17 Huan Mo Che Hits a Wall

"I wonder what matter Lord Huan wishes to discuss with me today?"

Shang Wuxin asked after taking a sip of the freshly brewed tea.

Watching the Crown Prince Huan Mo Che, whose every move exuded noble grace, curiosity welled up in his heart. He had been in the capital for a long time and, although he had never met the Crown Prince in person, he had heard all about how incompetent the prince was said to be. But how could such a person be a mere fool? On the contrary, such a person was truly a dragon among men. The emperor’s other sons had all been seen by Huan Mo Che, but none could compare to the Crown Prince before him. If the former Crown Prince was a disguise, then why did the current Crown Prince no longer continue the pretense?

"The Crown Prince should call me Grand Tutor. Since I am the Grand Tutor, I naturally must take on the responsibility of teaching!" Huan Mo Che said with a smile.

"Moreover, the Emperor has decreed that I must properly instruct the Crown Prince, so I hope the Crown Prince will not make things difficult for me!"

"Your thoughtful intentions are appreciated,"

Shang Wuxin said, looking at the teacup in his hand.

"However, I have been feeling unwell lately and fear I cannot study under you for now. If you don’t mind, it would be nice to enjoy the scenery here at the Crown Prince’s residence. I will go rest now."

With that, he stood up and prepared to leave the hall.

But before Shang Wuxin could step out of the hall, he saw Huan Mo Che closely following behind, his face still wearing a gentle, breeze-like smile. Yet Shang Wuxin knew that Huan Mo Che was merely using a mild exterior to cover his cold and indifferent heart, like wearing a mask. But when have people like them ever faced others with their true feelings? If it weren’t for Huan Mo Che’s pair of peach blossom eyes so strikingly similar to his own, Shang Wuxin might have admired such a person.

"Since the Crown Prince is my student, whether as Grand Tutor or as a commoner, I must take care of a student who is unwell!" Huan Mo Che said persistently.

He could clearly see the Crown Prince’s dislike or even aversion toward him, but after some thought, he realized he hadn’t done anything harmful to the Crown Prince. This was truly their first meeting, and he was very interested in this Crown Prince, so he didn’t mind shamelessly insisting on being this one person’s Grand Tutor for the first time.

Shang Wuxin stopped and glanced at Huan Mo Che, her displeasure very obvious, but Huan Mo Che remained calm and smiled at her under Shang Wuxin’s sharp gaze. His eyes were filled with sincere warmth.

"Is the prince feeling unwell? Do you need me to call the imperial physician?"

Wu Wei and Wu Ju looked at this Huan Mo Che in disbelief, even Chief Hai was somewhat doubtful. This young master Huan was acting too abnormally!

At this moment, how could Huan Mo Che not be aware of his own unusual behavior? But he just wanted to tease this expressionless prince, as if being by the prince’s side made him feel especially relaxed.

Shang Wuxin ignored this young master Huan. Since she couldn’t get rid of him and couldn’t kill him, and knowing that Huan Mo Che’s martial skills were definitely not weak, she decided to just disregard him.

Shang Wuxin did not return to the sleeping chamber. After all, that place was very private; even if she lacked the awareness of a woman, she still had her own sense of privacy and caution. So Shang Wuxin went to the study and casually began practicing calligraphy. She said it was to practice writing, but it was really to calm her mind, because her heart had become sick and needed soothing.

Huan Mo Che looked at the crown prince practicing calligraphy in front of the desk with some curiosity. He knew that the crown prince had never attended school since childhood, and the emperor had never sent anyone to teach him reading and writing. It seemed that there were many unknown things behind this crown prince.

Although he had a calm and indifferent personality, for some reason, Huan Mo Che had a strong interest in him.

Huan Mo Che came to the prince's side, ready to see what kind of handwriting this mysterious prince was practicing, but at first glance, even Huan Mo Che was astonished for a long time. The characters leaping on the paper were dignified and elegant, with an extraordinary charm, sometimes slender and vigorous, simple yet steady. The brushstrokes were bold and unrestrained; even he couldn't match such handwriting, despite the fact that his own calligraphy had now become a genuine treasure sought after by everyone.

"Good handwriting!"

Huan Mo Che praised aloud, looking at the script with even greater admiration.

"It seems the Crown Prince's knowledge far surpasses mine. I, as the Grand Tutor, feel truly ashamed. I wonder if the Crown Prince would consider me a friend from now on?"

Huan Mo Che wanted to be friends with this Crown Prince, not only because he admired the prince's talent and wanted to uncover his mysteries, but more importantly, he couldn't quite explain why he liked this prince so much. Like? Huan Mo Che shook his head secretly, thinking it was rare for someone to truly see through his eyes.

"Young Master Huan is the First Young Master; I, the Palace Lady, am ignorant and shallow. How could I possibly share common ground with Young Master Huan?"

Shang Wuxin refused, whether Huan Mo Che was sincere or not, she would not associate with such a person. Those eyes were a sorrow she could not avoid, reminding her of past innocence, and even though she was no longer alone, they still stirred the dark demons within her heart.

Hearing the Crown Prince reject him so outright, Huan Mo Che felt a sudden pang in his heart, a feeling even he couldn't quite identify. Disappointment? No, they never had any real connection, so how could they become friends so easily? Anger? No, although he was proud, he was not arrogant. Perhaps it was like having tasted something sour and bitter, causing an involuntary frown.

"I was presumptuous; please, Crown Prince, do not blame me!"

Huan Mo Che forced a meaningless smile, but the expertly disguised grin inevitably carried a hint of awkwardness.

Shang Wuxin paid no attention to Huan Mo Che's odd behavior. Even with such a handsome man lingering in the study, she remained unmoved and focused on her own tasks. As for the Crown Prince's disdain for Huan Mo Che, he ignored it as well, simply sitting in the study watching the Crown Prince handle affairs. Though he did nothing, Huan Mo Che felt an unparalleled calmness in his heart.

The day passed quickly, and instead of wanting to leave, Huan Mo Che actually didn’t want to go. Even though it seemed like he hadn’t exchanged more than a few words with the Crown Prince today, he really liked this feeling. He felt that the best decision he had made was to come and serve as the Crown Prince’s tutor.

Watching Huan Mo Che leave the Crown Prince’s residence, Shang Wuxin’s eyes flashed with a sinister gleam.

“Your Highness!”

Chief Steward Hai came to the study and looked at the Crown Prince standing there motionless.

“Tomorrow is the Emperor’s birthday. As the heir to the throne, the Crown Prince should attend. What does Your Highness think?” Chief Steward Hai asked.

In the past, he would have arranged many things in advance, but now that the Crown Prince’s thoughts were unpredictable, how could he dare to guess his intentions casually?

Seeing Chief Steward Hai’s hesitant demeanor, Shang Wuxin smiled and helped him up.

“Chief Steward Hai, I am well aware of your earnest efforts for me. In my heart, you are like a father to me. Since I have entrusted you with many matters, it means I trust you!”

Chief Steward Hai's eyes were moist.

Although he was a eunuch and the chief steward of the Crown Prince's residence, in reality, no one truly respected him. But listening to the Crown Prince's words, Chief Steward Hai felt that this world was best ruled by his kind and benevolent Crown Prince.

"How could a lowly eunuch like me deserve such deep favor from the Crown Prince? To serve the Crown Prince is the old servant's greatest blessing!"

Chief Steward Hai said, bowing his head, afraid that tears might fall before the Crown Prince and cloud his eyes.

"Enough!" Shang Wuxin smiled and said,

"You are the chief steward of the Crown Prince's residence; don't belittle yourself!"

"Yes!"

Chief Steward Hai stood beside the Crown Prince and asked,

"Will the Crown Prince attend the birthday banquet tomorrow?"

The Emperor's birthday was celebrated grandly every year, but the Crown Prince had never attended. More importantly, the Emperor never inquired about it. Over time, everyone came to understand the Emperor's indifference toward this Crown Prince.

"Go? How could I not go? I am the Crown Prince; if I don't attend such an important banquet, how would I give those rats a chance?"

Shang Wuxin looked at the jade pendant in her hand with a mischievous smile. The jade pendant she held was a personal keepsake of her mother, Empress Qiu. Since Empress Qiu's passing, Shang Wuxin had always carried it with her. The pendant's beautiful luster and warm touch made Shang Wuxin very fond of it, so she often played with it in her hands.

"That birthday gift?" Manager Hai asked.

Although the Crown Prince's residence had undergone many reforms under the Crown Prince's orders, and the Crown Prince had no idea what Wuwei was doing outside, Wuwei was now in charge of the accounting at the Crown Prince's residence. Yet, Manager Hai knew that the Crown Prince's residence was currently very wealthy.

"Birthday gift?"

Shang Wuxin softly instructed Chief Hai, whose eyes showed surprise and a hint of worry, but he still left to carry out the prince's orders.