Chapter 015: Yan Yan Can Act Silly

The maids outside, including Xu Fuquan, were scared out of their wits, not daring to even breathe loudly.

“Brother, take it off.”

“Scared?”

Lin Shouyan shook his head, “A little, and a bit angry too.”

“Angry about what?”

“Didn’t we agree you’d tell Yan Yan in advance? It’s so cold outside now, Yan Yan doesn’t really want to go dig a pit.”

“No need for you to do it, it’s already handled.”

Only then did Lin Shouyan step forward, glancing at Qi Zhen’s expression, reaching out to help him remove the blood-stained outer garment, and wrapped his arms around Qi Zhen’s waist.

“Brother, hug me.”

Qi Zhen was slightly taken aback, and embraced him.

He felt that it wasn’t him holding Lin Shouyan, but Lin Shouyan holding him.

“The Fifth Prince has passed away, I need to keep vigil for the next few days. I’ll tell others you’re seriously ill, so you don’t have to go. Don’t leave this room for the next few days.”

“Yan Yan will go with you.”

“There will be a lot of kneeling.”

“Someone will bully brother.”

Qi Zhen’s throat tightened, and his arms slightly tightened, “What can you do for me if you go? What if bad people target you?”

What else can be done?

Just go along with it.

Complete the task early.

Lin Shouyan raised his head, his beautiful eyes reflecting Qi Zhen’s face, whispering like sharing a secret, “Mother told me, Yan Yan is a little fool. So I can act silly.”

“……”

“Yan Yan can throw mud at them.”

Qi Zhen’s expression softened.

“And can lie down and extort them for eighty-eight thousand.”

Qi Zhen chuckled.

Lin Shouyan earnestly played the role of Qi Zhen’s little sidekick, “Want gold! Mother said gold is valuable! We’ll earn money tomorrow!”

Qi Zhen stared blankly at Lin Shouyan.

His beautiful eyes seemed to have stars scattered within, unbelievably beautiful.

Qi Zhen felt his chest swell.

He hugged him tighter, whispering in his ear, “Rebellious.”

Lin Shouyan smiled, “Secretly rebellious.”

Qi Zhen, where Lin Shouyan couldn’t see, slightly curled his lips.

–

Qi Zhen ultimately didn’t dare let Lin Shouyan go, making him stay home and practice writing. Qi Zhen himself went to the mourning hall. Upon arrival, he was immediately attacked by the red-eyed Noble Consort Li.

The people around pulled quickly, and he only got scratched on the back of his hand by Noble Consort Li’s nails.

Noble Consort Li’s face was ferocious, “Qi Zhen, why don’t you just die! Your whole family is dead, why aren’t you?”

The palace maids beside her turned pale, firmly covering Noble Consort Li’s mouth. Yet, a few venomous curses still slipped out.

No one in the mourning hall pleaded for Noble Consort Li, asking Qi Zhen for forgiveness.

Because everyone in this hall was related by blood to the emperor. They all glared at Qi Zhen, wishing he would die.

Qi Zhen wiped the blood off the back of his hand with his thumb, his voice steady and his face sharp, exuding a cold and unapproachable authority that made people not dare to look directly at him.

“Noble Consort Li publicly violated the imperial family’s dignity. I wonder how Father plans to handle it?”

The emperor looked coldly at Qi Zhen, “Demote her, and dock her salary for a year.”

Qi Zhen said, “So the cost of offending the imperial family’s dignity is so low. No wonder even the small Huigu dares to invade, and we have to marry off a princess.”

The emperor slammed the table, glaring at Qi Zhen.

Marrying off princesses for peace was a historical humiliation.

Qi Zhen was implying he was incompetent.

The emperor gritted his teeth, throwing the ball back to Qi Zhen, “What does the Crown Prince think should be done?”

Qi Zhen didn’t take the bait, “Father is in charge, your son dares not speak out of turn.”

The weight of the imperial family’s dignity versus a mere concubine was clear.

The emperor slightly turned his face, his molars aching, his face twisted and trembling.

“Give her a proper burial.”

Noble Consort Li couldn’t believe it, her eyes wide as she struggled desperately, but couldn’t break free from the guards’ restraint. She was dragged out, still cursing.

“Qi Zhen! You won’t die a good death!”

Qi Zhen’s expression was indifferent, only slightly bowing.

“Father is wise. This way, everyone will know that if they want to offend the imperial family’s dignity again, they must weigh it carefully.”

The emperor was so angry he crushed the teacup in his hand.

The princes, princesses, and lords in the hall looked at Qi Zhen with eyes full of shock, anger, fear, and helplessness.

Qi Zhen wasn’t talking about the imperial family’s dignity, he was talking about himself!

The Fifth Prince was dead.

Who would be next?

–

When Qi Zhen returned to the mansion, Lin Shouyan immediately noticed the wound on the back of his hand.

“Brother, what happened to your hand?”

Xu Fuquan only noticed then, exclaiming, “Oh dear, how did you get injured going to a mourning hall?” He quickly called for the imperial physician.

Qi Zhen’s expression was calm, “No need, it’s already scabbed over.”

Lin Shouyan held Qi Zhen’s hand, “Does it hurt?”

Without waiting for Qi Zhen to answer, Lin Shouyan continued on his own, sounding very distressed for Qi Zhen, “It must hurt. If it were Yan Yan, I’d definitely cry.”

“It doesn’t hurt.”

He tried to pull his hand away.

Lin Shouyan didn’t let go, lowering his head to kiss the back of his hand.

“I hope brother doesn’t get hurt again.”

Qi Zhen’s heart skipped a beat, and he took the opportunity to hold Lin Shouyan’s hand, pulling him closer.

The room was brightly lit by candles.

He saw Lin Shouyan’s eyes were brighter than the candlelight,

Bright enough to illuminate the entire capital’s night.

Qi Zhen’s Adam’s apple bobbed, suddenly having a thousand words he wanted to say to him, but not knowing where to start. He only gently and irresistibly hugged him.

The Fifth Prince’s relatives were at the mourning hall.

His, Qi Zhen’s, were here.

–

Qi Zhen was confined to the Eastern Palace.

Though confined, he wasn’t barred from participating in state affairs.

He couldn’t go out, so people came to him. Plus, with the Fifth Prince’s death, many officials in the court sided with Qi Zhen. More people came than before. Qi Zhen’s prestige in the court was higher than ever.

These days, Qi Zhen was so busy that Lin Shouyan didn’t see him even once a day.

Soon it would be the New Year, followed by March, with the spring exams, spring hunts, martial tests…

A pile of things to do.

Qi Zhen was so bothered by the officials that his head buzzed, still rubbing his temples as he walked to his sleeping quarters.

Xu Fuquan greeted him with a smile, saying the Crown Princess had snatched a guard’s iron shield today and personally cooked iron plate noodles, which tasted great. He specially saved a portion for Qi Zhen, asking if he wanted to eat it now.

Qi Zhen frowned slightly, “He went to the kitchen? Did his hair catch fire?”

Xu Fuquan chuckled, “No, no, no, the Crown Princess is fine, not a scratch.”

Lin Shouyan was the Crown Princess and a bit silly, who would dare let anything happen to him?

Everyone treated him like a child.

Qi Zhen thought for a moment about Lin Shouyan grabbing a shield and going to the kitchen, a smile appearing on his lips.

Xu Fuquan added, “He also played with Haitang for quite a while this afternoon.”

Haitang?

“Miss Haitang has been staying in the Western Garden. She came to see the Crown Princess today, and he was very happy. He even drew a picture for her.”

Though it was quite ugly.

The smile disappeared from Qi Zhen’s face.

Xu Fuquan tactfully said, “But the Crown Princess only saved the iron plate noodles for Your Highness.”

Qi Zhen’s expression softened a bit.

Xu Fuquan went to arrange for the noodles to be heated for Qi Zhen.

Qi Zhen entered the room, where a few candles had been extinguished.

Qi Zhen first looked at the paper on the table, which was what he had learned to write today. He didn’t see the drawing for someone else.

He walked into the inner room.

Lin Shouyan was curled up in the blankets, sleeping soundly.

Qi Zhen remembered when he first arrived, having just recovered from a high fever, still looking sickly and foolish. It made him seem like a frail little white flower in the wind and rain.

But lately, Qi Zhen had been feeding him well and keeping him warm. His face had filled out, his complexion was rosy. White with a hint of red, like a lively peach blossom.

More and more people were telling him that his Crown Princess was very good-looking.

Sometimes, Qi Zhen even saw maids staring at him, blushing.

If he hadn’t saved himself, and was an ordinary man, the line of people wanting to marry him would probably stretch from the capital to Jiangnan.

Qi Zhen pinched his nose.

Little vixen.

Lin Shouyan’s iron plate noodles were brought up, and Qi Zhen ate before washing up. When he returned to the room, Lin Shouyan was awake, looking at him with sleepy eyes in the candlelight.

The look made Qi Zhen’s heart skip a beat, inexplicably feeling a bit hot.