Chapter 1547: The Regent Prince Dotes on Me Too Much, What Should I Do 16

In recent days, Jin Chen's frequency of attending early court has increased a lot, which is not his own intention; really, as long as he lazes around and sleeps a bit longer, once Xie Zhiwei returns from court, he will give him a scolding in the Imperial Study.

Jin Chen is practically suffering immensely; he can only get up early to attend court, serving as a decorative mascot.

On a day off, according to the regulations of the Great Jin Kingdom, court attendance is not required; Jin Chen finally got some free time, yet he dawdled and only entered the Imperial Study to review memorials when it was nearly noon.

Yu Huayao was also present.

Rumors that the Noble Attendant had been receiving the emperor's favor spread quickly throughout the palace, but only he himself knew that, although he had been summoned on the night he first entered the palace, the emperor had not touched him in the slightest.

Yu Huayao did not understand why, but he still remembered his duty, so he came to the Imperial Study every day to grind ink and attend to Jin Chen.

Little did he know, Jin Chen also had his own considerations: the Grand Tutor is a high-ranking official—a key factor for a salted fish to turn over a new leaf! Moreover, the Grand Tutor holds the clue to that divine pill, so there must be no mistake. He just needs to find an opportunity to have Yu Huayao do something for him.

Thinking this, Jin Chen heard Gao Kun's announcement from outside the hall—Xie Zhiwei had arrived.

He glanced at Yu Huayao, who was quietly grinding ink, then silently shifted his body a bit farther away.

"Your subject pays his respects, Your Majesty."

Upon entering, Xie Zhiwei saw Yu Huayao attending at the side; his steps paused before he continued forward, though his tone grew colder.

Jin Chen coughed lightly, but since Yu Huayao was still there he couldn't well explain, saying, "No need for formalities, Little Royal Uncle, why have you come today as well?"

Xie Zhiwei slowly rose from his bow; hearing this, his eyes darkened, and his lowered long lashes cast a shadow beneath them.

"Am I not disturbing your side where the red sleeves add fragrance?"

Jealous, jealous, jealous—you haven't even pierced the window paper, yet you still dare to be jealous.

Jin Chen snorted inwardly, "Nonsense, Little Royal Uncle, come sit."

Xie Zhiwei still did not move.

Just looking at this eyesore scene was unbearable for him, let alone taking part; his jealousy was about to turn into a venomous snake spitting its tongue.

"Your Majesty, I have important matters to discuss with you; perhaps we should have the unrelated persons withdraw."

Yu Huayao had just been able to stay silent, although he also felt that this prince was unlike the rumors, and even harbored a strange, inexplicable animosity toward him.

But upon hearing this, he could no longer stay put; he set down the ink slab and wanted to tug at Jin Chen's sleeve, his voice still clear and sweet: "Your Majesty… you permitted me to attend and enter; I do not wish to leave now."

Jin Chen hastily pulled back his sleeve, causing Yu Huayao's coquettish gesture to come to nothing.

He glanced at Xie Zhiwei, who was about to be drowned in jealousy, and said, "I am discussing state affairs with the Little Royal Uncle; you may leave."

Yu Huayao gritted his teeth, half-kneeling at Jin Chen's side, and softly said, "Then may I request a reward, please?"

"What do you want?"

"A hairpin." Yu Huayao happily lifted his head, "Just one hairpin."

"What's so special about asking for a hairpin as a reward?" Jin Chen didn't understand, but anyway this person could still be useful later—the Grand Tutor is very much in favor.

"Alright, I'll have Gao Kun pick one."

As soon as the words fell, Jin Chen inexplicably felt the surrounding pressure drop considerably.

He again glanced covertly at Xie Zhiwei; sure enough, his expression grew colder, and feeling somewhat ill at ease, he flicked his sleeve and ordered Yu Huayao, "Hurry up and leave."

"Yes, your attendant takes his leave, thank you, Your Majesty!" Yu Huayao was overjoyed; leaving, he inevitably brushed past Xie Zhiwei, who stood to the side.

Xie Zhiwei's interlocked fingers almost dug into his palms, and the jealousy in his heart flowed like poison.

Jin Chen gave Yu Huayao a hairpin.

Does he not know what bestowing a hairpin signifies in the Great Jin Kingdom?

Even in the past, the former emperor, despite his great fondness for the beautiful consort, had only ever given a hairpin to the empress.

What gives Yu Huayao the right!

Xie Zhiwei felt as if pricked by a sharp needle, with sour feelings flowing incessantly.

Jin Chen didn't know; he only knew that if he didn't say something soon, the Imperial Study would truly be flooded with jealousy.

He rose and took Xie Zhiwei's hand, his tone somewhat worried: "Little Royal Uncle, why are you so absent-minded today? Has something happened?"

Upon hearing Jin Chen's voice, Xie Zhiwei hadn't yet reacted when his hand was taken, and he almost couldn't help but speak up.

But when the words reached his lips, all he said was, "The midsummer heat is approaching; will Your Majesty still go to the Jiangnan summer palace to escape the heat this year?"

Jin Chen raised his eyebrows slightly and replied nonchalantly, "Of course."

"Is that all you wanted to ask, Little Royal Uncle?" He reached out and lightly stroked Xie Zhiwei's thin shoulder, "This isn't really a big deal."

Xie Zhiwei lowered his phoenix eyes, not daring to let Jin Chen see the resentment in his thoughts.

Xie Zhiwei thought, his relationship with the emperor had only just eased after great effort; if he were to learn now that the emperor wanted to execute Yu Huayao, he would certainly be unwilling as well.

"It's nothing," Xie Zhiwei said in a trembling voice.

"Such matters have always been decided by the Little Royal Uncle; there's no need to specially come and ask me."

Jin Chen's tone also turned coolly indifferent, but as he turned, Xie Zhiwei grabbed his hand, and he met the depths of Xie Zhiwei's eyes, dark and rich with concealed pain.

"Your Majesty said you would not hate me; why have you become so distant?"

In the moment of speaking, Xie Zhiwei seemed to revert to his former self, the Regent Prince who held power over life and death, his aura imposing; yet only he himself knew how stern outwardly but soft within he truly was, and his originally ruthless thoughts, in Jin Chen's presence, had already turned into a thick, tender unwillingness.

It was more like a plea.

Jin Chen stared at him for a while, then suddenly pulled him into an embrace; the body in his arms stiffened for a moment, then quickly softened, as if he hadn't expected to be held.

"Little Royal Uncle, I ask you one last time: are you really only here to talk about the summer palace?"

"Your subject..."

Xie Zhiwei shuddered, his breath instantly turning hot; he was torn between his own feelings of inadequacy, fearing that if Jin Chen learned of his affection he would despise and reject him, yet he also wanted to lay it all out, to pour his heart brimming with sour emotions upon him, though he did not know what would come afterward.

Even when facing life-and-death decisions in the past, he had never felt this moment so hard to endure.

Gradually, though he still had not spoken, a faint mist rose in his eyes.

Jin Chen looked and couldn't help but soften; he thought, forget it, there's no need to rush.

The hand wrapped around Xie Zhiwei's back smoothed his breath, and the tone, unlike the feigned coldness just now, actually carried a hint of coaxing: "All right, if you don't want to speak, then don't."

"Little Royal Uncle, come see which memorials I don't know how to review."

Jin Chen took Xie Zhiwei's hand and sat beside the dragon throne, changing the subject.

Xie Zhiwei reached for the memorial, but couldn't read a single word; something seemed to be slowly burning in his dantian, and the tip of his tongue was bitten so hard it was about to draw blood.

He realized something was wrong; it had been like that after drinking blood that night, but before… it had never happened before.

"Little royal uncle?" Jin Chen poked his shoulder doubtfully, "How…?"

The caring words were shattered by the sound of the memorial being tossed aside, and Jin Chen's arms now held a soft-bodied beautiful prince.

Jin Chen raised an eyebrow, his interest growing deeper.

What a good partner—he had never seen anyone whose body was more honest than his words.

But Xie Zhiwei's reaction was truly strange; Jin Chen glanced at his cup and saw no aphrodisiac in it.

Could this also be a side effect of the backlash from that world-shaking martial art?