TPATTHU Chapter 86

Chapter 86: Sorry, I’m Just That Kind of Beast, But I Still Can’t Let You Go

The accumulated snow had begun to melt, and the farm was wet everywhere. Crystal water droplets slid slowly down the grape trellis, dripping and splashing on the wooden rattan chairs placed underneath.

Huai Wen was busy moving the chairs out, the weather was fairly good, so he planned to put them in a sunny place to dry.

Huai Wu, on the other hand, stood with his arms folded beside the wooden frame, just watching without helping, occasionally making a sarcastic comment: “You can’t even move these? Don’t you eat on weekdays?”

Huai Wen turned his head to glare at him, clapped his hands, and retorted, “If you can do it, you come and do it, all you know is talk.”

Huai Wu scoffed, proudly raising his chin, “How could that work? This young master is only responsible for Mr. Shen’s safety, not for these chores.”

He was sent here by Xiao Zhinian, firstly to protect Shen Zhejiang, and secondly, naturally, to report any changes in Shen Zhejiang’s condition to Xiao Zhinian at any time.

These days he always stayed with Huai Wen, but they couldn’t see eye to eye, occasionally arguing a few words.

He felt that Huai Wen did things slowly and deliberately. Clearly, washing a bowl only required rinsing and removing dirt, but Huai Wen insisted on washing it three or four times, saying that was the only way to get it clean.

Hmph, with that effort, it would be better to practice martial arts more.

He looked down on Huai Wen’s way of doing things, and Huai Wen also looked down on him acting like a young master, always adding a few annoying words when he was doing things, making people’s hearts irritated.

“Then go guard the door, what are you doing here pointing fingers?”

Huai Wen gritted his teeth and shouted at him, truly not afraid of trouble. After saying that, he continued to move his chairs.

Huai Wu rolled his eyes, and without another word, walked directly over, lifted the handle of the wooden rattan chair with one hand, and easily carried it away, moving it into the sunlight.

He even turned around to give Huai Wen a look that said, “See? Only you can’t do it.”

Huai Wen: “……”

This kid is really bullying people too much!

When Mr. Shen wakes up, he must complain about him properly! Letting him be so arrogant!

Just when the two were about to quarrel, they heard some noise coming from the house. Besides Shen Zhejiang, there was no one else inside.

Huai Wen and Huai Wu exchanged a look. Could it be that Mr. Shen has woken up?

Dropping what they were doing, they hurried to check, but before they could go in, the wooden door “creaked” open from the inside.

“Mr., Mr. Shen.”

Shen Zhejiang, wearing a thin outer robe, was startled to see Huai Wen and the others standing by the door.

He had slept for a long time, and his face was much thinner than before, looking sickly, without any vitality. His figure was even thinner than a piece of paper, his bones were particularly prominent, and he looked as if a gust of wind could blow him over.

“Is Xiao Zhinian not here?”

He asked.

Huai Wu thought he was concerned about Xiao Zhinian’s whereabouts, and spoke up for his Emperor, “His Majesty is dealing with state affairs in the palace. Recently, the border is at war with the Northern Yi people, and the Ministry of War is discussing whether to mobilize troops. Mr. Shen, don’t worry, His Majesty comes here every day and stays here at night. Usually, His Majesty arrives at this hour, but now he is probably held up by important matters.”

Just right.

Shen Zhejiang clenched his sleeves, made up his mind, bypassed them, and started to walk outside.

Huai Wen chased after him and said, “Mr. Shen, where are you going? You have just woken up, you should rest properly first.”

Shen Zhejiang didn’t listen, and asked as he walked, “How long have I been unconscious?”

“Almost a month.”

So long?

In that case, Han Zitang should have returned to the Capital City. He had to go there, and perhaps only Han Zitang could help him leave Xiao Zhinian now.

He wanted to meet Han Zitang before Xiao Zhinian arrived.

Thinking this, Shen Zhejiang, ignoring Huai Wen and Huai Wu’s obstruction, couldn’t help but quicken his pace.

However, just outside the fence gate, a burst of hoofbeats crashed in.

A glance.

Xiao Zhinian was here.

Perhaps seeing Shen Zhejiang, a living person, standing in front of him, his eyes were a little dazed, and he blinked twice uncertainly, thinking he was hallucinating.

Shen Zhejiang actually came to greet him?

Xiao Zhinian also felt that he was crazy, otherwise how could this be possible?

He got off his horse, throwing the reins behind him, not daring to step forward, afraid that touching Shen Zhejiang would make him disappear again, turning into the Shen Zhejiang who was still lying on the bed, motionless except for breathing and a heartbeat.

And Shen Zhejiang?

He had already stopped.

He didn’t expect Xiao Zhinian to suddenly arrive at this time, and he also knew that as long as Xiao Zhinian was around, going out was almost impossible.

Moreover… Xiao Zhinian was thinner, and much more haggard. His handsome face was now covered with a layer of fatigue, and there were dark circles under his eyes, as if they could never be dispelled.

Although it was the season of melting ice and snow, it was still cold. Xiao Zhinian didn’t seem to know how to take care of himself, wearing only a black robe over his plain clothes. For some reason, a plain white silk ribbon was tied around his right wrist.

The wind blew, rustling with his outer robe, brushing over the back of his hand.

Had it only been a short month, how had he become like this?

This person was clearly almost twenty years old, but still didn’t know how to cherish his body, recklessly doing whatever he wanted just because he was young?

“Teacher is awake?”

He asked the Shen Zhejiang in front of him in an almost cautious tone.

In fact, Shen Zhejiang had not yet figured out how to face Xiao Zhinian, what face to use, his catamite or his imperial uncle.

He didn’t know, he really didn’t know.

Shen Zhejiang simply turned around, out of sight, out of mind, but Xiao Zhinian quickly stepped forward and hugged him from behind, just like when the two met again three years ago.

No longer caring about worldly etiquette, so what if he bore a bad name?

Xiao Zhinian hugged him so tightly, as if he was placing all his weight on Shen Zhejiang, his shoulders slumped down, his emotions collapsing in an instant, but he endured it, not even uttering a sound.

Shen Zhejiang noticed Xiao Zhinian’s abnormality. The action of subconsciously breaking free from his embrace stopped abruptly, and he just let Xiao Zhinian hug him.

What was wrong with him?

“Grand Empress Dowager has passed away, I only have you left, Shen Zhejiang, don’t leave.”

The trembling in Xiao Zhinian’s voice was very obvious.

He was afraid, and he was also terrified. He couldn’t imagine what he would do if Shen Zhejiang disappeared again.

Because Grand Empress Dowager Liang was already old, and she was troubled by Xiao Zhinian’s willful decision, her heart was burning with anxiety, and she was also repenting for her past sins.

She breathed her last before Chenshi (7-9 AM).

Xiao Zhinian rushed back to the palace from the farm, but he was still unable to see Grand Empress Dowager Liang for the last time.

… Thinking about it, Imperial Grandmother didn’t want to see him either.

Shen Zhejiang’s lips moved, “I…”

Suddenly, his feet left the ground, and Xiao Zhinian picked him up. Slightly startled, he reflexively pushed against Xiao Zhinian’s chest with both hands.

But Xiao Zhinian lowered his head, his forehead touching his forehead.

Shen Zhejiang seemed to see self-loathing and condemnation on his face.

“Sorry, I’m just that kind of beast, but I still can’t let you go.”