TPATTHU Chapter 64
by VolareChapter 64: Heavens, His Majesty has finally seen the light!!
A sliver of dawn gradually brightened the empty horizon. In front of Luo City’s city gate, two figures stood.
“Sister, are you really not returning to the Capital City?”
Wang Chengming, holding his horse’s reins, looked at Wang Xiuyi standing in the morning light and asked.
Wang Xiuyi nimbly leaped onto her horse. Seated on horseback, with heroic spirit, she said, “The Northern Border needs me. You escort His Majesty back to the Capital City. Remember to give my regards to Father. I’m leaving.”
With a flick of her whip, she rode off, kicking up dust.
Wang Chengming watched that unrestrained figure until it became a small dot, until it disappeared.
He gripped the reins tightly.
This time returning to the Capital City, upon seeing Father, he must confess his feelings.
Whether it was treasonous or wild ambition, he would try. What if his sister agreed?
“Deputy Envoy, it’s time to depart.”
“Mm.”
A convoy slowly made its way out of Luo City. Wang Chengming sat on the lead horse, leading the way towards the Capital City.
In the convoy, a carriage swayed along. Inside were Xiao Zhinian and Shen Zhejiang.
Xiao Zhinian was very tired, so he rested his head on Shen Zhejiang’s lap, closed his eyes to rest, his breathing even and long.
Shen Zhejiang gently brushed the stray hairs from his forehead, tucking them to the side to avoid disturbing Xiao Zhinian’s rest, while he leaned against the carriage wall, staring at the curtain fluttering in the wind, without a hint of sleepiness.
He thought of Xiao Jing.
He always felt that he had something to say to him, especially the last look he gave him, with a kind of profound meaning that Shen Zhejiang had never seen before.
His fingertips warmed, someone had taken hold of them.
Xiao Zhinian, with his eyes closed, accurately pulled Shen Zhejiang’s fingers, brought them to his lips, and kissed them lingeringly and greedily, seemingly satisfied.
“What is Teacher thinking about, so lost in thought?”
Shen Zhejiang collected his thoughts and said softly, “Nothing, you sleep a little longer.”
Xiao Zhinian suddenly opened his eyes, meeting Shen Zhejiang’s gaze, a smile appearing: “Teacher, when will you fulfill what you promised me?”
Shen Zhejiang was stunned, not expecting him to remember so clearly. He cleared his throat and turned his gaze away, saying, “Naturally not now.”
“Oh…then it will be fine once we return to the palace, right?”
From Xiao Zhinian’s angle, he could clearly see the faint red tinting Shen Zhejiang’s earlobes.
His teacher was embarrassed.
Xiao Zhinian shamelessly continued, “When the time comes, I’ll arrange for the imperial physicians to offer the best lubricating ointment, so it won’t be like last time. Every time after, I’ll definitely…”
Before he could finish speaking, Shen Zhejiang pushed him over, his face red and green, so angry that he didn’t want to say another word to Xiao Zhinian.
Xiao Zhinian cried out and sat up from the carriage wall, rubbing his forehead. Like a dogskin plaster, he stuck to Shen Zhejiang’s side, but before he could even touch him, he was glared at fiercely by Shen Zhejiang.
Suddenly, his hand froze in mid-air.
“It was my fault, Teacher, don’t be angry. I’ll be more careful next time.”
“There’s going to be a next time?”
Xiao Zhinian brought three fingers together and swore to the heavens, “Absolutely not!”
He muttered, “If Teacher doesn’t let me say it, then next time I’ll just do it, no need for words.”
He nodded, deciding it that way.
Shen Zhejiang couldn’t hear clearly and asked, “What did you say?”
Xiao Zhinian simply sat cross-legged, rested his arms on Shen Zhejiang’s lap, and lazily placed his chin on them, blinking his eyes, “I wanted to say, this time when we return to the Capital City, what identity does Teacher want to use to face the people?”
If Shen Zhejiang wanted to restore his original position and return to the court, he naturally wouldn’t have any objections, but in that case, the opportunities to meet with Shen Zhejiang would be less.
Therefore, Xiao Zhinian harbored a small thought.
Of course, he hoped that Shen Zhejiang could stay in the inner palace. Anyway, there was no one else in the palace, and with him there, no one could bully Shen Zhejiang. The important thing was that he could see him every day.
But Xiao Zhinian couldn’t force him, so he decided to leave the choice to Shen Zhejiang.
“…”
As for this question, Shen Zhejiang had indeed considered it before.
In fact, neither identity was suitable.
As far as the court was concerned, he was a dead man, the descendant of a criminal, and appearing rashly would only disrupt the court.
As far as the inner palace was concerned, he was a man, which was inevitably awkward. He couldn’t really become a male concubine or male consort, could he?
Shen Zhejiang thought, “I plan to move back to my old house and continue to run a private school to teach. That’s all I can do.”
Xiao Zhinian whispered, “Teacher, have you forgotten? Your old house was bought by someone else long ago. Teacher is now considered homeless. If Teacher still wants to teach, why not continue teaching me? Living in my house won’t be a loss at all.”
Shen Zhejiang: “…” Isn’t your house the inner palace?
Xiao Zhinian raised his head and, seeing that he didn’t answer for a long time, immediately said, “If Teacher doesn’t say anything, I’ll take it as a yes.”
“I…um!”
Xiao Zhinian pounced over and blocked Shen Zhejiang’s lips.
–
Xiao Zhinian had been out of the palace for two months, and the journey had taken nearly half a month. The court officials received the news of Xiao Zhinian’s return to the palace and rushed to the palace gate to greet him.
The convoy split into two. Wang Chengming led the soldiers to escort the traitor Xiao Jing to the prison, while Xiao Zhinian and Shen Zhejiang headed towards the imperial palace.
“Your subjects respectfully welcome Your Majesty back to the palace!”
They shouted in unison.
The old Prime Minister, who had been appointed by Xiao Zhinian to oversee the country, walked haltingly to the carriage and reported, “During the days Your Majesty was away from the palace, everything in the court was peaceful, without any major events.”
“Very good.”
“Your Majesty, I have a request. Whether Your Majesty wants to kill me today or remove me from my position, I must speak out.”
Oh?
Xiao Zhinian lifted a corner of the carriage curtain and saw the old Prime Minister kneeling on the ground with a hunched back, which made him wonder, “Speak plainly, you are loyal to the court, I have no reason to do that.”
The old Prime Minister took a deep breath and said loudly, “I implore Your Majesty to marry Feng Biying, the eldest daughter of the Minister of Rites, as Empress! To start branching out for the royal family as soon as possible and cultivate an heir!”
Xiao Zhinian pulled open the carriage curtain with a crash, leaned out, with slight anger on his face, “What did you say?”
“I implore Your Majesty to marry Feng Biying, the eldest daughter of the Minister of Rites, as Empress! If Your Majesty didn’t hear clearly, I’ll say it again. If you still didn’t hear clearly, I can say it ten times, a hundred times!”
“Are you forcing me?”
Xiao Zhinian suppressed his anger.
The old Prime Minister simply closed his eyes and raised his voice, “I am old and have a worthless life, which is not as important as the country. Our dynasty’s imperial descendants are weak, so I implore Your Majesty to listen to advice and take concubines and establish an Empress as soon as possible!”
Unexpectedly, as soon as the old Prime Minister finished speaking, the officials behind him all knelt down, their heads crowded together, which was a magnificent sight: “Our dynasty’s imperial descendants are weak, so I implore Your Majesty to listen to advice and take concubines and establish an Empress as soon as possible!!”
Xiao Zhinian didn’t expect that he would be forced to welcome an Empress again as soon as he returned to the palace, and it was in front of Shen Zhejiang. Just as he was about to get angry and drag them down one by one for a beating.
His palm was held by Shen Zhejiang beside him. He turned his head in some confusion. Shen Zhejiang shook his head lightly at him.
Xiao Zhinian said, “But they…”
Shen Zhejiang whispered, “Prime Minister Hu is highly respected in the court, dares to speak out, and is loyal. Xiao Zhinian, don’t be impulsive and lose your dignity in front of others.”
“Teacher’s teachings are correct,” Xiao Zhinian turned his face, suppressed all his dissatisfaction, and said very deeply, “What Minister Hu said is very true, the country is important, so allow me to think carefully, this matter will be discussed later.”
“???”
All the civil and military officials were shocked.
Was this still the Emperor they knew?! He didn’t get angry in public, and he didn’t even beat them?
Abnormal.
Prime Minister Hu also found it incredible. At the moment he raised his head, the carriage passed by him, and a small piece of turquoise clothing was revealed in the curtain fluttering in the wind. He was definitely not senile.
That wasn’t His Majesty’s clothes.
His Majesty brought back a woman from the common people?!
Heavens, His Majesty has finally seen the light!!