Xie Lanzhi spotted Shen Yichi in disguise or more precisely, spotted Shen Yichi standing together with Xie Yunshu. He raised a brow slightly, and just as he was about to open his mouth, Shen Yichi shot him a glare.
Xie Lanzhi helplessly shut his mouth, lowered his head to look at the hairpin in front of him, and pretended he had seen nothing.
Meanwhile, Shen Yichi followed Xie Yunshu back to the post station. He truly wasn’t one for smiling; expressionless, he went upstairs, and after closing the door, couldn’t help asking Xie Yunshu, “What exactly do you want?”
Xie Yunshu thought for a moment and answered very seriously, “I want to see what you really look like.”
Shen Yichi was taken aback. It seemed the Old Prince really did treat Xie Yunshu well, to be able to make such a request of the very Hidden Guard who had been sent to assassinate him.
Shen Yichi didn’t know whether to call Xie Yunshu naive or utterly fearless.
Shen Yichi peeled off the Human-skin Mask. Xie Yunshu narrowed his eyes. “Why do I feel like you look a little different from last night?”
Shen Yichi remained perfectly calm. “This humble one has always looked like this. Perhaps last night, Your Highness was too nervous and saw wrong.”
As if. Shen Yichi had deliberately made minor adjustments to his appearance beneath the Human-skin Mask, terrified that Xie Yunshu might see through him.
Still, grown up as he was now, he bore little resemblance to his childhood self, except for the mole on his ear.
Sure enough, Xie Yunshu stared at him for a while, then shifted his gaze away in disappointment. “Last night you looked so familiar to me. Now I realize I was mistaken.”
Shen Yichi raised a brow slightly. “You didn’t happen to mistake me for that ‘older brother’ you keep mentioning, did you?”
Xie Yunshu gave a slight nod. “I don’t even know if he’s still alive. But you two really don’t look alike at all. My brother was as beautiful as an immortal!”
“Oh, right, since your master is that person, where were you chosen from?”
The corners of Shen Yichi’s mouth lifted slightly. He hadn’t expected this little brat to still have him in his heart. It seemed he wanted to ask about his whereabouts. What a pity…
Shen Yichi said helplessly, “How about you give me your brother’s name, and I’ll go back and ask around for you.”
Xie Yunshu curled his lip. “You’re just trying to run off, aren’t you?”
Shen Yichi shrugged. “If you’d rather not, then forget it.”
Xie Yunshu pressed his lips together. “His name is Xie Yunan.”
Shen Yichi thought for a moment, then sighed. “Never heard of him. I’ll ask around for you when I get back.”
Xie Yunshu rolled his eyes. “You might not even make it back. The antidote is in my hands.”
Shen Yichi gave a flat “Oh.” “Then I won’t look for him.”
Xie Yunshu instantly panicked, exactly like when his younger self had been ignored. “That won’t do! Your life is in my hands right now. Are you sure you won’t help me?”
Shen Yichi gave a cold laugh. He really was different now as a child he’d been like a little puppy, but now he knew how to bare his claws and fangs. Still, it wasn’t nearly enough.
Shen Yichi put on a look of helplessness. “Then when we return, this humble one will ask around for you.”
Xie Yunshu looked like he wanted to say more, but a servant knocked on the door from outside. “Your Highness, shall we bring you some hot water?”
Only then did Xie Yunshu cough lightly. “Go on.”
Shen Yichi had assumed nothing more would happen. He turned to leave. “My lord, this humble one will go lodge with the others.”
But Xie Yunshu stopped him. “You’ll sleep here in my room. I need to keep an eye on you, those servants of mine could never keep you in check.”