How can I bow my head and serve the powerful officials?

Half a month later.

The aftershocks in the strong earthquake zones of the earthquake belt also gradually stopped.

The last batch of people embarked on the journey back home. When they returned to Pingcheng, they found that the place had changed beyond all recognition. The mountains and fields were in ruins, and they could no longer find any trace of the familiar village.

Mountains collapsed, the ground shifted, and the former village roads were cut off. Walking through it was like coming to a new village. Everything was unfamiliar and everything needed to be started over again.

The court sent an official over. I heard that the official's name was Jing Ze. He was sent as an inspector to measure the new Pingcheng's area, divide the land and village locations for each household, and brought convenient agricultural tools recently developed by the Ministry of Works to ensure that the people could rebuild Pingcheng as soon as possible so as not to miss the autumn planting and tillage and fertilization of the land.

There was also a senior official from the Ministry of Works named Su Qinghe, who came here in person to teach the craftsmen how to make these farm tools and popularize their use to the farmers. He was deeply loved and admired by the people.

Many Jinshi who had not yet been granted official positions were also arranged to go to the earthquake-affected areas to assist the prefects in rebuilding cities and towns. In order to encourage and comfort the people and maintain their enthusiasm, they even built a "Xianyu Temple" first, and found skilled craftsmen to carve statues of the Xianyu Sect Leader, and enshrined them in the Xianyu Temple for protection.

Xie Chengze returned to Jizhou. As soon as he stepped into the threshold of Zhuolu County Government Office, he saw Shen Yuan standing in the yard in white clothes, with a long green sword on his waist, his arms folded, and glancing at him indifferently.

Xie Chengze: ...

Xie Chengze retracted his right foot, raised his head with a sad look, as if he would not be scolded by someone as long as he didn't enter the door.

Seeing that Xie Chengze didn't dare to come in, Shen Yuan felt a little amused. He turned around and strode towards the young man. He wanted to scold him for ignoring his health and safety, not only running around but also working hard. But looking at the thin and pointed little face, staring at the young man's clear, guilty but unregretful eyes, Shen Yuan could only sigh deeply.

How could I bear to reprimand him?

I don't want him to suffer any injustice, not even with a word or an expression.

Seeing the young man hanging his head and touching his nose guiltily, Shen Yuan reached out and embraced the thin young man, "I'm glad you're back."

Lost weight again.

What's wrong with Xie Shoujun? Doesn't he know how to raise a child?

Shen Yuan looked at Xie Shoujun who got out of the car and walked over behind Xie Chengze. The dissatisfaction in his eyes almost reached its peak, as if he was questioning what was the point of him staying with Xie Chengze.

Xie Shoujun pulled Xie Zimiao over and pointed out the extra weight on Xie Zimiao's face and his body which was beginning to grow taller and more conspicuous, to prove that he was a good child-rearing expert.

It was just that Xie Chengze had been seriously injured before, causing damage to his internal organs, making it difficult for him to absorb the essence of food.

Shen Yuan then withdrew his questioning look. He gently loosened his arms that were hugging the young man and was about to say something when he suddenly noticed that Xie Chengze's ears were red, his cheeks were hot, his ten fingers were tightly clenched around his waist, and he looked very uncomfortable. His eyes kept glancing around but refused to stay on his face.

Shen Yuan looked at him absentmindedly for a long time, and his ears began to turn red belatedly.

What, what happened?

Did you feel his hug was too abrupt and offensive?

He just missed him very much.

He was also afraid that the two of them hadn't seen each other for a long time and that their relationship had become distant, so he couldn't wait to use this method to quickly narrow the distance between them.

Both of them looked awkward. After a while, Xie Chengze raised his head, his cheeks flushed red as he said, "Shen Yuan, actually I..."

Shen Yuan also became nervous. He lowered his head and stared into the young man's eyes, and whispered, "Well...you say."

"Actually, I... have been holding it in all the way." Xie Chengze tightened his butt cheeks and said embarrassedly, "I just felt it again. Can you let me go to the toilet first?"

Shen Yuan: “…”

Shen Yuan cracked.

He turned sideways stiffly, having forgotten what expression was on his face, "Well, well... Of course, Your Highness, go ahead."

Xie Chengze quickly picked up his clothes and ran into the county government office.

Xie Shoujun followed and when he passed by Shen Yuan who was frozen in place, he laughed for no apparent reason, "Haha."

Shen Yuan: ...

Xie Zimiao quickly followed, blinking his bright and innocent eyes, tilting his head and asking, "Master Shen, you also feel comfortable when my second brother hugs you, right?"

Shen Yuan, who was exposed, fled in panic.

Xie Zimiao couldn't help scratching his head, his innocent face full of naive doubts, "What's there to be shy about? Second brother is just a softie."

When he was a child, he liked to hug his second brother and bite his hands and cheeks.

Shaking his head, Xie Zimiao left the place.

-

Shen Yuan calmed himself down and came back to see Xie Chengze in the courtyard, with his sleeves rolled up, revealing his slender white arms, squatting in front of a copper basin, holding the hem of his clothes and washing his hands.

The slender fingers fiddled with the water back and forth, rubbing and washing, and ripples of water continued to appear in the copper basin.

Shen Yuan squatted down and tested the water temperature, it was hot.

It seems that Zhu Xiaobiao took good care of Xie Chengze. He did not slack off in his duties just because the young man did not have the airs of a prince. Instead, he continued to do his best.

Xie Chengze glanced at Shen Yuan and said enthusiastically, "Do you want to take a shower together? I'll teach you."

"Join my Xianyu Sect and I guarantee you will be free from illness and disaster for the rest of your life!" the young man said proudly.

Shen Yuan couldn't help but laugh softly. He imitated the young man and began to wash his hands step by step. After a long time, he held the back of Xie Chengze's hand in the water.

"Xie Chengze." He looked up and asked, his eyes extremely serious, "Do you want to go back to Beijing?"

If he didn't want to return to the capital, he would find a way to suppress Xie Jinyu so that he could travel freely outside, without being trapped in the palace, becoming the possession of the princes, or being tied down by natural disasters and man-made calamities, causing him to be heartbroken and shorten his life.

Even if the price is never meeting each other again, I can only look at the moon to relieve my thoughts.

Shen Yuan just wanted to respect Xie Chengze's truest wishes.

Xie Chengze raised his head and blinked.

He looked at Shen Yuan, his eyes clear and pure as if he had just seen her for the first time, without any false feelings, but with true feelings that could be proven by opening one's heart, "Wherever you are, I will be there."

Shen Yuan's heart trembled slightly.

Unspeakable emotions surged in my heart, quietly passed through my choked and rough throat, lingered on my slightly trembling lips, and I couldn't utter a word.

Didn't he hope that Xie Chengze could always be by his side?

Whenever I look at him, my mood becomes happy and peaceful, and I forget the nightmare for a short while, and I have a reason to keep going.

Perhaps, Xie Jinyu was also so dependent on Xie Chengze and could not leave Xie Chengze, just like the withdrawal reaction after smelling a poisonous incense. Once lost, she would feel pain, bitterness, rage, and irritability.

After all, a person is lonely.

That's why I want to find like-minded people.