Chapter 0042: Disheveled Lord Shen and the Drooling Second Prince

With the misunderstanding cleared, Shen Yuan’s anger had mostly subsided. Seeing Xie Chengze still clinging to him, he raised an eyebrow and said, “Second Prince, aren’t you getting up yet? Is my body really that comfortable to lean on?”

“Listen to you, talking as if I were some kind of libertine…” Just as Xie Chengze was about to retort, his gaze inadvertently swept past Shen Yuan’s earlobe, and he froze for a moment.

Hmm?

A trace of mischievous amusement flickered in his eyes. Xie Chengze pressed his hands against the hollows of the man’s shoulders, his long, pale fingers restraining any attempt at resistance. Then, he lowered his head and slowly leaned closer to Shen Yuan’s face, his gaze locked intently on the other’s eyes.

Shen Yuan’s body stiffened abruptly. Though Xie Chengze was light and not heavy, he felt as if the other were pressing down on him like a massive boulder, suffocating him and rendering him immobile.

What was he trying to do?

Could it be that he wanted to…

Meeting Xie Chengze’s mesmerizing eyes, Shen Yuan felt an inexplicable heat spreading from his earlobes down to his neck. His heart pounded like a drum. Only when the distance between them narrowed to a dangerous point did he swallow hard and rasp out, “Your Highness, what are you trying to do?”

“Lord Shen, right here…” Xie Chengze slightly raised his right hand, his index finger gently brushing against Shen Yuan’s earlobe, which was red as blood and burning hot, unexpectedly soft to the touch. “…it’s so red and hot. Could it be that you’re having improper thoughts about me?”

Thud—!

The physician who had come in to deliver medicine overheard this provocative conversation the moment he entered. Stumbling in surprise, he nearly sent the tray in his hands flying. Fortunately, his quick reflexes saved the medicine bowl from certain doom.

He silently lowered his head, catching a glimpse of the stunningly handsome Second Prince sitting atop the disheveled Lord Shen with a seductive expression, as if intending to commit some indecent act. His words even seemed to be commenting on and drooling over some part of Lord Shen’s body.

Meanwhile, Lord Shen’s face was flushed red with a mix of shame and indignation, looking as though he were a virtuous maiden being forced into submission. He pressed his hands firmly against the Second Prince’s shoulders and cast a “save me” glance in the physician’s direction.

Oh dear, there was no saving him—absolutely no saving him!

With a calm expression, the physician set the medicine bowl aside and said with practiced ease, “Second Prince, Lord Shen, I have some Snow Jade Ointment that moisturizes and nourishes the body. Would you like me to fetch it?”

He had previously served as an army physician, where the camp was filled with men. Soldiers who fought bloody battles on the front lines and went years without female companionship would occasionally seek relief with their comrades. Thus, he was quite accustomed to such situations and often kept Snow Jade Ointment on hand for unexpected needs.

Shen Yuan, having been close to the Eldest Prince in his previous life, had heard a thing or two about such matters. Understanding the physician’s implication, his face darkened.

In contrast, Xie Chengze turned his head and asked in confusion, “Snow Jade Ointment? Is it for the face? Lord Shen has been traveling day and night, and his skin has indeed become rougher. He should use it, yes, he should.”

He then turned back to Shen Yuan and kindly advised, “Lord Shen, don’t be shy. Even a grown man can care about his appearance. Be good and put it on~”

Shen Yuan: …

The physician nearby covered his face and chuckled to himself, thinking: Oh my, the Second Prince is really saving face for Lord Shen, speaking with double entendres like that!

Shen Yuan’s temples throbbed with visible veins. In his previous life, Xie Chengze had detested all matters related to military camps, once sneering that the Crown Prince’s camp was a den of filth—how could he possibly fail to grasp the implied meaning now?

By making insinuations in front of outsiders, he was clearly deliberately humiliating him, not—

“This subject has no need for it! The Second Prince should keep it for himself!”

Agitated, Shen Yuan shoved Xie Chengze aside and climbed off the bed, drained the bitter herbal medicine in one gulp, and strode out of the room.

His retreating figure radiated fury.

Xie Chengze, pushed aside for no apparent reason, muttered, “Why is he so touchy?”

It’s just applying some rouge! If you take care of your skin, young ladies might actually fancy you!

Xie Chengze couldn’t help but suspect that in the original novel, Shen Yuan remained unmarried until the very end precisely because he spent years entangled in court intrigues—constantly angry and neglecting his appearance—until he grew old and unattractive, leaving no one interested.

After all, the author did gradually stop describing Shen Yuan’s beauty in the later stages, though it might just have been authorial laziness.

Xie Chengze realized that Shen Yuan’s mood was directly tied to his own survival. What if a middle-aged Shen Yuan, depressed from being unmarried, decided to drag him along to the underworld in a fit of despair? Who could he complain to then?

It seemed he still needed to persuade him to cherish his current looks, lest he end up old and unwanted…

So Xie Chengze instructed the physician, “Bring the Snow Jade Rouge.”

The physician stole a glance at Xie Chengze. Though he believed the Second Prince’s noble status meant he wouldn’t submit to another, his medical professionalism compelled him to cautiously probe, “Is it for Your Highness… or for Lord Shen?”

“Is there a difference?” Xie Chengze asked, puzzled.

“Of course there is!” the physician hastily elaborated. “Your Highness, Snow Jade Rouge comes in common and exquisite grades. The common type is coarse and heavily scented, easier to produce and affordable for ordinary folks. But the exquisite grade is exceptionally smooth and lightly fragrant, complex to craft with limited supply—reserved only for nobility.”

Having accompanied the Second Prince on this trip, he’d brought only one box of the exquisite grade, intending it for winter use to protect His Highness’s delicate skin from harsh winds.

He never anticipated it might serve another purpose now. If for the Second Prince—with his tender, refined skin that couldn’t endure roughness—and considering it might be his first time, only the exquisite grade would prevent injury.

But if for Lord Shen… Lord Shen was a martial arts expert, accustomed to horseback riding with exceptional pain tolerance. Using the exquisite grade on him would be wasteful—better saved for the Second Prince’s winter skincare!

The physician secretly concluded.

Xie Chengze reflected that Shen Yuan had been exhausting himself over Yi Province affairs lately. As his superior, he shouldn’t be stingy. “The exquisite grade,” he decided.

The physician trembled slightly.

So the Second Prince was the bottom!

Thank goodness he’d asked!

Silently relishing this gossip, the physician bowed slightly. “This official will fetch it immediately!”

……

On the city walls, Shen Yuan stood with Liang Wan Da and Jing Ze behind him.

Shen Yuan’s face showed no unusual expression as he addressed Liang Wan Da, “The merchant grain is expected to arrive at Jiangdu Xian around Hai hour tomorrow evening, while the final wave of refugees will arrive at noon tomorrow. Once the grain carts from Li and Yu provinces arrive, Governor Liang shall accompany me to negotiate prices with local merchants.”

Liang Wan Da, standing nearby, hastily bowed, “As you command, Lord Shen.”

Observing this, Shen Yuan couldn’t help but glance at Liang Wan Da.

In his previous life, when he and the Crown Prince visited Yi Province, this Liang Wan Da along with several local wealthy gentry had been extremely arrogant. Even the Crown Prince had been deceived and misled by them, causing many matters to proceed with difficulty.

But in this life…

Watching Liang Wan Da’s thoroughly subdued posture, Shen Yuan grew deeply curious—what methods had Xie Chengze employed to bring Liang Wan Da to such complete submission?

Even the Crown Prince back then had failed to break this tough nut.

Waving his hand to dismiss Liang Wan Da, Shen Yuan turned to Jing Ze.

“Lord Shen.” Jing Ze saluted him with neither humility nor arrogance.

Shen Yuan raised a hand to indicate the formality was unnecessary, “Do you know why Liang Wan Da has suddenly started doing substantive work? How did the Second Prince bribe him?”

At this question, Jing Ze’s expression turned slightly peculiar.

“What is it?” Sensing Jing Ze’s odd reaction, Shen Yuan’s eyes darkened as he pressed, “Is it unspeakable?”

It wasn’t that it couldn’t be spoken of, but… Jing Ze carefully chose his words, “Lord Shen, have you ever heard of… ‘painting cakes’?”

Shen Yuan: ?

A quarter-hour later, Jing Ze bowed and departed, leaving Shen Yuan alone on the city wall, utterly bewildered by the wind.

For some reason, he found the term “painting cakes” remarkably apt. The “cakes” Xie Chengze had promised were so enticing, no wonder Liang Wan Da was willing to devote every ounce of his energy and even lay down his life…

But…

Did Xie Chengze truly intend to allow Liang Wan Da to enter court service?

Although Liang Wan Da proved shrewd and efficient in handling affairs, he still had prior convictions for corruption and dereliction of duty… Shen Yuan’s thoughts halted, his lips pressing together as he frowned.

Xie Chengze also had past offenses.

Yet now, everything he currently did benefited the people, just as Liang Wan Da was currently engaged in proper work. Should he… temporarily let it go and continue observing, or should he persist in investigating and punishing them?

Either choice was acceptable to Shen Yuan. The only thing he found unacceptable, even frightening, was that he had unconsciously chosen different answers for Xie Chengze and Liang Wan Da.

He dared not examine too closely the reason why.

His palm unconsciously wrapped around the Azure Sword at his waist, fingers curling tightly around the hilt. Shen Yuan turned to look beyond the city walls, where refugees gathered in ever-increasing numbers, swarming like an advancing army—a sight that made one’s scalp crawl.

He couldn’t help but murmur softly, “Xie Chengze… what exactly are you scheming in your heart?”