Chapter 63
Chapter 63
Shen Yuan clearly remembered how fiercely possessive Xie Chengze had been of Wuhen and Wuji in his previous life. He never lent them to anyone, yet beat and humiliated them constantly, treating them with the heartless cruelty of a man training animals.
Shen Yuan himself had once tried to persuade Wuhen and Wuji to defect, only to discover that they would rather endure every humiliation than betray their sworn loyalty to Xie Chengze.
Yet their eyes and behavior had always seemed perfectly normal. They did not look like men who had lost their reason after being broken into obedience.
Unable to make sense of it, Shen Yuan stopped trying. He took the drunken, sleeping Xie Chengze back to his room, removed the young man’s shoes and white socks, and wiped the scent of wine from his face with a damp cloth before tucking him into bed.
“Who knows how much you drank.”
Gazing at Xie Chengze’s sleeping face, flushed with wine, Shen Yuan could not resist reaching out to pinch his cheek. There was a hint of pent-up frustration in the gesture, though he could not bring himself to use much force.
The cheek felt soft and faintly warm, smooth and tender as the white of a boiled egg. He could not help rubbing it a few more times.
The sleeping young man frowned slightly at the touch. Whatever he was dreaming, he raised a hand to clasp Shen Yuan’s against his cheek and murmured, “Sisi… is that you?”
Sisi?
Shen Yuan’s brows drew together as an unfamiliar, unnamable feeling crossed his heart.
Who was Sisi?
Someone Xie Chengze loved? A man, or a woman?
As Xie Chengze cradled his hand and nuzzled it, Shen Yuan could not help recalling that amorous dream from two months ago. His emotions grew complicated, tinged by a strange jealousy.
He asked, “Who is Sisi?”
“Sisi, I miss you so much…” Whether the sleeping Xie Chengze heard him or not, he kept nuzzling Shen Yuan’s palm. But his expression grew increasingly pinched, as though he were deeply hurt and aggrieved. At last, a tear slipped from the corner of his tightly closed eye and fell lightly into Shen Yuan’s palm.
It was hot, then swiftly cooled.
Something pricked Shen Yuan’s heart like a needle. It did not hurt, yet he could not ignore it.
Xie Chengze… seemed to care deeply for this Sisi.
Why had Shen Yuan never heard of the person in his previous life?
Was Sisi the reason Xie Chengze had never shown interest in women?
Who exactly was this person…?
Just as Shen Yuan searched his memory in earnest, he heard Xie Chengze whimper in his sleep, “I told you it was dangerous outside… but you just had to run off looking for a little bitch. See what happened? A car flattened you into a pancake…”
“Why did you have to die so horribly…? There wasn’t even enough left to pick up. Boo-hoo…”
Shen Yuan: …
He truly… Shen Yuan was so exasperated that he laughed.
Xie Chengze had mistaken him for a male dog. Shen Yuan was beginning to suspect that he was only pretending to sleep so he could mock him on purpose.
Pulling his hand free, Shen Yuan gave Xie Chengze’s cheek another vicious pinch. Only then did he rise in satisfaction and leave the room.
Inside, Xie Chengze’s brow soon relaxed, and he drifted into another dream.
–
The next morning, the scholars woke from their wine-soaked sleep, packed their belongings, and prepared to set out for home.
Xie Chengze also rose early and went to the gates of Jiangdu County to see them off.
“Brother Cheng, you really don’t need to see us off.”
The scholars gathered at the city gates and looked with concern at Xie Chengze, who was yawning and clearly not yet awake. “You stayed until the very end last night and drank so much. How could your body withstand it? You should go back and sleep a little longer.”
“It’s fine, it’s fine!” Xie Chengze waved a hand and declared with perfect candor, “Why sleep long while alive? In death, we shall slumber forever!”
The scholars: …
The scholars: ???
Brother Cheng, that is not how one writes poetry!
Then again, Xie Chengze was an idle rich boy who loved roaming mountains and rivers, so an unconventional poetic style suited him. Those two short lines truly were amusing, and some of the scholars even discerned profound meaning in them.
Bian Yangchun, for example, was inspired to compose a poem on the spot. He raised his voice before the crowd and recited, ”
The Emperor asks how the Min’s floods may cease; worthy men hasten to the land of Shu. West banks collapse and eastern fields lie waste – now hear me tell what we must do.
Split the river, cleave the waves, reshape its course, and marvel at the strength nature lends. Yu Gong’s will can move rivers and mountains; humanity’s triumph over Heaven is no empty legend!
While living, why waste long hours in sleep? The sea of learning has no shore – study without end. Plead for the people before all else; after death, one may sleep in peace!”
The poem surged with such passion that countless scholars cheered. Ouyang Jiu could only sigh. “It needs a pipa and zither to accompany it – a rousing tune played with all one’s might!”
The moment he finished speaking, a deep, drawn-out melody rang through the air, seemingly from somewhere beyond the city. Everyone turned and saw a man in a black palace uniform riding a tall horse. He was the first to appear on the long road in the distance.
Behind him came one grand, ornate carriage after another, none resembling anything used by common households. They gradually entered view to the stately notes of the zither. Festive rosettes of red silk adorned the redwood chests on the carriages, though no one knew what treasures lay inside. The procession advanced unhurriedly toward the gates of Jiangdu County.
“Who is that? What an impressive procession!”
The scholars stared, guessing which great dignitary had come to inspect Yizhou. Xie Chengze was equally curious and craned his neck to join the spectacle.
Only when the procession drew near did he recognize the uniform worn by the man on the tall horse. As he racked his brains to remember where he had seen it, realization suddenly thundered through his head.
Fuck! He remembered!
That was the damned emperor’s Dragon Guard!
Xie Chengze spun around and ran. Unfortunately, someone in the leading carriage had even sharper eyes. The man jumped straight down, gathered up the hem of his robe, and strode after Xie Chengze!
At the same time, he shouted, “Your Highness! Second Prince! Please don’t run – !”
The scholars: ?
What Second Prince?
The young eunuch hurried after Xie Chengze, caught him as he tried to dart through the crowd, and clung to him, panting. “Oh, my Second Prince! Why are you running? This servant has come by imperial decree to deliver every mountain delicacy and seafood treasure from the Imperial Kitchens to you!”
The journey was long and the weather hot, so a great deal of fresh food had spoiled along the way. They had purchased replacements as they traveled, which delayed them for over two months. Only today had they finally reached Jiangdu County.
Under His Majesty’s decree, the young eunuch was to lavishly reward the Second Prince in public, displaying Emperor Jian’s affection for him.
Xie Chengze went numb.
He had never imagined that Emperor Jian would truly send the Imperial Kitchens to him.
Affection accounted for perhaps thirty percent of Emperor Jian’s reason. The remaining seventy percent was undoubtedly an attempt to ruin Xie Chengze’s reputation, making the people of Yizhou think him an extravagant, wasteful prince concerned only with pleasure, and leaving them with a poor impression of him.
And yet…
Zhu Xiaobiao, who had told the stories of moving mountains and splitting rivers, was his man. Jing Ze, who had infiltrated the scholars’ circle, was his man. Prefect Liang, who had resolved the refugees’ famine, was also his man. Even Xie Chengze himself, who had drunk and befriended the scholars –
Every single connection showed that the Land of Abundance Plan was inextricably linked to him!
As long as he refused to admit it, however, no one could prove that he had truly participated. When he returned to the capital, every shred of good reputation would fall to Liang Wanda and Shen Yuan, while he remained the same mediocre, slightly wicked Second Prince, free from the attention and harassment of corrupt hyenas.
But now that wretched Emperor Jian had exposed his true identity in front of everyone!
It was common knowledge that ordinary people viewed emperors and princes through a mysterious halo. Surely a prince or emperor had to be far more learned than commoners and ordinary officials.
Before the Second Prince came to Yizhou, no one had devised a way to excavate the mountain and split the river. The moment he arrived, the Min River’s floods were easily solved. If he had not conceived the method, then who else could it have been?
On further thought, Emperor Jian’s love for the Second Prince was known throughout the realm. He might well have announced to all scholars that this year’s open examination question would concern flood control in Yizhou specifically so the Second Prince could win fame across the land. The scholars had then flocked to Yizhou to study and happened to witness his ability for themselves…
The Second Prince had even said that he loved roaming mountains and rivers. Wasn’t someone who loved such travels precisely the sort of person who could discern the natural principles hidden in the landscape and better understand how to control floods and disasters?
That single shout from the young eunuch had utterly confirmed that Xie Chengze was “Li Bing,” the true mastermind behind solving the refugees’ famine, the eastern drought and western floods, and transforming Yizhou into a Land of Abundance!
So what if he received a few delicacies from the Imperial Kitchens? The Second Prince deserved them!!!
Xie Chengze turned stiffly. Sure enough, the scholars’ expressions had completely changed. Their gazes burned as they stared at him, and they dropped to their knees in a wave. “We pay our respects to the Second Prince! Long live Your Highness, long live Your Highness!”
Xie Chengze: …
That damned emperor has ruined me!!!