TPATTHU Chapter 70
by VolareChapter 70 Don’t Move, Shen Zhejiang, Let Me Hold You
There were many people on the road. Xiao Zhinian didn’t allow his servants to follow. He carried a Kongming lantern he had finally managed to get in one hand and held Shen Zhejiang’s hand as they arrived at a wide-open suburban area.
Warm yellow candlelight filtered through a thin layer of paper, illuminating a small area and reflecting on the faces of Xiao Zhinian and Shen Zhejiang, who stood side by side. The night wind gently blew, and they almost simultaneously released their hands, as the Kongming lantern wobbled upwards.
Shen Zhejiang raised his head, his eyes following the Kongming lantern, his pupils slightly deep, not knowing what he was thinking.
The night sky was bustling and shining, forming a large expanse, like stars in the Milky Way, carrying people’s best wishes into the distance.
Xiao Zhinian retracted his gaze, which fell directly on Shen Zhejiang’s profile as he slightly raised his head, looking at the sky. The faint light around them was hazy and indistinct.
Suddenly, his heart was touched.
At that moment, he had an illusion.
That was, even though Shen Zhejiang was right beside him, he felt so far away, as if he would leave him completely soon.
“……”
Why did he have this feeling?
Xiao Zhinian didn’t know.
“Shen Zhejiang.”
He didn’t move, softly calling out his name.
“Hmm?” Shen Zhejiang turned his head upon hearing this, looking at Xiao Zhinian with a glimmer in his eyes, containing a very faint smile, and wondered, “What’s wrong?”
Xiao Zhinian had never called him by his full name.
Xiao Zhinian’s throat choked, and he shook his head: “…Nothing, I just wanted to call you.”
Shen Zhejiang turned around and said, “Since there is nothing else, then let’s return to the palace…”
As soon as he moved his foot, he was suddenly pulled into Xiao Zhinian’s arms, his forehead hitting Xiao Zhinian’s chin with a thud.
However, Xiao Zhinian didn’t seem to feel the pain, his arms firmly embracing Shen Zhejiang, one hand pressing on the hood at the back of Shen Zhejiang’s head.
The strong force seemed to want to meld Shen Zhejiang into his flesh and blood.
Shen Zhejiang struggled: “Ugh… there are so many people here, what’s wrong with you tonight?”
Xiao Zhinian’s voice was very low: “Don’t move, Shen Zhejiang, let me hold you.”
As he said this, he tightened his grip again.
“Wow—!”
A cheer suddenly burst out from the crowd releasing lanterns in the suburbs, deafening.
“It’s snowing!! Look!!”
Fine snowflakes were falling in the night sky filled with Kongming lanterns, the lanterns and snow reflecting each other, and the crowd below moved, creating a gentle and peaceful scene of earthly beauty.
In the melting snow scene, Xiao Zhinian lowered his eyes, raised Shen Zhejiang’s chin, and kissed Shen Zhejiang reverently, with a pleading meaning.
It was as if everyone around them had disappeared, and only the two of them were left between heaven and earth.
Lips met, snowflakes brushed their faces.
Shen Zhejiang was kissed until his head was dizzy, his breathing involuntarily becoming rapid, his hands half pushing and half resisting against Xiao Zhinian’s chest, and he said in a hoarse voice: “…Not here.”
“Back to the carriage.”
Xiao Zhinian’s eyes were deep, and he embraced Shen Zhejiang’s waist, retreating behind the crowd, coming to an inconspicuous place, and suddenly picked Shen Zhejiang up in his arms.
However, as he turned around, he met a tall and handsome young man—
Han Zitang.
He didn’t know how long he had been standing under the city gate, and he wasn’t surprised to meet Xiao Zhinian, as if he had known Xiao Zhinian would appear here.
Han Zitang stepped forward two steps, but his gaze fell on the person in Xiao Zhinian’s arms, and he bowed, saying: “Your subject pays respects to the Emperor.”
Since Shen Zhejiang went into hiding and left the Capital City three years ago, he was ordered to serve as Minister of Justice and concurrently as the Dean of the Imperial College, and was secretly entrusted by Shen Zhejiang to assist Xiao Zhinian in governing the court. During the years Xiao Zhinian often left the capital, he and Prime Minister Hu managed the affairs of the court.
Xiao Zhinian ran outside the palace, although under the guise of investigating the people’s conditions, Han Zitang knew very well that he had never given up searching for Shen Zhejiang.
What he knew even more clearly was that the person Xiao Zhinian was holding at that time was Shen Zhejiang.
In fact, he had expected this day to come sooner or later, Shen Zhejiang would eventually return.
That day, when he heard from Prime Minister Hu that Xiao Zhinian had brought someone back from outside the palace, he knew it must be Shen Zhejiang.
Hearing the long-lost voice, Shen Zhejiang, whose face was covered by his hood, trembled in his heart: “……”
This time when he returned to the capital, he had not yet met Han Zitang, but he never expected to encounter him here.
Xiao Zhinian felt his reaction, and his fingers suddenly tightened, as if afraid that the treasure would be snatched away, he said with a slight hint of vigilance: “When you are out and about, there is no need to be too polite. This is not the imperial court, and it is not suitable to discuss matters. If you have anything important, submit a memorial to Us tomorrow. If there is nothing, We will take Our leave first, and you may do as you please.”
Han Zitang said: “This subject came here wanting to chat with his old friend for a while, hoping Your Majesty will allow it.”
“There are no old friends of yours here, move aside.”
Xiao Zhinian said unceremoniously, intending to pass by Han Zitang and quickly leave this place of trouble.
Shen Zhejiang suddenly spoke: “Put me down.”
It was unreasonable not to see an old friend, moreover, Han Zitang had helped him a lot in the past. It could be said that Han Zitang had been secretly assisting him all along.
Xiao Zhinian was unwilling: “Teacher!”
Shen Zhejiang said again: “Put me down.”
No matter how strong Xiao Zhinian was, he couldn’t possibly disobey Shen Zhejiang’s words. He gritted his teeth and glared at Han Zitang for a long time before reluctantly putting Shen Zhejiang down on the ground, resentfully folding his arms and standing beside Shen Zhejiang, determined to listen carefully to what old times they had to reminisce about.
There were not many people here. Shen Zhejiang raised his hands and brushed off the hood, revealing his face, and nodded lightly, saying: “Zitang.”
Although Han Zitang knew that Shen Zhejiang was still alive, in order to hide the truth from the world, he suppressed the thought of writing a letter to Shen Zhejiang. It could be said that this was the first time he had spoken to Shen Zhejiang in these years.
Seeing that Shen Zhejiang was thinner than before, and that he had not yet recovered his health after returning to the palace, he couldn’t help but feel sad.
“Zhejiang, long time no see.”
Shen Zhejiang said: “I’m sorry, I broke my promise.”
He was referring to the matter of promising Han Zitang that he would never return to the capital.
Han Zitang glanced at Xiao Zhinian, then looked at Shen Zhejiang and smiled: “It doesn’t matter, it’s all in the past.”
Xiao Zhinian, listening from the side, felt sour in his teeth and couldn’t wait to pull Shen Zhejiang away on the spot.
What Zitang Zhejiang, who allowed them to call each other so intimately?! And a promise, what did Teacher promise Han Zitang, how come he didn’t know at all?
In the end, he was still young and impetuous and couldn’t help it.
He took Shen Zhejiang’s fingertip and tugged him towards himself: “Done talking? I and Teacher have things to do, Minister Han, please excuse yourself.”
Han Zitang continued: “I have set up a table at Qingfeng Tower, you can come anytime.”
He used “I” instead of “this subject,” these words were spoken to Shen Zhejiang.
Obviously, Shen Zhejiang understood and nodded in agreement before being pulled away by Xiao Zhinian: “Okay.”