Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Silence fell for a brief moment.
An instant later, Shen Yuan recoiled sharply while Xie Jinyu shot to his feet.
“Second Brother – ”
“Your Highness, what is the meaning of this?”
“Vice Minister Shen, don’t misunderstand.” Xie Chengze tilted Shen Yuan’s chin upward, smiling brightly as he said, “This prince’s health has been rather poor of late, but many vermin still infest the court, gnawing away at the fortunes of our great Jian’an Dynasty. This prince hopes you will remain at the Crown Prince’s side and serve him loyally.”
Shen Yuan froze, his gaze turning even more profound as it settled on Xie Chengze.
He had assumed the reborn Xie Chengze said those words because he wished to win Shen Yuan over. Shen Yuan had even prepared a stern refusal. Never had he expected Xie Chengze to voluntarily push him toward the Crown Prince instead.
Why?
In his previous life, Xie Chengze had repeatedly made it obvious that he wanted to recruit him. He also understood perfectly well how great an asset Shen Yuan would be to the Crown Prince. If Xie Chengze possessed even a shred of intelligence, he would never give up on winning Shen Yuan over and risk driving him into the Crown Prince’s camp.
What exactly did he intend by pushing Shen Yuan away now?
Could he fear that recruiting Shen Yuan would alter the course of their previous lives? Did Xie Chengze also intend to use his knowledge of the past to make preparations in advance and execute a foolproof plan to topple the Crown Prince?
After hearing Xie Chengze’s insights into the court and Yizhou, Shen Yuan had thought his rebirth had brought an astonishing amount of improvement. Now it appeared that Xie Chengze remained as foolish and incompetent as ever.
It seemed Shen Yuan had been overly suspicious.
Shen Yuan took a step back and said heavily, “This subject knows what he must do. There is no need for Your Highness to concern yourself!”
He would join the Crown Prince’s camp himself. He did not need Xie Chengze’s superfluous interference!
Xie Jinyu also stepped forward and took Xie Chengze’s hand. “Second Brother, I don’t need anyone else. I only need you by my side.”
Shen Yuan nearly choked on his next breath.
He knew the Crown Prince valued brotherly affection and knew the Crown Prince had only just begun to mature. Even so, Shen Yuan already possessed the soul of a powerful minister. Hearing such words made steam practically rise from his head as exasperation boiled within him.
A softhearted heir apparent was a disaster waiting to happen!
Xie Chengze also regarded Xie Jinyu with a complicated expression. *Buddy, is there anything you won’t say out loud?*
Fortunately, Shen Yuan had studied under Grand Tutor Shen, who had instructed the Crown Prince in ritual, ethics, and morality and belonged squarely to the imperial loyalist faction. Having followed the Grand Tutor since childhood, Shen Yuan naturally inherited the same creed: “loyal without obstinacy, strategic without rebellion.” He was precisely the kind of indispensable loyal minister an emperor loved – one who would never plot treason or seize the throne.
Had he been any other ambitious powerful minister, he would have kicked this indecisive Crown Prince aside long ago and taken the throne himself.
Pinching the space between his brows, Xie Chengze said wearily, “I will speak to Father about going to Yizhou. You may leave. This prince is tired.”
“Second Brother…” Xie Jinyu wanted to say more, but Xie Chengze shot him a glare. He could only press his lips together and depart with Shen Yuan.
The moment he stepped out of Chenghuan Hall, Xie Jinyu’s face – still full of grievance and dependence an instant ago – abruptly darkened.
“Vice Minister Shen.” Xie Jinyu fixed Shen Yuan with a warning gaze. “You politely refused this Crown Prince’s Second Brother just now. Do you intend to enter his service instead?”
Shen Yuan paused before realization dawned. It seemed the Crown Prince understood what truly mattered after all. He feared Shen Yuan would enter Xie Chengze’s service, strengthening the Second Prince’s faction and threatening his position as Crown Prince.
“Your Highness worries needlessly,” Shen Yuan said, offering his allegiance. “Since ancient times, nothing has been more taboo at court than princes forming private factions. This subject would naturally never enter the Second Prince’s service. I will spare no effort in carrying out His Majesty’s will.”
“So long as you understand.” Xie Jinyu relaxed slightly.
Shen Yuan had gained Second Brother’s favor and regard the moment he returned to the capital. Xie Jinyu truly feared that Second Brother might demand Shen Yuan for himself, once again lavishing attention on him as he had in childhood while neglecting Xie Jinyu.
He had only just managed to reconcile with Second Brother. He would tolerate not a single grain of sand in his eye now.
“Come. This Crown Prince will take you to meet a few people. They will prove useful to you and Second Brother when you travel south to Yizhou,” Xie Jinyu said coolly.
Shen Yuan bowed. “Yes, Your Highness.”
…
After Shen Yuan and Xie Jinyu departed, Wuhen landed soundlessly behind Xie Chengze. “Your Highness.”
Xie Chengze turned around. “Did you find it?”
Wuhen knelt on one knee, brushed the fine sand from the soles of his feet with a sleeve, and slipped his scarlet boots onto them. “Yes. It has been taken care of.”
“You don’t need to put them on for me.” Xie Chengze drew back one foot. He was a grown man; having another grown man put on his shoes simply felt strange.
Wuhen’s hands stilled. He looked up in confusion. “Your Highness has been acting somewhat strangely of late, almost as though you have become another person.”
Xie Chengze: “…Fine, fine, put them on. This prince loves nothing more than having you put on his shoes.”
Wuhen lowered his head. The faintest hint of a smile touched his lips and vanished.
His Highness truly had never changed.
Once his shoes were on, Xie Chengze set off for the Imperial Study with Wuhen. Yet just after stepping through the doors, he spotted a vaguely familiar figure scaling the wall of his palace on an enormous bamboo ladder.
The guards at the gate scratched their heads in desperation as they tried to dissuade him. “Your Highness, Fourth Prince, please stop climbing! If you fall, how are we supposed to answer to the Second Prince?”
“Don’t mind me! This prince snuck in on his own, so it has nothing to do with you!” Xie Zimiao diligently climbed the bamboo ladder, a small red wooden chest strapped to his back. “This prince only wants to see Second Brother from a distance. I’ll leave as soon as I deliver the aged ginseng!”
Amused, Xie Chengze called out, “Then keep climbing. Second Brother will be leaving first.”
“All right!” Xie Zimiao answered. Two seconds later, realization struck and he hurriedly turned his head. “Second Brother? Second Brother, you’re outside?”
He turned too quickly, and the wooden chest on his back appeared far from light. Its weight pulled him straight backward. The two guards’ eyes widened in terror, but neither dared release the bamboo ladder for fear it would topple and injure Xie Zimiao as well.
“Ah – Second Brother, save me!” Xie Zimiao covered his eyes in fright.
Xie Chengze strode forward. His arms sank slightly beneath the impact, but he caught the falling Xie Zimiao securely. “Next time you fall, protect the back of your head first,” he said helplessly.
Xie Zimiao spread the fingers covering his eyes. The young man, who had only recently begun wearing his hair bound up, looked extraordinarily innocent when he smiled. “Second Brother, I’ll remember.”
Xie Chengze set him down and straightened his disheveled teal princely robes. “I’m going to see Father. Give the chest to a guard, then return to Yufu Palace.”
Xie Zimiao hurriedly passed the heavy wooden chest on his back to a nearby guard, then tentatively pressed close to Xie Chengze’s side. When Xie Chengze showed no sign of displeasure, he promptly pushed his luck and wrapped both hands around Xie Chengze’s arm. “Second Brother, I want to see Father too!”
Xie Chengze rubbed his head. “Fine. Suit yourself.”
The two went to the Imperial Study, where a guard informed them that His Majesty had gone to the Imperial Garden. They changed course and headed there, finding Emperor Jian in a pavilion admiring the flowers and playing a game of Go.
Without memorials to trouble him, Emperor Jian looked much more energetic. At the sight of Xie Chengze and Xie Zimiao, he beckoned them over with great enthusiasm. “Come, come. You two play a game with Us. Prime Minister Li Ren is so dreadful at Go that We truly cannot bear to play with him!”
At his side, Prime Minister Li Ren gave two awkward chuckles.
Xie Zimiao pretended not to hear and sat down in the secondary seat to busy himself with the tea. Xie Chengze had no choice but to sit opposite Emperor Jian and examine the position on the board.
Emperor Jian’s black stones were steady and seasoned. His play could be called methodical, with both offense and defense well covered, leaving few openings to exploit. Although Prime Minister Li Ren’s white stones were losing, they showed a fair degree of ingenuity. With a little maneuvering, winning the game would not be difficult.
It seemed Prime Minister Li Ren had been going easy on him. A subject always had to humor the emperor: neither losing nor winning would do.
But a son had no need to be polite.
Xie Chengze launched a merciless slaughter and left the black stones in ruins. Emperor Jian became so furious that he overturned the board and refused to play another move. “Well done, Xie Chengze! You won’t yield even an inch to Us?”
Xie Chengze nimbly dodged the stone flung at him and said with disdain, “Father, you’re a terrible loser.”
A loss was a loss. Did he really need to fly into a rage over it?
Just then, Xie Zimiao solicitously offered over a cup. “Second Brother, have some tea~”
Emperor Jian: “…”
Where was *his* tea?!