After dinner, Chu Zhao returned to his own quarters. Since Shen Ziqin had finished memorizing the dossiers and returned the books to the third prince, Chu Zhao couldn’t think of any reason for him to stay up late, so he stopped checking on him every night.
Shen Ziqin had Xiao Zhen prepare his court robes.
After being granted his official post by the emperor, he hadn’t attended court yet, but the robes had long been ready.
The crimson cloud-patterned scholar’s robe was embroidered with a white silver pheasant, the auspicious bird spreading its wings, lifelike. Xiao Zhen held up the robe: “Such a bright red-Shizi will look wonderful in it.”
Whether it looked good or not, the style of court robes was fixed; Shen Ziqin didn’t care. “Just remember to wake me up at the start of Mao hour tomorrow.”
At this, Xiao Zhen’s flattery froze, and he pursed his lips, worried: “Shizi, your body still needs care. Why not rest more at home? There’s no rush to attend court.”
For Xiao Zhen, taking care of the heir was his top priority. With a body weaker than most, how could his sleep and wake times be compared to others’?
But Shen Ziqin was determined: “There are important matters at court these days-I need to see for myself.”
Court politics were beyond Xiao Zhen’s understanding. Since his master had decided, he could only agree and not delay important matters.
Shen Ziqin was confident in himself. Considering his health, he even went to bed early to make sure he’d be well-rested and able to get up early.
So the next day, at the start of Mao hour, as the eastern sky began to lighten and most of the night’s darkness still lingered, Xiao Zhen arrived at the bedroom door.
He knocked three times: “Shizi, it’s Mao hour. Time to get up.”
He waited a moment as etiquette required, then said, “Shizi, I’m coming in to assist you.”
Xiao Zhen gently pushed the door open and found that the heir wasn’t fully asleep-but…
Shen Ziqin rolled over, struggling, eyes unable to open, body barely able to leave the bed, mumbling a vague response.
Awake, but not really awake-half-awake.
Honestly, Xiao Zhen couldn’t bear to wake him, but afraid of delaying his master’s business, he called again: “Shizi?”
This time, Shen Ziqin moved more.
He braced his arms, slowly lifted his waist, managed to rise three inches only to slump back two, repeating the effort several times. Under Xiao Zhen’s sympathetic gaze, he finally managed to sit up!
Good, just one step away from getting out of bed!
Leaning against the headboard, Shen Ziqin could barely open his eyes, his voice thick with sleep: “Is… is it time?”
Xiao Zhen instinctively lowered his voice: “Yes.”
Shen Ziqin: “Okay… okay…”
As he spoke, his head nodded, looking as if he might fall asleep again at any moment.
Xiao Zhen’s heart twisted with worry-should he go ask the prince if the heir could skip today?
Just then, there was a knock at the door.
Xiao Zhen immediately turned: “Who is it?”
Chu Zhao’s voice came from outside: “It’s me.”
Xiao Zhen felt saved: “Your Highness!”
“Is the heir up?”
Xiao Zhen hurried to open the door: “Your Highness, the heir isn’t up yet-please, come in.”
Chu Zhao was already fully dressed and ready to go.
A prince of Great Qi going to court wore a dark court robe and jade belt, dignified and noble, but on Chu Zhao, the solemn air was somehow subdued by his presence, and every gesture was strikingly elegant.
Chu Zhao entered and saw Shen Ziqin leaning against the headboard, nodding like a pecking chick.
Another look Chu Zhao had never seen before.
The heir was like a treasure chest-every day, opening it revealed something new.
Unable to get up, the heir looked even more harmless than when he was asleep, his whole body soft, as if he might curl up into a ball at any moment.
Chu Zhao’s hands itched to reach out-he looked just like a little animal, too cute.
The battle-hardened Chu Zhao sat by the bed and said softly, “Shizi?”
The heir didn’t answer, but his elbow twitched, and then, very slowly and with great effort, he lifted his head.
Just out from under the covers, his face was flushed from the warmth, his usually bright eyes now barely open, showing only a hint of drowsiness and confusion through the sliver of eyelid.
The autumn-water eyes turned into a peach-blossom mist, lingering and tender.
Chu Zhao felt that, this time, his heart wasn’t being struck-it was being enveloped in mist, gently moistened, making the thumping in his chest ever clearer.
So quiet, yet so noisy.
Chu Zhao unconsciously even softened his breathing, and began to wonder: am I really acting a bit strange lately?
Shen Shizi’s hazy gaze drifted: “I’ll… get up… mm!”
His hand slipped from the edge of the bed, and his whole body lurched-Chu Zhao instinctively reached out, and Shen Ziqin, quite naturally, tumbled into his arms.
The misty water crashed down like a waterfall, pounding hard against the prince’s heart!
Soft warmth and fragrance in his arms, Chu Zhao instantly froze like a statue, not daring to move a muscle.
Shen Ziqin was only wearing his inner garments, the heat radiating right through the thin fabric; holding him, Chu Zhao could feel every bit of warmth and softness-there was practically no difference from direct contact!
Chu Zhao, trained in martial arts and never afraid of the cold, now felt unbearably hot. Just one Shen Shizi was about to roast the Grand Marshal of Great Qi alive.
With his arms around Shen Ziqin’s shoulders and waist, Chu Zhao was completely at a loss-holding on was torment, but letting go wasn’t an option either.
He couldn’t just let Shen Ziqin fall to the floor, could he?
The crown of Shen Ziqin’s head brushed against his chin, his hair soft as silk. A gentle, woody fragrance drifted from him-not the bitterness of medicinal herbs, but a subtle, elegant scent, winding softly, tugging at the heart.
No one else would know, but Chu Zhao realized his heart was being tugged, bouncing up and down, thumping wildly.
He cleared his throat, voice hoarse: “…Shen Shizi?”
Xiao Zhen, on tiptoe, quietly retreated step by step.
The atmosphere was too good-he felt like something he really wanted to see (but shouldn’t see) was about to happen.
Xiao Zhen was very tactful-he’d never interrupt his masters’ “deep communication.” He loved to watch, but he knew his place.
Wuwuwu, as long as you two are happy, I’ll have a feast for the eyes every day!
He knew the difference between a full meal and a feast every meal.
Shen Ziqin shifted in Chu Zhao’s arms.
He couldn’t open his eyes, feeling as if he was floating on clouds, unable to tell dream from reality, but his determination to get up still stubbornly pushed him on.
So, in his daze, Shen Ziqin lifted his hand and pressed it to Chu Zhao’s chest, trying to push himself upright.
Chu Zhao: …
His heart was already screaming, and now, with that push, it almost exploded.
Shen Ziqin wriggled a bit, barely managing to pull away from Chu Zhao’s embrace, only to feel a rush of cold.
By instinct, he immediately snuggled back into the warmth-right into Chu Zhao’s arms.
Back in the cozy embrace, Shen Ziqin rubbed against the warmth, and his resolve to get up was completely defeated in this gentle haven; his eyes closed, and he fell asleep in seconds.
After being snuggled twice by the soft Shen Ziqin, Chu Zhao: “…”
Move? Not a chance.
He realized again just how strong his self-control was-he’d actually survived this!
Chu Zhao held him, not daring to move, and when he felt Shen Ziqin’s breathing become slow and steady, he gently laid him back on the bed.
Shen Ziqin slept soundly, completely unaware.
Chu Zhao tucked him in, face outwardly calm the whole time.
Then he strode out to the outer room, lifted his arm, and pinched himself hard.
Beneath his calm exterior, Chu Zhao’s mind was a stormy sea, thunder rolling, all kinds of voices roaring-he was one step away from standing on a cliff and howling like a marmot.
Chu Zhao: Taking advantage of being half-awake to do whatever you want-hugging and rubbing, where’s your dignity!!!
The more he thought about it, the more he felt he’d suffered a loss, and the more he couldn’t take it, so he turned and strode back inside-
He was going to get back everything he’d lost, with interest, from Shen Shizi.
This time, Prince Qin really showed some backbone-not only did he poke Shen Ziqin’s cheeks several times, he even dared to give them a squeeze.
Delicate and warm-wasn’t this even better than milk pudding?
Chu Zhao, moving quietly, pinched the left cheek twice, then the right, and finally felt satisfied.
The emptiness he’d felt in his arms was finally filled.
Shen Ziqin, unaware that his cheeks had fallen victim, slept on peacefully.
Chu Zhao looked at him for a moment, then, after a brief silence, couldn’t help but reach out and give one last pinch.
“You really are…”
Really what? Even Chu Zhao didn’t know how to finish the sentence.
Shen Ziqin was a truly special person-unlike anyone else Chu Zhao had ever met. He’d known plenty of people with strong personalities, but Shen Ziqin was the first he’d ever clicked with instantly.
It felt like they were always meant to meet.
Ever since coming to the ancient world, Chu Zhao had been looking for a way out of a suffocating cage, trying to live a little more freely. At first, his urge to protect Shen Ziqin was overwhelming-not just because he was sickly and fragile, but perhaps because he saw some of himself in Shen Ziqin.
Growing up in the rotten soil of the Marquis of Yin Nan’s house, yet never bending or breaking, still keeping that light in his eyes.
He’d been good to Shen Ziqin because of the marriage, and Shen Ziqin repaid him in kind, dragging his sick body into the political arena.
“Don’t be so soft-hearted to everyone-you’ll get taken advantage of.”
At least he could help keep watch; if anyone like Cui Qingshan ever tried to mess with him again, he’d throw them out.
Shen Ziqin was a person of Prince Qin’s household-he would protect him.
Chu Zhao watched him quietly for a while, then got up and silently closed the door.
As the sun rose, driving away the darkness, sunlight filled the room. Shen Ziqin’s eyelashes fluttered.
As consciousness returned, the light from the window crept in, and his not-quite-awake mind drifted: Today’s sunshine is nice, it’s a good day.
…Wait.
Sunshine?
The next second, Shen Ziqin’s eyes flew open-
“Xiao Zhen!!”
Xiao Zhen: “Here!”
Xiao Zhen hurried over at the call, only to see the heir sitting on the bed, his expression shifting from confusion to shock, then to trembling all over.
Shen Ziqin remembered a bit-he seemed to have heard Xiao Zhen’s voice that morning, half-awake, half-asleep, thinking it was a dream. Now it seemed it had been real.
Shen Ziqin slowly hugged his blanket. “…I didn’t manage to get up, did I?”
Xiao Zhen replied softly, “No, Your Highness. The prince came by-he said not to force it, so you don’t need to attend morning court today.”
Chu Zhao actually came by! Didn’t that mean he saw me lazing in bed?
Shen Ziqin sucked in a cold breath, hugging his little blanket helplessly.
Sitting up in shock from his sickbed, only to realize he was the lazybones!
What could be attractive about lying in bed refusing to get up? Behind closed doors, fine-but to let Chu Zhao see it directly, that was truly embarrassing.
In despair, Shen Ziqin buried his face in the blanket.
He’d underestimated the power of the “sickly” debuff-he couldn’t even control getting out of bed.
Three seconds later, he lifted his head and pulled himself together: “It’s fine, there’s still time. I’ll definitely manage it tomorrow morning.”
Where you fall, you get back up-he’d lost face once, but there wouldn’t be a second time. He’d make up for it.
Xiao Zhen: “Uh, Your Highness, did you forget? Tomorrow is the prince’s day off-you two agreed to go to the East Villa for a break.”
Shen Ziqin: …Ah, right.
After a moment’s thought, he said, “Even if I’m not going to court tomorrow, I can still get up early, just to get used to it. Don’t tell the prince-let him sleep in on his day off. Tomorrow, I’ll be the one waiting for him.”
This was nothing-he was determined to prove he could do it.
Thinking of Xiao Zhen’s various antics, Shen Ziqin clutched his blanket and emphasized: “Remember, absolutely do NOT tell the prince.”
This time, Shen Ziqin really anticipated Xiao Zhen’s moves, so Xiao Zhen could only lower his head: “…Yes.”
Poor Shizi, so hardworking-wuwu, my heart aches.
But the heir was still thinking of letting the prince sleep in on his day off-wuwu, so loving.
So the next morning, when Chu Zhao got ready to go to Mingyue Pavilion to pick him up, he was surprised to be told that the heir was already waiting in the carriage.
Wasn’t he usually still taking his medicine at this hour? Today he’d gotten up a little earlier, moved a bit faster?
Chu Zhao hadn’t realized the seriousness of the situation yet and asked casually, “How long has he been waiting? Why didn’t anyone tell me sooner?”
He’d timed everything so he could wait for Shen Ziqin to get ready in his own courtyard.
Steward Meng replied, “Uh, I heard he’s been waiting in the carriage since Mao hour-he specifically instructed us not to tell Your Highness.”
Chu Zhao: !?
So because he couldn’t get up yesterday, he’s determined to prove himself today?
Chu Zhao was both amused and a little worried.
He admired the heir’s stubborn pride-so delicate and frail, yet so determined; and he worried, because after seeing how hard it was for him to get up yesterday, he couldn’t imagine how he’d managed to drag himself out of bed today.
Chu Zhao hurried out, boarded the carriage, and was about to speak-but as soon as he lifted the curtain, the words caught in his throat.
Inside, a sachet swung gently, filling the air with a soft fragrance. Shen Ziqin was leaning against the carriage wall, quietly asleep.
His elegant brows and eyes were relaxed, as if he were floating in a pleasant dream.
Chu Zhao swallowed his words and, without making a sound, sat down beside him.
Knowing the heir, he’d probably meant to wait for Chu Zhao awake, but who knew how long he’d managed to hold out before falling asleep, unwillingly.
So stubborn… there was just no dealing with him.
Chu Zhao gently brushed aside a lock of hair from Shen Ziqin’s face, tucking it behind his ear, smoothing it neatly: But maybe a little stubbornness is good-it means he can stand tall outside.
Chu Zhao tapped the carriage wall three times. The old driver knew the signal, flicked his whip, and set the carriage moving.
Sitting beside Shen Ziqin, Chu Zhao had nothing else to do, so he pulled a book from a box in the carriage.
It was a storybook-Zhou Danmo had stuffed it into the prince’s carriage the last time he hitched a ride, saying it was his and Bai Junxing’s latest work, and asked Chu Zhao to take a look.
Chu Zhao opened the book. The first page was an illustration: on a grassy lawn, one man rested his head on another’s shoulder, a peaceful scene.
Chu Zhao: Hm, that’s rather sweet.
He turned the page. On the second page, the two men were already kissing.
Chu Zhao: ?
He sat up a little straighter and turned to the third page. The two were now lying down, clothes half undone.
With a “snap,” Chu Zhao slammed the book shut and looked again at the cover, finally noticing the bold words at the bottom: For ages 15 and up.
Fun fact: Great Qi’s “15+” is the modern equivalent of “18+”.
…Zhou. Dan. Mo!
Why on earth would you put a restricted book in my carriage? If you want to recommend it to a friend, do it privately-don’t just leave it out in the open! If someone else finds it, what happens to my reputation?
Chu Zhao shoved the book back into the box, thinking, thank goodness Shen Ziqin didn’t see it. He’d have to get rid of it as soon as they got home.
Just as he relaxed, he felt a weight on his shoulder.
Shen Ziqin had slumped over, leaning on Chu Zhao’s shoulder.
Leaning on his shoulder-just like the two men in the storybook, which had started with this pose and then led to all sorts of things.
Chu Zhao: …
Zhou Danmo! The weather’s getting cold-you’d better watch out!
Far away at the Duke’s residence, Zhou Danmo sneezed.
“Ugh, who’s cursing me behind my back?”
—
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(advanced chapters available on kofi)
Haha Prince Ceo