Chapter 0092: Correct Password Su Qinghe, Angry Su Qinghe
With a light cough, Xie Chengze knew that promoting arithmetic education was as certain as holding an egg in both hands—a surefire success!
However, just to be safe, he intimately wrapped an arm around Su Qinghe’s neck and asked, “Qinghe, are you and your father on good terms?”
Su Qinghe was momentarily stunned.
Why suddenly bring up his father?
Subconsciously pursing his lips, Su Qinghe lowered his gaze, unwilling to answer the question.
In the past, many people had asked about his relationship with the Su Family head—whether he was truly as doted on as the rumors suggested. Yet, without exception, they all sought to use him as a stepping stone to curry favor with the Su Family and secure official positions. None of them genuinely wanted to befriend him.
If he refused, they would inevitably become enraged, scolding him for being ungrateful. They would claim that befriending someone as mediocre as him was an act of pity, only to find him unappreciative…
After being berated a hundred times, Su Qinghe truly began to believe it.
Now, was the Second Prince approaching him with no ulterior motives?
Su Qinghe didn’t believe it. In Jingcheng, beneath the surface of prosperity lay undercurrents of power and a web of intertwined interests. Why would the Second Prince willingly befriend someone with no talent or virtue?
His true motive was likely the influence of the Su Family behind him.
Was it for… the imperial throne?
Su Qinghe dared not dwell on it further. He could only focus on his own affairs to avoid calamity.
In his lowered line of sight were the two princesses and Zhu Xiaobiao drawing little rabbits and chicks. Clenching his palms again, he hesitated before finally saying, “Although I am favored by my father, Your Highness must know that I am but a commoner and cannot sway my father’s decisions.”
Why was he referring to himself as a commoner again?
Xie Chengze scratched his cheek. “I did seek you out hoping you could whisper a few words to your father. As for whether you can influence him, I believe as long as it doesn’t harm the Su Family, he will listen.”
Su Qinghe hadn’t expected Xie Chengze to admit it so openly. He fell into deeper silence, hanging his head without a word.
“Come on, help me out~ Or at least hear what it is before deciding whether you’re willing?” Seeing Su Qinghe’s reluctance, Xie Chengze grabbed his sleeves with both hands and swayed them back and forth. “Brother Qinghe~ Please?” I really don’t know who else to turn to besides you!”
Su Qinghe: !!!
Qing, Brother Qinghe?!
A continuous electric numbness shot up from both sides of his neck to behind his ears, followed by a burning blush. Su Qinghe was so startled by the coquettish address that his jaw dropped. When he regained his senses, his knees buckled, and he knelt heavily on the ground. “Y-Your Highness! How could you demean yourself like this to a commoner?!”
“Sigh.” Seeing him like this, Xie Chengze plopped down on a stone stool, covering his face with his sleeve and pretending to sob softly. “I understand. I’m just an incompetent and arrogant prince, all looks and no substance. That’s why you all look down on me. All that talk about befriending me was just lies.”
The thought of his privileged life as an imperial descendant crumbling away brought genuine tears to Xie Chengze’s eyes. With a tone of grief and indignation, he lamented, “You all despise me! If none of you are willing to listen to me, what’s the point of living? I might as well bash my head against this stone table and end it all!”
With that, he suddenly stood up and lunged headfirst toward the stone table!
Zhu Xiaobiao: “…Your Highness is here again.”
“Your Highness—!”
“Second Brother—!”
Su Qinghe and the two princesses screamed in alarm. Su Qinghe, terrified, quickly wrapped his arms around Xie Chengze’s waist and forcefully pulled him aside. The two tumbled to the ground together, and Su Qinghe, flustered, immediately checked Xie Chengze’s temple. Only after confirming there was no injury did he angrily exclaim, “How could Your Highness be so reckless!”
“You’re angry?” Xie Chengze widened his eyes slightly. Having met three times, this was the first time he’d seen Su Qinghe lose his temper.
Su Qinghe suddenly realized he had just shouted at Xie Chengze. After this dawned on him, he immediately pressed his lips together fearfully, already thinking about how to apologize.
But out of the corner of his eye, he noticed Xie Chengze looking both novel and surprised—not only showing no remorse for his earlier rash behavior but even seeming eager to see him lose his temper again. Su Qinghe felt another surge of anger and decided he didn’t want to speak to him anymore.
How could the Second Prince act so extreme? Life is precious—how could he treat it as a joke?!
“Don’t be angry,” Xie Chengze tugged at his sleeve, seizing the opportunity. “The Ministry of Works currently lacks talent, and the ministry is closely related to arithmetic. Yet there are few masters of arithmetic in our dynasty. So I wish to promote Arithmetic Studies. The Su Family is a renowned aristocratic family in Jingcheng, admired and respected by scholars throughout the land. If the Su Family is willing to support this, then scholars will surely follow suit and study arithmetic, thereby enriching our Ministry of Works with masters who can produce refined civilian and military tools for Jian’an.”
Hearing this, Su Qinghe looked at Xie Chengze in surprise.
So the Second Prince wanted him to whisper in his father’s ear… to promote arithmetic? And to strengthen the Ministry of Works for Jian’an?
He had misunderstood, thinking the Second Prince was doing this for imperial power…
Feeling ashamed, Su Qinghe bit his lip. “If Your Highness has the people’s interests at heart, you can discuss it directly with my father. Why go through someone as humble as me?”
Xie Chengze scratched his head sheepishly. “I’ve tried, but my reputation at court isn’t great. People aren’t willing to listen to me.”
Su Qinghe immediately understood.
He knew all too well the Su Family’s disdain for mediocrity. Even as the Second Prince, Xie Chengze was probably… beneath their notice.
“This humble commoner can only try his best,” Su Qinghe stood up, lowering his gaze. “Your Highness shouldn’t place too much hope in this.”
“I’ll go with you when the time comes,” Xie Chengze climbed to his feet and patted his shoulder. “And stop calling yourself a humble commoner. I truly consider you a friend.”
Su Qinghe nodded with a bitter smile. “Yes, Your Highness.”
But inwardly he remained skeptical. This friendship with the Prince… ultimately existed because the Prince needed something from him. Once he’d served his purpose, he’d likely be cast aside like worn-out shoes.
He shouldn’t take it too seriously, lest he end up even more heartbroken later.
Su Qinghe left Cheng Huan Palace in low spirits. Jingmo, who had been waiting anxiously outside the inner palace, first breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Su Qinghe unharmed, then immediately felt heartache seeing his young master’s troubled expression. “Has Young Master been wronged again?”
Su Qinghe remained silent, boarding the carriage distractedly. Seeing this, Jingmo couldn’t help muttering, “Young Master, perhaps you shouldn’t come here anymore. Or at least send word to Lord Shen when you do. Do you know how worried I was waiting out here?”
Su Qinghe came to slightly. “We can’t trouble Brother Shen every time. Besides, the Second Prince didn’t give me any trouble. I just… I just…”
He leaned lightly against the wooden carriage, his eyes tinged with sorrow. “Jingmo, in this Jingcheng, is there no such thing as pure friendship? Must one always be able to help the other to be considered a friend?”
Jingmo tilted his head slightly. “This humble one doesn’t know either. But even in the Su residence, servants need friends to cover shifts or make connections, let alone in the vast Jingcheng? However, this humble one believes that those who befriend you from the start because you can help them are definitely not good choices for friendship!”
He bared his teeth in disdain. “Those scholars, reeking of pretentiousness—Jingmo doesn’t like them!”
“What if… what they seek is something good?” Su Qinghe asked, clinging to a sliver of hope.
Jingmo scratched his head. What did it mean for their motives to be good? If they had ulterior motives, it must be good for them, right?
So he nodded. “Mhm! They’re all bad people! Unworthy of your company, young master!”
Is that so…
Su Qinghe’s eyes gradually dimmed. “You’re right… I shouldn’t…”
Shouldn’t cling to foolish hopes anymore.