A Thousand-Mile Exile, An Encounter with an Old Friend - Chapter 20

With just a short sentence, Zhu Qinghou had struck a chord with every official in the room.

They exchanged glances, their hearts fluttering with anticipation, yet none dared to be the first to speak. Instead, they cautiously watched the Prince of Su’s expression.

The Prince sat perfectly still in his armchair, his posture upright and imposing. The white silk covered his eyes, leaving only the lower half of his face as clear and sharp as carved jade visible. He appeared serene and elegant, less like a blind vassal prince guarding a lonely frontier and more like a refined gentleman with the grace of a crane and the spirit of a pine.

Dread of the Prince’s reputation kept the officials from trusting his gentle exterior. Each man held his breath, fearing that at any moment, he might utter something terrifying or dangerous.

However.

The Prince of Su merely said in a flat voice, “Speak freely.”

Those two words allowed their racing hearts to settle back into their chests. The Prince didn’t seem quite as monstrous as the rumors suggested; in fact, he seemed rather approachable.

With his permission, the officials stepped forward one by one to give their names and collect their travel stipends.

The official from Yejing who had previously waved the offer away stood frozen. “…”

Wait. I thought it was a trap. Are you actually giving us the money?

Zhu Qinghou leaned back lazily in his chair. Too bored to keep tilting his head, he simply reached out and snatched the ledger from in front of Li Zhen. Cradling it in his arms, he began cross-referencing names while leisurely watching the crowd’s reactions.

It was said that to rule, one must use both favor and might. Li Zhen used might to govern, so he would use favor. Sooner or later, these people would look to him for orders.

As he observed the officials, they were also stealing glances at him, all wondering the same thing: Who is this young man in purple?

The Prince of Su seemed exceptionally indulgent toward him. Furthermore, looking at the red mark between his brows… did that not look like a brand?

“What is it?” Zhu Qinghou propped his chin on his hand and smiled brightly. “Curious as to who I am?”

The officials waved their hands frantically, stammering their denials.

Even the soldiers guarding the study were curious to see how Zhu Qinghou would introduce himself. Given his arrogant and unbridled nature, would he actually admit his identity to these people? Would he let them know he was a criminal slave?

Li Zhen remained unmoved. Even though his ledger had been snatched away, leaving nothing but empty space before him, his fingertips rested on the bare desk as he waited for Zhu Qinghou’s next move.

Zhu Qinghou had always been proud. In the past, whenever he appeared in public, he was the center of attention. Things were different now, and the Prince wondered if he.

“Have you heard of Zhu Qinghou?” Zhu Qinghou asked with great interest.

At the mention of that name, the officials lowered their heads and exchanged meaningful looks.

Zhu Qinghou of the elite Zhu clan was a man of peerless beauty and brilliance. Was there anyone under heaven who hadn’t heard of him?

Looking at the young man’s stunning features and the red mole between his brows, the room fell into a sudden, heavy silence. This person is Zhu Qinghou?!

But how could that be? How could the Prince of Su be so subservient to him?

“Does no one know him?” Seeing their lack of response, Zhu Qinghou looked a bit disappointed. He found it hard to believe that his legendary name had been forgotten in just a few short months.

“This official knows a little,” a brave soul spoke up. “I’ve heard he was a profligate rogue who committed countless misdeeds. The Emperor himself appraised him as ‘a son who takes after his father.’ In short, not a good man.”

As the man spoke, he carefully observed the Prince’s expression. Since Zhu Qinghou was the Prince’s arch-enemy, such a critique should have been music to His Highness’s ears. As for the beautiful young man in purple before him, the official didn’t believe for a second that he could actually be the real Zhu Qinghou.

To his surprise, the Prince did not echo the sentiment. There was no trace of hatred on his face. His finger tapped rhythmically against the desk, creating a cold, imposing aura that made the official shiver. Had he said the wrong thing?

“Well said,” Zhu Qinghou said with a smile, appearing quite delighted by the topic. “Does anyone else have something to add?”

The room was silent. The previously relaxed atmosphere turned razor-sharp. They began to feel that this lazy young man was even more unpredictable than the Prince of Su himself.

After a moment.

Seeing that no one would answer, Zhu Qinghou spoke up. “That man was indeed a profligate.”

The window frames rattled as a biting spring wind blew in, catching Li Zhen’s white silk band and making it flutter like a strip of snow against his shoulder.

Zhu Qinghou felt a sudden chill. He reached for the snow-white fur cloak draped over the chair and pulled it around himself. “As for his ‘countless misdeeds,’ what exactly did he do?”

Officials: “…”

Everyone knew that the son of the former Grand Chancellor was arrogant and flamboyant, a man who would throw away thousands of gold pieces for a moment’s pleasure. As for his crimes, if one were to be specific, there was only one that truly mattered: during a birthday banquet at the Zhu estate, he had “accidentally” blinded the Prince of Su.

At the time, the Emperor had been furious and handed him over to the Minister of Justice. Yet, so many nobles in Yejing had braved the snow to plead for his life that their carriages had caused a massive traffic jam in the imperial streets.

Even now, people talked about it. But with the Prince of Su sitting right there, who would dare bring it up?

Another long silence.

These people were as quiet as quails; it was quite boring. Zhu Qinghou, feeling restless, encouraged them: “Keep going. Those who speak well will be handsomely rewarded.”

He would provide the rewards, and Li Zhen would provide the money.

Li Zhen: “…”

He propped his head on his hand and actually let out a low chuckle.

The laugh was soft and calm, yet it gave the officials a boost of confidence. After hesitating, they began to recite a list of Zhu Qinghou’s faults: he was lecherous, vain, arrogant, cold-hearted… item after item, each more shameful than the last.

Zhu Qinghou listened to his “crimes” with great interest. In the past, he had only seen smiling faces and heard flattery purer than pearls. As for the days surrounding the fall of the Zhu family… those memories were a blur.

When the officials were parched from talking, Zhu Qinghou signaled for tea to be served, acting every bit the host.

Full of gratitude, they finally pressed him for his identity.

“This?” Zhu Qinghou laughed and nudged the silent Li Zhen beside him. “Xianpu, why don’t you tell them who I am?”

Li Zhen sat like a jade statue, sparse with his words, yet no one dared to ignore him.

He spoke softly: “Deyu, stop playing around.”

Zhu Qinghou’s childhood nickname was Xiao Yu, but his courtesy name was Deyu. The former was known only to those close to him; the latter was famous throughout the land.

At his words, several officials nearly dropped their tea cups. “…”

Deyu.

Zhu Qinghou?!

No way?!

Had they really just spent the last ten minutes insulting the man to his face? No, wait—the man himself had practically led them into doing it!

Looking at the colorful array of shocked expressions, Zhu Qinghou’s eyes crinkled. He had to try very hard not to burst out laughing.

Li Zhen caught the slight rise and fall of the chest beside him and imagined Zhu Qinghou’s smile. He lowered his gaze slightly, the white silk fluttering.

After reigning in his laughter, Zhu Qinghou mimicked Li Zhen’s flat tone. “Those who spoke ill of me just now…” He paused intentionally to let them sweat.

The room went dead silent. They looked at Zhu Qinghou, then at the Prince. Amidst their terror, they felt a sense of absurdity. Would the Prince actually let Zhu Qinghou handle them?

Seeing them trembling like chicks, Zhu Qinghou decided to have a little more fun. “Those who slandered me will write three policy essays providing evidence for their claims.” He smiled sweetly. “Any errors in logic will be punished.”

Officials: “…”

Just writing essays?

Zhu Qinghou was using Li Zhen’s authority to play the role of a strict tutor. Seeing their misery, he added one final blow: “Due in three days.”

The officials nearly collapsed. It was like a nightmare from their school days. They looked piteously at the Prince of Su.

Your Highness, please say something!

Li Zhen ignored their silent pleas for help and said calmly, “Make sure you hand them in.”

Officials: “…”

Who exactly is your arch-enemy here?

Zhu Qinghou watched the dejected officials leave with a smile. He toyed with a lock of Li Zhen’s hair and leaned lazily against his shoulder. “Xianpu, those people are quite fun.”

Li Zhen held his position, leaning slightly to make Zhu Qinghou more comfortable. “Do you want everyone to know that my ‘lingering feelings’ for you haven’t faded?”

The phrase “lingering feelings” nearly made Zhu Qinghou choke. Hearing such words from Li Zhen felt incredibly surreal.

A large hand gently stroked his back, moving down his spine and sending a strange, tingling sensation through him. Zhu Qinghou shuddered and didn’t dare move, though his tongue remained sharp. “What? You don’t want them to know?”

It wasn’t so much that he was using Li Zhen to build his own influence; it was more that Li Zhen actually did have lingering feelings for him. Otherwise, why would Li Zhen have sent people to track him all the way during his exile?

Li Zhen withdrew his hand and said nothing. After a moment, he murmured, “…I am very happy.”

Zhu Qinghou was like a dodder vine—clinging to him, entangling him. The Prince found this thought very pleasing.

Zhu Qinghou didn’t understand what there was to be happy about. He sat up, abandoning his lazy posture, and began flipping through the scrolls. “Then stay happy,” he said.

To be used by him was indeed something to be happy about.

He began translating the scrolls word for word. The content was related to the livelihood of the people in Yongzhou—rules, regulations, and endless statistics. Although dry, he found it fascinating.

Li Zhen, unusually, didn’t stop him, likely still immersed in his mysterious “happiness.”

As he read, Zhu Qinghou wondered: Li Zhen allowed him in the study and let him read the records, but would he let him participate in governance? If he couldn’t issue orders, what was the point?

Figures danced in his mind like chess pieces on a board. He turned a page and asked casually, “Regarding the thirty thousand stones of rice—how was it handled in previous years?”

Based on the population of Yongzhou, thirty thousand stones wouldn’t be enough.

His tone was too casual not that of a prisoner, but of a master questioning a servant.

A soldier in the study sneered inwardly. Even if the Prince indulged him before, he would surely never answer a question concerning the governance of Yongzhou.

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