"Since you're feeling unwell, Shen Zhuanxie, I won't insist."
The Crown Prince rose and left.
[-He really just left like that?]
That afternoon, an unexpected visitor arrived at Shen Yangge's home: Xue Qian, the young man who had helped him when he attended the palace banquet.
Xue Qian brought several jars of fine wine.
"Shen Zhuanxie, I heard you moved out of the Shen Residence. Congratulations! I came to celebrate with you. So? How have you been lately?"
A small canine tooth showed when Xue Qian smiled. His hair was tied in a high ponytail, and his handsome face beamed with sunny cheer.
The servants following him bowed to Shen Yangge, then obediently lowered their heads and stepped aside.
"Come on in!"
This was his first "friend" in this world. Although the other man was younger, his courage and the way he handled things were impressive.
If this young general survived, he would probably become Great Chu's Grand General, the defender of the realm.
Unfortunately, heaven envied the gifted, and the young man was destined for an early death.
Shen Yangge sent a servant to make tea, then sat with Xue Qian on the stone seats in the courtyard, catching up.
Xue Qian rubbed his nose. "You have no idea. Ever since you showed your face at that banquet, everyone's been asking me about you, whether they know me or not."
Shen Yangge said, "...Why?"
Xue Qian sighed. "Do you have no idea how good-looking you are?"
As he finished speaking, Xue Qian's face slowly reddened. When the maid brought the tea, he hastily took a cup and drained it in one gulp.
He had meant to hide his embarrassment with the gesture, but his face only grew redder after he drank.
Xue Qian stammered, "Because you serve at the Crown Prince's side, they don't dare ask you themselves."
Shen Yangge genuinely hadn't expected this. He remembered that the original owner of his body had an awful reputation. Why were so many people asking about him?
Unable to make sense of it, Shen Yangge asked, "What did they ask you?"
Xue Qian said, "Whether you have a wife or any concubines."
"And whether you're into men..."
Shen Yangge nearly spat out the mouthful of water he had just swallowed. The questions about wives and concubines had already shocked him.
But what the hell was that last one?
Xue Qian scratched his chin awkwardly. "Mostly because you're so good-looking." Anyone normal would have trouble resisting you, wouldn't they?
Of course, he didn't dare say that last part aloud.
Shen Yangge's expression remained dark throughout. He felt insulted.
"I'm not into men, thank you!"
Xue Qian laughed. "Well, customs in Great Chu are pretty liberal. There are all sorts of people here. Just let some of those remarks go in one ear and out the other, Shen Zhuanxie."
It was a day off, so Shen Yangge didn't have to go to the palace. He and Xue Qian talked until nightfall.
Seeing that it was getting late, Xue Qian straightened himself up, rose, and took his leave.
Not long after he left, people from the Shen Residence came barging in with things in tow, their faces cold and their manner arrogant and overbearing.
"All of you, get out here!"
Shen Yangge had only just undressed and gone to bed. Their shouting forced him to get up again.
"Shen Yangge, get out here right now!"
"You unfilial wretch!"
They were so loud that several neighboring households poked their heads out to see what was happening. One glare from the arrogant intruders sent them shrinking back in fear.
Shen Yangge frowned as he entered the courtyard, only to discover that all the flowers and plants had been trampled. Some newly purchased furnishings meant to decorate the courtyard had also been smashed to pieces.
"Hmph, you finally came out. Shen Yangge, get on your knees!"
A woman wearing gold ornaments on her head and lavish clothes stood with her hands on her hips, declaring haughtily, "What are you staring at? You bastard, how dare you steal the Shen Residence's land deeds!"
What?
Shen Yangge would have been a fool if he still couldn't tell what was going on.
Shen Mother hurried outside as well, looking bewildered. "What stolen land deeds?"
She quickly protested, "You're framing us!"
Seeing Shen Mother, normally timid, stand up for him so firmly actually pleased Shen Yangge a little. If she remained the way she had always been, then should he leave this world one day, her life would hardly be any better than it had been at Shen Residence.
She had to change.
"Mother, stay out of this for now. Let me find out what's going on."
Shen Yangge shielded Shen Mother behind him. "You say I stole your land deeds. Do you have proof?"
The woman sneered. "You little bastard. You stole them, so what's all this talk of proof? Since you want proof so badly, I'll show you!"
"Bring them here."
At her command, the household guards dragged two servants forward.
Seeing them drained the color from Shen Mother's face. She said shakily, "Mei Hua? Si Gui?"
The two servants she had called out to looked as though they wished they could bury their heads in their clothes. Neither dared make a sound.
At this, the woman grew even more arrogant. "During those few days when you were leaving the Shen Residence, they sneaked into the steward's office. Afterward, several land deeds went missing."
"Who else could have taken them but you?!"
Shen Yangge said, "I won't admit to something I haven't done."
The woman said, "The witnesses are right here, and you still want to argue? A bastard will always be a bastard."
"I hear you aren't even a child of the Shen family. You're just something your mother spawned by rutting with another man!"
Smack!
Shen Yangge slapped her across the face. His expression was cold, his brows suffused with a fierce chill. To those watching, he looked both ruthless and breathtaking.
The blow knocked the woman's face to one side. She shrieked in disbelief, "Ah! You dare hit me? Do you know who I am? How dare you hit me!"
Shen Yangge said, "I don't give a damn who you are. Anyone who insults my mother deserves a beating."
Seeing Shen Yangge move to strike again, the guards beside the woman hurried forward to shield her.
They made sure he had no chance to land another blow.
"Seize him and take him to the authorities!"
"Yes, madam!"
The guards swarmed him.
Shen Yangge was naturally no match for so many men, and they soon subdued him. Once the woman saw that he was restrained, she smiled smugly, then slapped him across the face with a sharp crack.
The blow was heavy. A deep handprint quickly appeared on Shen Yangge's fair, smooth face.
"That's for hitting me, you damned bastard."
"What? You were born from your mother rutting with another man, and that's exactly what I'll call you. Still won't accept it?"
The woman flexed the hand she had hurt slapping him. "The land deeds you stole are worth four thousand seven hundred taels. That amount is enough to get you sentenced to death."
Shen Mother wept. "You're making vicious, baseless accusations! We never touched those land deeds. Those two stopped working for me long ago."
Shen Yangge grimaced in pain. His face hurt badly, but he refused to give in.
System 615: [Host, you should ask Shen Zhi for help right now, because the original owner of your body believed that, no matter what, you were still his child.]
Shen Yangge: I. Will. Not!
Before you continue