The sky curtain makes you a useless class monitor, yet you act arbitrarily for eternity?

"Ha ha……"

Ye Chenqian chuckled twice, but his Adam's apple seemed to be stuck in his throat, and he couldn't swallow it down.

"Um, Master."

Are you hungry?

"How about I cook you two dishes myself?"

He said this and turned to turn around.

The door to the Imperial Study was right behind us.

Just go outside and walk through the corridor; there's a small kitchen there.

He remembered that Jiang Liyu didn't like things that were too sweet, nor did she like the strong smell of scallions, ginger, and garlic.

She has a small appetite.

In the past, she would only pick up a few pieces of vegetables with her chopsticks at each meal, and spend the rest of the time sitting next to him watching him wolf down his food.

Ye Chen had already made up his mind.

First, cook a pot of porridge, then stir-fry two light dishes.

If his master was willing to eat half a bowl more, he would have Beta take away all the remaining battle reports and not read them tonight.

But as soon as he raised his hand, Jiang Liyu grabbed it.

Her fingers were cold, and as they passed through her palm, the coolness seeped into her bones.

"Ye Chen".

Jiang Liyu looked at him.

"Kill me."

Ye Chen stood still.

After a few breaths, he slowly turned his face.

"Master, what did you just say?"

"Kill me."

Jiang Liyu repeated it, her voice still calm.

She didn't even look away from him when she said that.

Those icy blue eyes gazed at him quietly, without a hint of a joke in them.

Ye Chen's smile gradually faded.

"You...you must be lying to me, right?"

Jiang Liyu did not answer.

She held Ye Chen's hand, tightening her grip slightly.

Ye Chen looked at their clasped hands.

"Master, don't joke like that."

He spoke very slowly.

"The border has just been secured, and the black fog outside hasn't even dissipated yet. You're running to the Imperial Study now, asking me to kill you?"

Are you tired?

"Are you still injured?"

"I'll have Beta go and invite Lin Fan."

"Have him come over so you can take a look."

Ye Chen tried to pull his hand back.

Jiang Liyu did not let go.

"I am not injured."

"Then you shouldn't say such things at all."

Ye Chen finally turned around and faced her directly.

The smile on his face had disappeared.

"Master, please sit down."

"I'll cook for you."

"After you finish your meal, we can discuss the border issue again."

He spoke faster and faster.

It's as if as long as you keep saying it, this statement will never actually happen.

Jiang Liyu just looked at him.

That silence was more direct than any answer.

Ye Chen's eyes slowly reddened.

He looked up, staring at the beam above the imperial study, trying to hold back his tears.

But it was unsuccessful.

He was still smiling even as tears fell.

"Master."

"See, I told you you were lying to me."

You made me cry.

"I won't be angry anymore after I finish eating."

"And don't bring up killing or not killing anymore."

Jiang Liyu lowered her eyes.

"Ye Chen".

"Don't call me."

Ye Chen suddenly shook off her hand.

"Shut up!"

His breath stirred the battle reports on the imperial desk, scattering the papers all over the floor.

One of them landed at his feet.

The red words "Death in Action" were right in front of his eyes.

Ye Chen stared at those two words for a moment, then suddenly raised his hand and wiped his face.

But the more she wiped away her tears, the more she cried.

Why?

He pointed at Jiang Liyu.

"Why are you all risking your lives for this place?"

His hands were trembling.

"Ten days ago, my deadbeat father, in order to keep me alive, in order to ensure that there was still one person in this country who could sit here."

"He's dead."

He raised his hand again and pointed outside.

"Five days ago, my brother died, trying to keep this country a little longer."

Ye Chen clenched his teeth tightly.

The jaws clashed, making a harsh, squeaking sound.

"He's clearly most afraid of pain!"

His voice was choked with emotion, "But he was literally tortured to death!!!"

Jiang Liyu's eyelashes trembled slightly.

She suppressed that slight fluctuation in an instant.

"Ye Chen, once you're in that position, you have to stay until the very end."

"Hold on until the very end?"

Ye Chen repeated it to himself.

"Then I won't sit."

Jiang Liyu's eyes finally changed.

"What did you say?"

"I said I'm not sitting here!"

Ye Chen suddenly raised his voice.

"Let whoever wants to be emperor be it!"

"You saved me, let me wear this uniform, and let me sit here reviewing battle reports."

Did you ask me if I was willing?

He grabbed the dragon robe he was wearing and tugged at it hard, tearing the collar out of shape.

"I don't want to be emperor!"

"I just want to live!"

"I just want to live with you!"

After the last sentence was uttered, the Imperial Study fell completely silent.

Jiang Liyu looked at him quietly.

Ye Chen seemed to have all his strength drained away, and his shoulders slumped.

"Master, let's run!"

"Leave here."

"Anywhere is fine."

"We cannot win this battle."

"If you can't win, why continue?"

Jiang Liyu looked at him.

"Are you saying that as the monarch of this country, you should leave before the battle ends?"

Ye Chen's eyes reddened again.

"Are you going to use this position to pressure me again?"

Jiang Liyu did not respond.

She was only looking at the dragon robe he was wearing.

"What did I teach you?"

"teach?"

Ye Chen suddenly laughed.

The laughter was soft, devoid of any warmth.

"What you love to talk about most is teaching."

"Teach me how to kill."

"Teach me how to be an emperor."

"Teach me how to survive in a pile of dead bodies."

"But has any of you taught me how to accept their deaths?"

Ye Chen pointed to his chest, "I watched with my own eyes as countless living, breathing people perished because of my decision, because of this country!"

"He died a gruesome death!"

"That feeling! Has anyone taught me how to get rid of it!?"

Jiang Liyu's lips moved, but no sound came out.

"And you."

His chest heaved violently, as if it had been suppressed for too long and was finally bursting out.

"You keep telling me to fight to the very last moment."

"And what about you?"

Why did you run away?

Jiang Liyu's body stiffened for a moment.

Ye Chen stared at her, tears still streaming down his face, but his words grew increasingly harsh.

"Do you feel that everything here is fake?"

"The person is fake."

"The city is fake."

"Were the people who died here also fake?"

Jiang Liyu's fingers hung at her sides, and her lips moved slightly.

"Ye Chen..."

"Shut up!"

Ye Chen's eyes were bloodshot as he pointed to his heart.

"Is even my liking for you a lie?"