Chapter 123 - ACTING AS GOOD AS A MOVIE EMPEROR
SHEN JI YUN who was observing all these from above – he was sitting on one of the ceiling bars – almost leaped down. It was only his extreme self-control that prevented him from doing so. Looking at Luo Yan's reddish eyes, those tears trailing down his white cheeks, his whole body trembling as if a weak wind could topple him over, it could arouse pity from anyone who saw him.
And Shen Ji Yun was not just anyone. So it was even harder for him to see this. It's like every drop of tears that fell from Luo Yan's eyes was a knife stab to his heart. He never minded pain. Even if he became bruised and battered, he probably wouldn't react that much. But seeing the rabbit like this, as if he was being persecuted by the world, was something he almost couldn't handle. And to think it was just all an act.
He wondered how he would react if he'd seen Luo Yan's real tears. Would he simply just lose it by then?
Shen Ji Yun truly couldn't understand why he would be affected by Luo Yan's every move. It's like all the emotions he wasn't able to feel for the past 12 years since his father died was slowly resurfacing. And the trigger of it was meeting Luo Yan.
The people below had no idea of the emotional turmoil Shen Ji Yun was experiencing. Instead, the drama was still ongoing.
"Why are you asking for forgiveness?" the crown prince asked, looking down at Luo Yan.
Luo Yan continued to cry. "B-because this slave knows t-that what happened at the banquet, the attempted a-attack on Your H-Highness life, it could only be irrevocably linked to our Yuexing Pavilion. I'm a-ashamed that I couldn't prevent something like this from ha-happening. T-that the art we're so proud of would be… would be used as a medium for an act as cruel as assassination."
He sobbed with anger and frustration when he said that last word. He didn't think that he went out of character by his act. Because 'Shishi' was known as someone who took pride in 'her' craft. Something like this happening would surely be like a slap on the face of the proud 'Shishi'.
"But the other girls in your pavilion seemed to think otherwise," the crown prince replied seemingly unaffected by Luo Yan's act.
"Then this servant could only ask for forgiveness in their place."
"You seemed so sure that the girls in your pavilion was involved."
"I was there, Your Highness. When that dagger flew and the direction where it came from, it could only be from one of the girls dancing with me."
Luo Yan was not acting when he said that. Because that was what he truly thought. One of those four girls threw that dagger. Maybe another one poisoned Prince Lin Rong. So, Yuexing Pavilion was certainly irreversibly connected to these two assassination attempts.
"And you expect this prince to just believe you? What if you're just playing this prince and everything was simply related to you? Then you deliberately acted like you put yourself in harm's way just so this prince wouldn't suspect you?"
"This servant didn't do it, Your Highness," Luo Yan said with strength and conviction in his voice. He raised his head, his big peach blossom eyes were filled with determination. It almost looked like burning black orbs. "This servant is willing to prove her innocence!"
Duan Yu on the side looked at all these. And he just couldn't help but admire this little guy's ability to act. He just went from weak to pitiful to brave in a matter of seconds. He didn't even have qualms referring to himself as 'slave'. He could even cry on cue! Seriously, if this guy entered the entertainment industry, he would definitely give those veteran actors a run for their money. In this regard, he was certainly a level higher than Liuli. If she could only act like this, she would probably already be 1st line artist.
Duan Yu could see how marketable this guy would be in that industry. Add that to his looks and he would definitely be red in no time. Maybe he could even be a movie emperor after just two to three years. Now Duan Yu wondered why he's playing a game instead of utilizing his talent.
He cleared his throat. "Your Highness, I hate to interrupt, but as much as I don't want to agree, this woman here has a point. The poison slathered on the dagger that she intercepted was deadly. Without skills such as mine, she would most likely be dead by now. Considering how the only one who knew my identity was Your Highness, I doubt she would put herself in harm's way just so she wouldn't appear suspicious. But of course, that was only plausible if she really was innocent and had nothing to do with what happened."
Luo Yan gave Uriel a quick sideway glance before taking back his gaze. This guy. Was it really necessary to say that last part?
The crown prince seemed to be thinking about something. Then he looked back at Luo Yan. "Then this prince gives you the right to investigate your fellow courtesans. But if this prince finds out that you're lying, your head will dangle on the gates of this town."
Luo Yan acted scared but still tried to be brave. "Yes, this slave thanks Your Highness."
The crown prince then turned to Duan Yu. "This prince needs to talk to you about the poison."
"Sure, Your Highness. But I still need to finish fixing this woman here."
"Then after."
After that, the crown prince went out of the room. He walked a few steps before stopping. "Di Yi," he called.
Shen Ji Yun quickly appeared, kneeling in front of the crown prince. "Your Highness."
"Monitor that courtesan's every move. If she does something suspicious, you're allowed to kill her."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Then the crown prince walked away while Shen Ji Yun went back to the room.