Chapter 4
“Your Highness, you were at Red Sleeve House today as well?”
Hearing this, Chu Moli rarely seemed to be in a good mood. He nodded, loosened his grip on Shen Yin’s chin, and walked back to his chair before sitting down.
“That’s right. I watched you dressed as a woman, looking every bit the beautyādelicate and boneless.”
“And then I watched you turn hostile the moment you left the room, ordering people to beat that envoy until he looked like a pig.”
“Tsk, tsk. I took a glance before I left. That envoy was truly miserable.”
“I’d say it will take at least seven or eight days for the swelling to go down.”
As he spoke, Chu Moli cheerfully stuffed another segment of orange into his mouth. Then he raised a hand, signaling for Shen Yin to stand.
“Starting tomorrow, you’ll officially become my personal bodyguard.”
“Someone as interesting as you is worth keeping close.”
As he spoke, Chu Moli stood up and placed the unfinished orange in Shen Yin’s hand. Then he reached out and patted Shen Yin on the shoulder, his smile brimming with wicked amusement.
“But you’d better remain interesting to me.”
“Because if someone I find interesting suddenly becomes boring…”
“I’m the Crown Prince, the future Emperor. Wouldn’t that be deceiving the sovereign?”
“And deceiving the sovereign deserves death.”
The moment the word “death” left his lips, Shen Yin felt a cold chill circle around his neck.
His whole body shuddered, though he didn’t dare show it.
No, Your Highness, what exactly do you mean by “interesting”?
“Yes, this subordinate accepts the order.”
Hearing that, Chu Moli laughed in satisfaction.
“Go get some rest.”
“And be quick tomorrow.”
“I wake up very early.”
“If I don’t see you when I wake up, I’ll lose my temper.”
“Understood.”
As soon as Shen Yin finished speaking, he turned and disappeared in a flash.
Behind him, Chu Moli took out a handkerchief and wiped the orange juice from his fingers. Looking out into the dark night, he curled his lips into a pleased smile.
Meanwhile, Shen Yin rushed back to his room at lightning speed.
The moment he stepped inside, however, he froze.
His tiny room was crammed with five or six grown men.
Even their Shadow Chief was there.
“Why are all of you here?”
“Shadow Chief, why are you here too?”
Shen Feng waved a hand.
“Sit down.”
Shen Yin glanced around the room packed to the brim and forced a smile.
“No need. Standing is fine.”
At that moment, Shadow Three immediately stood up.
“Boss, take my seat.”
Shen Yin looked over, sat down, and gave Shadow Three an approving glance.
Shadow Two was the least patient.
“Boss, why did His Highness summon you?”
Shen Feng nodded.
“Exactly. We’ve been brothers for years. Let us help you figure things out.”
Shen Yin picked up a teacup, filled it, and drained it in one gulp before speaking.
“His Highness ordered me to become his personal bodyguard starting tomorrow.”
Instantly, several shocked cries rang out around the room.
“What?!”
Even Shen Feng looked troubled.
“A personal shadow guard would be one thing, but a personal bodyguard…”
The newest member of the top ten, Shadow Ten, looked confused.
“Is there a difference between a personal shadow guard and a personal bodyguard?”
The room fell silent for a moment before Shen Feng answered.
“The last person who served as His Highness’s personal bodyguard…”
“…his bones are probably inside some dog’s stomach by now.”
Shadow Ten stared in shock.
As Shadow One, Shen Yin remained much calmer.
“The difference is that a personal shadow guard remains hidden and protects the master from the shadows at all times.”
“A personal bodyguard moves from the shadows into the open.”
“You have to disguise yourself as an ordinary guard and stay by the master’s side. Not only must you protect him, but you also have to take care of his daily needs.”
Shadow Two added:
“The important thing is that the Crown Prince’s moods are completely unpredictable. You never know what might make him unhappy.”
“And when he’s unhappy, the consequences are either being beaten to death…”
“…or being thrown into the Shadow Prison and fed into a torture device called the Meat Grinder, where you watch yourself get slowly minced into meat.”
“You won’t even know why you’re dying.”
As everyone continued talking, Shadow Nine suddenly placed a candle in front of Shen Yin.
Shen Yin raised an eyebrow.
“What are you doing?”
Shadow Nine lowered his head.
“Lighting a candle for you.”
As he spoke, a fire starter somehow appeared in his hand.
Whoosh!
The candle was lit.
Hearing that, Shen Yin’s face darkened. He slapped the candle over with a sharp smack.
Shadow Eight immediately chimed in with his usual loose tongue.
“Well, there goes the funeral candle.”
Shen Yin slowly lifted his gaze and looked at them.
His cold eyes clearly conveyed one message:
Say one more word, and you’ll leave this room horizontally instead of walking out.
One hand rested on the hilt of his blade, Guiyin, looking fully prepared to start chopping people if they continued.
Shadow Eight and Shadow Nine exchanged glances and immediately surrendered.
“Boss, we were wrong.”
At that moment, Shadow Three spoke up.
“Our master grew up without a father’s love or a mother’s care.”
“Who knows how many schemes and conspiracies he endured?”
“His mind has long become different from ordinary people’s.”
Shen Yin nodded deeply in agreement.
No kidding.
He had experienced it firsthand.
Chu Moli was the first Crown Prince in history to be driven out of the palace and forced to establish his own residence before even reaching adulthood.
Other Crown Princes lived in the Eastern Palace from childhood.
But Chu Moli?
Not only was he forbidden from living in the Eastern Palace, but before leaving the imperial palace, he had spent his days in the Cold Palace together with his birth mother, the Mad Consort.
The title of Crown Prince existed in name only.
After living like that for so long, how could his mind not become warped?
The title “Mad Crown Prince” was a perfect example of psychological distortion.
The problem was that Shen Yin couldn’t simply quit and leave.
From the day they entered the Crown Prince’s residence, every shadow guard had been forced to take poison.
And only the Crown Prince possessed the antidote.
Every three months, he distributed a dose to relieve their suffering.
Shen Yin leaned back and stared at the ceiling.
Life was hard.
Shen Yin let out a long sigh.
Life is truly difficult.
