Chapter 0208: Rumor Has It That the Prince Regent and Lord Shen Have Long Since…
“Ah! Very well, this isn’t some private matter anyway. Even if I don’t tell you, you’ll hear about it once you enter the Peach Blossom Banquet.” Gong Daoqi sighed, then lowered his voice and said, “Rumor has it that the Prince Regent and Lord Shen have long since secretly tied the knot!”
Xie Chengze: “Cough, cough, cough—”
Xie Chengze broke into a violent coughing fit, the veil on his curtained hat trembling violently along with him.
No, who the hell started this rumor?
“Huh?” Zhu Xiaobiao also wore an expression of utter disbelief, almost wondering if he had lost some part of his memory.
Having served by His Highness’s side for so long, how could he not know about this?
“Where did you hear this? Also at the Peach Blossom Banquet?” Zhu Xiaobiao pressed.
“Yes, this was said by the host of the Peach Blossom Banquet himself.” Gong Daoqi nodded.
Hearing this, Xie Chengze and Shen Yuan exchanged a glance.
Could it be that the host of the Peach Blossom Banquet had impure motives for holding the event?
Zhu Xiaobiao asked again, “Never mind whether it’s true or false, what does this have to do with whether the Prince Regent will attend the Peach Blossom Banquet with Lord Shen?”
“Ah, I can’t say anymore, I really can’t.”
Gong Daoqi quickly waved his hands, unwilling to continue. He wasn’t stupid—the woman in peach-colored clothes had reacted so strongly earlier, she must know the identities of the Prince Regent and Lord Shen. She was probably truly Sheng Yiren, the daughter of the Minister of Revenue. And this exceptionally handsome man in white was most likely Shen Shilang. With secret affairs between the Prince Regent and Shen Shilang intertwined with court politics, even if you gave Gong Daoqi a hundred times the courage, he wouldn’t dare explain the reason directly in front of the parties involved, lest they hold a grudge and ruin his official career.
“If you all want to know, you can inquire within the Peach Blossom Banquet. Everyone there is discussing this matter.”
After saying this, Gong Daoqi started chatting with Zhu Xiaobiao about other topics.
Xie Chengze slowed his pace, waiting until they were some distance away from Gong Daoqi before tugging on Shen Yuan’s sleeve. “What do you think?”
Shen Yuan shook his head. “With only fragments of information, it’s difficult to deduce the full story.”
“But how could such an absurd rumor about tying the knot even spread?” Xie Chengze cupped his chin, utterly perplexed. “It would be more believable if they said we were forming cliques for personal gain and plotting rebellion!”
Shen Yuan couldn’t help but glance at him, his deep eyes flickering. “Is it that absurd?”
If Su Qinghe could, why couldn’t he?
“Extremely absurd!” Completely unaware of the unusual expression on the man beside him, Xie Chengze nodded with a serious face. “This prince has always been so chaste and self-disciplined, without a single romantic scandal. Who exactly spread this rumor, trying to tarnish this prince’s reputation!”
“Heh.” Shen Yuan let out a light laugh, unimpressed. “I wonder who it was that covered their bedchamber walls with calligraphy of ‘long roots’—mmph!”
His lips were sealed by a cold little hand. Xie Chengze said furiously, “Don’t mention that!”
That was all Emperor Jian and Eunuch Zhao’s doing! What did it have to do with him?
By heaven’s justice, he was wrongly accused! Would this become a lifelong stain on his history?
Shen Yuan raised his hand to grasp Xie Chengze’s wrist, the corners of his lips curling slightly. “Then, Your Highness, how does it feel to be involved in a romantic scandal with your subject?”
“What else could it be, just the usual…” Meeting Shen Yuan’s playful yet slightly serious expression, Xie Chengze’s gaze faltered. He wanted to withdraw his arm, yet couldn’t resist the warm internal energy gradually transferring from the man’s palm. In the end, he only turned his head and muttered, “I couldn’t get a wife to begin with, and now it’s even worse. It seems the Snow Jade Ointment I gifted you will never be used.”
“No matter.” Beneath sleeves broad enough to conceal everything, Shen Yuan gently grasped his slender wrist and said calmly, “At most, I’ll use it on Your Highness in the future.”
“Hah, who wants that.” Xie Chengze scoffed lightly. As the esteemed Prince Regent, he certainly wasn’t lacking Snow Jade Ointment!
…
The Peach Blossom Banquet was set in the peach grove behind Hanshan Temple. Upon entering, one could see numerous stone tables and small cooling pavilions arranged throughout. Young men and women were temporarily separated – the women were picking flowers and chatting merrily about romance and the four arts, while the men discussed classics and strategies over drinks, occasionally venturing to the women’s side to recommend themselves, creating a harmonious atmosphere.
The host of the Peach Blossom Banquet hadn’t appeared yet. Zhu Xiaobiao stopped a scholar-like figure and asked, “Brother, do you know where the host is? We’d like to pay our respects.”
“Oh? You’ve come at an unfortunate time. The host just went to the temple to find the abbot and probably won’t return for a while,” that person replied.
“Then we’ll wait, no hurry.” Shen Yuan scanned the surroundings and found a crowded spot. “Let’s go over there, perfect for observing the situation.”
Xie Chengze nodded.
Gong Daoqi bid farewell to the five of them to find his own friends. After taking his seat, Xie Chengze overheard the neighboring table discussing his affairs.
“Do you think the relationship between the Prince Regent and Shen Shilang is truly as the host described – no different from a married couple?”
Xie Chengze perked up his ears, leaning his head sideways to eavesdrop.
What did “no different” mean? How exactly were they no different? To what extent?
“I think it’s quite possible,” one scholar spoke up with a strong regional accent. “Don’t you know? When Shen Shilang was in danger in our Liaozhou, the Prince Regent rushed over without delay to rescue him! Despite having no martial skills, he charged straight into the bandits’ den and saved Shen Shilang from certain death at great personal risk!”
His face full of emotion, he continued, “Although I disapprove of Long Yang’s Preference, if this isn’t true love, then what is!”
Xie Chengze: ? Couldn’t it just be passionate brotherly affection? And you call yourself from Liaozhou?
“Since they’re so close, might they come to the Peach Blossom Banquet today?” another asked. “The Peach Blossom Banquet is a customary feast during the Spring Examination season. Many important figures get invited – we might even get to exchange a few words with them!”
If one could catch the Prince Regent’s eye, that would be the ultimate career boost!
“Hey, don’t get your hopes up! If the Prince Regent has truly tied the knot with Shen Shilang, then the Prince Regent probably can’t come,” another scholar shook his head.
“Oh? What do you mean?”
“Haven’t you heard? The Emperor is seriously ill, the Crown Prince has been poisoned, and the Prince Regent is governing. He immediately began reforming the imperial examinations connected to official positions. Everyone thinks the Prince Regent is taking this opportunity to install and promote his own supporters to endorse him. His next step will likely be ascending the throne!”
“What does that have to do with attending the Peach Blossom Banquet?”
“Indeed,” Xie Chengze silently nodded in agreement, but what did this have to do with whether he attended the Peach Blossom Banquet or not?
“Ah!” The respondent wore an expression of exasperation. “How can you be so dense! If the Prince Regent intends to ascend the throne, he will inevitably need a harem to continue his bloodline and secure the future succession. To gain support from court officials and scholars across the land, he must avoid any appearance of impropriety and cannot be with Lord Shen!”
The speaker laid out his argument methodically, “After all, what emperor would fraternize intimately with his subject? If such behavior were recorded in historical texts, wouldn’t it invite endless gossip and criticism from future generations? Worse still, it would set a poor example for the common people! Moreover, the influence of an emperor far exceeds that of any official. Anyone with clear judgment would never wish to see their sovereign engage in such absurd conduct!”
Xie Chengze nodded, then shook his head.
While he agreed that an emperor should maintain strict self-discipline, he found it rather amusing to be misunderstood as someone who would abandon his love after achieving power.
“Ah! But this is truly hard on Lord Shen,” the man sighed with mixed emotions. “Genuine affection ultimately cannot withstand the temptation of power! To watch one’s former beloved openly expand his harem, while only being able to support him silently from behind the scenes… Gone are the days when they would brave dangers alone, just the two of them.”
With these few words, the current Prince Regent was portrayed as a heartless man who discarded his devoted partner after gaining influence.
Nearby, Shen Yuan listened with great interest and echoed the sigh. “Power truly blinds people—”
Xie Chengze: …
That’s enough!