Chapter 125

“It was announced to the realm that Noble Consort Hua died of illness. But I secretly examined the Imperial Medical Bureau’s records and found not a word about her condition. Even the medicines prescribed were all things to calm the mind.”

Shen Yuan looked at Xie Chengze. “Do you know anything?”

Xie Chengze shook his head. “I didn’t inherit the Second Prince’s memories. I don’t know.”

Shen Yuan nodded. It seemed he could only seek clues elsewhere.

“You suspect she didn’t die of illness?” For some reason, the mention of Noble Consort Hua’s illness suddenly made Xie Chengze’s chest tighten. An indescribable feeling welled up, leaving him subdued.

“I’ve made some inquiries. Though the palace keeps its lips sealed about her, there are always loose tongues. They say grief made her ill, and she eventually died of illness and sorrow.”

Grief had made her ill? Depression?

But Noble Consort Hua had always been broad-minded, more easygoing than anyone. What could have made her depressed?

Shen Yuan considered. “I remember meeting the Second Prince as a child. He wasn’t harsh or scheming, and he got along very well with Noble Consort Hua and the other princes. But later, I learned that mother and son had long since become estranged. The inner palace treats it as a deeply taboo subject. Both consorts and princes keep their mouths shut and refuse to say much.”

Even that much had taken considerable effort to pry from Consort Rou in his previous life.

Considering what he’d experienced in this life, Shen Yuan had even wondered whether the Second Prince had been switched as a child. Perhaps Xie Chengze was the real Second Prince, and the other one had merely been a double who looked just like him.

After all, compared with the Second Prince, the Xie Chengze before him more closely resembled the “Second Prince” he’d played with as a child, who had left such a deep impression on him.

But that clearly wasn’t the case. There was only one body with this appearance, so he’d just ruled out that possibility.

“You think Noble Consort Hua’s death had something to do with the Second Prince?” Xie Chengze rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “Could his teenage rebellion have angered her to death? But if that were true, why would she have left Wuhen and Wuji to him?”

Or was a mother’s love inherently complicated?

Like his own mother. Though she couldn’t return to the country to be with him, he knew she loved him.

It was just that, beyond loving him, she had things she considered more important to do.

Could Noble Consort Hua have regretted entering the palace as a consort? Had she missed the martial world, missed the freedom she’d once possessed, and come to see the Second Prince as chains binding her wings?

Thinking about it made Xie Chengze’s head hurt. He fell backward onto the heated brick bed and decided to stop. Instead, he asked, “Why did you suddenly start investigating Noble Consort Hua?”

Shen Yuan faltered.

When he remained silent, Xie Chengze looked at him in puzzlement. “Why aren’t you saying anything?”

Shen Yuan didn’t know where to begin. With the Crown Prince’s feelings that the world would never accept, or his remark, “He’s hated me for ten years. Or perhaps he’s never hated me at all”?

It seemed he shouldn’t say it. Yet if he didn’t, he feared Xie Chengze would remain completely unguarded and fall into the Crown Prince’s waiting net.

“I haven’t uncovered the truth yet. In any case, keep your distance from the Crown Prince.” That was all Shen Yuan could say.

The words “Crown Prince” triggered an immediate reflex in Xie Chengze. He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “You’re acting very strangely, Lord Shen.”

“Don’t tell me you’re afraid the Crown Prince will find out you’re running between both sides, one servant serving two masters?” he added with biting sarcasm.

“Don’t talk nonsense.” Shen Yuan pulled the quilt over Xie Chengze’s face, covering his eyes to hide his own slightly reddened ears. “I never said the person I serve is the Crown Prince.”

Xie Chengze immediately pricked up his ears. Hm?

His heart suddenly began beating faster. “Then whom do you serve?”

“Isn’t it a certain person who keeps using me as a shield?” Shen Yuan held down the edge of the quilt, refusing to let the young man struggle free and see his face.

The heated brick bed must be too hot. That had to be why his cheeks felt scorching, the heat refusing to fade.

“Ahem, ahem…” Xie Chengze coughed guiltily a few times. His ears were beginning to redden too. “Why serve him? He doesn’t plan to be emperor. Following him won’t get you anywhere.”

“What I’ve wanted has never been a promising career.” The man shook his head, a trace of tenderness rippling through his eyes. “I want everyone to have a home, every farmer to have land, and the people to live and work in peace.”

Xie Chengze’s bright eyes emerged from the edge of the quilt. He said softly, “What a coincidence. So do I.”

This was also why he’d chosen to trust Shen Yuan. That was the kind of man he was: upright and loyal, never blinded by power, seeking only peace in the realm and a secure, contented life for its people.

“Then how do you plan to recruit the bandits?” he asked, in an excellent mood. “I’m exceedingly generous, so I’ll cooperate with you.”

“Then I thank Your Highness.” Shen Yuan made a show of bowing. “The servant the Chief mentioned must be Wuji, correct? Tomorrow, have him casually show his face in front of the Chief. Leave the rest to me.”

“All right.” Xie Chengze nodded. But soon, remembering something, he frowned again.

“What’s wrong?” Seeing his expression, Shen Yuan sensed the reason. “Are you worried about Pingcheng?”

“Mm.” Xie Chengze pulled a miserable face. “Moving that many people takes money.”

But his useless father was so poor. He could only find a way to earn it himself.

Far away in the capital, Emperor Jian sneezed. He wondered how little Ze’er was getting on, and whether he’d found Shen Yuan.

“It’s all right,” Shen Yuan teased. “Confiscate a few households’ assets, and you’ll have it.”

Xie Chengze promptly glared at him. The bastard was using his own words to make fun of him!

“Confiscating assets only treats the symptoms, not the cause. We need to give Liaozhou’s people a lasting livelihood, like the people of Yizhou!”

In fact, he had already thought of something. He just needed a few people to cooperate.

At that thought, a crafty smile spread across his face.

If that smile had appeared on the Second Prince’s face, Shen Yuan would have felt a chill. On Xie Chengze’s face, however, he found it thoroughly amusing.

The young man always had so many cunning ideas. One couldn’t help wanting to draw near and follow him, to see what else he could do.

“There’s no hurry. It’s late. Get some sleep, Your Highness.” Shen Yuan tucked in the edges of his quilt. His tone was both teasing and serious. “If there’s anything you need me to do, just say so. You may even work me like an old ox.”

He rose and walked toward the window through which he’d come. Just before climbing out, he slowly added, “And… I’m very glad you came to save me, Your Highness.”

Xie Chengze’s eyes widened slightly, and he immediately looked toward the window. But the man was already gone. He heard only a stumbling sound outside, as though someone, too eager to flee the scene to watch the snow underfoot, had slipped.

He couldn’t help laughing. The corners of his mouth lifted higher, and his eyes seemed to hold every star, as bright as the night sky after snowfall.

He murmured, “What a coincidence. So am I.”