Chapter 0052: Exceptionally Gifted Xie Chengze, Shen Yuan Comes to Explain
After changing clothes, Xie Chengze waved his hand to dismiss Zhu Xiaobiao.
He walked toward the bed to retrieve the hidden sulfur powder. As he passed the wooden table, the exquisite redwood clothing chest brought by Shen Yuan once again caught his eye.
Scowling in disdain, Xie Chengze deliberately ignored it and continued toward the bed.
Three seconds later, he backtracked and returned to the table.
He would just take a quick glance—just one look—to see if that scoundrel Shen Yuan had tried to pass off shoddy goods as quality items to deceive him.
Clearing his throat lightly with a hand over his lips, Xie Chengze didn’t face the table directly but stood sideways beside it. Straightening his posture, he feigned nonchalance as he reached out with his right hand and gently flicked open the latch of the clothing chest.
The wooden lid sprang open instantly, revealing its contents.
Several small cowhide-colored paper bags, tied with thin red strings and labeled with red paper slips bearing the character “cake,” were crammed into a corner of the chest due to previous jostling, looking utterly pitiful.
Beneath the paper bags lay a vibrant, begonia-red Shu brocade robe. Delicate golden threads intricately embroidered patterns of auspicious clouds and cranes across the fabric. The material was smooth, lightweight, and cool to the touch, with a soft, faint chill. The collar was adorned with various translucent red gemstones, clear and flawless like pomegranate seeds, strikingly highlighting its luxurious status.
Even with his limited discernment, Xie Chengze knew this robe must have been crafted by an exceptionally skilled seamstress. Given Shen Yuan’s rigid principle of never owing anyone, he had probably bought the shop’s prized masterpiece.
And likely paid for it with his own silver.
Xie Chengze’s index finger lightly brushed the small gemstones adorning the robe, then he shifted his hand to the corner of the chest. Tangling his fingers in the strings of the cake bags, he lifted them out in one swift motion.
He unwrapped them one by one: inside were candied date cakes, flower cakes, longan cakes, and mung bean cakes. The portions were modest but enough to satisfy a craving.
With Yi Province in the grip of famine, these small treats could surely fetch exorbitant prices. Xie Chengze picked up a longan cake and popped it into his mouth. The crisp, fragrant flavor made him inwardly concede: Alright, I’ll forgive Shen Yuan one point.
Then he stuffed a mung bean cake into his mouth, chewed, and assessed: Forgive Shen Yuan two points.
After washing it down with a sip of water, he tried a candied date cake: Forgive Shen Yuan zero point five.
Finally, he took a bite of a flower cake. The refreshing aroma and sweetness that filled his mouth led him to decide: This one earns Shen Yuan three points of forgiveness.
He glanced again at the Shu brocade robe: This doesn’t count—it’s what he owed me anyway.
Having reconciled with himself, Xie Chengze went to retrieve the sulfur powder and sugar. Worried that Shen Yuan might sneak over in the middle of the night to discard them, he tucked them into his robes and stealthily left the room, intending to find a safe hiding spot.
Where to hide them…?
Xie Chengze skulked around the village, convinced that no matter where he hid them, Shen Yuan’s hound-like nose would sniff them out. Just as he was at his wit’s end, someone tapped him on the shoulder.
Startled, Xie Chengze stiffly turned his neck. Upon realizing it wasn’t Shen Yuan but Gu Ying and Bian Yangchun, he sighed in relief. “Oh, it’s just you two.”
“Brother Cheng, what are you doing here?” Gu Ying fixed him with his bright, puppy-dog eyes, curiosity evident.
“I’m hiding something.” Xie Chengze looked at the two of them. “What are you doing here?”
“Brother Bian and I went to the bookstore to buy some books, and we’re going to report to Governor Liang soon,” Gu Ying answered honestly. “He’s been feeling like someone’s out to harm him lately. When he heard I have martial skills, he said he wants to hire me as a bodyguard.”
“Oh?” Xie Chengze thought for a moment and couldn’t help but agree. “That makes sense. His life is valuable now, so he should hire some guards to protect himself.”
Gu Ying tilted his head, his eyes clear yet confused. “Why is it valuable now?”
“Well…” Xie Chengze evaded vaguely, “Living to this age isn’t easy. Every extra mouthful of food comes with its own cost. If he were to suddenly trip over a stone and die, wouldn’t that be such a waste? Don’t you think?”
Gu Ying had a sudden realization, feeling that Xie Chengze made perfect sense.
Bian Yangchun, standing nearby, couldn’t help but chuckle. “Alright, Xiao Ying, Brother Cheng has things to attend to. Let’s not disturb him.”
Gu Ying made an understanding sound and waved at Xie Chengze. “Then we’ll be going now, Brother Cheng!”
“Hey! Wait! Help me with something!” Xie Chengze remembered something and quickly took out the sulfur powder packet, patting and tapping it on both their backs. “Alright, you can go now!”
“What’s this?” Gu Ying sniffed at Bian Yangchun’s back, feeling the scent was somewhat familiar.
“Sulfur.” Xie Chengze waved his hand to indicate they could leave, then immediately headed toward the other villagers.
He had thought of a brilliant plan—to make everyone carry the scent of sulfur powder!
This way, Shen Yuan wouldn’t be able to find where he had truly hidden the sulfur powder!
Hahahaha! He, Xie Chengze, was simply a genius!
——
By evening, Shen Yuan estimated that Xie Chengze should have cooled off by now. He set down the case files in his hands and stepped out of the main hall to look for Xie Chengze.
Unexpectedly, after just a few steps, as he passed by a Yamen Runner in the county office, a faint, familiar scent caught his nose. He slightly furrowed his brows and glanced at the runner.
Was it just his imagination?
Not paying it much mind, Shen Yuan continued toward the residential quarters. However, with every person he passed, he could detect that elusive hint of sulfur powder, as if it clung to his nostrils and refused to disperse.
Shen Yuan: …
He probably understood what was going on.
He couldn’t help but feel amused inwardly. Xie Chengze really was full of tricks—he could even come up with such a method. Was he really that afraid of having his sulfur powder found and confiscated?
Even though he was a prince who could easily use his authority to suppress others, he always seemed to be watching Shen Yuan’s reactions—allowing Shen Yuan to address him directly by name and engage in confrontations with him without any regard for the distinction between ruler and subject…
Yet Shen Yuan was the one who had killed him.
Shen Yuan even vividly remembered from their previous life—the moment his Azure Sword pierced Xie Chengze’s heart, the other man, his hands covered in blood, desperately clutching Shen Yuan’s sleeve. Unable to speak as blood filled his lungs, the hatred in his eyes was like a raging inferno that could devour him whole.
Having fought for ten years, Shen Yuan knew exactly what he wanted to say.
“Even if I descend into hell, I will return to kill you.”
But neither of them ended up in hell. And the reborn Xie Chengze hadn’t killed him.
On the contrary, he had saved Zhu Xiaobiao and conversed earnestly with the scholars. He had conceived the Yi Province Abode of Plenty Plan and could manufacture gunpowder weapons. Such a person, entirely different from “Xie Chengze,” made it impossible for Shen Yuan not to suspect his identity.
Shen Yuan had considered whether Xie Chengze might not be “Xie Chengze” at all, but rather someone who looked exactly like “Xie Chengze” and had imperceptibly replaced him.
His intuition clearly told him that Xie Chengze was not “Xie Chengze,” yet Xie Chengze’s thorough knowledge of numerous secrets from their past life blatantly insisted that he was indeed “Xie Chengze.”
Shen Yuan could think of no reason to prove that Xie Chengze was someone else. Moreover, the two were carved from the same mold. Having traveled extensively and seen many twins, Shen Yuan had never encountered two so completely identical.
Unable to reach a conclusion, he had never been able to let his guard down around Xie Chengze.
Sighing, Shen Yuan walked to Xie Chengze’s door and knocked.
There was no response from inside. After knocking a few more times, Shen Yuan called out, “Your Highness, it’s me.”
Still no answer came. As Shen Yuan raised his hand to push the door open, a voice suddenly sounded from behind, “What are you doing?”