That day, Shu Changyu managed to free one of his hands from Jing Mu’s restraint and fiercely slapped him across the face.
The sound of that slap was exceptionally crisp, so much that even Shu Changyu’s palm went numb from the impact.
Yet Jing Mu seemed completely unaware of it. He only held Shu Changyu firmly beneath him, eyes closed, completely focused on prying open his tightly clenched teeth and intertwining their lips and tongues.
Shu Changyu’s mind was a complete mess.
He did not understand why his relationship with Jing Mu had turned into this.
He simply lay there and allowed Jing Mu to kiss him, mechanically feeling the tenderness and demand coming from his lips.
He did not feel disgusted.
He only felt his thoughts tangled into chaos, as if the sky itself had collapsed and fiercely crashed down upon his head.
He did not know how much time had passed.
The sunlight outside the window seemed to have shifted several inches lower before Jing Mu finally slowly released him.
Shu Changyu looked at Jing Mu as he opened his eyes and stared at him.
Jing Mu smiled with an expression of complete satisfaction and innocence.
That smile was exactly the same as the one Jing Mu had when he first met him in this lifetime.
But back then, Shu Changyu had not been able to read so many emotions hidden within his eyes.
This was also the first time Shu Changyu realized that such a clean and pure smile could contain the possessiveness and impulse of a wild beast.
Then, Shu Changyu heard his own voice.
It was cold and harsh, yet carried a weakness and tremble that he could not ignore.
“Get out.”
He heard himself say it.
“Jing Mu has already done this before.”
Jing Mu’s distinct fingers held his chin, while his thumb gently rubbed over Shu Changyu’s damp lips.
He spoke to him softly.
“Last time, Young Tutor had a terrible fever. Your lips were also cracked and dry. It truly made my heart ache.”
Shu Changyu’s already buzzing mind was once again struck heavily.
The dream he had…
It was not that he had dreamed of himself and Jing Mu kissing.
It was Jing Mu who had taken advantage of him while he was unconscious and done such a thing.
He himself…
From beginning to end, he had never had any improper thoughts toward Jing Mu.
It was Jing Mu.
Jing Mu was the one who had allowed such filthy emotions to grow within their originally pure teacher-and-student relationship.
And he had even forced those feelings onto him.
So this was the truth.
The reason Jing Mu had trusted him and depended on him so much was not because he was his teacher.
Instead, Jing Mu had treated him as a toy that he could play with and act willfully toward, something that could never escape his grasp.
Shu Changyu could not control his trembling.
But he had always been physically weak. There was no way he could compete against Jing Mu, who had practiced martial arts for years and was half a head taller than him.
“Get out.”
All his anger and humiliation had nowhere to go.
In the end, they only became one powerless and trembling word that slowly left his mouth.
“Get out.”
Yet Jing Mu seemed completely unaware.
His face still carried a warm and gentle smile like the spring breeze.
He slowly stood up and gently stroked Shu Changyu’s cheek.
“Don’t be angry, Young Tutor.”
He said softly.
“In a moment, Jing Mu will have them arrange this place properly. Young Tutor can stay here for the time being.”
“When Father Emperor decides on the officials responsible for the river management, Jing Mu will definitely clear your name.”
After saying that, his thumb lingered once more beside Shu Changyu’s lips before he turned and left.
When he reached the doorway, he stopped again and turned sideways.
“Whether Young Tutor likes me or not doesn’t matter.”
“As long as Young Tutor knows…”
“In this lifetime, I will definitely protect you well.”
“That is enough.”
After saying this, he turned around, walked out, and firmly closed the prison door.
The next second, he heard a sharp cracking sound hit the prison door.
It should have been Shu Changyu throwing something at it.
Jing Mu’s smile did not change.
He turned and left the prison.
Was he sad?
Naturally, he was.
The more carefree his smile appeared on the surface, the more unbearable the pain in his heart was.
But…
What else could he do?
His heart was filled entirely with Shu Changyu.
Yet Shu Changyu had never truly placed him in his heart.
Since that was the case, rather than maintaining this broken and fragile situation, it was better to destroy everything completely.
Let Shu Changyu hate him.
Let Shu Changyu dislike him.
Let Shu Changyu think he was disgusting.
It no longer mattered.
After all…
The chances he had once given Young Tutor were already more than enough.
——
That day, not long after Jing Mu left, several prison guards entered.
No one knew what Jing Mu had instructed them.
The guards did not dare say anything. They did not even raise their heads as they efficiently cleaned away all the broken porcelain pieces Shu Changyu had thrown onto the floor.
They also replaced the cushions and bedding on the couch with clean, thick, soft ones.
Shu Changyu stood coldly to the side, watching the guards move around.
He clearly understood.
He had been placed under house arrest by Jing Mu.
He could not describe his current feelings.
He only felt like an old horse that had stumbled, falling into the hands of the disciple he had once devoted himself to teaching.
Now, he felt completely exhausted in both body and mind.
He almost wanted to stop caring about everything, close his eyes, and pretend this was all just a dream.
As for whether he would wake up in the General’s Residence, or find himself in the imperial dungeon with one leg crippled…
None of it mattered.
Nothing could possibly be worse than this.
After the guards silently cleaned the prison into a neat and comfortable state, they left one person behind to pour him a cup of hot tea.
“Sir, if you need anything, just knock on the door and give instructions.”
Before leaving, the guard lowered his voice.
“What is the current situation with my case?” Shu Changyu asked sideways.
“Sir, this humble one does not know.”
The guard immediately showed a cautious expression and bowed.
“All matters are being handled personally by Lord Jing, the Dali Temple Minister. This humble one knows nothing.”
Looking at his expression, Shu Changyu understood that the man had clearly been instructed.
Even if he knew anything, he would not tell him.
He sighed and gave a cold laugh.
“In that case, there is nothing else. Leave.”
The guard hurriedly withdrew.
“Later, this humble one will return to bring your meal.”
Shu Changyu ignored him.
He turned around and stood with his hands behind his back, facing the window inside the prison.
The window was covered by thick rows of iron bars, but it was already much brighter than the prisons he had previously stayed in.
The window faced the bamboo forest behind the Dali Temple.
Right outside were countless tall and slender bamboo stalks.
When he had first entered this place, he still had the leisure to sit down and rest.
But now, confusion and sudden changes had disturbed his mind so much that he could not even sit calmly.
The scene from earlier kept replaying before his eyes.
Jing Mu’s words continued echoing in his ears.
Yesterday, his entire mind had been focused on writing his river management plan.
He had planned that once the manuscript was completed, he would escape far away to the Yellow River in the south.
After Emperor Qian Ning passed away, he would return to court and continue being a loyal minister who helped maintain the country.
Yet today…
He had been imprisoned in the Dali Temple by his own student, who had also been reborn.
And he had been forcibly kissed in prison.
Shu Changyu stood inside the cell, lost in thought.
He thought he might finally understand why heaven had allowed him to return once more.
The heavens above had not shown him favor.
Instead, they had recorded every single thing he had done.
Then, in the most humiliating and unbearable way possible, they forced him to repay everything.
——
Jing Mu returned directly to the palace and went to Emperor Qian Ning’s study.
“How is the investigation?” Emperor Qian Ning asked.
“Is it truly as Shu Changyu said?”
Then Emperor Qian Ning frowned.
“If what he said is false, I will punish him severely.”
“Reporting to Father Emperor, this son did not find that account book, but I found a letter exchanged between Shu Langzhong and the road repair supervisor.”
“The contents of the letter do not match the account books submitted by Minister Qian.”
Jing Mu calmly lied.
“This son feels that something is suspicious, but I have yet to find the direction of investigation.”
“What does Mu’er think should be done?” Emperor Qian Ning asked.
“Reporting to Father Emperor. This matter must not allow a loyal official to be falsely accused, but neither can the true offender be allowed to escape.”
Jing Mu said.
“This son privately believes that Shu Langzhong should remain detained in the Dali Temple for now. Once the truth is revealed, a decision can then be made.”
Emperor Qian Ning nodded with satisfaction.
Then, somewhat curiously, he asked:
“Shu Changyu is your Young Tutor. Do you believe he would do such a thing?”
Jing Mu replied:
“Young Tutor has always acted openly and honestly. He taught this son through both words and actions. Naturally, this son does not believe Young Tutor would commit such corruption.”
“But as the Dali Temple Minister, this son must uphold the law impartially and use evidence as the basis for judgment, rather than allow personal feelings to interfere.”
Hearing this explanation, Emperor Qian Ning became even more satisfied.
He nodded.
“Indeed worthy of being my son.”
“Then I leave this matter entirely to you. You must enforce the law impartially and uncover the truth.”
Then he added:
“Your Young Tutor has been physically weak since childhood. While he is under your care, you should take better care of him.”
Jing Mu answered yes.
Long before the Empress had “casually” suggested that Jing Mu leave the palace and establish his own residence, Emperor Qian Ning had already privately begun selecting a manor for him.
Now that Jing Mu had been granted the title of prince, he directly assigned him a residence outside the palace.
Therefore, Jing Mu no longer needed to return to the palace.
That night, he returned to the Dali Temple again.
He took the key from the prison guard and told them to wait at a distance.
Then he walked alone to the deepest cell.
Shu Changyu’s cell.
After stopping outside the door, the key remained in his hand, but he stopped moving.
Holding the key, he stood silently outside the door.
His eyes lowered, his face expressionless.
The moonlight fell through the small window onto his face, making his expression cold and solemn.
After a moment, he calmly unlocked the door and walked inside, closing it behind him.
The moment he entered, he saw Shu Changyu standing with his back facing him.
He stood beneath the moonlight, tall and straight, hands behind his back.
His wide-sleeved official robe was outlined by a cold silver edge under the moonlight.
It looked as if he might drift away at any moment.
Jing Mu’s heart tightened.
He quickly stepped forward and stood beside him.
The cup of tea beside Shu Changyu had already gone cold.
The refreshing meal sent by the guards had not been touched even once.
Everything remained completely untouched on the table.
Jing Mu stood beside him.
Shu Changyu did not turn his gaze.
He did not even look at Jing Mu.
He only stared outside at the bamboo.
The shadows of bamboo swayed gently, reflected in his clear yet cold eyes.
“Why does Young Tutor not eat?” Jing Mu asked gently.
Shu Changyu acted as if there was no one beside him.
He did not respond at all.
The next moment, a powerful force pulled him into Jing Mu’s embrace.
A storm-like kiss fiercely fell upon his lips.
Only after Shu Changyu struggled desperately and pushed against him with all his strength did Jing Mu finally release him.
Yet he still tightly gripped Shu Changyu’s shoulders, holding him firmly in his arms and forcing him to face him.
“Why does Young Tutor not eat?”
Jing Mu smiled and asked again in a gentle voice.