chapter 112

Chapter 112: Fire and Evasion

Shen He had been busy for many days, tirelessly working both inside and outside the palace.

Zheng Xue and Liu Zheng assisted him.

The elders of the Liu family, aware of the situation, occasionally gave Shen He advice when he left the palace, praising his maturity and intelligence while offering strategies to resolve the issue more efficiently.

After all their efforts, Shen He, though exhausted, felt a gratifying sense of achievement.

This satisfaction was indescribable. Shen He realized why some top students found immense pleasure in solving challenging math problems. True accomplishment could indeed elevate one's spirits to such an extent.

It could even make one forget fatigue and weariness.

After half a month, merchant caravans from various places began to return. Local officials penned reports and sent them to the capital with haste, informing about the conditions of the common people.

Learning that most citizens had settled and disengaged from the unrest, with some even condemning outsiders trying to fan the flames, Shen He knew the situation was largely under control.

Sadly, his relief was short-lived.

By the end of December, in the depths of winter with heavy snowfall, the citizens, having received the relief grain, looked forward to a more comfortable and joyous winter than previous years.

However, in this chilling season, the residence of the Prince of Jin caught fire.

No one knew where or how the fire started, or for how long it raged before detection. Alarmingly, not a single soul from the mansion seemed to have noticed or escaped.

By the time the neighbors and nearby residents noticed and cried out for help, massive flames engulfed the Prince of Jin's mansion, sending thick plumes of smoke into the sky. Even the relentless snowfall couldn't halt the inferno's progression.

Soldiers from all over the capital rushed to the scene. Every household's well was commandeered, and buckets upon buckets of water were poured, supplemented by mounds of snow. Only these combined efforts prevented the fire from spreading to neighboring homes.

The fire started during the day, and by the time they managed to quench the flames, it was the wee hours of the night.

Inside the mansion lay charred remains.

At that time, Shen He was staying in the Eastern Palace.

When someone came to deliver news, there was a slight commotion outside.

Perhaps it was the impending plot twist weighing on him like a stone, but Shen He had found sleep elusive recently. The slightest disturbance woke him. Instantly sitting up, he pushed aside the bed curtains and asked Zhongyan, "What's happening outside?"

Zhongyan stepped out to inquire and returned with, "Young Master, the Emperor has risen and intends to leave the palace. It seems the Prince of Jin's mansion has caught fire."

"The Prince of Jin's mansion?" Shen He was taken aback.

Prince of Jin's mansion... Qi Leyong. Right, he was confined in the capital, forbidden to visit his fiefdom, a precaution against him gathering strength and then rebelling.

Naturally, Qi Leyong knew that if he didn't devise a way to depart from the capital swiftly, it wouldn't be long before Qi Zhuoyun would take action against him.

They both understood this. Hence, Qi Leyong sought a way to escape the capital, leaving behind a cleansed mansion after a grand fire. He might even have staged his own death using a double.

Qi Zhuoyun was well aware of this. He let Qi Leyong escape, aiming for a justified and thorough eradication later.

Shen He's complexion turned deathly pale instantly.

He stood up.

Zhongyan promptly fetched a heavy cloak, draping it over him, saying, "Young Master, in such cold weather, where are you headed? If the Emperor sees you troubled, he won't be pleased."

Shen He's mind buzzed.

Suddenly, a fragmented memory, long forgotten in a corner of his mind, resurfaced.

In the original story, "Shen He" turned from scholar to soldier, following the elder Duke's path. With the Duke's support, he earned some renown in the military, controlling a segment of the army. Later, under Qi Leyong's influence, he audaciously betrayed Qi Zhuoyun, aiming to support Qi Leyong's ascension.

Ultimately, after Qi Zhuoyun's enthronement, "Shen He", soon after his own crowning, led a rebellion against Qi Zhuoyun with his troops.

The forces under his command constituted nearly half of Qi Leyong's rebel army. Confident in his merit beside Qi Leyong — considering it higher than by Qi Zhuoyun's side — he anticipated a more distinguished future role.

Who provided the other half of the troops backing Qi Leyong's rebellion?

Who were their leaders?

Who was "Shen He's" main adversary in the original story?

Shen He's memory of that segment was hazy. This character, less frequently mentioned than "Shen He," remained unidentified in his mind: their surname, name, and status were all a blur.

The only impression he had was that whenever this man made an appearance where "Shen He" was present, "Shen He" would always provoke him. However, the man would dismiss him with disdain, only engaging in conversation with Qi Leyong.

Back when Shen He was reading the story, he'd scoff internally, thinking this character, though quite pretentious, was just cannon fodder doomed to die.

Now, it dawned on him.

That man was always affectionately referred to by Qi Leyong with a playful, "Royal Nephew."

The man's military prowess surpassed "Shen He's", and he had long been on Qi Zhuoyun's radar.

His demeanor was cold and ruthless.

Among the princes and heirs, only a handful possessed a natural talent for leading troops in battle, and of those with an icy temperament, only one remained.

The Crown Prince of the Constant, the elder brother of Qi Yanbing, Qi Chengfeng.

The past complaints of Qi Yanbing about his elder brother echoed repeatedly in Shen He's mind.

——"Do you know? My family has always been loyal to the royal line; my father died saving the Emperor."

——"I was born posthumously, with an age gap of over a decade from my elder brother. Hence, we've never been close. He's extraordinarily cold-blooded; maybe it's because he's killed too many on the battlefield since his youth."

——"Don't get me started; my elder brother has been extremely strict with me lately. He hardly lets me leave the mansion. It took me a Herculean effort to see you all!"

There was also the time during a palace feast when he caught a glimpse of the look in the Crown Prince's eyes when he saw Qi Yanbing with him.

Those eyes were piercingly cold.

His gaze towards Qi Zhuoyun, the crown prince, was devoid of any respect.

No wonder Qi Leyong added the rumor about Qi Zhuoyun committing regicide. He not only wanted historians and officials to condemn Qi Zhuoyun, and the royalists to oppose him, but he also aimed to win over the soldiers loyal to the previous emperor.

In a frenzy, Shen He hastily dressed and dashed outside.

His cloak fell to the ground as he ran, disregarding the blade-like cold wind stinging his skin, he sprinted towards the palace entrance.

Qi Zhuoyun hadn't gone far.

From a distance, guards and eunuchs were shouting, "Young Master! Young Master!"

Qi Zhuoyun immediately ordered the carriage to stop, pulled back the curtain to look behind, and saw a young boy chasing after them, his robe flying and trailing in the snow.

His eyes were reddened, possibly from the biting wind and snow.

Jumping off the carriage, Qi Zhuoyun briskly approached Shen He, enveloping him in a tight embrace, his voice stern with concern, "Why did you follow? Dressed so inadequately and without your cloak. What if..."

"Brother!" Shen He interrupted, his breathless voice tinged with a choked emotion, whether imagined by Qi Zhuoyun or not.

Nestled in Qi Zhuoyun's embrace, wrapped securely within the larger cloak, Shen He's icy chill was replaced by warmth, melting the snow that had settled on him into a misty dampness.

Clinging tightly around Qi Zhuoyun's waist and shivering slightly, Shen He pressed his cold cheek against his neck and whispered, "I want to come with you. Please, take me with you."

"Brother," he uttered again, his tone both coaxing and pleading.

Any reprimand Qi Zhuoyun had in mind vanished.

The young boy in his arms was still catching his breath, his heartbeat rapid.

Seeing Zhong Yan approach with a larger cloak, Qi Zhuoyun took it, wrapped Shen He securely, and helped him into the carriage.

Shen He couldn't let go, overwhelmed by an inexplicable fear.

It felt as though something uncontrollable might happen if he released his grip.

Seeking comfort and assurance, he huddled closer to Qi Zhuoyun to dispel his anxiety.

Qi Zhuoyun gently massaged the nape of Shen He's neck, using his warmth to drive away every trace of cold.

After what felt like ages, Shen He, mentally coaxing himself out of his fears, finally lifted his head from Qi Zhuoyun's neck.

Qi Zhuoyun remained silent, not immediately probing the cause of Shen He's unusual behavior. Instead, he draped the cloak around Shen He, securing it, then gently caressed his cool cheek.

In his haste and urgency, Shen He had only managed to dress, leaving his hair in disarray, which now fluttered wildly, covered in snow.

The soft, raven-black strands cascaded down, some resting on Qi Zhuoyun.

They appeared like silken threads binding the two together.

Qi Zhuoyun's fingertips teased those strands, smoothing them out, then gently wiped away the moisture left by the melting snow using a handkerchief.

In the flickering candlelight, the young boy's dark hair framed his face, accentuating its delicate features. With his pale skin, reddened eyes, and vulnerable demeanor, he looked as if he might burst into tears any moment.

After a long pause, Qi Zhuoyun asked, "Can Hehe share it with me?"

Shen He's eyelashes quivered.

He bit his lip, feeling an urge to confide.

Yet, reason fiercely held him back, reminding him that not everyone in the world was as naive as Qi Yanbing.

Qi Yanbing was a foolish young man, his mind filled with ghost tales and fanciful delusions.

But Qi Zhuoyun was an emperor of a feudal society, only distinguished by his exceptional intelligence and wisdom.

Even if Shen He wasn't in ancient times but in the modern age, if he were to say, "I'm a soul from another world. This place is merely a book, and I've traveled here. I know many of its events, and based on the original plot, I'm destined to die soon,"

He'd likely be rushed to a hospital, only to be subsequently committed to a psychiatric ward.

Who would believe such a claim?

Consequently, Shen He lowered his head, pressing his fingers hard enough to redden their sides.

After pressing a couple of times, Qi Zhuoyun caught his wrist, enclosing it within his palm.

Qi Zhuoyun's hand was broad and easily restrained the slender hand of Shen He.

Qi Zhuoyun softly said, "When Hehe is ready to tell me, I will ask again."

Tears threatened the corners of Shen He's eyes.

He felt so wronged.

Holding back tears, he softly explained, "I heard about the fire at the Jin Prince's mansion and got worried."

Qi Zhuoyun neither agreed nor disagreed, only replying, "Hmm, I'll handle it. Don't worry."