If you asked who woke up latest in the prince’s residence, it was definitely Shen Ziqin-this was now common knowledge, even to Dongning, who’d only been there a couple of days.
Dongning no longer came to greet him in the morning. Shen Ziqin slept in, and the pastries Chu Zhao had sent home the night before became his midnight snack, leaving him perfectly content.
Shen Ziqin thought, *When Chu Zhao comes later, I’ll definitely persuade him with reason and emotion-I must secure the strategist position.*
He was good at job interviews.
Why wait until later? Simple: Chu Zhao still had to work. He’d said he’d come by after work, so Shen Ziqin would wait until then.
But Shen Ziqin hadn’t expected another visitor today.
His long hair cascading down his back, Xiao Dong helped tie it up: “Young Master Shen Minghong from the Marquis of Yin Nan’s house has sent a card asking to see the princess consort. He’s been waiting for over half an hour.”
Shen Minghong?
Shen Ziqin thought for a moment. If Shen Minghong was here, there could only be one reason-
He was probably here to urge him to return home.
He’d fallen ill right after the wedding, even delaying his palace visit. The Marquis’s household couldn’t push him then-they wouldn’t dare get ahead of the emperor-but now that he’d gone to court and made a stir, clearly able to walk and move, it was time to return to his family, right?
While Dongning waited, Shen Ziqin tidied up quickly, but let Shen Minghong wait-“Let him wait, I’ll go after breakfast.”
Xiao Dong’s eyes flickered: “Yes, sir.”
Though Xiao Dong was efficient, he’d only ever followed Steward Meng’s orders, doing household chores and knowing little of the residence’s secrets or Shen Ziqin’s relationship with the Marquis’s house.
When assigned to serve Shen Ziqin, he’d only heard that the consort’s accompanying servant had made a mistake, but the details were hush-hush, as the prince forbade gossip.
Still, he was sharp enough to see from Shen Ziqin’s attitude that the consort was not close to his brother.
As for the rest, he’d keep watching.
A good worker’s quality: observe carefully, do things thoroughly.
Except for the complex ceremonial dress, Shen Ziqin now dressed himself in ordinary clothes, but tying his hair was too tricky, so Xiao Dong helped while Shen Ziqin secretly tried to learn.
He’d tried to do his own hair before, but the result was a bizarre work of art. Regretfully, he kept practicing.
After leisurely washing up and eating breakfast and medicine, he finally had Xiao Dong bring Shen Minghong to his courtyard.
As Shen Minghong entered Mingyue Pavilion, the first thing he saw was the scenery.
The flowers were in full bloom, the grass lush and birds singing. The grass wasn’t just weeds, but a vibrant, beautiful green. The rock garden was artfully arranged, the covered walkway crossed a small pond, and in the water, koi of various colors swam freely, sparkling in the sunlight.
Shen Ziqin’s courtyard in the Marquis of Yin Nan’s residence was lifeless, while this place was vibrant with life.
The contrast was like heaven and earth.
When Shen Minghong arrived, Shen Ziqin was enjoying tea in the sunshine by a stone table in the courtyard, looking quite content.
Shen Minghong stiffly bowed with a very complicated expression: “This official greets the Prince Qin’s consort.”
When under someone’s roof, one must bow their head.
Though the wedding day had been so unpleasant, with Shen Ziqin refusing to let him carry him out, Shen Minghong could only pretend it never happened.
He never imagined the emperor would truly reinstate Chu Zhao, and even more surprisingly, grant Shen Ziqin an official position!
Now, from any perspective, his status was far below Shen Ziqin’s-even his official rank couldn’t compare.
When Shen Minghong first heard the news, he locked himself in his room and raged helplessly for an entire day.
At that time, his mind was filled with just three big words: Why him?!
For years, Shen Ziqin had held the heir’s position, a status above his own. Shen Minghong thought they’d gotten rid of him with a humiliating marriage, expecting to laugh at his misfortune, but instead, Shen Ziqin had turned the tables and was still firmly above him.
Shen Minghong grew increasingly worried: Could he still reclaim the heir’s position?
And increasingly resentful: Why did Shen Ziqin have everything better than him from birth?
He couldn’t accept it.
But Shen Minghong seemed to forget how Shen Ziqin, despite his empty title as heir, had been bullied by them for years in the Marquis’s household. If that could be called “being above him,” then even the worst criminals could claim injustice.
Abusers never think they’re wrong. Whatever they do seems justified to them, but if someone makes them uncomfortable, that’s unacceptable.
How shameless.
When making the wedding clothes, Chu Zhao had ordered some everyday clothes for Shen Ziqin as well. The clothes he’d brought from the Marquis’s house were now buried at the bottom of his trunk. Today he wore a dark blue robe with a double-fish jade pendant at his waist, the belt accentuating his beautiful figure.
Most importantly, his complexion was now excellent. If before he’d been a sickly little white flower that could fall with a breeze, the prince’s residence had gradually transformed him into a magnificent peony.
Dazzlingly beautiful, unparalleled in elegance.
Faced with such beauty, Shen Minghong felt even worse, his heart churning with jealousy and bitterness.
After accepting his greeting, Shen Ziqin didn’t invite him to sit, but directly asked: “What brings you here?”
Shen Minghong was incredulous. He glanced at the stool by the stone table, then at the indifferent Shen Ziqin-
Shen Ziqin was selectively blind, pretending not to see.
Shen Minghong gritted his teeth and had no choice but to stand while replying: “Father sent me to ask when you’ll be returning home, so the household can prepare.”
It was indeed about the homecoming visit.
Honestly, if Shen Minghong hadn’t come today, Shen Ziqin would have forgotten all about it.
He simply said: “You’ll be notified in advance. Just wait for news at the Marquis’s residence.”
Shen Minghong tried to stay calm: “Is there a specific date?”
Shen Ziqin’s gaze swept over Shen Minghong, and he suddenly gave a mocking smile.
“I dismissed the personal attendant I brought from the Marquis’s house-you must know about that, right?”
Shen Minghong’s heart instantly tightened: He knew.
Because that person had begged the Marquis’s household to take him back, they also knew exactly what had happened.
The medicine Shen Ziqin had been given at the Marquis’s house-the truth couldn’t be hidden forever and had been discovered.
They could insist nothing was wrong, but between the prince’s doctor and the Marquis’s household, Shen Ziqin would make his choice.
Seeing Shen Minghong’s poorly concealed change in expression, Shen Ziqin understood: “I see you know. Yet you still come to urge my return-I don’t know whether to call that audacity or thick skin.”
Shen Minghong: “You-!”
He’d barely raised his voice when he noticed the prince’s servants’ gazes suddenly turn sharp. He had to swallow his words along with his anger, the suppression making him ache all over.
Did he want to come? He had no choice. If a married person never returned home, how would the capital gossip about their family? The Marquis had been so anxious lately he’d developed sores on his lips!
Shen Ziqin had no interest in continuing: “Xiao Dong, see the guest out.”
Shen Minghong looked up abruptly, disbelieving: “Your Highness, I am your family no matter what. I come to your residence and you don’t even offer a cup of tea before sending me away? Is this how the prince’s household treats guests?”
This was too much!
He was about to explode, but Shen Ziqin remained calm, asking Xiao Dong leisurely: “Did you serve him tea while he was waiting for me earlier?”
Xiao Dong: “Yes.”
If only he’d known the consort disliked this person, he wouldn’t have served any!
Shen Ziqin immediately looked at Shen Minghong with disdain: “You already drank it, yet you deny it? The prince’s residence serves only good tea-you got lucky.”
Shen Minghong: “…”
He really shouldn’t have come!
Xiao Dong, very perceptive, stepped forward to block Shen Minghong’s view, announcing loudly: “This way, Young Master Shen.”
It sounded polite, but the tone suggesting he might not leave willingly nearly made Shen Minghong spit blood in rage.
Shen Ziqin watched with great satisfaction.
You bullied me in the Marquis’s house, now you know what it feels like. Serves you right.
In the past, when Shen Minghong got too angry, he would hit Shen Ziqin. Let him try that now.
Hei Ying was catching birds on the neighboring roof, and other guards were nearby.
This wasn’t a place where Shen Minghong could act without restraint anymore.
Shen Minghong left the prince’s residence in humiliation. He walked with his head down, fuming, until he reached the street. A dog trotted by and, as it passed him, casually lifted its hind leg.
By the time Shen Minghong smelled the urine and looked up in shock, the dog had already disappeared.
Shen Minghong: “…”
His anger meter was full, but with no target to vent on, he let out a frustrated growl and angrily stomped the foot the dog had blessed.
Passersby looked up; someone walking by was startled, completely baffled. Realizing his loss of composure, Shen Minghong, face burning with embarrassment under everyone’s gaze, quickly lowered his head and hurried away.
It was practically a panicked retreat.
Didn’t check the almanac before going out-bad luck this year.
When he stumbled back to the marquis’s residence, dazed, he went straight to his courtyard, bathed, and changed clothes. Only after a breeze cooled him off did he finally calm down.
When the issue with the medicine was exposed earlier, he and the Marquis of Yin Nan had worried whether Prince Qin would retaliate, and quickly reviewed everything they’d done over the years.
The small things could be ignored. The bigger ones-accepting bribes-the total wasn’t much, hard to investigate, so there shouldn’t be a problem.
After analyzing, the Marquis’s household breathed a sigh of relief, but they still kept a low profile at court recently.
He had the day off today, so he didn’t know how lively the morning court was.
Cui Qingshan, sitting in prison, was having similar thoughts to Shen Minghong. He also felt like he hadn’t checked the almanac before going out-how did he end up running into Shen Ziqin?
What Shen Minghong didn’t know was that the evidence of bribery by him and his father had already been placed on the second prince’s desk, ready to be used.
He was still playing house politics with Shen Ziqin, but Shen Ziqin was getting ready to wipe out the whole lot.
Their thinking wasn’t even on the same level.
He’d gone to Prince Qin’s residence today and gained nothing. Shen Minghong sighed. The Marquis wasn’t back from court yet, so he’d have to comfort his mother later.
Shen Ziqin’s homecoming wasn’t just about the Marquis’s reputation, but also about property-after all, a homecoming visit meant bringing gifts back.
Madam Luo, who had added so much to Shen Ziqin’s dowry just for show, was heartbroken and anxiously waiting for the gold, silver, and jewels to come home.
How much Shen Minghong’s head ached was his own problem-Shen Ziqin didn’t care. Xiao Dong poured him more tea: “If he comes again next time, I’ll serve him a big cup of bitter kuding tea.”
“Don’t waste good kuding,” Shen Ziqin said, thrifty as always. “Just say I’m not in. Don’t even let him through the door.”
Xiao Dong immediately understood: “Yes!”
With the unwanted guest gone, Shen Ziqin could work on his plans and wait for Chu Zhao to come home.
Chu Zhao’s job was five days on, one day off, and he got off work at the hour of Shen (3–5 p.m.). If he finished early, he could leave sooner, but as commander of the Patrol Battalion, if anything urgent came up, he could be called at any time-so his schedule was very flexible.
Shen Ziqin thought it was just like modern life: after work, the evil chat apps would still send you work messages.
But there was no helping it-if something big happened, the people below didn’t dare make decisions on their own.
But as he thought about it, a string in Shen Ziqin’s mind suddenly snapped him awake: right, no one else knew he wanted to save Chu Zhao’s life, so on the surface, he should act like a job-seeker.
How could he just wait for Chu Zhao to come to him? He needed to be proactive!
Chu Zhao was so good to him, it had dulled his senses-he’d gotten too used to being idle, he’d forgotten how to hustle!
Chu Zhao said he’d come see him today, but should he just sit around waiting? No-he needed to let Chu Zhao feel the warmth of a strategist first, to show his determination to contribute.
Shen Ziqin regretted his earlier complacency and resolved to do better.
So he called Xiao Dong and told him to have the kitchen make some savory snacks that afternoon.
Xiao Dong was briefly stunned, then his eyes lit up as he guessed the reason: “Shizi, savory snacks are the prince’s favorite. Are you…?”
Shen Ziqin nodded firmly: “Put them in the carriage. This afternoon, we’ll go wait for the prince outside the Patrol Battalion and pick him up after work.”
Xiao Dong’s mind exploded with excitement.
The prince always thought of home when he was out, and the consort missed him so much after just one day apart that he couldn’t wait and wanted to fetch him in person.
They’re so in love!
The consort and the prince are the real deal!
(advanced chapters available on kofi)
Xiao Dong jest świetny, no ja tez czekam kiedy obydwaj panowie uświadomią sobie stan swoich uczuć…