TPATTHU Chapter 7

Chapter 7: This Prince Will Throw a Fit!

Chapter 7: This Prince Will Throw a Fit!

The rich, heavy scent of ambergris assaulted Shen Zhejiang’s face, permeating his nostrils, causing him to subtly furrow his brow.

He stepped inside.

The place he hadn’t set foot in for ten years seemed no different from before, yet it seemed to have changed so much. The memories of the past swept in with the white smoke rising from the incense burner, stirring up the blood and filth hidden deep within Shen Zhejiang’s heart—

“My father did not collude with Xiao Jing to rebel. I beg Your Majesty to investigate thoroughly.”

A heavy thud.

For the first time in his life, the seventeen-year-old boy bent his arrogant back, kneeling on the cold floor. In the unseen shadows, his eyelashes trembled.

Begging for mercy for his father.

“The evidence is conclusive. Shen Zhiyuan has confessed to this. What else can you say?”

Wu Kun Emperor’s cold voice drifted from above, as light as a feather, yet weighing on Shen Zhejiang’s back like a thousand pounds.

“I beg Your Majesty for leniency.”

“Leniency?”

Shen Zhejiang felt someone approaching him, holding his breath, feeling as if he were sitting on pins and needles.

“I have already granted you the greatest favor by sparing your life, Shen Zhejiang. You better not be ungrateful.”

What happened afterward?

The doors were tightly shut. Shen Zhejiang, who had been driven out of the door by the eunuchs, desperately clawed at the crack in the door, breaking his skin and staining it with blood.

Even if there was only the last glimmer of hope, he refused to give up.

But how could the boy’s frail body withstand so many people?

He watched helplessly as his fingers were pried open inch by inch, as if the lives of more than a hundred members of the Shen family were slipping away before his eyes.

In the end, he couldn’t see his father one last time; in the end, he was powerless to save the situation.

“You’ve arrived?”

This voice pulled Shen Zhejiang back to reality, startling him into a cold sweat.

Wu Kun Emperor, sitting on a carved wooden chair, overlapped with the high and mighty man from ten years ago. Shen Zhejiang lowered his head and said, “Your subject greets Your Majesty.”

Wu Kun Emperor grunted faintly and asked, “Do you know why I summoned you here?”

Shen Zhejiang replied, “Your subject does not know.”

Wu Kun Emperor furrowed his dark brows and directly threw the memorial he was holding to Shen Zhejiang’s feet, saying, “Pick it up and read it yourself.”

Shen Zhejiang expressionlessly picked it up, glanced at it briefly, and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It was just an impeachment accusing him of being too intimate with His Highness the Crown Prince, fearing that he was bewitching the Crown Prince for personal gain.

There was a reason for this. Yesterday, Xiao Zhinian had rescued him from the river, and it had been seen by the gossipy officials.

Shen Zhejiang closed the memorial, raised his eyes, and said haltingly, “Your subject has nothing to say.”

Wu Kun Emperor did not expect him to admit it so frankly. He tapped the table and said, “Anyone with eyes can see that he treats you differently from others. Unfortunately, the Crown Prince is young and his mind is not stable enough. Sometimes he cannot see through good and evil, loyalty and treachery, and is inevitably tempted.”

Shen Zhejiang stood in place, his fingertips began to feel cold, but his face remained calm, “Your subject is at fault for failing to fulfill the duties of a teacher. If Your Majesty wants to choose another mentor for the Crown Prince, your subject has no objection.”

Wu Kun Emperor snorted coldly, “If the Crown Prince hadn’t specifically asked for you to teach him, do you think you would still have a place in the court?”

Shen Zhejiang was silent.

“With worldly ethics and morality at stake, you are already a convict, and you are also the Crown Prince’s Taifu. You wouldn’t want the Crown Prince to be criticized and bear a bad name before he has even gained a firm foothold, would you?”

“…What does Your Majesty mean?”

“You are not young anymore. The eldest daughter of the Wang family, Minister of War, is still unmarried and is very well-suited to you. I will take it upon myself to bestow a marriage upon you. You will be married on an auspicious day,” Wu Kun Emperor stared at Shen Zhejiang with his falcon-like, sinister eyes, “Let the Crown Prince give up this thought. When he grows older, he will understand my good intentions.”

Shen Zhejiang’s eyes widened slightly. The words of rejection were about to come out of his mouth when something seemed to fall to the ground behind him.

“Bang—!”

The door panel fell to the ground, raising a gust of wind that diluted the ambergris.

“Your Highness! His Majesty is discussing matters with Lord Shen. You can’t go in!”

“Get out of here! You old servant is really audacious to dare to stop this Prince!”

“Your Highness! Your Highness!!”

Xiao Zhinian barged in, and only after seeing that Shen Zhejiang was unharmed did he feel relieved. He breathed a sigh of relief and smiled at Shen Zhejiang, “Teacher, so you were here. This Prince waited for you for a long time and thought you had disappeared halfway. Fortunately, fortunately, you’re alright.”

Wu Kun Emperor was already furious. He slapped his palm on the table, causing the memorials piled on top to shake three times. He shouted angrily, “You rebellious son! Get out! Didn’t you see that I’m here?”

“Why are you yelling so loudly? This Prince isn’t deaf; I heard you,” Xiao Zhinian dug in his ears, then turned to Wu Kun Emperor and bared his teeth, “This Prince hasn’t even settled accounts with you yet for taking away this Prince’s teacher. What are you planning!”

Wu Kun Emperor roared in anger, “I am your father!”

Xiao Zhinian retorted without backing down, “I am your grandfather!”

The Yan Country’s ruler and the Yan Country’s heir apparent were glaring at each other in the imperial study, publicly arguing. If this were to spread, it might make the common people laugh their teeth off.

The serving eunuchs were greatly alarmed and knelt down, wishing they could chop off their ears.

Shen Zhejiang pulled on Xiao Zhinian’s shoulder from behind and reprimanded him in a low voice, “Your Highness, there is a proper order of seniority; you must not be disrespectful.”

Only then did Xiao Zhinian restrain himself a little, like a young wolf showing its fangs being soothed. He turned to Shen Zhejiang and said, “This Prince will listen to Teacher. Teacher, let’s go.”

As he said that, he was about to pull Shen Zhejiang away.

Wu Kun Emperor pointed at him and said, “Get back here!”

“Come here, go there, do you think this Prince is a polo ball,” Xiao Zhinian turned around and stood in front of Shen Zhejiang, even though he was not as tall as the other man, he protectively prevented others from approaching his territory, raising his chin and asking, “What else is there? Say it quickly.”

Wu Kun Emperor was so angry that his lungs were about to explode. He was too lazy to argue with that rebellious son and shifted his fiery gaze to Shen Zhejiang, “My words have already been spoken. Return to your residence and prepare as soon as possible. I will order the Department of Astrology to calculate an auspicious day.”

Shen Zhejiang’s lips trembled. The words that had reached his lips several times were swallowed back down his throat, suppressed. In the end, he still agreed.

“Your subject obeys the decree.”

“This Prince forbids it!”

They spoke almost simultaneously.

Shen Zhejiang glanced at Xiao Zhinian, turned and walked outside, his steps quick, disgusted to be in this heavily scented space.

“Teacher! Wait for this Prince!”

Xiao Zhinian raised his foot to chase after him. Wu Kun Emperor waved his hand, and Hai Sanqing, understanding his intention, immediately led the eunuchs to stop him.

“How dare you! Let go of this Prince! All of you, get out of this Prince’s way! Teacher! Teacher!!”

Seeing Shen Zhejiang gradually walking away, Xiao Zhinian roared loudly, like a young beast locked in a cage struggling frantically, his eyes bloodshot, extremely helpless.

The wooden tables and chairs around were a chaotic mess on the ground.

Wu Kun Emperor looked down at the farce below and said in a deep voice, “Take him back to Yanqing Palace and watch him carefully. Let him seriously reflect on his words and actions. He doesn’t act like a Crown Prince. It seems I have indulged you too much!”