TPATTHU Chapter 2

Chapter 2: This Prince is Going Too

Chapter 2: This Prince is Going Too

Han Zitang was Shen Zhejiang’s close friend and classmate, holding the official position of Vice Minister of Justice. They enjoyed each other’s company in private, behaving intimately, so much so that those who didn’t know better would assume they were already having an affair.

Therefore, Xiao Zhinian was particularly displeased with them being together and had to follow along, clinging to him shamelessly.

“This prince is going too.”

Shen Zhejiang pursed his lips and said, “I am meeting with a friend; it may be beneath His Highness’s dignity to accompany me. It’s getting late, so I shall take my leave first.”

He quickly walked towards the door.

Xiao Zhinian followed his steps, clasping his hands behind his head and strolling leisurely, “Wherever Teacher goes, this prince will go. Anyway, I have nothing better to do.”

He insisted on following closely behind.

Finally, he grumbled with a sour tone, “This prince wants to see, what kind of things you two have to say that this prince can’t hear?”

But at this moment, Shen Zhejiang suddenly stopped, a complicated and unclear look flashing in his eyes, betraying some impatience.

“Your Highness, why must you interfere in my affairs?”

Xiao Zhinian was stunned for a moment; Shen Zhejiang had never spoken to him in such a tone before.

And in that moment of stunned silence, Shen Zhejiang had already walked away on his own, not stopping for him in the slightest.

Ah…

Why did he feel that Teacher was more impatient than usual?

–

Inside the carriage, Shen Zhejiang leaned back against the edge, closing his eyes to rest. The bustling and noisy hawking sounds from outside continuously poured into his ears, buzzing like a tide.

One voice was incomparably clear.

“Regarding the case of the Shen family being wrongly accused, I have investigated it for you. There are too many people around, so come to my residence another day, and I will explain it to you in detail.”

Shen Zhejiang opened his eyes.

The darkness dissipated.

Ten years, he can finally clear the Shen family’s name.

The bloody scenes of that year were still vivid in his mind. The Shen mansion was ransacked, his father died tragically in Imperial Prison, his mother died violently during her exile, and more than a hundred members of his family, except for him, did not survive.

Bearing the name of a descendant of a criminal, surviving until today.

All for the sake of one day being able to bring this case to light, announcing to the world that the Shen family was not a traitor to the court.

He had waited too long for this day.

“Father, Mother, I can finally redress your grievances and the Shen family’s,” Shen Zhejiang said to himself, his throat dry, “I will soon be able to reunite with you, wait for me.”

Xiao Zhinian involuntarily appeared in his mind, the young man’s face, not yet fully mature, was still gentle, but already showing signs of becoming firm and upright, always accustomed to chasing after him, calling out “Teacher” again and again.

His heart trembled slightly.

He had always known Xiao Zhinian’s feelings for him, too ardent, too obvious, to the point that he could not turn a blind eye.

However, he warned himself that it was impossible with Xiao Zhinian.

Regardless of the large age difference, Xiao Zhinian was at the height of his youthful spirit, while he was nearing thirty, already having a very different mindset about matters of love and affection.

No matter how moved he was, he couldn’t be impulsive.

Moreover, Xiao Zhinian was the Crown Prince; in the future, he would succeed the Dayan Dynasty. As the ruler of a country, the key ministers of the court would not allow him to violate customs and marry a man as his wife.

“Your Honor, we’ve arrived.”

Shen Zhejiang suddenly came back to his senses, realizing that he was daydreaming again, and mocked himself inwardly.

He had more important things to do.

Getting out of the carriage, without waiting for an announcement, Shen Zhejiang hurried quickly toward Han Zitang’s study.

At that time, Han Zitang was puzzled by a case file. When the door was pushed open, he saw the person who had come, and his tightly locked brows finally relaxed.

“You’ve come. I’ve been waiting for you for a long time.”

Shen Zhejiang was very anxious and asked directly, “How did the Shen family get involved in that court party struggle back then?”

Han Zitang invited him to sit down and sighed, “Your father did indeed participate in Xiao Jing’s planned usurpation and rebellion case. During the Yingwu Gate Incident, your father played a part, and I never thought it would be so.”

“…Impossible.”

Han Zitang had guessed that he wouldn’t believe it. From the mountain of case files, he found a letter hidden at the bottom and handed it to him, “The one in your hand is a small soldier who deserted during Xiao Jing’s revolt, whom I managed to track down, and after much difficulty, I dug this information out of his mouth. Take a look for yourself.”

Shen Zhejiang’s hands trembled as he opened the envelope, took out the thick stack of paper inside, and quickly read it, skipping lines, not daring to believe it. He carefully scrutinized and absorbed every word.

The contents above were nothing more than how Shen’s father colluded with Xiao Jing, how he opened the palace gates, cooperating from the inside out, just waiting for Xiao Jing to attack the city.

One by one, event by event, in great detail.

Shen Zhejiang felt his boiling blood freeze into ice in an instant. Ten years of waiting and entanglement had resulted in an illusion, shattered completely.

“How is that possible…”

“The deceased are gone, it’s time to let go.”

Han Zitang knew that Shen Zhejiang hadn’t been living comfortably all these years. His heart knot was getting tighter and tighter, tormenting him and making him thinner. He saw it in his eyes but didn’t know how to advise him.

Shen Zhejiang slowly tightened his fingers, the paper being pinched into countless tiny wrinkles. He took a deep breath and stuffed it back into the envelope.

He lowered his eyes and said, “I will personally investigate what is said in the letter. There is no need to say more.”

Han Zitang asked back, “You don’t believe me?”

Shen Zhejiang shook his head. Inadvertently, he raised his eyes to look outside the window, and at that moment, a returning black swallow flew past, causing the window to rattle.

Accompanied by a low, sorrowful voice echoing in the study.

“Zitang, it’s not that I don’t believe you, it’s just… I believe in my father’s character; he would never do such a rebellious thing. Someone must be interfering,” Shen Zhejiang put the envelope into his sleeve, adjusted his collar, got up, and said to Han Zitang, “In any case, this matter was only able to gain some progress with your help. I, Shen Zhejiang, will repay you for your favor in the future.”

Han Zitang suddenly stood up, the case file on the side of his hand fell to the ground with a thud. He didn’t care, stopping Shen Zhejiang who was leaving with his back to him, “How long are you going to stubbornly cling to this? Knowing that His Majesty is watching you like a tiger, why do you keep putting yourself in danger?”

Shen Zhejiang caught the key point in his words and asked, turning his head, “How did His Majesty notice that you were overturning the case?”

“My identity is already sensitive to you. Your every move is under His Majesty’s surveillance. How could I not be?” Han Zitang stood one step behind Shen Zhejiang, his fingertips moving at his side, but he never raised them, “Return my favor, and let this case be put to rest here.”

Leads were interrupted many times, and accidents often happened when tracing back to the most crucial moments. Who would believe that no one was secretly directing it?

Han Zitang knew the ins and outs of the officialdom. Who else could be preventing the Shen family from appealing the case other than the current Emperor?

Yan Country was the world of the Xiao family. What did Shen Zhejiang have to compete with him?

Shen Zhejiang understood the reasoning, but his family members died unjustly, and their souls could not rest in peace. How could he easily give up, as stubborn as ever: “I have my own considerations, there is no need to persuade me. I will take care of the rest myself.”

“Shen Zhejiang!”

Han Zitang raised his voice a tone.

Shen Zhejiang turned his head and said, “Still, Zitang, thank you.”

Coming out of Han’s residence, Shen Zhejiang did not take the carriage back to his residence. The ice and snow had melted, and pedestrians were coming and going on the road. He walked and absentmindedly thought about where to start investigating.

The crowd was crowded.

Shen Zhejiang suddenly felt someone push him hard from behind, his footsteps staggered, and he fell to the side.

“Someone fell into the water! Quick, save him!”