living a life of ignoring others
Since the head eunuch of the Eastern Palace had said so, Shen Wenqiu had no choice but to follow him and walk at the front of the procession toward the Eastern Palace.
In this way, Shen Wenqiu naturally had no chance to send a message on the road.
Although the fact that Jiang Yunyan transferred people from the Hanlin Academy to edit books would eventually become known to outsiders, who knows what else Jiang Yunyan might be planning? It would be even better if Jiang Heng knew about this as soon as possible.
The head eunuch of the Eastern Palace led the people from the Hanlin Academy into the Eastern Palace and stopped in front of the main hall where Jiang Yunyan lived. He turned to look at the group of people from the Hanlin Academy who had come with him and instructed with a smile: "His Highness the Crown Prince has instructed that you are here to revise books. You don't need to worry about those formalities. After you arrive at the Eastern Palace, you can go directly to the side hall to revise your books. There is no need to pay your respects to His Highness."
Upon hearing this, a glimmer of hope ignited in Shen Wenqiu's heart.
Perhaps Jiang Yunyan was just trying to scare him and make him suspicious all the way.
Otherwise, why would they only summon the people from the Hanlin Academy to the side hall and not call them to the front?
Before Shen Wenqiu could feel much relief, he saw the head eunuch of the Eastern Palace turn to look at him and say something with a smile.
"Lord Shen, His Highness the Crown Prince requests your presence."
These few words sent a chill down Shen Wenqiu's spine.
He looked at the sinisterly smiling eunuch in charge of the Eastern Palace, and tried to say something to decline.
Repairing books is of paramount importance; it is crucial to repair books first.
His Highness the Crown Prince is of noble birth; it would be inappropriate for a mere sixth-rank scholar like myself to meet him so abruptly.
But Shen Wenqiu didn't need to say these reasons aloud; he knew they wouldn't work.
He knew everything perfectly well, and the Crown Prince's men knew it all even better.
Therefore, the head eunuch of the Eastern Palace, and even the people of the Eastern Palace present, smiled sinisterly, only looking at Shen Wenqiu.
It was as if they were watching a lamb waiting to be slaughtered.
"minister……"
Shen Wenqiu opened his mouth, staring at the eunuch in charge of the Eastern Palace with a forced smile on his face.
After hesitating for a moment, he ultimately said nothing, only managed a wry smile, nodded in agreement, and followed the head eunuch of the Eastern Palace toward the main hall.
It's just a few steps, and on a normal day, it would only take a short while.
But now, Shen Wenqiu feels as if she is very, very far away.
Every step I took felt so heavy.
Every step is uncertain, with no idea what the future holds.
But in Shen Wenqiu's heart, no matter how far away it was, it didn't matter.
Just a few steps away, the head eunuch of the East Palace pushed open the palace door with both hands, forcefully pulling Shen Wenqiu's thoughts back.
Shen Wenqiu looked up and met Jiang Yunyan's gaze inside the hall.
In an instant, as if scalded by a burning flame, he quickly lowered his head.
Jiang Yunyan turned around only after hearing the door open. He stood amidst the mess, holding an unsheathed sword, and looked at Shen Wenqiu with a sinister smile.
Shen Wenqiu looked down and immediately thought of Jiang Yunyan's appearance, and couldn't help but shudder, almost kneeling down.
But he also knew that since the Hanlin Academy members had not yet entered the side hall, it was already unusual that he had been summoned by Jiang Yunyan alone. If he were to be so frightened by just one glance that Jiang Yunyan would kneel down, wouldn't that be even more strange?
So Shen Wenqiu had no choice but to bite the bullet and walk forward, step by step, until he entered the main hall.
The moment Shen Wenqiu stepped into the main hall, the main hall doors were closed.
With a loud bang.
This separated the filth and anger inside the palace from the outside world.
"Look how scared you are. You must know that once you enter the Eastern Palace today, there is no way you can get out."
Jiang Yunyan's voice carried a hint of amusement as he stared intently at Shen Wenqiu's face, not missing a single change in his expression.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty has come to write a letter." Shen Wenqiu pretended not to understand, lowered his head, and spoke tremblingly.
Jiang Yunyan didn't reply, but just chuckled softly.
He didn't approach, but turned and walked step by step toward the most honored seat in the hall.
The footsteps did not subside, as if striking Shen Wenqiu's heart.
A short while later, Jiang Yunyan sat down.
He looked up at Shen Wenqiu, who was still standing motionless by the door, and coldly ordered, "Come here."
Shen Wenqiu dared not move, yet dared not remain still.
He hesitated for a moment before taking a step forward, slowly advancing step by step, wishing each step would last forever.
However, it was only a few steps away, and he did not succeed. In a short while, he arrived in front of Jiang Yunyan.
The crown prince is the heir apparent of the country, and his subjects must naturally pay their respects to him.
It was already quite inappropriate that Shen Wenqiu did not greet him when he came in.
Now that he's right in front of them, it would be even more unreasonable for him to remain silent.
So Shen Wenqiu bowed and said, "Your subject Shen Wenqiu greets Your Highness the Crown Prince."
Jiang Yunyan neither told Shen Wenqiu to get up nor spoke.
He simply chuckled, a hint of mockery in his laughter.
Then, Jiang Yunyan turned the hilt of his sword and pressed it against Shen Wenqiu's shoulder, using his wrist to forcefully press his body down.
Shen Wenqiu dared not resist in the slightest. He was forced to kneel down by the extremely oppressive force.
Is this because they're upset that he didn't kneel down to pay his respects?
Shen Wenqiu was puzzled, but he didn't dare to ask, so he could only suppress his doubts.
"Do you know why I summoned you?" Jiang Yunyan asked.
His tone carried a hint of mockery, making one want to think.
Perhaps all of this today is just a cruel joke played by the prince.
But Shen Wenqiu dared not not answer. He lowered his head, enduring the force of the sword hilt on his shoulder, and said, "Your subject does not know."
Jiang Yunyan chuckled, touched her lips, and said, "Come closer."
Upon hearing this, Shen Wenqiu was about to get up and move forward when the hilt of the sword pressed him down again.
Then, Shen Wenqiu heard Jiang Yunyan say.
"Kneel down and come forward."
This means that Shen Wenqiu should walk forward on his knees.
Using those two legs, he crawled on his knees, inching forward inch by inch until he reached Jiang Yunyan.
This is humiliating.
But Shen Wenqiu had no other choice at the moment.
Shen Wenqiu could only lower his head, hoping that Jiang Yunyan wouldn't care about the expression on his face, and moved forward inch by inch until Jiang Yunyan's boots were almost within reach before he stopped.
He was somewhat relieved that Jiang Yunyan wasn't interested in his expression, which saved him a lot of embarrassment.
But Shen Wenqiu was too happy too soon.
Just as Shen Wenqiu stopped in front of Jiang Yunyan, Jiang Yunyan threw down the sword in his hand and instead forcefully lifted Shen Wenqiu's chin, forcing him to look up at him.
"Your Highness...Your Highness"
Shen Wenqiu couldn't help but call out, hoping to wake Jiang Yunyan with her weak voice.
When Jiang Yunyan came to her senses, she just smiled wickedly, her hands still moving, ambiguously caressing Shen Wenqiu's lips, making him tremble even more and feel terrified.
Then, Jiang Yunyan said, "With a subordinate as beautiful as you, you must have already slept with him, right?"
The question was strange, like a thunderclap that struck Shen Wenqiu's heart.
What do you mean by "already climbed into his bed"?
Whose bed is this? Jiang Heng's?
That's ridiculous!
Shen Wenqiu cursed inwardly, but he couldn't refute the Crown Prince who now held his life in his hands.
Just because Shen Wenqiu doesn't scold Jiang Yunyan doesn't mean Jiang Yunyan does nothing.
Unable to get an answer, Jiang Yunyan kept rubbing Shen Wenqiu's lips with his fingers, even sticking his fingers into his mouth and stirring them, making Shen Wenqiu almost unable to kneel down.
"Don't make that face." Jiang Yunyan suddenly chuckled wickedly, staring at Shen Wenqiu with a playful gaze, and uttered, "I'll be even more certain that you had an affair with him."
It's clear that Jiang Yunyan is holding a grudge against Jiang Heng because of what happened last time, which is why he's so concerned about Jiang Heng's affairs.
But Shen Wenqiu couldn't understand how Jiang Yunyan could think of such a thing.
His relationship with Jiang Heng was completely innocent, and there was nothing wrong with how they spent time together.
What kind of thought process does Jiang Yunyan have that he could misinterpret his pure relationship with Jiang Heng?
Even if we take a step back and assume that Shen Wenqiu and Jiang Heng are having an affair...
What does this have to do with Jiang Yunyan?
Now that the prince who is rising to prominence is gay, wouldn't that be a great advantage for Crown Prince Jiang Yunyan?
The Emperor is so petty, he definitely won't agree to let a homosexual become Emperor. Plus, he's so biased towards Jiang Yunyan, he'll probably conclude that Shen Wenqiu and Jiang Heng are having an affair without even investigating.
If Shen Wenqiu is Jiang Yunyan, she will definitely spread the news. It would be best to arrange for them to share a bed and then find an opportunity for others to see it.
Such a good opportunity, and she actually went to Shen Wenqiu to say these strange things.
"How far have things progressed in private?"
As Shen Wenqiu pondered, Jiang Yunyan asked again.
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