chapter 52

Chapter 52: Classmates' Gathering

Key in hand, Shen He eagerly went to unlock the chest.

Qi Zhuoyun watched, awaiting Shen He's reaction.

With a soft click, Shen He unlocked the chest and set the lock aside, lifting the lid with Lian Yao's help.

The heavy chest, which Shen He found hard even to push, was filled with books.

At the very top lay seven or eight scrolls which might contain paintings.

Or possibly calligraphy.

One thing was for sure: opening the chest left Shen He thoroughly astounded!

He hadn't even gotten a clear look, but he was already instinctively masking his astonishment.

"Seriously? For a child's birthday, you gift exercise books?"

What kind of devilish gift is this!?

This joke isn't funny at all!

Shen He looked utterly dejected. Just moments ago, he seemed so joyful as if he had a tail wagging happily behind him. Now, that imaginary tail drooped, and even his hair seemed to hang in defeat.

It was so comically tragic that Qi Zhuoyun couldn't help but laugh.

Shen He: "?"

Turning around, he shot Qi Zhuoyun an angry glare.

Still laughing?

Qi Zhuoyun, showing no hurry to appease him, said, "Hehe, open it and see."

Shen He looked back at the enormous box, thinking sarcastically, "No wonder this massive box is so heavy; it's filled with the weight of knowledge."

He untied a ribbon from one of the scrolls and took a cursory glance as he spread it out.

Then, he froze.

To Qi Zhuoyun, nothing inside the box was as entertaining as Shen He's reaction.

The young man's eyes slowly widened, his dark pupils fixed intently on the scroll in his hands, his mouth agape in astonishment.

His eyelashes were long and dense, resembling two tiny brushes. When he widened his eyes, the lashes curled upward, each one clearly defined.

After examining the scroll, Shen He carefully rolled it up and hurriedly started unwrapping the other scrolls.

His gloom was gone.

Yes, they were books, but not exercise books! They were the complete works of his favorite author!

Who wouldn't be thrilled by that!?

The scrolls were story illustrations by a famous artist. Not comics, but they had a similar captivating charm.

A few years ago, Shen He had chanced upon a few of these scrolls. Realizing they were part of a series, he had since yearned to find the rest to complete the story.

Qi Zhuoyun might not have gathered the entire collection, but he had certainly amassed the majority.

After unwrapping three scrolls, Shen He halted, deciding not to open any more.

He carefully placed the scrolls back into the box, planning to continue his exploration in the coming days.

Since he realized the scrolls were treasures and not what he'd initially imagined, he became curious about the books beneath.

Browsing through several, he found they weren't tedious scholarly works but engaging collections of poems, stories, and tales of the strange and mysterious.

His eyes sparkled as he crouched in front of the box. In no time, he was deeply engrossed in a book, seemingly forgetting the company around him.

Qi Zhuoyun didn't urge Shen He or interrupt him, just quietly observing him hunched over the box.

His expression was tender.

Thankfully, he had chosen the right gift.

These scrolls and books weren't collected over a few months but amassed over a year or two.

However, a few of the scrolls did indeed arrive while he was away from the capital.

While he personally conducted investigations outside the city, some tried to curry favor by sending treasures to his residence, only for them to be returned by Zhong Hong.

Only one person managed to find out about his search for certain scrolls and sent them over.

Unable to refuse, he accepted the artwork and acknowledged the gesture.

It was well worth it, he thought.

As the sun set, Shen He moved the box closer to the doorway.

From where he crouched, the warm orange hues of the setting sun bathed him entirely.

He seemed to glow brilliantly in the light.

The sunlight stretched his shadow long, showing that even in a crouched position, he had grown from his younger days.

Occasionally, Qi Zhuoyun felt the urge to embrace Shen He, especially in moments like this.

Bathed in the golden light, with eyes focused intently on the pages, Shen He looked so endearing, as if anyone could pick him up and he wouldn't resist.

However, Qi Zhuoyun quickly reminded himself that Shen He was no longer the little bundle that once fit in his arms.

He wasn't a child anymore but a teenager soon to be a young man.

Thus, Qi Zhuoyun had to suppress his impulses, slowly adapting to these changes and reminding himself of the differences between now and then.

"How quickly children grow," Qi Zhuoyun mused.

In the past, he had eagerly wished for Shen He to grow up faster.

……

After sunset, having spent a short while with his birthday gifts, Shen He grew tired.

Being his birthday, he was excused from his lessons and didn't have to meet Tutor Song for supplementary classes.

Shen He went to bed early, cuddling with the box of books gifted by Qi Zhuoyun, reading by the candlelight.

With such a large box, he's secured his intellectual sustenance for the next six months!

Shen He hugged the quilt in front of him and laid down. After a while, he still found his cloth tiger the most comforting. He jumped off the bed, picked up his beloved tiger, and rested his chin on it as he read.

Not long after, he closed his eyes, meeting with the Sandman.

He had a sound sleep that night, free from dreams or any cramps in his legs.

The next day, Shen He woke up bright and early, feeling cheerful.

He freshened up and strolled around the main hall, only to find that Qi Zhuoyun had already left for the court.

"Such hard work," he couldn't help but remark.

After breakfast and on his way to school, Shen He realized they weren't far from the end of the school term.

However, this also meant that his upcoming exams were drawing closer, and he'd surely be caught by Master Song for extra lessons during the summer holidays.

The thought alone made Shen He heave a sigh of relief and then another of worry.

After sighing for a while, it suddenly struck him that they had a month-long summer retreat at the mountain villa!

Once at the villa, it's uncertain if Master Song would accompany them, as someone had to stay behind at the East Palace.

In previous years, it had always been Master Song, as Qi Zhuoyun trusted him the most.

With the crown prince's trust, Master Song held an unparalleled position in the East Palace, even senior tutors respected his authority.

Realizing that his summer might not be entirely overshadowed by extra lessons, Shen He cheered up again.

After school, he planned to meet up with Liu Zheng and others.

Another young man from the academy approached him, "Shen He, everyone's gathering at Linjiang Pavilion today. Would you like to join us?"

The boy was Jiang Zhitong, the direct heir of the Grand Scholar.

Shen He didn't have many interactions with him usually, but he got along well with most of his classmates, and Jiang Zhitong was no exception.

Considering the invitation, Shen He realized he had no other commitments.

Meeting his cousins could wait, so he readily agreed, "Sure."

Jiang Zhitong's eyes twinkled, seemingly surprised by Shen He's straightforward response.

Some students from the academy had known Shen He from their childhood, but Jiang Zhitong wasn't one of them.

It was a common whisper among them that Shen He's background was different from that of ordinary nobles, so they hesitated to invite him casually.

Today, Jiang Zhitong took a bold step in doing so.

He asked Shen He, "Should you inform the Crown Prince?"

Shen He was puzzled, "I'll be back by evening at the Eastern Palace. There's no need for this detour. Moreover, my elder brother, the Crown Prince, should be away. He's rather busy."

It was just a late return home. It wasn't as if he was a little kid needing to report everything to his parents.

Jiang Zhitong looked on with a surprised expression.

He quickly composed himself and said with a smile, "That's good to hear. Let's go!"

Shen He blinked as he followed behind Jiang Zhitong. Several other young men gathered around, grinning, "Shen He, have you decided? Joining us?"

"This is the first time you've joined us outside. People always said it's hard to get you to come out, only if the Crown Prince allows it can you spend time with others."

Shen He thought to himself, what a ridiculous rumor.

As one tells another, and so on, the story gets ever more exaggerated.

He wondered what kind of gloomy life people imagined he had in the East Palace.

As if he had to report even making friends, like being under house arrest.

As a younger brother, he felt obligated to set the record straight.

Shen He responded, "The Crown Prince has never restricted me. If nobody invited me before, I naturally wouldn’t come out with you."

A couple of the boys chuckled, intrigued by Shen He's words.

A boy dressed in burgundy, with a high ponytail and slightly taller than Shen He, approached, slinging an arm around Shen He's shoulders, curiously asking, "Is that true? Can you tell us what the East Palace is really like? Does the Crown Prince truly not restrict you? Everyone else says he’s very strict with you."

Shen He, slightly agitated, smelled a whiff of sweat.

Frowning, he shifted and said, "Let go, aren't you hot?"

The boy in burgundy smirked, releasing his hold.

Shen He hadn't picked up on their tone. He pondered for a moment and clarified for Qi Zhuoyun, "Of course it's true. What's the point of lying? The Eastern Palace... isn't that different. It's just a bigger residence, more expansive grounds, more people inside, but everything else is the same."

After thinking for a moment, he added, "The Crown Prince doesn't really restrict me any more than any of your elder brothers would. If anything, he’s just more attentive and patient."

After all, most older brothers don’t raise younger ones. The Crown Prince had the responsibility of being his guardian.

The others looked puzzled.

As if they thought Shen He was spinning tales.

Shen He looked unfazed, a touch of resignation evident.

He thought to himself, if you guys won't believe what I say, what can I do?

This won't do. Shen He felt he needed to enhance his social engagements in the future. Why did others see him as such a cold figure?

He needed to set the record straight. Being known as a benevolent ruler in the future would be good for his image and career advancement.

With this realization, suddenly these once-considered trivial social engagements took on a newfound importance.

They left the academy together, and Shen He boarded a carriage, accompanying the group of young men to Linjiang Pavilion.

Among the most famous restaurants in the capital, Yunjian Tower was the most renowned, with Linjiang Pavilion coming second.

Shen He and his companions usually frequented Yunjian Tower; it was a familiar place where they felt more comfortable. They rarely visited Linjiang Pavilion.

Linjiang Pavilion, true to its name, wasn't by the river but was waterside.

It was situated by a lake, which led out to the city's moat.

The lakeside view was stunning, with various bustling tavern pavilions.

Linjiang Pavilion stood tallest among them, a full five stories—a rarity in the capital.

From the fifth floor, one could overlook half the city and even glimpse the distant imperial city.

Shen He and his group ascended directly to the fifth floor. Given their status as notable young masters of the city, as soon as the innkeeper heard of their arrival, he promptly had the fifth floor cleared for them.

The innkeeper personally followed them up, smiling warmly, "Master Jiang, Prince Yun and other esteemed guests are already waiting upstairs. Please let me know if there's anything else you'd like, and I'll have it sent up immediately."

As the innkeeper spoke, he cast a glance at Shen He.

Shen He was an unfamiliar face, and this was the innkeeper's first time seeing him.

Noticing that Shen He walked side by side with Jiang Zhitong, while the other young masters trailed behind, the innkeeper realized the former held significant stature.

One wonders from which prominent family of the capital he comes.

Someone noticed the innkeeper's curious glance and introduced with a smirk, "This is the second young master of the Shen Duke's mansion."

The innkeeper's eyes widened in recognition, "Ah, Young Master Shen, my apologies for not recognizing you sooner."

Shen He: "..."

He was still pondering who Prince Yun was when the innkeeper's words caught him off guard, making him a tad uncomfortable.

Previously, he'd only ventured out with his younger cousins, mainly to familiar places like Yunjian Tower, seldom encountering such flamboyance.

He simply nodded and smiled in acknowledgment.

Observing Shen He's modest demeanor, the innkeeper quickly pivoted, asking, "Young Master Shen, would you like to order anything? It's your first visit to our Linjiang Pavilion. Please pardon any shortcomings in our hospitality."

Jiang Zhitong waved him off, "No need for special arrangements, bring what we usually have. If we need anything else, we'll let you know."

They reached the fifth floor.

This entire level had just two private rooms, flanking the staircase.

They chose the one on the left. Pushing the door open, Shen He found himself locking eyes with several strangers.

All unfamiliar faces.

Shen He: "…?" Wait a minute, isn't this supposed to be a classmates' gathering?

Chairs were arranged in two rows inside the room, with someone already seated at the main position of honor.

The seated individual appeared to be in his late teens, adorned in an elaborate golden robe embroidered with silver. He wore a gold crown and reclined in a grandmaster's chair. His fair and delicate features stood in contrast to his cold eyes, shadowed with dark circles.

He looked as though he had been neglecting his health.

Such extravagant attire. Shen He thought to himself that in all his years in the capital, he had never seen someone so resplendently dressed.

As Shen He assessed the man, the latter raised his shadowed eyes, appraising Shen He in return.

Jiang Zhitong, with a smile, nudged Shen He forward, introducing, "Your Highness, today we have the pleasure of Young Master Shen's company. I believe this is your first meeting? Young Master Shen, this is Prince Yun's heir."

The heir of Prince Yun stared at Shen He, slowly stating, "We've met before."