Chapter 1 I'm here to see you
Just after February, the spring chill began to slowly melt away, the snowflakes melted into water and dripped down the eaves onto the steps, it was another good year.
Shen Zhejiang pushed open the door and a gust of cold wind blew towards him. Even though he was wearing a thick cloak to keep warm, he still felt bone-chillingly cold.
He was born with a cold body, an old problem, but he didn't take it seriously. Every winter, no matter how he kept warm, he would always get sick as if it was a convention.
"Master Shen! Something bad has happened! Something bad has happened!!"
At this moment, his attendant Huaiwen rushed up to him in panic, his face full of fear, as if there were demons and monsters chasing him.
Shen Zhejiang has always been good at managing his family and has long established a rule that no noise is allowed. Seeing this, he couldn't help but frown and scolded, "How can you be so reckless?"
Huaiwen was scolded in the face and shut his mouth in dismay, not daring to speak any more and returning to his usual well-behaved self.
Shen Zhejiang asked, "What happened? Why are you so panicked?"
Huaiwen was about to reply when he was hit on the head by a small stone falling from the roof, followed by a slightly lazy voice.
"You didn't even know how to greet me politely, and you even dared to stab me in the back behind my back, you Huaiwen."
Huaiwen: “…”
Shen Zhejiang looked up in the direction of the voice and saw a handsome young man crossing one leg, not even bothered by the dirt, sitting leisurely on the roof, staring at him with a bright smile.
"I'm here to look for you. I haven't seen you for a long time. Do you miss me, Master?"
The visitor was none other than Yan State's famous Crown Prince Xiao Zhinian, the eldest son of the Queen and the only crown prince of Yan State.
Unfortunately, he did not learn his lesson at a young age. He spent his days flaunting his talents and hanging out with playboys, earning himself the reputation of a little devil.
Shen Zhejiang consciously ignored the intimacy in his words, and bowed indifferently, "Greetings, Your Highness."
Xiao Zhinian jumped down, his muddy brocade boots stepped steadily on the wet bluestone slabs. A warm smile rolled up his lips, and he looked straight at Shen Zhejiang and said, "Sir, there is no need to be polite to me. You caught a cold and haven't come to teach me for many days. I miss you very much."
He was too close.
"Don't worry, Your Highness. I've recovered." Shen Zhejiang took a step back and ordered him to leave calmly. "Since you have met me, Your Highness, please go back. Remember not to leave the palace without permission in the future."
Because he had played too much recently and broke a valuable coral stone treasure in the Minister of Rites' mansion, Xiao Zhinian was reported to his father, the emperor, and was confined to his home for nearly a month.
I finally got the chance to sneak out, how could I just leave like that?
He doesn't want it.
"I haven't even said a few words yet, and you're in a hurry to send me away. You're really heartless. Besides, I've come all the way here, and I'd like to have a cup of good tea from you, isn't that possible?"
Xiao Zhinian put on a pitiful expression, which, coupled with his still somewhat childish face, was really hard to refuse.
However, Shen Zhejiang knew his temper very well and could not follow his way, so he said without questioning: "I only have coarse tea and plain water here, which is not as good as the best in the palace."
"Oh! Just consider it as a request from me. Please let me stay. I went out of the city early in the morning to pick fresh plums for you. Look!"
After saying that, Xiao Zhinian picked up the woven bamboo basket in his hand, smiled and shook it twice in front of Shen Zhejiang.
The basket was filled with fresh plums, bright red in color, with crystal dewdrops still hanging on them, very tempting to taste.
Two or three years ago, Shen Zhejiang was traveling alone when he accidentally discovered a farm rising from the ground ten miles away in the suburbs. After asking around, he learned that it was a wealthy businessman named Li from Jiangnan who found a good opportunity when he visited the capital. He spent a large sum of money to buy a piece of land and hired farmers to grow some seasonal vegetables and fruits for tourists to pick for entertainment. They only needed to pay ten cents before entering the farm.
Shen Zhejiang found it very novel, and since he was upset and had no way to vent his feelings at that time, he followed in to take a look.
Among the wide variety of fruits, he particularly liked plums, which had a sour and sweet taste, so he greedily ate two more.
Later, somehow this matter reached Xiao Zhinian's ears.
Although Shen Zhejiang liked them, he was unwilling to get covered in mud and pick them himself. However, Xiao Zhinian would always bring him some when the season was right to satisfy his craving.
His eyes passed over the fruit basket and fell on Xiao Zhinian's bright face, smiling brightly. Only then did Shen Zhejiang notice that a few strands of his hair had rubbed against the dirt, and he could no longer utter any excuses.
I guess he must have come here exhausted.
"Your Highness, please come in."
Shen Zhejiang took a step back and turned to Huai Wen, saying, "Make a pot of pine leaf green clothes, and bring hot water and a towel."
"But..." Huaiwen hesitated.
Songye Cuiyi is the most precious tea in the mansion, and Chen Zhejiang usually can't bear to drink it at home.
"Go quickly."
Shen Zhejiang interrupted him.
Huaiwen replied "yes" reluctantly, thinking that the Lord treated His Highness better than he treated himself. Although he thought so, he still retreated and got busy.
Xiao Zhinian had no idea why and followed Shen Zhejiang with a smile on his face.
The thin and tall moon-white figure was like water waves gently rippling in the night breeze, and it went straight into his eyes.
Shen Zhejiang must be the most beautiful person in the world, and he likes it very much.
"The house is simple, please don't be offended, Your Highness."
"Hehe! Not surprising, not surprising!"
Xiao Zhinian was so happy that he sat down next to Shen Zhejiang excitedly, put the fruit basket on the table, and said, "Sir, please try it!"
Shen Zhejiang couldn't resist him, so he picked one up and put it into his mouth. The sweet and sour juice spread from the tip of his tongue, making him unable to resist eating one more.
When he ate the fifth one, he looked up and saw Xiao Zhinian blinking and staring at him. Shen Zhejiang felt as if he was burned by a branding iron, and his heart trembled: "What are you doing?"
"It seems that you really like to eat plums, and the fruits are ripe now," Xiao Zhinian asked with a smile, "Sir, are you free tomorrow to go to the farm with me? How about that?"
"I will give lectures to Your Highness tomorrow."
Xiao Zhinian was unhappy: "Sir, why do you only think about telling me those boring and dull scriptures all day long? I have become tired of listening to you and don't want to learn anymore."
If he could not stay with Shen Zhejiang, he would not even bother to even bat an eyelid to listen to any of the old, bullshit sage advice.
Shen Zhejiang said calmly: "Your Highness is the crown prince of the country. You should cultivate yourself and govern the country. Don't be impetuous."
At the same time, Huaiwen brought hot tea and hot water.
Shen Zhejiang first wet the towel and handed it to Xiao Zhinian to clean. Xiao Zhinian did not take it. Instead, he put his face close to Shen Zhejiang and said, "I still remember that when I was young, you washed my face. Please wipe it for me again."
Shen Zhejiang did not follow his complacency and said calmly, “Your Highness is not young anymore.”
"I can't see it, please help me, sir."
Xiao Zhinian continued to play tricks.
After a long time, a soft sigh was heard.
It was Shen Zhejiang who softened his heart first. He held the hot towel which still had some warmth and carefully wiped the dirt off Xiao Zhinian's hair, his eyebrows lowered, focused and serious.
Xiao Zhinian was stunned for a moment.
Shen Zhejiang was not the kind of person who seemed friendly at first glance. There was always a very slight sense of alienation in his amber eyes. His nose was thin and straight, and due to long-term illness, his thin lips were always pale as if he had lost blood. He looked both indifferent and dignified.
He has a strong character, like a pine tree on a mountain top, or a bamboo broken through rocks, truly pure and upright.
"Okay," Shen Zhejiang put the towel back into the basin, poured Songye Cuiyi tea for Xiao Zhinian, and said, "I'm sorry for the poor hospitality. Your Highness, please return to the palace after you finish your tea. I have something to do and I should leave now."
Xiao Zhinian asked, "Where are you going, sir?"
Shen Zhejiang glanced at him and said, "Lord Han's residence, I have an appointment with him today."
"Han Zitang again?!"
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