There was a commotion in the Golden Palace and no one knew what had happened.
Shen Que, who was waiting at the bottom of the long steps, looked up anxiously, but did not see the shadow of his prince. Just then, he saw a familiar-looking young eunuch coming out from the side of the palace. Shen Que and Eleven hurriedly followed him and stopped him to ask him questions.
This young eunuch was a subordinate of Eunuch An who served the emperor. Although he did not recognize Eleven, he recognized Chen Que who often followed Prince Yan.
The personal guards of Prince Yan's Palace all had ranks, and the lowest one held the rank of seventh rank in the Ministry of War. However, because Chen was a slave, he was not even as good as a commoner. The procedures for getting rid of slavery were complicated in the court, and it was impossible for the prince to run around for him, so the matter had been delayed.
But the young eunuch looked at him and still addressed him respectfully: "Greetings to Lord Shen, what do you want to see me for?"
Chen raised his hand to gesture, and Eleven beside him translated for him in a low voice: "What happened in there?"
The eunuch pondered for a moment, pulled Shen Que aside, and leaned in close to whisper to him, "The emperor got really angry just now, and threw a few memorials and teacups."
After that, he handed him the wooden tray filled with broken porcelain pieces, and said with some regret: "Look - it's a top-quality Jianzhan."
Shen didn't even look at the tray, but hurriedly signed: "Does this matter have anything to do with the prince?"
He gestured and Eleven dictated for him.
"It was because of His Royal Highness Prince Yan."
Shen Que's heart suddenly rose to his throat again. Before he could open his mouth to ask the reason, he heard the young eunuch say again: "But the emperor's anger is not directed at the prince, but at the Imperial Censor. He said that he was just sitting there doing nothing and slandering loyal officials all day long. He wants to dismiss him from office."
After listening to him, Shen Que finally breathed a sigh of relief.
The eunuch smiled at Chen Que, with a cunning light in his eyes: "The deputy prime minister is the man of the prison official Qu, and he has always been at odds with Prince Yan. If he goes down, it will save His Highness from being an eyesore. I am a humble servant, and my words carry no weight. I don't know anything more."
However, Shen tactfully took off the purse from his waist and put the heavy bag of silver into the tray in the eunuch's hand: "It's just a small gift, please accept it, sir."
There was no need for Eleven to translate this sentence. The young eunuch smiled brightly and did not shirk responsibility. He just said, "Grandpa and I are on the side of the prince. We will not let the prince get into trouble for no apparent reason. But please be at ease, Lord Shen."
After they got off the stairs, Eleven couldn't help but ask him, "How much silver did you give him just now?"
"Fifty taels." Shen answered calmly.
"Fifty taels?" Eleven was stunned, hissed with a distressed look, and then said indignantly, "Your monthly salary is only sixteen taels, how could you bear to give it up?"
Chen didn't take it seriously: "Friendship is friendship. If I don't give him some money, he will hide it and refuse to tell me next time something happens."
Eleven was silent for a while, and then he sighed without any context, "You are truly loyal."
During the years that Chen Luo had been in the mansion, he had never been picky about the food in the canteen, and he never joined his colleagues when they occasionally got together to play a few rounds of cards. He wore official uniforms all year round, and only during the New Year would he be half-forced by Chen Luo to go to get a new set of clothes.
Eleven originally thought that he was frugal and that he wanted to save the money to buy a big house in the future, marry a virtuous wife, take beautiful concubines, and have both sons and daughters.
Who would have thought that he was so diligent and frugal that he actually confiscated all his savings. And considering his personality, he would definitely not ask the prince for money if he lost it.
at night.
Shen Que was ordered to deliver a note at the post house, and then went to the outskirts of the city to do some work. When he hurried back, it was already the second watch.
He happened to meet Chen Luo outside the palace, and asked hurriedly: "Is the prince asleep?"
Shen Luo had known him for many years, and even though he gestured very quickly, he could understand what he meant at once: "I'm not asleep yet. I was looking for you just now. I sent the maids to boil water and asked you to come in and help me take a bath."
Shen's heart tightened.
The palace's bathroom was located in the back hall. The door was not tightly closed, and a little warm candlelight leaked through a crack in the door.
Shen went in carefully. The door creaked slightly, and a familiar male voice came from inside: "Are you back?"
Although he couldn't speak, Shen didn't dare not answer, so he reluctantly said "hmm" as a yes.
After passing through the four Shu brocade curtains, Shen Que came to the edge of the hot spring pool, took the comb from the tray held by the maid, knelt by the pool, and cut the hair of Xie Shiguan, who was half exposed above the water.
Shen was nervous, though he was the prince's personal attendant, in the past the prince thought they were clumsy and would always send maids and old women to do tasks like bathing.
Xie Shiguan had his back to him and except for what he had just said, he did not utter another word.
When he was halfway through cutting the long hair, he suddenly saw the person in front of him move. Shen was startled, fearing that he had hurt the prince because of his clumsy hands. He quickly put the comb on his knees and made a hasty gesture: "Please forgive me, prince."
Who would have thought that Xie Shiguan had no annoyance on his face, he just smiled and looked at him: "Today, His Majesty invited me to have breakfast, and I heard the eunuch under An Fengde's knees mentioned you."
Seeing Xie Shiguan turned his head away, Shen Que lowered his head and signed: "I do have some friendship with him."
Xie Shiguan didn't know whether he was praising or criticizing, "These eunuchs are arrogant and have strange tempers. If they go to Shen Xiangzhi, they will only run into a wall. You are very popular with these rootless eunuchs."
Shen was a little confused, but the eunuchs in the palace did treat him well. Some of the powerful eunuchs who were said to be arrogant and difficult to approach by others were also enthusiastic about him.
I think it's because they saw that I was disabled, so they couldn't help but feel a little sympathy for me.
So he lowered his head and said anxiously: "They respect the prince, so they are willing to look at me with respect."
"No need to flatter me," Xie Shiguan smiled again, then paused, "Why are you lowering your head? I was just chatting with you for a few minutes, why do you look like you're being tortured?"
Shen did not dare to raise his eyes, but only said with his hand: "Your Majesty, calm down."
Xie Shiguan stretched out his hand and pinched his chin, leaning closer: "Do you know the rules of my bathing?"
Shen was forced to raise his face, but still with his eyes downcast, he shook his head gently, his heartbeat inexplicably quickened.
In the mist, Chen was staring at Xie Shiguan's amber-brown phoenix eyes, thick eyebrows, long eyelashes, slightly high brow bones, and straight nose bridge, which had an indescribable exotic charm.
The thin lips opened and closed again, and suddenly he said, "Come down."
Shen just stared at him blankly.
"Let me get you out of the water," Xie Shiguan said, "You can't speak, are you deaf too?"
Shen was shocked and a layer of cold sweat ran down his back.
He knew that he was disabled, and if he took off his clothes and went into the water, there was no guarantee that the prince would not notice that something was wrong with him.
Inappropriately, he thought of the pretty little slave who was driven out of the mansion. It was just a wounded leg. If it was taken good care of, it would still heal. But the prince could not tolerate it, not to mention that this was his natural body and he could not abandon it even if he wanted to.
But Xie Shiguan just stared at him indifferently. He couldn't find any excuse to refuse, nor did he have the courage to refuse.
But Shen gritted his teeth and finally took off his outer robe slowly.
Xie Shiguan waited patiently for a while, and when he saw that he took a long time to take off his outer robe, he raised his eyebrows slightly.
But Shen knew that he was getting impatient waiting.
"I noticed that you were not a slow person in the past, why are you so hesitant today?" Xie Shiguan approached him slightly and whispered in his ear, "Do you want me to help you change your clothes?"
Shen was startled and quickly gestured: "I dare not!"
"It's just that I am of low status. This is the bathtub used by the prince. I am afraid that I will pollute the water."
Xie Shiguan didn't say anything, just looked at him, and then the corners of his mouth slightly curved, a smile appeared on his face.
Then he suddenly grabbed Shen Que's ankle and pulled him into the water.
Although Shen Que had some knowledge of swimming, he was not very good. This time, when he was pulled by the other party, he fell headfirst into the water. He choked on the water several times but was unable to stand up from the water.
The prince then stepped forward, grasped him by the collar with one hand, and embraced him with the other.
Shen Que's chest was flat, just like that of an average man, but when he hugged him, it was not as hard as it looked, but unexpectedly soft.
Shen Que took a breath and realized that he was now being held by the prince. He didn't dare to directly pry the prince's arm, so he had to turn his head and look at Xie Shiguan wetly.
It's a pleading look.
Xie Shiguan's heartbeat stuttered, and he actually sensed several different styles from him.
The prince did not let go, but stared at him directly. He didn't know where this man had hidden his flesh. He looked obviously thin, but he felt very good in his arms.
But Shen shuddered slightly, lowered his head, and almost buried it in the water.
Seeing him in such an awkward situation, Xie Shiguan was kind enough to let go of his hand, and he did not forget to tease him: "You have been resting too much these days, and your body is not firm anymore, like a woman."
He said this deliberately to see his reaction.
As expected, Shen was nervous and embarrassed. He raised his hands several times but couldn't make any gestures: "Subordinates... subordinates..."
"I'm not punishing you," Xie Shiguan said, changing the subject, "Come and wipe my body for me."
Shen seemed to be saved. He finally took a breath and slowly walked towards him. He picked up the bath towel on the tray by the pool and carefully wiped Xie Shiguan's body.
The prince let him do what he wanted and didn't say anything for a long time.
Shen quickly cleaned his upper body and was wondering whether to continue washing down when he suddenly heard Xie Shiguan ask, "How old are you now?"
He was so frightened that his hands trembled. He hurried to the prince and gestured, "Twenty and six."
“It’s really not small.”
Then the prince continued, "All servants in the palace, regardless of their status, are free to marry as long as they are of the right age. I don't restrict you. Most of the guards in the palace who are your age have married and had children. There are many precedents - what about you? Do you have anyone you like?"
Shen Que immediately noticed his self-proclaimed name, and Xie Shiguan's tone also sounded much softer than before, as if he was really having a heart-to-heart talk with him.
He thought for a moment and replied, "If the prince had not shown me kindness and bought me back to the palace, I would never be where I am today. I only wish to stay with the prince for the rest of my life and I dare not think of anything else."
Shen Que used force on his hands, and coupled with the heat from the hot spring, his face soon turned red.
Xie Shiguan curled his lips and reached out to ruffle his wet hair, as if he was teasing a pet: "You are good at taking advantage. If you get old and sick in the future, will you also ask me to support you for the rest of your life?"
Shen quickly lowered his head: "I dare not."
If the servants in the palace were too old to do their job, they would be given some silver to send them away. If they were seriously ill, they would naturally be expelled from the palace and sent back home to fend for themselves. There was no reason for the prince to keep them for nothing.
He knew that what he said was not good and that the prince had found fault with him. He also knew that he should say a few more smooth words to show his loyalty to the prince.
But the more anxious he became, the clumsier his hands became. He raised his hands in the air, not knowing what to say.
However, Shen stood in the water blankly. Xie Shiguan did not wait for him, but continued to bathe in the water, treating him as a transparent person.
That night, when the prince sent him back to the courtyard, Shen almost fled.
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