Chapter 74 Come on, take advantage of it!
"Let someone in," Shen Zhi raised his hand to signal, and flicked his wide sleeves slightly. The shimmering dark patterns on the cuffs flowed and penetrated into Zhong Wenyan's eyes.
Zhong Wenyan realized what he was looking at and turned his head away in panic.
There were vibrations coming from the ground. Since he became blind, his ears had become more sensitive. Shen Zhi could even hear the different footsteps.
It was like there was a person among them, whose steps were steady and heavy but whose footsteps were light, moving swiftly and quickly, like a cunning tactic used by a beast to lower its prey's vigilance before hunting.
Shen Zhi stroked the intricate patterns on the outer shell of the stove with his fingertips, waiting for them to slowly approach.
"Your humble servant has met your royal brother," Shen Zhaoheng said with a gentle expression. He showed no disrespect to the prince who had eye disease. His actions and gestures were full of royal bearing.
Shen Zhi said nothing, quietly waiting for the other person, General Xiao, who walked like a beast.
"I have met His Royal Highness the Crown Prince." Contrary to what Shen Zhi had imagined, Xiao Lang's voice was clear and melodious, like the sound of a gurgling stream.
It was just that his voice seemed to have not opened for a long time. Each word he spoke was extremely slow, but his pronunciation was clear, as if he was carving on a stone tablet with a chisel. It was a bit strange.
Shen Zhi forgot that General Xiao, who was invincible on the battlefield, was only nineteen years old this year.
It would be strange if it was spoken with a middle-aged accent.
Shen Zhi tilted his head as if to ask, "Yuanbao, what etiquette should I follow when meeting the Crown Prince? I haven't seen the ministers for a long time, and I have forgotten a little."
The eunuch behind Shen Zhi hurriedly said, "Your Highness, when a minister meets a minister, he should kowtow and bow."
Shen Zhi groaned, as if suddenly realizing something: "You have to kowtow."
"To reply to Your Highness, we must kowtow," Yuanbao said hurriedly.
Shen Zhi turned his head, his eyes covered with satin, but the majesty he exuded casually made people dare not underestimate him.
Shen Zhaoheng felt subconsciously nervous. It was normal for brothers to visit each other and bow to each other when they were close, and there was nothing wrong with that. However, Shen Zhi had been injured recently and his mood had been unstable. If he had to nitpick, today's etiquette was inappropriate.
Shen Zhaoheng glanced at Xiao Lang who was kneeling below. He was wearing a black robe, with his graceful shoulders and back stretched out in a straight line. Even though he was kneeling, the bloody smell had not dissipated at all, and his aura was terrifying.
Shen Zhaoheng has always been trying to win over ministers, but no one in the court is more worthy of winning over than Xiao Lang, who is bowing in front of him. This young general, commanding an army of 100,000, can ensure the stability of the country for 30 years.
Shen Zhaoheng concealed his thoughts, lifted up his robe, and knelt down to show that the prince was unfilial and unkind and was showing weakness to Xiao Lang. Shen Zhaoheng could easily distinguish the pros and cons and make the right choice.
"Did General Xiao kowtow?" Shen Zhi pretended to be distressed. "Yuanbao, did you see it?"
A simple rhetorical question froze Shen Zhaoheng in place. Shen Zhaoheng naturally loosened his hand that was holding his robe and wanted to put pressure on Xiao Lang. His brother, the crown prince, was blind and stupid.
Yuan Bao's chubby face revealed a festive look. When he heard the question, he wrinkled his bean worm-like eyebrows and shook his head, "I was waiting for Lord Zhong to warm your feet. I was too worried about your health and didn't notice General Xiao for a while."
The implication is that he disapproved of Xiao Lang's gesture of courtesy.
If Shen Zhi is the evil tiger, then Yuan Bao is definitely an accomplice of the evil.
Yuanbao puffed out her round belly, brushed the dust off her hands, and said with an apologetic voice but an arrogant expression, not allowing any refusal: "General Xiao, please perform the salute again to show respect to Your Highness. This time, Your Highness must see General Xiao's sincerity."
Shen Zhi was very satisfied with Yuanbao's attitude of relying on the power of others. He didn't need a scheming person, he just wanted an obedient dog.
Shen Zhi heard a heavy sound, which was the sound of Xiao Lang's knees hitting the stone slab again, followed by a crisp sound, which was the sound of Xiao Lang's head hitting the ground.
"I have met His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
In Zhong Wenyan's sight as he lowered his head, the only thing he could see was Shen Zhi's white boots, stained with mud but still so clean. He realized belatedly that the sincerity that allowed the blind prince to see was the sound of General Xiao's kowtow.
The prince hated Xiao Lang even more than himself, who shamelessly came to ask the prince to depose himself.
As expected, Yuan Bao's boastful voice rang out again, "Is this all General Xiao's sincerity? His Royal Highness the Crown Prince can't hear it."
Shen Zhi's fingers were heated by the stove, and his silent attitude confirmed Yuan Bao's words.
Xiao Lang did not hesitate, and did it again and again.
"I have met His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
"I have met His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
"I have met His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
"I have met His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."
Exactly six times, no more, no less, he knocked at Shen Zhi's feet without any complaints.
What a good dog, it’s a pity that it belongs to Shen Zhaoheng.
Shen Zhaoheng finally couldn't bear to watch it anymore, he lifted up his robe and knelt down, "I beg Your Highness the Crown Prince to show mercy, General Xiao has just returned from the battlefield and his injuries have not healed yet, but he has been assigned to be my brother's bodyguard. It is really not suitable for him to do strenuous exercise."
The dispute was described as an intense sport. Shen Zhaoheng was indeed the most valued prince. He was very careful and thorough in his words and deeds.
Shen Zhi's voice revealed a hint of displeasure, and he explained: "Fifth brother has misunderstood me. I value General Xiao's talent so much."
"I guess Fifth Brother's eyesight is not good today, and he didn't realize who the person kneeling alone is," Shen Zhi said indifferently.
Zhong Wenyan, who was suddenly named, turned around and saluted Shen Zhaoheng, "Your humble servant Zhong Wenyan has met the Fifth Prince."
Zhong Wenyan is from the aristocratic Zhong family and is the grandson of Duke Zhong. He is a man of integrity, pride and never gave face to any prince. This is the confidence of a noble family.
Shen Zhaoheng didn't understand what he meant, but he had a bad feeling in his heart. The prince had a treacherous temperament after he became blind, so even he had to restrain his edge, otherwise he would be bitten by this madman and his flesh would fall off and blood would flow.
"Lord Zhong is a newly promoted censor by the emperor, and he has a bright future," Shen Zhi praised, making Zhong Wenyan feel flattered for a moment, but the next second he changed the subject, "If he sues General Xiao for disrespecting the crown prince, that would harm General Xiao. Fifth brother knows that these censors are the most talkative."
Zhong Wenyan's face turned from red to white. Even though he was a scholar who did not understand human nature, he could still understand the prince's indirect criticism.
Zhong Wenyan didn't know how to react. This blatant humiliation was even more embarrassing for him than the prince asking him to warm up his socks.
Shen Zhaoheng was speechless. The prince's behavior was very different from before. This was the first time that he and the prince ended up in a quarrel.
Shen Zhaoheng comforted himself that at least this time he had offended both Zhong Wenyan and Xiao Lang.
"General Xiao, do you have any resentment? Can you understand my painstaking efforts?" Shen Zhi raised his lips, and the sharp blade of his words pointed directly at Xiao Lang's face.
Having been freed from the pain of kneeling, Xiao Lang showed no emotion, but still had that cold expression on his face, “No, I can’t.”
Shen Zhi raised his eyebrows. Was Xiao Lang taking this opportunity to curse him?
Shen Zhi knew the difference clearly: being a slave to the court was a minister, and being a slave to oneself and calling oneself a subordinate was a lowly position.
Six times in total, not one less. Hope Xiao Lang will not remember whose servant he is.
Shen Zhi kicked the man in front of him with his toes. His body was frozen. Only when he looked at his crimson official robe did he feel better. However, Shen Zhi could not see and could only feel the stiff body under his feet.
"I forgot that Lord Zhong hasn't given me warm shoes and socks yet," Shen Zhisi ordered casually, reminding Zhong Wenyan.
Zhong Wenyan let out a breath of foul air. He had seen the methods the Crown Prince used to punish Xiao Lang and the Fifth Prince just now. It was not something he could contend with. Now, warming his shoes and socks was just a trivial matter that was neither heavy nor itchy.
Zhong Wenyan raised his stiff fingers. He had been kneeling outside the pavilion for two hours. He was called into the pavilion and knelt at the prince's feet. The heat from the heater held by the prince above his head warmed his cold face a little.
Zhong Wenyan greedily took two breaths of warm air, and was unexpectedly filled with icy wind and snow. He could not help but cough twice, and when he realized that the person in front of him was the prince, he quickly fell silent.
As the wind and snow lingered, Zhong Wenyan tasted the sweet aroma of it.
Is it the prince's? Zhong Wenyan was shocked by his own thoughts, and his ears became hot unconsciously. It was too rude. He quickly threw away the messy thoughts in his mind. He actually made up stories about the prince at will.
"What are you waiting for? Hurry up, do you want His Highness to catch a cold?" Yuanbao urged unexpectedly.
Zhong Wenyan respectfully lifted up Shen Zhi's foot, and his other hand fell on the heel, gently taking it off, and he did the same with the other shoe.
The clean, white, new socks were exposed in front of him. For some reason, Zhong Wenyan's breathing was trembling. The prince's feet were already very small when he was wearing shoes. Now Zhong Wenyan looked at the wet socks and didn't dare to touch them.
Zhong Wenyan took a deep breath, and his cold hands fell on the socks and carefully took them off. There was no overstepping of authority, and he did not touch the prince's skin at all. Zhong Wenyan's fingers tightened.
The socks were stuck somewhere and couldn't move. Zhong Wenyan used some strength, but perhaps because the socks were too thin, a tearing sound was heard in the air.
"Please forgive me, Your Highness," Zhong Wenyan quickly stopped and admitted his mistake.
Shen Zhi said calmly: "Is General Xiao my bodyguard now?"
"Yes", a short word reveals the identity.
Shen Zhi raised his voice and shouted in dissatisfaction: "Now someone is deliberately trying to harm the prince, can General Xiao remain indifferent?"
Zhong Wenyan was charged with a crime without any explanation. Everyone present was amazed at the prince's cruelty.
"Royal brother..." Shen Zhaoheng was begging for mercy.
Xiao Lang had already started moving. He picked up Zhong Wenyan and threw him to the corner of the table. His thin forehead was cracked and a large amount of blood splattered.
Shen Zhi, who was sitting at the table, was also affected. Warm, fishy blood dripped onto Shen Zhi's face, slowly sliding down and leaving a bright red mark. The clean, white, and soft silk was stained with blood, and the gloomy Crown Prince was sitting there, bathed in blood.
His holy and noble face was stained with dirty blood, giving rise to a breathtaking beauty. He was destined to be a Rakshasa, the embodiment of sin.
Everyone was waiting for the prince to get angry, after all, he had just humiliated them for a trivial matter.
Now that things are like this, Xiao Lang is in danger.
Shen Zhi smiled softly, the blood-stained beauty's face bloomed, and at his feet lay the blood-stained Zhong Wenyan. Shen Zhi's stunning appearance looked extremely enchanting.
Is this a provocation? Or a counterattack against his own humiliation?
No matter what it was, Xiao Lang had already been firmly remembered by Shen Zhi.
"General Xiao is very dear to me," Shen Zhi said, pretending to boast. After a while, he hesitated and said, "It's just that I'm blind. General Xiao is so skilled in martial arts that I can't hear him, which makes me feel uneasy. What should I do if I can't use him?"
Xiao Lang did not reply, he just didn't ask himself.
Yuan Bao flatteredly continued: "The Prince's Mansion has bells that were sent as tribute from foreign lands. It would be better to give them to General Xiao to show the Prince's kindness."
Shen Zhi clapped his hands in appreciation, very pleased with the suggestion, "You make the arrangements, I'm lonely now, I'll go back first."
Shen Zhi, with his socks taken off, walked barefoot into the snow, leaving footprints of varying depths on the white snow. His fair soles stepped on the snow, and the edges turned into a crimson red.
Alone, walking alone, without an umbrella, snowflakes falling, the violent prince seemed to have emerged from this vast world with a clean and noble demeanor that was breathtaking.
The wounds on Xiao Lang's body from the battlefield were torn and the strong smell of blood was no less than that of the fallen Zhong Wenyan.
He still had that numb look on his face, as if he had no interest in anything in the world. Anyone could come and fight him, but no one dared to, a young general who could defeat thousands of troops alone, and no one dared to anger him.
Except for the prince whose temperament has changed drastically.
They said they were to be the prince's guards, but in reality they were trying to deprive him of military power. They all understood this, including Xiao Lang.
In the Prince's Mansion, following the prince who would never ascend the throne and was about to be deposed, undoubtedly made the old emperor feel at ease, but at the same time he was also afraid that other princes would have the desire to compete for the throne.
"General Xiao, if the emperor is harsh on you, feel free to come to me," Shen Zhaoheng said earnestly and promised solemnly.
Xiao Lang's expression did not relax at all, and he just said, "Thank you, Fifth Prince."
Shen Zhaoheng felt relieved. Compared with other princes, he had helped Xiao Lang, and Xiao Lang had to be grateful. In short, his relationship with Xiao Lang was closer than that with others.
Xiao Lang looked far away at the dot that was gradually disappearing in the distance.
This is his new master, the new master pointed out to him by the Emperor.