Chapter 20 Using Favor as leverage
If she could do it all over again, Zhuang Dongqing would definitely not go out today.
Damn it, he just wanted to come out for some fresh air!
Zhuang Dongqing made a last-ditch effort, "Your Highness, are you very familiar with the Sixth Prince?"
These words were spoken while looking at Cen Yan, and the pleading in her eyes was almost overflowing. Zhuang Dongqing felt that Cen Yan should be able to understand.
Cen Yan can indeed understand it.
But whether or not they agree is another matter entirely.
Zhuang Dongqing saw him raise his eyebrows and say leisurely, "Not bad. I lived in the palace for a while, and I still recognize the princes and princesses."
Li Yang: "Prince Dingxi is too modest. You were personally raised by the Emperor. I don't know how many people in the palace envy you for being able to stay by the Emperor's side for so long."
That's not wrong.
Although he was the heir of the southwestern fiefdom, Cen Yan went to the capital to study with his family when he was just over ten years old. When he was almost of age, the old prince fell seriously ill, and the tribes in the southwest were in turmoil. It was really too late to delay, and a new heir was urgently needed to stabilize the situation. Only then did the old emperor allow Cen Yan to return home.
He returned to the southwest, seemingly without even being able to see his father one last time.
After inheriting the title, he quickly gathered the troops of the royal palace and began to suppress the rebellious tribes. After fighting for almost a year, the southwest was stabilized again. Only then was Cen Yan able to secure his position as a king of a different surname.
However... less than two years later, An Sheng went to the capital again to serve the emperor.
Zhuang Dongqing's eyes were filled with so many emotions that Cen Yan was taken aback. "What's wrong?"
Zhuang Dongqing: "..."
He quickly shook his head, "No."
"nothing!"
He actually felt a little sorry for Cen Yan!
Good heavens, is this the kind of person he can pity?!
"Ahem, well," Zhuang Dongqing tilted his head and secretly changed the subject, "Since Your Highness and the Sixth Prince are acquainted, then you two go ahead, haha, the weather is nice today, ha, take a walk."
Cen Yan smiled at him and asked, "And what about you?"
"I...I've been gone too long, I miss..."
Before she could finish speaking, Cen Yan's smile faded, and at the same time, Li Yang looked over.
Under the watchful eyes of four people, Zhuang Dongqing said, "Of course, we'll go together, let's go for a walk."
Ugh, I'm so useless.
Cen Yan's smile returned, and Li Yang nodded in agreement.
Zhuang Dongqing felt like a villain had collapsed to the ground inside.
Help!
*
Zhuang Dongqing said he wanted to walk around, but he was really tired of walking. Cen Yan only glanced at him twice, and somehow he could tell, so he took the initiative to suggest that they find a place to rest.
Li Yang had been walking with Zhuang Dongqing for a long time, and nodded upon hearing this.
The three of them eventually sat down in a teahouse by the river.
With sunlight shining on one side, Zhuang Dongqing chose that side to bask in the sun.
After the three of them were seated and ordered tea and snacks, Cen Yan and Li Yang began to exchange pleasantries.
The first few sentences discussed the recent corruption case and whether the nobles in the palace were in good health, but Zhuang Dongqing was lost in thought and had nothing to do with it.
The tea was served quickly. Because of her health condition, Zhuang Dongqing's cup was full of flowers, with no tea leaves in sight. The focus was on the atmosphere. However, the tea snacks looked particularly exquisite. The peach blossom pastries were soft and pink. Zhuang Dongqing picked one up and exclaimed, "Ah, delicious!"
Cen Yan glanced at him.
Li Yang: "I've heard that Brother Dongqing has been a guest at the Prince's residence lately?"
Cen Yan: "That is true."
Li Yang looked at Zhuang Dongqing, who then picked up a second piece of tea snack, their eyes perfectly missing each other.
Cen Yan curled the corners of his mouth slightly.
Li Yang: "...Why did you suddenly end up staying at the Prince's residence?"
Zhuang Dongqing has been staying for more than half a month now, which can indeed be called a short stay.
Cen Yan curled his lips, "How can you say it was for no reason? I interrogated Lord Zhuang, and Young Master Zhuang was personally escorted away by the Dali Temple yamen runners when I was on duty."
Li Yang choked hard.
Zhuang Dongqing finished chewing the tea snacks and ate them. Delicious!
Li Yang looked at Zhuang Dongqing again, but Zhuang Dongqing was no longer listening to their conversation and looked straight at the third tea snack.
It's so cute, it's a round little white rabbit.
It has pink ears, eyes, and a little flower on its back.
Bunnies are so cute, they look delicious.
Awooo!
Under Li Yang's pleading gaze, Zhuang Dongqing swallowed the third tea snack without a care in the world.
Mmm, it's so delicious.
Zhuang Dongqing squinted his eyes in satisfaction.
Cen Yan picked up his cup, using the act of drinking tea to conceal the smile on his lips.
When Zhuang Dongqing had swallowed half of it, she finally met Li Yang's gaze. Her face was full of confusion. Cen Yan took another sip of tea.
"...Is it delicious?" Li Yang asked helplessly.
Zhuang Dongqing enthusiastically recommended it, "Yes, yes, each piece tastes different, the peach blossom pastry is soft and chewy..."
Li Yang: "I was telling the prince about your trip to stay at the prince's residence."
Zhuang Dongqing paused.
Li Yang repeated Cen Yan's words, and Zhuang Dongqing remained silent.
Cen Yan took his third sip of tea. The two sat next to each other. Zhuang Dongqing glanced over and could see the smile that the teacup couldn't hide. The words "watching the fun" were practically etched on Cen Yan's forehead.
Patting his chest, Zhuang Dongqing straightened the tea and snacks and muttered to himself, "What's meant to be will be."
He cleared his throat and said seriously, "Your Highness is not wrong. If my father and elder brother hadn't been imprisoned in the Ministry of Justice, I wouldn't have had to come to the Prince's mansion for help."
"Help?"
"Yes, my elder brother deserves credit for being the first to report this, and this credit is not something that comes for nothing."
Li Yang was surprised.
He glanced at Cen Yan in disbelief, then looked at Zhuang Dongqing again, and asked in surprise, "I didn't know when Brother Dongqing became acquainted with the Prince..."
They clearly still don't believe it.
Zhuang Dongqing didn't tolerate him either, saying, "By chance and by a twist of fate, we became fast friends at first sight."
In short, "slept with".
Cen Yan remained silent, while Li Jing's gaze lingered between the two, as if trying to discern something. After a while, Zhuang Dongqing picked up the last piece of tea snack.
Li Yang: "..."
Cen Yan: "Tell the shopkeeper to bring two more plates of different tea fruits."
Liu Qi agreed and went to do it.
Li Yang: "…………"
"Ahem!" Li Yang persisted, "So, Brother Dongqing went to the Prince's mansion voluntarily?"
Cen Yan's smile faded.
Zhuang Dongqing nodded, her eyes clear, and judging from her expression, she didn't seem to have been forced.
Li Yang: "But now the Zhuang family is safe and sound, and Lord Zhuang is about to be transferred out of the capital, right?"
Zhuang Dongqing showed no displeasure and said frankly, "Yes, he failed to raise his son properly and was demoted from the capital. I'm afraid he will have a hard time returning."
Li Yang: "...Brother Dongqing, when are you coming home?"
Cen Yan's face was expressionless.
Zhuang Dongqing, however, didn't understand the veiled meaning in his words and instead said directly, "Go back? I'm not going back."
"Huh?" Li Yang was surprised, and her gaze towards Cen Yan became much more wary. "What's wrong..."
Zhuang Dongqing took a sip of tea. “Your Highness has been kind to the Zhuang family, so I will stay at the Prince’s residence for the time being to see if I can… do something to help Your Highness. If it is suitable, I will stay.” He paused, not wanting Cen Yan to be displeased, and did not make any definitive statements. “Of course, it is also possible that I will leave the Prince’s residence later to seek a better job.”
Well, his passive skill is having children; it's up to Cen Yan whether he wants it or not.
Li Yang misunderstood and frowned instantly, "Isn't this just repaying a debt of gratitude?"
Cen Yan said coldly, "Sixth Prince, be careful what you say."
Zhuang Dongqing countered, "How can this be called repaying a debt of gratitude?"
“Brother Dongqing, with your talent, even if you don’t pass this year, you will always be able to pass the exam in the future. If you stay in the Prince’s mansion…” Li Yang paused, then said in a deep voice, “Do you want to be a retainer for the rest of your life?”
Zhuang Dongqing looked into Li Yang's eyes and sensed concern.
As expected of the male lead.
He has a genuine personality.
Moreover, if the original owner were still inside this shell, Li Yang would be right, but unfortunately, that's not the case anymore.
Zhuang Dongqing paused for a moment, feeling two gazes fall on his face. One gaze took his silence as an admission, as if its guess had finally been confirmed, and its expression grew increasingly indignant. The other gaze, however, was unreadable to Zhuang Dongqing.
But it doesn't matter, he just needs to be himself. "Is being an official really that good?"
Li Yang was taken aback by his unexpected question.
Cen Yan just stared at him.
Zhuang Dongqing spoke frankly, "Perhaps that's what I thought before, but my thoughts have changed now, and my ambitions lie elsewhere."
"As for the relationship between me and the Prince, Sixth Prince, you don't need to overthink it. Even if the Prince is just using this as leverage, at this critical moment, I'm afraid you won't find another noble person in the capital willing to use this leverage against me. What do you think?"
Li Yang was speechless.
Cen Yan suddenly spoke up: "Perhaps the Sixth Prince intended to help the dealer back then, but it's a pity you didn't go."
These words were not only sarcastic but also hit the nail on the head; they were extremely offensive.
Li Yang was the son of a favored concubine, and at this point he had no interest in the throne. The old emperor also liked his lack of ambition and willingness to fight for it. Therefore, even if the original owner of the body survived in the book, the Zhuang family did not... Even if Li Yang had the ability, he would not dare to take any action at the crucial moment of deposing the crown prince.
Sure enough, Li Yang's face turned red instantly after she finished speaking.
It turned red.
Zhuang Dongqing sensed something was wrong and was about to smooth things over when Cen Yan placed the newly arrived tea and snacks in front of him.
The meaning is clear: shut him up.
"..."
Li Yang: "I was being petty." He admitted in a sorry state, "During this special period, even if Brother Dongqing came to find me, I would be unable to do so."
He paused, then bowed to Cen Yan and said, "Your Highness is truly virtuous."
Cen Yan was somewhat surprised, but remained seated and accepted the situation.
Zhuang Dongqing finally spoke up, changing the subject, "So, has the current turmoil subsided?"
Cen Yan didn't guard against him. "The case is almost over, and the deposed crown prince has moved out of the Eastern Palace. All that's left is the imperial decree to place him under house arrest."
Confinement?
Zhuang Dongqing asked in surprise, "Just...locked up?"
Since it was a matter concerning the emperor's family, Li Yang said with a dejected expression, "Well, if nothing unexpected happens, this is how my brother the crown prince will be for the rest of his life."
Fearing that Zhuang Dongqing might think the emperor was heartless, she added, "Actually, Father is also very saddened. He's been ill lately, and the Crown Prince was also raised by Father, so their bond is different..."
No, that's not what shocked Zhuang Dongqing.
Or is it just confinement?
This doesn't match the plot he knew.
Even though she had a bad feeling, Zhuang Dongqing suppressed her doubts because of the many people talking.
Let's ask when we get back to the Prince's residence.
Li Yang suspected Cen Yan, and Cen Yan didn't seem to like Li Yang either. Fortunately, not long after, a eunuch came and said that the emperor summoned Li Yang. Li Yang apologized twice and left in a hurry.
Zhuang Dongqing breathed a sigh of relief.
"That's alright," Cen Yan suddenly said from the side, "It seems you don't really like this friend either?"
Zhuang Dongqing: "..."
Zhuang Dongqing forced a smile: "No way."
Cen Yan: "Then why did you cry during the spring banquet?"
"..."
Zhuang Dongqing didn't dare to speak, and silently lowered his head to eat his tea and snacks. Cen Yan looked at him for a while, then suddenly laughed. Since Zhuang Dongqing didn't say anything, he didn't press the matter further.
Dinner was at a restaurant outside, and Zhuang Dongqing enjoyed it immensely.
Cen Yan noticed that Zhuang Dongqing was eating a little slower.
I still like it, but I don't eat it as quickly as before. Before... it felt like I had been starving for a long time.
After observing Zhuang Dongqing for a while without making a sound, Cen Yan lowered his eyes and began to think.
Sitting at the same table with Zhuang Dongqing made the meal even more delicious, and he had an extra half bowl. On the contrary, the person who always ate until he was stuffed knew a little more restraint and only ate until he was about 80% full.
Cen Yan teased him, "You're putting down your chopsticks already?"
Zhuang Dongqing said sincerely, "When I left the mansion, the kitchen made a big bone soup. It smelled so good. I need to save room for a midnight snack."
Cen Yan: "..."
He was being naive.
The spring day was warm. After walking around for a while to digest my food, I boarded the carriage to return home.
Zhuang Dongqing and Liu Fu kept whispering to each other the whole way, about everything from what to eat tomorrow, whether to go out or not, to whether they could wash their hair again tonight—all trivial things.
Cen Yan listened, surprisingly without showing any impatience.
When Zhuang Dongqing reached the gate of the east wing, she realized that Cen Yan was still following her.
Zhuang Dongqing: "Oh right, Your Highness, there's something else I'd like to ask you."
Cen Yan: "Perfect timing, I also have something to tell you."
Zhuang Dongqing: "?"
Cen Yan let out a breath and said seriously, "Let's talk about this child."
Oh, it's a very important matter.
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