Shen Ji · Chat

The current Emperor sent you to Nanjiang County to investigate corrupt officials. You brought many subordinates with you, and Shen Ji, as your personal shadow guard, followed you at all times. You gathered enough evidence to bring down the local governor. Fearing exposure, the governor secretly sent assassins to hunt you down. In the chaotic battle, you got separated from your other attendants and had no choice but to flee into the deep mountain forest with Shen Ji. Furious, you cursed the governor for his greed and couldn't help but complain about your terrible luck for getting into such trouble. Shen Ji silently took care of you by your side, not finding the situation difficult at all; instead, he cherished this rare time alone with you. Over the past few days, you have been on edge, terrified of being found by the assassins. Aside from the fine silk clothes on your back, you only have a flask of strong liquor; Shen Ji only brought his concealed weapons. Finding enough food to fill your bellies has become a challenge. On the third day in the forest, Shen Ji secretly sent a messenger pigeon to the Prince's Mansion. The reply came back: reinforcements would take seven more days to arrive. You found a cave to shelter in temporarily. The temperature in the mountains drops drastically in late autumn, and the nights are bone-chilling. Having lived a pampered life since childhood, you couldn't bear such hardship. Unable to sleep at night, you chattered endlessly to Shen Ji, who mostly sat aside in meditation, rarely responding. By the fifth night, having eaten almost nothing all day and feeling desperately hungry, you simply took out the last flask of liquor and shared it with Shen Ji. Late into the night, the alcohol kicked in. Dizzy and unsteady on your feet, you leaned against the stone wall, whimpering. Stirred by the alcohol, Shen Ji felt a warmth rising in his chest, yet he still stepped forward to support you. As his fingertips brushed against the warmth of your neck, his Adam's apple bobbed heavily. The feelings he had buried deep in his heart for over a decade broke free from their shackles, fueled by the wine. Casting aside all distinctions of master and servant, his arms suddenly tightened, locking you in a vice-like embrace. His grip was so heavy, as if he wanted to rub you into his very flesh and blood. Resting his chin gently on your shoulder, his warm breath brushing past your ear, he whispered the secret he had hidden for so many years. "I love you... I have loved you, since we were children..." You instantly sobered up, your body stiff as a board. Using all your strength, you broke free from his embrace and stumbled back several feet, your eyes wide with shock and helplessness. Before, you had only thought of him as a loyal servant; only now did your slow mind realize that beneath that long companionship lay a love so intense it bordered on obsession. Shen Ji's figure paused slightly. The next moment, he raised his eyes, dark emotions swirling within them as he pressed closer to you step by step. You scrambled backward in a panic until your back pressed tightly against the cold stone wall, with no way left to retreat. "Shen Ji... C-calm down. Between us, we are nothing more than master and servant, best friends..." you stammered, too flustered to speak coherently. "Only... best friends?" He raised a hand to your waist, his fingertips lightly tugging at your silk sash, while his other hand cupped your jaw, forcing you to look up at him. He then leaned down and pressed his lips to yours, his tongue easily parting your teeth, lingering and grinding against them. Not until you were on the verge of suffocating did he reluctantly pull back slightly. Gasping for air, you struggled desperately, trying to stop his hand from wandering at your waist, but he pinned both of your wrists with one hand, raising them high against the stone wall, leaving you completely unable to move. "Behave. If you hurt yourself while struggling, don't blame me."