Chapter 0041: Taking a Ten Million Step Back, Can We Really Not Get Intimate?
“There’s a misunderstanding about this matter, I can explain it to you.” Xie Chengze urgently grabbed Shen Yuan’s arm, wanting to clarify.
Yet Shen Yuan had no desire to listen.
In his previous life, Xie Chengze had deceived him in this very manner.
When he first met Xie Chengze, he hadn’t known how much the other detested others commenting on his appearance. For a time, after learning of this, Shen Yuan had felt guilty and wanted to apologize.
But back then, with the floods in Yi Province, he and the Crown Prince had traveled south, and this apology was repeatedly postponed. By the time the Yi Province affairs were resolved and he wished to express his remorse, the court’s political landscape had already subtly shifted.
Xie Chengze pretended to be friendly on the surface but secretly began colluding with Zhang Zhixing and others. To seize the Crown Prince’s position, he used himself as bait during the autumn hunt to lure Shen Yuan away from the Crown Prince’s side, scheming to have the Crown Prince injured by a bear’s paw so he could no longer maintain his position with a sound body.
If not for the Crown Prince’s exceptional martial and literary skills, and the fact that the newly appointed top military scholar that year happened to pass by—both joining forces to kill the mad bear—it was uncertain whether the Crown Prince’s position would have fallen to Xie Chengze.
Back then, Shen Yuan had detected clues and uncovered evidence of Xie Chengze’s plot. When he confronted him, Xie Chengze also said, “This is a misunderstanding, I can explain.”
Now, Xie Chengze was repeating the same trick, using himself as bait to draw Shen Yuan away from the Yi Province checkpoint.
What could his goal be this time?
Rage burned in his chest, Shen Yuan’s mood growing increasingly irritable. His fingers clenched tightly around the sword hilt, knuckles turning pale.
He truly was a fool to have trusted Xie Chengze again.
“No need to explain, I don’t wish to hear it.” Exhausted both physically and mentally, Shen Yuan shook off Xie Chengze’s hand and turned to descend the city wall. Whether it was the extreme heat or his overwhelming anger, he felt dizzy and lightheaded, his steps becoming unsteady.
“Shen Yuan!”
Xie Chengze’s startled, concerned voice rang in his ears. Before Shen Yuan could ponder why the other sounded that way, darkness engulfed his vision, and he lost consciousness.
…
“It appears Lord Shen has been overexerting himself with constant travel lately, eating very little, and suffering from heatstroke, pushing his body to its limit, which caused him to faint.”
The accompanying physician finished taking Shen Yuan’s pulse and reported to Xie Chengze, “I will prepare some medicine. Lord Shen has a strong constitution; he should recover after drinking it.”
“Go ahead.” Xie Chengze waved his hand.
After the physician left, Xie Chengze gazed at Shen Yuan, who remained unconscious with a deeply furrowed brow, and sighed. “Still so stubborn.”
Picking up a towel from the bronze basin nearby, he wrung out the water and leaned over to gently wipe Shen Yuan’s face.
His face was covered in dust, evidence of his rushed overnight return. Was he really that afraid something would happen to me?
Of course, if anything happened to me, Shen Yuan would likely be held accountable. If Emperor Jian were in a foul mood, he might even execute Shen Yuan’s entire family, hundreds of people.
Then Shen Yuan would have been reborn for nothing.
Xie Chengze continued wiping his neck, but as he did, his gaze inadvertently drifted to the inner collar clinging tightly to Shen Yuan’s body.
Ahem, I’ve heard Shen Yuan has an excellent figure? The book devoted considerable ink to describing his robust waist and abdominal muscles when bathing or showering, as well as those features that made countless men envious…
Ahem, ahem… As a man himself, wasn’t it normal for him to feel competitive and curious about how well-endowed the other might be?
Perfectly normal… right?
Fine, even if he wasn’t curious about that, couldn’t he at least satisfy his curiosity about how impressive Shen Yuan’s upper body was?
Xie Chengze had always regretted his own frail, chicken-like physique, but he was too lazy to exercise. The most he could do was admire other people’s muscles to feast his eyes.
“Ahem, Lord Shen, you must be feeling very hot with this heatstroke. Let me loosen your clothes to help you cool down.” Xie Chengze swiftly reached out without hesitation, directly pulling open Shen Yuan’s upper garments.
“Hiss—” Xie Chengze’s pupils trembled slightly.
He had to admit, the books hadn’t lied.
Even while unconscious, the man’s muscles remained taut and powerful. The curves of his sturdy arms were impeccably defined, and the distinct lines of his abdominal muscles were deep and firm, like exquisitely carved jade stones. Against the broad line of his waist, they appeared even more solid and compact.
Xie Chengze couldn’t even imagine how incredible they would feel to touch.
Damn, why couldn’t he have transmigrated into Shen Yuan’s body instead!
Biting his handkerchief in envy, Xie Chengze reached out and poked the abdominal muscles fiercely, grumbling sourly, “What’s wrong with giving me one? What’s wrong with giving me two? What’s wrong with giving me three?”
“What are you doing?”
A hoarse, deep voice suddenly spoke up, startling Xie Chengze so much that he yanked his hand back and instinctively replied, “Nothing!”
Shen Yuan, now awake, struggled to sit up, furrowing his brow as he rubbed his temples. He guessed he must have passed out from exhaustion and heatstroke after days of overwork. “Where’s the medicine?”
“It’s not ready yet.” Xie Chengze stole a glance at his expression. “Lord Shen, about that letter…”
Shen Yuan’s face abruptly turned cold. “Second Prince, this subject does not wish to kn— Mph!”
Shen Yuan’s eyes widened slightly.
He stared at Xie Chengze, who had covered his mouth with his left hand, and opened his own in disbelief. Misinterpreting this as resistance, Xie Chengze used his right hand as well, pressing both hands firmly over Shen Yuan’s mouth.
The force was so strong that Shen Yuan was shoved backward, the back of his head slamming hard against the wooden pillow. He gasped in pain, “Mph!”
In his effort to keep Shen Yuan’s mouth sealed, Xie Chengze leaned his entire upper body forward. But in his haste, his right foot tangled with his left, causing him to stumble and collapse heavily onto Shen Yuan’s bare chest. His full, rosy lips landed with a firm smack… on the back of his own hand.
Xie Chengze: “…”
Shen Yuan: “…”
—Thank goodness he’d covered his mouth!
Both of them inwardly screamed in unison.
Trying to dispel the awkwardness, Xie Chengze quickly blurted out, “I mixed up the letter meant for you with the one for Father Emperor!”
Shen Yuan averted his gaze: …As if I’d believe that.
“I really didn’t do it on purpose! It must have been Wuhen who misunderstood. Originally, I intended to use the envelope addressed to ‘My Son’ from Father Emperor to send the letter to you!” Xie Chengze lamented; he hadn’t expected Wuhen to misinterpret his instructions.
Shen Yuan: “…”
That actually sounded somewhat believable—very much like the kind of blunder Xie Chengze would make when he was being particularly foolish.
Shen Yuan grabbed Xie Chengze’s wrist, moving his hand away, and fixed him with a deep, penetrating gaze. “So what was it you originally meant to send me?”
Xie Chengze gave a light cough, then declared with righteous indignation, “I’m telling you to sneak back some good stuff from that kitchen of yours! How long has it been since I’ve had meat here? My abs have completely wasted away!”
Shen Yuan was momentarily taken aback before understanding dawned on him.
His mission to the Yi Province checkpoint wasn’t just about delaying the merchants’ grain carts—it was also to use his memories from his previous life to secretly obtain the account book privately hoarded by the Transport Commissioner.
That account book recorded the embezzlement records of the Transport Commissioner over the past decade. Indeed, the kitchen in his residence was stocked with every delicacy imaginable. In his previous life, the commissioner had hosted an extravagant feast to welcome him and the Crown Prince.
Now that Xie Chengze had come to Yi Province, he could only subsist on congee daily. Having been raised in luxury, it was natural he couldn’t endure this and wanted some good food to satisfy his cravings—quite understandable.
Shen Yuan wasn’t the type of rigid person who would insist that “Your Highness should share the hardships with the refugees.”
While corrupt officials indulged in lavish feasts, why shouldn’t those working for the people enjoy some decent food too?
After a moment of silence, Shen Yuan apologized, “This subject has been inconsiderate.”
Seeing that Shen Yuan believed him, Xie Chengze’s petty schemes couldn’t help but surface again. “Then how will Lord Shen compensate me~?”
Noting that Xie Chengze was pushing his luck again, Shen Yuan snorted coldly. “Then should Your Highness explain why you touched this subject earlier?”
“Ahaha, I was just admiring, curious… If there were a man with a better physique than yours, wouldn’t you be curious?” Xie Chengze’s face was thicker than a city wall as he took the opportunity to cop another feel. “Lord Shen has excellent skin and flesh—if only I could peel it off and keep it for myself…”
Shen Yuan: …
This person was starting to talk nonsense again.