The matters in Yuzhou had already been written into a memorial and submitted. The memorial deliberately omitted that Magistrate Cao had implicated Wei Changhai, though Wei Changhai had certainly begun to clean up matters related to Yuzhou as soon as Chu Zhao set out for the province.
But actions always leave traces. A business spread so wide couldn’t disappear without a trace overnight. Shen Ziqin had already sent people to collect and secure the evidence provided by Magistrate Cao.
The bandit problem, refugees everywhere, unauthorized tax collection, and misappropriation of official grain-each charge reported caused a shock throughout the court.
Emperor Cheng’an was furious and ordered the criminal officials to be escorted back to the capital as soon as possible.
However, before leaving, they needed to ensure Yuzhou’s stability. Bai Junxing wished he could split himself into eight parts, busy to the point his feet barely touched the ground. Shen Ziqin felt sorry-both for Bai Junxing working himself dizzy and for the people of Yuzhou.
After this visit to Yuzhou, Shen Ziqin felt more connected to this land. Prince Qin’s residence was his resting place, and this home was rooted in Daliang.
So Shen Ziqin worked with Bai Junxing to examine and select capable people from the remaining Yuzhou officials to temporarily manage affairs.
Now, surprisingly, it was the prince who could sleep until he naturally woke, while the prince’s consort had to rise early.
It was like the sun rising from the west-everyone in the prince’s residence was amazed.
However, Chu Zhao naturally woke earlier than Shen Ziqin anyway, so now they simply got up together each morning.
Shen Ziqin didn’t need servants to wake him; the person beside his pillow was the best alarm clock.
At first, Chu Zhao wasn’t skilled at it. Facing Shen Ziqin’s confused face, he felt lazy himself and couldn’t bear to wake him. But after two or three days, he mastered the method of attending to the marquis.
Step one of waking up: first, a kiss.
The kiss is gentle, just a light touch, followed by fingers caressing Shen Ziqin’s cheek, brushing his ear to wake him.
At this point, Shen Ziqin is usually still drowsy, not fully awake, and will hazily snuggle into Chu Zhao’s embrace, becoming soft and pliable, especially nice to hold-a benefit Chu Zhao has arranged for himself.
Then the prince would pick up the sleepy-eyed marquis directly, wipe his face, lazily help him rinse his mouth, change his clothes, and carry him to the mirror to personally tie up his hair.
Throughout the process, Shen Ziqin doesn’t have to take a single step. Chu Zhao carries the light-as-a-feather beauty without feeling any weight, handling all the trivial matters himself with great pleasure.
By the time Shen Ziqin sits in front of the mirror, he is fully awake.
In the past, he would lie in bed waiting to become fully conscious, but with Chu Zhao’s routine, he no longer needs to rush to open his eyes.
Shen Ziqin looked at himself in the mirror, his voice still carrying a hint of languor: “I feel like you’re going to spoil me even more.”
Chu Zhao’s fingers glided through his jet-black hair, like the finest silk, reluctant to let go: “You still have to go out and work, which shows I haven’t spoiled you enough.”
Shen Ziqin laughed lightly: “That’s not your fault.”
Hairstyles that Shen Ziqin hadn’t learned to do, Chu Zhao handled with ease, though he could only manage simple ones-complex styles were beyond him.
But Shen Ziqin naturally looked good no matter how he was styled, and he wasn’t picky about Chu Zhao’s skills. The first time his hair was tied up, he looked at it with curiosity and didn’t spare praise for Chu Zhao’s ability.
This made Prince Qin feel quite gratified.
Personally grooming one’s beloved was, undeniably, a pleasure.
Chu Zhao: “What headpiece will you wear today?”
Shen Ziqin left it to him: “You can choose for me.” His thoughts had already drifted to the day’s business. “Today I need to see Xu Yuzhi first.”
Chu Zhao’s hand paused imperceptibly. Xu Yuzhi-this name had been frequently appearing in Shen Ziqin’s conversations lately.
Chu Zhao had only met him once. He was fair-skinned, not particularly striking in appearance, a typical scholar. He was competent at his job but, during Magistrate Cao’s tenure, didn’t want to join the corruption yet lacked the courage to do anything significant. So he simply did his assigned work, came and went on schedule, lived an ordinary life, and avoided trouble.
Thus, he had remained safe until now.
Shen Ziqin and Bai Junxing discovered he was good at his job and put him to use.
Chu Zhao remembered how, after a few pointers from Shen Ziqin, this man’s gaze toward Shen Ziqin had changed-bright and eager.
Chu Zhao asked, seemingly casually: “He’s been with you for several days now. Can’t he handle his affairs on his own yet?”
“He has ability, but he’s too timid. Even when things are clearly in order, he still has to ask me or Junxing, obviously afraid of overstepping,” Shen Ziqin made a thoughtful sound. “But some matters he hasn’t handled before, and with the capital about to deal with Yuzhou officials, he probably doesn’t want to be tainted.”
“How long will you all be busy like this? Talk to him properly and get him to step up.”
Shen Ziqin: “He’s gradually figuring out where the boundaries are and implementing his own methods… Oh, you’re done? Thank you.”
Chu Zhao put down his hands, admiring his work with satisfaction: “I don’t want verbal thanks. That’s too formal.”
Shen Ziqin’s chin was gently lifted, and seeing Chu Zhao’s smiling eyes, he understood his meaning.
Shen Ziqin’s ears turned slightly red. He nibbled his lip and said softly: “…How do you want me to thank you?”
Chu Zhao: “The marquis is clever; you’re just pretending not to know.”
Shen Ziqin pressed his lips together, the corners of his eyes reddening with embarrassment: “Then you come here.”
Chu Zhao’s smile deepened: “You want to thank me-shouldn’t you be the one to come?”
Shen Ziqin’s eyelashes trembled.
Everything that needed to be said had been said, kisses had been exchanged, and they had shared a bed. They were people who had decided to spend their lives together, so he could certainly initiate intimate gestures.
Though it felt a bit unfamiliar.
But he could learn-his learning ability was excellent.
If he could master something as difficult as loving someone, what additional challenge couldn’t he meet?
So Shen Ziqin raised his hands to encircle Chu Zhao’s neck.
His sleeves fell back, revealing jade-white arms. The morning light streamed in through the window, illuminating skin as white as pear blossoms. He was sitting while Chu Zhao stood, making it difficult for Shen Ziqin to reach.
“…Bend down a bit,” Shen Ziqin said, looking up with misty eyes.
The words sounded like a complaint, but to Chu Zhao’s ears, it was coquetry.
Chu Zhao bent down, and the snow-white arms wrapped around his neck as desired, soft and warm.
At the small window, while grooming, the two young men exchanged a gentle kiss, their faces reflecting the peach blossoms’ redness.
After finishing his preparations and having breakfast, Shen Ziqin went to his workplace.
While he could still enjoy good sleep, none of the Yuzhou officials had been able to rest well these days. They were working hard, taking initiative to work overtime, striving to leave a good impression and distance themselves from Magistrate Cao and his faction.
Bai Junxing and Xu Yuzhi had arrived early. When Shen Ziqin arrived, Xu Yuzhi’s eyes indeed brightened, and he hurriedly served tea: “The consort is here.”
At home, Shen Ziqin was a soft house cat, but outside, he was a dignified and graceful young master. He nodded: “We had unfinished business yesterday. You came early-have you developed a plan?”
Bai Junxing: “I was just about to tell the consort.”
Xu Yuzhi was indeed a very cautious person. He positioned himself very humbly, referring to himself as “this lowly official” before Shen Ziqin and Bai Junxing, never overstepping his boundaries. Whenever he spoke, he never interrupted improperly. Timidity had its advantages-though he didn’t seek great achievements, he was thorough and proper.
Shen Ziqin flipped through the compiled registers again.
After distributing porridge, they had taken the opportunity to recheck the refugees’ household registrations. The lands occupied by Magistrate Cao and the bandits needed to be remeasured and redistributed. There was also the question of how to handle over ten thousand bandits, and what to do with refugees who had lost their household registrations and had unclear identities…
And so on, these are indeed large-scale tasks that require many hands.
Fortunately, over these days, they had almost established all the regulations, and the rest could be carried out step by step.
Shen Ziqin nodded: “Good, it seems in a few more days, we can confidently set out to return to the capital.”
At this moment, Xu Yuzhi spoke up appropriately: “When the prince and consort came to Yuzhou, we failed to welcome Your Highnesses properly, which is truly shameful. Both of you have saved Yuzhou’s people from disaster, and Yuzhou is deeply grateful. Please allow the Yuzhou officials to host a farewell banquet for you.”
Xu Yuzhi, having sensed that Shen Ziqin and Chu Zhao were not extravagant in style, added: “The city is currently providing relief to refugees, so we cannot offer rare delicacies, but ordinary home-cooked dishes are available. We hope the prince and consort won’t mind.”
He didn’t forget to salute Bai Junxing: “We also request Lord Bai’s presence.”
As a Supervising Censor, Bai Junxing would also return to the capital to report the situation. Thanks to Shen Ziqin’s push, he had shortened his stay in Yuzhou. After returning to the capital this time, with the Yuzhou case completed, his experience would be sufficient, and he wouldn’t need to be sent out again.
Keeping Lord Bai in the capital would also facilitate their subsequent actions.
After all, once both the Grand Secretary and Deputy Grand Secretary were dealt with, the court would finally undergo a major reshuffle, presenting the best opportunity. It was time to move the Emperor Cheng’an piece as well.
Shen Ziqin pondered. A farewell banquet wasn’t really necessary, but it would be good to give the Yuzhou officials one last warning before leaving.
So he nodded in agreement: “All right. I’ll have lunch with you today to finish discussing matters. For the next two days, I won’t come here, as we need to pack up at the estate and prepare to return to the capital.”
He called in a guard from Prince Qin’s residence waiting outside and asked him to take a message to the estate that he wouldn’t return for lunch.
Xu Yuzhi was eager to spend more time with Shen Ziqin and Bai Junxing. As a scholar, he loved associating with talented individuals. Lord Bai was a literary giant without question, and after several days together, he discovered that Prince Qin’s consort was also extremely talented, which naturally delighted him.
Xu Yuzhi: “Does the consort have any food preferences? I can instruct the chef in advance.”
Shen Ziqin: “I have no dietary restrictions. The same as you all, anything is fine.”
“Then you must try our Yuzhou specialties. Ah, Yuzhou was once truly a land of fish and rice, lacking nothing in food, clothing, shelter, or transportation… I hope that after this, we can see its former glory again.”
Xu Yuzhi was cautious in official matters but easygoing as a person, and privately quite hospitable. He was eager to make arrangements, but when the prince’s guard returned, he said to Shen Ziqin: “The prince has been informed and says he’ll have people from the estate bring food over later, including portions for Lord Bai and Official Xu.”
Xu Yuzhi was taken aback: “This…”
Shen Ziqin: “Good, then we won’t trouble Official Xu about lunch. Let’s make the most of our time and continue our discussion.”
Xu Yuzhi thus ended up receiving a free meal and cupped his hands in gratitude: “Thank you to the prince and consort for your consideration.”
They discussed matters in the hall, becoming quite absorbed in the key points as time passed. When the food from the prince’s residence arrived, all three were deeply immersed in the case files before them.
Bai Xiao had to say very softly: “Marquis, the food has arrived.”
Shen Ziqin didn’t look up: “Mm, put it aside.”
Bai Xiao wanted to say more, but the person delivering the food made a gesture to him, so Bai Xiao closed his mouth and quietly left.
Shen Ziqin’s eyes scanned several lines of text. His mouth had become dry from talking so much-they had drunk countless cups of tea all morning. He reached out to pick up his cup again, but when he brought it to his lips, he realized it was empty.
Someone took the cup from his hand, poured tea into it, and placed it back in his hand.
Shen Ziqin: “Thank you…”
Wait, Shen Ziqin suddenly realized something was off.
Attendants wouldn’t directly take a cup from his hand, as that would be overstepping boundaries, let alone fill it and place it back in his hand with such familiarity.
Shen Ziqin, who had been keeping his head down, finally came back to reality from the case files and looked up to see that the person standing beside him was none other than Chu Zhao.
Shen Ziqin was stunned: “Why are you here?”
Chu Zhao held up the food container in his hand: “I’ve come to bring you food.”
Bai Junxing and Xu Yuzhi also came to their senses and hurriedly stood up to bow.
Chu Zhao was composed: “No need for formalities, gentlemen. Official business is demanding, but you must also take care of yourselves. Let’s eat first, and you can continue afterward.”
So they all got up and moved to a small hall nearby. However, there was only one table, and while Xu Yuzhi was still hesitating, Chu Zhao was generous: “Don’t be formal, everyone sit.”
Xu Yuzhi knew that Shen Ziqin wasn’t pretentious, so dining at the same table with him was fine, but Prince Qin… Although the prince had done good deeds in Yuzhou, earning everyone’s admiration, the previous rumors still made him a bit nervous.
Bai Junxing was accustomed to this and sat down after bowing. Seeing this, Xu Yuzhi also sat down.
And perhaps it was just his imagination, but he felt that the prince seemed to be looking at him a few extra times.
Could he be blaming me for not bowing promptly earlier? Xu Yuzhi was very anxious.
As the dishes were laid out from the food container, Xu Yuzhi didn’t dare speak, eating with a low profile, while Chu Zhao served food to Shen Ziqin: “Eat more, why can’t you put on weight?”
Xu Yuzhi lowered his head even further, not daring to look around.
Bai Junxing, however, watched quietly.
Zhou Danmo had written a letter lamenting that the storybook based on Shen Ziqin and Chu Zhao had been ordered recalled by Prince Qin, but quite a few copies had already been sold, and the response had been good.
With the prince’s order, they certainly wouldn’t dare write more for now.
…It was a bit of a pity; who knew if they could write more in the future.
Shen Ziqin also served food to Chu Zhao. Though he was happy, he also wanted Chu Zhao to rest well. Running from the capital to Yuzhou, then suppressing bandits-all were tiring journeys day after day. He said softly: “You should be taking it easy at the estate. You could have sent someone else with the food.”
Chu Zhao also lowered his voice: “It’s no trouble. I just wanted to see you.”
Shen Ziqin’s cheeks warmed, and he hurriedly glanced at Bai Junxing and Xu Yuzhi, confirming that the two men were sitting far enough away at the round table not to hear their whispers. He said softly: “We’re still outside, ahem, let’s eat.”
Chu Zhao responded casually: “A day apart feels like three autumns. We’ve been separated all morning… This Xu Yuzhi has been taking up all your time.”
Shen Ziqin was about to speak but suddenly had a revelation, sensing something was off.
He noticed Chu Zhao’s sidelong glance toward Xu Yuzhi again.
There had been no unnecessary contact between Shen Ziqin and Xu Yuzhi, so he hadn’t thought much of it before.
But reconsidering Chu Zhao’s words, Shen Ziqin realized-
Because Xu Yuzhi had occupied his time these past few days, he had spent less time with Chu Zhao.
Could it be that Chu Zhao was… jealous?
#
(advanced chapters available on kofi)
