TPATTHU Chapter 1
by VolareChapter 1: This Prince is Here to Find You
February had just passed, and the spring chill was slowly melting away. Snowflakes melted into water, dripping from the eaves onto the steps, heralding another year of fine weather.
Shen Zhejiang pushed open the door, and a gust of cold wind rushed towards him. Even though he was wearing a thick, warm cloak, he still felt bone-chilling cold.
He was born with a cold constitution, an old ailment he didn’t pay much attention to. Every winter, no matter how warmly he dressed, he would invariably fall ill, as if it were a matter of course.
“Lord Shen! Something bad! Something bad!!”
Just then, his attendant, Huai Wen, rushed up to him in a panic, his face filled with terror, as if demons and monsters were chasing him from behind.
Shen Zhejiang always ran his household with order, having long established a rule against loud noises. Seeing this, he couldn’t help but frown and scolded, “Impetuous, where is your decorum?”
Huai Wen was immediately reprimanded and resentfully shut his mouth, not daring to speak lightly again, returning to his usual well-behaved manner.
Shen Zhejiang asked, “What happened? Why are you so flustered?”
Huai Wen was about to reply when suddenly a small stone fell from the roof and hit him on the head. Immediately after, a slightly lazy voice drifted down.
“This Prince pays a visit and you don’t even offer a welcome. You even dare to badmouth this Prince behind my back, you good-for-nothing, Huai Wen.”
Huai Wen: “……”
Shen Zhejiang looked up, following the sound, only to see a handsome youth propping up one leg. Not even minding the dirt, he sat leisurely on the rooftop, raising a bright smile as he gazed at him.
“This Prince is here to find you. It’s been many days since we last met, Taifu, have you missed this Prince?”
The visitor was none other than the renowned Crown Prince of Yan Country, Xiao Zhinian, the eldest son born of the Empress, and the only heir apparent of Yan Country.
Unfortunately, he didn’t learn well in his youth, spending his days in the streets provoking dogs and cats, swaggering through the market, mingling with the sons of wealthy officials, earning himself the reputation of a little devil and a troublemaker.
Shen Zhejiang consciously ignored the intimacy in his words, and indifferently greeted, “Greetings, Your Highness.”
Xiao Zhinian leaped down, his brocade boots, stained with mud, landing steadily on the damp bluestone floor. A warm smile curled on his lips as he looked directly at Shen Zhejiang, saying, “Teacher, you don’t need to be so formal with this Prince. You’ve caught a cold, and haven’t come to lecture this Prince on the classics for many days. This Prince has been very worried.”
He was too close.
“I’m not troubled by Your Highness’s concern. This subject has already recovered,” Shen Zhejiang took a step back, his face calm as he issued an order to leave. “Now that you’ve seen me, please return, Your Highness. Remember, you must not leave the palace without permission in the future.”
Because he had been playing too hard recently, breaking a valuable coral gem in the residence of the Minister of Rites, Xiao Zhinian was reported to his emperor father, who confined him for nearly a month.
Having finally seized the opportunity to sneak out, how could he possibly leave so easily?
He wouldn’t.
“I haven’t even said a few words, and Teacher is already eager to send this Prince away. You truly have a heart of stone. Besides, this Prince has come all this way and wants to have a cup of good tea to quench my thirst at Teacher’s place. Is that not allowed?”
Xiao Zhinian put on a pitiful expression, which, combined with his still somewhat childish face, was truly hard to refuse.
However, Shen Zhejiang knew his temperament well and wouldn’t fall for his tricks, stating unequivocally, “This subject only has coarse tea here, not as good as that in the palace.”
“Oh dear! Just treat it as this Prince begging you, let this Prince stay. This Prince went to the outskirts of the city early this morning to pick fresh plum fruit for you, look!”
With that, Xiao Zhinian lifted the woven bamboo basket in his hand, shaking it with a smile in front of Shen Zhejiang as if showing off.
The basket was filled to the brim with a basket of fresh plum fruit, their color red and vibrant, still adorned with trembling, crystal-clear dewdrops, very tempting to taste.
Two or three years ago, Shen Zhejiang traveled alone and inadvertently discovered a farm rising up ten miles away in the suburbs. Upon inquiring, he learned that a wealthy merchant from Jiangnan named Li had found a good opportunity while touring the capital, and spent a large sum of money to buy a piece of land, hiring farmers to plant seasonal fruits and vegetables, specifically for tourists to pick for leisure, only requiring a payment of ten coins before entering the garden.
Shen Zhejiang found it extremely novel, and, feeling restless and nowhere to vent his frustrations at the time, he also followed to take a look.
Among the wide variety of fruits, he particularly loved plum fruit, with a taste that was sour, astringent, and sweet, so he greedily ate a few more.
Later, this matter somehow reached Xiao Zhinian’s ears.
Although Shen Zhejiang liked them, he wasn’t willing to get his hands dirty and pick them himself. Instead, every time Xiao Zhinian visited, he would bring him some when the season was right, satisfying his cravings.
His gaze passed over the fruit basket and landed on Xiao Zhinian’s bright face, smiling radiantly. Only then did Shen Zhejiang notice that a few strands of his forehead hair were touching the soil. The words of refusal were stuck in his throat and he could no longer say them.
He must have come in a hurry, covered in dust.
“Please come in, Your Highness.”
Shen Zhejiang stepped aside and turned to instruct Huai Wen, “Brew a pot of Pine Needle Emerald Robe tea, and bring hot water and a towel.”
“But…” Huai Wen hesitated.
Pine Needle Emerald Robe was the most precious tea in the residence, and Shen Zhejiang usually couldn’t bear to drink it at home.
“Go quickly.”
Shen Zhejiang interrupted him.
Huai Wen reluctantly responded, thinking to himself that his lord treated the Prince better than he treated himself. Thinking this, he retreated to get busy.
Xiao Zhinian didn’t understand the reason at all, and followed happily behind Shen Zhejiang.
That slender, upright, moon-white figure was like a ripple gently rippling under the night breeze, directly shaking into his eyes.
Shen Zhejiang must be the best-looking person in the world, and he liked him very much.
“This residence is simple, please don’t take offense, Your Highness.”
“Hehe! I won’t, I won’t!”
Xiao Zhinian was too happy to even think about it, and excitedly sat down in the seat next to Shen Zhejiang, placing the fruit basket on the table and saying, “Teacher, try some quickly!”
Shen Zhejiang couldn’t resist him and picked one, putting it in his mouth. The sour and sweet juice spread from the tip of his tongue, making him unable to resist eating another one.
When he had eaten the fifth one, he looked up and saw Xiao Zhinian staring at him with blinking eyes. Shen Zhejiang trembled in his heart as if burned by a hot iron, “What are you doing?”
“It seems that Teacher really loves to eat plum fruit, and the fruit is just right now,” Xiao Zhinian asked with a smile, “Does Teacher have time tomorrow? How about going to the farm with this Prince?”
“This subject will lecture Your Highness tomorrow.”
Xiao Zhinian was unhappy, “Why does Teacher only think about lecturing this Prince on those boring and tedious classics all day long? This Prince is tired of hearing them, I don’t want to learn.”
If it weren’t for being able to stay with Shen Zhejiang, he wouldn’t even bother to move an eyelid, listening to what old and irrelevant bullsh*t the sages said.
Shen Zhejiang’s expression was indifferent, “Your Highness is the heir apparent of the country, and should cultivate oneself, govern the country and manage its affairs, and must not be impetuous.”
At the same time, Huai Wen brought the hot tea and hot water.
Shen Zhejiang first wet the towel and handed it to Xiao Zhinian to wash himself, but Xiao Zhinian didn’t take it. Instead, he brought his face close to Shen Zhejiang and said, “This Prince still remembers when I was young, Teacher once washed my face for me. Please wipe it for me again.”
Shen Zhejiang didn’t let him get away with his antics, saying in a low voice, “Your Highness is not young anymore.”
“This Prince can’t see, Teacher, help this Prince.”
Xiao Zhinian continued to act shamelessly.
After a long time, a sigh sounded very softly.
Shen Zhejiang softened first. He held the still-warm towel and carefully wiped the dirt from Xiao Zhinian’s hair, his eyebrows lowered, focused and earnest.
Making Xiao Zhinian stare blankly for a moment.
Shen Zhejiang wasn’t the kind of person who seemed approachable at first glance. There was always a very light and shallow alienation in his amber eyes. His nose was thin and straight, and because he had been ill for a long time, his thin lips were pale like blood loss, appearing both indifferent and dignified.
His strength lay in his character, like a pine tree hanging from a peak, or like a green bamboo breaking through rocks, truly a man of integrity.
“Alright,” Shen Zhejiang put the towel back in the basin and poured Pine Needle Emerald Robe tea for Xiao Zhinian, saying, “I haven’t been a good host. After Your Highness has had tea, please return to the palace. This subject has some matters to attend to and should go out.”
Xiao Zhinian asked, “Where is Teacher going?”
Shen Zhejiang glanced at him and said, “To Lord Han’s residence. This subject has an appointment with him today.”
“Again Han Zitang?!”