TPATTHU Chapter 14

Chapter 14 I Think You Are Wonderful

Chapter 14 I Think You Are Wonderful

“Anyone who moves recklessly will be killed without mercy!”

Guards rushed in with swords drawn. Xiao Zhinian didn’t even have time to hide before he was surrounded.

Shen Zhejiang’s expression changed slightly, and almost instinctively, he stood in front of Xiao Zhinian.

Xiao Zhinian pulled Shen Zhejiang behind him and roared at the guards, “How dare you!”

“You rebellious son! Come here!” Behind the guards, the Wu Kun Emperor strode into the room, coldly surveying everyone, especially Xiao Zhinian in his red wedding attire. A raging fire ignited within him. “Shen Zhejiang plotted to murder! Take him and Wang Xiuyi down for me!”

“Let’s see who dares!”

Xiao Zhinian glared at the guards, who were itching to move.

The Wu Kun Emperor, with his hands clasped behind his back, radiated anger that burned like a raging fire. He practically ground his back teeth to dust as he spat out, word by word, “Take the Crown Prince down as well.”

Everyone knew that the Crown Prince was the Emperor and Empress’s darling. These words contained so much disappointment and resentment.

The guards dared not hesitate any longer. Upon receiving the order, they immediately swarmed forward and restrained the three of them.

“Release me!”

Shen Zhejiang, on the other hand, calmly retorted, “The matter has not yet been investigated. Why is His Majesty in such a hurry to arrest us?”

The Wu Kun Emperor snorted coldly. “Shen Zhejiang, are you truly unaware if you harbor ulterior motives? Since you desire the truth…”

He paused, then continued, “Han Zitang, this case will be handled by the Ministry of Justice. Dare to shield anyone, and you will face the consequences.”

Upon hearing this, Shen Zhejiang and Han Zitang were both stunned.

The Emperor intended to use this case to sow discord between them. Whether Shen Zhejiang was the mastermind or not, the Emperor only sought the answer that would satisfy him—Shen Zhejiang’s personal confession.

Knowing their private friendship, he still ordered Han Zitang to convict him.

Truly, a move to kill the heart.

Seeing that Han Zitang did not respond for a long time, the Wu Kun Emperor glanced at him askance and said, “Han Qing, why do you not accept my decree?”

The atmosphere was tense.

Caught between a rock and a hard place, Han Zitang stood there, unable to decide.

Shen Zhejiang looked up at him, and Han Zitang happened to look at him as well.

“……”

Xiao Zhinian, seeing them exchanging glances as if flirting, felt as if he had fallen into a vat of vinegar. Without thinking, he interjected, “Absolutely not!”

The Wu Kun Emperor waved his hand, “Take them away!”

Xiao Zhinian cried out anxiously, “Teacher!”

This rogue, it was truly unbearable to watch.

The Wu Kun Emperor rubbed his throbbing forehead, “Imprison them all! Guard them well for me!”

–

Inside the dark prison, only the cold moonlight filtered in, making it seem even more desolate.

Shen Zhejiang leaned against the stone wall, his thin prison clothes offering no warmth. The biting cold penetrated his body, making his face frighteningly pale.

“Cough cough!”

A violent cough echoed in the narrow cell.

“Teacher, what’s wrong?”

Xiao Zhinian was in the cell next door.

Shen Zhejiang covered his mouth, his chest heaving. As he coughed, he actually coughed up traces of blood.

He had no mind to pay attention to Xiao Zhinian. He went to the farthest corner and sat down with his eyes closed.

He wanted to be alone.

It was all too chaotic.

From the moment he fell into the water until now, every single event seemed to have been meticulously arranged, leading him step by step into this predicament.

Who was the assassin who pushed him?

Who fired that arrow?

And the Ministry of War—why did the Emperor imprison Wang Xiuyi as well? Could it be that he merely wanted to put on a show for others?

Zitang… The Emperor dragged him into this mess as well. In the end, he had implicated him.

“Teacher! Say something!”

Xiao Zhinian’s anxious voice kept coming.

Shen Zhejiang pretended not to hear him, pondering wildly. Finally, he said, “Your Highness, I’m tired. Please be quiet.”

Xiao Zhinian stopped talking, but after a while, unable to bear the silence, he said in a muffled voice, “It’s all my fault. Once Father Emperor’s anger subsides, I will plead with him to release all of you.”

Shen Zhejiang said, “Not everything goes as Your Highness wishes. You do not understand my affairs.”

How could Xiao Zhinian understand?

“But Teacher has never been honest with me about your affairs,” Although Shen Zhejiang could not see Xiao Zhinian, judging from his tone, he was not very happy. “You are always like this, unwilling to tell me anything, pushing me away again and again. Do you know how upset I am?”

Shen Zhejiang opened his mouth, but before he could speak, he heard the clanging of chains. Xiao Zhinian was walking closer to him.

Shen Zhejiang’s heart leaped. He suddenly realized what Xiao Zhinian was about to confess.

“Shen Zhejiang, I want to call you that, not Teacher, but Zhejiang,” Xiao Zhinian paused. “From now on, from life to death, I want you by my side. Are you willing?”

This was the second time he had said such words to Shen Zhejiang.

His heart pounded with apprehension, unsure how Shen Zhejiang would answer him. If he agreed, nothing could be better.

He would ask the best seamstress in the Capital City to sew the most enviable auspicious robes in the world, and craft the most beautiful jade crown. At that time, Shen Zhejiang would surely be the most handsome person in the world.

But what if Shen Zhejiang did not agree?

What should he do?

He could not force Shen Zhejiang to marry him.

“……”

Shen Zhejiang did not want to respond, so he remained silent. The phrase “I like you too” had already exhausted his courage.

He wanted to avoid the issue as he had before, but Xiao Zhinian was determined to get an answer.

“Father Emperor has also bestowed a marriage upon me, the only daughter of the Minister of Personnel. The Empress said she possesses the dignity of a future empress, but I do not like her. I only like you,” Xiao Zhinian sat down against the wall, probably wanting to be closer to Shen Zhejiang. “Just give me the word, and I will take care of the rest…”

“Why?”

“What?”

Shen Zhejiang turned his gaze towards the iron window, a hint of sorrow in his eyes. The cold moonlight was especially chilling. He finally asked, “Why me?”

Xiao Zhinian seemed to smile, warmly, “Because you are wonderful.”