Mei Jinshu was in a very good mood today, bringing him along to the backyard hot spring. Come to think of it, he had never bathed with anyone else before. Would this kid think he was being nice to him again?
Stepping through the doorway, a hazy steam rushed toward him. Water vapor hung on the bead curtains, and the gauze banners swayed gently in the breeze.
The sound of flowing water echoed in bursts. Mei Jinshu undressed as if no one else was around, shedding his garments entirely, stepping into the water along the stone steps, and leaning back against the pool wall to let out a comfortable sigh.
“Why aren’t you getting in yet?”
“You’re a grown man, why are you dawdling so much?”
Meng Xueran stepped out of his clothes on tiptoe. His figure was slender yet very thin, but his skin was as fair as Mei Jinshu’s, delicate enough to seem like it would break at a touch. He had not dared to look directly just a moment ago, only vaguely seeing two slender, fair, and clean legs. It felt so awkward; this was also his first time bathing with someone else.
“Looking like a little chick, do they not feed you enough in the palace?” Mei Jinshu appraised his body. He was truly too thin; it was not visible when he wore clothes, but now he realized how thin his arms and legs were, and that they could be snapped with a single hand.
Meng Xueran said, “Nanny took care of my daily meals and living, but she died.”
Knowing this was a painful memory for him, Mei Jinshu still spoke up: “What happened?”
“The Empress sentenced her to death.” Meng Xueran’s face was filled with sorrow. As the nanny who had taken care of him since he was little, her affection for him even surpassed that of the Empress. How could a youth rich in emotion not grieve? “Because of an illness, it almost cost me my life.”
“Yet back then, the Empress had all along been staying in the Eastern Palace accompanying the Crown Prince, and did not know I fell ill. When my condition turned critical, she laid all the blame on Nanny, believing it was because Nanny failed to look after me properly that I fell sick.”
“The Empress paid no heed to my pleas whatsoever and stubbornly insisted on executing Nanny. Later on, a new nanny was sent to wait on me, but I did not like her and was not used to it, so I grew somewhat thinner.”
Now Mei Jinshu finally understood why his life had been so miserable. In his memories, it was he who had personally dug Meng Xueran out of the snowdrift. Both the Empress and the Emperor had deemed Meng Xueran beyond saving, past the point of recovery.
It was only under his earnest entreaties that the boy was brought back to Jingying Pavilion and cared for for over half a month before clinging back to life.
Mei Jinshu, oh Mei Jinshu, why are you so kindhearted! If not for the fact that he had already awakened his consciousness and completely taken control of this body, he would likely have met the same end as the Mei Jinshu of his past life.
People with soft hearts always manage to invite trouble upon themselves.
If he had not poked his nose into other people’s business, Meng Xueran would probably be lying in the imperial tombs right now, and he could have just focused entirely on assisting Meng Changqi in ascending the throne.
Pity that people cannot just be pinched to death once alive; he had better keep and raise him for the time being.
Mei Jinshu said, “The departed are gone, do not grieve anymore. A person must learn to lick their own wounds and let go of the past.”
Meng Xueran asked, “Then does Imperial Father-in-law have worries?”
“Yes, and it is you,” Mei Jinshu said. “Come over here, let me wash you. You are filthy.”
Meng Xueran cautiously moved close to him, turning his back. His hair ribbon was untied, and Mei Jinshu picked up a wooden comb, dabbed some osmanthus oil, and helped untangle and smooth out his fluffy, curly hair.
It was really fun, just like a big black cat. Mei Jinshu gave that head a large, vigorous rub. Tsk, why is there still mud?
“Was the Princess very harsh to you?”
“Very harsh!”
“What did she do to you?”
“She and seven or eight other people pinned me to the ground, wrote characters on my face, drew turtles, and called me an ugly monster. Imperial Father-in-law, am I ugly?”
“You are not ugly.” Mei Jinshu turned him back around, picked up a handkerchief to wipe away the freckles on his face, and appraised him. “If you eat properly, study your books, and practice martial arts, when you grow up you will surely be able to charm the Princess.”
Meng Xueran said, “No, I hate her.”
Mei Jinshu asked, “Then do you have anything you like?”
Meng Xueran thought for a long while before saying, “Cannot I just follow Imperial Father-in-law for the rest of my life?”
As the words fell, Mei Jinshu forcefully shoved his head straight under the water. After watching him thrash around in the water for a good long while, he hauled him back up. Coughing like a drowned chicken, Meng Xueran grabbed his wrist and demanded, “What did I say wrong again?”
“Think about it yourself!”
“At sixteen, draw a clear line between us and Imperial Father-in-law, establish a family and career.”
“As long as you remember it, carve it into your brain.”
“I will remember it.” Meng Xueran lowered his head, tears spinning in his eye sockets, his little face flushed red. Finally, someone was taking care of him and staying with him, yet he had to keep firmly in mind the day they would part ways.
He could not understand Mei Jinshu at all. The man gave him a life of luxury and fine food, the dignity of the Prime Minister’s Estate’s young master, along with occasional care and consideration. Yet within three seconds, he would change into a completely different person, hitting him, scolding him, and always speaking with a stern face.
Could it be that these so-called acts of kindness were only because he was the Emperor’s son? A helpless measure born of coercion?
“Imperial Father-in-law, I have never thought of contending with Meng Changqi!”
“Nor have I ever had the thought of replacing him, why does none of you believe me?”
“Why should I believe you?” Mei Jinshu tossed aside the handkerchief in his hand and spoke to him with absolute seriousness. “How do you know that the words you speak with such absolute certainty now will not change eight or ten years down the road? People are the most fickle and the least trustworthy creatures. You are still wet behind the ears, yet you dare to utter wild, arrogant words.”
“Do you even understand what it means to take precautions before disaster strikes, or what it means to remain constant while responding to all changes?”
“Perhaps before the twins were born, the Empress also said with absolute certainty that she would treat them equally and lavish them with care and affection. Yet how did it turn out? Who can ever predict things that have not yet happened?”
Unable to take the grievance, Meng Xueran burst into tears all over again and turned away, refusing to pay him any more mind while trying to suppress his sobs.
“You cry the moment I say a word to you, turn back around!”
“I do not want to pay attention to you!”
Developing a temper now, are we? Mei Jinshu grabbed the back of his neck and once again shoved him underwater. To be living under someone else’s roof and still dare to talk back to the villain like this, it seemed he still had not learned to be obedient.
After repeating this twice, Meng Xueran finally conceded defeat, waving his hands and saying, “Stop, I will pay attention to you. I will pay attention to you.”
Mei Jinshu said, “Remember, I am the only one who has the right to find you troublesome; you have no qualifications to throw tantrums.”
“Oh.” Having suffered a lesson, Meng Xueran felt dizzy from the hot bath. He stood up to change clothes, searched around for a long while, and said, “Imperial Father-in-law, where are my clothes?”
Only then did Mei Jinshu realize he seemed to have forgotten to prepare any for him. With a trace of awkwardness, he stood up and began dressing himself at his leisure. “Um, I will have Shiyi bring some over for you in a moment.”
“If you do not mind, you can also walk back with me bare-bottomed.”
“I certainly will not!”
“Pfft.” Mei Jinshu could not help but chuckle at him. “Rest assured, no one is looking at you.”
“No!”
“Then just wait.”
The Prime Minister’s Estate was quiet with very few serving attendants; those who remained were all reliable people. In their spare time, Ye Ting and Mei Shiyi would help handle minor tasks, such as feeding the fish in the fish tank or watering the plants. On his way back, he happened to run into Mei Shiyi clearing away fallen leaves in the courtyard and instructed him to deliver clothes to Meng Xueran.
When a person lives too insightfully, they only invite superfluous vexations and a mountain of extra misery. Knowing full well that Mei Shiyi was head-over-heels devoted to Meng Xueran and would not hesitate to betray him as his master, if it were possible, he truly wished he could just retire right here with Ye Ting and sweep everyone else out the door.
He loved taking a nap on the study’s daybed. Since it was not quite time for dinner yet, a wave of drowsiness washed over him after the bath, leaving him with no mood left to think about this and that. He closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Suddenly, he was dragged into his consciousness world. He looked around left and right, starting to check his personal permissions, only to find that because his points were still at the bottom of the rankings, he had not unlocked a single permission.
Unexpectedly, however, the single reward to view memories that he had retained from before was still there.
Mei Jinshu called out, “System?”
The system replied, “I am here.”
After pondering for a long while, Mei Jinshu asked it, “I want to know, what was the initial reason that caused Meng Xueran to harbor the idea of ascending the imperial throne? To the point that in the end, he was abandoned by everyone and willing to bear eternal infamy just to become Emperor.”
The system replied, “In his previous life, Meng Xueran had many thoughts of ascending the throne, but due to various reasons, they all ultimately fizzled out. Extracting the most critical node now, please wait, Host.”
“Alright.” Mei Jinshu knew how someone of extraordinary birth could ever be willing to stay beneath others, acting as an unseen shadow lingering behind the lofty figures in power.
The current Meng Xueran was merely young, ignorant, and harboring naive, innocent impulses; even so, managing him right now took considerable effort just to barely keep him under control. But as time went on and his disposition matured, he could not guarantee what might happen.
If he could prevent him at the exact moment he desired the throne the most and redeem him, perhaps he could nip the disaster in the bud!
The system said, “Memory node rollback complete. Shall we enter?”
Mei Jinshu said, “Yes.”
A brilliant flash of white light appeared before his eyes, so blinding he could not even keep them open. His body tumbled into a vortex as his consciousness vanished briefly for a moment. When he blinked his eyes open, he found himself in a magnificent palace banquet.
Inside the grand hall, music and dance filled the air amidst cheerful laughter and chats. Courtiers and servants bustled back and forth endlessly, leaving one’s eyes spinning and uncertain of where to go. Leaning against the vermilion-lacquered pillar behind him, he suddenly caught sight of the Crown Prince dressed in full formal attire.
The man was clad in a white brocade robe embroidered with gold, his hair bound by a golden crown adorned with long gold tassels. He was dignified, upright, and proper, with a gentle smile lingering in his brows as he walked straight toward him.
Was this Meng Changqi, or someone else?
No, this was the Crown Prince. How could it possibly be Meng Xueran? He must have lost his mind to have confused the two of them.
Meng Changqi stepped forward and inquired affectionately, “During the Lantern Festival, why is the Prime Minister standing here lost in thought?”
“Hm?” He was actually speaking to him! Could it be that right now he was experiencing the exact circumstances of that time firsthand? What on earth was the system playing at, making him experience this so vividly as if being manipulated like a puppet?
“Greetings, Your Royal Highness the Crown Prince.” Mei Jinshu cupped his hands in a bow, thinking to himself that the person before him was exceptionally handsome, noble, and poised. Possessing the exact same face, he stood in stark contrast to the rebellious demon that was Meng Xueran.
Meng Changqi led him into the banquet, and the two sat together, sharing a cup of wine and conversing happily.
No, my head is spinning so much, I cannot hold on. Forcing himself to stay upright while chatting with him, Mei Jinshu massaged his gentle brow. “This subject has a poor tolerance for alcohol and cannot drink anymore; otherwise, if I miss the lanterns and fireworks later, would that not be a regret?”
Meng Changqi said, “That is true as well. Someone, serve tea.”
Mei Jinshu picked up the tea and gulped it down to try and soothe the alcohol buzz, but to his dismay, even his body began to grow numb.
How can this be? Panicking, he stood up abruptly, unable even to offer a polite parting word as he spun around and bolted toward the outside of the hall. This sensation felt as though he had been drugged. That wine had been problematic, and the tea was not quite right either.
What should I do? Why is there no one by my side?