I Am a Salted Fish in Ancient Times

Chapter 13

The next day, when Xiao Shan groggily woke up, it was already broad daylight. He reached out to feel beside him, only to touch a thin, cool spot. Xiao Shan's mind stirred, and he fully opened his eyes, only to find that Xie Zhui was no longer there.

Xiao Shan blinked and didn't move, a very skeptical expression appearing on his face. He was certain that last night Xie Zhui was so exhausted that he didn't even want to move a finger, and by the end, he had even been bullied to the point of tears.

When he finally withdrew, Xie Zhui had already closed his eyes and soon fell into a deep sleep. Xiao Shan had personally bathed Xie Zhui before holding him and falling into a deep sleep himself.

How was it that by morning, Xie Zhui had woken up before him? Shouldn't he have been too weak to move and nestled beside him?

Xiao Shan rubbed his own waist and sat up with a contemplative expression. After dressing, he rang the bell to have Ji An bring in water for washing up.

After washing up, Xiao Shan asked, "Where is Xie Zhui? Has he eaten yet?"

Ji An smiled and replied, "Prince Consort is currently reviewing the account books and organizing the storeroom. He hasn't had breakfast yet and said he would wait for you."

Xiao Shan thought to himself, fortunately, he didn't hear that Xie Zhui was practicing with weapons, otherwise, his pride and waist would both be hurt. However, he was somewhat displeased, his long eyebrows tightly furrowed: "Knowing that he is hungry, why didn't you wake me up?"

Ji An put on a troubled expression and said, "This servant wanted to, but Prince Consort wouldn't allow it. He said that if Your Highness is not attending court, he should wake up naturally."

Xiao Shan snorted, "In this mansion, do you listen to me or to Xie Zhui?"

Ji An immediately changed his expression, loyally declaring his allegiance: "This servant naturally listens to Your Highness. However, Prince Consort cares for Your Highness, and Your Highness cares for Prince Consort. In small matters, this servant must listen to both."

Xiao Shan gave him a sidelong glance: "Smooth talker, saying so much just to get a word from me. Well, let me be clear. Xie Zhui is the other master of this residence. If no one listens to him, then this residence certainly won't keep disobedient people. But you all should be more perceptive. If he doesn't let you wake me, can't you persuade him to eat something first?"

Ji An thought to himself, they did try to persuade him, but Xie Zhui was unwilling.

Moreover, in which household did the primary consort not wait to dine with the master?

Xie Zhui was cautious and certainly didn't want to make a mistake in this regard and give others a handle to criticize him.

Being a servant was difficult; trying to please one side while the other was unhappy. It was impossible to avoid offending both sides, and offending both sides was a sure way to meet a bad end.

Being a good servant was difficult. To be a good servant who could relieve the master's worries and be liked was even more difficult.

Xiao Shan didn't have time to worry about what Ji An was thinking.

He instructed Ji An to prepare breakfast and then went to the study to find Xie Zhui.

Xie Zhui was indeed a very cautious person. He had once asked Xiao Shan about his range of activities within the mansion, especially whether he could enter and use the study. In Xie Zhui's mind, the study was a place for storing valuable items or private letters. Some people even built secret passages or hidden compartments in their studies to store things.

Such a place would generally not be easily accessible to outsiders.

At that time, Xiao Shan had been very honest and said, "What's there to not use? My study is just for show. The books inside, except for some storybooks, are all brand new and have never been flipped through. If you want to use the study or read books, feel free."

After saying that, he personally took Xie Zhui for a tour around the study.

It was only when Xie Zhui entered that he realized Xiao Shan's words were true.

Xiao Shan's study was simple, tidy, and elegant at a glance. The bookshelves were arranged logically, with a clear distinction between books that had been read and those that hadn't. Xiao Shan used the most practical decorative style to show anyone who entered that he genuinely didn't like reading the scholarly books that scholars were supposed to study.

Seeing all this, for some reason, Xie Zhui felt like laughing.

Perhaps it was because he had stayed at the border for so long, accustomed to seeing all kinds of people, with his nerves always tightly strung. Now, encountering someone so consistent inside and out, and having such an intimate relationship with this person, made him want to laugh.

***

Xie Zhui had been in the study for a while.

When Xiao Shan found him, Xie Zhui was staring absentmindedly at the account books on the desk.

Xiao Shan thought he was overwhelmed by the mansion's account books, so he walked over and pushed the books aside, asking, "Not hungry?"

Xiao Shan immediately knew what he was thinking, but after last night's late antics, Xiao Shan truly had no other intentions at the moment. Of course, the future was uncertain.

People had their own charm at night and during the day.

Xiao Shan wanted to see Xie Zhui's demeanor both day and night.

Seeing that Xiao Shan only made that comment without any further actions, Xie Zhui felt a bit ashamed of himself for overthinking.

However, to avoid Xiao Shan continuing to say things that could be easily misunderstood, Xie Zhui mumbled into the pillow, "Your Highness, aren't you going to court?"

At Xiao Shan's age, he should be standing in the court. But for these past few days, Xiao Shan hadn't shown any intention of attending court. Even though they had just gotten married, Xiao Shan shouldn't be absent from court for so long.

Xie Zhui wondered if he had misunderstood something, like maybe Your Highness didn't need to attend court regularly.

"Father Emperor does want me to attend court, but I don't like the atmosphere there," Xiao Shan replied, knowing Xie Zhui was just making conversation. "Those ministers can argue for half a day over trivial matters, but when it comes to something truly difficult, they have nothing to say."

"Besides, attending court requires getting up early, and I really can't wake up that early. So, I made a fuss with Father Emperor about not wanting to attend court."

In the beginning, Xiao Shan was quite eager to attend court. He wanted to see what the civil and military officials looked like in the court.

But after actually seeing it, his anticipation quickly faded.

After just two days, he found it unbearable and too exhausting.

Gradually, he became so bored that he could fall asleep standing in the court, not hearing a word of what others were saying. Later, he frequently came up with minor ailments like stomachaches, fevers, and loss of appetite as excuses to avoid attending court.

At first, the Emperor and Xiao Jin were worried about his health, but they soon realized he was just faking these ailments to avoid court. The Emperor was so angry his face turned purple, and Xiao Jin also scolded him for being reckless.

Eventually, the Emperor turned a blind eye to Xiao Shan's attendance at court. However, he did impose a strict requirement: regardless of whether Xiao Shan was sick or not, he had to spend at least half of each month in court.

At first, Xiao Shan tried to argue, saying that a sick person shouldn't attend court.

The Emperor looked at him and sneered, "Even if you are too sick to get up, Zhen can have you carried to court. The Imperial Medical Institute is close to the Main Palace, making it convenient for you to receive treatment."

Intimidated by the Emperor's domineering attitude, Xiao Shan had no choice but to agree.

Xiao Shan was puzzled. Others were eager to be in court, like his elder brother Xiao Rong, who practically wanted to spend the entire year there.

The Emperor was displeased with that.

He, on the other hand, preferred to stay at home every day, and the Emperor was still displeased.

Being an emperor really seemed to be quite capricious.

As Xiao Shan recounted past events, Xie Zhui initially responded with a few vague replies. At some point, the room was filled only with Xiao Shan's voice.

When Xiao Shan looked over at Xie Zhui, he saw that he had fallen into a deep sleep, half of his face buried in the pillow.

Xiao Shan then stopped, gently covering Xie Zhui with a thin blanket.

Seeing the dark mark on Xie Zhui's forehead, Xiao Shan's eyes darkened. He wanted to reach out and touch it but refrained, fearing he might wake him.

Xiao Shan quietly left the room, leaving Xie Zhui to sleep soundly.

The palace was quiet inside and out. Xiao Shan had a chaise longue placed in the corridor, where he sat to bask in the sun. However, before he had enough sun, someone from the Eastern Palace arrived, saying that Xiao Jin wanted to see him.

The person who came from the Eastern Palace was Chang An, Xiao Jin's personal eunuch, someone to whom everyone showed respect.

But Xiao Shan looked at Chang An and said, "Go back and tell Second Brother that as long as the slander against Mother Consort remains unresolved, I won't go."

Chang An smiled wryly and said, "The Crown Prince knew you would say that. He said that if you don't go, he will come to see you himself tonight. The poor Crown Prince is still too weak to get out of bed..."