Chapter 0195: Dusty and Disheveled Xie Zimiao, Blurting Out Xie Jinyu
The Crown Prince was currently recuperating in Wu De Hall, with both the interior and exterior guarded by Cao Que’s men to ensure no suspicious individuals could enter until His Highness fully recovered.
“You may return now.” Upon reaching the entrance of Wu De Hall, Xie Chengze waved his hand, signaling Shen Yuan to leave the palace and return home.
Shen Yuan glanced up at the hall’s plaque, then raised an eyebrow. “Now that the true culprit has been captured, am I still not permitted to enter?”
“Why would you need to come in?” Xie Chengze instantly narrowed his eyes warily. “Are you worried about your Crown Prince?”
Shen Yuan shook his head, a pitiful expression appearing on his refined and handsome face. “To pick up Your Highness after duty, I always end up eating cold leftovers when returning to the Shen residence. I wonder if today I might partake in some warm meals here at Wu De Hall?”
Xie Chengze eyed him suspiciously.
Surely the Shen family rules weren’t so strict as to serve their young master cold leftovers?
Reheated leftovers would be more plausible.
Still, it wasn’t right for a grown man to eat leftovers daily, especially when it was because of picking him up from work…
“Very well, come in then.” Xie Chengze cleared his throat lightly, tugging at Shen Yuan’s sleeve as they entered Wu De Hall. He announced to the guards at the door, “This is Lord Shen Yuan, here to visit the Crown Prince.”
The guards glanced at Shen Yuan, recognized him, and promptly stepped aside. “Second Prince, Lord Shen, please proceed.”
Many officials had previously attempted to visit the Crown Prince but were stopped by the guards. Their immediate compliance now clearly indicated either special instructions from Cao Que or direct orders from the Crown Prince himself.
Xie Chengze immediately released the sleeve he’d been holding and hurried into the hall.
Shen Yuan quickly followed, explaining, “It must be Cao Que’s arrangement. After all, I was appointed by His Majesty to find the culprit, so meeting with the Crown Prince was always a possibility.”
“Why explain? I’m not angry.” Xie Chengze displayed a perfectly standard smile. “Lord Shen needs to mentor and assist the Crown Prince, which naturally requires interaction and building rapport. I understand completely, absolutely understand.”
Shen Yuan felt he didn’t understand at all.
Just as he was about to respond, a rustling sound came from a nearby bush. Instinctively pulling Xie Chengze behind him, he raised his hand defensively. “Who’s there?!”
“It’s me, it’s me! It’s Your Highness!” Xie Zimiao emerged from the bushes, dust-covered and disheveled with a small white tiger perched on his head, raising both hands. “Don’t hit me! I just came to see Second Brother…”
Pausing, he realized he’d forgotten something and added, “…and Third Brother too.”
Xie Chengze studied him for a moment, perplexed. “The security here is extremely tight. How did you get in?”
“Third Sister said there’s a dog hole here…” Xie Zimiao lowered his head sheepishly. “I crawled in during the guards’ shift change.”
Xie Chengze:…
Xie Shu really had explored every corner of the imperial palace, hadn’t she? Even knowing about a dog hole in such a remote hall as Wu De Hall?
She must wander around aimlessly quite often!
“Never mind.” Xie Chengze rubbed his temples. “Come along. Don’t take such risks next time.”
“Hehehe, okay!” Xie Zimiao scampered over and handed the small white tiger from his head to Xie Chengze. “Second Brother, want to hold him?”
Recently, Second Brother had been too busy, and his own mother had wanted to play with the tiger, so he’d taken the little white tiger to care for temporarily.
The little white tiger sniffed a familiar scent and stretched its paw toward Xie Chengze, letting out a soft “aow.”
The little fellow had grown quite a bit. When Xie Chengze picked it up, he felt his arm sink under its considerable weight. “Whoa! You’ve gotten much heavier. Seems you’ve been eating well?”
“Indeed, it has quite the appetite,” Xie Zimiao agreed with a nod. “My mother doesn’t know moderation either—she’s been feeding it loads of meat.”
“A good appetite is a blessing.” After holding it for a while, Xie Chengze’s arm began to ache, and he couldn’t help glancing at Xie Zimiao. “Maybe we should let it walk on its own.”
Xie Zimiao looked at his arm and nodded. “Second Brother, you really are delicate.”
Xie Chengze: ???
I am not delicate!!!
To prove his toughness, Xie Chengze mustered all his strength, quickened his pace, and dashed toward the inner hall with the little white tiger in his arms.
“Showing off,” Shen Yuan couldn’t help but chuckle, shaking his head.
“Showing off, plus one,” Xie Zimiao echoed, wagging his head along.
By the time Xie Chengze reached the entrance of the inner hall, he was panting like a dog. He set the little white tiger down and leaned against a pillar, bending over to catch his breath. “This little thing is quite heavy. It’ll surely be majestic in the future.”
The little white tiger proudly lifted its head, its jade-green eyes seeming to say, “Of course,” while its black-and-white-striped tail wrapped around Xie Chengze’s ankle, clinging to him affectionately.
“Come on, let’s go in and meet the Crown Prince you haven’t seen before.”
As Xie Chengze stepped into the inner hall, he saw Xie Jinyu, who was supposed to be severely poisoned and bedridden, playing chess with Xie Shoujun. Clearly, Xie Shoujun—though a fierce warrior on the battlefield—was no match in chess and had been utterly defeated.
“Crown Prince Brother, are you bullying our elder brother again?” Xie Chengze stepped forward, took a chess piece from Xie Shoujun’s fingers, and placed it on the board. Instantly, the scattered white pieces regained their vitality.
“Second Brother, I was merely giving Elder Brother some practice,” Xie Jinyu protested with an innocent expression. His gaze fell on the little white tiger trotting along on the floor, and his brow furrowed. “Is this the New Year’s gift Fourth Brother gave you?”
“Yes, not bad, right?” Xie Chengze lifted the little white tiger onto the side couch and said delightedly, “Once it’s fully tamed, I’ll ride it across the grasslands to show off, then travel to all the scenic places…”
Xie Jinyu’s hand paused mid-move, and his eyes flickered. “How long will Second Brother be gone?”
“Hard to say. The carriages here are too slow—it might take twenty years to explore all of Jian’an?” Xie Chengze counted on his fingers. “I’d want to stay a while in each place. Back when Shen Taifu took Shen Yuan traveling, didn’t they wander for ten years…”
Speak of the devil—just as Shen Yuan stepped into the inner hall, he overheard Xie Chengze talking about traveling through Jian’an. Turning his head, he saw Xie Jinyu’s entire demeanor shift, as if a storm were brewing, dark and oppressive enough to make anyone feel suffocated.
“Mountains and rivers—what’s so interesting about them?” Xie Jinyu slammed his chess piece onto the board, causing all the pieces to tremble and shift slightly.
Xie Shoujun couldn’t help but glance at him.
What’s with the sudden anger?
“It’s not just mountains and rivers we need to explore,” Xie Chengze patiently explained. “There’s also cultural geography. This world holds many undiscovered resources that could rapidly develop Jian’an. If I don’t help you find them, how will you become a wise ruler remembered throughout history?”
“When did I ever say I wanted to become a wise ruler remembered throughout history?” Xie Jinyu’s expression darkened. “Since when did Second Brother have such expectations? You never asked whether I was willing.”
Xie Chengze choked back his words. “If you’re not aiming for historical fame as emperor, then what are you doing it for? To become a tyrant wallowing in wine pools and meat forests?”
“Naturally, it’s for—” Xie Jinyu nearly blurted out, but the sound of a teacup accidentally knocked off the table and shattering on the floor just saved his reason. He forced a faint smile at the corner of his lips. “Never mind. Second Brother, you’re right.”
Shen Yuan, who had already taken a seat on the side couch, thought to himself: Naturally, it’s to keep you trapped in the palace.