SBMT Chapter 26

Shen Ziqin hadn’t expected Chu Zhao to digest so quickly and still show up at Mingyue Pavilion’s dinner table at supper time.

 

Uh, but he was already eating.

 

Chu Zhao hadn’t expected to arrive right at mealtime either, and paused in surprise. “Why are you eating so late?”

 

Shen Ziqin replied, “The kitchen was testing new pastries. I tried a couple and wasn’t very hungry, so I ate later.”

 

The Mingyue Pavilion chef, having heard how much Shen Shizi praised the pastries from Jinxiu Pavilion, immediately felt a sense of crisis. With him around, how could he let some outside chef steal the young master’s heart?

 

He worked hard, and in just a day, came up with three unique new pastries, determined to win Shen Ziqin’s loyalty for the prince’s residence.

 

Shen Ziqin tasted each one and gave high praise.

 

The chef anxiously asked the crucial question: “Compared to the pear blossom custard from Jinxiu Pavilion, what does Shizi think?”

 

Shen Ziqin was just about to answer when the chef, with great dignity, patted his chest and said, “I know you’re soft-hearted, Shizi, but you don’t have to spare my feelings with polite words. If it’s good, say it’s good. If not, say so. Point out the flaws so we can make even better food for you.”

 

Shen Ziqin swallowed the polite words he was about to say, genuinely moved by the chef’s professionalism.

 

Sincerity for sincerity-so Shen Ziqin earnestly pointed out both the strengths and weaknesses, but his conclusion was clear: Jinxiu Pavilion’s pear blossom custard still scored higher overall.

 

When the chef heard this, the “tough guy” burst into tears, wiping his eyes and wailing as he ran off.

 

A voice drifted back on the wind: “I’ll definitely come back with even better pastries-!”

 

Shen Ziqin: “…”

 

If he’d known the tough guy was so sensitive, he really should have been more tactful.

 

Chu Zhao had arrived just in time for dinner. He couldn’t just eat while Chu Zhao sat and watched, so Shen Ziqin turned his head: “Xiao Dong-oh, Xiao Zhen, bring another set of dishes for His Highness.”

 

Chu Zhao: “You’ve settled on his name?”

 

Shen Ziqin: “Yes, the ‘Zhen’ from ‘Zhenqi Luyi’[mfn]*甄奇录异* is an idiom meaning “selecting and employing outstanding talent”.[/mfn]

 

Also, it’s the battle-hardened Zhen of the Niohulu clan.

 

Chu Zhao praised, “Good character.”

 

Xiao Zhen happily brought the dishes. “I like this name too.”

 

Chu Zhao ladled himself half a bowl of soup but didn’t rush to drink it-he was still really full from earlier, so just a token amount was enough.

 

Shen Ziqin wiped his mouth. “Your Highness, did you have something urgent to discuss?”

 

Now that he was officially on duty, Shen Ziqin was ready to be on call at any time.

 

“No rush, eat while we talk.” Chu Zhao used clean chopsticks to pick out fish for him, motioning for him to keep eating. “Did Shen Minghong come to see you today?”

 

It was much more comfortable eating fish that someone else had deboned-sweet and sour fish, very appetizing. Shen Ziqin finished a piece, nodded: “He brought up the homecoming visit.”

 

Chu Zhao continued deboning fish for him. “The gift list for the homecoming has been ready for a while. It won’t be any less than the dowry the Marquis’s house gave.”

 

Instead of being happy, Shen Ziqin suddenly found the fish in his mouth tasteless: “That’s just great.”

 

Wasn’t that just letting the Marquis’s house benefit for nothing?

 

Chu Zhao glanced at him with amusement. Shen Ziqin’s brow was slightly furrowed; lately, he’d been so well cared for in the prince’s residence that, under the lamplight, his pale skin had a faint, milky glow-just like… milk pudding.

 

Chu Zhao glanced at the soft, smooth, snow-white milk pudding on the table, then back at Shen Ziqin’s face. *Tsk-why do I suddenly have the urge to pinch it?*

 

Chu Zhao set down his chopsticks, suppressing this inappropriate impulse, and pinched his own fingers instead. “The homecoming’s grandeur reflects your status in the prince’s residence. If it’s shabby, today they’ll say you’re out of favor, tomorrow they’ll say you’re sleeping in the pig-cough, the stable.”

 

Shen Ziqin’s “pigsty” comment at the palace gate had been so lethal that even Chu Zhao couldn’t forget it.

 

Shen Ziqin’s brow still didn’t relax. He didn’t care about rumors as long as he was living well, but this wasn’t just about him-others could twist it from another angle, like spreading rumors that Chu Zhao was stingy.

 

People would say: He brought so much dowry, but Prince Qin can’t even provide a decent return gift-isn’t that stingy?

 

Chu Zhao’s reputation had been blackened by the emperor for so long; now it was time to start turning things around. He couldn’t let rumors like that spread.

 

While Shen Ziqin pondered, he didn’t notice Chu Zhao’s gaze drifting back and forth between his face and the milk pudding for quite a while.

 

Lost in thought, Shen Ziqin still didn’t stop eating. Unconsciously, he stuffed in more, and his slightly puffed cheeks looked even more pinchable.

 

Chu Zhao couldn’t help but reach out… and scooped a piece of milk pudding into his own bowl, poking it gently with his spoon.

 

With each poke, it wobbled-soft and bouncy.

 

A moment later, inspiration struck Shen Ziqin: he realized he’d been thinking about this all wrong.

 

He quickly wiped his mouth. “Your Highness, there’s another way.”

 

Chu Zhao was startled, put down the poor, abused pudding, and tried to act casual: “Hmm?”

 

Shen Ziqin’s furrowed brow finally relaxed. He smiled brightly, lips red as cherry blossoms, and dropped a bombshell: “Who says we have to do the homecoming at all?”

 

After a brief surprise, Chu Zhao immediately understood what he meant.

 

Chu Zhao raised an eyebrow: “You mean…”

 

Shen Ziqin nodded: “Whether I’m fit to go home or not is up to me. Anyway, the Marquis’s house will be mine soon-what’s the harm in delaying a bit longer?”

 

If they sent the gifts now and the Marquis’s house ended up being confiscated by the court, wouldn’t that be a waste?

 

A grand homecoming is a big deal for most newlyweds, a matter of pride and face. Most people can’t resist the temptation to show off, and want to make it as extravagant as possible, to outdo everyone else.

 

But Shen Ziqin didn’t care at all.

 

Chu Zhao had never considered skipping the homecoming. Even if he had, it wasn’t something he could suggest-otherwise, it would seem disrespectful to Shen Ziqin.

 

No vanity, no competitiveness-Shen Ziqin was the same inside and out.

 

Chu Zhao chuckled softly.

 

“Your illness really is miraculous.”

 

Most people get superstitious about illness after being sick for so long, but Shen Ziqin, who was originally healthy, was especially open-minded: “You flatter me.”

 

“Alright, if you don’t mind, we’ll just keep putting it off. No need for a homecoming.”

 

Shen Ziqin was relieved. The Marquis’s house still wanted his homecoming gifts? Dream on.

 

He only now noticed the extra piece of milk pudding in Chu Zhao’s bowl.

 

“Your Highness has an appetite?” Shen Ziqin asked. “How about some other dishes-”

 

“No, no need.” Chu Zhao quickly stopped him, eyes on the little pudding in his bowl, and began eating it slowly with a spoon.

 

Thankfully, the pudding was small, so he could just barely finish it.

 

Shen Ziqin: “Your Highness, are you interested in sweet pastries now?”

 

No, it’s just that watching you… made me interested in the pudding.

 

But that was too weird to say.

 

Chu Zhao shook his head, dismissed the other attendants, and changed the subject: “The Patrol Battalion needs a new deputy commander-someone who’ll please the emperor but won’t cause me trouble. Do you have any recommendations?”

 

Sure enough, Shen Ziqin’s attention shifted from the pudding and he seamlessly switched into work mode: “The best option is someone who looks like a counterbalance on the surface but actually sides with you. If that’s not possible, at least pick a neutral who just does the job and doesn’t stir up trouble.”

 

 

“If there’s really no one suitable within the Patrol Battalion, then we’ll have to look at other military officials,” Shen Ziqin sighed. “If only we had detailed information on all the officials.”

 

The original novel only described a limited number of characters.

 

Chu Zhao finally finished the milk pudding and set down his spoon: “Third Brother made just such a dossier. It’s at his residence.”

 

Shen Ziqin blinked.

 

“It covers all officials in the capital of fifth rank and above, as well as those with lower rank but important duties. It lists their names, origins, personalities, and for some, even more detailed information.”

 

…Wow, if the emperor ever discovered such a dossier, the third prince’s head would be forfeit.

 

Chu Zhao truly saw him as one of his own-he’d already shared the not-so-simple truth about the second and third princes, showing real trust.

 

Chu Zhao’s trust warmed Shen Ziqin’s heart.

 

Chu Zhao said, “I’ll send a message and have the volumes brought over for you to review, but don’t copy them-you know why.”

 

Shen Ziqin replied, “No problem, I can memorize them all.”

 

He said this with the calm confidence of a true academic, not a hint of showing off.

 

Chu Zhao didn’t doubt his ability at all: “Then I’ll wait for your good news.”

 

He’d told Shen Ziqin a lot, but things like the knowledge he’d brought from the modern world, or the secret laboratory he’d set up, he wasn’t ready to mention yet.

 

To be precise, it hadn’t occurred to Chu Zhao to bring it up. After all, Shen Ziqin was taking the political route and, with his health, shouldn’t be overworked. Everyone should focus on their strengths-no need for Shen Ziqin to worry about everything; he should have time to recover.

 

If he ever found out, Chu Zhao would mention it then-no rush.

 

Shen Ziqin thought for a moment. “It’s better if I go to Prince An’s residence to fetch the dossier myself-it’ll show more sincerity.”

 

He could also discreetly remind the third prince to screen the people in Jinxiu Pavilion; there were hidden problems.

 

Besides, a carriage ride and some fresh air would be good for Shen Ziqin’s health. Chu Zhao didn’t object. He took a sip of tea to wash away the lingering sweetness, then, remembering something, gave Shen Ziqin a hint.

 

“Bai Junxing, Lord Bai, is also recorded in the dossier. Third Brother thinks highly of him, which is why he tried to get him in contact with Second Brother.”

 

A sensitive string in Shen Ziqin’s heart was plucked: Lord Bai-Chu Zhao had, once again, brought him up out of the blue.

 

Shen Ziqin, suddenly as alert as a cat, carefully probed: “Does the dossier include Lord Bai’s main social connections?”

 

If it did, and Bai Junxing’s childhood sweetheart wasn’t listed…

 

“Only some people have that, like the Grand Secretary and Deputy Secretary.”

 

If everyone’s details were included, it’d take dozens or even hundreds of volumes.

 

Chu Zhao thought, *So the heir is starting to care about Lord Bai’s relationships. He really does care a lot.*

 

Shen Ziqin worried: So it’s not recorded-so does Chu Zhao have feelings for Bai Junxing or not?

 

He couldn’t just blurt out that Lord Bai already had someone, or it’d be hard to explain how he knew.

 

No, he’d just have to ask Bai Junxing about his private life another day, then he could legitimately tell Chu Zhao: Bai Junxing already has someone he loves.

 

That way, whether or not Chu Zhao has a budding crush, it’ll be nipped in the bud.

 

Yes, that’s the plan.

 

Each with their own thoughts, both were sincerely concerned about the other’s love life.

 

Just… on completely different wavelengths.

 

On the roof, Bai Xiao and Hei Ying sat side by side, keeping watch over those inside.

 

Bai Xiao, chewing on candy, propped his chin and asked Hei Ying, “Brother Hei Ying, has the prince taken a liking to anyone lately?”

 

He’d promised the heir he’d keep an eye out for any signs the prince was interested in someone, and report back right away.

 

But now that he was the heir’s personal guard, he couldn’t follow the prince everywhere, so he had to ask Hei Ying.

 

Hei Ying was used to Bai Xiao’s nosy questions and just chalked it up to childish curiosity: “I haven’t seen anything.”

 

Bai Xiao: “Oh.”

 

He tugged Hei Ying’s arm: “If you notice the prince has a crush, you have to tell me, okay?”

 

Hei Ying laughed: “Alright.”

 

So far, the prince’s relationships with everyone were clear-brothers, comrades, subordinates, friends-there wasn’t even a hint of romance. Maybe when someone new appeared in the future…

 

Uh, wait.

 

Hei Ying’s gaze slowly fell on Shen Ziqin.

 

Although the prince had originally said that after the heir married into the household, he just wanted to keep him comfortable and well-fed, with no intention of developing a closer relationship…

 

But now, anyone with eyes could see that Chu Zhao and Shen Ziqin were getting closer and closer.

 

Their relationship was ambiguous and complicated, with no clear boundaries.

 

Carrying the title of consort, doing the work of a strategist, and acting like old friends at first sight.

 

On their wedding night, the noise from the room was so loud that, if the doctor hadn’t checked on the heir the next day, the guards outside might have thought something really happened between the prince and the heir.

 

If anyone had a chance with the prince, it was probably Shen Ziqin.

 

Hei Ying fell silent.

 

Such a complicated relationship-he’d have to start using his brain.

 

 

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(advanced chapters available on kofi)