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

Xie Chengze kindly reminded: "Father, I am sick."

Emperor Jian looked at his rosy and healthy little face and said nothing. "Will you be sick next year too?"

"To be honest with you, Father," Xie Chengze coughed twice, acting a little sick, "This is a heart disease for me. If I am sick for a long time, my body will become weak. I can only be pampered."

As if he was afraid of something, he looked at Emperor Jian pitifully, "Father, you won't dislike me, right? You will support me, right?"

Emperor Jian: ...

Xie Chengze coughed twice again and kindly reminded, "From now on, when I go to court, I will keep coughing, which will really hinder the discussion of state affairs."

What would it look like if he coughed every time the minister said something?

Emperor Jian was amused by him. Although he didn't know why Xie Chengze pretended to be sick, he had always been very indulgent to this son and would not be angry about it.

To be honest, although Xiao Ze'er was regarded as the prince's polishing stone, he was too "dedicated" and attended court every day. He refused to rest even when he was sick. Emperor Jian felt sad when seeing this and naturally hoped that he could rest for a few days.

As for the Spring Examination, there is no rush.

"Well, you should have a good rest and don't become like your mother..."

Speaking of Concubine Hua, a trace of sadness flashed across Emperor Jian's eyes. It seemed that he truly loved her and his sadness was not fake.

Xie Chengze nodded, held Emperor Jian's hands, and persuaded him with sincere and earnest eyes, "Father, you should also take care of your body and not tire yourself out because of government affairs. You can leave the unimportant memorials to your younger brother, the Crown Prince. He is young and strong, and he is not bald yet. He has plenty of strength and can help you share the worries."

Emperor Jian: ...

Emperor Jian waved his hand, "Okay, you and Shen Yuan go down first."

The two men retreated. After a long while, the silent Emperor Jian touched his head.

He's not bald yet, is he?

After leaving the imperial study, there was still a long distance to the outside of the palace. Xie Chengze and Shen Yuan walked one after the other.

Thinking that he was the protagonist of the original book after all, he should make friends with him, so Xie Chengze turned his head and gave Shen Yuan a friendly smile, raised his hand and gestured, "Shen Lang, come here."

Shen Yuan felt a chill run down his spine when he was called "Shen Lang", but he also wanted to see what tricks Xie Chengze was up to, so he walked up to him, resisting the urge to strangle him, and smiled naturally, "Your Highness, what's the matter?"

"How old are you, Mr. Shen?" Xie Chengze asked casually.

"Mr. Shen is twenty-one years old."

"Oh~ I am the Nineteenth, two years younger than Shen Lang~" Xie Chengze said with a smile, "It seems that I should call Shen Lang "Brother Shen."

Shen Yuan chuckled inwardly, "Your Highness is of noble status, and I am just an ordinary person. I am ashamed to be worthy of this."

"Hey~ You are the grandson of the Grand Tutor. I heard that you have been well-read since childhood. Even my father praised you highly. I have been dull since childhood, and I admire people like Mr. Shen who are knowledgeable and talented the most." Xie Chengze flattered him without any effort.

Shen Yuan's fist hardened.

When he thought of Xie Chengze who was also reborn, he felt that the other party was being sarcastic.

With a slightly deep smile, Shen Yuan's eyes fell on Xie Chengze's face, and he said casually, "Your Highness, don't underestimate yourself. In Shen's opinion, Your Highness also has many advantages."

Xie Chengze was caught off guard: "Oh? What are my strengths?"

"Your Highness has an unparalleled appearance and a beauty that can overwhelm a country. Even the most beautiful woman in the world cannot compare to you. You are truly a wonder of the Jian'an Period." Shen Yuan curved his lips and said sarcastically, just waiting for Xie Chengze to get angry and reveal his flaws.

Xie Chengze chuckled, "Mr. Shen has really good taste."

Shen Yuan: ...

Looking at Xie Chengze's innocent smile like a lamb, Shen Yuan felt a little strange. He was a little undecided for a moment. Was Xie Chengze too good at enduring humiliation, or did the sword in the Golden Palace make him stupid?

If it is the former, then he would probably be even more difficult to deal with than in his previous life.

The two chatted idly until they reached the palace gate, and Shen Yuan took back the green sword he was carrying from the palace gate guard.

He keenly noticed that Xie Chengze glanced at the green sword, seeming to be very afraid.

Shen Yuan lowered his eyes slightly and deliberately drew his sword. With a "swish" sound, the green sword came out of the sheath, like a piece of cold iron scratching on a stone wall, very harsh.

Xie Chengze instantly jumped to the side like a little cat whose tail was stepped on, looking at him warily.

What are you doing? What is this for?

Why did you suddenly draw the sword?

This plot doesn’t exist in the original book!

Although Xie Chengze could not remember many details in the book, he was very clear that at this moment, Shen Yuan in the original book definitely did not draw his sword!

He didn't seem to have provoked Shen Yuan just now, right? !

Seeing Xie Chengze so scared, Shen Yuan sneered in his heart.

He knew that this sword had personally taken Xie Chengze's life. How could Xie Chengze not be afraid when he saw this sword?

The truth was revealed after all. Xie Chengze was the one who was reborn.

With a hint of coldness on his lips, Shen Yuan looked at Xie Chengze with a half-smile, and deliberately gestured the sword in front of him, "Second Prince, what do you think of Shen's sword?"

Xie Chengze was afraid that the sword would fall on him, so he silently took two steps back, gave a thumbs up and praised, "So cheap, just like you."

Shen Yuan:?

After dying once, your mouth has become more skillful?

Shen Yuan put the cold silver sword back into the scabbard and glanced at the scattered carriages nearby, but he did not see Wuhen and Wuji who usually followed Xie Chengze.

"I heard that the Second Prince has two guards with great martial arts skills. Why didn't I see them today?" Shen Yuan asked casually, "I also like to practice martial arts and hope to learn from the masters."

He weighed the possibility of killing Xie Chengze, put his thumb on the end of the scabbard, and moved the green sword up and down, making a regular and clear knocking sound.

“Swish, snap, swish, snap.”

Every pause in the sound is a sign of death.

"Oh, they went out of the palace to buy folk books for me." Seeing Shen Yuan put away his sword, Xie Chengze finally felt relieved and answered honestly, "There are too many serious books in Chenghuan Palace, which are not suitable for killing time."

Shen Yuan asked “?” again.

This time he looked at Xie Chengze seriously, "Second Prince, do you still like to read storybooks?"

In his previous life, he had never been seen looking at such things.

Xie Chengze lowered his head in embarrassment, "I just like to read some stories about Long Yang. What about Shen Lang? If you like it too, I can ask Wu Ji to send some to your house."

Shen Yuan: ?????

Seeing Shen Yuan's shocked expression as if he was struck by lightning, Xie Chengze couldn't help but laugh in his heart: Hehehe.

You just drew your sword to scare me, and now you are dumbfounded, right?

They are all men, and Xie Chengze knows too well what men fear the most. He believes that if he tells this matter today and then hides in Chenghuan Palace in the future, Shen Yuan will definitely not want to have any contact with him and will want to stay away from him.

As long as they don't meet, there will be no friction between the two of them, and his life will be saved!

Xie Chengze felt that he was very clever. He deliberately patted Shen Yuan's shoulder, and feeling the other's body gradually stiffening, a hint of teasing appeared at the corner of his lips.

He smiled and said, "Shen Lang, the road behind is different from yours, so I will go back to Cheng Huan Palace first. Please walk slowly."

Yes, he and he are definitely on different paths.

Resisting the urge to push Xie Chengze away, Shen Yuan nodded as naturally as possible, turned around and strode towards his carriage.

Unexpectedly, after walking a few steps, he heard Xie Chengze's gentle voice behind him, "Shen Lang, I bought a lot of Longyang's good storybooks. If you are really interested, I will not be stingy!"

Shen Yuan: ...

Damn it, could he shut up! The palace guards are still here!

He turned around, and sure enough, the palace guards patrolling around were all staring at him and Xie Chengze with wide eyes, with shocked expressions as if they had heard something they shouldn't have heard.

I'm afraid that within noon, the news that the Second Prince and Mr. Shen like Longyang's storybook will spread throughout the entire palace.

The powerful minister who had lived a glorious and glorious life in his previous life and made all officials tremble with fear, could only be angry and suppress his anger at this moment, shouting at Xie Chengze in exhaustion: "Shen is not interested!"

-

Spread a rumor and break a leg.

On that day, even Sheng Yiren, the most beautiful woman in the capital, who lived outside the palace, heard the news.

"Brother Shen, are you serious..." In the teahouse, Sheng Yiren looked at Shen Yuan in disbelief, with an expression as if saying "I have to get to know you again".

The veins on Shen Yuan's forehead bulged slightly, and the teacup in his hand shook as if it was about to break. "Yes, Xie - it was the Second Prince who said that! He just wanted to watch it and he had to involve me!"

Sheng Yiren glanced at him suspiciously. "But as far as I know, the Second Prince is most taboo about this. A few years ago, at the Qionglin Banquet, a third place winner got drunk and mistook the Second Prince for a woman. He just wrote a poem and was then..."

It is difficult to say more about what happened next. Emperor Jian doted on the Second Prince, and the poem did contain some erotic and fanciful meanings, so the third place winner was directly thrown into prison and beheaded.

It was not easy for Sheng Yiren to comment on this matter. As the most beautiful woman in the capital and the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Rites, she was inevitably used as a subject for people's imagination. Her name was picked up without her surname and she fell into the storybook, becoming a female character who loved poor students and was willing to cook for them.

Even she was disgusted and disliked him. As a man, the Second Prince was fantasized by men and had a bad temper, so it was not surprising that he would get angry and kill people.

So, when Sheng Yiren learned that the Second Prince actually liked that kind of book, her first thought was that it was fake, absolutely fake, and a rumor.

I guess the Second Prince was dragged down by Shen Yuan.

Seeing Sheng Yiren's distrustful look, Shen Yuan's headache became worse. Another man in blue at the tea table spoke softly, "Yiren, you and I both grew up with Brother Shen. We know best whether he is that kind of person. There must be some misunderstanding here."

Sheng Yiren shrugged and disagreed.

Although they grew up together, Shen Yuan had been away from Beijing for many years with Master Shen. Who knew if he had picked up any special habits while traveling around the country.

"Don't worry, I'm not biased." Sheng Yiren patted his chest and assured, "Of course, I believe you are not biased either."

These words did not comfort Shen Yuan at all. Moreover, he had a headache, not only because of the rumors, but also because Xie Chengze's temper was so slippery and shameless that he had the illusion that he was a bit more difficult to deal with.

In the first confrontation, he seemed to be at a disadvantage.

but……

There is a long way to go, and no matter who wins or loses, he will definitely win.