SBMT Chapter 21.2

The horsewhip lashed out from Chu Zhao’s hand, striking the ground next to Cui Qingshan with a sharp sound that made everyone jump. Chu Zhao coldly drew back the whip: “Shut up. Be grateful you didn’t actually touch him, or I’d have cut off your paw and fed it to the dogs.”

 

“Everyone in the capital says I’m violent and cruel. Haven’t you heard? Hmm?”

 

The whip had passed so close to Cui Qingshan’s face that, though it hadn’t touched him, he felt as if it had. Remembering the rumors about Chu Zhao, he instinctively shuddered.

 

The young soldier was also startled and hurriedly continued, words popping out like firecrackers: “The vice commander also said he wanted the consort to be his companion at his manor-everyone heard it clearly! Then he offended Princess Dongning, making her cry in fear!”

 

Princess Dongning, who had just shared half a plate of seeds with Shen Ziqin, lowered her head silently.

 

Dongning’s crying wasn’t part of Shen Ziqin’s plan.

 

Hei Ying’s public shout, emphasizing the “royal consort” status rather than his official position as Reader-in-waiting, was already the main event-within moments, everyone would know the royal consort had been insulted in public, slapping the royal family’s face.

 

The news would spread through the city neighborhoods, and nobles would soon hear of it.

 

As the commotion grew downstairs, the rest of the prince’s household at the teahouse rushed down. Hei Ying whistled, and the prince’s guards in the crowd immediately rushed forward to restrain the still-shocked Cui Qingshan.

 

Cui Qingshan naturally resisted. After a night at a pleasure house, he had no weapons, but even with his fists, he couldn’t fight them all. As he struggled, he cursed loudly with increasingly vulgar language. Shen Ziqin handed the pipa to Xiao Dong, intending to take Dongning farther away to shield the child from the profanity.

 

But he discovered that Dongning had grabbed his sleeve, and then… burst into tears with a “wah!”

 

Shen Ziqin was startled: What?

 

In the original novel, Dongning had been as tough as his brothers since childhood. Though young and sometimes afraid or uneasy in certain situations, someone who could remain steady even when facing assassins shouldn’t be scared to tears by such a minor scene.

 

Dongning sobbed: “Sister-in-law, he’s so fierce, I’m scared…”

 

When a child cries, adults panic first. Shen Ziqin was worried Dongning might really be frightened, so he quickly knelt down and cradled the child’s face, only to discover-this child was all thunder, no rain.

 

I’m crying, but I’m faking it.

 

Shen Ziqin: “…”

 

Someone skilled in acting from childhood truly was different.

 

The palace maid attending Dongning, either perceptive or genuinely anxious, exclaimed: “How dare you offend the princess! Such audacity!”

 

The onlookers: Wow, what? A princess? Where’s the princess? Let me see!

 

Shen Ziqin held Dongning in his arms, shielding the child’s face, and said stiffly: “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid.”

 

Dongning sniffled, looking pitiful: “Mm…”

 

Once Shen Ziqin had revealed his connection to Prince Qin’s household, Dongning immediately switched back to calling him “royal sister-in-law,” adding another offense to Cui Qingshan’s crimes, firmly nailing down the lid on his coffin.

 

Shen Ziqin sincerely marveled: royal family products, truly premium quality.

 

(Emperor Cheng’an excluded.)

 

The soldier finished his report, and Chu Zhao turned to Cui Qingshan: “Earlier you claimed you didn’t intend to touch anyone. How will you explain this away now? Didn’t the words ‘companion’ come from your own mouth?”

 

Cui Qingshan, red-faced with anger and humiliation at being arrested in public, shouted: “I didn’t know he was the Prince Qin’s consort! I thought he was just a singer!”

 

He had been shouting all along, but Prince Qin’s people remained unmoved. After tiring himself out, he’d fallen silent for a while. Now, bringing up this point again, something clicked in his mind, and he suddenly looked up at Chu Zhao.

 

“I see now… you all set me up, didn’t you?!”

 

Shen Ziqin calmly sipped his tea, not hurried at all. Chu Zhao laughed: “What? Did someone hold a knife to your throat, forcing you to go to the teahouse, forcing you to harass the consort with words and actions? A setup? Who do you think you are?”

 

“He was wearing rags and carrying a pipa-who would think he was a consort!” Cui Qingshan, raised in a noble family and familiar with officialdom, still had some wits about him. “Prince Qin, you’ve just arrived and already schemed against me, your vice commander. Are you trying to turn the Patrol Battalion into your personal domain? The emperor won’t allow it!”

 

Clever-deny the crime and counterattack by escalating the issue.

 

But his position was untenable.

 

Shen Ziqin covered his teacup and spoke leisurely: “I saw the hardworking brother and sister performers, bought his pipa, and gave him better clothes. Then I thought, why not wear his clothes and carry his pipa to truly experience the life of common people? Later I could tell His Majesty about their hardships. After going downstairs, I only spoke to Lord Bai-meeting you was pure coincidence.”

 

Shen Ziqin refuted his suspicions in a few sentences: “I rarely left the Marquis of Yin Nan’s residence before, and have only gone out a few times since. I had never seen Lord Cui’s face. You approached me and harassed me, not the other way around.”

 

“Besides, if I weren’t the consort, would you be able to just grab me off the street to be your companion?” In such an advantageous position, Shen Ziqin wouldn’t leave him any opening. “Oppressing commoners and abducting innocent people-is this how Vice Commander Cui conducts himself as an official?”

 

Cui Qingshan: “You’re spewing vicious lies!”

 

Meeting Cui Qingshan today truly was coincidental. If Cui Qingshan hadn’t been so arrogant and lustful, falling into a trap at the sight of beauty, Shen Ziqin wouldn’t have been able to do anything to him and would have had to proceed with the plans he’d made over the past two days.

 

Shen Ziqin: “So many eyes witnessed today’s events. Lord Cui knows this well.”

 

It was precisely because so many had seen it that Cui Qingshan understood the gravity of the situation. He couldn’t admit guilt, but he also knew that even if he denied it, the matter was out of his hands.

 

Fear rising in his heart, Cui Qingshan gritted his teeth in hatred: “What do you want?”

 

Shen Ziqin feigned surprise: “Just follow proper procedures. Insulting the royal family is a formal crime-surely Lord Cui knows that?”

 

Cui Qingshan was about to spit blood in rage: “You!”

 

Dongning looked at the impotently furious Cui Qingshan, then at Shen Ziqin, who appeared gentle and weak yet had cornered the man completely, and felt he had learned something.

 

Sometimes weakness and subtlety can become precise, deadly force.

 

Chu Zhao stood up: “Write up a report of what happened. After I review it, send it along with the person to the Ministry of Justice for sentencing.”

 

Cui Qingshan: “You dare! I won’t accept this! When the Cui family hears about this-”

 

Chu Zhao: “Get out.”

 

The Patrol Battalion soldiers were somewhat hesitant with Cui Qingshan, but the prince’s guards efficiently hauled him away. They only followed the prince’s orders, without the slightest hesitation.

 

When Cui Qingshan tried to shout curses, they gagged him.

 

After arranging everything, Chu Zhao turned to Xiao Dong: “Has the prince’s carriage been called to pick everyone up?”

 

Xiao Dong bowed: “Yes, we sent someone back for the carriage on the way here. It should have arrived by now.”

 

Chu Zhao nodded: “Have Dongning wait in the carriage. Everyone else, please step outside. The consort has had quite a shock-I need to speak with him privately.”

 

The supposedly shocked consort used two fingers to push away half a plate of melon seed shells, trying to hide the evidence, though not very convincingly.

 

Everyone else rose and left the room. Xiao Dong, walking last, thoughtfully closed the door. The prince’s guards stood watch not far from the door.

 

Chu Zhao saw Shen Ziqin’s little movement with the plate and couldn’t maintain his expression. He smiled helplessly, sighed, shook his head, sat down beside Shen Ziqin, pulled the plate toward himself, and began peeling melon seeds for his consort.

 

Chu Zhao’s first words were: “He really didn’t touch you anywhere, did he?”

 

Shen Ziqin was somewhat surprised. He had expected Chu Zhao to be suspicious and get straight to the point, asking for answers. He hadn’t expected him to first reconfirm this matter.

 

 

“Mm, no-everything the officers described just now was witnessed by everyone.”

 

Chu Zhao: “Mhm.”

 

Shen Ziqin blinked: “Does Your Highness have nothing else to ask me?”

 

Chu Zhao finished peeling a handful of sunflower seeds, pushed the plate toward Shen Ziqin: “I had everyone else leave, just waiting for you to speak.”

 

Shen Ziqin smiled, knowing Chu Zhao had understood his look when he entered-otherwise, he wouldn’t have shifted his demeanor so quickly. He continued, “Everyone saw only one side, not the other. Cui Qingshan was right about one thing: I did deliberately let him mistake my identity.”

 

Chu Zhao kept cracking seeds, nodding slightly to show he was listening.

 

“Your Highness, keeping Cui Qingshan in the Patrol Battalion will become a big problem in the future.”

 

Chu Zhao’s hands paused; he looked up and quietly fixed his gaze on Shen Ziqin.

 

Shen Ziqin didn’t flinch. To save Chu Zhao’s life, he needed to show his ability and earn his trust as a partner, not just be treated as a fragile invalid.

 

“When I was at the Marquis of Yin Nan’s, I couldn’t leave the house, but I learned a bit about court affairs from household gossip and current essays. The Cui family is linked to the Ministry of Works, which is tied to the Grand Secretary. Your Highness, aren’t you at odds with the Grand Secretary? Today, seeing Cui Qingshan harass Lord Bai and behave so outrageously-since Lord Bai is close to you and Third Highness, there’s no way Cui Qingshan is on your side. If you want the Patrol Battalion to be useful, it’s not good to keep him around.”

 

Chu Zhao let the rest of the seeds slide into the plate: “How do you know I’m at odds with the Grand Secretary?”

 

Shen Ziqin: “At the wedding, when the Grand Secretary’s gift arrived, didn’t Your Highness immediately hand the list to Steward Meng to exchange for silver?”

 

Chu Zhao’s gaze lingered on Shen Ziqin, and he spoke in a complicated tone: “I’d rather you’d just been helping Lord Bai out of a tight spot and came up with something clever on the fly… Do you realize what it means to tell me all this now?”

 

“I do.”

 

Shen Ziqin stood and gave Chu Zhao a formal bow.

 

“Your Highness, I have no great ambitions-I don’t seek rank or wealth. I just want to live with a clear conscience. You helped me escape the Marquis’s house, sheltered and cared for me, and even stood up for me against the Marquis. For a drop of kindness, I’ll return a spring. I’ve read a few books and am willing to offer what little I can to Your Highness.”

 

Just as he’d told his second brother that good strategists are hard to find, one had delivered himself-no, had already been brought in through three formal proposals and six rites.

 

And this strategist was clever, well-read, flexible, and skillful.

 

As for today’s incident, as long as another official submitted a memorial to the emperor emphasizing “disrespecting the royal family, damaging the royal reputation,” even the Grand Secretary couldn’t protect Cui Qingshan-he’d be stripped of his post and kicked out of the Patrol Battalion.

 

A precise move that directly helped Chu Zhao.

 

Shen Ziqin’s actions and words always surprised Chu Zhao. He’d thought Shen Ziqin was a rare gem best protected in the prince’s residence, not someone who’d ever get involved in politics.

 

He should have just stood gracefully on a branch-why wade into muddy waters?

 

Chu Zhao was silent for a moment, then said, “I never expected gratitude in return. You don’t need to thank me.”

 

Shen Ziqin: “That’s just how I am-it puts my mind at ease.”

 

Everyone has their own code; it’s not easily changed by others’ words.

 

Chu Zhao didn’t say good or bad, only, after a pause: “Let’s discuss this later. Go rest for now. Tonight I…” He paused, remembering that by the time he returned from Jinxiu Pavilion, Shen Ziqin would already be asleep, so he changed it: “I’ll come see you tomorrow.”

 

Shen Ziqin: “Alright.”

 

Chu Zhao didn’t give an immediate answer, and Shen Ziqin wasn’t surprised-people need time to process. Even if Chu Zhao didn’t agree this time, as long as Shen Ziqin kept proving himself, he’d eventually win his trust.

 

Still, Shen Ziqin didn’t quite understand Chu Zhao’s “I’d rather you were just helping Lord Bai”-something about it felt odd.

 

Shen Ziqin and Chu Zhao left together. Outside the watch station, Bai Junxing was still waiting by the prince’s carriage.

 

Bai Junxing handed over the calligraphy he’d carried all the way and cupped his hands to Shen Ziqin: “Thank you for helping me out today, Your Highness. I’ll always remember your kindness.”

 

Shen Ziqin accepted the calligraphy, planning to have it framed later, and replied cheerfully, “You’re too polite, Lord Bai.”

 

Cui Qingshan was truly unlucky to run into Shen Ziqin today. Shen Ziqin’s complete victory helped both Chu Zhao and Bai Junxing-killing two birds with one stone.

 

Building rapport with the protagonist was always good; they might work together in the future.

 

It was also the first time Bai Junxing truly got to know Shen Ziqin. He’d heard the prince’s consort had been appointed to the Hanlin Academy thanks to a remarkable essay, but now he saw firsthand Shen Ziqin’s sharp wit.

 

The emperor, in trying to slight Prince Qin with this marriage, had actually sent a major asset to his household.

 

Chu Zhao stood by, observing the lively conversation between the two. Bai Junxing now owed Shen Ziqin a favor, and their relationship visibly grew closer. Where before Bai Junxing had treated Shen Ziqin as just the prince’s consort, now he seemed genuinely interested in befriending him.

 

That was a good thing for Shen Ziqin.

 

Shen Ziqin caught Chu Zhao’s gaze. Chu Zhao coughed: “Lord Bai, you also suffered from that scoundrel today-you’ll certainly get justice.”

 

Bai Junxing thanked the prince again.

 

Shen Ziqin glanced at Chu Zhao, then at Bai Junxing, and quietly thought, *Huh.*

 

Chu Zhao’s look just now was a bit odd. He didn’t quite get it, but it seemed like Chu Zhao had sized up both him and Bai Junxing.

 

Thinking back, Chu Zhao did mention Bai Junxing quite often in private conversation.

 

If Bai Junxing were just another official, why bring him up so frequently?

 

Shen Ziqin: *Hmm…*

 

Could it be that Chu Zhao… actually has feelings for Bai Junxing?!

 

 

The original novel never mentioned this! Bai Junxing’s love line didn’t have a second male lead-it was a single, straightforward pairing.

 

Shen Ziqin found it hard to believe, but if it really was the case, then some of Chu Zhao’s words suddenly made sense.

 

Your Highness, you can like anyone you want-just not the two main characters! Falling for either of them leads nowhere; they pledged themselves to each other long ago, their love is unbreakable, they’re fated to be together!

 

Shen Ziqin never expected that he’d end up moonlighting as Prince Qin’s relationship advisor while working his main job.

 

But it was fine-romance comes in stages. Right now, Chu Zhao was just showing a bit of interest in his words. Even if there was a budding crush, it was only a vague little seedling; the person involved probably hadn’t even sorted out their own feelings. If it was nipped in the bud at this stage, Chu Zhao wouldn’t get his heart broken-no pain, problem solved.

 

Still, he couldn’t be too hasty. He’d keep observing for a while to confirm if Chu Zhao really had those kinds of feelings.

 

Shen Ziqin’s gaze swept over Chu Zhao and Bai Junxing, and he made up his mind.

 

Chu Zhao noticed Shen Ziqin’s eyes suddenly turn resolute, as if he’d made some big decision.

 

Huh? Did something else just happen in those last few sentences that he missed?

 

After a bit more conversation, everyone went their separate ways-Shen Ziqin headed home, Chu Zhao back to work, and Bai Junxing waited until the two had left before taking his leave.

 

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(advanced chapters available on kofi)