Chapter 0280: I’m Not Stupid Zhu Xiaobiao, I Really Miss Wuji

A cold and solemn voice interrupted the county magistrate’s wife’s thoughts. Shen Yuan, with a steady gaze, said to her, “As an official, I naturally will not allow such a substance that endangers the state to see the light of day! You’d better hand over the antidote immediately—it might just save your life!”

The county magistrate’s wife was momentarily taken aback, then curled her lips slightly, closed her eyes, and said calmly, “There is no antidote.”

Zhu Xiaobiao stepped closer and immediately chimed in, “Really? The addiction drug you gave me before was cured by a physician!”

The county magistrate’s wife opened her eyes and looked at him as if he were a fool. “The addiction drug I gave you was the lowest quality, administered only once every six months. Its effects were mild, so it could be cured. If you’re seeking medicine for that Prince Regent, don’t bother asking me. The person who gave it to him also used a low-quality addiction drug.”

After saying this, she closed her eyes again. “As for the poisonous incense, there is no cure. To break the addiction, one must endure it through sheer willpower and never touch the poisonous incense again.”

Confirming that Xie Chengze had been given a low-quality addiction drug, Shen Yuan finally breathed a sigh of relief. He turned to Zhu Xiaobiao and said, “Take them to the prison for now.”

Zhu Xiaobiao nodded and personally stepped in to escort them to the county office’s prison. When Magistrate Zhu saw Zhu Xiaobiao, his eyes lit up. “Son! Save your father! Please save me—I really know nothing about this!”

“…” Zhu Xiaobiao looked at his father with a complicated expression. “Father, I may be slow, but I’m not stupid.”

How could the county magistrate not know when Sheng Shihai had come to their home to discuss business?

Magistrate Zhu changed his approach and pleaded, “Aren’t you a close confidant of the Prince Regent? Please beg for mercy on my behalf—I really don’t want to die!”

“A year ago, I didn’t want to die either,” Zhu Xiaobiao said calmly, staring at him. “But when you heard that my stepmother was pregnant with a son, you abandoned me without hesitation.”

“If it weren’t for the fact that His Highness is a good man, I would already be dead.”

“Don’t worry, Father. Your son is alive and well now, so your lineage continues.” He closed the prison cell door and flashed a playful smile. “However, I’m afraid you won’t get to meet your future grandson.”

Magistrate Zhu’s smile froze. Watching Zhu Xiaobiao’s unyielding retreating figure, he slammed against the prison bars, repeatedly calling out his son’s childhood nickname. But Zhu Xiaobiao did not look back.

In fact, his footsteps quickened.

He missed His Highness.

Returning to the family quarters in the rear hall, as soon as he entered the room, he saw the disheveled figures of Wuhen and Wuji crouched by the Second Prince’s bedside.

Though both were clearly severely weakened, they refused to rest in other rooms. Even Wuhen had removed his eye bandage, staring wide-eyed by the bedside, terrified that the Second Prince might vanish from sight again.

Zhu Xiaobiao shook his head helplessly.

Instead of driving Wuhen and Wuji away, he sent someone to prepare hot water and fresh clothes, advising them, “Gentlemen, you should bathe first. Otherwise, you might wake His Highness with your odor.”

Wuhen and Wuji sniffed their own clothes, frowned slightly, blushed, and nodded. “Thank you for your trouble.”

After Wuhen and Wuji had cleaned up, Zhu Xiaobiao had quilts and food brought to them. Then, he sat on a chair in the room, joining Wuhen and Wuji in keeping watch over Xie Chengze. This way, if Xie Chengze woke up in pain, someone could quickly notify Lord Shen, who knew how to induce sleep through acupressure.

…

Xie Chengze woke up on the second day.

The noise outside was somewhat bothersome. When he raised his hand to rub his temples, a sharp pain shot through his ribs, forcing him to remain still.

Wuhen and Wuji, who had kept vigil by his bedside all night, immediately climbed onto the bed upon sensing his movement. One gently massaged his temples while the other gazed at him with worried eyes. “Your Highness…”

“Mmm…” Xie Chengze felt even speaking a single word aggravated his wounds, but seeing Wuhen and Wuji’s exhaustion and concern, he endured the pain and whispered, “I’m fine.”

Wuji began shedding tears. “Your Highness, I was nearly scared to death.”

During those days drugged in the woodshed, his consciousness had been hazy. He had desperately tried to crawl out to rescue His Highness but found himself completely immobilized.

In his unconscious state, he had a long dream where His Highness was once again usurped. He and Wuhen trapped the imposter in the palace, fearing His Highness wouldn’t find his own body upon return. Yet they waited until death without seeing His Highness come back.

Wuji knelt by the bedside, pressing his cheek against Xie Chengze’s palm. Scalding tears moistened the young man’s cold hand. “Your Highness, please don’t leave us again.”

Xie Chengze tilted his head slightly, using his fingertips to wipe the tears from Wuji’s face, his own heart aching. “Mm.”

After carefully drying all tears from Wuji’s face, he gestured with his eyes toward the door. “Outside?”

Wuji immediately stood up. “Is Your Highness disturbed by the noise? This subordinate will go kill them both.”

Xie Chengze: ?

Th-that might be excessive?

The voices sounded like Shen Yuan and Xie Jinyu.

Had Xie Jinyu come too?

But Wuji had already strode out the door. Outside, Xie Jinyu was grabbing Shen Yuan by the collar, roaring furiously, “I trusted you! That’s why I went to deal with the Jizhou magistrate!”

He had been monitoring Shen Yuan in Jingcheng, convinced that his second brother would write to Shen Yuan. Upon discovering Shen Yuan had left the city, he immediately gave chase.

When he learned Second Brother had encountered Sheng Shihai, he proposed going to Jizhou. After meeting Hu Lai who reported Second Brother had been kidnapped, he directly planned a rescue.

It was Shen Yuan who claimed his current emotional state was too unstable for a rescue mission, that he would only hinder efforts. Shen Yuan persuaded him to first handle the Jizhou magistrate and prevent the magistrate’s wife—who might know the poisonous incense formula—from escaping, then bring troops to Zhuolu County.

He had trusted him! Yet he let Second Brother suffer such severe injuries!

Ten years of lifespan!

His second brother, who already had ten years stolen from him, now had to sacrifice another ten years of life!

Why did everyone keep trying to take Second Brother away from him?!

Xie Jinyu’s eyes burned crimson with rage, wishing he could immediately run Shen Yuan through with his sword and send him straight to hell.

“Are you two quite finished?” Wuji pushed open the door, looking coldly at the two men outside. “I suggest instead of arguing, you take this outside and stab each other properly. Aim for where it hurts most.”

He smiled grimly. “Both of you share blame for His Highness’s current condition.”

Xie Jinyu and Shen Yuan immediately fell silent. Xie Jinyu turned away with a cold snort while Shen Yuan looked at Wuji. “He’s awake?”

Xie Jinyu immediately turned back, also looking at Wuji. “Second Brother is awake?”

Taking advantage of Xie Chengze’s current inability to speak, Wuji had no intention of going back inside. He closed the door behind him and stood guard outside, stating flatly, “Unless summoned by His Highness, neither of you may enter.”

As His Highness’s man, he found both of them displeasing—one consumed by jealousy and obsessive brotherly affection, the other…

Wuji shot a dissatisfied glance at Shen Yuan and let out a contemptuous snort.

Intercepting and ambushing halfway, stealing His Highness’s attention.

He really wanted to kill them all.