Shen Ziqin bowed deeply, head lowered. Chu Zhao opened his mouth, as if wanting to say something, but held back and forced himself to stand silently to the side.
His brows were slightly furrowed, clearly suppressing his emotions.
Emperor Cheng’an took in their reactions. He rolled the prayer beads on his wrist-an old gift from the Empress Dowager-waiting patiently for Shen Ziqin to speak.
“Your Majesty,” Shen Ziqin said earnestly, “this humble subject has studied the Four Books and Five Classics, always hoping to one day serve the court and Your Majesty. But because of my frail health, I was never able to sit for the imperial exams-a lifelong regret.”
Thankfully, Great Qi was a hodgepodge of history, and the Four Books and Five Classics really did exist here-and Shen Ziqin had truly read them.
As a liberal arts student, Shen Ziqin had always out-read his peers in college.
He took a sheet of paper from his sleeve. “This is an essay I wrote myself. If Your Majesty would take a look, I would have no regrets.”
The emperor nodded, and a eunuch brought the essay to him.
Shen Ziqin’s essay was cleverly written, carefully avoiding all of Emperor Cheng’an’s sore spots. It never criticized court policy or threatened anyone’s interests. Instead, it painted a vague picture of the people’s welfare, and the rest was all indirect praise for the emperor’s wise and capable rule.
If a scholar tries to flatter with poor skill, it comes off as crude and is despised. But Shen Ziqin’s essay was elegant and beautifully written-worthy of being copied and shared, a truly high-level, subtle piece of flattery.
Emperor Cheng’an was delighted, his wrinkles seeming to fade as he read.
A page of rainbow praise-tailor-made for Emperor Cheng’an.
He was in a great mood. “Very good, very good. To write like this and not be able to take the exams-what a pity.”
Shen Ziqin kept his head down, his voice trembling: “To receive Your Majesty’s praise is the greatest honor of my life.”
Chu Zhao finally couldn’t hold back and interjected: “Your health isn’t good. Being an official means early mornings and late nights-there’s no time to recover. No need to regret it; just look after yourself in the prince’s residence.”
It sounded like comfort, but for an ambitious scholar like Shen Ziqin, those words must have stung.
Sure enough, Shen Ziqin’s shoulders trembled, but he didn’t reply.
The emperor’s mind turned-he was a master of manipulation, and such a perfect opportunity for sowing discord couldn’t be wasted.
“What are you saying, Prince Qin? To master both civil and military arts, and serve the emperor, is every ambitious man’s dream. Keeping him locked up in the inner residence is a real injustice.”
His tone was all in favor of Shen Ziqin, like a caring elder.
Chu Zhao looked a bit anxious, brows tightly knit. “But his health really isn’t suited for office.”
The emperor pressed his prayer beads to the table. “Who says so?”
“It’s just a matter of needing time to recover.”
He pondered for a moment. Shen Ziqin’s face was calm, but inside he was nervous-he moved his fingers slightly, then forced himself to stop, not wanting to give anything away.
The emperor slowly gathered up his beads, the soft clack of the bodhi seeds echoing in the silence.
He didn’t speak for a long time. Chu Zhao masked his expression, and said, almost offhand, “He’ll need at least a year or so to recover. Writing essays is too taxing.”
Essays… writing… Ah, the emperor thought of a suitable post.
“I value talent most of all. Ziqin, your learning shouldn’t go to waste. Join the Hanlin Academy-it suits you.”
The emperor made the decision: “Reader-in-waiting. How about it?”
Shen Ziqin’s eyes widened, lips trembling with excitement: “Your Majesty, how could I-cough, cough!”
He seemed so overwhelmed that he started coughing, pressing a hand to his chest. The emperor, seeing how delicate he looked, was even more reassured and generous: “Just accept what I give you. I’ll grant you a year to recover. Ziqin, I expect great things from you.”
“Thank you, Your Majesty, for your great kindness!”
Shen Ziqin tried to kneel in gratitude, but wobbled and nearly fell, only to be caught by Chu Zhao before he could bow.
With the interruption, the emperor seized the chance to show his magnanimity, waving a hand: “No need for more bows, take it easy-don’t hurt yourself.”
Chu Zhao held Shen Ziqin steady. After several attempts to speak, he finally just sighed. “Your Majesty, we take our leave.”
The emperor picked up his teacup, utterly at ease. “Mm.”
And so Shen Ziqin left the warm pavilion, supported by Chu Zhao.
After they left, the emperor slowly tapped the tea lid, as if talking to himself: “Prince Qin and his consort-perhaps they’re not truly of one mind?”
Chief Eunuch Quan understood the hint: “All the young noblemen study hard to serve Your Majesty, but he’s stuck at Prince Qin’s side-he must feel stifled.”
The emperor snapped the tea lid shut, eyes narrowing. “So, Shen Ziqin should resent me for the marriage decree?”
“Oh, how could that be!” Eunuch Quan’s smile was as bright as a chrysanthemum. “Whatever Your Majesty grants is a blessing. If he’s resentful, it’s probably at those in the inner court who make trouble for him.”
The emperor loved the flattery. He pretended to scold but actually chuckled: “You really can say anything.”
Eunuch Quan just kept smiling.
“Well, if there’s a rift between them, that’s good for me-might come in handy someday.” The emperor asked, “Did you send the people I asked for?”
Eunuch Quan bowed. “Already done. They should be waiting at the palace gates now, just waiting for Xiaofuzi to report back.”
Emperor Cheng’an nodded. With this move, the rift between the two should only grow.
Meanwhile, after Chu Zhao had supported Shen Ziqin for a while, Shen Ziqin finally said, “Your Highness, I’m fine now, you don’t need to trouble yourself.”
Chu Zhao nodded and let go, but didn’t say anything. The two walked side by side in silence, the atmosphere seeming a bit stiff.
But in reality, they were both struggling not to laugh.
Shen Ziqin had to pinch his palm twice to maintain his “temporary actor” composure and keep a straight face.
All that supposed ambition, all that excitement from Shen Ziqin, all of Chu Zhao’s supposed surprise and hidden discontent-it was all an act.
From the moment they entered the warm pavilion, everything had been scripted, all within their plan. They didn’t even need a backup plan; the emperor handed over the Reader-in-waiting position himself.
Especially the emperor’s self-satisfied expression-it was almost impossible not to laugh.
Everything had gone so smoothly that the thrill of acting and the joy of success made them want to burst out laughing.
Unfortunately, with the emperor’s spies everywhere, they couldn’t celebrate openly.
But that didn’t mean they couldn’t celebrate at all; even if they couldn’t speak, they could still use their eyes.
Shen Ziqin shot a look at Chu Zhao: Your Highness, your acting was excellent!
Chu Zhao blinked: You flatter me, Shizi-your performance was even better.
Their eyes met, exchanging a full conversation in silence, congratulating each other on their victory before looking away, satisfied.
Shen Ziqin realized: I can actually understand everything he’s saying with just a look?
Chu Zhao: Can Shen Shizi’s eyes really talk?
Amazing.
Neither realized just how rare their seamless communication was.
Sharing this secret joy with Chu Zhao, even without words, was its own unique pleasure-like a little secret just between the two of them, quietly blooming like tiny flowers under a soft green shade.
He could feel that Chu Zhao must be feeling the same way.
They were both looking forward to getting on the carriage outside the palace so they could finally talk freely-but their good mood lasted only until they reached the palace gate.
Around the Prince Qin’s carriage, there were a few figures who shouldn’t have been there.
A eunuch was waiting, flanked by two handsome young men, clearly having waited a while.
Though the two men’s clothes were plain, careful attention had been paid to the details-their colors were bright, and they’d done their best to look attractive within the limits. Their brows and eyes were carefully made up, and a light fragrance clung to them. Clearly, they were not ordinary servants.
Both were slender and willowy.
Shen Ziqin was still stunned, but Chu Zhao’s gaze had already turned cold.
The eunuch, Xiaofuzi, saw Prince Qin’s dark, stormy expression and broke into a nervous sweat as he stepped forward and bowed. “Greetings, Your Highness. I have been ordered to bring these two young gentlemen.”
Compared to other powerful eunuchs around the emperor, who dared gossip about princes, Xiaofuzi was at least very respectful.
Chu Zhao: “Oh? By whose order?”
Xiaofuzi bowed even lower. “His Majesty, pitying the consort’s frail health, has sent these two gentlemen to the residence to assist the consort in serving Your Highness. There’s no need to give them rank-just keep them as bed companions, to warm the rooms.”
Shen Ziqin: ???
Wait, stuffing people into the prince’s back courtyard and using me as an excuse-does the emperor even believe this himself?
Should he listen to what he’s saying?
As for Chu Zhao-
Prince Qin directly laughed.
A laugh as sharp as a blade, like a storm about to break, black clouds pressing down on the city.
Since returning to the capital, the emperor had tried many times to plant people in his household. The Prince Qin’s residence was as secure as a fortress-spies and assassins had died in droves, and every servant was carefully screened. With no other way in, the emperor had set his sights on the back courtyard.
Previously, the emperor had sent women, but Chu Zhao refused, claiming he wanted to remain pure before marriage.
At that time, Emperor Cheng’an hadn’t been in a hurry to arrange a marriage for him, not wanting to give him a good match.
Chu Zhao had always used being unmarried as an excuse to refuse new additions to the back courtyard. Now, right after the wedding, the emperor immediately sent people over, clearly with a pointed message: Let’s see what excuse you have now.
With the young men delivered right to the carriage, if he tried to send them back without a good reason, it would be defying an imperial order.
The two young men, hearing Chu Zhao’s laughter, couldn’t help but look up-only to break out in a cold sweat.
Prince Qin was strikingly handsome, but his eyes were icy, devoid of any warmth, dark as blades, and just one look felt like being cut.
A real killer who’d survived the battlefield-no matter how noble he looked, he was still a bringer of death.
The two trembled and quickly lowered their heads, not daring to look again.
Chu Zhao’s lips curled in a cold smile, ready to speak, but felt his sleeve tugged.
He turned to see Shen Ziqin giving him a look.
Shen Ziqin’s eyes said: Let me handle this.
Chu Zhao’s “drawn sword” paused at the scabbard, then slowly sheathed.
Looking at Shen Ziqin, the coldness in Chu Zhao’s eyes faded, replaced by a silent question: Are you sure? I’m experienced at dealing with this.
Shen Ziqin’s eyes flickered: Let me-this will end better.
Although Chu Zhao and Emperor Cheng’an were only father and son on the surface, right now, after the wedding, the emperor had no urgent reason to crush Chu Zhao, so it wasn’t wise to fall out and hand the emperor leverage.
Shen Ziqin raised his sleeve to cover his face, preparing to get into character.
If you’re going to act, once or a hundred times makes no difference.
A stick of incense later-
Xiaofuzi hurried into the warm pavilion, sliding to his knees in a practiced move.
“Your Majesty! The consort saw the two young gentlemen and immediately turned pale, his heart condition flared up, and he looked like he was about to collapse!”
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(advanced chapters available on kofi)
Jajaja me encanta!!!! Toma eso Emperador de miércoles!!