TPATTHU Chapter 30
by VolareHuai Wu wasn’t so clueless either. After considering it for a while, he realized that if he didn’t leave, Xiao Zhinian’s eyes would practically slice him into a thousand pieces. But he didn’t want to go against Shen Zhejiang’s kindness, so he quickly chewed and swallowed the piece of frozen rabbit meat.
He stood up and said to Xiao Zhinian, “Your subject came to report that Yang Shihui made a solo trip to the prison at three quarters past Yin hour (around 4:45 am), and didn’t leave until two quarters past Mao hour (around 5:30 am). It’s unknown who he was talking to.”
Xiao Zhinian coldly grunted in acknowledgement, “Keep an eye on him. Also, next time you report, pick a more appropriate time. Don’t go climbing through my window!”
Huai Wu: “…”
Before leaving, he turned his head to look at Shen Zhejiang’s back. He felt it looked extremely familiar. Could it be that the person with Xiao Zhinian at the inn last night was Shen Zhejiang?
Shen Zhejiang wasn’t stupid either. Given Huai Wu’s keenness, he had probably already guessed about his relationship with Xiao Zhinian. He turned his eyes to glare at Xiao Zhinian.
But he himself didn’t realize that there was a hint of resentment in his eyes.
Xiao Zhinian stared with bright eyes. As long as Shen Zhejiang looked at him even once, no matter what the reason, he would be happy for a long time.
The meal dragged on for a full hour. By the time the two of them walked out of the restaurant, the sky had already darkened. The Northern Borders were expansive, and the sky seemed vast. A full moon hung high in the sky, shining clearly.
Shen Zhejiang and Xiao Zhinian walked for a while. When they reached the entrance of the alley, Shen Zhejiang said, “Your subject will go home now. Your Majesty, please return to the inn to rest as well.”
Xiao Zhinian lied without batting an eye, saying, “No rush. Walk with me a bit, Teacher. I ate too much, I feel a bit full.”
Shen Zhejiang calculated the time. It wasn’t too late, so he agreed, “Alright.”
The night in Luo City wasn’t as bustling as in the Capital City. There were no brightly lit lanterns, nor was there a constant stream of carriages and horses.
Recently, due to the case of the old man from the Han family being killed by thieves, everyone was on edge. Not only pedestrians, but many vendors had already packed up their stalls early, leaving only a few scattered red lanterns swaying in the wind on the streets.
Even so, Xiao Zhinian felt a rare sense of comfort. He chatted casually with Shen Zhejiang, “Has Teacher been well these past three years?”
Well?
Shen Zhejiang thought about it. He should be doing okay, right? He no longer worried about the past. The only thing he cared about was the person beside him now.
But Shen Zhejiang couldn’t say that.
“Like a wandering cloud, a wild crane, nothing to worry about. I’m doing fine.”
“But I haven’t been doing well,” Xiao Zhinian said with a bitter expression. Shen Zhejiang glanced at him and heard him continue, “I think of Teacher every day and night, but you wouldn’t even come to my dreams at first. I thought you were angry with me.”
Shen Zhejiang felt that it was necessary to lay his heart bare with Xiao Zhinian. He said in a soft voice, “Your Majesty is still young, with a bright future ahead. There is nothing that time cannot erase, and nothing that cannot be let go of. Your subject knows that youthful emotions are the most unforgettable, but not everything can go as one wishes. So…”
“Teacher is telling me to let you go?” Xiao Zhinian stopped in his tracks and turned to Shen Zhejiang, taking a large step closer to him. “What about Teacher, then?”
The street was very quiet. Shen Zhejiang heard his heart being strummed like a string, the lingering sound reverberating in his ears.
“…Your subject?”
“Yes. Does Teacher truly not have a single bit of affection for me?”
Xiao Zhinian’s toes touched Shen Zhejiang’s. Shen Zhejiang almost subconsciously took a step back, not knowing that the consequence of doing so would only be to be enveloped by Xiao Zhinian’s tall and sturdy figure.
He asked too bluntly.
Shen Zhejiang felt as if his earlobes were burning hot, as if they were on fire. His back pressed against the street wall, with no way to escape. He didn’t dare to look at Xiao Zhinian, afraid that the fire of longing in the young man’s eyes would burn him to ashes.
“…”
Xiao Zhinian couldn’t hide his words, and he eagerly wanted to get an answer from Shen Zhejiang’s mouth, even if it was just a word, some hint of affirmation. He didn’t need much, then he could finish the rest of the road for Shen Zhejiang.
He raised his hand to stroke Shen Zhejiang’s temples, leaned down, and with a hint of uncertainty, trepidation, and testing, kissed the corner of Shen Zhejiang’s cool lips.
As long as Shen Zhejiang didn’t resist, as long as Shen Zhejiang didn’t fight back, then he would…
Shen Zhejiang turned his face away, and Xiao Zhinian only barely brushed his cheek.
The air was both cold and hot.
“Your subject has never been moved by anyone, not just Your Majesty, but anyone.”
A wooden voice.
Deafening.
Xiao Zhinian felt as if he had been struck on the head with a club. He said with a bitter smile, “The child from Zhao Jianji’s home said he had seen me before. I didn’t understand it at the time, but only when I saw Teacher did I realize. I thought Teacher had some lingering feelings for me, but it seems I misunderstood.”
“…”
Shen Zhejiang was speechless for a moment. The fingers hanging by his side clenched the hem of his clothes into layers of folds. Several times, he had wanted to disregard everything and reveal his feelings to Xiao Zhinian with a burst of impulsiveness.
But then what?
He was the kind of person who planned for the next hundred steps even when taking fifty. Every step had to be carefully considered. Even if Xiao Zhinian was of the same mind, discarding all the rumors and gossip of the world, breaking through the shackles and cages to be together, the ministers in the court would not agree.
Since ancient times, there had never been a precedent for establishing a male Empress.
What’s more, Shen Zhejiang had the status of a Grand Tutor. He didn’t care about bearing the infamy, but he didn’t want to implicate Xiao Zhinian and be subjected to condemnation and scorn from the people.
He couldn’t get past this hurdle.
Shen Zhejiang pushed Xiao Zhinian away and said calmly, “Your Majesty has indeed misunderstood.”
Xiao Zhinian said with some regret, “Ah… Then this matter will be difficult.”
“Hmm?” Shen Zhejiang’s voice rose in a question.
“I was still thinking of discussing it with Teacher. If I could successfully express my feelings, I would hold a wedding banquet in Luo City and have Teacher marry me. That way, I could lure out the thief,” Xiao Zhinian laid the groundwork, half-jokingly. “But then again, I did marry Teacher once. Does Teacher remember?”
Shen Zhejiang said, “It was a long time ago. Your subject doesn’t remember.”
A hint of disappointment flashed across Xiao Zhinian’s eyes, but he forced a smile on his face. “That’s right, it was too long ago. It’s normal for Teacher not to remember.”
After that, there was no more sound.
Unknowingly, they had arrived at Shen Zhejiang’s residence.
“We’re here. Your Majesty, please stop here.”
Shen Zhejiang took out the key, unlocked the copper lock, stepped across the threshold, turned around, and said to Xiao Zhinian, who was standing outside.
Xiao Zhinian, who had originally raised his foot, hesitated and put it down. He nodded and said, “Alright, Teacher, rest early.”
Shen Zhejiang closed the door. Through the crack in the door, he could vaguely see Xiao Zhinian’s figure standing in place, a bit blurry. He could only roughly see the outline.
After a long time, Shen Zhejiang turned around and walked into the house, returning to that small house that was originally cold and desolate, belonging only to him.
And what about Xiao Zhinian outside the door?
He felt this wasn’t the way to do it.
Shen Zhejiang was just too stubborn. He wouldn’t say anything, and he thought too deeply. He didn’t believe that Shen Zhejiang hadn’t had even a fleeting liking for him.