Chapter 139
Hearing the sarcasm in Shen Yuan’s voice, Xie Chengze scratched his head and wondered which tactless fool had annoyed him this time.
Now he was suffering by association.
He decisively changed the subject. “What happened just now? I think I saw someone dragging Wuji away?”
“Don’t worry about it.” Shen Yuan turned to the desk and placed the paper package he carried on it. “Come eat some cakes.”
At the mention of cakes, all Xie Chengze’s drowsiness vanished. He hurriedly put on his shoes and got out of bed, delighted. “I knew you’d buy some for me~~”
He hurried toward the desk in little steps. Passing the fallen food box, he looked puzzled. “Was this here before I fell asleep? Shen Yuan, did someone else come just now?”
“…” Shen Yuan gave the offending box a sidelong glance. The gentleman in his bones wouldn’t let him lie, but it would permit half a truth. He said indifferently, “Oh, Su Qinghe seems to have come by.”
“I thought so.” Xie Chengze nodded. Perhaps Qinghe had found him asleep and hadn’t disturbed him. But why leave the box on the floor instead of the desk?
He picked it up and set it beside the cushion, then eagerly unwrapped Shen Yuan’s package on the desk. Inside were local Liaozhou fried cakes he’d never tried, still warm. He narrowed his eyes in satisfaction and popped one into his mouth.
Fragrance filled his mouth at once. “Delicious!”
Seeing him eat his purchases first rather than touch the food box, Shen Yuan finally felt his displeasure dissolve. He smiled. “Then have more.”
Preferably enough to burst.
They fell silent as he ate. Only the little cat’s chewing remained, small sounds that caught the ear. Shen Yuan sat beside him, looking through his drawings. Though he couldn’t understand them, he persisted until Su Qinghe brought the Chief and Second Chief back.
The moment he entered, the Chief shouted anxiously, “The assassin?! Where’s the assassin?!”
What assassin?
Xie Chengze was eating with grease all around his mouth, his cheeks full of unchewed fried cake. He looked up blankly at Shen Yuan. “Someone wants to kill you?”
He was a good little boy. Surely nobody would assassinate him. That left only Shen Yuan, who was a walking target for “arrows.”
“Mm…” Shen Yuan feigned deliberation, his face calm. “Wuji has gone after them.”
For some reason, Wuhen always refused to appear before the Chief and Second Chief, so neither knew he was here. Shen Yuan therefore casually dumped the blame on him.
After all, he hadn’t said a word about who the assassin was. Only that Wuji had gone after someone.
“Fourth Junior Brother is the fastest on his feet. He’ll catch them!” The Chief immediately relaxed on learning Wuji was pursuing them. Rather than blame Shen Yuan for making him come for nothing, he said with relief, “Good thing you’re here too! Otherwise, while Wuji was chasing them, they might lure him away and hurt my martial nephew!”
Shen Yuan nodded in wholehearted agreement, feigning concern. “Yes. You must be careful in the future, Your Highness. Don’t sleep too deeply.”
“No matter!” The Chief waved a hand and helpfully suggested, “You still need your sleep. Have Fourth Junior Brother sleep beside you at night! He’s so alert that even asleep, he’ll sense an assassin!”
Shen Yuan: …
Could you stop spouting nonsense when you had no idea what you were talking about?
“Since all is well, my second brother and I will be going.” Having confirmed there was no danger, the Chief prepared to leave.
“Wait, Martial Uncle. Since you’re here, let’s discuss the ice sculptures together.” Xie Chengze hastily wiped his mouth and asked them to stay. “Qinghe, fetch Elder Gu for me. It’s time to discuss business.”
Su Qinghe nodded gently and went to call Elder Gu.
Once everyone was present, Xie Chengze began explaining his plan, mainly for Elder Gu’s benefit. Elder Gu looked at the drawings with a constant frown.
Though he had to admit Xie Chengze’s ideas were good, his drawings were as ugly as his handwriting, ugly enough to make Elder Gu’s eyes hurt.
“Weren’t the earlier heated brick bed plans beautifully drawn?” Elder Gu was puzzled. “Did you not draw those?”
“Oh.” Remembering something, Xie Chengze looked slightly embarrassed. “Jian – ahem, Father kindly touched them up for me.”
So that was it!
Who’d have thought they were His Majesty’s own copies? Elder Gu resolved to preserve those precious works carefully when he returned.
These lousy plans were no use. He could only open the toolbox he’d brought and begin drawing them again.
His Highness had already recorded the Hun River’s drainage-area measurements. Elder Gu could use the data to estimate the workload. Looking at the figures, he couldn’t help marveling. “Have you studied surveying, Your Highness?”
The data looked meticulous, and the terminology was carefully chosen. Though some terms differed from current usage, they were plain and easy to understand, even more apt in their descriptions.
Xie Chengze rubbed his nose. “In a manner of speaking.”
The books most plentiful at home had been about geology and construction.
He thought his parents’ work overseas must be related to those subjects. But whenever he asked, they put him off and quickly ended the call.
Elder Gu nodded and said no more, lowering his head to continue drawing. Su Qinghe assisted and learned beside him.
With nothing to do for the moment, Xie Chengze began chewing fried cakes again. Finding them a little too rich now, his hand drifted toward the food box beside the cushion.
What had Qinghe made this time…?
Just as his hand touched it, a large, slender hand lifted the box first and placed it on the desk. “Chief, Second Chief, Elder Gu will need some time to draw. Why not try Young Master Su’s pastries? They’re excellent.”
“Oh?” The Chief immediately grew interested. Leaning over to see the delicate pastries, he exclaimed, “Wow! So pretty!”
Neither burly man had seen such exquisite cakes before. Each carefully picked one up and tossed it into his mouth, then praised, “Fine skill!”
The Second Chief heartily slapped Su Qinghe on the back. “Young fellow, impressive! With skills like these, you’ll certainly find a good wife!”
Su Qinghe felt as though his soul had nearly been slapped out of him. He finally steadied himself and caught his breath, then smiled faintly. “You flatter me, Second Chief. There are plenty more in the yamen kitchen. You can take them back for your brothers.”
The ones in the box were the best, carefully selected for His Highness. Could they eat a little less…?
Watching both chiefs swallow one after another, Su Qinghe felt his heart twinge repeatedly. If they ate them all, surely His Highness couldn’t be made to eat the rejects in the kitchen?
Noticing his distress, the Second Chief asked, “What’s wrong? Do you think we’re eating too many?”
Su Qinghe pressed his lips together. “Of course not. It’s just that His Highness hasn’t had any yet…”
The two chiefs turned to Xie Chengze.
He hastily waved his hands. “It’s fine. Eat. I’m full.”
Waaah, who dared fight his martial uncle for food? He’d sneak into the kitchen later instead!
At that thought, the little hand beneath the desk angrily pinched Shen Yuan’s thigh.
Damn you, Shen Yuan. Was this deliberate?!
Shen Yuan laughed inwardly, showing nothing on his face. “Yes, His Highness is already full.”
Full?
Su Qinghe’s gaze swept across the desk and landed on the familiar paper package and fried cakes: …
He immediately glared at Shen Yuan, his eyes demanding: Didn’t you say those were for a dog? Why were you feeding His Highness?!
Unperturbed, Shen Yuan put a fried cake in his own mouth, then offered one to Su Qinghe with a faint smile. “Would you like one, Young Master Su?”
Su Qinghe: …
Big Brother Shen! You’ve changed!!!