SBMT Chapter 27

Chu Zhao had no idea Hei Ying was having such strange thoughts. That night, he sent Hei Ying to Prince An’s residence with a message.

 

Third Prince Chu Jinxu was strolling around his residence after dinner when Hei Ying appeared on the wall, accompanied by Prince An’s guards.

 

After reading the letter, Chu Jinxu stroked his chin. “So the heir is now acting as his strategist. Our sister-in-law is more capable than I thought.”

 

Chu Zhao trusted Shen Ziqin enough to share everything with him. If the fact that they were privately gathering intelligence on court officials ever reached the emperor, both he and Chu Zhao would be summoned by their eldest brother the crown prince.

 

Chu Jinxu himself had spent quite some time vetting Bai Junxing. Although Chu Zhao’s judgment was usually spot on, as an elder brother, he could still help by giving some advice.

 

He decided he’d have a longer chat with Shen Ziqin tomorrow.

 

He nodded to Hei Ying. “I’ll have the dossiers ready. He can come by anytime tomorrow.”

 

 

Hei Ying cupped his fists in salute, then leapt away along the wall.

 

The next day, Shen Ziqin set out for Prince An’s residence. On the way, he stopped at Jinxiu Pavilion, went inside, bought two jars of wine, and ordered several kinds of pastries.

 

While waiting for the pastries to be freshly made, he even chatted with the waiter for a bit.

 

After finishing these errands, he carried his gifts and continued on to Prince An’s residence.

 

The Prince Qin’s carriage stopped, and Bai Xiao hurried to help Shen Ziqin down-not sure if this was Chu Zhao’s instruction or just the boy’s own habit, but whenever Shen Ziqin got in or out of a carriage, he always insisted on supporting him steadily.

 

The doorman at Prince An’s residence greeted them with a smile, but then saw another person getting off the carriage.

 

A pinkish-lilac dress, lively and adorable-it was none other than Princess Dongning.

 

The doorman’s smile instantly froze, and then he actually looked a bit flustered and at a loss.

 

Shen Ziqin: ?

 

What’s with that reaction?

 

Just because he saw Dongning?

 

Shen Ziqin had run into Dongning when leaving the house. Dongning, hearing he was going to Prince An’s residence, asked if he could come along, saying he wanted to greet his third royal brother.

 

Shen Ziqin thought, there was no harm in bringing him to meet Chu Jinxu. He could have the palace staff take Dongning to play in Prince An’s residence while they discussed business-there was plenty of fun to be had there.

 

Even if Prince An’s household hadn’t expected the princess, the doorman’s reaction shouldn’t have been like this.

 

It was as if he had a guilty conscience.

 

The doorman hesitated, then finally wiped his brow and forced himself to open the door. “Consort, Princess, please come in.”

 

As the vermilion doors opened, faint music drifted out, mixed with indistinct voices-not singing, but as soon as they stepped inside, Shen Ziqin clearly heard what it was.

 

It was the raucous laughter and teasing of idle young noblemen.

 

In the main courtyard, right in front of the main hall, a group of brightly dressed, flamboyant young men were gathered around the most unruly of them all-Chu Jinxu. Some played instruments, some danced, and Chu Jinxu had one person on his left, another on his right, soft and fragrant beauties at his side, being fed fruit on a lounge chair-utterly carefree.

 

He heard footsteps, looked up cheerfully-and saw Shen Ziqin and… tiny Dongning standing beside him.

 

Chu Jinxu’s laughter stopped abruptly.

 

Shen Ziqin: “…”

 

Dongning’s eyes widened: “…”

 

The doorman buried his head, trying to become invisible.

 

Shen Ziqin reacted quickly, covering Dongning’s eyes. “Be good, good children shouldn’t look.”

 

Chu Jinxu jumped up on the spot, nearly knocking over the fruit tray: “Everyone, go to the back courtyard! Take your things, fix your clothes, don’t let the child see!”

 

Dongning, eyes covered by Shen Ziqin, thought: *I already saw…*

 

The young nobles didn’t know what was going on, but followed Chu Jinxu’s panic, fluttering like startled sparrows as they scrambled away with their things.

 

The lively front courtyard fell suddenly silent. Shen Ziqin let go of Dongning’s eyes.

 

Chu Jinxu straightened his clothes and came forward. Though clearly embarrassed, he still managed a smile for Dongning.

 

Dongning pursed his lips and bowed: “Greetings, Third Royal Brother.”

 

Chu Jinxu patted his head. “Good girl.”

 

Then he saw Dongning clutching Shen Ziqin’s sleeve, carefully but obviously edging closer to him, putting a little more distance between himself and Chu Jinxu.

 

Chu Jinxu: “…”

 

What to do if your little sister now dislikes you-panic!

 

“Dongning, it’s not what you think, your royal brother was just playing around with them.”

 

Dongning glanced at him, said nothing, but edged even closer to Shen Ziqin.

 

Chu Jinxu: …I’m doomed.

 

Shen Ziqin broke the silence: “Your Highness, why not have someone take Dongning to play? He’s never been to your residence, it’d be good for him to look around.”

 

“Yes, yes!” Chu Jinxu immediately seized the lifeline. “Someone, take the princess to play-if she likes anything, help her pack it up and take it home.”

 

He added to the staff, “Keep her away from the west wing, remember.”

 

All the performers had already fled to the west wing.

 

Once Dongning had left, Chu Jinxu, still smiling politely, led Shen Ziqin inside. Only after leaving the front courtyard did he drop the act and collapse in frustration.

 

“Why did Dongning have to come too! My good royal brother image is ruined!”

 

“I ran into him on the way out-he said he wanted to see you, so I brought him along,” Shen Ziqin said sympathetically. “But why were you dancing in the front courtyard?”

 

Even the wildest young nobles usually kept their fun in the back courtyards, behind closed doors. Who’d expect Prince An’s grand gates to open onto such a riot of color and perfume-such boldness!

 

Chu Jinxu slumped, exhausted. “Doesn’t this just make me look even more depraved and scandalous?”

 

With the front gate as a backdrop, the visual impact was shocking-even just loosening your clothes and lounging around with people draped over you was enough to make people avert their eyes.

 

He looked like a wild playboy, but in reality, the most he’d done was cuddle a little, not even a kiss-just for show, no real action.

 

As an adult, he was a very “pure” rake.

 

Shen Ziqin patted his shoulder consolingly. “I didn’t expect Your Highness to be so dedicated to the act.”

 

Knowing he was coming today, Chu Jinxu had still kept up the performance-maybe in case an imperial spy happened to pass by and saw his “act” interrupted, which would hurt the reputation he’d worked so hard to build.

 

The third prince really didn’t have it easy.

 

Chu Jinxu looked up at Shen Ziqin, full of grievance.

 

He’d been inspired by Chu Zhao and Shen Ziqin-now all the companions he brought in were men.

 

Shen Ziqin, seeing that look, relented. “…Next time, I’ll let you know in advance and bring Dongning especially to see you?”

 

Chu Jinxu stood up on the spot and tidied his clothes, regaining his composure. “Then she’ll see what a great royal brother she has!”

 

 

The sky cleared, the rain stopped, and Chu the Peacock was back in action.

 

With his smile restored, he led Shen Ziqin through a winding route to a study.

 

The attendants all waited outside; only Chu Jinxu and Shen Ziqin entered.

 

There weren’t many books in the study, but plenty of calligraphy, paintings, and porcelain. The brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones on the desk were all valuable, but looked mostly untouched-just luxurious decorations.

 

The display shelves were lined with coral and jade, all about dazzling wealth-whether or not it looked good, it was certainly expensive.

 

Chu Jinxu walked to the treasure shelf and moved a few ornaments. As soon as he shifted the first item and a mechanical click sounded, Shen Ziqin understood: there was a secret compartment.

 

So Shen Ziqin tactfully lowered his head, not prying into someone else’s secrets.

 

While manipulating the mechanism, Chu Jinxu glanced back, silently approving-Shen Ziqin’s initiative to avoid suspicion showed he was tactful.

 

After pressing several mechanisms in sequence, the treasure shelf clicked, slowly rotated, and a door opened in the wall behind, revealing a hidden room.

 

Chu Jinxu entered and brought out a box.

 

“Everything you want is in here,” Chu Jinxu handed it over. “Sister-in-law, whatever reminders Sixth Brother should have given you, I won’t repeat.”

 

Shen Ziqin took it and glanced at the number of dossiers: “Don’t worry, Your Highness, I’ll memorize them all in three days and return them intact.”

 

Chu Jinxu was stunned: “Three days? Memorize them all?”

 

Shen Ziqin, puzzled: “Yes, is there a problem?”

 

Chu Jinxu: “……”

 

That’s a big problem.

 

Names and intelligence aren’t like logical essays you can remember by flow, or like poetry with emotion and rhythm-they can only be memorized by rote, no shortcuts.

 

With so much material, even if you locked Chu Jinxu in a room for months, he couldn’t memorize it all.

 

The last person to do so was Chu Zhao.

 

At the time, Chu Jinxu wasn’t discouraged, knowing Chu Zhao was a special case-but today, Shen Ziqin’s appearance proved there really could be a second one in the world.

 

Seeing Chu Jinxu silent for a long time, Shen Ziqin asked, “Your Highness?”

 

“…Nothing, just reflecting on myself.” Chu Jinxu gave him a long look, sinking into deep self-doubt. *Am I really just too stupid?*

 

As they walked out, Shen Ziqin handed the box to Bai Xiao and casually chatted with Chu Jinxu: “Today I stopped at Jinxiu Pavilion to buy wine and chatted with the waiter for a bit.”

 

Chu Jinxu, still dazed, was pulled back to reality: “Hm?”

 

“He’s quite talkative, can chat about anything,” Shen Ziqin smiled. “He even mentioned that when Jinxiu Pavilion was hiring recently, an unusually large number of people applied. He thought it was incredible.”

 

“Jinxiu Pavilion does good business, so of course many want to work there. But, Your Highness, if anything out of the ordinary happens, you should be extra cautious and keep an eye out.”

 

Chu Jinxu snapped to attention-Jinxiu Pavilion was important. The old staff were all his handpicked confidants, but as business grew, he let the manager hire new people, including a few who didn’t know the inside story, to cover things up. He only checked in occasionally.

 

He hadn’t paid much attention lately.

 

Shen Ziqin’s mention-did he spot something wrong at Jinxiu Pavilion?

 

Chu Jinxu nodded: “I understand.”

 

When he was serious, he was very serious.

 

With the hint given, Shen Ziqin took the dossiers and returned to the prince’s residence.

 

Back home, Shen Ziqin immediately dove into work, not letting the dossiers leave his hands.

 

As the names and information-many not recorded in the original novel-flowed into his mind, Shen Ziqin’s mental map of the imperial court grew ever more complete, branching out like a tree, the whole picture unfolding before his eyes.

 

Shen Ziqin had a flaw: when he got absorbed in reading, he’d forget to eat or sleep.

 

At the prince’s residence, food was delivered at set times, so he didn’t have to worry about eating, but sleep was up to him.

 

He could feel his health improving-just days ago, he’d be drowsy by 9 p.m., but tonight, even past that time, though tired, he could still push on.

 

So he forced his eyes open, planning to stay up a little late.

 

9 p.m. was nothing-normal people’s nightlife hadn’t even started. Shen Ziqin used to pull all-nighters; it was only his frail body that had forced him into a good sleep schedule.

 

He managed to stay up another half hour before he couldn’t focus anymore and finally went to bed.

 

His dreams were filled with swirling officials.

 

He didn’t expect that just half an hour of lost sleep would bring consequences the next day.

 

The young heir was sick again.

 

Luckily, it wasn’t serious-just a mild cold, stuffy nose, and light cough. He didn’t have to stay in bed and could still move around.

 

When someone tried to rush off to the Patrol Battalion to report to Chu Zhao, Shen Ziqin stopped them: “It’s just a little illness, no need to make a fuss or bother His Highness at work. Don’t go.”

 

To Shen Ziqin, their reaction was exaggerated.

 

The servant hesitated: “But…”

 

“It’s fine,” Shen Ziqin said firmly. “Go about your business.”

 

The servants had no choice but to agree and disperse.

 

But that evening, when Chu Zhao returned, he still heard about the illness.

 

Chu Zhao’s first reaction: “Did the doctor say it’s not serious?”

 

Whether it’s serious or not isn’t up to the patient-it’s the doctor’s word that counts.

 

The servant nodded: “Yes, the doctor said the young master just stayed up a bit late and caught a chill, that’s all.”

 

Chu Zhao frowned. Shen Ziqin had stayed up-was he reading the dossiers?

 

He decided not to disturb him that night, but to talk to him tomorrow afternoon: being a strategist was important, but so was taking care of his health.

 

He’d come home late tonight; Shen Ziqin was probably already asleep.

 

But he didn’t expect that, not long after, Xiao Zhen would come rushing to his courtyard, asking for an audience.

 

 

“Your Highness.”

 

Xiao Zhen cupped his hands, speaking quickly and clearly: “The doctor said the young master must get proper rest, but it’s already this late and he’s still in the study. We couldn’t persuade him-Your Highness, please go check on him!”

 

Chu Zhao shot to his feet, completely surprised: “He’s sick and still not asleep?”

 

Xiao Zhen, anxious: “Yes.”

 

Without another word, Chu Zhao strode out, leaving Xiao Zhen behind.

 

His impression of Shen Ziqin was like a lazy cat-clever, but always languid and slow, occasionally striking with precision, then curling up contentedly to bask in the sun.

 

He’d never imagined “rising early and staying up late” would ever apply to Shen Ziqin.

 

Chu Zhao strode into the study. By the lamplight, Shen Ziqin sat wrapped in a robe, his figure delicate but his gaze intensely focused, bright as a flame.

 

Even Chu Zhao’s hurried, heavy footsteps didn’t disturb him-instead, Chu Zhao himself was the one who froze.

 

…This was the first time he’d seen Shen Ziqin like this.

 

Reading by lamplight at midnight, the very image of a refined scholar: as if being shaped and polished into something exquisite.

 

After a brief daze, Chu Zhao unconsciously lightened his steps, walked to the desk, and gently called, “Shizi.”

 

Shen Ziqin was already getting drowsy and had to muster all his willpower to focus. Chu Zhao’s voice, though soft, startled him because he was so close.

 

“Ah!”

 

Shen Ziqin knocked over a book with his arm, but Chu Zhao reacted quickly and caught it.

 

“Ah… Your Highness.”

 

Shen Ziqin snapped back to himself.

 

His voice was muffled, with a soft, nasal tone, but his eyes sparkled: “Your Highness, I’ve had an unexpected breakthrough-I’ve thought of a strategy that could help you and the second prince in court in a few days, it’s-”

 

“Shizi.” Chu Zhao interrupted helplessly, “It can wait until tomorrow. You need to rest now.”

 

His plan was nearly complete in his head-if he didn’t finish it, it would drive his perfectionist mind crazy. Shen Ziqin pleaded, “Just give me one incense stick’s time.”

 

Chu Zhao silently watched him and reached for the book in Shen Ziqin’s hand.

 

“Uhh…” Shen Ziqin, holding the book with just his last two fingers, tried to bargain, “Half… half an incense stick is fine too.”

 

With a “swish,” Chu Zhao neatly pulled the book away.

 

Shen Ziqin looked at him longingly-at the book in his hand, not at Chu Zhao.

 

Whether he was dazed or just exhausted, Shen Ziqin stayed sitting, not moving.

 

Chu Zhao raised an eyebrow.

 

“Shen Shizi.”

 

Shen Ziqin’s gaze lingered on the book. “Hm?”

 

“My apologies.”

 

Shen Ziqin: ?

 

He looked confused, and in the next second, his feet suddenly left the ground, his vision spun, and his mind finally cleared.

 

Shen Ziqin: !?

 

Chu Zhao had picked him up…

 

Picked him up!

 

Shen Ziqin’s voice was distorted by shock: “Wait, Your Highness-!”

 

Chu Zhao: “No waiting.”

 

He carried Shen Ziqin straight out of the study, heading directly for the bedroom.

 

To avoid making Shen Ziqin uncomfortable, Chu Zhao didn’t sling him over his shoulder, but held him so his hands could rest on Chu Zhao’s shoulders.

 

If Shen Ziqin turned around, it would basically be a one-armed embrace.

 

“I gave you a chance earlier,” Chu Zhao said easily. “Time to sleep, Shizi.”

 

 

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(advanced chapters available on kofi)