Chapter 60#

With just this one sentence, Wen Zhuo had already exhausted all his strength.

He could only rely on the thick darkness, on the serious and upright topics that had come before, to conceal the selfish intentions behind these words.

This kind of feeling was tantamount to blasphemy for an ordinary man—at least, that was how he saw it.

Fortunately, his shame didn’t have to be exposed to anyone. The darkness considerately hid the flush on his face, the burning heat at the tips of his ears.

He calculated silently: if Shen Zhi detected something amiss and felt surprised or uncomfortable, he would smoothly pick up the previous topic and say that he had the same expectations of Shen Zhi as Wei Zheng had of Emperor Taizong of Tang—hoping that he would save the world and bring peace to the people.

But Shen Zhi sensed something different from that guilty, subtle breath.

Could it be that Wen Zhuo no longer discriminated against or loathed romantic feelings between men as he had before? During the time they had spent together, could Wen Zhuo’s thoughts have undergone some uncontrollable change?

Shen Zhi’s heart stirred. He became increasingly certain that Wen Zhuo had feelings for him.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have allowed Shen Zhi to help him wash, apply medicine, and sleep in the same bed.

Throughout the entire process, Shen Zhi had only sensed Wen Zhuo’s nervousness and embarrassment, never rejection or disgust.

Shen Zhi’s heart pounded violently. In this utterly silent night, the “thump thump” sound shook his eardrums.

He was never one to follow rules rigidly or restrain himself. He liked to attack; he liked to cross forbidden lines.

Earlier, out of respect, he hadn’t dared to overstep even a little. But if the person involved didn’t feel repulsed, he would take the initiative to step over the red line.

Shen Zhi’s hand crossed the precarious boundary between them. Groping around on the fur robe, he finally touched a section of a pinky finger, cool and smooth as jade.

Without hesitation, he pressed his palm over it. He clearly felt the hand beneath him stiffen abruptly—but it didn’t pull away.

Time flowed quietly. Neither spoke. Both deliberately lightened their breathing, like two armies facing off, each hiding their presence. Whoever revealed themselves first would lose everything.

All of Wen Zhuo’s attention was firmly drawn by that large hand. Shen Zhi’s palm was broad and scorching hot, covering the back of his hand with the roughness left from handling horses and shooting arrows.

But that roughness was also good. He didn’t know how to find fault with Shen Zhi.

Silence was a wordless permission. Although he couldn’t see, Shen Zhi kept his eyes open, staring unblinkingly at Wen Zhuo.

No one knew how long passed before his long, distinct fingers slowly pried apart Wen Zhuo’s delicate, soft fingers, sliding all the way to the base. Then he gently closed his hand, interlocking perfectly with Wen Zhuo’s palm.

This had already gone beyond excuses like “accidental,” “careless,” “in a dream,” and the like.

This was intentional. Driven by desire. Unable to suppress emotion.

Shen Zhi left himself no way back. He couldn’t think of any reasonable explanation. The only answer was that he really liked Wen Zhuo—not the kind of “gentleman’s friendship as insipid as water,” but the kind of “bone-penetrating longing, do you know or not.”

Wen Zhuo flinched nervously, but the force was so light that it was easily held down by that large palm.

Then he offered no more resistance.

Smart people understand seven or eight parts of a matter with just a hint.

He didn’t know how Shen Zhi was feeling at this moment, but his own order had been thrown into chaos. He was like a reckless man who had turned his home into a complete mess, watching the scattered objects without knowing where to start tidying up. He could only sit on the ground, staring at the disarray in bewilderment.

Shen Zhi warmed the back of Wen Zhuo’s hand until it was scalding. He even felt a bit of damp sweat seeping from Wen Zhuo’s soft palm.

All sleepiness was gone.

So close, just holding hands—how could that be enough?

The pack spread under their ears made a slight rustling sound, like spring silkworms nibbling on mulberry leaves. The tips of their noses touched. The last shred of space was swallowed by warm breath.

Shen Zhi’s Adam’s apple rose. His lower lip gently pressed against the long-desired, moistened lips.

Just touching wasn’t enough. He stepped over disordered breathing, pressed tightly, and rubbed delicately.

Still, no one spoke. Only intertwined breaths and the ever-rising heat silently spread through the dark night.

Wen Zhuo felt as if he were hiding inside a closed box called darkness, told that it was safe and secret. He deceived himself by remaining frozen still, like a hibernating little animal, hoping that the night would pass without a sound.

But in this very night, his lips were thoroughly kissed.

At first, it was a light touch, parting and meeting, wrapped in heavy breathing. Then came the lingering, unyielding rubbing, from the center of his lips to the corners.

It seemed like a long time, like a short time—time had lost its meaning.

Suddenly, footsteps of constables returning from their search came from outside the alley. The light of torches reflected on the window paper, dimly illuminating the room—

The two separated in tacit understanding, each lying on their own side of the pack. Their breathing became restrained and proper once again.

They were still gentlemen.

Except for the sweat hanging on the backs of their collars, the slightly numb shoulders pressed underneath, and their hands still tightly clasped together in the dark, telling the story of what had just happened.

—

The next day, the weather was clear and fresh. Jiang Mannü knocked on the door, saying that the boy called Six Monkey had brought news from outside.

Wen Zhuo had already risen. He was washing his face with cold water from a copper basin. Water droplets slid down his chin, and when they reached the peak of his lips, he unconsciously pressed his lips together, feeling them slightly swollen.

He lowered his lashes, hiding the complex expression in his eyes, and replied to the person outside: “I understand.”

Turning his head, he saw that Shen Zhi had also gotten up. He was leisurely straightening his belt and collar, which had become disheveled from sleep.

The pack under his head was crushed out of shape. The fur robe spread beneath him was also wrinkled into a mess.

Wen Zhuo hurriedly averted his gaze, steadied his mind, and said seriously, “That Six Monkey seems to know quite a few secrets. We didn’t have time yesterday, so today we should have a good talk with him.”

Shen Zhi saw that the first thing out of his mouth was business and knew that Wen Zhuo wasn’t ready yet to face the impulsive actions from the dark night.

Shen Zhi had lost control last night and acted presumptuously. As soon as dawn came, he turned gentlemanly again.

He didn’t push him. Following Wen Zhuo’s lead, he said, “What I’m curious about is, yesterday when that beast was committing violence in the street, no one dared to intervene. Yet his father is still called ‘Wen the Great Benefactor.’”

He carefully avoided linking Wen Xu, Wen Yingjing, or their clan to Wen Zhuo.

“Some pound hemp stalks and elm bark into paste to mix with soy milk; some boil wheat bran and dilute it with rice chaff and fine husks. Every morning, they fold their hands together and raise their fists to thank Heaven. That’s always how it is,” Wen Zhuo replied.

“Is that a song by Liu Shizhong?” Shen Zhi had already straightened his belt. He stood up from the bedside and walked toward Wen Zhuo.

The lyrics referred to how, during famine, as long as people got tree bark, hemp stalks, wheat bran, and coarse husks to fill their stomachs, they would every morning at dawn put their palms together, raise their fists, and piously thank Heaven for the gift.

The common people were always humble and easily fooled, because they never had time to think about how they had ended up in such a situation, or who had deprived them of their right to live.

“Mhm.” Wen Zhuo moved aside to let Shen Zhi use the basin, avoiding Shen Zhi’s direct, penetrating gaze. He thought to himself, why didn’t he also tidy up the bedding? As if they had done something messy last night.

He subconsciously wanted to lick his lips, but caught Shen Zhi looking at him faintly while washing his face. He forcefully restrained his tongue.

“I’ll go open the door.” Wen Zhuo turned around and pushed open the fragile, decrepit wooden door.

Sunlight rushed in recklessly, tilting his head to the side and nearly making him close the door again.

How could it be so bright!

Jiang Mannü stood outside the door. Her round, copper-bell-like eyes swept over Wen Zhuo’s damp hair and the faint red streaks under his eyes. She asked with concern, “Sir, did you not sleep well last night?”

“Not at all!” Wen Zhuo immediately retorted.

Jiang Mannü parted her lips slightly. That was clearly not sleeping well! He had always been weak and had trouble adjusting to new beds. Since when had his temper become so stubborn?

Turning her head, she saw Shen Zhi walking over with a face still unwashed, faint dark circles under his eyes, and damp hair. Jiang Mannü remarked again, “Your Highness didn’t sleep well either?”

A smile curved at the corner of Shen Zhi’s lips. He said slowly, “Last night—”

Wen Zhuo immediately rushed out the door, his robe fluttering, wrapping around a gust of wind. In the blink of an eye, he was far away.

Jiang Mannü scratched her head, bewildered.

Shen Zhi looked at Wen Zhuo’s retreating figure and unhurriedly finished his sentence: “Last night, constables were coming and going to search. My nerves were tense, so I didn’t sleep at all.”

“I see. I’m sorry you and the sir had to suffer.” Jiang Mannü never had trouble sleeping; her heart was even bigger. She had slept particularly soundly last night. She hadn’t expected that His Highness and the sir were so worried.

Shen Zhi, though he hadn’t slept enough, was in a fairly good mood. He clasped his hands behind his back and walked out of the room: “Let’s go. Don’t let your sir run too far.”

Past the courtyard gate, they heard Six Monkey’s spirited voice from inside: “Hey, the outside world is in an uproar! The authorities have issued a wanted order to capture you all! They even said today they’ll search house to house. This is what happens when you oppose the Wen family—even the officials have to obey them!”

But when he turned and saw Wen Zhuo after he had removed his disguise, the flatbread in his mouth fell with a “slap.”

He forgot to pick it up. Craning his neck, eyes wide, he stared fixedly at Wen Zhuo, his face full of disbelief.

Last night, as soon as it got dark, he had taken his food and gone back to his room. He hadn’t seen these people again. He never expected, never expected that this sickly man could look so, so…

He was at a loss for words, completely unable to describe it. In his ten-plus years of life, the most handsome person he had ever seen was Master Wen Xu. Gazing at him from afar through the crowd, he found him incomparably handsome. He felt both envy and jealousy—envy that Wen Xu was so good-looking, jealousy that Wen Xu was born into a wealthy family.

Even the literate scholars in the city said that Wen Xu’s beauty was unrivaled, second to none in Mianzhou.

But compared to the man before him, Wen Xu was nothing more than an inconspicuous wildflower by the roadside.

Shen Zhi cleared his throat, stepped forward, pulled the folding fan from Wen Zhuo’s waist, and gently fanned it toward Six Monkey: “Yesterday I gave you a proper meal, and today you’re already throwing away your flatbread?”

Only then did Six Monkey snap out of it. He grinned awkwardly, quickly crouched down to pick up the flatbread, patted off the dust, and unceremoniously stuffed it into his mouth, chewing.

Wen Zhuo was already used to this kind of reaction. With a calm expression, he asked, “Six Monkey, have you been hiding here all along?”

Six Monkey craned his neck, swallowed the dry flatbread, then knelt and sat on the ground, shaking his tattered linen clothes to air out the sweat: “Yeah, as they say, the most dangerous place is the safest. Nobody will ever come to check here!”

Seeing his fearless ignorance, Wen Zhuo smiled: “You’re quite clever.”

Six Monkey curled his lip: “I brought you here because I thought you were willing to help that old man and weren’t bad people. But you ended up suspecting me. Now look—you’re even more wanted than I am. Once the authorities catch you, they’ll definitely chop off your heads!”

Liu Qiying, upon hearing this, crossed her arms and laughed: “Don’t worry, they wouldn’t dare even if you gave them ten times the courage.”

Shen Zhi closed his folding fan, tapped it lightly against his palm, and teased him: “Yesterday, I saw everyone in the inn lobby lowering their heads to avoid trouble. I thought there wasn’t a single kind-hearted person left in Mianzhou City. Who would’ve guessed I’d run into a hero like you.”

Six Monkey’s heart warmed at the praise. His fondness for Shen Zhi instantly increased by several degrees. He scratched his round head and sighed: “I know him. His daughter was sold to the Wen family together with me. She’s a year younger than me. Only I managed to run away. Zhiwa didn’t. I don’t know how she’s doing now.”

That piece of ambergris still stuck in his heart. Wen Zhuo’s expression sharpened. He asked, “Why were you sold to the Wen family?”

Six Monkey wore an expression that said, “Isn’t it obvious?” He replied, “What else could it be? The grain was all eaten by locusts. People were starving to death. If I wasn’t sold, what else could I do? At least I could exchange myself for ten steamed buns for my mother.”

He didn’t seem to have much resentment about being sold, as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world.

Wen Zhuo’s expression grew serious: “When did the locust plague start?”

Six Monkey scratched his matted, dust-grey hair: “About half a year ago, I guess. I don’t remember. It’s been too long.”

Sure enough. Shen Zhi was right. The locust plague in Mianzhou was far worse than they had imagined. Half a year of disaster, and Lou Changsui had managed to cover it up without a single leak!

Wen Zhuo’s heart sank. He asked again, “A lot of children like you were sold to the Wen family?”

“Lots! Of course lots!” Six Monkey nodded like a pecking chick, his voice a bit choked, “Back then, inside and outside the city, people were selling their children everywhere.”

Liu Qiying glanced at Wen Zhuo, took a waterskin from her pack, and handed it to Six Monkey. She asked, “After the Wen family bought you, did they treat you harshly? Force you to do hard labor, beat and scold you?”

Six Monkey frowned, took the waterskin, drank a couple of swallows, and shook his head: “No, not at all. Young Master Wen Xu of the Wen family is indeed domineering and unreasonable, but Wen the Great Benefactor is a truly good man. After he bought us, he never made us do heavy work, let alone beat or scold us. Instead, he let us eat delicious food and raised us well.”

Liu Qiying was taken aback. She looked back at Wen Zhuo in disbelief.

Wen Zhuo narrowed his eyes and pressed further: “In that case, why did you run away?”

Six Monkey grinned slyly: “Hey, I thought, if selling myself once could get ten steamed buns, then if I ran out and let my mother sell me again, wouldn’t that be another ten buns? Anyway, the Wen family bought a lot of kids; they wouldn’t recognize me.”

Shen Zhi laughed inwardly. This kid really was as clever as a monkey—a master at exploiting loopholes.

“So how did you end up hiding here?”

Six Monkey hugged the waterskin, his body curling up slightly. He slowly lowered his eyes, a hint of loneliness in his voice: “I ran home, but I didn’t find my mother. I went to all the places she usually went, but there wasn’t even a trace of her. When I asked other people, they all said my mother had run off with another man and didn’t want me anymore.”

“I kept thinking about going back to the Wen family, but I was afraid they wouldn’t take me in. So I snuck into the city secretly, hoping to find a chance to beg Wen the Great Benefactor to let me return. At least I could have a full meal.”

“Zhiwa’s father is pretty good. He even knew to trade the ambergris for money to come find her. I wish I could switch places with her. I want to go back but can’t; her father wants her out but can’t see her.”

These words genuinely surprised everyone. Even Wen Zhuo couldn’t help but furrow his brows.

It seemed that in Six Monkey’s eyes, Wen Yingjing was a living Buddha who saved the suffering and raised children for the common people. Even if Wen Xu was tyrannical, that didn’t conflict with Wen Yingjing being a good man.

Six Monkey wasn’t one to stay negative for long. He quickly perked up: “I say, why don’t you all come with me? Wait until the Mianzhou Incense Fair, see Wen the Great Benefactor, and plead with him properly. Maybe in his kindness, he’ll spare your lives.”

“So, with the locust plague so severe in Mianzhou, there isn’t a single refugee on the roads—all thanks to Wen Yingjing’s relief efforts?” Shen Zhi found this absurd. “What about the authorities? Are the reserve granaries, prefecture granaries, and official granaries of Mianzhou just for show?”

When Six Monkey heard this, his expression changed. Anger surged up. He spat viciously: “That brings me to the biggest villain in Mianzhou!”

Shen Zhi’s spirits lifted: “Oh?”

Six Monkey rubbed his greasy hands together, then stretched out one finger and pointed heavily at the ground: “Do you know whose home this courtyard is? And why did the authorities seal its main gate?”

Immediately, the two dust-covered characters on the wooden plaque outside the door flashed before Shen Zhi’s eyes.

Clearly, this was the home of an official surnamed Liu.

Six Monkey stomped his foot hard on the ground, grinding his teeth: “His name is Liu Kangren. He’s the local chiliarch. You might not know his name, but his father is a huge, huge official in the court. He was once a general on the battlefield!”

Everyone present was stunned.

This Liu residence actually belonged to the culprit behind the great defeat on the southern frontier ten years ago, the son of Duke Liu of the state—Liu Kangren.