Chapter 0027: The Powerful Minister with Impressive Core Strength, Master Masseur Shen Daqiang
That night, Shen Yuan was working at his desk when suddenly a book fell from above, startling him.
Looking up, he noticed a missing tile in the roof beam.
Shen Yuan didn’t pursue the matter.
Whoever could silently remove the tile and drop the item clearly possessed superior lightness skills to his own. In this government office, the only one with such ability was Xie Chengze’s personal guard, Wuji.
Although he hadn’t seen any trace of the other party along the way, it didn’t mean they weren’t by Xie Chengze’s side.
Shen Yuan reached out and picked up the book. When he opened it, his lips twitched.
The handwriting was truly atrocious.
But as he deciphered the contents, his expression shifted dramatically.
It was an account ledger, recording the exact quantities of granaries and silver reserves in every affected county’s government office.
The details within starkly contradicted the ledger provided by Liang Wan Da, and were so meticulous that their authenticity was undeniable.
During his previous life’s investigation of the Yi Province corruption case, Shen Yuan had confronted the insatiable greed of these corrupt officials for the first time. Being outmaneuvered by them had filled him with such fury that every entry in those accounts became seared into his memory.
Thus, he quickly confirmed these records aligned almost perfectly with those from his past life.
These beasts, blinded by profit, had embezzled the entire extra 100,000 taels of silver allocated by the imperial court!
Shen Yuan slammed the ledger onto his desk in rage. Only after calming down did he recall another matter.
Why would Xie Chengze send Wuji to deliver this ledger to him?
Since when was he so benevolent?
Struggling to believe it, Shen Yuan even entertained the possibility that some reclusive master from the common folk might be behind this.
But why hadn’t they appeared in his previous life?
Could it truly be Xie Chengze?
He would have to test the waters tomorrow.
…
The next day, Shen Yuan waited until the sun was high in the sky before Xie Chengze finally emerged from his quarters.
He really could sleep.
Leaning against a wooden pillar outside the corridor, Shen Yuan inwardly scoffed. Noticing Wuji beside Xie Chengze, he narrowed his eyes slightly before approaching as if coincidentally heading out.
“And this is? I don’t believe we’ve met before.” Shen Yuan studied Wuji, feigning curiosity about his identity. “I’ve heard His Highness the Second Prince is accompanied by two elite guards—one named Wuhen, the other Wuji. Might this be Wuji?”
Xie Chengze nodded.
“I assumed Your Highness had brought only one guard on this trip. So the other has been here all along. I’ve been scouting the routes extensively this whole journey, yet never detected even a trace of Your Highness’s subordinate…” Shen Yuan’s words carried implicit meaning.
Xie Chengze cast him a dismissive glance. “It seems Lord Shen is still too amateurish. You should intensify your martial training henceforth.”
Shen Yuan: ?
From the context, Shen Yuan deduced that “amateurish” referred to his inadequate martial arts level, which explained his failure to detect Wuji’s presence.
Refusing to concede, Shen Yuan scanned Wuji’s physique, searching for clues.
Investigating nearly half of Yi Province’s county silver reserves and granaries in such a short time—even the Emperor’s shadow guards might struggle. If Wuji had done it, the exhaustion from such intense, high-pressure travel would inevitably manifest in his physical condition.
Noticing Shen Yuan’s gaze, Wuji hugged his sword and shot him a cool glance, complaining languidly, “Your Highness, my legs ache terribly from all that running. And no one even cares.”
The underlying meaning: What are you looking at? Do you think I became this weathered for no reason?
All the hard work along the journey ended up benefiting you, you brat!
Shen Yuan: …
“If your leg hurts, go back and rest.” Xie Chengze was a considerate boss who cared for his subordinates. He stepped onto the carriage and turned back to look at Shen Yuan. “Is Lord Shen heading out as well? Why not travel together?”
Shen Yuan also wanted to see what Xie Chengze was up to, so he gestured politely. “After you, Your Highness.”
Wuji snorted lightly. “I hope Lord Shen takes good care of our prince and doesn’t neglect him!”
Shen Yuan glanced up and saw Wuji’s provocative expression. He curled his lips into a faint smile. “Naturally. There’s no need for you to worry.”
With that, he followed Xie Chengze into the carriage.
As soon as he entered, he saw Xie Chengze sprawled inelegantly over the seat, neither sitting nor lying properly, like a limp fish.
Shen Yuan’s temple twitched slightly, and he remarked with a hint of mockery, “Your Highness’s sitting posture is truly… unique.”
“Want to give it a try? It’s super comfortable.” Xie Chengze patted the space beside him, enthusiastically recommending it.
“I’m afraid I’m not so fortunate,” Shen Yuan replied, taking a seat nearby. Though his posture wasn’t rigidly proper, it flowed with an effortless elegance. Paired with his strikingly handsome face, it accentuated his refined and gentlemanly demeanor.
Xie Chengze secretly rolled his eyes.
Suit yourself. If your back hurts later, don’t you dare complain.
The carriage headed out of the city and gradually entered the mountains. The road grew increasingly bumpy, causing the entire carriage to sway. Yet, Shen Yuan remained as steady as Mount Tai, calmly flipping through an account book.
Xie Chengze couldn’t help but ask, “Lord Shen, don’t you find the ride bumpy?”
Is your back really that strong?
Without even lifting his eyes, Shen Yuan replied indifferently, “I’ve been riding horses since childhood. It was much bumpier than this. I’m used to it.”
Xie Chengze silently envied him.
After a while, noticing Xie Chengze shifting restlessly on the seat, occasionally rubbing his lower back but stubbornly refusing to utter a word of complaint, Shen Yuan sighed inwardly.
He set down the account book and moved to sit beside Xie Chengze.
“If Your Highness doesn’t mind, allow me to help ease the tension.”
Ease what? Xie Chengze was momentarily confused. Before he could respond, Shen Yuan said, “My apologies.”
In the next moment, a broad, slender hand rested on Xie Chengze’s waist. The soft, delicate texture felt almost too fragile to hold. Despite the already sweltering summer heat, Shen Yuan could still feel the scorching warmth radiating from the other’s skin.
He pressed down firmly, and the person beneath him let out a muffled groan.
A pair of red-tinged eyes glared at him angrily, the voice hoarse. “Be gentler!”
Shen Yuan’s heart trembled subtly.
A pair of similarly red, watery eyes flashed in his mind—stubborn yet filled with grievance.
He lowered his gaze, ignoring the captivatingly charming face even in its annoyance, and slowly worked to soften the stiff muscles, dispersing the accumulated tension.
At first, it was quite painful. Xie Chengze whimpered a few times, but as the massage gradually brought relief, his waist became sensitive again, ticklish at the slightest touch.
Xie Chengze buried his face in the cushion, his slender body trembling slightly as he tried to suppress his laughter. His lower back squirmed restlessly from the ticklish sensation, making one want to pin him firmly to the seat to keep him from moving.
Massaging the waist was also a strenuous task. Whether it was due to not having had water for a while, Shen Yuan felt his throat dry and his mood growing increasingly irritable.
Just then, the carriage came to a stop. The coachman called out, “Your Highness, Lord Shen, we’ve arrived.”
Shen Yuan withdrew his hand, lowering his gaze to conceal the flicker of chaotic emotions in his eyes. He rose and swiftly exited the carriage. “Second Prince, I shall disembark first.”
Xie Chengze lifted his head from the waist pillow, his small face flushed crimson with stifled heat. He picked up the golden-threaded fan beside him and waved it a few times, then suddenly remembered something, his expression shifting abruptly.
He flung open the carriage curtain and roared at Shen Yuan like an enraged lion: “Shen, you heartless wretch! With skills like yours, how could you just watch me suffer from back pain all the way here!”
The coachman coughed lightly several times, casting surreptitious, suggestive glances between the two men.
The vein at Shen Yuan’s temple throbbed with increasing frequency.
Would he ever shut up!!!