ABBLEIP Chapter69

Xiao Shen was contentedly hugging his master, greedily inhaling the fragrance on his master’s body. He paused when he heard this, “What’s wrong?”

 

“Nothing is wrong!” Shen Qingzhuo struggled to break free from the suffocating embrace and said sternly, “This matter ends here, don’t mention it again.”

 

Xiao Shen frowned. “Why?”

 

“Because…” Shen Qingzhuo took two steps back. “Because I am your master, we can’t do such ridiculous things again.”

 

“Why not?” Xiao Shen took a step closer to him, staring at him with his dark eyes. “Didn’t Master say you would help me?”

 

“I said I would help you, but—” Shen Qingzhuo leaned his thin back against the door frame, raised his hand to his little disciple’s chest, and blurted out, “Now Master thinks you are normal, even more powerful than normal people, and you don’t need Master’s help at all!”

 

Although his memory of that night was chaotic and he couldn’t see it with his own eyes through his clothes, but he still felt it clearly…

 

Xiao Shen looked at him solemnly, and then a brilliant smile suddenly appeared on his face. “Am I really that great?”

 

His master’s blatant compliment really made him very happy.

 

“I said so much, and you only heard these two words?” Shen Qingzhuo didn’t know whether to laugh or cry and pushed him hard.

 

He threw all his shyness aside. This was his little disciple whom he had personally raised. How could he lose out in such a matter?

 

However, the young man’s body was like a copper or an iron wall. No matter how hard he pushed, he could not move it. Instead, he grabbed his wrist and said, “Maybe this disease is intermittent. Since Master helped me once, why not send the Buddha—fine, fine, fine, I won’t say anything more.”

 

A pair of affectionate peach blossom eyes were filled with sparkling anger, and the slightly upturned corners of the eyes were red with anger. When he was angry, he became even more beautiful and vivid.

 

Swallowing unconsciously, Xiao Shen shook the snow-white wrist in his hand in a flattering way, “I was wrong, Master, please don’t be angry.”

 

There is a long way to go, and he must have enough patience to boil his master with warm water.

 

Besides, he has not yet ascended the throne of power, and he can’t give anything to his master. What qualifications does he have to ask for more from him?

 

“That’s better.” Shen Qingzhuo’s face lightened a little, and he said in an imperative tone, “Anyway, don’t mention this matter again in the future.”

 

“Won’t mention, won’t mention…” Xiao Shen responded repeatedly and quickly changed the subject, “Tonight on New Year’s Eve, does Master want to watch the fireworks?”

 

Before he left the palace at the age of sixteen, they would go to the rooftop together to watch the fireworks every New Year’s Eve.

 

“Watch ah! Of course we have to watch it!” Shen Qingzhuo replied without hesitation, “This is our traditional routine, we must keep it.”

 

***

 

Xiao Dezi found a ladder swiftly. Shen Qingzhuo stood at the bottom of the wooden ladder and said worriedly, “You are still injured, be careful.”

 

In fact, it is not a problem for Xiao Shen to climb to the roof with bare hands now, but in order not to worry his master, he still climbed up step by step.

 

Watching his little disciple climb to the roof, Shen Qingzhuo climbed up the wooden ladder as well.

 

When he was about to reach the top of the stairs, Xiao Shen, who was on the roof, stretched out his hand to him, “Master, come.”

 

In a trance, Shen Qingzhuo seemed to have returned to the New Year’s Eve they spent together for the first time. At that time, he stood on the top and pulled the little dumpling up.

 

Now that time and space have changed, it is his little disciple who pulls him up.

 

“Master?” Xiao Shen stretched out his hand again.

 

Shen Qingzhuo came back to his senses, took the warm and dry hand, and successfully climbed to the roof.

 

“The scenery here really remained the same for ten years ah.” Shen Qingzhuo lifted his cloak and sat down, patting the seat next to him. “Sit down.”

 

Xiao Shen sat down as he was told, handed the wine jar to his master, and asked in a low voice, “Did Master come here alone to watch the fireworks in the two years I was away?”

 

Shen Qingzhuo took the wine jar and shook his head. “No.”

 

The handsome eyebrows were raised, and the young man’s tone was lowered, “Then who did Master come with?”

 

He had always thought that this was a secret base for him and his master. In the two years when he was away, his master actually went out with other people…

 

“What’s the point of watching the fireworks alone when you’re not here?” Shen Qingzhuo pried open the altar with one hand and drank a sip of wine, “It only makes me miss you more.”

 

With just one sentence, the withered flower in Xiao Shen’s heart bloomed again, and the corners of his lips couldn’t help but rise, “Does Master miss me a lot?”

 

“Nonsense.” Shen Qingzhuo glanced at him sideways. “Even if you raise a dog, you won’t get used to it when it leaves your side as well, let alone a living little disciple?”

 

The upward arc froze, and Xiao Shen asked in a suspicious tone, “Dog? In Master heart, I am the same as a dog?”

 

“Huh? I didn’t say that.” Shen Qingzhuo almost laughed, “Master was just making an analogy.”

 

Xiao Shen was so angry that he yelled, “Master!”

 

Xiao Shen’s eyes were dark, and his thin lips were tightly pursed; obviously, he was still dissatisfied with this answer.

 

“In this world, you are the most important person to Master.” Shen Qingzhuo said seriously and in a disappointed tone, “In the two years when you were gone, the fireworks also lost their color, so Master didn’t come to watch.”

 

The thorns that exploded all over his body were instantly retracted.

 

The long black eyelashes trembled unnaturally. Xiao Shen didn’t know how to express his love. He could only turn around and hug his master into his arms, resting his chin on the top of his head, and called out with a choked voice, “Master….”

 

“Ai.” Shen Qingzhuo let him hold him. “Here, Master is here…”

 

His little disciple has grown too tall now and can no longer throw himself into his arms at will. Instead, he was hugged so tightly that it made it difficult for him to breathe.

 

Shen Qingzhuo coaxed softly, “Let go of Master first, the roof is not safe.”

 

Before Xiao Shen let him go, he secretly kissed his hair from an angle that he could not see. The kiss was separated in an instant, so fast that it was almost unnoticeable.

 

Shen Qingzhuo took another sip of wine and then passed it to his little disciple, smiling, “It’s been a few years since we last met. Have you improved your drinking capacity? Do you want a sip?”

 

Xiao Shen took the wine, raised his head, and took a big sip from the wine stain that his master had held in his mouth.

 

“Great.” Shen Qingzhuo looked at him with smiling eyes and praised him with a smile, “You won’t choke when you drink anymore.”

 

This tone is just like coaxing a child.

 

Xiao Shen took another big gulp and secretly rubbed his back teeth.

 

When he feeds the wine in his mouth to his master mouth-to-mouth one day, his master will probably realize how good his alcohol tolerance is now.

 

However, his master will surely be drunk to the point of tears, rosy cheeks, and maybe even his neck and chest will be stained red…

 

“Swish, swish, swish!”

 

“Bang, bang, bang!”

 

The gorgeous fireworks bloomed in the night, awakening the palace that seemed like a sleeping beast.

 

“It’s so beautiful ah…” Shen Qingzhuo leaned on the green tiles with his arms and looked up at the colorful fireworks in the sky.

 

“En…” Xiao Shen stared at the elegant profile without blinking and whispered in praise, “Really so beautiful.”

 

In those years, he actually never looked up at the fireworks.

 

Just because the most brilliant and dazzling fireworks have always been beside him, just within his reach.

 

“Master.” When the fireworks faded away, Xiao Shen slowly said, “Can I ask you for a New Year’s gift?”

 

“What?” Shen Qingzhuo turned his head back, his eyes full of smiles, “What gift does Xiao Qi want?”

 

Xiao Shen looked at him deeply. “Master, watch the fireworks with me every year from now on. Is that alright?”

 

The smile in his peach blossom eyes gradually faded, and Shen Qingzhuo consciously avoided his hot and expectant gaze. “Won’t you get bored watching it every year?”

 

“I won’t get bored, how can I get bored?” Xiao Shen grabbed his master’s wrist, his tone was sharp and anxious. “Is that alright, Master?”

 

“Alright.” After a long silence, Shen Qingzhuo finally agreed, “Master will do my best to watch the New Year’s Eve fireworks with you.”

 

When the day comes when he has to leave, there will definitely be someone willing to watch the fireworks with him.

 

For some reason, at this moment, Shen Qingzhuo felt an indescribable bitterness in his heart.

 

That’s right, he will leave one day, and someone new will appear around the young man. How long will his little disciple remember him by then?

 

Before Xiao Shen had time to be happy, he noticed that his master’s mood was getting low, and he suddenly became nervous. “What’s wrong, Master? Are you feeling uncomfortable?”

 

“No…” Shen Qingzhuo shook his head and threw away the messy thoughts in his mind. “We’ve finished watching the fireworks, let’s go down first.”

 

Xiao Shen looked at his master worriedly and said, “That’s right, the roof is windy.”

 

He went down from the roof first, stood in front of the wooden ladder with his arms outstretched, ready to catch his master at any time.

 

Shen Qingzhuo climbed down carefully, turned his head inadvertently, and saw his little disciple with the posture of an eagle spreading its wings to protect its cubs and couldn’t help laughing: “Master is not that stupid—”

 

Before he finished speaking, he slipped and fell backwards and then fell into a warm and familiar embrace.

 

“How is it?” A hot breath brushed past his ears, and a magnetic, muffled laugh came, “Master even says that you are not stupid.”

 

“How dare you!” Shen Qingzhuo was embarrassed and annoyed, pretending to be angry and scolded. “You dare to say that Master is stupid, you are so brave ah!”

 

“There are even more outrageous ones.” Xiao Shen smiled solemnly, holding his slender waist with one hand, and with the other hand over his knees, he lifted him up horizontally.

 

“Ah!” Shen Qingzhuo cried out, “Xiao Qi, what are you doing?”

 

“Princess hug ah, Master.” Xiao Shen carried him into the house lightly. “Doesn’t Master like it very much?”

 

Shen Qingzhuo struggled: “Put me down, I like to hold you like a princess, not to be held like a princess by you!”

 

Xiao Shen’s hand went down along his knees to take off his boots, and then he turned his head maliciously, pretending to throw his master down.

 

Sure enough, the cleanliness-obsessed Young Master Shen hugged his shoulders reflexively, “Xiao Xiao Qi!”

 

If he doesn’t punish him for three days, he will tear down the roof. This is his bold and reckless little disciple!

 

His little disciple laughed even more happily. He was forced to stick to the solid chest. His heartbeat seemed to vibrate synchronously. His ears were inexplicably hot. He could only say fiercely, “You wait for Master!”

 

“En, I’ll wait, Master.” Xiao Shen carried his master into the inner hall and put him steadily on the bed.

 

As soon as Shen Qingzhuo sat down, he raised his foot and kicked him, but the big hand grabbed his ankle again and took off his white socks.

 

“You—” This really pissed him off, and his snow-white face turned red with anger.

 

“Sorry, Master, I’m used to it.” Xiao Shen knelt on one knee with a smile, then let go of his hand and gestured, “Master, try again.”

 

Shen Qingzhuo: “……”

 

His little disciple was injured, so he couldn’t bear to kick him hard, so he just kicked him lightly. “Go get some water for washing feet, Master wants to soak my feet.”

 

“Alright.” Xiao Shen responded obediently and immediately got up to get some water, not showing his impudent behavior just now.

 

Shen Qingzhuo slowly exhaled, raised his hand to take off his cloak and outer robe, and lay back on the soft quilt to rest for a while.

 

Soon, Xiao Shen came back with a basin of water.

 

“Just now you asked Master for a New Year’s gift. Master is not without preparation.” Shen Qingzhuo shook his legs hanging by the bed. “Do you want to know what it is?”

 

Xiao Shen knelt on one knee again, caught the dangling jade-like feet, and poured the hot water in the basin on the soles of the feet to adjust the water temperature. “Master will naturally say it if he wants to.”

 

“Ai, boring. Where did the curiosity you had when you were a kid go?” Shen Qingzhuo let him press his feet into the hot water. “But you guessed it, the New Year’s gift that Master wants to give you is the throne.”

 

Xiao Shen’s expression remained unchanged, and he concentrated on kneading the delicate and white feet in the water, as if this was the most important thing in the world. “Is the time to take action already set?”

 

“Your Emperor Father will appoint the crown prince in public at the banquet for all the ministers on the sixth day of the first lunar month.” Shen Qingzhuo yawned lazily, “This is the best time to take action. Everything is ready, only the east wind is missing.”

 

“I’m ready here, just waiting for Master’s order.” Xiao Shen took the towel beside him and wiped the wet, jade-like feet carefully.

 

“I originally planned to deal with the Empress Dowager’s party, but it is more difficult than expected to uproot the Qi family. If the action is too big this time, it may cause unrest in the court.” Shen Qingzhuo propped up his upper body and looked down at the young man kneeling in front of him. “But you don’t have to worry. Master has already thought of a place for the Empress Dowager. Let’s take advantage of the east wind first, so that your ascension to the throne will be more legitimate.”

 

Xiao Shen’s eyes fell on the jade-like feet that were heated red by the hot water, and he reached out to circle the slightly protruding ankle, “Alright, I’ll listen to Master.”

 

Shen Qingzhuo tried to pull back his foot. “What are you doing?”

 

“Nothing.” A low and hoarse voice sounded, Xiao Shen raised his eyes and smiled, “Measuring the size of Master’s ankle.”

 

The author has something to say:

The Master: I told you about plotting to usurp the throne, why are you just playing?

The Wolf Cub: I have serious things on my mind, really!