When Shen Zheng tried to stand up, he failed three consecutive times. Later, a young servant who was cleaning the base of the columns outside heard the commotion inside the hall. He crawled on his knees into the main hall and used his shoulder to support Shen Zheng up.
Shen Zheng leaned on him for quite a while before he could barely move.
The young servant didn't dare to look up. With his head down, he was about to crawl out of the hall.
"Wait," Shen Zheng suddenly said.
The young servant's body stiffened. He immediately stopped and nervously looked up. His young face was probably just over ten years old: "Your Highness?"
"What's your name?"
"My humble self is called Chen Ping."
"I'll remember you. Thank you," Shen Zheng nodded and shivered as he walked out of the hall.
The young servant was stunned for a long time before he reacted. He hurriedly knelt down and kowtowed, constantly muttering, "Your humble servant doesn't dare, doesn't dare!"
As Shen Zheng stepped out of the Fengxian Hall, he let out a sigh. They were all in their teens. How many such children in this era were being treated like worthless objects?
He couldn't rest. He could only drag his almost numb body to the Fengtian Hall to observe the New Year's Eve vigil.
Emperor Shunyuan sat high on the imperial throne. His eyes swept over Shen Zheng's sweaty hair, frosty eyebrows, and still unsteady legs, then he moved his gaze away in satisfaction.
This was what Shen Zheng wanted him to see - his awe and submission to the imperial power.
When the drum for the second watch of the ugly hour sounded, all the palaces were brightly lit. Ten thousand longevity lamps were hung in the Fengtian Hall. The light of the candles was so numerous that it could illuminate the place as brightly as day.
Emperor Shunyuan was in high spirits. He took the writing brush handed over by the eunuch beside him and wrote a passage of auspicious words in a flowing manner. Before the ink had dried, Liu Quan quickly walked to the middle of the hall and shouted loudly, "Dragon - spiced ink on gilded red paper. His Majesty decrees that the country will be prosperous and the people will be at peace, and the year will be bountiful. May we celebrate the New Year and enjoy peace with the world!"
The moment his voice fell, firecrackers went off one after another. Incense curled up in the courtyard and soared straight into the sky.
Emperor Shunyuan looked at the fireworks outside the hall and a long - lost smile appeared on his face. He waved his hand gently.
Liu Quan said, "Present the lucky boxes!"
A group of palace maids filed in. Each of them held a vermilion tray in her hand, and there were five colorful porcelain plates on the tray.
"His Majesty bestows dried persimmons, lychees, longans, chestnuts, and cooked dates on all the princes and clan members!" Liu Quan's voice was resounding.
The colorful porcelain plates were placed on the tables one by one, and everyone stood up to express their gratitude.
Liu Quan's voice became even louder, "His Majesty additionally bestows a plate of pea yellow on the Fifth Prince, Shen Zheng!"
A yellowish porcelain plate was separately brought in front of Shen Zheng. The pea yellow was shiny and emitted a refreshing bean fragrance.
All the royal clan members present gasped in surprise but then felt it was reasonable.
Shen Zheng lowered his eyes and looked at the square - shaped pea yellow.
After only a moment's pause, he took a deep breath, with his veins bulging. He suddenly bent his knees and bowed deeply, saying each word forcefully, "Your son thanks Father Emperor for the meal! Your loving care is engraved in my heart. In the future, I will surely do my best to repay your kindness in raising me and protect the Great Qian's territory!"
Emperor Shunyuan nodded slightly.
His knees hit the hard gold - brick floor again, and the pain sharply stimulated Shen Zheng's nerves.
He clearly knew that this was the imperial power taming him, trying to turn him into a pea at the mercy of others on the corrupt and filthy land.
But in the blind spot blocked by his black hair, he always kept his eyes open, defiantly staring at the gold - bricks in front of him. Even if he was a pea, he would be a copper pea that couldn't be steamed, boiled, flattened, fried, or burst, and would ring out clearly!
Just after the New Year's Day, the news spread like wildfire over the red walls and green tiles of the imperial city and reached every official's mansion, big or small.
Everyone knew that on the New Year's Eve vigil night, Emperor Shunyuan had specially bestowed a plate of pea yellow on the Fifth Prince, Shen Zheng.
When Xie Langyang heard this news, he was already reclining against the table, a little drunk.
He propped his elbows on the cold table. The once upright and open - minded look in his eyes was now filled with bitterness. He suddenly shook his head, and his messy hair stuck to his forehead. "He's going to win... Just as he said, the one he chooses will be the emperor..."
Gong Yuwen quickly stood up. She placed her delicate hand on his wrist and gently patted his back with the other hand. "Xie Lang, who are you talking about?"
Xie Langyang seemed not to hear. He raised his hands on his own, and his fingers were trembling badly. "How can the light of a firefly compete with the brilliance of the moon? I thought that if I could start over, I could reverse the course of events and get everything I wanted... But I've lost everything. I can't keep anything!"
"Start over?" Gong Yuwen was greatly shocked. A look of surprise flashed across her eyes. "Xie Lang, what do you mean by that? What exactly have you lost?"
Xie Langyang swayed as he raised his head. His drunken eyes gradually focused. Suddenly, he reached out and tremblingly held Gong Yuwen's face.
"If I had known this earlier, I would rather not have had a second chance. Do you know? I really would rather not have had a second chance..."
Gong Yuwen slowly straightened up and looked down at Xie Langyang. The tenderness in her eyes faded away little by little. "Xie Lang, when will you wake up? We are a family. Since Wen Zhuo refused to assist the Sixth Prince that day, he has been your mortal enemy, a stumbling block on your path to success."
Xie Langyang stared blankly at her. The after - effect of the Tusu wine was surging up, making him dizzy. He was even a little dazed, unable to tell whether this was the past life or the present.
Seeing him in a daze, Gong Yuwen suddenly held his hand, her voice full of temptation. "Xie Lang, as long as you give up those lingering feelings, you actually still hold a trump card that can completely defeat Wen Zhuo."
"Trump card?" A look of confusion flashed across Xie Langyang's eyes. For a moment, he forgot to let go of Gong Yuwen's hand. "What trump card?"
"Have you forgotten? That 'Ode to the Evening Mountains' is enough to prove that Wen Zhuo has a preference for men and deliberately seduced you. According to the laws of the Great Qian, those who corrupt ethics and violate social morals will be either beaten with a cane and demoted from office, or exiled and reduced to slavery. Without him, Shen Zheng will no longer pose a threat to the Sixth Prince." Gong Yuwen's voice was soft, but her words were as poisonous as arsenic.
Xie Langyang's pupils suddenly shrank. He suddenly stood up and violently shook off Gong Yuwen's hand, shouting, "No, absolutely not! I can't let him down again!"
"Xie Lang, without him, when the Sixth Prince ascends the throne in the future, you will be the well - deserved chief minister, a famous official for generations to come, and will be remembered in history. We will also have children in the future. We will be at the peak of power, surrounded by children and grandchildren, and enjoy all the glory and wealth. Isn't such a life happy?" Gong Yuwen's eyes were full of charm. She slowly untied the belt around her waist, and the pink outer robe slipped off her shoulders, revealing a section of fair and delicate neck.
As she said this, she pitifully threw herself at Xie Langyang. Xie Langyang placed his hands on her shoulders, his mind in a complete mess.
Having a wife and children, achieving success, living a normal life, and not disappointing his family's expectations seemed really good.
He would have less burden, less pressure. He wouldn't have to toss and turn at night, wouldn't have to fear exposure. He could stand in front of people openly from then on. He wouldn't have any dirty secrets...
If he handed over the 'Ode to the Evening Mountains', he would be only one step away from the ending of his past life.
But as soon as the thought came up, a chill ran up from the soles of his feet. Could it be that the ending was already predestined and he was just a puppet at the mercy of fate?
He pushed Gong Yuwen away with such force that her lower back hit the table hard, and she let out a shrill scream of pain.
"Yuwen, let me think, just let me think..." After saying that, Xie Langyang suddenly turned around, rushed open the door, and rushed into the cold night.
The biting wind made the candle flames shake violently, casting an intermittent light on Gong Yuwen's face. She covered her aching waist and spat out a curse hatefully as she watched the figure disappearing outside the door.
Even the walls of the Wen Mansion couldn't stop these wings.
After hearing the message sent by Ge Wei through someone, Wen Zhuo casually picked up a dry branch and threw it into the glowing charcoal basin. The sparks illuminated the bottom of his eyes.
"Before long, the emperor will let His Highness participate in government affairs."
He stretched out his hand to warm his cold fingertips by the charcoal fire, and then slowly looked up at the sky.
After the snow, the sky was incredibly clear. The sunlight shone down on the snow, making it sparkle like rippling waves.
Everything was going according to his prediction, except for one thing...
Wen Zhuo's eyelashes trembled slightly, as if being stung by the snow - light. He immediately averted his gaze from the cloud - less sky.
"My lord! His Highness is here!" Jiang Mannü rushed into the inner courtyard in a hurry. As soon as her voice fell, a figure in black stepped through the moon - shaped door.
Shen Zheng's robe was still stained with the snow splashes from horse - riding. He stepped forward quickly, hugged Wen Zhuo tightly, buried his face in the side of Wen Zhuo's neck, and took two deep breaths.
Wen Zhuo slowly raised his hand and put it around Shen Zheng's waist.
"Your Highness, don't bite your teacher!"
The sharp tips of the teeth gently ground against the side of his neck, making Wen Zhuo a little itchy. He felt helpless but still tilted his head to let Shen Zheng breathe in more contentedly.
Jiang Mannü stood there, with her eyes wide open in surprise. Her jaw almost dropped to the ground.
Why are my lord and His Highness hugging? This... this is not right!
She wanted to keep watching, but suddenly someone grabbed the back of her collar. Liu Qiying rushed out from the kitchen and dragged her out: "What are you looking at? Come and give me a hand quickly!"
"No, A Liu, my lord and His Highness, they—" Jiang Mannü struggled and looked back.
"Yeah, I saw it." Liu Qiying said calmly.
"You've known about them for a long time—!"
"Otherwise?"
"You all keep secrets from me!" Jiang Mannü got angry and suddenly sat down on the ground like a dead weight, almost pulling Liu Qiying off - balance.
"I guessed it myself. You're so stupid that you can't even think a little bit." Liu Qiying laughed teasingly and gently poked Jiang Mannü on the forehead with her index finger.
"They've all seen it. This is so improper." Wen Zhuo's voice was muffled, but he didn't let go of his arms around Shen Zheng.
"After a long separation, hugging my... teacher. How can it be improper?" Shen Zheng took in enough of the breath that he had been longing for, then raised his head and twirled Wen Zhuo's long hair with his fingertips.
Wen Zhuo quickly hid his reddened neck. He didn't understand where Shen Zheng got his confidence, but just as he was about to argue, he suddenly remembered something.
Wen Zhuo's heart tightened. Immediately, he let go of his hands, squatted down, and began to rummage through Shen Zheng's robe. With a serious look on his face, he said, "The emperor punished you to kneel, right? Let me see if you're hurt."
Seeing Wen Zhuo suddenly crouch in front of him, his long hair sliding to one side, revealing a section of fair and graceful neck, completely unguarded.
Shen Zheng's eyes gradually darkened. He couldn't help but put his fingertips into Wen Zhuo's hair and gently kneaded the back of his neck.
Wen Zhuo felt his whole body relax under the pressure, and a tingly feeling spread along his spine. He actually felt quite comfortable.
So he didn't stop Shen Zheng and just focused on lifting the corner of Shen Zheng's robe. But just as he flipped to the last layer of silk pants, Shen Zheng pulled him up with a smile: "It's already okay. Really. Does Teacher want me to take off my pants in the courtyard?"
"..." Wen Zhuo's cheeks suddenly flushed. He clearly just wanted to roll up Shen Zheng's trouser legs and had no intention of looking above!
But this little thing wasn't worth arguing about. Wen Zhuo frowned slightly: "It was a whole and a half hours. It's quite a long time. If it weren't for me—"
Before he could finish speaking, Shen Zheng stretched out two fingers and gently pressed them on Wen Zhuo's lips. The rough fingertips were cool, and his smiling eyes were full of implications.
"Teacher always says such things. You really should be punished."
Wen Zhuo fell silent. He looked at Shen Zheng's eyebrows and eyes that were so close, and after a while, he gently rubbed his lips against Shen Zheng's knuckles.
Shen Zheng's breath caught in his throat, and his eyes became even darker.
Wen Zhuo seized the opportunity, narrowed his eyes, and suddenly showed his white teeth.
Just as he was about to bite Shen Zheng's knuckle, Shen Zheng quickly withdrew his finger, making Wen Zhuo miss.
Shen Zheng took a small step back, with a mischievous look hidden in his eyes: "You can't have this now. I've specially prepared something new for Teacher today."
Wen Zhuo raised his eyebrows slightly: "What is it?"
He guessed it might be something like a waist - level viewfinder.
"Teacher, go into the room and wait first." Shen Zheng didn't give Wen Zhuo a chance to refuse and pushed him towards the inner room. After Wen Zhuo sat down on the couch, he turned around and quickly walked to the outer courtyard.
Not long after, Shen Zheng came back holding a palm - sized clay pot. The pot mouth was tightly sealed with a steamed cloth.
He walked up to Wen Zhuo and carefully lifted the steamed cloth.
Wen Zhuo looked intently, and his expression suddenly became complicated.
Lying in the pot was an irregularly - shaped steamed egg cake. On the originally soft cake, there was a milky - white substance slowly melting and dripping down the cake surface, soaking the soft cake below. It really didn't look appetizing.
He couldn't help but sit up a little straight and turned his eyes towards the door, thinking about a tactful way to speak without dampening His Highness's enthusiasm.
Shen Zheng saw through his thoughts at a glance and couldn't help laughing: "It looks a bit ugly, but it's really delicious. I've tasted it for Teacher first."
Wen Zhuo stared at the milky - white stuff and couldn't help asking: "What's that dripping down?"
"Cream." Shen Zheng said with a bit of helplessness in his tone, "It's a bit runny. It melted on the way because of the bumps. There's nothing I can do. This is the best I could manage."
As he spoke, he picked up a little of the melted cream with chopsticks and held it to Wen Zhuo's mouth: "Teacher, have a taste?"
Wen Zhuo held on to a tiny bit of hope and reluctantly opened his lips. He rolled his tongue and gently took the cream into his mouth.
After taking a couple of sips, his eyes suddenly lit up. Then he looked at the pot in disbelief, finally understanding what it meant by "never judge a book by its cover".
Shen Zheng knew that sugar and fat mixed together couldn't be bad.
He gently moved the clay pot to the side and tapped the edge of the pot with the tip of the bamboo chopsticks, making a tinkling sound. He said mischievously, "You showed your dislike so obviously just now. It won't be easy for Teacher to have some now."
