After Shu Changyu arrived at Zhongli Palace that day, he did not say much. He treated Jing Mu as if he were an irrelevant piece of air, finished teaching what was scheduled for the day, and then took his leave.
Shu Changyu himself knew that taking out his anger on others was not the conduct of a gentleman. But first, the irritation in his heart had indeed arisen because of Jing Mu; and second—whenever he saw Jing Mu, he would inevitably think of scenes from his dreams again and again, throwing his mind into complete disorder.
Especially since, over the past decades, Shu Changyu had only ever focused on scheming for power, leaving no room for romantic entanglements. In dreams and reality alike, such intimate contact with another person was truly his first experience—this was no lie.
Thus, becoming unsettled upon seeing the source of it all and turning cold was understandable.
But Shu Changyu himself understood the reasons, and so did the readers—but Jing Mu remained completely unaware.
He only knew that since Shu Changyu’s illness that day, his attitude had changed, and even now had not improved. This made him feel that Shu Changyu’s previous kindness toward him had not been because of him as a person, but because of his identity as the Second Prince and a pawn of the emperor.
Useful, so he was treated with false courtesy.
Now that he had become a discarded piece, there was naturally no need for Shu Changyu to waste words on him anymore.
It seemed that what he had done in his previous life was wrong. Giving Shu Changyu freedom, letting him do what made him happy, giving him everything he had—was all wrong.
Now it seemed that Shu Changyu’s heart contained the whole world, except for him.
Since that was the case… they should not repeat the same mistakes. Shu Changyu should not repeat them, and he Jing Mu should not either.
Yet he still showed no emotion on his face, quietly listening to Shu Changyu finish the lesson and then sending him off.
Shu Changyu only suppressed himself and did not notice Jing Mu’s abnormality at all, nor did he see the emotions gathering in Jing Mu’s eyes, gradually condensing into a storm.
It was faintly becoming something that could no longer be contained.
——
The next day after court, just as Shu Changyu stepped out of the Yonghe Hall, he was stopped by the Eldest Prince Jing Yan.
“Is Your Excellency Shu satisfied with the Second Prince’s current arrangement?” Jing Yan asked with a smile.
Shu Changyu glanced at him sideways and did not respond.
“Tell me—when I once told you that a wise bird chooses the right tree, you did not take my words to heart and instead walked that old path, staying close to Jing Mu. And now?” Jing Yan smiled, clearly pleased with himself. “I now serve in the Ministry of Personnel, while Jing Mu has only been assigned to the Court of Judicial Review dealing with criminal cases. He has left the palace and been granted the title ‘Dun’. I, however, remain the Eldest Prince within the palace. So tell me, Shu Sanlang, how do you judge your choice?”
He repeated “how” several times, which in Shu Changyu’s eyes looked like someone desperately trying to prove something.
Shu Changyu looked at him again, half-smiling. He bowed slightly.
“This minister naturally knows that Your Highness the Eldest Prince has far-sighted vision and is prescient in judgment. However, I am a man of no great ambition, content with my current situation, so I do not find anything to ‘judge’ here.” He paused and smiled faintly. “We simply walk different paths and cannot plan together.”
With that, Shu Changyu turned and left first.
Jing Yan stood frozen for a moment, then belatedly erupted in rage. This Shu Changyu not only did not appreciate favors, he was also stubbornly outdated! What infuriated him most was that even with Jing Mu losing power and his backer gone, Shu Changyu showed no panic at all.
Did he think that with the Shu family behind him, he could remain safe forever?
At that moment, someone behind him called out with a smile and bowed.
He turned around and saw Minister Qian Rubin, Shu Changyu’s superior.
After a moment, Jing Yan smiled again. He helped Qian Rubin up.
“Minister Qian is too polite. Since we meet by fate today, why not have a small gathering somewhere? I know a wine house with excellent aged daughter’s red.”
——
Whether in this life or the previous one, Shu Changyu always found Emperor Qianning’s sons both amusing and exhausting. He usually watched their struggles like a play, occasionally even thinking that being born into the imperial family was a great misfortune.
On one hand, they had to desperately maintain imperial favor; on the other, they had to secretly win over factions in court—never able to relax on either side.
It was truly exhausting—more exhausting than when he himself held power as chancellor.
Shu Changyu had no intention of involving himself in any faction and avoided it whenever possible. Yet because of his current status and background—plus the fact that he had three generals behind him—no faction could ignore him.
Threats and inducements were inevitable.
However, what he did not expect was that the Eldest Prince was not only foolish, but also crude in his methods of recruitment.
“This road reconstruction project has truly troubled Minister Shu,” Minister Qian said that afternoon when Shu Changyu arrived at the Ministry of Works, smiling as he approached. “You no longer need to personally oversee the remaining work. Today you may hand over the personnel and account books and take some rest.”
Within the Ministry of Works, responsibilities were normally fixed and never reassigned halfway.
Shu Changyu glanced at him but had not yet spoken when Qian continued.
“As for the northern palace renovation previously assigned to you, after careful consideration I believe it is better given to the Left Vice Minister. Therefore, you need not worry about it either.”
Shu Changyu immediately understood. This man had suddenly decided to sideline him and transfer away all his duties.
Just as he was wondering why Qian Rubin, who had previously flattered him so eagerly, had suddenly changed his attitude, Qian added:
“In this way, Minister Shu can devote all his energy to instructing the Crown Prince Dun in his studies.”
He deliberately emphasized the words “Crown Prince Dun,” his face full of smugness.
Shu Changyu now understood clearly—Qian Rubin had likely taken the Eldest Prince’s advice and learned the principle of “a wise bird chooses the right tree,” and had chosen to perch on that “right tree,” using it to deal with him.
Shu Changyu smiled faintly. “Then I thank Minister Qian for his consideration.”
He had never intended to build a career or accumulate wealth in the Ministry of Works anyway. His goal was only to complete his flood-control treatise and leave for the south. Previously, Qian Rubin had overloaded him with work to curry favor, forcing him to run around constantly and only find time to write at night.
Now that Qian was pushing him out, it actually suited him perfectly. He could focus on his manuscript and submit it to Emperor Qianning sooner.
Having lived in high positions in his previous life, he was long accustomed to detachment. Yet this very demeanor, when seen by Qian Rubin, only further enraged him.
Originally, Qian thought Shu Changyu was ungrateful but too powerful to offend. Now, with the Eldest Prince’s words, he realized flattering such an inflexible man was pointless.
So he withdrew his goodwill and turned toward the Eldest Prince instead.
Seeing Shu Changyu still so calm even after losing his responsibilities confirmed his judgment—this man truly did not know how to appreciate favors.
With a cold snort, he turned and left.
Shu Changyu paid him no mind, continuing to read his manuscripts.
The river-control treatise was nearing completion. After a few more days of refinement and added annotations and diagrams, it would be ready for presentation to the emperor.
His attention was now entirely focused on traveling south to manage the river. He no longer cared about anything else in the capital.
Only occasionally, when he thought of Jing Mu, would he feel a faint unease and heaviness in his chest.
——
The next day, when Shu Changyu went to Zhongli Palace, Jing Mu was unexpectedly absent.
He walked into the study, placed his book box on the desk, and still did not see Jing Mu.
At that moment, Siliao brought in tea and hurried over upon seeing him.
“Minister Shu, you are here. His Highness went out in haste today—he said there was something at the Court of Judicial Review. He instructed this servant to inform you when you arrived.”
Shu Changyu gave a quiet “oh,” feeling somewhat displeased. If he was going out, why did he not send someone to inform him? He had come for nothing.
As he casually flipped through Jing Mu’s assignments, he asked, “Why do I not see Lady Hanyu in your palace?”
Siliao frowned slightly and replied softly, “Lady Hanyu… was given by His Highness to become the wife of Shunxi in the Empress’s palace.”
Shu Changyu’s hand froze. He looked up sharply. “He… had feelings for her, did he not?”
Siliao quickly shook her head. “This servant does not know why.”
At that moment, Shu Changyu paused again.
As he moved the papers aside, a sheet slipped out and fell at his feet.
On it was a portrait. The figure wore the formal robes of a first-rank court official, expression cold and stern, posture upright and imposing. Even with refined and elegant features, the overwhelming authority was impossible to conceal.
It was unmistakably Shu Changyu himself—from his previous life, when he held supreme power.