Chapter 0013: The Bite-Happy Second Prince and the Shameless Scoundrel Xie Chengze
Within just half a day’s journey, continuous wails began emanating from Xie Chengze’s carriage.
“My back is breaking from all this jolting—”
“What wretched carriage! What wretched roads! I’ll have every last one of you paved into asphalt someday!”
“It’s so hot! We’ve only been traveling half a day—by the time we reach Yi Province, won’t I be reduced to a dismembered roast chicken? Waaah—”
Shen Yuan, listening from horseback, finally lost patience with the incessant complaints. He tugged aside the carriage curtain and snapped irritably, “No need to wait for Yi Province—in my estimation, Your Highness the Second Prince will be thoroughly dismantled by nightfall!”
“Waaah,” Xie Chengze whimpered, clutching his waist with an accusatory expression. “You’re being mean to me? Didn’t I come south to Yi Province for your sake?”
For his sake?
Shen Yuan nearly laughed in disbelief. He was about to retort when his gaze fell upon the figure lounging against the carriage seat—the man who had long discarded his court robes in favor of a lightweight crimson silk undergarment. Jade-pale fingers kneaded his lower back in rhythmic motions, while the gold-edged crimson sash hung loosely about his waist, allowing the undergarment to slip and reveal a tantalizing glimpse of snow-white chest.
Though ice blocks had been placed inside the carriage, they provided little relief from the summer heat. Xie Chengze fanned himself greedily with a golden-threaded fan, the breeze further disturbing his already precarious garments. Not yet twenty, the youth possessed a naturally slender and elegant frame, which the thin crimson silk clung to, accentuating every curve of his willowy waist. Combined with that flash of dazzling pale skin, his heat-flushed cheeks, and eyes shimmering with what seemed both grievance and accusation, Shen Yuan felt an unexpected jolt in his chest.
His gaze instinctively shifted away.
He had never seen Xie Chengze like this.
In their previous life, Xie Chengze had been like a rabid dog that bit anyone in sight—making it easy to overlook his devastatingly androgynous beauty and remember only his ruthlessness and tyranny.
He had been notoriously extravagant and despotic, doing whatever he pleased without regard for others. When summer heat grew unbearable, he would carpet the entire Cheng Huan Palace with ice, continuously dousing it with water to cool the air—daring anyone to complain.
Yet now, Xie Chengze resembled a feral kitten freshly pampered in the capital: delicate yet retaining a hint of sharpness that somehow failed to irritate. He curled pitifully in the carriage, hugging a bucket of ice chips for relief. Even when Shen Yuan taunted him relentlessly, he would only dare flash his kitten claws without actually scratching.
It was absurdly pathetic.
Having witnessed his former opulent excesses and now seeing him like this, Shen Yuan found the contrast both ridiculous and laughable.
Could being stabbed to death and reborn truly change someone so drastically? Would he genuinely endure such humiliation, pretending to be the very kind of person he once despised most—right before his murderer?
Shen Yuan’s dark eyes lowered slightly as he absently traced the Azure Sword at his waist. In their past life, had he not secretly rescued the Crown Prince and stabbed Xie Chengze to death upon the Dragon Throne on his coronation day, the man would have succeeded in becoming emperor.
Someone so wildly ambitious yet utterly incompetent would never abandon their goals when inches from victory. More likely, he’d believe heaven granted him rebirth to seize the throne a second time.
After leaving Cheng Huan Palace yesterday, he had been pondering that Xie Chengze’s initiative to head south to Yi Province was likely an attempt to follow the same path the Crown Prince had taken in his previous life, believing this would allow him to become the “Crown Prince.”
Undoubtedly, if he disguised himself well enough, he could win over his present self—”newly entered officialdom and completely unguarded against him.” With his loyal service and the foresight from his past life, Xie Chengze’s path to the throne would undoubtedly be smoother than in his previous incarnation.
To this end, he was willing to endure such humiliation and grievance, huddling in the carriage and using his alluring physique to flirt with him.
Claiming he came to Yi Province for his sake? Clearly, it was for his own selfish desires.
Hypocritical.
Seeing through Xie Chengze’s disguise, Shen Yuan couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh, his tone growing even more distant. “If Your Highness the Second Prince cannot endure this hardship, you may simply go back on your word and return to Jingcheng. I’m sure His Majesty and the officials won’t laugh at you!”
His sarcasm was too obvious for Xie Chengze to miss.
Xie Chengze didn’t understand—what had he done to provoke him again? He was just hot and his back hurt—was he not allowed to speak the truth and vent a little?
Already unbearably hot and now subjected to Shen Yuan’s sharp-tongued ridicule, Xie Chengze’s temper flared. He snorted heavily, “Then shall I leave?”
“If Your Highness the Second Prince wishes to leave, how could I possibly stop you,” Shen Yuan retorted sarcastically.
“Fine.” Xie Chengze sat up, stuck his head out of the carriage window, and shouted loudly, “Wuhen! Wuhen!”
A shadowy figure silently landed in front of the carriage, exposing his broad, slender back without reservation. “Your Highness.”
Xie Chengze promptly climbed out through the window and onto Wuhen’s back, making a face at Shen Yuan. “Lord Shen’s official authority is truly impressive. This prince won’t serve you anymore—farewell~”
In the next moment, Wuhen utilized his qinggong, carrying Xie Chengze and dashing away.
Shen Yuan: ???
Shen Yuan was stunned. Once he regained his senses, he quickly whipped his horse to chase after the two.
Even if he detested Xie Chengze, he was still a prince. If he left after their argument and something happened to him on the road, the Shen family would be doomed as well!
Damn Xie Chengze! In the past, he was ruthless; now, he’s utterly shameless!
Shen Yuan chased in the direction they had gone but, remembering something, turned his horse back to the carriage. He hastily stuffed the golden-threaded red court robe, which its owner had heartlessly abandoned on the seat, into his chest before hurriedly resuming the pursuit.
As he chased, he realized that Xie Chengze was not heading back to Jingcheng.
Wuhen’s qinggong wasn’t as good as Wuji’s, but he was still faster than a horse. Shen Yuan soon lost track of them, but judging from their direction, they were clearly heading to Zhuolu County.
Zhuolu County…
A thought crossed his mind, and Shen Yuan’s eyes flickered.
…
Zhuolu County was a relatively prosperous town in the northeast corner of Jizhou. Since it was only half a day’s horse ride from Jingcheng, the lifestyle trends of its residents closely mirrored those in the capital. Many fashionable styles from Jingcheng would become popular in Zhuolu County within half a day.
Wuhen, carrying Xie Chengze, deftly slipped into a tailor shop. When he emerged, only Xie Chengze remained, clad in a fitted dark red brocade robe that was understated and refined. His waist-length black hair was tied high with an exquisite black jade crown, presenting the image of an exceptionally elegant young man.
The golden silk fan unfurled in his hand as he stood outside the tailor shop, raising it to shield his eyes from the glaring midday sun. Passersby, both men and women, couldn’t help but stop and cast sidelong glances, silently marveling at the young man’s extraordinary beauty.
Word of a stunningly handsome youth arriving in the city quickly spread throughout the entire county.
By the time Xie Chengze was savoring tea on the second floor of Mingxiang Teahouse, he heard a commotion downstairs. A group of Yamen Runners in official uniforms barged directly into the teahouse, their arrogant strides overturning several tea tables, provoking silent resentment among the patrons who dared not speak up.
“Let me see where the little beauty is!”
A pudgy young man draped in gold-embroidered robes and adorned with jewelry swaggered upstairs. His eyes immediately fell upon Xie Chengze by the window, who was quietly appreciating the tea’s aroma. Even dressed in muted, inconspicuous dark clothing, nothing could conceal his breathtaking beauty.
The chubby lad stood transfixed, unable to move. “So… so beautiful!”
Xie Chengze cast him a sidelong glance before indifferently looking away, but to the young man’s eyes, it seemed like the beauty was sending flirtatious signals—a shy, coquettish play of refusal and invitation.
Overcome with excitement, he hurried over. His plump frame caused him to stumble on the stairs, but he quickly scrambled up and strode determinedly toward Xie Chengze.