chapter 30

Chapter 30: Shen Yan

Early the next morning, as the sky was just beginning to lighten and dawn was breaking, Liu Zheng hurried back to his courtyard.

He noticed a young eunuch dozing off outside the door, while Lianqiao and Heling were likely resting inside.

The door was already open, but everyone moved with utmost care.

Upon seeing Liu Zheng, Lianqiao whispered, "Master Liu, the young master hasn't woken up yet. He won't be accompanying you to the academy today."

Liu Zheng pursed his lips, nodding, "Let him rest and recover. I'll bring him some treats when I return in the evening... On second thought, I'll wait until he's better before buying them."

Lianqiao smiled, "Alright, Master Liu, you should head to the academy. Don't be late."

Liu Zheng felt an unusual loneliness today.

He had never felt this way before. Even though Shen He had only joined him for classes once, he strangely missed his presence.

He longed for the little boy who chirped in a tender voice, held onto some pastries nibbling from time to time, and gazed curiously at the street scenes from the carriage.

Upon reaching the academy, Qi Yanbing hadn't arrived yet.

Zheng Xue was the first to arrive.

First, he glanced at Liu Zheng, then peered intently behind him with his dark eyes.

After a brief moment, no cherubic figure emerged from the entrance.

Zheng Xue, uncharacteristically, spoke up, "Where's Xiao He?"

Liu Zheng sighed, "He fell ill yesterday and won't be attending classes for a couple of days."

Zheng Xue then turned away, falling silent again.

When Qi Yanbing arrived, the routine repeated.

However, he was much noisier, exclaiming, "What? Our little brother is sick? How did that happen? He was fine when school ended yesterday, wasn't he? Did you get a doctor? How is he? Should we request the imperial physician? I can have someone from our residence fetch the court doctor for a check-up. Maybe we shouldn't attend classes for now. Our little brother's health is paramount..."

The incessant chatter made Liu Zheng's head throb.

Interrupting, he said, "Hold on! Stop talking. The court physician visited last night. The Crown Prince personally brought him."

Qi Yanbing: "..."

Qi Yanbing queried, "Ah, so the Imperial Uncle has gone? When did he leave last night? The palace gates must've been locked by then..."

At a glance, the Crown Prince truly cherishes Shen He.

Liu Zheng was in a foul mood and wasn't in the mood for conversation.

I had thought that dealing with Qi Yanbing would be the end of it.

Unexpectedly, today brought another little one.

When the Fifth Prince burst in, as usual, he glanced menacingly at the little pest.

However, unexpectedly today, that small stool was unoccupied.

The space beside Liu Zheng was empty.

The Fifth Prince paused, slowly moving to his spot, but his eyes never left the empty chair.

He even rubbed his eyes in disbelief.

Then his short eyebrows furrowed.

He walked briskly to the vacant space, addressing Liu Zheng, "I'm asking you, where's this little pest? Skipping school today? Such a poor student might get thrown out by the headmaster!"

Liu Zheng replied, amused and a bit exasperated, "Your Highness, Xiao He fell ill last night. He didn’t skip class. He already informed Dr. Min."

"Ill? How did he get sick…"

"Your Highness, could you please return to your seat?" Dr. Min chimed in coldly, appearing in the classroom out of nowhere.

The Fifth Prince’s chubby face stiffened.

He sheepishly returned to his spot.

From the looks of him, he seemed a bit miffed.

But given Dr. Min's imposing presence, even the Fifth Prince had to suppress his annoyance.

Qi Yanbing lifted his head, sneaking a peek, and then looked at his stout and sulking little Fifth Prince uncle, before lowering his head to stifle his laughter.

……

At the Liu residence.

Shen He woke up shortly after Liu Zheng left.

He still felt a tad unwell, with a slightly upset stomach.

But compared to yesterday, I feel much better!

I feel so rejuvenated that I could probably have two more bowls of rice right now!

He sat up in bed, eyes gleaming, and noticed a small plate by his bedside with two pieces of beige square candy.

They look so sweet.

Almost like milk candies.

Shen He felt tempted but, recalling his plight from the night before, decided to hold back and called out in a soft, childlike voice, "Lianqiao! Lianqiao, I'm awake!"

Lianqiao immediately entered from the adjacent room, smiling warmly, "Did the young master awaken? Do you feel better today? Still unwell? The medicine from the kitchen is ready; Heling is bringing it over."

Shen He: "...", why mention medicine out of the blue?

He still remembers that half bowl of medicine from yesterday; it was so bitter it almost did him in.

Shen He felt better now. Counting on his chubby fingers, he said with a hint of guilt, "Lianqiao, I'm not feeling unwell anymore. Can I skip the medicine?"

Lianqiao replied with a smile, "Sorry, young master, but you must take it."

Shen He: QAQ.

Shen He knew it was a long shot to have his request accepted.

All he could do was compromise. He looked at Lianqiao, then at the plate on the bedside table, "Lianqiao, may I have these two candies?"

Shen He's sugar intake was strictly monitored.

He had a sweet tooth, but Qi Zhuoyun was worried about ruining his milk teeth and rarely allowed him much candy.

Shen He figured his baby teeth would fall out eventually, so why not indulge while he still had the chance? Soon, he wouldn't have the luxury.

Of course, he would never say this to Qi Zhuoyun and had to grudgingly accept the sugar rationing.

Lianqiao looked at the two candies on the table, picked up Shen He, and began dressing him, "Of course you can. These were bought for you by the prince last night. But you're only allowed these two pieces. We'll have them after your medicine for a sweet taste."

Shen He was startled, "My brother came?"

Where is he?

I didn’t see even a glimpse of him.

Lianqiao said, "Yes, when you fell ill last night, the prince was deeply concerned. He left the palace immediately, even bringing the imperial physician, Zhou, to adjust your prescription. Today's medicine is based on Zhou's recommendation, which should aid your recovery and nourish you."

Shen He wasn't too concerned about this; he curiously asked, "And then he left?"

Didn’t he take me back with him?

He's fallen ill.

Well, it's not a severe ailment.

The expression on the child's face seemed a mix of disbelief and a subtle hint of disappointment.

After buttoning up his shirt, Lianqiao helped him with his shoes, looking up to see the child's bed hair all tousled, with a tuft sticking to his cheek.

He pouted slightly and playfully pinched his chubby cheek.

Lianqiao softly said, "Young master, last night you fell asleep in the prince's arms, complaining about the bitter medicine. The prince specially had candies bought for you, promising you two pieces today. He left early this morning for royal duties but will visit you again in a couple of days."

After putting on his boots, she lifted the child from the bed and inquired, "Do you miss the prince, young master?"

Shen He replied, "Just a tiny bit, not too much."

I'm not a real child, after all. How could I possibly miss a parental figure? It's just a fleeting sentiment!

Shen He thought, the male lead is truly busy.

Indeed, having a throne at home means being constantly on the move since childhood.

Heling soon brought in the medicine.

A big bowl of dark brown liquid. Before she even entered, Shen He could already detect the overpowering bitterness.

He turned away, trying to cover his face, but Heling presented the bowl before him, saying, "Young master, it's just warm now, perfect for drinking. Have it quickly; it will make you better."

Shen He pulled a distressed face, his features crinkling. Attempting to stall, he hesitantly proposed, "Can I first suck on a candy and then drink the medicine? That way, it might not taste as bitter."

Lianqiao dashed his hopes, "Young master, if you have the candy in your mouth, you won't be able to drink much of the medicine."

It might work for adults, but how much can a child's mouth hold?

The candy piece isn't small; she was sure Shen He, with the candy in his mouth, wouldn't finish the bowl before the candy dissolved.

Shen He let out a heavy sigh.

Resigned, he took the bowl with both hands, portraying an expression as if he's consuming poison, and began gulping down.

Both Lianqiao and Heling were amused.

Not wanting to discourage the child, they held back their laughter and praised, "Impressive, young master! So obedient in finishing it."

Shen He thought: This is unbearable! Why is today's medicine even more bitter than yesterday's? Dr. Zhou is tormenting me!

After downing half the bowl, Shen He quickly reached for the candy and popped it into his mouth, as if trying to counteract the numbing bitterness.

Gradually, the sweetness spread, bringing relief to his crinkled face.

There's one more candy left. I get an extra piece today. Yay!

The visible delight in the child's eyes at the prospect of an extra treat was palpable.

There wasn't a trace of last night's listlessness in him; he resembled a bustling little kitten or a jovial, chubby puppy.

In the courtyard, he'd squat and tinker with something on the left, then shift and fuss over something on the right.

Lianqiao and Heling weren't surprised. Their young master was immensely intrigued by flora and always enjoyed pottering around with them.

After upturning all the plants in his cousin's courtyard, Shen He approached with grubby little hands: "Heling, could you help me clean these? Thank you!"

Heling, with a beaming smile, meticulously cleaned his hands, ensuring every nook and cranny was spotless. She inquired, "What did you plant today, young master? The one from the Duke's mansion didn't take root last time."

Shen He confidently asserted, "It will! It'll sprout next spring."

He gleefully added, "I'll gift it to the crown prince then. Shush!"

He raised a chubby index finger to his lips, signaling a secret, mischief gleaming in his large eyes.

It's a grafted bi-colored camellia, which he couldn't find anywhere in the palace. He had scoured it.

Once nurtured, he'll present it to the male lead, making him the sole possessor of a bi-colored camellia!

The ancient world was infatuated with omens and prophecies. Shen He remembered rumors about the prince being a cursed star when he'd first arrived in this world.

Shen He mused joyfully, "If this flower thrives, I can achieve my goals for next year ahead of time!"

He truly is a commendable and diligent worker.

He's a professional when it comes to supporting the male lead.

After spending his morning with the garden's flora, Shen He was served only a bowl of meat porridge at noon.

Lightly salted, it tasted bland, so he resorted to his remaining candy for consolation.

In the afternoon, Shen He resumed his drawing.

Even without attending school, he couldn't neglect his sketches.

Having secured the skills of a young artisan, he wouldn't let the opportunity slide.

Shen He was determined to utilize every piece of knowledge he could recall.

Unleash the reservoir of wisdom in his brain!

This time, Shen He's bright mind didn't falter.

While he couldn't recreate the miraculous soaps from his previous world, he remembered a surprising number of other trinkets.

Shen He mentally drafted a list, detailing all the things from the modern era that he could recall, utilize, and profit from in ancient times, intending to delve into them over the next few years.

Shen He took a three-day rest at the Liu residence.

Every day after school, Liu Zheng would rush home.

He had never been this anxious before.

On the first day, Qi Yanbing and Zheng Xueze visited the mansion specifically to see Shen He.

Only after ensuring that he was well did they feel relieved.

On the third day, the fifth prince, as usual, went to visit Liu Zheng.

This marked the third consecutive day he sought out Liu Zheng.

Each time he arrived, he'd puff up his chubby face, tilt his rounded chin, and exude royal authority, asking Liu Zheng: "Isn't Shen He better yet? Why hasn't he recovered? Is he so useless? Was he kicked out of the academy?"

Out of respect for the fifth prince's status, Liu Zheng could only reply each time: "Your Highness, Shen He is still recuperating. He's a bit frail, but once he's better, he'll return to the children's quarters."

He then added, "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness."

The fifth prince immediately bristled, exclaiming, "Who said I cared about him? I certainly wouldn't care about such an annoying pest!"

This very pest even hit him once!

He even hit his second brother when they were kids!

Always fighting since childhood!

Truly an annoying pest. It makes sense that his second brother dislikes him!

This strange behavior persisted until the fourth day.

It wasn't Shen He who returned on the fourth day.

Instead, another child who joined the academy midway appeared at their children's quarters.

Interestingly, this child also bore the surname Shen.

Younger than the fifth prince but only slightly older than Shen He.

At this age, it would be more appropriate to join the children's quarters next year. It's puzzling why, with only a month left, he would pause his studies to come now.

All the children in the quarters were consumed with intense curiosity.

The majority of kids there were around eight or nine years old – an age where they can understand most of what their parents say, still retain a child's mischief, but also begin to develop adult sensibilities.

Having mentioned Shen He's academy admission to their parents at home, they had subsequently heard many tidbits about the Shen family mansion.

Particularly, there was much said about this eldest son of the Shen family.

"Is that Shen He's elder brother?"

"Why hasn't Shen He come, but he has?"

"Wasn't Shen He ill? His absence due to sickness has nothing to do with his brother's presence, right?"

"Oh. So why has his brother come? The crown prince brought Shen He here, did he also bring this one?"

"Of course not, you dunce."

The children's whispered conversations reached Dr. Min's ears.

Dr. Min tapped the book in his hands, the rolled-up scroll made a muffled 'thud' as it hit his palm.

The chattering children immediately fell silent.

As Dr. Min scanned the room filled with young students, his gaze halted at the empty spot next to the fifth prince. Just as he was about to speak, Liu Zheng softly said, "Little Yan, come sit here."

He pulled Shen He's small stool closer to himself, creating a space at the long table, just enough for the young one.

Qi Yanbing appeared thoughtful, covertly glancing at Liu Zheng, then back at the tiny figure beside Dr. Min.

Liu Zheng was always very protective of Shen He, yet his demeanor towards Shen He's legitimate elder brother seemed surprisingly amiable?

Shen Yan sat down, his chubby hands carefully placed on the table as he quietly observed the other students.

He couldn’t spot any familiar faces.

Dr. Min was busy flipping through a book, instructing the children to review their readings.

Liu Zheng said, "Little He is ill and will only attend the academy tomorrow. This is his spot, and you'll see him then."

Whenever Liu Zheng visited the Duke's residence and played with Shen He, Shen Yan often joined them. They were quite familiar with each other.

Shen Yan, following Shen He's lead, also called Liu Zheng 'brother.'

He blinked and whispered, "Thank you, brother."

This was the first time Liu Zheng interacted with Shen Yan without the bubbly presence of Shen He.

Officially, they were considered cousins, but without real blood ties, there was a tinge of awkwardness.

Liu Zheng noticed that in Shen He's absence, Shen Yan was considerably more reserved, a stark contrast to his vivacity at the Duke's residence.

He sat upright, trying to maintain a straight posture, intently focusing on the book before him.

It was unclear how much he understood.

The chubby hand clutching the corner of the book tightened.

At noon, Qi Yanbing and Zheng Xueze were reluctant to include Shen Yan.

Although Liu Zheng seemed intent on defending Shen Yan, the eight and nine-year-olds, Qi Yanbing and Zheng Xueze, without having built any rapport with Shen Yan, wholeheartedly favored and cared for Shen He.

As a result, they distanced themselves from him, the elder stepbrother.

Shen Yan quietly slid off his chair and began to leave, seemingly oblivious to his marginalization.

It wasn't exactly exclusion; if Qi Yanbing and Zheng Xueze were affectionate towards Shen Yan, they would've felt uncomfortable. They simply didn't want to engage in much conversation with him.

Liu Zheng intended to follow, but Qi Yanbing inquired, “What are you doing? He's our Little He's stepbrother. Who knows if he'll fight over the family inheritance with Little He in the future? Don't pity him just because he's young now. What if he bullies our diminutive Little He when they grow up? Little He grows so slowly and is so short; he's an easy target.”

Zheng Xueze stood with Qi Yanbing, sharing his viewpoint.

However, after Qi Yanbing finished speaking, Zheng Xueze silently cast a dark-eyed glance at him.

Qi Yanbing gestured and said, "What are you looking at? Little He isn't here, and I’m merely speaking the truth. He's only this tall," measuring with his hands.

Without a word, Zheng Xueze walked away.

Qi Yanbing: "..."

"Come on, we should be on the same side here. We're both on Little He's side. Why are you leaving me hanging?" He chased after Zheng Xueze.

Watching them depart, Liu Zheng sighed and turned to see Shen Yan, who was holding a meal box delivered by a servant, readying himself for lunch.

In the end, Liu Zheng couldn’t bear it, walking over and patting Shen Yan on the back of his head, "Little Yan, have lunch with me. Little He will join the academy tomorrow once he's well. He'll be delighted to see you here.”

Shen Yan lowered his head, remaining silent.

Crouching down, Liu Zheng noticed the young boy's tears rolling down.

For such a little fellow, the tears were notably large.

They fell one after the other, soon dampening a patch of his clothing.

Liu Zheng was taken aback, feeling helpless. After a moment, he took out his handkerchief and wiped away the boy's tears, "Little Yan, don't cry. Those two are my friends. They aren't deliberately targeting you. It's just..."

Liu Zheng found himself at a loss for words.

Qi Yanbing and Zheng Xueze weren't intentionally targeting Shen Yan.

They merely didn't want to be friendly with him.

The young boy shook his head, voice choked, and in a soft voice, said, "Brother, I don't want to come to the academy."