Chapter 86
Chapter 86
Shen Yuan had always known that the Crown Prince wished to restore his brotherly bond with Xie Chengze and reconcile with him.
In his previous life, the Crown Prince had once said evasively that he and Xie Chengze had been extremely close as children. He had tried repeatedly to win Xie Chengze back, but every attempt had ended in failure.
At the time, Shen Yuan had never understood how close their brotherly relationship must once have been for the Crown Prince to tolerate Xie Chengze’s provocations and evil deeds again and again.
What if their bond involved some dependence Shen Yuan knew nothing about?
At that moment, Shen Yuan was trying to place himself in the Crown Prince’s position and understand him. The only childhood friends Shen Yuan considered close were Sheng Yiren and Su Qinghe, and Su Qinghe truly had depended heavily on him in childhood for many reasons.
But if Shen Yuan became as vicious and ruthless as Xie Chengze had once been, he could guarantee Su Qinghe would be profoundly disappointed in him and sever all contact. If he and Su Qinghe became mortal enemies, Su Qinghe would never show him mercy.
The same held true for Shen Yuan. If Su Qinghe became the sort of person Xie Chengze had been in the previous life, Shen Yuan would not show him mercy either.
Thus, at this particular moment, Shen Yuan failed entirely to empathize.
If dependence could not hold affection steady, what else could have kept the Crown Prince’s feelings for Xie Chengze unchanged all this time?
Friendship? Naturally not.
Brotherly affection? The Eldest Prince and Fourth Prince had also made mistakes in the previous life, yet the Crown Prince had never treated either as gently as Xie Chengze.
It could not possibly be devoted infatuation, could it?
Shen Yuan scoffed at the absurd thought – only for the smile to freeze abruptly on his lips.
As though sensing something, he suddenly turned toward Xie Jinyu and Xie Chengze, who were deep in conversation.
The carefree young man was asking what tea Xie Jinyu preferred, but Xie Jinyu only smiled without answering. Not until the young man looked up in confusion did he narrow his eyes, conceal the tenderness nearly spilling from them, and bend close to answer beside Xie Chengze’s ear in a voice only the two could hear.
Now and then, he raised a hand to sweep a strand of hair from the young man’s shoulder. Whether intentionally or not, the backs of his fingers brushed lightly over the young man’s neck, earning him a puzzled glance.
Yet Xie Jinyu merely smiled as though the touch had truly been accidental. Once the young man scratched his head and returned his attention to the path, those fathomless eyes settled aggressively upon his beautiful face again. The inscrutable smile on Xie Jinyu’s lips made Shen Yuan shudder.
Shen Yuan suddenly remembered: Why had he been reborn?
Xie Chengze had been stabbed through the heart and killed by him, so Xie Chengze was reborn. But what about Shen Yuan?
Had he… still been alive when he was reborn?
His memories after Xie Chengze’s death were fragmented like broken shards. Trying to recall them made agony split his skull. He failed to notice the step beneath his feet and stumbled forward.
A hand abruptly seized his right arm. Xie Chengze’s worried gaze turned toward him. “What is wrong?”
At the side, Xie Jinyu narrowed his eyes slightly and said with a smile, “Vice Minister Shen must be tired. Why not return to your residence and rest early?”
In the past, Shen Yuan would have taken those words as concern for a subject. Now, however, he could not shake the sense that Xie Jinyu was hinting and warning: Hurry back to your residence. You are not permitted to set foot in Chenghuan Hall.
He suddenly remembered the last time he had gone to Chenghuan Hall, before Su Qinghe entered. He and the Crown Prince had been discussing official business, and after they finished, the Crown Prince happened to walk him out. They had run into the servant boy delivering Su’s letter.
Upon learning Shen Yuan was going to Chenghuan Hall, the Crown Prince suddenly asked him a question.
“Vice Minister Shen, what do you think of our Second Brother?”
Shen Yuan had been entirely off guard. Knowing that the Crown Prince liked hearing praise of Xie Chengze, he offered compliment after compliment, expressed his considerable admiration for the Second Prince, and said that Xie Chengze and the Crown Prince were brothers worthy of each other. With the two of them, the Jian’an Dynasty would endure for a thousand generations.
To his surprise, the Crown Prince’s face had darkened on the spot. “Vice Minister Shen, your mind does not seem terribly clear.”
Then he had swept his sleeve aside and returned to the hall, leaving Shen Yuan alone and bewildered.
Excellent.
Shen Yuan now more or less understood why the Crown Prince had been angry.
He rubbed his temples wearily, struggling to accept such an absurd conclusion. Clinging to the hope that he had simply misunderstood, he replied to Xie Jinyu, “This subject thanks Your Highness for your concern. I was merely distracted by my thoughts. I have long heard that the tea in Chenghuan Hall is exceptionally fragrant and have always wished to sample it. I would rather not miss this opportunity.”
Xie Jinyu’s smile faded. “Tea may be fragrant, but too much can make it difficult to sleep. Vice Minister Shen should mind how much he drinks.”
Was that a veiled warning not to push his luck?
Shen Yuan and Xie Chengze had the thought at the same time.
Xie Chengze assumed Xie Jinyu was alluding to the fact that he had stayed awake all night after drinking too much tea. Chenghuan Hall did contain one of the Crown Prince’s informants, after all. Xie Chengze had deliberately left the spy in place to avoid alerting him.
But if Xie Jinyu wanted to police how much tea he drank, was that not overstepping? Anyone who did not know better would think *he* was the older brother!
Unable to resist, Xie Chengze muttered, “What is wrong with drinking more tea? Chenghuan Hall may lack many things, but never tea! Vice Minister Shen, drink as much as you can later!”
Xie Jinyu’s expression grew even colder.
Shen Yuan turned his head slightly. From an angle where neither prince could see, his lips curved faintly. “Then this subject will not stand on ceremony.”
…
Emperor Jian loved tea and often relied on it to stay alert while reviewing memorials at night. The court officials knew his preference and presented him with precious teas from across the realm on every birthday. Naturally, an emperor who doted on his son would casually send fine teas to Chenghuan Hall as well.
Many precious teas had accumulated in the Treasure Vault. The steward selected a portion of each and ordered the palace attendants to arrange a tea banquet. As the weather had grown cool and it was no longer suitable to linger in the pond pavilion, the banquet was moved to the main hall.
The tea-serving palace maids began brewing tea in an orderly fashion. Once all three men were seated, Xie Jinyu leaned forward, poured a cup of hot water, and handed it to Xie Chengze. “Second Brother is frail and always suffers cold hands and feet when the weather cools. Hold this hot cup and warm yourself first.”
Xie Chengze blinked, surprised by his thoughtfulness. He accepted the warm cup and used Xie Jinyu’s remark to introduce his subject. “The cold wind already cuts to the bone in early winter. By the depths of winter, the north will surely be colder still. I passed the Imperial Observatory on my way to the Imperial Study today and stopped to ask a question. To my surprise, they are also estimating that the north may face heavy snow this year.”
After speaking, he raised the cup and sipped the hot water. His pointed gaze skimmed precisely over the rim and landed upon Shen Yuan, who was looking back at him.
Shen Yuan understood at once and took up the subject. “Winter has indeed arrived earlier than usual this year. If heavy snow becomes a disaster in the north, the roads may already be sealed and impassable by the time word reaches the court. Without early preparation, we risk repeating the tragedy of Yizhou.”
He had recently been searching for a way to make the Crown Prince take the northern snow disaster seriously. Since Xie Chengze had handed him exactly the opening he needed, Shen Yuan was more than willing to take it.
Xie Jinyu considered for a moment. “As Second Brother said, nothing is certain yet, and the north contains many prefectures and provinces. Targeted relief may waste both soldiers and resources. We could first order the people to prepare for disaster themselves, lest the snow arrive and catch them unawares.”
“If the snow disaster truly comes, how does Your Highness intend to respond?”
“Perhaps…”
Fragrant steam curled through the room. One lord and one minister explored the threat of snow disaster in depth, every word revealing concern for country and people.
Yet the Crown Prince was only eighteen, with limited experience in affairs of state. Shen Yuan guided him patiently, and their discussion grew deeper and deeper. By the time they returned to themselves, the tea in their cups had lost its initial warmth and turned faintly cool.
The young man who had introduced the subject had somehow fallen asleep with his head resting on the tea table. His eyes were gently closed, and faint shadows of exhaustion darkened the skin beneath them.