Chapter 16: This Is What It Means to Like Someone

Chapter 16: This Is What It Means to Like

The competition over there was in full swing, and Chen Shuoan and his crew of slackers were busy rating the contestants' facial expressions mid-competition.

Chen Shuoan said cheerfully, "Everyone's doing great. Seeing talents like this in our Great Rong Dynasty, I can kick back and slack off with peace of mind."

Zheng Yuanzhi felt helpless at his lack of ambition but had no way to change it. The guy's laziness seemed baked into his DNA.

His motto was: Don't try to out-lazy me, 'cause I'm too lazy to even bother.

On the track, horse racing was underway. In just a short while, the winner had already lapped the others and snagged the handball at the finish line.

Riding on his horse, the man first waved the handball at his opponents with a contemptuous smile, then blew a few wolf whistles at the ladies in the stands, like he was trying to show off his charm.

Chen Shuoan took it all in and deadpanned, "A little ruggedly handsome, not bad on the eyes. Basically rugged charm in human form."

Qin Zhonglian burst out laughing beside him.

Zheng Yuanzhi glanced at the other side of the stands and nudged Chen Shuoan's arm. "Look at the Crown Prince. He's stupidly handsome."

Chen Shuoan followed his gaze and said, somewhat speechless, "I thought you were the Crown Prince's biggest fanboy. That's clearly His Highness the Third Prince."

"That can't be right. Did I see wrong? The one next to the Emperor."

Chen Shuoan smiled and emphasized again, "It's the Third Prince."

Just as they were about to get into a full-blown argument over "who that person is," Zhang Chenggong struck first: "Brother Zheng, your hand's hurt, but apparently your eyesight's shot too. That's clearly the Third Prince."

Zheng Yuanzhi squinted and looked carefully, then his face turned red. It really was Yuan Wu.

"Can't blame you. The Crown Prince and the Third Prince's mothers are cousins. Family ties run deep—no wonder they look so alike in build and face." Qin Zhonglian spoke up.

"But the Third Prince has indeed gained the Emperor's favor recently. He's been called to wait on His Majesty every couple of days. I heard that after the spring hunt, he's getting sent to manage the mines out in Pingshuo." Li Wei leaned in and said mysteriously.

"Really?" Qin Zhonglian's face turned serious as he mulled it over.

"Just rumors." Li Wei waved his hand dismissively.

Zhang Chenggong chimed in from the side, "Yesterday I heard my brother-in-law asking around about this too. I'd say it's probably true."

Chen Shuoan's gut sank—there were no mines in the early part of the original book.

Before he could process it, Zheng Yuanzhi asked again, "Giving it to the Third Prince? The Crown Prince's the obvious pick."

"Who cares about the 'obvious pick' now? The Crown Prince's heading south to Jiangnan soon and can't juggle that much. Besides, you get better with practice. The Emperor giving the Third Prince this shot is like planting a flower hoping it'll bloom. If it doesn't work out, he can just swap in someone else—he's got plenty of sons."

Zhang Chenggong said, totally unfazed.

Li Wei quickly grabbed Zhang Chenggong's ear and gritted his teeth, "Keep it down!"

Zheng Yuanzhi lowered his voice and said, "If the Third Prince hadn't saved His Majesty's life the other day, I doubt this cushy gig would've landed in his lap."

Zhang Chenggong shrugged, signaling agreement.

Chen Shuoan listened, his heart pounding, and quickly asked, "What's this mine thing, and why's it such a cushy gig?"

Zheng Yuanzhi placed his uninjured right hand on Chen Shuoan's head and said affectionately, "The power of gossip is real. Our Shuo'an's actually learned to ask questions without shame now."

Chen Shuoan smiled wryly. "Get to the point. Don't make me slap you when I'm at my happiest."

Li Wei leaned in and explained, "The mines mainly churn out iron ore, copper ore, and placer gold. Salt and iron are must-haves for every household. Forget salt—the profit from iron alone is huge. Our big boss up top set up the Salt Commissioner, Iron Commissioner, and Monopoly Bureau back in the day, to corner the market and fatten up the state's coffers. That's why mine managers are in such high demand—even the transport alone rakes in huge profits."

Chen Shuoan nodded, getting that this gig was a big deal.

Li Wei paused, then added, "With the Pingshuo Iron Commissioner gig going to the Third Prince, who knows who'll grab the Xinzhou and Lingnan spots."

Zhang Chenggong snorted with a laugh. "Whoever gets 'em, the Third Prince's got the edge right now. Consort An's probably grinning from ear to ear back in the palace."

"Even though the Empress and Consort An share the same blood, they've always been at each other's throats, stepping on each other's toes every time they meet. Now that the Third Prince's showing promise, those two probably have their eyes on the Eastern Palace." Qin Zhonglian, who'd been listening with his arms crossed, said flat-out.

"But His Majesty's always had high hopes for the Crown Prince. If Consort An and the Third Prince keep pushing, would His Majesty just sit back and do nothing?" Zheng Yuanzhi immediately jumped to defend his idol.

Qin Zhonglian smiled contemptuously and countered, "You think the Empress is really some holy vegetarian just 'cause she chants sutras every day? Or you think the Crown Prince's some pushover who'll bend like dough? Fine, even if the Third Prince and his mom have what it takes to reach for the Eastern Palace, His Majesty'd probably be happy to see it."

"How's that possible?! His Majesty's always seen the Crown Prince as the rightful heir!" Zheng Yuanzhi exclaimed in shock, thinking Qin Zhonglian's take was totally ridiculous.

Qin Zhonglian gave a strange smile at this and said, "Whoever wins is the real deal."

He strutted onto the track—archery was about to start.

As he walked, Qin Zhonglian waved at Chen Shuoan, pulling off a slick move: "Don't forget to cheer me on."

Chen Shuoan, a total sucker for a pretty face, instantly forgot all about the mine drama.

He'd already got his cheer ready: Bro Qin's hot, Bro Qin's strong, Bro Qin's so badass he shakes the sky!

————

Yuan Rang and the Fifth Prince, Yuan Zhen, were heading to the track together.

Yuan Zhen tied his sash while smiling bitterly. "Dad hasn't been too keen on me lately. I figure he's got some pent-up anger."

Yuan Rang wasn't even listening. His gaze was locked on Chen Shuoan in the distance.

That guy's gorgeous face was flushed red from the sun, giving him an unexpectedly innocent look.

Yuan Rang's throat bobbed. His mouth went dry.

It was a bit hot out.

He should head inside to cool off.

Why was he here?

Because of me?

Yuan Rang couldn't figure out where that weird flutter in his chest was coming from. All he felt was his whole body trembling like he'd been pricked by needles.

He dug his nails into his palm, cruelly telling himself not to get his hopes up: Not for you. Why would anyone do that for you?

Fourteen-year-old Yuan Rang walked toward Chen Shuoan, braving the blazing late-spring sun and the hot wind smacking him in the face.

Chen Shuoan watched Yuan Rang approach, realizing he was standing right in the contestants' path, so he cupped his hands around his mouth like a megaphone and yelled to Yuan Rang with a grin, "Go get 'em, Sixth Prince!"

Yuan Rang's heart stopped. All the noise around him went dead silent.

He suddenly felt like he couldn't breathe, like he'd been drifting on rough waves and suddenly washed up on shore.

It really was for him.

Spring lingers, grass and trees lush and green.

That guy stood in the sunlight, smiling with pure joy, easy and free like a little bird.

I wanna catch him.

Yuan Rang thought.