Chapter 0086: Shen Yuan’s Failed Empathy, Shen Yuan Connects the Dots
Shen Yuan had always been acutely aware that the Crown Prince wished to restore brotherly harmony with Xie Chengze and mend their relationship.
In his previous life, the Crown Prince had also downplayed the severity of their conflicts, mentioning that he and Xie Chengze had been extremely close as children. He had repeatedly attempted reconciliation, but all efforts ended in failure.
Back then, Shen Yuan couldn’t comprehend what degree of brotherly bond would compel the Crown Prince to repeatedly tolerate Xie Chengze’s provocations and misdeeds.
What if this relationship involved some form of dependency he was unaware of?
At this moment, Shen Yuan was striving to empathize with the Crown Prince by drawing from his own experiences. The only childhood friends he considered exceptionally close were Sheng Yiren and Su Qinghe, and indeed, Su Qinghe had relied heavily on him in their youth due to various circumstances.
However, if he were to become as malicious and ruthless as Xie Chengze, he was certain Su Qinghe would be profoundly disappointed and sever ties with him entirely. If their relationship were one of mortal enmity, Su Qinghe would never show him any mercy.
Likewise, if Su Qinghe were to become like the Xie Chengze of his past life, he too would not hesitate to act ruthlessly.
Thus, at this very moment, Shen Yuan’s attempt at empathy had failed.
If dependency couldn’t solidify such a bond, what else could make the Crown Prince’s feelings for Xie Chengze remain unwavering?
Friendship? Certainly not.
Familial ties? In his past life, both the Eldest Prince and the Fourth Prince had made mistakes, yet the Crown Prince never treated them with the same leniency he showed Xie Chengze.
It couldn’t possibly be obsessive infatuation, could it?
Shen Yuan scoffed at this absurd notion, but abruptly, his smile froze on his lips.
As if struck by a sudden realization, his gaze snapped toward Xie Jinyu and Xie Chengze, who were deep in conversation.
The carefree young man was asking Xie Jinyu about his tea preferences, but Xie Jinyu only smiled without answering. It wasn’t until the young man looked up at him in confusion that Xie Jinyu would narrow his eyes, concealing the overwhelming tenderness threatening to spill forth. He would then lean close to the other’s ear, responding in a whisper meant only for them.
Occasionally, he would reach out to brush aside the strands of hair on the young man’s shoulder, whether intentionally or not, letting the back of his fingers graze the other’s neck, eliciting a puzzled glance.
Yet Xie Jinyu merely smiled, as if it were truly unintentional. When the young man scratched his head and resumed walking, those profound eyes would once again settle with predatory intensity on the other’s exquisite face, the ambiguous smile playing on his lips sending a chill down Shen Yuan’s spine as he watched.
Suddenly, Shen Yuan remembered: why had he been reborn?
Xie Chengze had been pierced through the heart by him, leading to Xie Chengze’s rebirth. But what about him?
Had he been… alive when he was reborn?
The memories after Xie Chengze’s death were fragmented and disjointed, and recalling them now felt like splitting his head open. Distracted, he missed a step on the staircase and stumbled forward.
His right arm was abruptly seized by a hand, and Xie Chengze’s concerned gaze fell upon him. “What’s wrong?”
Beside them, Xie Jinyu narrowed his eyes slightly and smiled. “Minister Shen must be tired. Perhaps it’s best to return to your residence early and rest.”
In the past, Shen Yuan would have interpreted this as Xie Jinyu’s concern for a subordinate. But now, he couldn’t shake the feeling that Xie Jinyu was hinting and warning him: Get back to your residence at once, and do not set foot in Cheng Huan Palace.
He suddenly recalled the last time before Su Qinghe entered Cheng Huan Palace, when he and the Crown Prince were discussing matters. Just as their discussion concluded and the Crown Prince was seeing him out, they bumped into a servant delivering a message.
Upon learning he was heading to Cheng Huan Palace, the Crown Prince unexpectedly asked him a question.
“Shen Shilang, what do you think of my second brother?”
At that time, completely unprepared yet knowing the Crown Prince enjoyed hearing praise of Xie Chengze, he offered numerous compliments, expressing his great admiration for the Second Prince. He remarked how the two were truly worthy brothers and that with both of them, the Jian’an Dynasty would surely endure for thousands of generations.
Unexpectedly, the Crown Prince immediately turned cold-faced: “Shen Shilang, your mind seems rather unclear.”
With that, he flicked his sleeve, turned around, and entered the palace, leaving him alone in bewildered confusion.
Excellent.
Now, he probably understood why the Crown Prince had gotten angry.
Rubbing his temples wearily, Shen Yuan found this absurd outcome hard to accept. Clinging to the faint hope that he might have misinterpreted the situation, he replied to Xie Jinyu, “Thank you for Your Highness’s concern. This subject was merely momentarily lost in thought. I’ve long heard the tea in Cheng Huan Palace is exceptionally fragrant and have been eager to sample it, not wishing to miss the opportunity.”
Xie Jinyu’s smile faded slightly as he said indifferently, “Though the tea is fragrant, drinking too much may cause sleeplessness. Shen Shilang should mind your consumption.”
Was this hinting at him (not to overstep his bounds)?
Both Shen Yuan and Xie Chengze thought simultaneously.
Xie Chengze assumed Xie Jinyu was alluding to his own sleepless night due to excessive tea drinking. After all, there were indeed the Crown Prince’s informants in Cheng Huan Palace, and Xie Chengze hadn’t removed them to avoid alerting anyone.
But to drink his tea and still drop hints—wasn’t that overstepping? Anyone unaware might think he was the older brother!
He couldn’t help muttering in retort, “What’s wrong with drinking more tea? Cheng Huan Palace has nothing in abundance except tea! Later, Shen Shilang, you should drink your fill!”
Xie Jinyu’s expression grew even colder.
Shen Yuan slightly turned his head, a faint smile curling at the corner of his lips unseen by the other two. “Then this subject humbly accepts your generosity.”
…
Emperor Jian loved tea, often relying on it to stay alert while reviewing memorials at night. Court officials aware of this preference would present rare teas from various regions during his birthdays. Naturally, the emperor, who doted on his sons, would also casually stock Cheng Huan Palace with these prized teas.
The treasure vault held many valuable teas in storage. The steward selected portions of each and ordered servants to set up a tea-tasting banquet. As the weather had grown colder, making prolonged stays in the pavilion by the pond unsuitable, the tea banquet was moved to the main hall.
Tea-serving maids began brewing tea in an orderly manner. The three took their seats in turn. Xie Jinyu leaned forward to pour a cup of hot water and handed it to Xie Chengze. “Second Brother, your constitution is weak, and you often suffer from cold hands and feet in chilly weather. Hold this warm cup to heat up first.”
Xie Chengze blinked, surprised by his attentiveness. He accepted the warm cup and seized the opportunity to start a conversation. “Though it’s only early winter, the cold wind is already biting. It must be even colder up north during severe winter, right? On my way to the Imperial Study today, I noticed the Directorate of Celestial Observation and went to inquire. Unexpectedly, they’re predicting heavy snowfall in the north this year.”
After speaking, he lifted the cup to take a sip of hot water. His meaningful gaze skimmed along the rim of the teacup, precisely landing on Shen Yuan, who happened to be looking over.
Shen Yuan understood implicitly and picked up the thread of conversation. “Winter has indeed arrived earlier this year than in previous years. If heavy snow causes disasters in the north, by the time the court receives the news, the roads may already be blocked and impassable. If we don’t make preparations early, the disaster in Yi Province will serve as a stark warning.”
Coincidentally, he had been searching for ways to make the Crown Prince take this northern snow disaster seriously. Since Xie Chengze had proactively offered the perfect opportunity, he was naturally willing to seize it.
Xie Jinyu pondered for a moment. “As Second Brother said, this matter remains uncertain. Moreover, with numerous prefectures in the north, precise disaster relief would likely strain both military and financial resources. We could first instruct the common people to take preventive measures themselves, so they aren’t caught unprepared when the heavy snow arrives.”
“If the snow disaster does occur, how does Your Highness the Crown Prince plan to respond?”
“Perhaps…”
The fragrance of tea curled upward in the room where a ruler and his subject delved deep into discussions about the threat of snow disasters, their words brimming with concern for the nation and its people.
Yet at this time, the Crown Prince was merely eighteen years old, still inexperienced in handling state affairs. Shen Yuan patiently guided him step by step, and as their conversation grew increasingly profound, they suddenly realized the tea in their cups had lost its initial warmth, leaving only a faint coolness.
Meanwhile, the young man who had initially raised the topic had, at some point, slumped over the tea table with his eyes gently closed, falling into slumber. The faint shadows of fatigue lingered beneath his eyelids.