Shen Qingzhuo frowned slightly, suspecting that he had misheard, and confirmed in disbelief, “You think I’m dirty?”
Xiao Shen lowered his eyelashes and stammered twice, but no sound came out.
The candlelight in the hall was dim, but the young boy was standing in the dark, with his face unclear. His expression can’t be seen, but he gave off an aura that kept people at a distance.
Shen Qingzhuo was furious. He was not a mysophobe, but at least he was hygienic and always kept himself clean. No one had ever complained about him being dirty.
“Where am I dirty?” He spread out his palms angrily, his tone unconsciously rising. “I just washed my hands before I came here.”
Xiao Shen suddenly realized that his Master seemed angry. The hand that had pinched the little mouse just now unconsciously grabbed the hem of his clothes, and his fingertips were so strong that they were deeply embedded in the fabric. “It’s me.”
It’s him who is dirty.
Everything in the cold palace is dirty, including himself.
Shen Qingzhuo was stunned for a moment and suddenly came to his senses after a while.
He was a little amused and walked around the square table to his little apprentice, leaned over slightly, and joked, “Could it be that before I came, you were secretly playing in the mud?”
Xiao Shen subconsciously denied: “I didn’t.”
“If you’re dirty, then just wash, it’s not a big deal.” Without giving him a chance to react, Shen Qingzhuo quickly and ruthlessly grabbed the little wrist and said, “Come, let’s go wash our hands first.”
The young boy hiding in the shadows was forcibly pulled out. The candlelight reflected on his confused little face, making him look a little silly.
Shen Qingzhuo pulled him out without saying anything.
Of course, there was a small kitchen in the cold palace, but it is usually not used for cooking. It is cold and deserted, and there is a thick layer of dust on the stove.
After looking around, Shen Qingzhuo found a relatively clean small wooden barrel and took it to the yard to fetch water.
The temperature was extremely low in the middle of the night, but the water that was pumped out from the well was warm, with wisps of white hot steam rising from the surface.
“Come here.” Shen Qingzhuo took a breath and called out, “Come and wash your hands.”
Xiao Shen followed his instructions and walked over. He looked at the clear water in the bucket and suddenly said, “This water can’t be drunk.”
“I know. I didn’t ask you to drink.” Shen Qingzhuo put down his rolled-up long sleeves. “Just wash your hands.”
He had read relevant information before. The water for drinking in ancient imperial palaces was generally natural spring water transported from nearby. The well water in the palace was mostly used for washing and cleaning, or to prevent fires by being able to fetch water nearby to put it out.
As for the reasons, one is to show off the wealth of the royal nobles, and the other is to prevent someone from poisoning the well during the harem struggle or throwing the body into the well after losing the fight.
Thinking of this, Shen Qingzhuo’s expression changed: “No one has jumped into this well, right?”
Xiao Shen just stared at him without saying anything, as if he agreed.
Shen Qingzhuo felt a chill on his back and goose bumps on his arms. He pretended to be calm and said, “Then let’s not wash. Let’s go in first.”
“I’m kidding.” Xiao Shen suddenly smiled, “No one has ever jumped into this well.”
Shen Qingzhuo: “?”
“You little brat, you are really…” It was the first time he saw his little disciple smile. He was surprised and speechless for a moment, and finally put his hands on his waist and scolded, “You dare to scare your Master now, you are so brave ah!”
The smile on Xiao Shen’s face was still there, and the bright moonlight was reflected in his dark eyes, it sparkling.
In fact, he didn’t really deceive his master.
Two years ago, someone wanted to throw him into this well. Fortunately, he held on to the edge of the well tightly, and his ten fingernails were almost split. Otherwise, he would have become a corpse in the well today.
Shen Qingzhuo thought that his little disciple was just playing a joke on him, so he urged him to wash his hands quickly. Then he pulled out a handkerchief from his sleeve and carefully wiped the water droplets off his hands.
Xiao Shen obediently let him do whatever he wanted throughout the whole process.
The two returned to the side hall, and Shen Qingzhuo pulled the dumpling back to the table and examined the two swollen little hands under the flickering flames.
“Why don’t you use the frostbite medicine I gave you?” He opened his eyelids but found that the dumpling’s eyes were fixed on the base of his left hand.
Shen Qingzhuo understood, raised his left hand and moved it closer to the dumpling’s eyes, and said jokingly, “Look, which puppy bit this?”
The bite from the little wolf cub many days ago has healed, forming a flesh-pink crescent-shaped scar at the base of the thumb.
If it were someone else, such a wound on the hand might not be noticeable, but his hand was as white as jade, without any flaws, so the pink crescent looked particularly abrupt, as if destroying a kind of holy beauty.
Xiao Shen pursed his lips, and a strange emotion flashed in his eyes.
“Alright, it’s no big deal.” Shen Qingzhuo quickly withdrew his hand. “Which man doesn’t have a few scars in his life?”
Xiao Shen forced himself to look away from the hand and said in a muffled voice, “I won’t do that next time.”
Shen Qingzhuo raised his eyebrows slightly and flicked his forehead with his fingers. “Do you want to have another chance?”
But it’s hard to say, with the little wolf cub’s fiery temper of “rather die with honor than live in dishonor”, if they fall out again in the future, the probability that the little guy will bite him to death and not let go is still very high.
This time Xiao Shen did not dodge his fingers and even raised his face slightly without being noticed.
Anyway, his master won’t really use any force either.
“Drink the soup while it’s hot first. Master will apply medicine to you later.” Shen Qingzhuo reopened the meal box. “It’s not easy to bring it all the way here. Don’t leave any bite.”
Xiao Shen took the soup bowl. “Alright.”
Shen Qingzhuo supported his chin with one hand. Seeing that his little disciple was just drinking the soup in silence, he thought to himself, This time he did not suspect whether he had poisoned the soup or not.
Not bad, there is progress.
Time passed by unnoticed in the deep palace, and several days went by in the blink of an eye.
Early that morning, Shen Qingzhuo had just gotten up when he heard Xiao Dezi outside the door announcing, “Young Master, Eunuch Su is here.”
Shen Qingzhuo paused while wiping his hands.
Eunuch Su?
Isn’t this the eunuch who closely served the old emperor?
The drowsiness from waking up early was swept away. Shen Qingzhuo instantly perked up and walked out of the inner hall quickly.
“Young Master Shen, congratulations.” As soon as he walked out of the palace, Eunuch, who was wearing a blue eunuch’s uniform, congratulated him with a smile on his face.
Shen Qingzhuo also smiled: “Eunuch Su, but what is His Majesty’s will?”
Eunuch Su held up the imperial edict: “Young Master Shen’s birthday is coming, and His Majesty specially ordered Zanjia1Zanjia means I, mostly used by eunuch. to come and congratulate Young Master.”
Shen Qingzhuo understood and immediately kneeled down to receive the decree.
Eunuch Su began to announce the decree.
The content of the imperial edict was full of nonsense, and to sum it up, there was only one central idea: Zhen2I, used by the emperor pity you for coming far away from your hometown to Shengjing alone. Since you can’t spend your birthday with your father, brothers, and relatives, Zhen grants you gold, silver, and jewelry. If you have anything else you want, feel free to ask Zhen.
“Come, bring in the holy objects bestowed by His Majesty.” After Eunuch Su read out the imperial edict, he swept his whisk, and the eunuchs waiting outside the palace immediately brought in two large boxes.
Shen Qingzhuo: “The minister thanks His Majesty for his grace.”
Eunuch Su: “Young Master Shen, His Majesty specifically instructed that if you want other rewards, you should come back to the palace with Zanjia to see him.”
Shen Qingzhuo didn’t want anything but still responded softly: “Alright, then I’ll trouble Eunuch Su.”
The two walked out of the main hall one after the other. Shen Qingzhuo glanced in the direction of the small study without making any expression, and sure enough, he saw the dumpling hiding behind a pillar, observing them secretly.
He didn’t look any more and walked out with Eunuch Su.
After entering this world, in order to avoid trouble, Shen Qingzhuo rarely walked around the palace at will. He only went to the Crown Prince’s mansion in the Eastern Palace before and then went to the Cold Palace, where he went most frequently. Therefore, he was not familiar with the layout of the palace at all.
This time, he secretly memorized the route he took when he met the emperor.
Outside the imperial study, after the eunuch informed, Eunuch Su carefully lifted the curtain, and Shen Qingzhuo slowly stepped into the palace.
Emperor Guangxi was sitting at his desk reading memorials. Below him was kneeling a minister in court robes. It was unknown how long he had been kneeling there, but his back was straight.
“The humble minister pays his respect to Your Majesty.” Shen Qingzhuo lifted his brocade robe, kneeled down, and kowtowed to Emperor Guangxi.
He is a modern man who was born and raised in this land. He only kneels to heaven and earth and to his parents. But now he has to follow the local customs and kneel down to pay respects to the old emperor.
This is a damn feudal society ah.
“No need to be polite.” Emperor Guangxi raised his eyes and said with a smile, “Look up and let Zhen see how you look recently.”
Shen Qingzhuo stood up as he was told, raised his head, and looked at Emperor Guangxi, who was behind the desk calmly.
Emperor Guangxi was over forty years old, in the prime of his life. He was dressed in a bright yellow robe embroidered with a dragon, and his demeanor carried an innate imperial majesty.
After only one glance, Shen Qingzhuo pretended not to dare to look directly at him and lowered his eyes slightly. “Thanks Your Majesty for his concern. The minister is fine.”
“Zhen thinks that your complexion is better than in the past few months.” Emperor Guangxi joked, “Could it be that Jiyue Pavilion is more comfortable to live in than the Eastern Palace?”
Shen Qingzhuo calmly said, “Jiyue Pavilion is the residence awarded to the minister by Your Majesty. It is naturally comfortable to live in.”
Emperor Guangxi laughed and said, “Good child, your words are getting sweeter and sweeter.”
Shen Qingzhuo: “The minister is just telling the truth.”
“What a good way to tell the truth.” Emperor Guangxi put down the memorial, stood up, and walked down the high platform, saying meaningfully, “Zhen has many talented people around him, but he just lacks a few people who dare to tell the truth. Minister Xue, what do you think?”
Xue Yan, who was kneeling like a statue, said, “Your Majesty is right.”
“Forget it.” Emperor Guangxi sneered, “You have benefited from Young Master Shen’s help today, so you should retreat first and stop kneeling here and getting in Zhen’s eyes.”
“Yes. The minister will takes his leave first.” Minister Xue had been kneeling for too long, so his legs were stiff. When he stood up, he swayed slightly, but then he quickly steadied himself.
When he passed by Young Master Shen, he accidentally tripped over the threshold. Shen Qingzhuo helped him up and said, “My Lord, be careful.”
Minister Xue blushed and said, “Thank you, Young Master Shen.”
Shen Qingzhuo smiled faintly and let go of his hand.
The hall returned to silence, and Emperor Guangxi sat back in his chair. “Qingzhuo, do you like the little things Zhen gave you?”
Shen Qingzhuo said calmly, “Your Majesty has shown the minister love, but the minister has no worries about food and clothing in the palace, so the minister doesn’t really need those rewards.”
“Zhen give them to you, you should take it.” Emperor Guangxi paused, “Next year, on your twentieth birthday, Zhen will summon your father and brother to the capital to accompany you in the crowning ceremony. What do you think?”
Shen Qingzhuo thought to himself, Why are you pretending to be a good person, old man? But he pretended to be surprised as well: “Is Your Majesty being serious?”
“The king won’t joke.” Emperor Guangxi said in a gentle tone, “You left home and came to Shengjing at a young age. It has been three years now. You surely miss your father and brother at home.”
Shen Qingzhuo lowered his eyes. “Thanks, Your Majesty, for your consideration.”
Emperor Guangxi nodded with satisfaction and said casually, “Zhen forgot to ask you, how do you feel about volunteering to be the Seventh Prince’s tutor?”
After a long chat, they finally got to the point.
Shen Qingzhuo’s face showed a hint of shame: “The Seventh Prince has not yet begun to learn, and the minister has limited knowledge, so the minister is unable to teach him.”
“It’s hard for you.” Emperor Guangxi said nonchalantly, “So what do you think? Is it necessary to continue teaching that child?”
Shen Qingzhuo fell silent for a moment.
It was not that he did not know the real intention of Emperor Guangxi’s question.
Firstly, Emperor Guangxi had seven sons, and one more or one less would not be too much, so he did not care much about the Seventh Prince, who grew up in the cold palace since childhood.
Secondly, there is no father-son relationship in the royal family. Back then, he slaughtered the entire Zhao family overnight, and he had some guilty conscience. He felt uncomfortable with the Seventh Prince, who had half of the Zhao’s blood, and even had a trace of extremely secret fear.
So he originally planned to keep Xiao Shen in the cold palace, but the Empress Dowager insisted on intervening, so he had to pretend and issue an order to find a tutor for the Seventh Prince.
A few days ago, Junior Preceptor Pei also reminded Shen Qingzhuo that he could take this opportunity to get rid of this hot potato and return to the Eastern Palace to continue his leisurely life.
“Why are you silent?” Emperor Guangxi’s eyes were deep, and he said with a smile, “Just now Zhen was even praising you for being brave enough to speak the truth.”
Shen Qingzhuo made a prompt decision and kneeled down to apologize: “The minister is incompetent and can only enlighten His Highness the Seventh Prince and teach him the principles of filial piety, loyalty, courtesy, righteousness, integrity, and shame. If Your Majesty wants His Highness the Seventh Prince to achieve academic success, the minister fears it would be best to let His Highness study together with the other Highnesses.”
The author has something to say:
The Little Wolf Cub: Master, you haven’t come back for so long, do you really not want me anymore?
Master Shen: Don’t worry, I’m struggling with your unlucky father…
