Chapter 0296: Shen Yuan’s Ominous Premonition, Xie Shoujun Flees at a Run
Wu De Hall.
Xie Shoujun was still reviewing those “years-old” memorials.
When Shen Yuan arrived, he saw Xie Shoujun holding a square wooden block, dipping it in ink and stamping it onto a memorial, leaving behind the character for “reviewed.”
Xie Shoujun’s “stamping” speed was remarkably fast.
Noticing Shen Yuan, he lifted his eyes for a brief, indifferent glance before looking away. “Shouldn’t you be keeping an eye on Xie Jinyu? What brings you to my hall?”
“The Crown Prince has gone to Jizhou to find the Second Prince.” Shen Yuan’s gaze swept over the memorials. “Your Highness, the Eldest Prince, don’t you find it stifling to review these useless memorials?”
Xie Shoujun paused his stamping, raising his head to look at Shen Yuan with a profound, meaningful gaze. “Would you like to review them instead?”
Shen Yuan shook his head. “A minister may temporarily not act as a minister, but a minister cannot cease to be a minister.”
Xie Shoujun let out a light, cold laugh. “How tedious.”
“Your Highness, the Eldest Prince, have you truly not considered it?” Shen Yuan pressed again.
“Does the Crown Prince know you’re here?” Xie Shoujun looked at him with a faint, ambiguous smile. “Aren’t you afraid he’ll target you?”
“Targeting me is of little consequence. I only fear he might pressure the Second Prince.” Shen Yuan met Xie Shoujun’s gaze directly. “Your Highness, the Eldest Prince, surely you are not like the Crown Prince in that regard.”
Xie Shoujun smiled with an inscrutable expression.
“Who knows?” He averted his eyes. “Compared to me or the imperial family, I prefer you.”
All he wanted was to see the Xie family fail to ascend the throne, rendering Emperor Jian and the Cao family’s twenty years of scheming utterly futile.
After conversing a while longer and realizing he couldn’t persuade Xie Shoujun, Shen Yuan could only shake his head slightly and head to Yu Fu Palace.
Perhaps he should ask the Fourth Prince instead.
Although the Fourth Prince was less skilled in political strategy than the Crown Prince, at least he had wealth—enough to sustain Jian’an’s military forces.
Shen Yuan strolled over to Yu Fu Palace. Inside, upon hearing from a palace maid that Shen Yuan had arrived, Consort Rou, Xie Ping An, and Xie Shu leaped up in alarm from their desks. Xie Ping An and Xie Shu hastily piled the memorials they were reviewing in front of Consort Rou and dashed behind the screen into the inner chamber.
Consort Rou hastily stacked the memorials, then picked up a brush, pretending to review them with an air of importance. “Invite Lord Shen in.”
As Shen Yuan entered and saw Consort Rou reviewing memorials, his eyebrows twitched involuntarily, a sense of foreboding washing over him.
He bowed in greeting. “Your Ladyship Consort Rou, may you be well.”
“Ah, haha, Lord Shen.” Consort Rou forced a dry laugh. “What brings you to Yu Fu Palace today?”
Noticing Shen Yuan’s gaze lingering on the memorials on the table, Consort Rou quickly added, “Are you dissatisfied with our—ahem, with me and the Fourth Prince’s slow progress in reviewing them?”
Shen Yuan shook his head. “Your Ladyship jests. These memorials merely document chronic issues, serving only to test the Fourth Prince’s aptitude for statecraft.”
Statecraft…
Consort Rou’s heart pounded wildly, terrified by those words.
Could it be that Shen Yuan intended to support Xie Zimiao in claiming the throne?!
No, please no! She didn’t want to become Empress Dowager!
Xie Zimiao had so few supporters in court they could be counted on one hand. If he were to become emperor, it would mean she’d have to spend her days currying favor with ministers, staying up all night strategizing how to secure Xie Zimiao’s throne, exhausting herself for his sake, and losing her carefree, comfortable life in the rear palace.
She didn’t want that!
All she wanted was to eat, drink, and be merry!
All she wanted was for Xie Zimiao to grow up healthy, happy, and confident!
So when Shen Yuan asked where the Fourth Prince was, she immediately sprang up and shrieked, “He sneaked out to play! He’s not in the palace!!!”
Shen Yuan: “…”
Shen Yuan took a deep breath.
Aside from accompanying Rou Fei back to Yangzhou to visit relatives, where else could the Fourth Prince possibly go?
He must have gone to Jizhou to find Xie Chengze.
No wonder he’d had a bad feeling earlier.
But Shen Yuan still felt something wasn’t quite right.
Rubbing his temples, Shen Yuan turned back. As he passed near Wu De Hall, he suddenly spotted Xie Shoujun—who should have been inside reviewing memorials—carrying a black cloth-wrapped spear with a crimson tassel, a bulging pouch hanging behind its tip.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince?! Where are you going?” Shen Yuan nearly screamed himself hoarse.
Hearing the voice, Xie Shoujun’s figure faltered slightly.
Then he activated his qinggong and sprinted away swiftly, his frantic steps vividly reminiscent of someone caught slacking off and making a desperate escape.
Shen Yuan: !!!
Don’t run, come back here!!!
Don’t leave me alone in Jingcheng! Do you even understand that a nation cannot be without its ruler for a single day, damn it!
Even someone as upright and principled as Shen Yuan couldn’t help but curse under his breath, wanting to throttle these irresponsible, good-for-nothing princes who were beyond redemption.
He would report this to Empress Cao! Report to Empress Cao!
——
Empress Cao said she could temporarily oversee court affairs for a few days.
Although the Crown Prince had run off, she assumed Xie Chengze would urge him to return quickly to handle state affairs, so Empress Cao wasn’t worried about the Crown Prince not coming back.
As for the ministers, though initially dissatisfied with the future Empress Dowager’s regency, their discontent gradually faded when they found her handling court matters logically and decisively, with far better mental fortitude than the Crown Prince, and even managing to placate them all effectively.
Fearing that Xie Chengze might be too lenient with Xie Jinyu, Shen Yuan specifically wrote a letter to Jizhou, urging Xie Chengze to send the Crown Prince, the Eldest Prince, and the Fourth Prince back promptly.
Unexpectedly, the Crown Prince stormed back, threw the letter at him, and fumed, “Shen! Yuan! Can’t you mind your own business?!”
Shen Yuan remained composed and replied matter-of-factly, “If not for this, how else would Your Highness return early to handle court affairs?”
“Hah, do you think I came back this soon because your letter persuaded Second Brother?” Xie Jinyu sneered, “Second Brother isn’t even in Jizhou—he ran off too!”
Shen Yuan: ?
Finally, Shen Yuan understood why that lingering sense of foreboding at Yu Fu Palace hadn’t dissipated.
The Fourth Prince wasn’t just visiting the recuperating Xie Chengze—he had actually followed Xie Chengze and run off! They’d gone to Pingcheng to “stir up trouble”!
No wonder the recent reports from the prefects claimed the common people were highly cooperative and ready to relocate. He’d thought the prefects were fabricating results, but it turned out Xie Chengze was secretly pulling strings behind the scenes!
Shen Yuan tilted his head back, pinched the bridge of his nose, and sighed deeply, filled with helplessness and concern. “I told him to focus on recovering and stop worrying so much.”
Why wouldn’t he ever listen? When would his health improve like this?
“Now do you see why I insisted on keeping him by my side?” Xie Jinyu coldly laughed, his eyes full of disdain and mockery toward Shen Yuan. “I told you—you’re just an outsider who’s known Second Brother for barely a year. You could never understand him.”
What lucky star…
It was all bought with his life.
“If only you were more capable? If the Crown Prince were truly all-powerful, he wouldn’t have to worry so much.” Shen Yuan couldn’t help but mock, utterly disgusted by Xie Jinyu’s attitude—as if he alone understood Xie Chengze, flaunting it so ostentatiously yet refusing to share.
One day, he’d snatch it all away.
Oh, wait—it was his to begin with.
He had been acknowledged by Emperor Jian, after all.
Shen Yuan quickly steadied his emotions. Watching Xie Jinyu, whose expression had darkened after that remark, he softened his tone slightly. “Your Highness the Crown Prince, focus on attending court properly. Don’t hold the Second Prince back.”
“Understood!” Xie Jinyu flicked his sleeve and stormed off. “So annoying!”
Shen Yuan let out a cold laugh.
He was even more annoyed.
He didn’t even dare tell Xie Jinyu that the Eldest Prince and the Fourth Prince had both gone to Pingcheng to seek refuge with Xie Chengze.
But… that guy, why hadn’t he sent any message since arriving in Pingcheng? Those prefects hadn’t explained what methods they’d used to make the common people so cooperative.
Surely they hadn’t fallen for Chengze’s sweet talk and empty promises again, had they?