Chapter 0006: The Cowardly Second Prince, Xie Chengze Fans the Flames

Xie Chengze kindly reminded, “Father, your son is frail and sickly.”

Emperor Jian looked at his rosy, healthy little face and remained noncommittal, “Will you still be sickly next year?”

“To be honest with you, Father,” Xie Chengze coughed lightly twice, feigning a sickly appearance, “your son suffers from a heart condition. Prolonged illness weakens the body, so I can only be delicately cared for.”

As if afraid of something, he looked pitifully at Emperor Jian, “You wouldn’t despise your son, would you? You’ll take care of me, won’t you?”

Emperor Jian: …

Xie Chengze coughed twice again and kindly reminded, “If I attend court sessions in the future and keep coughing incessantly, it would surely disrupt state affairs.”

What would it look like if every time a minister spoke, he coughed in response?

Emperor Jian was amused. Although he didn’t know why Xie Chengze was feigning illness, he had always been indulgent toward this son and wouldn’t get angry over it.

To be honest, although he had made Xiao Ze’er a whetstone for the Crown Prince, the latter was perhaps too “dedicated,” attending court every single day without fail, refusing to rest even when ill. Emperor Jian saw this and felt heartache, naturally hoping he could take a few days off.

As for the Spring Examination, it wasn’t urgent.

“Very well, rest properly. Don’t follow in your mother’s footsteps…”

When Consort Hua was mentioned, a shadow of sorrow flickered in Emperor Jian’s eyes. It seemed his love for her was genuine, and his grief was not feigned.

Xie Chengze nodded, clasped Emperor Jian’s hands, and sincerely advised, “Father, you must also take care of your health. Don’t exhaust yourself with court affairs. Less important memorials can be handed over to the Crown Prince. He’s young, resilient, and hasn’t even started balding yet. He has plenty of energy to share your burdens and assist you.”

Emperor Jian: …

Emperor Jian waved his hand, “Alright, you and Shen Yuan may leave now.”

The two withdrew. After a long silence, Emperor Jian touched the top of his head.

He shouldn’t be balding yet, right?

Leaving the imperial study, it was still a long way to the palace gates. Xie Chengze and Shen Yuan walked one after the other.

Thinking that Shen Yuan was, after all, the protagonist of the original story and worth befriending, Xie Chengze turned his head and gave him a friendly smile, gesturing, “Shen Lang, come here.”

Shen Yuan was thoroughly creeped out by the address “Shen Lang,” but wanting to see what tricks Xie Chengze was up to, he stepped forward to his side. Suppressing the urge to strangle him, he forced a natural smile, “Your Highness, what is the matter?”

“How old are you, Shen Lang?” Xie Chengze asked casually.

“I am twenty-one years old.”

“Oh~ This prince is nineteen, two years younger than Shen Lang~” Xie Chengze said with a smile, “It seems I should address you as Brother Shen.”

Shen Yuan inwardly scoffed, “Your Highness is of noble status. I am but a commoner and do not deserve such an address.”

“Ah~ You are the Grand Tutor’s grandson. I’ve heard you’ve been well-read since childhood, and even Father has praised you highly. This prince has been dull-witted since youth and greatly admires someone as learned and talented as Shen Lang.” Xie Chengze spared no effort in flattering him.

Shen Yuan’s fists clenched.

The thought that Xie Chengze was also reborn made him feel the other was being sarcastic.

With a slightly profound smile, Shen Yuan’s gaze drifted almost imperceptibly over Xie Chengze’s face, as if casually remarking, “Your Highness, do not belittle yourself. In my opinion, you have many merits as well.”

Xie Chengze, completely unsuspecting, asked, “Oh? What merits do I have?”

“Your Highness possesses unparalleled beauty, a countenance that could topple cities and captivate nations—even the world’s most beautiful woman would be left in the dust. Truly one of Jian’an’s wonders,” Shen Yuan curved his lips in mockery, waiting for Xie Chengze to fly into humiliated rage and reveal a flaw.

Xie Chengze chuckled, “Brother Shen truly has excellent taste.”

Shen Yuan: “…”

Watching Xie Chengze’s innocent, lamb-like smile, Shen Yuan felt a strange suspicion. He hesitated—was Xie Chengze exceptionally skilled at enduring humiliation for the sake of greater goals, or had that strike from the Azure Sword in the Golden Luan Palace addled his brains?

If it were the former, then he might be even more troublesome to deal with than in his previous life.

The two made idle conversation until they reached the palace gates, where Shen Yuan retrieved his personal Azure Sword from the guards.

He keenly noticed Xie Chengze casting a wary glance at the Azure Sword, as if deeply apprehensive.

Lowering his gaze slightly, Shen Yuan deliberately drew his sword. With a sharp “shing,” the blade left its scabbard, screeching like frigid iron scraping against stone.

Xie Chengze instantly jumped aside like a startled kitten, eyeing him warily.

What? What was this?

Why suddenly draw the sword?

The original plot didn’t have this scene!

Although Xie Chengze couldn’t recall many details from the book, he was absolutely certain that at this moment, the original Shen Yuan would never have drawn his sword!

Had he somehow provoked Shen Yuan just now?!

Seeing Xie Chengze so frightened, Shen Yuan inwardly sneered.

He knew it—this very sword had ended Xie Chengze’s life. How could he not fear it?

He’d finally revealed his flaw. Xie Chengze was indeed a reborn soul.

A cold smirk playing on his lips, Shen Yuan looked at Xie Chengze with ambiguous amusement, deliberately waving the sword before him. “What does Second Highness think of this humble one’s sword?”

Fearful the blade might land on him, Xie Chengze quietly retreated two steps and gave a thumbs-up. “A fine sword—just like you.”

Shen Yuan: ?

Had death sharpened his tongue?

Shen Yuan sheathed the cold, silver-white sword and glanced at the sparse carriages nearby, noting the absence of Wuhen and Wuji, who usually accompanied Xie Chengze.

“I heard Second Highness has two highly skilled guards. Why haven’t I seen them today?” Shen Yuan asked casually. “This humble one also enjoys martial arts and would like to spar with experts.”

He weighed the possibility of killing Xie Chengze, his thumb resting on the scabbard’s end, rhythmically tapping the Azure Sword up and down with clear, metallic clicks.

“Tap, clack, tap, clack.”

Each pause between sounds was an omen of impending doom.

“Oh, they went out of the palace to buy folk novels for me.” Seeing Shen Yuan put away his sword, Xie Chengze relaxed and answered honestly. “Cheng Huan Palace has too many serious books—not suitable for passing the time.”

Shen Yuan: “?” again.

This time, he studied Xie Chengze seriously. “Second Highness… enjoys reading novels?”

In his previous life, he’d never seen him read such things.

Xie Chengze lowered his head sheepishly. “I just enjoy reading novels about Long Yang’s Preference. How about you, Brother Shen? If you like them too, I can have Wuji deliver some to your residence.”

Shen Yuan: ??????????

Seeing Shen Yuan’s thunderstruck expression, Xie Chengze inwardly cackled with glee: Hehehe.

Serves you right for scaring me with your sword earlier—now you’re stunned, aren’t you?

As a man himself, Xie Chengze knew all too well what men feared most. He reckoned that after today’s revelation, if he retreated into Cheng Huan Palace and kept his distance, Shen Yuan would surely avoid any further contact with him, wishing to stay as far away as possible.

As long as they didn’t meet, there would be no friction between them—and his life would be spared!

Xie Chengze thought himself brilliantly cunning. Deliberately patting Shen Yuan’s shoulder, he felt the man’s body gradually stiffen, a faint, teasing smirk curling at the corner of his lips.

He said cheerfully, “Shen Lang, our paths diverge from here. I shall return to Cheng Huan Palace first. Take care on your way.”

Yes, he and Shen Yuan were never meant to walk the same path.

Suppressing the urge to shove Xie Chengze away, Shen Yuan forced a calm expression, nodded, and turned to stride briskly toward his carriage.

But before he had taken more than a few steps, Xie Chengze’s soft yet clear voice rang out loudly behind him, “Shen Lang, I’ve bought many books on Long Yang’s Preference! If you’re truly interested, I’d be happy to share!”

Shen Yuan: …

Damn it, would he ever shut up! The palace guards were still nearby!

He turned back and, just as expected, saw the patrolling guards staring wide-eyed at him and Xie Chengze, their faces a picture of shock as if they’d overheard something scandalous.

By noon, news of the Second Prince and Shen Lang’s alleged fondness for such books would likely spread throughout the entire palace.

The once formidable and revered minister, who in his previous life had instilled fear in all officials, could now only seethe with frustration, exhaustedly roaring back at Xie Chengze, “I am not interested!”

—

Rumors spread like wildfire, but refuting them takes endless effort.

That very day, even Sheng Yiren, the renowned beauty of the capital outside the palace, heard the news.

“Brother Shen, is it really true…?” In the teahouse, Sheng Yiren studied Shen Yuan with disbelief, her expression seeming to say, “I need to reevaluate you.”

A vein throbbed at Shen Yuan’s temple, the teacup in his hand trembling on the verge of shattering. “It’s Xie—it’s the Second Prince talking nonsense! He’s the one who loves reading that stuff and dragged me into it!”

Sheng Yiren eyed him skeptically. “But from what I know, the Second Prince despises such topics. A few years ago, at the Qionglin Banquet, a Tanhualang got drunk, mistook the Second Prince for a woman, and composed a poem… He was executed for that alone.”

She didn’t elaborate further. Emperor Jian doted on the Second Prince, and since the poem had suggestive undertones, the Tanhualang was swiftly imprisoned and beheaded.

Sheng Yiren refrained from judging the matter. As the capital’s top beauty and the daughter of the Minister of Rites, she too had been subject to baseless fantasies, her name and story twisted into novels where she played the role of a noblewoman smitten with a destitute scholar, willing to abandon her status for him.

She found such portrayals distasteful and annoying. For the Second Prince, a man subjected to similar male fantasies, and with his short temper, his violent reaction was hardly surprising.

Thus, upon hearing that the Second Prince enjoyed such books, her first thought was: false, absolutely false—a rumor.

Probably, the Second Prince had been implicated by Shen Yuan.

Seeing Sheng Yiren’s distrustful gaze, Shen Yuan felt an increasing headache. Another man in blue robes at the table spoke up gently, “Yiren, both you and I grew up with Brother Shen. We know better than anyone what kind of person he is. There must be some misunderstanding here.”

Sheng Yiren shrugged, unconvinced.

Although they had grown up together, Shen Yuan had after all left the capital with Shen Taifu for many years. Who knew if he had picked up any peculiar habits during his travels across the land?

“Don’t worry, I’m not prejudiced,” Sheng Yiren assured him, patting her chest. “Of course, I also believe you don’t have any.”

This did little to comfort Shen Yuan. Moreover, his headache wasn’t just due to the rumors, but also because the current Xie Chengze had become so slippery and shameless in temperament that it gave him the illusion of facing a more troublesome opponent.

In their first confrontation, he seemed to have already fallen into a disadvantageous position.

But…

There would be plenty of time ahead. As for who would win or lose, he was certain he would emerge victorious.