Pei Yanqi knew that he could not defend himself against His Highness King Jin, so he simply gave up and said, “It’s my fault. Your Highness, please have a good rest. Pei will take his leave first.”
Xiao Shen pointed to the door and said impatiently, “Goodbye, Military Advisor. Sorry, I can’t see you off.”
“What are you two fighting about?” Shen Qingzhuo finally came to his senses after the person stepped out of the inner hall. “Why would Military Advisor attack you for no reason?”
With Pei Yanqi’s personality, he would never resort to violence if he could just talk, and he would not be so ignorant of the seriousness of the matter.
“Just…” Xiao Shen hugged his master’s waist and said vaguely, “It’s just some tactical differences.”
“What’s the disagreement? Tell me about it.” Shen Qingzhuo lowered his eyes. “Master will help you analyze who is right and who is wrong.”
Seeing that he couldn’t fool the enemy, Xiao Shen immediately changed his strategy and shouted, “Hiss… my back hurts…”
As expected, his master’s attention was distracted all of a sudden, and he held him nervously, “Did you pull the wound? Go back to bed!”
Helping his disciple to lie back on the bed, Shen Qingzhuo took back the hand warmer and put it in his hand. “Little ancestor, Master begs you, you should be less restless these days.”
Xiao Shen looked at his master’s furrowed brow, his heart twitched, and then he smiled and said, “It’s fine, Master. It doesn’t hurt anymore.”
Shen Qingzhuo thought that his little disciple was just trying to comfort him and replied calmly, “Master will go out for a while and be back soon.”
Without giving him a chance to protest, he turned around and walked out.
Fortunately, Military Advisor Pei had not gone far yet, so Shen Qingzhuo quickly stepped forward and said, “Military Advisor, please stay.”
Pei Yan paused and turned around. “Young Master Shen.”
“I was at a loss as soon as Xiao Qi came back, and I didn’t even have time to talk to Military Advisor.” Shen Qingzhuo bowed, “In the past two years, I have been very grateful to Military Advisor for his care.”
“Young Master Shen, you are too polite.” Pei Yanqi stood tall and straight, as bright as the moon. “Young Master Shen rescued me from the prison. Pei has no way to repay you. Pei can only do his best to help you.”
“Forget it, let’s stop being polite.” Shen Qingzhuo smiled and then said seriously, “The Fuxi Army will arrive in Shengjing in ten days. Everything will be carried out according to the plan in the letter. Does Military Advisor have any objections?”
Pei Yanqi was silent for a moment, then replied, “Pei has no objection.”
The sky was dark, and white snowflakes were dancing in the air. Shen Qingzhuo unconsciously pulled his fox fur coat closer, trying to block the cold wind that was blowing into his collar.
“It’s cold, Young Master Shen, please go back first.” Pei Yanqi looked at him tenderly. “There will be plenty of time to reminisce in the future.”
Shen Qingzhuo nodded slightly, “Alright, then be careful on the road.”
He hurried back to the inner hall again. Xiao Shen immediately put away his irritability and asked calmly, “What did Master do?”
“Nothing.” Shen Qingzhuo took off his fox fur coat and walked to the bed. “As soon as you entered the capital yesterday, your Emperor Father summoned King Qin back to the capital.”
Xiao Shenfeng narrowed his eyes slightly and sneered, “Emperor Father has made up his mind. Am I going to rebel ah?”
“Don’t worry about this. Master won’t give King Qin a chance to get involved.” Shen Qingzhuo leaned over and tucked the corner of the quilt for him, hesitating to speak, “It’s just…”
“Just what?” Xiao Shen seemed to have a premonition. “What else did Emperor Father say to Master?”
Shen Qingzhuo straightened up and told the truth: “Your Emperor Father summoned me and asked me to do something so that you can’t recover before spring.”
His eyebrows twitched imperceptibly, and a hint of murderous intent flashed across his handsome face, but it disappeared in an instant.
“Hehe.” Xiao Shen laughed with an ambiguous meaning, “In this case, as a son, I should naturally follow Emperor Father’s wishes.”
Shen Qingzhuo stroked his little disciple’s head and comforted him softly, “It’s fine, you have Master.”
In fact, from beginning to end, Xiao Shen never had any expectations of his Emperor Father, but he still went along and threw himself into his master’s arms.
“En, I have Master.” He tightened his arms and repeated, mumbling, “I only have Master.”
***
Since His Highness King Jin returned to the palace, there has been an endless stream of visitors to Changle Palace, and the doorstep is almost broken down.
However, His Highness King Jin was seriously injured, and it was the coldest time of winter, so his health was recovering very slowly. The imperial physician had to go to Changle Palace every day to examine his condition and prescribe medicine, but His Highness’s health showed no sign of improvement.
On this day, Consort Xian ordered someone to bring stewed black chicken and ginseng soup to help His Highness nourish his body.
Xiao Shen leaned against the head of the bed and waved his hand palely, “Put it down. Please convey this king’s gratitude to Consort Xian for her concern.”
The eunuch smiled and said, “My Niangniang said that this black chicken and ginseng soup should be drunk while it’s hot. Your Highness King Jin, what do you think?”
Xiao Shen frowned slightly and glanced at the young eunuch who was serving him.
Xiao Guizi got the signal and rushed forward to grab the tray without saying anything, “I will serve His Highness, Gonggong can go back and report first!”
That eunuch’s smile froze, but he didn’t dare to say anything more. He bowed and walked out.
“Your Highness, Young Master has ordered that anything sent from the palaces cannot be imported.” Xiao Guizi put the black chicken soup on the table. “Should the servant pour it out now?”
Xiao Shen picked up the military book again and replied calmly, “Put it aside for now and wait for Master to come back.”
Two hours later, Young Master Shen finally came back.
Xiao Shen’s eyes suddenly lit up, and he stretched out his arms for a hug from a distance. “Master!”
At this time, Imperial Physician Lu, who was carrying a medicine box, poked his head out from behind Lord Shen and asked, “Your Highness, how do you feel today?”
Xiao Shen immediately put down his arm and replied nonchalantly, “Not bad.”
Shen Qingzhuo explained with a smile, “I happened to meet Imperial Physician Lu on the way back, so we came together.”
Imperial Physician Lu approached the bed, put down the medicine box, and jokingly said, “Your Highness seems reluctant to see the humble minister. Did the humble minister disturb your world of two with Lord Shen?”
Xiao Shen raised his eyes and glanced at him indifferently.
Imperial Physician Lu gave a teasing laugh and immediately went back to work in silence.
Shen Qingzhuo didn’t pay attention to the conversation between the two. His eyes fell on the table. “What is this?”
“Black chicken and ginseng soup.” Xiao Shen replied casually, “Sent from Fengyi Palace.”
“Consort Xian?” Shen Qingzhuo raised his eyebrows slightly. “This is like a weasel paying a New Year’s greeting to the chicken1Sure to be ill-intentioned. No good intentions ah.”
Xiao Shen got up and sat on the edge of the bed. “Consort Xian shouldn’t be so stupid as to openly poison the chicken soup, right?”
Shen Qingzhuo smiled and said, “Xiao Qi, you don’t understand Consort Xian. She is both stupid and vicious. This is the kind of person I’m talking about.”
“It sounds like Master knows her very well?” Xiao Shen was concerned and asked tentatively, “Could it be that… Master has some kind of private deal with Consort Xian?”
“No.” Shen Qingzhuo shook his head. “That your Emperor Father’s consort, how many heads does Master have on my head? How dare I have private contact with her?”
Hearing this, Xiao Shen stopped asking questions and let Imperial Physician Lu take off his outer robe.
Shen Qingzhuo opened the soup bowl and smelled it but still felt something was wrong. “Imperial Physician Lu, before you leave, take some of the soup and the residue back to the Imperial Medical for inspection.”
“Yes, My Lord.” Imperial Physician Lu responded, untied the gauze wrapped around the wound, and examined it carefully. “Congratulations, Your Highness. The wound is healing well.”
“Really?” Shen Qingzhuo was surprised, but he didn’t dare to look directly at the wound. He murmured to himself, “That’s good, that’s good…”
Imperial Physician Lu praised: “Your Highness’s physique is incomparable to that of ordinary people. If you take a good rest, you will recover in no time.”
Xiao Shen sneered, “It’s a pity that some people just don’t want me to recover.”
Imperial Physician Lu paused, and Shen Qingzhuo took over the conversation: “What to say and do, I have already informed Imperial Physician Lu in advance, so you can just rest and recuperate.”
Before Imperial Physician Lu left, Xiao Shen suddenly stopped him again: “Imperial Physician Lu, when can this king take a bath?”
It would be fine if he was a little dirty at the barracks, but now that he was back with his master, he couldn’t just wipe his hands and feet every day and get away with it. What if his master got stained by the dirt?
“Bathing ah…” Imperial Physician Lu hesitated for a moment and replied cautiously, “The wound has not yet healed completely, so it is best not to get it wet now. If Your Highness really can’t stand it, you can avoid the wound and scrub a small area.”
Xiao Shen chose to ignore the first half of the sentence, “Alright, you retreat first.”
Imperial Physician Lu went back with a small bottle of black chicken and ginseng soup. Shen Qingzhuo walked over and helped his little disciple put on his clothes.
As Xiao Shen was getting dressed, he said, “Please ask someone to prepare something for me, Master. I want to take a bath.”
“Ah?” Shen Qingzhuo was surprised. “Didn’t Imperial Physician Lu say that it’s best not to—”
“Can’t Master just help me?” Xiao Shen raised his head. “If I still don’t take a bath, I will be spoiled. Master, are you willing to hug me?”
Shen Qingzhuo tapped his forehead and said with a smile, “When has Master ever despited you?”
“Then I’m just despising myself.” Xiao Shen curled his lips and said unreasonably, “I don’t care, I must wash it clean.”
Shen Qingzhuo couldn’t persuade him, so he had to order people to prepare for bathing.
Inside the bath room, the bathtub was just half filled with hot water, ensuring that His Highness’ upper body would not get wet after sitting in it.
Shen Qingzhuo stood in front of the young man, preparing to wrap it with another layer of waterproof oil silk to prevent water vapor from seeping into the gauze.
Xiao Shen obediently opened his arms, lowered his eyes, and allowed his master to do what he wanted.
The soft breath was so close, and the pink fingertips seemed to touch the flesh, causing a fatal tingling sensation, especially when they slid over the sensitive waist muscles, even the spine could not help but tremble slightly.
But he tried his best to restrain himself so as not to let his master notice anything unusual.
“Done.” Shen Qingzhuo took a step back. “It shouldn’t get wet this way.”
“En…” Xiao Shen made a low response from his throat and suddenly said, “Master, help me take off my undergarment too.”
“Alright… ah?” Shen Qingzhuo blinked his eyelashes and said hesitantly, “I’d better go and ask Xiao Guizi to come in and serve.”
Xiao Shen stared at him intently and said coquettishly in a sexy and deep voice, “I don’t want them to come in, Master, please help me!”
Somehow, Shen Qingzhuo felt that something was a little strange, but he had no reason to refuse, so he agreed in the end.
It’s fine. He once gave his little disciple a bath with his own hands. So what’s the big deal about taking off his undergarment?
Thinking of this, he bent down, untied the belt around his hips, then calmly turned his eyes away and took it off quickly and neatly.
His throat moved, his dark eyes became darker, and Xiao Shen quickly turned around and entered the bathtub.
The hot water seeped up from the soles of his feet, and he couldn’t help but sigh in comfort. He leaned back and rested his shoulder blades against the wall of the pool.
Shen Qingzhuo couldn’t help but remind him, “Don’t lean against the pool wall. It’s easy to get your back wet.”
Xiao Shen suddenly turned his head and asked with a smile, “Master, do you still miss the days when you bathed me personally?”
Anyway, he missed him so much that he wanted to pull him into the bathtub and soak him thoroughly…
Shen Qingzhuo refused and said, “I remember, but it’s not necessary.”
He knew in his heart that the muscular young man in front of him was no longer the little ball who allowed him to manipulate him as he pleased.
“Then…” Xiao Shen’s eyes curved, “Can Master please rub my shoulders for me?”
Shen Qingzhuo thought about it for a moment and agreed reluctantly.
He half-knelt beside the bathtub, picked up the towel on the edge of the pool, and leaned over to wet it.
The next moment, he glanced at the water surface and found a terrifying shape under the water…
He didn’t react and was stunned for a moment.
Xiao Shen followed his gaze, and a wicked arc appeared at the corner of his lips: “Master, do you admit that I have grown up now?”
“Ah, ya!” Shen Qingzhuo threw the towel at the young man’s handsome and hateful face in disgust and said angrily, “Wash it slowly by yourself!”
He walked out angrily, thinking to himself how outrageous it was. It had been so long since he last watched his little disciple bathing, yet he had been holding a grudge for several years!
An undisguised muffled laugh came from behind.
After walking two steps, Shen Qingzhuo suddenly turned around and said in a cold tone, “Merely mediocre.”
The laughter stopped abruptly. Xiao Shen took off the wet towel from his face and said in a deep voice, “What did Master say?”
“Master has seen countless people. In comparison, you still have a lot of room for growth.” Shen Qingzhuo smiled and said calmly, “My little disciple, you should work harder to grow.”
Xiao Shen: “?”
The author has something to say:
Later one night—
The Wolf Cub: You have seen countless people? There is a lot of room for growth? Keep working hard to grow?
The Master: No, no, no… Master was wrong. Don’t make it bigger, wuwu…
