Zhuang Dongqing tried several times to ignore Li Zhuo’s scrutinizing gaze, but alas, it was still quite difficult. No matter how he managed it, he always seemed to catch Li Zhuo looking at him with a smile that felt particularly fake. It was different from Cen Yan’s sarcastic cold smile; this one lacked any emotion, like a mask plastered on a face, forcing a social etiquette pose that made Zhuang Dongqing extremely uncomfortable.

“Is the Third Prince looking for me for something?”

With no time to spare, Zhuang Dongqing asked directly when they were standing relatively close.

Li Zhuo, however, pretended to be confused again, “What matter?”

Zhuang Dongqing: “…”

Zhuang Dongqing: “You’ve been staring at me.”

Li Zhuo raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise, “Oh? Have I?”

Zhuang Dongqing: “…”

Cen Yan was right; Li Zhuo was quite annoying in certain aspects.

Zhuang Dongqing couldn’t hide his feelings on his face, and as soon as his frustrated expression appeared, Li Zhuo burst into laughter.

This time, the smile was a bit more genuine, but it carried a heavy sense of amusement that Zhuang Dongqing didn’t like.

Li Zhuo: “I didn’t expect Zhuang Gongzi to be quite amusing.”

“After spending two years in the Wangfu, your horizons have broadened, and now you can take the initiative to talk to me.”

Zhuang Dongqing forced a smile, “The salt field has many affairs to attend to; as an imperial envoy, the Third Prince should inspect them more closely.”

Li Zhuo paused, his gaze sweeping over Zhuang Dongqing critically, and suddenly said, “Don’t say, your expression is quite similar to Cen Yan’s.”

“…”

Zhuang Dongqing could only force a laugh, “Is that so?”

With a change in meaning, it didn’t seem so similar anymore.

Li Zhuo looked at him a few more times, leaned closer to Zhuang Dongqing’s ear, and tapped his shoulder with a fan, seemingly intimate, “Actually, I was thinking about your relationship with Cen Yan…”

“Oh…”

At a critical moment, he managed to hold it together.

Mainly, Zhuang Dongqing looked a bit dazed when surprised, and with a slight cover-up, it was hard to read his emotions.

Of course, that didn’t apply to those close to him.

After saying that, Li Zhuo indeed continued to scrutinize Zhuang Dongqing’s expression.

Feeling vaguely that the other party was deliberately teasing him, Zhuang Dongqing grew increasingly annoyed and subtly stepped aside, creating some distance while frowning.

“Why are you standing so far away? Come here!”

A strong voice suddenly rang out from the front, and Zhuang Dongqing felt relieved.

He immediately responded and lowered his head to move forward, standing close to Cen Yan and Li Yang.

Cen Yan didn’t look at Zhuang Dongqing right away; instead, he shot a cold glance at Li Zhuo from a distance and said indifferently, “Is the Third Prince interested in something regarding me? If you have something to ask, just ask me directly. We grew up together, so there’s no need to be so coy.”

Li Zhuo: “…”

Li Zhuo: “I was just chatting with Zhuang Gongzi.”

Cen Yan showed no mercy, “What could you possibly have to talk about?”

Zhuang Dongqing just kept his head down.

Li Yang silently stepped in front of him, fearing Cen Yan would turn around and say something to him.

Then, at that moment, Cen Yan turned to look at Zhuang Dongqing but saw Li Yang blocking him, “…What are you acting crazy for again?”

Li Yang: “?”

Cen Yan just scoffed and didn’t pursue it, turning back to continue the inspection of the salt field.

Li Yang: “??”

He didn’t understand, but soon his attention was diverted by work.

After that, Li Zhuo didn’t have much time to keep an eye on Zhuang Dongqing; they were all imperial envoys, and since they came together, Cen Yan handed over some of his tasks to Li Zhuo. They weren’t important, but they required back-and-forth running around, effectively sidelining Zhuang Dongqing. Li Zhuo understood the intention behind it, but since he hadn’t contributed much during the recent floods, he could only accept it with a gloomy face.

At lunchtime, Cen Yan finally had time to talk to Zhuang Dongqing.

After dismissing Li Yang, he naturally asked about the morning’s events.

Zhuang Dongqing recounted everything in detail.

Cen Yan paused slightly while serving food, then turned and placed the dish into Zhuang Dongqing’s bowl, saying casually, “He must be suspicious now.”

“I know him; he knows me. Making a scene on the boat isn’t clever, and it can’t hit the mark. He must have grown suspicious.”

Zhuang Dongqing: “Ah?”

Cen Yan tapped the edge of the bowl, “Eat.”

“Oh, oh.”

Zhuang Dongqing picked up the bowl, and after a busy morning, the food tasted… ah, so delicious.

Zhuang Dongqing was overjoyed.

Seeing that Zhuang Dongqing’s appetite wasn’t affected, Cen Yan smiled slightly and set the matter aside for now, focusing on eating first.

Once their stomachs were filled, the topic was brought up again.

Cen Yan: “Didn’t you say he only asked about your identity before, suspecting you were An An’s uncle?”

“Yes.”

Cen Yan: “That’s just how he is; he fixates on others’ secrets. If there’s anything unreasonable, he will definitely pay attention.”

Although there was some distance between the two on the surface, the attitude of everyone in the Wangfu towards Zhuang Dongqing couldn’t change. Cen Yan wouldn’t force everyone to treat Zhuang Dongqing as a guest, so it was only a matter of time before Li Zhuo noticed something unusual. Cen Yan had known this from the start.

Zhuang Dongqing felt a bit uneasy, “What should we do? Just let him keep staring?”

He always felt that being seen through wasn’t a good thing.

Cen Yan understood the stakes involved.

But he wasn’t as worried as Zhuang Dongqing.

It wasn’t about the future; it was just his personality.

Cen Yan stared at Zhuang Dongqing for a moment, and suddenly the corners of his eyes curved up. Just as he was about to speak, Liu Qi hurriedly entered, looking anxious.

He brought back some news.

Cen Yan listened and repeated, “This year’s ancestral worship will be handled by the Eighth Prince?”

Liu Qi nodded, “It was just announced in the morning court.”

Cen Yan frowned, “Who was it last year? The Third or the Fourth?”

Liu Qi: “After the death of the former crown prince, the eldest son was chosen. The first year, it was the Third Prince who went to worship, and the next year, it was both the Third and Fourth Princes together.”

This time, however, they specifically chose the Eighth Prince, who had no connection to the others.

Looking around, Cen Yan lowered his voice, “How is His Majesty’s health? Has the alchemist been summoned by His Majesty?”

Liu Qi: “They say he’s much better now; he hasn’t been using medicine much lately and looks quite spirited.”

“The alchemist has entered the palace, but whether he has been summoned is still unclear.”

Cen Yan lowered his head and finished the last bite of food, putting down his bowl and chopsticks, and asked again, “What was His Majesty’s reaction to the flood situation?”

“Oh, about that, it was already discussed the other day. They said both you and the Sixth Prince have contributed. Once Hangzhou is sorted out, after returning to the capital, the merits of inspecting the salt and disaster relief will be rewarded together.”

Thinking of something, Liu Qi hesitated.

Cen Yan shot him a glance, “Speak.”

Liu Qi swallowed and said quietly, “The informant said His Majesty mentioned the heir during that time, saying that when the master returns to the capital, he must meet the young heir.”

Cen Yan fell silent.

Zhuang Dongqing also sensed something was off and stared at Cen Yan.

Cen Yan waved his hand, and Liu Qi obediently left.

Once Liu Qi was out the door, Zhuang Dongqing finally spoke, “Is something wrong?”

Cen Yan lowered his gaze, “Not really. Morally, I grew up in front of His Majesty. Once I have a child, Cen Anli should be brought to see him.”

There’s nothing wrong with elders wanting to meet their juniors.

It’s just…

Cen Yan said softly, “There have been too many movements in the court lately.”

“If His Majesty is truly healthy, then even if he supports the Eighth Prince, he can firmly hold the situation. What I’m afraid of…”

What I’m afraid of is that Emperor Shengwu has already lost complete control over the situation. The Third and Fourth Princes have already taken root too deeply in the capital over the past two years. Once the balance of power is broken, it could easily lead to a coup.

At this point, Cen Yan frowned again, “So why is Li Zhuo coming out at this time?”

It doesn’t make sense.

Zhuang Dongqing whispered, “The money from inspecting the salt?”

The salt tax revenue is substantial, and the officials involved are all making a fortune, with plenty of profit to be made.

If it was said earlier that Li Zhuo was trying to subdue the wealthy merchants of Jiangnan to gain wealth for a grand scheme, it would make sense, but now… now looking at the situation in the capital, it has already passed the stage of slow and steady, and it feels like it’s on the verge of exploding, a moment where one move could determine life or death…

Cen Yan shook his head, “Doesn’t seem like it, but let’s wait and see.”

“Truth can’t be hidden; whatever he wants to do will eventually show itself.”

After saying that, he set those thoughts aside and returned to the matter of Li Zhuo.

Cen Yan smiled and asked, “Don’t you want Li Zhuo to figure it out?”

Zhuang Dongqing: “You… are smiling with ill intentions…”

Cen Yan rested his chin on one hand, playfully saying, “Qingqing is really smart; you can see through this.”

Zhuang Dongqing: “…”

Cen Yan beckoned him with a finger.

Zhuang Dongqing hesitated for a moment but eventually leaned in, whispering a few words. Zhuang Dongqing’s eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Cen Yan.

Cen Yan remained calm, “Don’t doubt it.”

“You’ll know if you try.”

Zhuang Dongqing was even more confused; is this something that can be tried?

Cen Yan understood the look in his eyes and confidently smiled, “Of course.”

• During the time they were eating, Li Yang and Li Zhuo also received the news about this year’s Eighth Prince’s ancestral worship.

On Li Yang’s side, the guests also sensed something was different.

However, the initial plan was to take it slow, and now that two years had passed without returning to the capital, they felt quite powerless.

They could only watch the changes unfold.

On Li Zhuo’s side, he crushed a cup in his hand.

Although he had some forewarning, it didn’t stop him from going mad, smashing several things. After venting his anger, Li Zhuo finally calmed down.

The fan handle tapped against his palm, and the aides didn’t dare to speak.

After a while, Li Zhuo let out a long sigh, muttering to himself, “It’s fine; I’m not in the capital anyway. I can still muddle through. Hitting the Fourth Prince in the face like this, I don’t believe he won’t retaliate.”

Pausing, he lowered his voice, speaking blasphemously, “Long live, long live; if you shout it too much, you’ll really think you can live forever?”

The aides nearby heard only fragments and immediately knelt down.

Li Zhuo didn’t shout either.

After self-regulating for a while, he managed to pull a smile back on his face, “I should go see what’s going on with Cen Yan.”

But things didn’t go as Li Zhuo wished.

With a playful attitude, wanting to see how Zhuang Dongqing would dodge, by the afternoon, Cen Yan didn’t rush him anymore, and the interaction between the two left Li Zhuo puzzled.

Cen Yan was holding Zhuang Dongqing’s arm as they walked together.

If it was intimacy, they weren’t holding hands, just holding onto his forearm through the clothing.

If it was distance, Li Zhuo had never seen Cen Yan act so close with anyone else.

Cen Yan was quite natural, while Zhuang Dongqing tensed up every time Cen Yan grabbed him.

Li Zhuo: “…”

During the inspection, once they were out of sight, Cen Yan would instinctively look for Zhuang Dongqing’s position, bringing him closer.

Their demeanor was similar to when they held hands.

Cen Yan was very natural, while Zhuang Dongqing was always stiff.

Li Zhuo: “…”

When he saw Cen Yan casually pull Zhuang Dongqing’s outer garment, Li Zhuo finally couldn’t hold back and looked at his aides with a deadpan expression, asking, “Are they putting on a show for me?”

The aides wiped their sweat, completely confused.

If it was intimacy, the actions of the Western King were indeed quite close.

But if it was distance, looking at the young master’s reaction, the two seemed unfamiliar.

Aide: “Could it be a natural display?”

Li Zhuo: “Heh.”

“Blind eyes can be discarded.”

Aide: “…”

At this point, Li Zhuo was already lacking interest.

But due to his personality, he decided to keep watching until the end of the day.

However, he soon realized that this was a wrong decision.

After leaving the salt field, Cen Yan and Li Yang took the salt field’s account books with them, moving box after box onto the carriage. Li Yang was responsible for checking the ink on the account books to prevent forgery, while Liu Qi checked the carriage, and Hao San counted the personnel. The governor had greeted several imperial envoys and was also sitting in a soft sedan chair.

In a moment, those who needed to leave had left, and those who had work to do were busy with their tasks. At the entrance of the salt field, only Li Zhuo’s people remained, along with Cen Yan and Zhuang Dongqing.

In the corner, the willow trees were dense, and standing beneath them, the willow branches hung down like silk ribbons, obscuring the view, making it hard to see clearly.

From a distance, Li Zhuo’s gaze shifted towards Cen Yan and Zhuang Dongqing.

There were only the two of them left, still talking.

Li Zhuo took a step forward, and suddenly, Cen Yan’s gaze turned to him, locking eyes directly.

Li Zhuo was taken aback for a moment, and then he saw Cen Yan resting his chin on Zhuang Dongqing’s shoulder, looking very intimate. Zhuang Dongqing couldn’t see his expression, but his posture was extremely unnatural, and Cen Yan was smiling at him like that.

Li Zhuo: “…”

If this wasn’t an act, he would twist his head off and kick Cen Yan!

From a distance, Cen Yan said two words, and Li Zhuo read his lips.

Li Zhuo was furious, swinging his long sleeves, “Return to the residence!”

No more pretending; he stormed onto the carriage and left first.

Zhuang Dongqing couldn’t see what was happening behind him, “C-can I turn around now?”

Cen Yan: “He seems to be coming over; otherwise, should I just hug you?”

Zhuang Dongqing: “?”

Before Zhuang Dongqing could refuse, he heard a light laugh beside him.

Realizing too late that Cen Yan was teasing him.

Zhuang Dongqing: “…”

Turning around, he saw Li Zhuo’s carriage rolling away, and after a moment of silence, he looked at Cen Yan.

The idea was proposed by Cen Yan, and it seemed to have had an effect.

The theory was that since there was already suspicion, the more Zhuang Dongqing tried to avoid Cen Yan, the more Li Zhuo would doubt them. It would be better for them to be openly intimate; Li Zhuo would think they were playing him.

Zhuang Dongqing was a bit dazed, “What was his reaction when he left?”

Cen Yan thought for a moment, “Furious?”

Zhuang Dongqing: “Ah?”

Zhuang Dongqing didn’t understand, “What do you mean? He got angry because I didn’t guess right?”

That couldn’t be the case.

Cen Yan didn’t hide it from Zhuang Dongqing, looking around to ensure no one was nearby, he took Zhuang Dongqing’s hand and slowly rubbed it, casually saying, “Oh, I gave him two words of evaluation; he should have understood the lip reading and got angry.”

Zhuang Dongqing was confused, “What did you say?”

Cen Yan smiled and said two words, “Fool.”

“Isn’t that a very accurate evaluation, Qingqing?”

Zhuang Dongqing: “……”