Mo Yu, who had happened to catch a glimpse of his gaze, couldn’t help but shiver. What was wrong with His Highness? Why did he look at Shen Shaoqing with such a terrifying expression?
Bai He had come along today as well, and he too noticed Xiao Jinyi’s gaze. He understood the meaning behind that look even better than Xiao Jinyi himself did.
After all, he also had someone he’d been pining after. Glancing at the person beside him who still remained utterly oblivious, Bai He rubbed his forehead with a slight headache.
The very person he was pining after was still wondering why Xiao Jinyi’s gaze had suddenly turned so frightening!
Shen Shixu and Xiao Jinyi walked into Tianxiang Restaurant. Xiao Jinyi had already reserved a spot here, the finest private room on the top floor, the “Tian” room. A waiter led them upstairs.
Once the two were seated, the waiter greeted them warmly, “Honored guests, what would you like to eat? Here at Tianxiang, we can cook anything, whatever flies in the sky, swims in the water, or runs on the ground!”
Looking at the glib-tongued waiter, Shen Shixu forgot the strange atmosphere between him and Xiao Jinyi just moments ago and asked with great interest, “Really? This is both his and my first time dining here, and we’re not familiar with your menu. Why don’t you recommend a few of your signature dishes?”
Hearing this, the waiter flung the towel in his hand over his shoulder and began introducing the dishes with a beaming smile, “Ah, signature dishes, we have plenty! There’s cherry pork, soy-braised duck, charcoal-roasted turtledove, braised crispy fish, lotus root and pork rib soup…”
Shen Shixu ordered two dishes according to his own tastes, “Then I’ll have the lotus root and pork rib soup, and the braised crispy fish. That’s all for me. Your High ahem, Jinyi, order two more dishes that you like!”
It was the first time Xiao Jinyi had heard him call him by name. How should he put it? There was a strange feeling in his heart. Hearing his own name spoken from Shen Shixu’s lips made it sound so much gentler somehow.
The moment Xiao Jinyi realized he was having this thought, he deeply suspected he might be ill. After lunch, he absolutely had to go back and have the imperial physician take a look.
“Ahem. I’ll have the sliced cold beef, stir-fried seasonal vegetables, and fried shrimp balls. And bring us two bowls of rice and a pot of good wine.”
Hearing him order wine, Shen Shixu reached out a hand to stop him, “According to the law, drinking is not permitted while on duty. I have my afternoon shift!”
Xiao Jinyi froze for a moment before coming back to his senses, “I’d forgotten all about that until you mentioned it. Then no wine. We’ll drink together when you’re on your day off. I remember I have a fine jar of Zuirenjian at my place.”
While Shen Shixu and Xiao Jinyi were eating, someone suddenly knocked on the door. The waiter came in, looking troubled, “Honored guests, this old gentleman says he has business with you. I really couldn’t stop him.”
The visitor was none other than Duke An.
Shen Shixu didn’t recognize him. Thinking that he’d only been in the capital a few days and barely knew anyone, he assumed the man must be here for Xiao Jinyi, so he paid him little attention and kept his head down, continuing to eat.
Who knew the man would come straight for him, grabbing his hand and shaking it up and down the moment he approached. Shen Shixu stared at him, completely dumbfounded, he swore he had never met the person in front of him.
Seeing Shen Shixu’s bewildered expression, Xiao Jinyi stepped forward, pulled Duke An’s hand off him, and demanded, “Duke An, what is the meaning of this?”
The Duke of An had long wanted to see Shen Shixu, but hearing that he was working on a case, he had been waiting. When he heard that the case had finally concluded today, he rushed over without a moment’s delay.
He was so excited that he couldn’t control himself and startled Shen Shixu. Embarrassed, he withdrew his hands and offered an apologetic bow. “My sincere apologies, I frightened you, didn’t I? I’ve been wanting to pay a visit to Vice Minister Shen these past couple of days, but I heard you were busy. Today I finally heard you’d finished up your affairs, so I hurried over to express my thanks.
Thank you for saving my little grandson that day during the parade when the horses were galloping through. I’ve prepared some modest gifts and already sent them to your residence”
Before the Duke of An could finish expressing his gratitude or explain his second reason for coming, Shen Shixu anxiously sprang to his feet, his face a picture of nervous panic. “This is bad my brother’s at home! If he sees a whole crowd of people delivering gifts, he’ll definitely get the wrong idea. He might even start a fight. No, I have to hurry back.”
Seeing him about to rush off, Xiao Jinyi reached out and grabbed his wrist. “Don’t rush. Let’s go back together. Duke of An, why don’t you come along too?”
Xiao Jinyi had a feeling the Duke of An hadn’t made himself fully clear. He suspected the man had come for more than just to offer thanks, there was some other reason.
When the three of them returned to the small courtyard where Shen Shixu was staying, sure enough, Shen Zexi, Little Stone, and Jinbao were each holding a weapon, blocking the doorway, warily facing off against the people opposite them, while a crowd of onlookers pointed and whispered all around.
The leader of the group facing off against Shen Zexi was dressed in dark blue commoner’s clothes. He looked at Shen Zexi helplessly, wearily explaining, “Young sir, we really are from the Duke of An’s residence. These items are for Lord Shen not a bribe, but a token of gratitude for saving our young heir the other day.”
Shen Zexi looked utterly unconvinced. “Stop trying to fool me. My brother never told me he saved any heir. There’s no way I’m letting you in. Get going, or you’ll be sorry, I’ll hit you.”
Right now, Shen Zexi was genuinely regretting letting Shen Shixu take the imperial examination and become the top scholar. In broad daylight, people dared to cart over piles of goods as bribes, who knew what kind of bribery went on behind closed doors? How could his brother, such an upright and clean-handed person, survive in such a dark and corrupt officialdom?
Just as he was pondering whether he should persuade Shen Shixu to resign and come home, he heard Shen Shixu calling out to him at the top of his voice. “Brother, it’s a misunderstanding! They really are from the Duke of An’s residence, and they’re not here to bribe anyone. Besides, who bribes someone in broad daylight in front of a crowd like this?
I only just found out myself that the child I saved the other day is the Duke’s heir. Otherwise, I would have told you.”
Only then did Shen Zexi lower his broom, feeling a bit embarrassed as he looked at the people he’d been blocking.
But then he thought again, being this cautious was a good thing. What if someone really had been jealous of his brother and come to frame him?
“Oh, so that’s how it is. I’m sorry, sir, for earlier charging at you with a broom before I’d even gotten things straight. I didn’t hurt anyone, did I? Truly sorry.”
The steward of the Duke of An’s residence waved his hand, not minding at all. Seeing his master arrive, he hurried forward to bow. “Your Grace, I failed to carry out the task you assigned me. I’m deeply ashamed!”
The Duke of An waved his hand. “No need to blame yourself. The oversight was mine.”
The Duke of An stepped forward and, in front of everyone, expressed his gratitude to Shen Shixu once more. Then he bowed and made his request: “The reason I prepared so many gifts, besides expressing my thanks, is that I would like to shamelessly ask you to take my grandson on as your disciple.”