chapter 42

Chapter 42: Magical Energy

After spending a few days at the Duke's Mansion, Shen He also stayed at the Liu family's house for several days.

Balancing relationships equally, just like ensuring a bowl of water remains level.

By the end of November, the weather took a sudden cold turn, suggesting that a heavy snowfall was imminent.

Shen He visited the Duke's Mansion to check on his camellia plant.

As expected, new buds had sprouted. The main branch, from which he had plucked the leaves, had grown two new ones.

Overjoyed, Shen He instructed Lianqiao and the others not to inform Qi Zhuoyun.

Lianqiao grabbed the boy's chubby hand, fastening a fluffy cape around his collar. "Understood, we promise not to tell His Highness. You've reminded us multiple times already, Young Master."

With the cape on, Shen He resembled a little round ball even more.

Dressed warmly, only his round and pale face and two chubby hands were visible.

His soft hands disappeared inside the cape as his arms dangled, leaving only his head exposed.

Wrapped so snugly, Shen He wobbled a bit when walking.

His short legs were completely concealed.

As he moved, he looked like a self-propelling little bun.

He giggled and cheerfully exclaimed, "Thank you, Lianqiao!"

He then shuffled over to Heling, offering the same jubilant thanks, "And thank you, Heling!"

His babyish voice rang out joyfully.

Heling crouched down, "Oh, would you like me to carry you, Young Master? You seem to have some trouble walking in this attire."

Shen He declined, "I can walk on my own!"

"So my legs are a bit short. What's the issue?"

"You think this can stump me?"

The little ball rolled away on its own with a series of thuds.

The first day of December.

A heavy snow began to fall.

Flakes fell like goose feathers, floating down in bunches, appearing fluffy and plush. Yet, they felt cold, not warm and soft, when caught by hand.

They quickly melted into droplets.

Shen He rose early, shivering from the cold. Lian Qiao helped him into his clothes and fastened his cloak before setting him down.

Lian Qiao then fetched a fluffy hat for the child, and only then did he truly relax.

Though Shen He felt cold, he was elated and with his little legs, dashed outside.

Back in modern times, Shen He was from the south. While it snowed yearly, he'd only witness it two or three times.

Often, the snow would start melting even before it landed.

Unable to accumulate, he was always deprived of snow fun.

Opening the door, he was greeted by a blanket of white, with the snow's brilliance surpassing even sunlight.

Eagerly, Shen He dashed out, looking up at the clumps of snowflakes. After catching a couple with his chubby hands, he squatted down to gather snow, intent on making a snowman.

The child was already small, and bundled up in winter attire, squatting was a challenge.

But Shen He didn't care; his desire to play in the snow was unwavering, and he wouldn't be deterred by this minor obstacle!

Lian Qiao and He Ling followed him out, their gaze met with the snow-covered ground and a vibrant little "dumpling".

In a short span, he'd already rolled a snowball almost his size.

Shen He was quite pleased and, after some effort, stood up to pat the snowball he'd crafted.

His little hands, red from the cold, retreated briefly into his cloak for a quick warm-up before emerging to play again.

With the large snowball done, he proceeded to roll a smaller one for the snowman's head.

As Shen He tried to lift the snowball atop, he momentarily froze.

He tiptoed, attempting to achieve his goal.

His chubby little body leaned heavily against the big snowball.

Eventually, with great effort, he managed to place the snowman's head atop.

It was crooked.

Lian Qiao and He Ling couldn't help but approach stealthily, taking advantage of the moment the child squatted down, to straighten the snowman's head for him.

He Ling lifted the child up in her arms, gently saying, "Young Master, that's enough. Your hands are turning red from the cold. Let's go inside and warm up before you catch a chill."

Her voice was tender, but it wasn’t a question. Holding the child, He Ling turned and headed straight inside.

Young Master Shen: "..." Hmph!

I’ll just warm up for a mere three minutes and then head out again!

After basking in warmth for quite some time and his chubby hands returning to their warm state, Shen He felt rejuvenated.

With a rush, he scampered off to the kitchen, hoping to find a carrot.

Unfortunately, it seemed carrots were not available at the moment.

Shen He had to make do and settled for a radish about the size of his fist.

Holding up the plump little radish, he approached the chief cook, who then carved it into a sharp, long shape to Shen He's satisfaction. Ready in hand, he intended to use it as the snowman's nose.

Ten minutes later.

Shen He returned to the doorway, leaning against the frame and shyly chuckling as he glanced at Lian Qiao.

His chubby hand awkwardly held the radish, as he blinked his big eyes innocently, and in a babyish voice, asked, "Lian Qiao, could you help me, please?"

Alas, how pitiable! I can't even place a nose on my snowman.

When will I grow taller?

Before Lian Qiao could respond, Shen He was scooped up from behind.

Qi Zhuoyun lowered his gaze to the round-faced child, whose little nose was reddened from the cold, but his eyes shone brightly.

Qi Zhuoyun leaned forward, rubbing his nose against the child's cold one, teasingly said, "What do you need help with, He He? Big brother will assist you."

Any help would do. Shen He didn't mind who it was from; embarrassment was inevitable.

Young Master Shen isn’t bothered! I've already thrown away my dignity!

Holding up the radish, he exclaimed, "Big brother, quickly place the nose on my snowman!"

He excitedly bounced in Qi Zhuoyun's embrace, stretching upward, one hand wrapped around Qi Zhuoyun's neck, pointing with the radish, "Let’s go, big brother!"

Qi Zhuoyun chuckled, guiding him outside towards the snowman. However, he didn’t assist the boy in attaching the radish.

Instead, supporting Shen He, he bent down to bring him closer to the snowman, saying, "There you go, He He. Do it yourself."

Shen He: "..." He felt slightly belittled.

How vexing! I must grow as tall as the protagonist, so I'll have to bend down just like him to place a nose on a snowman!

Shen He, steadying the snowman's head, inserted the red nose.

Upon seeing Shen He's accomplishment, Qi Zhuoyun took him into his embrace, looking down at the snowman with amusement.

He teased, "Did He He build a mini version of himself? They both have red, cold noses."

Gently pinching the child's chilly little nose, and noticing his cold cheeks, Qi Zhuoyun covered Shen He's entire face with his palm, allowing the warmth to seep in.

Muffled by the hand over his face, Shen He's words were indistinct, "No... mmph... Let's go back!"

Struggling to remove Qi Zhuoyun's hand, he directed, "Big brother, let’s head back."

Now that the snowman was done, it was time to warm up by the fire!

Following Shen He's lead, Qi Zhuoyun returned indoors, ordered more coal for the brazier, and pulled down the curtains.

The snowflakes on their hats melted instantly upon entering the warmth of the house.

Qi Zhuoyun removed Shen He's little hat, placing it aside. He also temporarily loosened the child's cloak, allowing him to nestle comfortably against him for a while before relaxing his hold.

Immobile, Shen He was nestled in Qi Zhuoyun's embrace, their hands jointly extended toward the brazier to warm up.

A child's curiosity knows no bounds.

Having completed the snowman, Shen He’s attention shifted to the glowing brazier.

After a short tea break,

The brazier now contained a handful of chestnuts.

Each chestnut had been carefully slit, and under the intense heat, the shells curled back, revealing the golden flesh inside.

Qi Zhuoyun personally peeled the chestnuts for young master Shen He.

When being fed, Shen He pushed away the small hand offering the chestnut, "Big brother, you eat! Have the first one!"

Gazing up, he thought, 'Oh my, how could I possibly take the first bite? You must try it first, then I can indulge, hehe.'

Qi Zhuoyun, finding this amusing, tasted the initial chestnut and then continued feeding the little bundle in his arms.

Young Master Shen, probably exhausted from playing in the snow, wasn’t even trying to help eat the chestnuts.

Peeling off the chestnut shell, Qi Zhuoyun presented the golden flesh in his palm, offering it to the boy.

The child would lean in, pressing his cheek to Qi Zhuoyun's palm, nibbling away at the chestnut, relishing every bite.

After feeding him several in this manner, Qi Zhuoyun couldn't resist pinching the soft flesh of the child's cheeks.

Moments like these were fleeting.

As the New Year approached, the palace grew increasingly busy.

Qi Zhuoyun was often so swamped that he barely had time to touch the ground.

Only during those rare, stolen moments could he return to the palace, spend time with the child, playfully tease him, and listen to the young one's cheerful voice as he affectionately called out "big brother", snuggling close.

Such moments were undeniably heartwarming.

Following the New Year, on the ninth of February.

As the weather began to warm, it marked the crown prince's birthday.

Shen He rose at the break of dawn.

He had made a clandestine trip to the Duke's mansion a couple of days prior, covertly bringing back his camellia to the Eastern Palace.

While there weren't many leaves on the camellia, it had surprisingly bloomed.

It truly embodied its tenacious nature of prioritizing blossoming over survival.

A bud, about half the size of Shen He's fist.

Red petals peeked out from the sepals, suggesting that in another day or two, it would fully bloom.

However, expecting it to produce a second blossom in such a short span seemed improbable.

On his way back holding the flower, Shen He had felt a twinge of disappointment.

But on reflection, the fact that it could bloom so quickly was rather commendable!

And it was blossoming in red, not white! It truly was an accommodating flower!

After freshening up, Shen He went to check on his cherished plant.

Placed within a sizable ceramic pot, it was concealed in his private chamber.

Although the room was heated by a coal brazier, maintaining a warmer temperature, it didn't hinder the camellia's natural growth.

The flower was almost fully opened, having already split most of its bud.

With bright and eager eyes, the young boy circled his first bloom. After completing his round, he stepped out, inquiring, "Where's big brother?"

"His Highness is in the palace. Young master, please have your breakfast first. His Highness left a message that he will return to the Eastern Palace after midday." They always celebrated their birthdays together.

After the incident outside, Qizhuo Yun treated it as just another birthday. It was only after returning to the Eastern Palace and spending time with the child he raised that he truly felt he had celebrated his birthday.

Shen He had his breakfast.

By noon, as expected, Qizhuo Yun returned.

From a distance, Qizhuo Yun spotted the little white snowball-like child waiting for him at the entrance.

With his head tilted upwards, eagerly anticipating, his eyes seemed to light up the moment he saw Qizhuo Yun.

He scurried towards Qizhuo Yun with his short little legs, making quick, excited steps.

Qizhuo Yun knelt down and enveloped the little bundle in a warm embrace.

The child spoke urgently and mysteriously, "Big brother! Come on, I have a gift for you! I've been preparing it for a long time! Only you have it! No one else does!"

Qizhuo Yun chuckled, "What special gift is it?"

"Come with me!" The child was insistent, wanting Qizhuo Yun to see it with his own eyes.

Qizhuo Yun, led by Shen He's hand, bent slightly to follow him into the side chamber.

They were led to a camellia tree that bore a single, radiant red blossom.

It was a stunning flower. Being the only one blooming, it captured one's attention, highlighting its beauty.

Qizhuo Yun couldn't pinpoint what was so unique about it, yet there seemed to be many things that were.

Merely the fact that it was a gift from the child he had raised made it truly unparalleled, a camellia that no one else had.

Holding Shen He close, he heard the boy's soft voice celebrate, "Big brother! You're thirteen now! You've grown another year!"

Another year older.

Yes, one more year.

They both have grown another year.

Shen He, holding the face of the growing main character, planted a loud kiss on his forehead, giggling, "Wishing big brother a prosperous new year and may every year hereafter be equally blessed!"

Main character, grow up well! Your brother is watching over your achievements!

Grow so no one dares to bully you, not even the old emperor or the second prince. In this world, you should be the most formidable!

Qizhuo Yun whispered, "Thank you, Hehe. May Hehe also be safe, peaceful, and blessed."

Grow up well; your big brother will always be by your side.

……

After the Crown Prince's birthday, Shen He returned to the children's academy to resume his studies.

His time at the academy was joyous, and his reputation even spread to the higher-grade sections, hinting at a future in advanced scholarly institutions.

The young master Shen expressed delight, saying, "Money is coming, from all directions!"

This would be their seed funding for future endeavors!

In this manner, on June 12th, young master Shen officially turned five.

Upon turning five, an elated Shen He sought out Lianqiao to measure his growth in height.

On the door frame of the side chamber, there were markings denoting Shen He's height, all etched by Lianqiao.

After marking, Lianqiao praised with a smile, "Young master has grown a bit taller."

Shen He stepped back and looked up at the marking Lianqiao had etched for him.

...Darn it! He had only grown a smidgen taller than the last marking!

Lianqiao consoled him, "Young master, it hasn't been long since the last measurement. Considering it was just a month ago, you've grown quite fast."

That seemed to be the case.

Reluctantly, young master Shen had to accept that he had been measuring his height too frequently.

Over the past six months, Shen He was still very joyous, with Dr. Min turning a blind eye to his playful activities.

However, in the latter half of the year, the situation changed abruptly.

Dr. Min seemed to think that now young master Shen was five and of school-going age; he could no longer indulge him in his unfettered and relaxed manner.

Shen He found himself constrained to a life of attending classes daily, unable to doodle and daydream as he pleased.

It was stricter than his high school days! During high school, he could sneak in some doodling during self-study, how frustrating!

On this particular day,

Shen He, embraced by Qizhuo Yun, dozed off while reading.

On the desk was a plate of snacks, which the child rarely left untouched.

One piece had a small bite taken out, leaving an imprint with a missing tooth mark.

Qizhuo Yun glanced down at the little head nestled against him, softly calling for Zhonghong. He had water brought over and used a cloth to gently wipe the child's face and pudgy hands and feet.

After cleaning him, he removed Shen He's outer garments and laid him on his own bed.

Qizhuo Yun instructed his attendants, "Add another coal brazier to the room."

In response, a palace maid delicately prepared another charcoal brazier and brought it into the room.

Qizhuo Yun walked to the window, opening it halfway.

His gaze landed on the camellia plant outside.

It was a young plant, not taller than Shen He, now bearing glossy green leaves. Two vibrant red blossoms adorned its branches.

Several buds were also swelling, poised to bloom in the days to come.

At the very top, close to one of the red camellias, was a particularly large bud, partially unfurling to reveal its radiant whiteness, on the cusp of blooming.

Qizhuo Yun paused, mesmerized by the glimpse of its luminous white hue.

In the lamplight, it stood gracefully next to the fiery red camellia, amplifying its beauty and casting itself as pure as snow.

After adjusting the window, Qizhuo Yun returned to the bedside.

The child, hugging his cloth tiger, slept soundly. His lush lashes cast shadows on his pale skin, and his cheeks were flushed.

Qizhuo Yun whispered, “Little He is truly remarkable. The gift he presented to his brother is indeed a one-of-a-kind birthday present.”

The child smacked his lips in his sleep, perhaps dreaming of something delicious, his face adorned with a hint of a smile.

Time, with its swift feet, steals away unnoticed, riding on the coattails of spring breezes and winter snow.

*

The Imperial Academy.

The shimmering lake, the rustling bamboo forest.

This serene scene was shattered by a group of boisterous young voices.

A youth in moon-white attire stood with hands on his hips, looking up at someone perched on a tree branch. He chuckled, revealing a set of neatly aligned, radiant teeth.

In the sunlight, his head resembled a polished piece of white jade. His eyes, large and bright with pitch-black pupils, were exquisite. His youthful aura was undeniable, and with the last traces of baby fat on his cheeks, his cocky expression appeared not as arrogant but rather endearing—like a kitten attempting to intimidate with outstretched claws.

He smirked upwards, taunting, “If you dare, come down! I promise no one will hit you!”

The person on the branch retorted, “Why would I fear you? The view from up here is excellent! Shen He, how audacious of you to disrespect a prince! Aren’t you afraid…”

Shen He interjected, boasting, “What should I be afraid of? Planning to tattle to the Empress Yun about me? Prince No. 5, you're in your teens and still whining to your mother? Aren’t you ashamed?”

The Fifth Prince choked, shouting back, “When did I say I'd tattle? Only you would do such a thing, running to the Crown Prince whenever you can't win. How dare you accuse me of such!”

Shen He responded, “Crown Prince is busy with state affairs; I wouldn’t bother him with such trifles. It's you who always runs off to whine. Remember when you couldn’t outshoot me in archery? I know you went to complain to Empress Yun!”

Observing the Fifth Prince's intent to linger on the tree, Shen He tauntingly declared, “Not coming down? Fine, I'm leaving then!”

With those words, the young boy turned to run.

"Wait! Wait—" the Fifth Prince's voice was sharp and frantic, "Fetch someone with a ladder to help me down!"

His face turned beet red after the exclamation.

He glanced downwards, fear evident in his eyes, then shouted at Shen He, "Hurry up, didn't you hear me?"

Shen He could barely contain his laughter. "You climbed up so swiftly; why can't you come down on your own?"

The Fifth Prince, cheeks flushed with embarrassment and anger, bit his lip and said nothing, looking as red as a monkey's rear.

However, Shen He wasn't entirely ruthless.

Seeing the prince's admission of defeat, he motioned for one of the accompanying pages to fetch a ladder and assist the prince.

But once the prince was safely on the ground, Shen He darted off to his classroom, preparing for his lessons.

The Fifth Prince arrived late, received a stern look from the instructor, and after admitting his mistake, took his seat.

Not before shooting a glare at Shen He.

Shen He sat upright and poised.

The slender young boy's silhouette was straight; he gripped his book, eyes fixed on the pages, the picture of a focused student, completely ignoring the prince's glares.

Fifth Prince: "..."

The classroom resonated with the sounds of recitations.

When the school day finally ended,

The Sixth Prince approached his elder brother, whispering, "Fifth Brother, did Shen He bully you again?"

Fifth Prince: "?"

The Fifth Prince flared up, "What do you mean, 'again'? When has he ever bullied me? Can he even bully someone of my stature? I've always been the one to bully him!"

Sixth Prince rubbed his face, "Alright, Fifth Brother, I was just asking."

Shen He collected his book bag and informed the eunuch who came to pick him up, "I'm visiting the Liu family today. I won't be returning to the Eastern Palace. Please inform Zhonghong."

The eunuch called after him, "But what if Lady Lianqiao asks..."

Shen He had already run off, his voice echoing back, "I'm grown up now; I don't need Lianqiao and Heling fussing over me!"

The eunuch could only nod in acknowledgment.

Shen He eagerly headed to the Imperial Academy's dormitories.

After lingering at the entrance for a moment, a familiar face approached with a smile, "Master Shen? Are you here for Liuzheng or the young prince? Or perhaps for Young Master Zheng?"

Shen He nodded, "All of them. Could you kindly let them know I'm here?"

As Shen He finished speaking, someone from inside had already come out.

Leading the group was a young man dressed in extravagant purple and gold attire. Wearing a golden crown, he looked generous with a friendly, beaming smile.

Holding a fan in a somewhat affected manner, he waved to Shen He from afar, "Brother He!"

Liuzheng and Zheng Xue behind Qi Yanbing were much more reserved.

In stark contrast to Qi's flamboyance, Liuzheng wore a modest blue robe and held a book in his hand.

The older cousin, no longer the young and naive boy, was now every bit the dignified gentleman. His face always carried a gentle smile, always composed and unhurried.

However, upon seeing Shen He, his smile deepened, "Little He."

The young man silently following behind quickened his steps.

In the blink of an eye, he managed to get ahead of the other two.

But with years of experience, Liuzheng recognized Zheng Xue's cunning moves.

Although Liuzheng maintained his composure, he unconsciously sped up, ensuring Zheng Xue couldn't surpass him.

He was the first to ruffle the young boy's hair.

Shen He slapped their hands away, glaring, "Don't tousle my hair! I've told you it might stunt my growth. Can't you remember?"

Liuzheng looked innocent and apologized, "I'll remember next time, brother."

Zheng Xue, missing his chance, refrained from touching the boy's head. Instead, he put an arm around Shen He's shoulder, "It's okay. Just dodge him next time if he tries."

Liuzheng was puzzled, "What?"

Trying to sow discord among brothers?

Qi Yanbing seemed eager to join in the hair-ruffling fun but was met with a wary glance from the child.

Giving up, he wrapped an arm around the boy's other shoulder, "Let's go. It's been days since we last met. Let's dine at Yunjian Tower today. Order anything you like, Shen He. It's on Zheng Xue."

Shen He climbed into the carriage, and the other three squeezed in after him, heading to Yunjian Tower.

Shen He was delighted, knowing he wouldn't have to foot the bill. He ordered the most expensive dishes available.

The server was equally elated, "Have you made your selections, Master Shen? Anything else to add? We have a new tea from Huainan. It might not match the royal selections, but it's unique and worth a try."

They were all regulars, so Shen He nodded, "Sure, I'll try it!"

The waiter acknowledged and left immediately, without inquiring about the other three.

They had been using this private room for many years and were treated almost as the owners.

In fact, calling them owners wouldn't be incorrect.

Because, counting several degrees of ownership back, this establishment was part of Zheng Xue's family estate.

Shen He sat by the window, with a lacquered wooden fan on the table that looked a couple of years old. Given that it was May, it was quite useful.

With sparkling eyes, he played with the small fan.

He thought to himself that he now had a significant amount of pocket money.

In just over half a month, he would turn sixteen. In his family, males traditionally came of age a few years earlier. Upon reaching adulthood, the crown prince would wield more power.

Over the past few years, he had been incredibly busy. Any issue the emperor couldn't resolve saw the crown prince intervening personally, traveling far and wide.

In modern terms, he'd be called a travel junkie.

This worked to Shen He's advantage. Without supervision, he could roam freely, both inside and outside the palace, staying wherever he pleased without anyone daring to object.

After all, while the emperor turned a blind eye to his activities, the crown prince supported him. Who would dare challenge Shen He's audacity?

Qi Yanbing watched Shen He fiddle with the fan, his own eyebrows raising in amusement, "Little brother He, your fan design has been distributed in Jiangnan. We've dispatched several batches. It sells well."

He continued with a sigh, "However, some buyers have deconstructed it to study the design. After a short while, they can produce copies. As you've noticed, our fan sales in the capital have dwindled these past years, overtaken by knockoffs."

Shen He had anticipated this. The fan's design wasn't particularly advanced; it was a product his older cousin created at age nine. Being copied was expected.

Resting his chin on his hand, Shen He grinned, "No worries, older cousin has already crafted a new design."

Zheng Xue's deep eyes sparkled, glancing at Liuzheng.

Liuzheng simply smiled without speaking.

Qi Yanbing, ever the impatient one, urged, "Quit the suspense! Tell us about the new design. If it's too similar, it'll be copied swiftly."

Although the fan was now a minor aspect of their business, it was their inaugural product.

When Shen He was twelve, the four of them started their venture.

They employed many craftsmen, with Zheng Xue handling finances, Shen He providing ideas, Liuzheng researching and developing, and Qi Yanbing smoothing out any obstacles. Their combined effort was a roaring success.

Unfortunately, the fan's popularity was short-lived. Once local competitors emerged, Zheng Xue utilized his family's influence to access trade routes, selling their goods in other regions to maintain profits.

After the fan, they introduced numerous other gadgets, all selling well.

But as quickly as they innovated, copycats were even faster. Qi Yanbing indeed had a bone to pick over that.

However, Qi Yanbing couldn't act too domineering and prevent others from copying and competing.

Not to mention he was merely a minor prince; even if he were the emperor, he wouldn't possess such overbearing rights.

In the capital, the drop of a teacup could startle several nobles. While Shen He and his friends sought profit, so did others.

To fall out over such a matter wouldn't be worthwhile.

Shen He chuckled, "Let's dine first! Once we've eaten, we'll see. I assure you, not many will be able to replicate our newest creation."

Liuzheng appeared confident, nodding slightly.

Although Zheng Xue was also in the dark, he remained poised and patient, not displaying Qi Yanbing's restless agitation.

After the meal, the group hurried to the Liu residence.

Shen He quietly asked Liuzheng, "Big brother, won't Auntie discover what you're crafting now?"

Hearing this, Liuzheng smiled and whispered back, "Didn't I tell you a couple of years ago? Mother isn't as strict as you think."

Shen He blinked, thinking that it made sense, especially considering his elder cousin's clandestine crafting skills.

Shen He fondly touched the jade pendant hanging from his waist.

His cousin carved a new one for him every year.

Looking down, the pendant was still small but exquisitely and smoothly crafted, with no visible tool marks.

Pleased, Shen He patted it gently and, with a spring in his step, led the group into Liuzheng's courtyard.