Just like a muffled thunder exploding in his ears, Shen Qingzhuo was completely frozen in place.
How long had it been since he last heard the title “Master”? It was so long that he even felt it was a little strange when he first heard it.
“Master… is that you, Master?” There was no response, and the questioning voices in the hall became hurried, followed by a period of chaos.
“Your Highness, you can’t move!” Another male voice came, “The wound has opened!”
Shen Qingzhuo woke up as if from a dream. He strode into the inner hall and met the eyes of the young man sitting up on the bed.
Before this moment came, Shen Qingzhuo even wondered if he was dreaming. In addition to nightmares, he also had many beautiful dreams about the day of Xiao Qi’s triumphant return, and the little disciple in his dreams always looked the same as when he left.
The young man in front of him had handsome features that vaguely resembled those of two years ago, except that the youthfulness had completely faded, and his features were three-dimensional, deep, and sharp. Even if he just sat there, he could feel the murderous aura and pressure coming at him.
That was developed on the battlefield after killing countless enemies to maintain a calm and confident demeanor.
But those cold and gloomy eyes, in the moment they touched him, were like a frozen glacier thousands of miles away, quietly melting into a pool of spring water.
“Master…” Xiao Shen couldn’t help calling out and stretched out a hand to his master from a distance, pleading in an eager and restrained tone, “Come closer, alright?”
Shen Qingzhuo felt a lump in his throat and dragged his feet towards the bed.
His little disciple had grown up, but his handsome face had become thin, his lips were pale and cracked, and it was obvious that he had suffered a lot.
He wanted to see more clearly, but his vision became increasingly blurry. When the big hand with thick calluses held him, his eye sockets finally could not bear the weight of the tears, and his tears fell like a string of pearls that had broken off the string, hitting the two people’s clasped hands.
Xiao Shen’s heart trembled from the burning tears, and his voice became hoarse: “I’m fine, Master, don’t cry.”
He had never seen his master cry before, and he didn’t expect that the first time he saw him cry was because he was injured.
“Xiao Qi…” Shen Qingzhuo called him with sobs, “You are finally back…”
The master whom he had been thinking about frowned and looked at him with tears in his eyes. Xiao Shen’s heart seemed to have been soaked in a jar of aged vinegar and then poured with hot honey, feeling sour, sweet, and bloated. He didn’t know what to do for a moment.
The next moment, he chose to follow his body’s instinctive reaction, held his master’s hand, and pulled him into his arms.
After a long-awaited hug, Xiao Shen suddenly tightened his arms and buried his head in the familiar fragrant plum scent like crazy, wishing he could drown in his master’s smell.
Shen Qingzhuo closed his eyes, but tears still flowed from the corners of his eyes. He silently indulged him.
After an unknown amount of time, Pei Yanqi, who was standing by, could no longer bear it and warned, “Your Highness, be careful not to tear the wound.”
Shen Qingzhuo suddenly came to his senses and broke free from the strong embrace. Without time to dry his tears, he asked helplessly, “Where is the injury? Does it still hurt? Let me see!”
“It’s fine.” Xiao Shen glanced at Military Advisor Pei with a warning and said in a gentle voice, “It’s just a minor injury, just a trick.”
Shen Qingzhuo was skeptical, his eyelashes wet with tears trembling, and he searched around trying to find the wound, but he was wearing black clothes and could not see anything.
“If I don’t exaggerate the severity of my injuries, how can Emperor Father let me return to the capital?” Xiao Shen said calmly, “If you don’t believe me, ask Military Advisor Pei.”
“His Highness—was right.” Pei Yanqi said no more, bowed, and said, “The minister will take his leave first.”
Before he left, he glanced at Lord Shen from the corner of his eye and found that the other party was only thinking about His Highness King Jin, so he retracted his gaze and retreated quietly.
“Don’t cry, Master.” Xiao Shen raised his right hand and gently stroked the wet marks under his eyelids with his fingertips. “Although you cry beautifully, but I feel bad for you.”
How can someone be beautiful even when crying? He was like a pear blossom with tears in the rain. He feels pity when he sees it, but it can also easily arouse the desire for violence deep in his heart…
The calloused fingertips rubbed against the delicate skin, making it slightly red. Shen Qingzhuo looked at his disciple and confirmed again and again, “Are you really fine? Don’t deceive me.”
“How about this, how about…” Xiao Shen pretended to unbuckle his belt. “I’ll take off all my clothes and let Master check it?”
Shen Qingzhuo burst into laughter and gently slapped the back of his hand. “Your skin is itchy again, isn’t it?”
The youth, who seemed a little strange at first, suddenly returned to his familiar naughty and spanking look.
Xiao Shen held his hand again, pressed it against his cheek, and said frivolously, “That’s right, the days without Master beating me are as lonely as snow.”
Shen Qingzhuo blinked his eyelashes, wiped away the tears in his eyes, and pulled back his hand. “Since you are fine, I will come to see you later.”
“Ah?” Xiao Shen frowned, covered his chest, and leaned back. “I can’t take it anymore, I suddenly feel short of breath…”
Shen Qingzhuo didn’t know whether to laugh or cry and patiently explained, “I know you’re coming back today. I haven’t had the energy to do anything all day, so I have to take care of some things now.”
Hearing this, Xiao Shen raised his upper body and replied reluctantly, “Fine then, I’ll wait for Master here.”
“En.” Shen Qingzhuo looked at him again before turning around and walking out.
“I won’t sleep if Master didn’t come tonight.” The low and hoarse voice came from behind again.
When his little disciple left him, he had just entered the voice-change period. Now, his voice has completely turned into a mature and attractive male voice. Although it still sounds a little unfamiliar, but the coquettish tone is exactly the same as two years ago.
Shen Qingzhuo didn’t dare to look back, fearing that he would be reluctant to leave. He just responded vaguely and quickly left Changle Palace.
***
Beizhen Fushi.
“My Lord.” Kong Shang stepped over the threshold and bowed. “Has My Lord seen His Highness the Seventh Prince?”
Shen Qingzhuo nodded slightly. “I already saw him.”
Kong Shang asked with a worried tone, “How is His Highness’s injury?”
“He said it was no big deal.” Shen Qingzhuo replied and then ordered, “Invite Lord Lin over.”
Two years ago, he met Lin Jinyu again at the residence of the minister of revenue. They drank and chatted happily and hit it off immediately. In the end, he successfully persuaded Lord Lin to embark on an official career.
As the legitimate son of a second-rank minister, he can take up a sixth-rank official position through the “Yinzi1(Of a deserving official) to grant his wife a title and make his son heir to his titles. Basically, it’s a recommendation system.” system.
But Lin Jinyu didn’t want to be the seventh-rank scholar inherited from his father, so he joined the Jinyiwei and started from Xiaoqi2It’s a position title, seventh rank in the Jinyiwei.. Of course, under the overt and covert care of Lord Shen, Lin Xiaoqi’s promotion path was smooth.
Half a year ago, when Consort Yuan went to the temple to pray, she was assassinated again and almost lost her life. The Imperial Guards failed to do their job well, and a large number of people were punished. Shen Qingzhuo took the opportunity to transfer him into the Imperial Guards and made him the commander-in-chief of the Imperial Guards.
About an incense stick later, Lin Jinyu stepped into the Beizhen Fushi and asked loudly, “Lord Shen urgently summoned the lowly official. What is the matter?”
“If there’s nothing, I can’t look for you?”
Shen Qingzhuo raised his head from the pile of files and said, “What has Lord Lin been busy with recently?”
“I don’t believe you just suddenly missed me.” Lin Jinyu found a chair and sat down unceremoniously.
“By the way, I heard that King Jin returned to the palace in triumph?”
Shen Qingzhuo rubbed his swollen temples with his green fingertips and sighed, “I asked you to come here just for this.”
Lin Jinyu said seriously, “I also heard that King Jin was seriously injured. Is it true?”
“Whether it’s true or not, the imperial guards must be alert during this period.” Shen Qingzhuo lowered his voice. “Especially as the New Year is approaching, the other princes will also return to the palace.”
Lin Jinyu paused, raised his eyebrows, and asked, “Has the time you mentioned come?”
“That person may not survive this harsh winter. It depends on when the various evildoers will start to take action.” Shen Qingzhuo exchanged glances with him. “For us, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity. You should be prepared first.”
The world changes in just a moment.
Lin Jinyu nodded thoughtfully, “I understand. The imperial guards are on standby at all times.”
***
When he returned to Changle Palace again, it was already dusk.
As soon as Shen Qingzhuo entered the room, the eunuch on duty excitedly shouted, “Young Master!”
“Speak softly, don’t disturb His Highness.” Shen Qingzhuo made a gesture to keep quiet and then asked, “Is His Highness asleep?”
The eunuch whispered back, “Not yet. The imperial physician is changing the bandage for His Highness.”
Shen Qingzhuo nodded and walked towards the inner hall quietly.
With a creaky sound, he pushed open the palace door, “Xiao Qi, Master is back.”
After hearing the sound, Xiao Shen immediately pulled up the clothes he had taken off. Imperial Physician Lu was caught off guard and almost knocked over the tray.
However, the sharp-eyed Shen Qingzhuo still saw the ferocious sword wound that ran almost across the entire back.
He took a breath, walked quickly to the bed, and pulled down his loose undergarment.
The entire shocking back was exposed to the view, with sword wounds, arrow wounds, and firearm wounds, all kinds of scars crisscrossing each other, new and old overlapping. Some scabbed over and fell off to become flesh-pink, some turned blue and purple due to severe injuries, and the freshest one was this sword wound that broke through the back.
“Don’t look anymore, Master.” Xiao Shen turned around and said with a sigh, “It’s ugly, very hard to look at—”
Before he could finish his words, there was a “plop” sound, and hot tears dripped onto his arm, interrupting his next words.
“Imperial Physician Lu, please continue to apply the medicine.” Shen Qingzhuo casually wiped the corners of his eyes with his hand, turned, and walked to the window frame, standing with his back to them.
Knowing it in your heart is one thing, and seeing it with your own eyes is another. If he looked at it one more time, he would be unable to breathe.
After a while, Imperial Physician Lu began to pack up the medicine box. “Lord Shen, the bandage is ready.”
When he turned around again, the horrible scar had been tightly wrapped with a white bandage, and it finally didn’t look so glaring anymore.
Xiao Shen sat on the bedside, a nice smile on his lips. “Is this much better?”
Shen Qingzhuo stared at him with red eyes. “Is this what you mean by ‘it’s fine’?”
“They are just superficial wounds. They only look scary.” Xiao Shen said calmly, “Master, come over here. I want to see you closer.”
Shen Qingzhuo pursed his lips but still walked over.
Imperial Physician Lu gave some instructions and soon left with the medicine box on his back. They were the only two people left in the hall.
“Master, please don’t be so serious.” Xiao Shen wanted to shake his master’s hand but was avoided.
His expression froze for a moment, then returned to normal. He changed the subject and asked, “Master, will you stay with me tonight?”
“Don’t force yourself in front of Master.” Shen Qingzhuo finally spoke, staring at him intently. “Just like before, if you fell on your butt, you can act cute and say that it’s hurt to master, instead of bearing it yourself.”
Xiao Shen opened his mouth, the words lingered in his throat, and finally he just smiled and said, “Master, if you feel bad for me, just hug me, alright?”
Shen Qingzhuo sniffed, leaned over, and hugged him gently.
When he hugged him, he found that his little disciple’s shoulders had become so broad that he couldn’t just hold him with one hand anymore.
“It’s cold, put on some clothes first.” After a while, Shen Qingzhuo let go of his hand and promised in a low voice, “Master won’t leave tonight.”
“Speaking of which, Master was quite efficient in stripping me off just now.” Xiao Shen raised his eyebrows slightly and said with a smile, “Then I’ll punish Master to put my clothes on for me.”
Shen Qingzhuo blushed, “Was Master in a hurry?”
Why does it sound like he has so much…
He lowered his eyes, but his gaze happened to meet the well-defined abdominal muscles under the bandage.
He couldn’t help but widen his eyes. His little disciple actually developed such strong abdominal muscles?
Xiao Shen looked down along his line of sight, his smile deepening. “Master, do you want to touch it?”
Having said that, he grabbed the snow-white and slender wrist and pressed his palm against his own abdominal muscles.
When his palm touched the soft and firm bulge, Shen Qingzhuo was stunned for a moment, then suddenly came to his senses, retracted his hand as if he had been electrocuted, and took two steps back.
Xiao Shen, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, stood up. “What’s wrong, Master?”
At this stop, Shen Qingzhuo was completely dumbfounded.
Who was…
The little giant in front of him was almost a head taller than him?
The author has something to say:
The Master: Give me back my cute and gullible little disciple, wuwuwu…
The Wolf Cub: I’m sorry, Master, I can only give you a big disciple with eight-pack abs and a big mouth!
