Chapter 49#

The autumn rain ceased without notice, the sky washed into a vast expanse of blue. Gentle light filtered through the eaves and spilled into the room, colliding with the steaming mist from the hot spring pool to refract a riot of colors.#

“Getting wet is fine.” Shen Zheng wrapped the robe tighter around him. Through the thick fabric, his palm stroked Wen Zhuo’s hollow stomach, a smile tugging at his lips. “Teacher, have a little something with me before you go back.”

Wen Zhuo lowered his eyes, watching the broad hand gently rub a circle over his abdomen.

But he said nothing, nor did he flinch.

Shen Zheng led him to sit by the small stone table. Warm flowing water gurgled beneath their feet, and beside them stood a plum branch laden with buds.

Before long, the shopkeeper returned with warmed tea and snacks, adding two bowls of hot noodles. The two sat facing each other and ate everything cleanly.

Shen Zheng indeed did not ask about the burn scars again, as if he had never stumbled upon Wen Zhuo’s secret.

Yet his moist eyes, gentle voice, and soft movements constantly told Wen Zhuo that he was being treated with care.

After the meal, Wen Zhuo rinsed off the medicinal residue of the hot spring in the washing pavilion, then obediently sat still, letting Shen Zheng take a cloth to dry his long hair.

He should have stopped such a reversal of rank and status, but when he turned his head, he saw Shen Zheng’s expression was utterly focused as he dried his hair—his fingertip movements meticulous, like an artist sketching a masterpiece, not to be disturbed.

And when Shen Zheng showed such an expression, Wen Zhuo again felt that this disregard for Confucian propriety resembled the Grand Ancestor in the historical records.

After drying Wen Zhuo’s hair, Shen Zheng quickly wrung out his own. They each donned linen hoods, changed clothes, and went out.

The air was filled with the freshness after rain. Pedestrians gradually increased on Guanqi Street.

The two kept a low profile and squeezed into a small red lacquered sedan. The shopkeeper cracked the whip lightly, and the sedan rumbled through the puddles on the road, heading toward the Wen residence.

The wind stirred the curtain. Wen Zhuo peered through the gap at Guanqi Street—vendors on both sides calling out in crisp, pleasant voices, the sweet fragrance of rice cakes drifting on the breeze. The East Building still buzzed with noise.

Shen Zheng’s divine chess game from the “open a sect” match hung ostentatiously at the entrance of the East Building, for passing players to admire and study.

Just in early spring, he had come here daily with Shen Zheng. Now, looking at it again, his state of mind was worlds apart.

The red sedan traveled all the way to the Wen residence gate. Wen Zhuo pulled off his linen hood, and his jet-black hair tumbled like waves, settling evenly over his shoulders.

Shen Zheng alighted after him, subconsciously hooking a lock of his curly hair with a fingertip, gently rubbing it in his palm, and teasing with a smile, “Wavy curls.”

Wen Zhuo merely tilted his head to look, letting him play with his hair, and said softly, “Your Highness should return quickly, lest the Imperial Consort worry.”

Only then did Shen Zheng release his hand, letting the strand of hair slip from his palm.

The servant had already led over Tabai Sha. Wen Zhuo instinctively stepped forward, reached into the saddlebag, and fumbled out a carrot.

He was about to offer it to the horse when he suddenly realized—today he wasn’t the one riding. So he pulled back the half-bitten carrot and handed it to Shen Zheng.

Tabai Sha cocked its horse eye in confusion, peering again and again.

Shen Zheng suppressed a laugh, took the carrot, and fed it to the horse. Then he mounted, flung his still-damp long hair over his shoulder, and urged the horse forward while repeatedly looking back at Wen Zhuo.

Now he finally understood the feeling of those couples in front of university dormitories—separated for one second, desperate to be glued together the next.

Wen Zhuo didn’t rush inside either. He leaned against the gate eaves, quietly watching until Shen Zheng’s silhouette gradually melted into the bustling crowd.

Across the street, in the private room by the window of Shuyin Tower, the vermilion window was half-shut. Shen Chen’s eyes barely concealed his excitement as he pointed sideways to Gong Zhiyuan.

“Grand Secretary, do you see? Gong Weide was fooled by Wen Zhuo. He’s not secretly supporting me—the one he’s truly supporting is Shen Zheng!”

Shen Chen had stationed men here watching for many days, but had found nothing for a month. Shen Zheng seemed not to visit Wen Zhuo often, far more aloof than in the previous life.

Yet perseverance paid off. Today, he finally caught them leaving together!

He hastily invited Gong Zhiyuan and Xie Langyang. The three sat around in the private room, waiting at the window.

After enduring three pots of hot tea and two agonizing hours, and four trips to the latrine, they finally saw Wen Zhuo and Shen Zheng return.

Now, with Gong Zhiyuan’s own eyes witnessing this, it could both clear Gong Weide’s foolish accusation against him and, at the same time, give Shen Chen a chance to win over this core member of the former Crown Prince’s faction.

Gong Zhiyuan narrowed his hook-like eyes, staring hard at the street, silent for a long time.

Although he had seen Wen Zhuo and Shen Zheng sharing the same sedan with intimate gestures, last month the Shunyuan Emperor had indeed publicly instructed the Jun family to properly thank Wen Zhuo.

With such a favor, it was reasonable that their relationship was growing warmer.

He suspected Shen Zheng, but didn’t necessarily believe Shen Chen entirely.

He still harbored a grudge over Shen Chen tricking away Gong Dandan.

Moreover, over the years, he had often treated Shen Chen coldly. He doubted the other party could truly be without resentment.

What alarmed him more was that his most valued son-in-law, the always respectful and principled Xie Langyang, had secretly been colluding with Shen Chen behind his back.

This man, outwardly upright to the point of pedantry, actually had his own ulterior motives—it made one shiver to think about.

Xie Langyang, however, paid no attention to Gong Zhiyuan’s suspicions. His brows were tightly knit, his eyes fixed on the closed gate of the Wen residence, a nameless irritation churning in his heart.

The closeness between Shen Zheng and Wen Zhuo far exceeded his expectations.

He remembered that in the previous life, after Shen Chen became Wen Zhuo’s student, Wen Zhuo had always strictly maintained the boundaries of lord and subject. When advising Shen Chen or teaching him, his tone was appropriately measured.

When the Yi Consort gifted an arm warmer, Wen Zhuo thanked her profusely and didn’t boast of his own merits.

But in this life, his relationship with Shen Zheng seemed to have lost that boundary.

The two squeezed into the same small red sedan. When Shen Zheng reached out to toy with his hair, he didn’t even dodge.

Such indulgence made Xie Langyang’s chest feel as if a hard stone were lodged there—both rough and heavy—so much so that he nearly forgot about Shen Chen and Gong Zhiyuan beside him.

Shen Chen saw that Gong Zhiyuan remained silent and wasn’t angry. He poured himself a cup of tea, the tea swirling gently in the cup, his face still wearing that sweet, innocent smile, but his words cut like knives.

“Shen Zhen is secluded in Fengyang Terrace, with no hope of ever emerging again. Why doesn’t my father-in-law make early plans? Now is the time—only by joining hands with me can we fight for the position of heir in the struggle for the reserve.”

Gong Zhiyuan’s eyes narrowed sharply as he swept his gaze over Shen Chen.

Sure enough, Shen Chen had long coveted the position of crown prince. His previous cautious smiles and feigned innocence were all a disguise.

He knew well that if Shen Chen ever ascended the throne, he, as the father-in-law, would inevitably be overshadowed by his son-in-law Xie Langyang. Not only would his position as Grand Secretary be at risk, but the prospects of his two sons would also be greatly diminished.

“The Sage Prince has always regarded my father-in-law as a thorn in his side. Even if we bury the hatchet today, he will turn against you tomorrow without mercy.” Shen Chen’s tone was steady, a persuasive murmur.

“Third Brother has the Helian family’s support, the great clans’ roots are as solid as iron barrels. If my father-in-law tries to butt in now, it won’t be easy.”

“Fourth Brother has no ambition for the throne at all. I’m afraid if my father-in-law exhausts himself for him, in the end he may not receive even a sliver of gratitude.”

“As for Shen Zheng, my father-in-law must not have forgotten that incident when the eight branch sons framed him, right? My father-in-law also played a part in that—Shen Zheng saw it all.”

“And the Seventh Prince is still a child not yet grown. I’m afraid my father-in-law can’t wait for him to mature.”

The implication was crystal clear: aside from Shen Chen, Gong Zhiyuan had no other choice.

So Shen Chen no longer concealed his ambition.

After speaking, he frowned and glanced at Xie Langyang.

It was originally agreed that they would persuade Gong Zhiyuan to support him together, but at the crucial moment, Xie Langyang was distracted.

Shen Chen coughed heavily against his lips, finally startling Xie Langyang awake.

Xie Langyang quickly suppressed the complex emotions in his eyes, forced himself to focus, and said slowly, “Teacher, there is a way right now to deal with both the Sage Prince and Shen Zheng. But we will need Teacher’s assistance.”

Gong Zhiyuan was deeply displeased with the predicament of having no other options, but since hate lasts longer than love, when he heard they could target the Sage Prince, he still perked up.

“What way?”

This was the absolute advantage that Shen Chen and Xie Langyang held in their hands.

In the previous life, Wen Zhuo had been imprisoned early on and didn’t know what shady deeds they had dug up.

Xie Langyang didn’t want to make Wen Zhuo suffer; he just wanted Wen Zhuo to give up on Shen Zheng sooner and take refuge under his wing.

In this life, he was determined to keep Wen Zhuo by his side.

Xie Langyang leaned forward and whispered, “The locust plague in Mianzhou.”

The morning court bell had just ceased. A chill already permeated the Wuying Hall. The Shunyuan Emperor sat upright on the dragon throne, a stack of memorials at his hand, his face dark enough to drip water.

The civil and military officials stood with heads bowed, holding their breath, knowing that something major must be happening today.

A gust of cold wind slipped through the crack in the hall door. The Shunyuan Emperor was caught off guard and choked, then doubled over in a violent coughing fit.

The hacking echoed through the empty hall, taking a while to gradually subside.

“This is heaven punishing me.” The Shunyuan Emperor sighed long, looking aged.

“…Your subjects are guilty.” All the ministers knelt in unison.

When Wen Zhuo saw that pile of memorials on the imperial desk, he understood: this disaster, concerning the lives of millions, had officially begun.

In the early winter of the twenty-third year of Shunyuan, locust plagues struck successively in Xing and Jing prefectures. The crops were devoured, the people had no harvest, and local officials had no choice but to beg the court for help.

These two prefectures suffered the worst losses. Several neighboring prefectures were also affected to some degree, though they could barely hold on.

Locust plagues were something humanity had tried to manage for millennia without a particularly effective method. They came in vast numbers, moved fast, caused devastating damage, and often appeared without warning.

What the court could do was merely save as many disaster victims as possible after the locusts had passed.

Wen Zhuo remembered that in the previous life, after receiving the disaster report, the Shunyuan Emperor sent the Sage Prince to the two stricken prefectures to oversee relief, manifesting the imperial father’s concern for the people.

But now the Sage Prince had lost the emperor’s favor due to the deposed crown prince incident. The Shunyuan Emperor would no longer give him such opportunities for experience, so this matter would ultimately fall on Shen Zheng.

Shen Zheng had already earned a good reputation as a Go Sage, but he still lacked concrete achievements. If he could take on this important relief mission and save countless people from disaster, then the scales in the hearts of the ministers would truly tip.

When that time came, without needing to do anything deliberate, people would naturally rally around him.

Sure enough, the Shunyuan Emperor spoke slowly: “This year, nine prefectures have suffered locust plagues, with Xing and Jing being the most severe. The people have already run out of food. Bu Zhangyi!”

“Your subject is here!” Bu Zhangyi stepped out in response.

The Shunyuan Emperor asked: “How much silver is left in the Ministry of Revenue accounts? How much can be allocated for relief in Xing and Jing?”

Bu Zhangyi’s face filled with worry: “Your Majesty, in recent years, natural disasters have struck one after another, the people’s livelihoods are hard. Your Majesty has practiced benevolent governance, exempted taxes, and your virtue spreads across the four seas, earning eternal praise. However, under the burden of disaster relief and tax exemptions, the Ministry of Revenue’s treasury is running low. There are truly no surplus funds for other uses. Even the Ministry of Justice’s request to renovate the prisons had to be denied due to lack of funds.”

The Shunyuan Emperor took a handkerchief from the tray, wiped his lips, impatience already showing in his eyes: “Just tell me how much you can come up with!”

Bu Zhangyi hesitated, then finally steeled himself: “…At most one million taels!”

For the disaster in two prefectures, allocating only one million taels was like a drop in the bucket. The Shunyuan Emperor’s face turned ashen, and he slammed the desk in rage.

“When has our Great Qian ever been so impoverished!”

Bu Zhangyi kowtowed repeatedly, pleading guilty: “Your subject is incompetent!”

But if there was no silver, there was no silver. Even if Bu Zhangyi were scolded into blossom, the relief funds wouldn’t materialize.

Wen Zhuo knew that Bu Zhangyi was creating an opportunity for the Sage Prince.

If someone else went to provide relief without sufficient funds, they would likely return empty-handed. But as long as the credit went to the Sage Prince, the people would remember his kindness, and the money would somehow appear out of thin air.

At that moment, Gong Zhiyuan suddenly stepped forward, bowed with hands clasped: “Your Majesty, the disaster in Xing and Jing is urgent. I believe we should act with expediency. Since the Ministry of Revenue’s treasury is lacking, and relief funds are hard to sustain, we might temporarily borrow from neighboring prefectures. Mianzhou is prosperous, with merchants converging and granaries overflowing. It borders Xing and Jing, making transport convenient. We could first requisition Mianzhou’s grain reserves for relief, and after the disaster, have the Ministry of Revenue arrange repayment.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the Sage Prince’s expression changed drastically. His eyes turned so dark they seemed to spit fire, and he wished he could rush forward and clamp Gong Zhiyuan’s mouth shut.

Bu Zhangyi was also stunned into silence, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.

Why did Gong Zhiyuan suddenly bring up Mianzhou!

The Shunyuan Emperor’s eyes lit up: “The Grand Secretary speaks sense. Mianzhou has not reported any disaster this time. Moreover, I hear it has abundant fertile fields, and it’s just the autumn harvest season—grain must be plentiful. Yes… yes!”

He narrowed his eyes, scanning the assembled ministers, hurriedly calculating in his mind who to appoint as the relief commissioner.

Just then, Tang Guangzhi hastily knelt forward, secretly exchanging glances with the Sage Prince and Bu Zhangyi, silently asking whether to continue as planned.

But the Sage Prince and Bu Zhangyi couldn’t determine the direction either, only returning a nervous look.

Tang Guangzhi had no choice but to steel himself and memorialize: “Your Majesty, I believe this disaster is severe, and the people are anxious and unsettled. It would be best to send a member of the imperial clan to personally visit the disaster area, proclaim Your Majesty’s virtuous decree, oversee grain distribution, and manifest the sacred court’s ‘vast imperial grace, covering all people’ benevolent spirit!”

A member of the imperial clan naturally referred to the Sage Prince.

Now that the Sage Prince had a reputation and was quite popular, sending him to handle the relief was only logical, and local officials of all ranks would give him face to expedite the matter.

But before the Shunyuan Emperor could speak, the eunuch Liu Quan suddenly crouched down and said softly, “Oh dear, Your Majesty, your outer waistband has come loose. Let this servant tighten it.”

The Shunyuan Emperor looked down as Liu Quan carefully adjusted his waistband.

When he raised his head again, his gaze involuntarily turned to the princes attending the court. One glance, and he spotted the tall, well-featured Shen Zheng.

A flash of inspiration struck the Shunyuan Emperor.

Shen Zheng’s recent behavior had been quite to his liking. He had resolved the Spring Terrace Go Tournament crisis, and was generous and restrained toward his siblings. Besides, that divine artifact came from his maternal uncle’s tribute.

So the Shunyuan Emperor pointed at Shen Zheng: “Send the Fifth Prince, Shen Zheng, as relief commissioner to Mianzhou to requisition grain and provide relief to Xing and Jing!”

All the Sage Prince’s faction officials were dumbfounded. This outcome was completely different from what they had planned!

Wen Zhuo looked at Liu Quan, who had retreated to the side, standing as still as a pine, and a faint, barely perceptible smile curled at the corner of his mouth.

It seemed the fox fur and exotic fruits he’d sent last time weren’t wasted. Liu Quan had casually repaid them with a great favor.

Though this favor was also within his expectations.

In Wen Zhuo’s memory, this relief mission, though bitter, had been safe and uneventful. It would take about a month to quell the disaster, and both the Ministry of Revenue’s treasury and local reserves were sufficient to handle it.

So he wasn’t worried about handing this task to Shen Zheng.

However, he didn’t recall Gong Zhiyuan mentioning Mianzhou in the previous life. It seemed the man was racking his brains to trip up the Sage Prince.

But Shen Zheng, who received the decree, looked grave, utterly without Wen Zhuo’s ease.

Because he had just recalled that the Qian history records a locust plague that struck nine prefectures that year, while Mianzhou, nestled among them, had concealed the disaster and failed to report, leading to such extreme starvation that horrific tragedies occurred.

Yet during the Shunyuan reign, this matter was miraculously covered up. It wasn’t until the Shengde Emperor ascended the throne and the Sage Prince’s faction fell that the truth came to light.

But the people of Mianzhou who died that year never got a chance to seek justice.

A stone weighed on Shen Zheng’s heart. He feared that even Wen Zhuo didn’t know his hometown was in even worse shape.

In the corner of the hall, Shen Chen watched this scene, his eyes cold. Such a fine task falling on Shen Zheng was truly infuriating.

But on second thought, this might cause Shen Zheng and Wen Zhuo to split even more thoroughly!

Shen Chen’s peripheral vision swept to Xie Langyang, and he shot him a look.

Xie Langyang bided his time for the right moment to step forward. Dare not lift his head to meet Wen Zhuo’s eyes, he bent his back very low, so low that his voice sounded muffled: “Your Majesty, Your subject and Grand Secretary Wen passed the same imperial examination and have known each other for years. I once heard that Grand Secretary Wen’s hometown is Mianzhou, and his father is a local gentry and prominent family. Now that the grain requisition is urgent, ordinary officials may not fully understand Mianzhou’s situation. If we could enlist Grand Secretary Wen’s assistance, it would surely achieve twice the result with half the effort, ensuring grain and funds arrive quickly and benefit the disaster victims.”

At these words, all eyes turned to Wen Zhuo. Everyone knew he was lazy and disliked taking on responsibilities. Usually, he just entertained the emperor and lacked a sense of duty. He would likely avoid this matter.

But Wen Zhuo unexpectedly turned back and gave Xie Langyang a look.

Shen Chen smirked, unable to hide the ecstasy in his heart.

Because only he and Xie Langyang knew that Mianzhou had no grain to requisition!

Once Wen Zhuo went, he would discover that the four great fragrance merchants of Mianzhou had long colluded with the local government, converting rice paddies into groves of styrax trees for exorbitant profits.

And his father, Wen Yingjing, was the biggest worm among them!

Shen Chen was certain that this time Wen Zhuo had no chance of having planned an escape in advance. With the lives of his parents and brothers on one side, and Shen Zheng’s achievements on the other, he wanted to see which way Wen Zhuo would turn.

If Wen Zhuo showed the slightest partiality, trying to exonerate his family, then a rift would inevitably form between him and Shen Zheng.

Shen Chen was basking in delight when he saw Wen Zhuo squint slightly. The surprise on that refined face vanished in an instant, replaced by a silent, cold smile.

So that’s it. In that month he was imprisoned, those two bastards had dug up some dirty secrets about Mianzhou. So now they were waiting for him to be caught between a rock and a hard place.

Too bad.

Without waiting for others to react, Wen Zhuo stepped forward, lowered his eyelashes, and spoke with a heavy heart: “Your Majesty, I wish to go to Mianzhou. I will ask my father to distribute his entire wealth, purchase surplus grain, and assist the court in relieving the disaster victims. I have long received Your Majesty’s grace, and though I haven’t seen my family in seven years, I am certain they share my same devotion!”

The Shunyuan Emperor was both shocked and delighted. He rose directly from the dragon throne, looking at Wen Zhuo, his voice trembling with emotion: “Good, Wanshan. You have not disappointed my expectations! You have not failed the people of the world!”

Shen Chen: “?”