticed; reflex already—one hand on Feng Jiyan’s throat, one over her scheming mouth.
Clear eyes locked on Feng Jiyan.
Not only Feng Jiyan, Bai Qianze—countless eyes on Bai Shuzhou, gifted yet unable to guard herself. Everyone wanted a cup.
Plots, schemes, world, hearts—too complex.
She was worst at these.
“If I or the princess are hurt again—”
Lean close, hoarse at the ear:
“No questions first. I kill you.”
Feng Jiyan’s pupils shook, pinned by brute force—first time a lowborn handled her this rough.
Zhu Yu angered easily; thin experience could not parse lies. As player Feng Jiyan never respected her—only borrowed knives.
Facing tangle, Zhu Yu had one line—
Kill you first.
The piece on the board raised a blade to heaven.
Zhu Yu let go, looked at the ring on Feng Jiyan’s neck. Rage faded; tendons on her wrist still jumped.
She lifted her face, breathed deep.
Her own killing intent startled her—as if she could destroy everything.
Once she had feared it, hated violence and disorder. Now she looked at her palm and was back at pirates and the chainsaw.
Want power—could wield power.
Power from desire.
Want, crave—shameful, long suppressed—but faced honestly it was natural as breath.
Feng Jiyan clutched her throat, tongue to palate, pain mute, watching Zhu Yu stride away.
So empire honored force—angry Zhu Yu made Feng Jiyan meek, no clever words.
Here weakness was bullied; timidity a sin.
Yield won no respect—only encouraged more.
Force in every limb. Cold face, faster walk—did not know how to control.
Blocked meridians seemed to open; a drifting seed finding soil, still confused before rooting.
Low pressure all the way.
Senses sharpened—world too clear. At the door she caught strange familiar scent.
Gloriel.
Zhu Yu stopped. Spirit force seeped in unbidden—warm wood in blood like branches swaying to her will.
Inside, Bai Shuzhou on the bed felt it, pale blue eyes lifting cold.
Bandaged Gloriel still talked, thick evidence in hand, righteous denunciation of Zhu Yu’s wolf heart.
Her house could dig dirt fast; the old “Zhu Yu” had not been quiet—many nobles hated her.
Their romantic first meeting was not the parade the propaganda claimed.
Noon—Zhu Yu skipping class over the wall, coat flying, landed before Bai Shuzhou in disguise.
“Classmate, dance academy next door? I’ll bike you back—don’t report me or the instructor kills me—”
Hands together, bright smile.
First meet—no names—youthful chance.
Gloriel’s files insisted Zhu Yu had targeted Bai Shuzhou from arrival—scout, rehearse, stage the encounter.
Princess on the tower—melted by sincere heat.
Closer, net drawn; hunter leaves traces. After marriage fangs out—Bai Shuzhou scarred.
Greedy for power, chafing at control in love, drunk anti-imperial talk—Bai Shuzhou boring rigid Omega, no touch—
If Bai Shuzhou bore her child, empire would be hers and the child’s.
“This empire owes me—!” Recording end—drunk voice hoarse, malicious low laugh like crying.
The brighter “Zhu Yu”’s image, the darker the underside—Alphas sister-talk, filth, cut off.
……
Gloriel bowed low, not above Bai Shuzhou’s height, no bold stare like yesterday.
Outward respect—but telling crimes with fervor, twisted excitement deep in her eyes.
Her own heart speaking.
“For your good” forcing bloody past on Bai Shuzhou—secret bullying too.
Imperial princess, strongest dragon in a century—only this? “Love” made her object of gaze and gossip again and again.
Could not have her—so drag her down cheap through slander.
“Your Highness, amnesia let Zhu Yu… Highness… deceive you again!”
“His Majesty hid this lest you grieve—but I will not watch you repeat the mistake!”
“I will be your knight—if you need, House Mondo swears loyalty—”
Hand on heart, warm false smile, pheromones sweetened by catalyst.
She courted the princess as Zhu Yu had—betting house honor.
Sick fragile Bai Shuzhou, memory at fresh Omega presentation, trapped in bed—needed power base.
Eighteen—Bai Shuzhou presented; empress died, power passed; Bai Qianze crowned.
Old foxes knew—memory rolling to this node was delicate.
Then Bai Qianze was her only trust; seven years, fewer appearances, more silence.
Bai Qianze always gentle: Little Zhou, you are only ill.
Gloriel peeked up for reaction—hope leaked through muddy eyes.
She wanted Bai Shuzhou to lose control, weep, fall from the pedestal.
See—the one you love always lied—!
Bai Shuzhou chin in hand, cool brow lifted—also waiting.
“Is that so?”
She played with Gloriel’s apology gift—twin fish jade, cold porcelain light, alive in sun, warm in palm.
Like someone.
Gloriel spent heavily. Old Bai Shuzhou had hunted such pieces—jade prices soared.
Not needed now.
Outside Zhu Yu fisted, killing intent bare.
Feng Jiyan had drawn her away for Gloriel’s chance—hoping tigers fight.
Worse—
Overnight Gloriel dug so much on the original. Did she never think what she could find the emperor already knew?
“Zhu Yu” had hurt Bai Shuzhou escalating because Bai Qianze allowed it.
Only harm made Bai Shuzhou cling and stay a cage bird.
They never expected gentle sister to blacken completely.
Character does not flip in one moment—pressure day by day until a trigger explodes.
Thud!
Zhu Yu’s long leg kicked the door open.
Feng Jiyan was right—she could not touch Bai Qianze.
But others?
Every setback Zhu Yu grew fast—left greenhouse, rooted down, learned rules for survival.
At first she only wanted to live.
Now she wanted happiness—much happiness.
Mid-denunciation Gloriel turned—yesterday’s mild girl strode cold, battle-god aura, pearls swaying, soft boots like blood splashes.
“You see Her Highness—why not kneel?”
Kneel for Bai Qianze—kneel for Bai Shuzhou.
Nobles loved hierarchy?
Zhu Yu could not control scent—but as top soldier she had simpler ways.
Hand on shoulder, toe to knee—Gloriel dropped.
“I will be your knight—if you need, Zhu Yu swears loyalty—”
No house—only me, whole self for you.
Zhu Yu knew the knight salute.
In Bai Shuzhou’s splendid clothes, hand on heart, slight turn—loyalty to princess and love.
She had watched snow leopards—royal kit white and gold, tails magnificent, crowd magnets.
She needed no crowd—only those pale blue eyes on her.
Sun on hair edge, gold fringe. Bai Shuzhou laughed short, pleased; cool voice chimed on the heart.
Zhu Yu bit lip, eyes red—rushed, no defense after exposed dirt, instant oath—too big a gap, nothing prepared.
No proper vow—copied others—no sword ceremony—
But sun was right, ice melting, Bai Shuzhou’s light pupils held only her, world tilted with her raised hand.
Red mole on slender wrist trembled.
That gentle gaze—if Bai Shuzhou said kill Bai Qianze, timid Zhu Yu would answer: Okay, I’ll think how!
Instead cool fingertips on her crown, jade fingers through black hair, soft pat.
Tight heart went soft.
She never knew head-pats felt this good—anger and kill intent vanished in Bai Shuzhou’s palm, found home.
“Good. Well done.” Thin cool voice.
Praise that soft from that voice was unfair.
Unmatched favor—crossed basic distance—scalp tingled.
Bai Shuzhou handed the “evidence” to Zhu Yu. “You tear it. Yourself.”
Zhu Yu bit lip, pupils shrinking.
Outside she had heard—of course nervous, braced for worst; the kick had private spite too.
But after all those crimes Bai Shuzhou only looked down and said light:
“I believe… my knight.”
Gloriel on the floor shook—suddenly clown.
Even this—Bai Shuzhou still chose Zhu Yu?!
Rip. Rip.
From one corner—tearing paper was relief; ambition and nature released—cut with ugly past—new start both.
Black white sharpest became snow falling.
Toss extra witness out; leopards still away; door shut. Zhu Yu forced serious face—no giggle yet.
Not cool otherwise.
Expression control!
Metal reflection—serious dashing shadow, hair tied, deep breath.
Damn—knight baggage! Smile worse—Bai Shuzhou might like wicked—three parts smolder seven parts careless—
“Come here.” Bai Shuzhou saw every tic, laughed light. “Pull your pheromones back.”
Idiot—every mood on scent.
Dangerous.
And… too loud.
“Me?” Zhu Yu sniffed—only Bai Shuzhou’s rose on her.
Too fine a difference.
“Yes. Very thick. Control it, knight.” Bai Shuzhou proud hands behind back, fake distance, nose pinched—but palm open, little finger curled.
“Princess teach me…” Favor gave boldness. She sat bedside, still “Your Highness” on lips—but held the hand, nose to skin, soft ask, “Okay?”