TBR CH10

Jing Qianshan couldn’t help but bring the mirror closer, carefully scrutinizing the image within.

It was indeed his beloved—he would never mistake him for another. There could not possibly be a second person in this world as breathtakingly beautiful.

But… his attire was drab, so plain and ordinary that it seemed almost out of place. And in his hands—why was he holding a broom?

The young emperor thought for a moment before a slow-burning rage ignited in his chest.

His Nian Nian had gone to recuperate, yet they dared—dared—to make him perform menial labor?

He had always been delicate and precious, raised under his devoted care and endless indulgence. How could he possibly endure such treatment?

Jing Qianshan clenched his jaw, already devising how he would deal with those who had allowed this to happen.

It would be best to capture them all, subject them to the harshest punishments, and execute their entire families.

How dare anyone treat someone belonging to Jing Qianshan with the slightest disrespect?

Jing Qianshan had no awareness that his thoughts had already been completely distorted by Shen Nian’s Irresistible Charm Aura. To him, such decisions felt entirely justified.

But—

But he loved Shen Nian too much.

And so, once again, he examined the mirror closely.

Even in rough linen and coarse cloth, his lover’s beauty remained unparalleled. His heart ached, filled with tender affection and overwhelming sorrow. Even though he knew his voice would not reach him, he still stroked the mirror gently, whispering Shen Nian’s name.

Too close.

When one looked too closely, flaws became apparent.

A new sense of doubt arose in the emperor’s mind.

For instance, while his delicate, pitiful lover’s movements were indeed clumsy—clearly unaccustomed to labor—his expression, strangely enough, showed no reluctance.

On the contrary—his eyes frequently, deliberately flicked toward something… or someone.

That gaze—

Soft, filled with unspoken desire, like a shy confession hidden beneath lowered lashes.

Jing Qianshan knew this look very well.

Because every time Shen Nian gazed at him with that same imploring expression, he could never resist giving him whatever he desired.

Sweet and painful, intoxicating yet corrosive.

It was a look that made one feel as though they were the only person in their beloved’s world.

For a man—especially one accustomed to absolute power—such a gaze was an irresistible hook.

But—

This was a one-way mirror.

Shen Nian could not see him.

Even if it had not been a one-way mirror, there was still an undeniable truth:

Jing Qianshan could see Shen Nian’s eyes.

And Shen Nian was looking in an entirely different direction.

Who is over there?

The emperor frowned at his own thoughts—surely, this was absurd.

Shen Nian was his.

His lover, the one who had sworn eternal devotion, the one who had promised to share the rest of their lives together.

How could he doubt him?

Yet, unable to endure the weight of that gaze any longer, he looked away—his eyes falling upon the small, heart-shaped stone sitting on his desk.

It was Shen Nian’s gift to him.

His beautiful, obedient lover had told him that he had walked barefoot through a freezing stream, braving the cold for half a day, searching tirelessly until he found the perfect shape.

And so, an ordinary stone had become an emperor’s most treasured possession.

Staring at it, the sweetness of past affections surged within him once more.

Jing Qianshan inwardly cursed himself for his paranoia.

He decided to put the mirror away and go directly to the secluded estate where Shen Nian was supposedly recovering.

Originally, a certain cryptic Daoist had advised that they remain separated for at least a year.

“Otherwise, should desire cloud the mind, illness will worsen. One must purify the heart, abstain from love, and only then may healing be possible.”

Shen Nian’s illness had struck suddenly and violently, leaving him frail, unable to withstand wind or sun. The emperor had sought out every renowned physician, yet none could cure him. Even the powerful cultivators he had painstakingly recruited had merely shaken their heads.

Thus, when that Daoist proposed a temporary separation as a means of healing, it had seemed reasonable—perhaps even the only choice.

But now—

Unless Fu Tingxue had lied to him, he would not stand idly by.

For now, the longstanding trust between the royal family and the Sword Immortal prevailed. The image within the mirror seemed too real—it had to be the truth.

Anger surged through the young emperor’s veins. With a sweep of his sleeve, the memorials on his desk crashed to the floor.

Palace attendants rushed forward, trembling as they awaited orders. One dared to glance up—only to see their emperor clutching a mirror with an iron grip.

Jing Qianshan had intended to give immediate commands, to demand justice for his beloved.

But—

His gaze drifted back to the mirror.

And in that moment, the scene within changed.

Moreover—

The Immortal Lord had failed to mention that the mirror did not only transmit images…

It carried sound as well.

*

Meanwhile, in the Demon Palace.

Shen Nian continued sweeping the floor, casting lingering, watery glances at Gu Shishu.

Yet the Demon Lord remained seated upon his throne, towering and untouchable, wholly absorbed in his work. He did not spare him even a glance.

Shen Nian began to feel anxious.

Three days had passed, and he had made no progress.

This was unacceptable for someone like him, who had always succeeded with ease.

Of course, he was confident that he had already left an impression.

After all, Gu Shishu had avenged him.

Even imprisoned the Immortal Lord for him.

Shen Nian had little understanding of Fu Tingxue’s status, but seeing a high-ranking figure forced into submission had given him an undeniable thrill.

Still—

He needed more contact with Gu Shishu.

And yet, the Demon Lord had sent him to sweep the outer halls—a place where they would almost never cross paths.

The only time they had encountered each other had caught him unprepared, forcing him to sacrifice a pawn to protect himself.

So, Shen Nian sought out the steward in charge of the palace servants and, with a slight exertion of his golden finger, managed to secure a shift reassignment—transferring his cleaning duties from the outer halls to the main hall of the Demon Palace.

However, despite his many schemes for seduction, none seemed to find an opening against the Demon Lord.

Biting his lip, Shen Nian took the initiative to speak. His voice was deliberately controlled—soft, hesitant, laced with a fragile vulnerability.

“…Your Excellency, I…”

Gu Shishu finally deigned to lift his gaze.

His expression remained indifferent, his dark eyes deep as ink, carrying an innate air of arrogance.

Under that gaze, Shen Nian felt a flicker of unease.

“Hmm?” Gu Shishu acknowledged him at last, his tone shifting ever so slightly, his expression softening.

“Oh, it’s you. Is there something you wish to say?”

The Demon Lord recognized him.

This realization ignited a spark of hope in Shen Nian.

At the very least, he had left an impression. Though Gu Shishu’s voice still carried an imposing weight, compared to his previous indifference, this was practically an act of mercy.

“I wanted to thank you, Your Excellency.”

The delicate youth’s voice trembled as if he had summoned all his courage to speak. His sincerity seemed palpable.

“If not for you, I might have perished, abandoned in some nameless place. You… You have been so kind to me. No one has ever treated me this well before. You gave me a home, and I truly—”

As he spoke, tears welled up in his eyes once more.

“That’s why I couldn’t help but come to express my gratitude. And also, I… I…”

A faint blush bloomed on Shen Nian’s cheeks, as though what he wished to say was too shameful to voice. He lowered his head, voice thick with emotion.

“I only wish to serve Your Excellency always. How could someone as insignificant as me dare to dream of anything more?”

Gu Shishu studied him with great amusement.

By now, Jing Qianshan must have heard every word, crystal clear.

The Demon Lord wondered how the Human Emperor was reacting at this very moment.

The thought was so entertaining that he almost laughed aloud.

Well, why not play along?

If the performance could be made even more compelling, all the better.

So, he spoke.

“I do not think there is anything lowly about you. Why would you think so?”

His voice was deep, carrying an unreadable weight—somewhere between idle amusement and sincerity.

“If you have something to say to me, speak freely. There is no need for restraint.”

“Who knows?” Gu Shishu’s tone turned languid, almost lazy, yet tinged with an underlying rasp, “Perhaps our hearts are already aligned. That would be quite the fortune.”

Shen Nian’s eyes widened like a startled rabbit, a wild joy flashing through them.

He couldn’t help but summon the system.

“Did you hear that? The Demon Lord is already falling for me! This was definitely a hint! I knew I could do it.”

The system hesitated.

“Host,” it advised cautiously, “Gu Shishu’s difficulty level is the highest. You must tread carefully…”

“No matter how difficult, he will still fall for me.”

Shen Nian had expected praise, yet instead, he was met with cold logic.

It irritated him.

All the more reason to prove himself.

“Your Excellency, I… I have a gift for you.”

He carefully reached into his sleeve.

Gu Shishu, upon seeing what he retrieved, nearly laughed out loud.

A heart-shaped stone.

The black tome had recorded this event.

According to its pages, Shen Nian’s system awarded him points, which could be exchanged for all manner of peculiar items. As part of the Villain Redemption System, the store contained many so-called “romantic” tools.

This stone was one of them.

Price: 10 points.

A trivial cost.

And yet, in the black tome’s timeline, the other Gu Shishu had been overwhelmed with joy upon receiving it.

Shen Nian had claimed he had searched tirelessly for it, scouring the land with great effort. And under the influence of the protagonist’s Irresistible Charm Aura, the former Demon Lord had been utterly enamored. He had regarded the stone as a priceless treasure, moved beyond words.

But now?

In the Demon Palace, there was no shortage of such stones.

Meanwhile, Shen Nian was still caught up in his own sentiment, his voice thick with emotion as he set the stage:

“This gift may be simple, but I searched the back mountain for days before I finally found it. Your Excellency, I have never once come across a stone of this shape before. Perhaps even the heavens knew of my heart’s longing, and so…”

“I hope you won’t disdain it. I have nothing greater to offer—but whatever I have, I would give it all to you.”

“You like me?”

Gu Shishu suddenly cut in, his words blunt and unceremonious.

Shen Nian startled.

That fast?

Even he had not expected things to progress so quickly.

But it only confirmed what he already knew—Gu Shishu had fallen for him.

That was why he couldn’t help but ask.

Shen Nian bit his lip, gazing at the Demon Lord with a watery, shimmering look. He softened his voice to its most delicate, most enchanting timbre.

“Y-Yes… I admire you, Your Excellency. You are the first person I have ever loved. The only one I have ever loved. I can only hope you will not reject me.”

*

Imperial City. The Palace.

Jing Qianshan’s face was deathly pale as he hurled the mirror to the ground.

The attendants in the chamber fell to their knees in terror, cowering before their enraged emperor.

But in their hearts, they could not help but think—

The voice coming from that mirror…

It sounded an awful lot like his beloved Shen.