Shu Changyu had never known that Jing Mu could be so talented at saying shamelessly flirtatious things.
That day, when the two of them appeared together in the banquet hall of the Governor-General’s Residence in Zhili, both of their expressions were rather stiff.
Guo Hanru had already been waiting there.
Seeing that Shu Changyu’s complexion seemed off, though he couldn’t quite put his finger on why, he assumed Shu Changyu was still troubled by what had happened the day before.
So during the meal, Guo Hanru asked after him with concern.
“Yesterday, His Highness took you out to seek medical treatment. I wonder how skilled that physician was?”
Shu Changyu paused.
Before he could answer, Jing Mu said,
“We visited two different clinics yesterday. Neither physician knew how to treat it. They all said there was no cure for that drug.”
Hearing this, Shu Changyu shot him a sidelong glance.
Jing Mu happened to be glancing back at him without making it obvious.
You little brat.
Being shameless in private is one thing, but are you really going to tell the truth in front of Guo Hanru too? What’s next—are you planning to describe everything we did last night as well?
Accepting Jing Mu and falling in love with him was one matter.
Making their relationship public was another entirely.
Deep down, Shu Changyu still hoped to keep it from everyone for as long as possible.
For one thing, he still hadn’t figured out what their future would look like.
For another…
He didn’t know how he would face his parents or his siblings.
Across the table, Guo Hanru stared in surprise.
“Sun… Sun Dazhi actually used such a vicious drug?”
He hesitated before asking,
“Then, Lord Shu… how did you…”
Only after the words left his mouth did Guo Hanru realize how inappropriate the question was.
Someone who had been drugged like that…
And with no antidote…
There was only one possible way to resolve it.
By nature, Guo Hanru was slow to notice such things.
Only after speaking did he realize his mistake.
Embarrassed, he awkwardly closed his mouth and fell silent.
But the question had already been asked.
This time, Shu Changyu didn’t give Jing Mu a chance to interrupt.
Calmly, he replied,
“Yesterday, His Highness found me a courtesan from a brothel to serve as the antidote.”
As he spoke, he casually cast Jing Mu a light glance.
Then, wearing the knowing expression of a seasoned court official making an off-color joke, he turned to Guo Hanru and added,
“That young lady was rather… enthusiastic.”
“My poor waist and back are still aching.”
On the surface, those words were directed at Guo Hanru.
But both of the other men at the table knew perfectly well that Shu Changyu was actually using the story to complain about Jing Mu.
Jing Mu, however, acted as though he hadn’t caught the implication.
Grinning broadly, he said,
“If Shifu liked her, I’ll have that same young lady come again tonight.”
The two of them volleyed the conversation back and forth, leaving the honest and rule-abiding Guo Hanru—who had never once visited a brothel—blushing crimson in his seat.
Silently, he berated himself.
See? This is what you get for asking questions you shouldn’t have asked.
That night, Jing Mu ultimately failed to summon that brothel girl to accompany Shu Changyu to bed.
Feeling rather guilty about it, he decided to make up for it personally.
In the middle of the night, he quietly climbed through Shu Changyu’s window and slipped beneath his blankets.
Shu Changyu had been fast asleep.
Suddenly sensing a warm, solid body squeezing up beside him, he jolted awake in fright.
Turning his head, he found Jing Mu staring at him with bright, dark eyes, already tucked beneath the blankets.
Alarm bells immediately rang in Shu Changyu’s head.
“What time is it? You’re fooling around again!”
Keeping his voice low, he scolded him urgently.
He still hadn’t recovered from the previous night.
And now this little rascal had crawled into his bed again…
Jing Mu blinked innocently.
“Shifu, I’m not going to do anything.”
“I’m just here to sleep.”
As he spoke, he wrapped Shu Changyu into his embrace, holding him comfortably against his chest.
“I can’t sleep when you’re not beside me.”
Then, as though recalling something that made him especially happy, he chuckled.
“Shifu…”
“What happened today feels like a dream.”
“I still can’t believe it.”
He rubbed his chin gently against the top of Shu Changyu’s head before whispering,
“I’m afraid to fall asleep.”
“I’m afraid that once I wake up…”
“…today will have turned out to be nothing but a dream.”
Shu Changyu sighed inwardly.
This little rascal…
He might appear slow-witted, but when it came to sweet words, he needed no teacher at all.
Every sentence struck directly at the softest part of a person’s heart.
Lowering his eyes, Shu Changyu wrapped an arm around Jing Mu’s back.
“All right.”
“Do you feel reassured now?”
Jing Mu chuckled happily.
He enthusiastically rubbed his face against Shu Changyu’s silky hair until it became a complete mess.
Shu Changyu raised a hand and pressed the restless young man still.
“Enough.”
“If you’re reassured, then go to sleep.”
“Stop bothering me.”
Jing Mu obediently answered,
“Mm.”
Shu Changyu closed his eyes as well.
Curled safely in Jing Mu’s embrace, he felt as though he had finally found something to rely on.
Pressed against Jing Mu’s warm, sturdy chest, he drifted off to sleep within moments.
Half asleep, one thought crossed Shu Changyu’s mind.
Perhaps… the decision I made today really was the right one.
Shu Changyu slept all the way until the following morning, when a maid knocked on his door to wake him.
Still groggy, he opened his eyes.
Before he was fully awake, the knocking reminded him of Jing Mu lying beside him.
No one can see us sleeping in the same bed!
He instantly came fully awake and turned to urge Jing Mu to leave—
Only to find the space beside him completely empty.
Reaching over, he touched the bedding.
It was already cold.
That brat…
He certainly slipped away fast enough.
Only afterward did Shu Changyu realize that his own reaction had resembled someone secretly carrying on an affair behind everyone else’s backs.
The thought made the tips of his ears turn red.
He rolled over and sat up.
Once dressed and presentable, he headed to the banquet hall.
Jing Mu was already there, impeccably dressed, waiting alongside Guo Hanru.
Ever since their arrival, whenever they took meals at the Governor-General’s Residence, they always dined in this hall.
Seeing the three of them gathered, the attendants promptly served breakfast.
“Good morning, Lord Shu.”
Guo Hanru rose with a smile.
Shu Changyu nodded.
“Good morning to you as well, Lord Guo.”
He took his seat.
Jing Mu looked exceptionally refreshed, the picture of someone who had enjoyed a wonderful night’s sleep.
Smiling, he asked,
“Shifu, did you sleep well last night?”
Ordinarily, it would have been the most innocent greeting imaginable.
Yet between the two of them, it carried unmistakable undertones.
Fortunately, no one else at the table noticed.
Shu Changyu glanced at him before smiling faintly.
“Quite well.”
“Though I thought I heard a thief sneaking in during the night.”
“It made me rather uneasy.”
Jing Mu lowered his eyes with a pleased smile and said nothing further.
Guo Hanru, however, looked alarmed.
“A thief?”
“How could there be thieves inside the Governor-General’s Residence?”
“Lord Shu, were you injured?”
Smiling with narrowed eyes, Shu Changyu shook his head.
“Perhaps with the Governor-General gone, security has become lax.”
“Speaking of which, Sun Dazhi rode through the night under escort back to the capital. By now, he should nearly have arrived.”
“Once His Majesty appoints a new Governor-General, our inspection should also be nearing its end.”
As he spoke, Shu Changyu considered something before turning toward Jing Mu.
“Your Highness.”
“Over the next several days, we’ll be inspecting the rivers throughout the subordinate prefectures and counties of Zhili.”
“The journey is long, and we won’t be returning here.”
“Since you’re now holding the Governor-General’s official seal, I believe it’s best for you to remain here and oversee the Governor-General’s Residence.”
His reasoning was entirely sound.
In fact, it would have been inappropriate for Jing Mu to accompany them.
The Governor-General was the highest-ranking official in the province.
Below him, none of the local officials possessed the authority to assume full command.
Now that the Governor-General had committed a grave crime and could no longer remain in office, someone still had to fill that role until a replacement arrived.
Especially since Zhili guarded the capital itself.
Jing Mu pursed his lips.
“I could simply entrust those responsibilities to the local officials.”
“Besides, I know nothing about Zhili.”
Shu Changyu frowned.
“But the Governor-General’s seal is currently in your possession.”
As he said this, he suddenly paused.
Something heavy rested inside his sleeve.
It was unmistakably the Governor-General’s official seal.
He distinctly remembered returning it to Jing Mu the previous day.
Who knew when that brat had secretly slipped it back into his sleeve?
Speechless, Shu Changyu thought,
This boy truly has no sense of propriety.
Jing Mu’s eyes flickered as he watched him.
“As for inspecting the rivers, Lord Guo alone is more than capable.”
“The man who oversaw construction of these dikes was Lord Guo’s own mentor.”
“No one understands these riverworks better than he does.”
After a pause, Jing Mu continued,
“I’ve never read many books.”
“After leaving the palace, I went straight to the Court of Judicial Review.”
“I’m competent enough when it comes to criminal cases.”
“But governing an entire province…”
“…I’m completely at a loss.”
With that, he stood and respectfully bowed toward Shu Changyu.
“I humbly ask Shifu to remain and assist me.”
“Jing Mu would be deeply grateful.”
The corner of Shu Changyu’s mouth twitched.
This brat’s ability to tell outrageous lies with a perfectly straight face has improved considerably.
Not to mention everything Jing Mu had learned in his previous life…
Or the many years he had ruled as Emperor…
Managing Zhili Province for a few days would hardly challenge him.
Besides, the Governor-General’s Residence itself was already operating smoothly.
All it really needed was someone to preside over it until a replacement arrived.
There wasn’t actually much work involved.
But Shu Changyu knew perfectly well.
Jing Mu simply didn’t want to spend the next several days apart from him.
…And truthfully, Shu Changyu didn’t want to be separated from him either.
He opened his mouth.
Ordinarily, refusing would have been entirely in keeping with Shu Changyu’s usual character.
Instead, he looked toward Guo Hanru and nodded.
“Very well.”
“Then from this point onward, all matters concerning the river inspection shall be entrusted to Lord Guo.”
Guo Hanru immediately sprang to his feet in alarm.
“This humble official is terrified!”
“I’m afraid I cannot shoulder such an important responsibility. I beg you, my lord, to reconsider…”
Guo Hanru was excellent in every respect.
Except that he lacked confidence.
Before Shu Changyu could answer, Jing Mu spoke impatiently.
“Lord Guo has handled everything well these past few days.”
“I have every confidence he’ll continue to do so.”
“Take half the guards with you.”
“Focus solely on inspecting the dikes.”
“Don’t concern yourself with anything else.”
“If anyone gives you trouble, ignore them.”
“When you return, this prince will deal with every one of them.”
Although people of the time had no concept of “boyfriend material,” Shu Changyu, sitting nearby, felt his heart unexpectedly skip a beat.
As for Guo Hanru, he let out a tremendous sigh of relief and immediately bowed in gratitude to Jing Mu.
Without realizing why, Shu Changyu turned to look sideways at Jing Mu.
Jing Mu’s face remained perfectly composed.
But his eyes sparkled with unmistakable satisfaction.
He gave Shu Changyu a quick wink.