Chapter 100: Walking the Imperial Path on Bones, Shouldering the World’s Affairs

The empty wine jar lay beside him as Shen Cangtian, like a drunken man, reclined on the ground without regard for etiquette. The willow swayed gently as the summer breeze blew, soft and warm.

“Lan’er…” 

Shen Cangtian hazily raised his hand, gently caressing his beloved’s cheek. A few wisps of summer breeze wrapped around his fingers, and the warm touch was so real.

He wanted to hold her tight, to keep her from leaving. His arms moved forcefully, but only traces of her presence remained.

Shen Cangtian opened his eyes. A verdant willow leaf had fallen precisely on the tip of his nose. He cupped the leaf in his large hand and silently stood up.

“Lan’er, I have to go now.”

“Next time I come, I’ll tell you more about the annoying things that rascal has done.”

Shen Cangtian’s eyes dimmed slightly as he murmured reluctantly.

Keeping the willow leaf, he picked up the food box. Shen Cangtian took a deep breath and finally turned around, each step taken slowly.

Leaving this place, he would once again become that other person.

He wasn’t a qualified father, even less a qualified husband, but he was a passably qualified emperor.

His life would have many regrets and controversies.

He had already walked half of this path. He didn’t know what awaited at the end, or what the end even was.

He couldn’t turn back, couldn’t stop, because beneath his feet were endless dry bones, and on his shoulders were the Great Qing and its 200 million subjects.

Walking the imperial path on bones, shouldering all the world’s affairs.

If he could start over, he wouldn’t have parted with her in Pingcang City. He would have chosen to be an admired couple in the martial arts world with her.

But in this world of cause and effect, there are no “what ifs”.

Shen Cangtian walked out of the garden tomb, the last trace of tenderness vanishing from his dark eyes. He had once again become that Emperor Wu who looked down upon the world.

Zhao Hai, who had been observing from afar, saw his emperor emerge from the garden tomb and hurriedly used his lightness skill to approach.

“Let’s go back.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

The wheels creaked as they rolled, the willows rustled softly.

The summer breeze followed the willows, sending off the traveler for ten thousand li.

Returning to Tianwu City, it was already past noon when the carriage stopped in front of a pawn shop.

“Come, let’s get off and take a look,” Shen Cangtian said calmly.

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

After disembarking, Zhao Hai carefully supported Shen Cangtian: “Master, please watch your step.”

Since they were incognito, the form of address naturally had to change.

Inside the pawn shop, Shen Tengfeng was lazily sitting in an armchair and yawning.

There were no classes at the academy today, and he had only served one customer in half a morning here, who had come to pawn an item.

Ah, money, money, when would he be as rich as his fourth and sixth brothers?

He calculated that to open a pawn shop, he’d need at least 5,000 taels of silver as working capital, not to mention various other expenses. Conservatively estimating, he’d need at least 10,000 taels of silver to open a pawn shop.

10,000 taels of silver – at his current rate, it would take at least two years to save up. He really hoped for some big customers to come in, allowing him to make a hefty profit on the price difference.

“Ding dong!”

The hanging bell rang, signaling a customer. Money was coming!

Shen Tengfeng tossed aside the book he was holding and hurriedly stood up, rubbing his hands together and plastering a smile on his face as he approached the counter.

“How may I…”

Shen Tengfeng first froze, his expression stiffening before becoming increasingly animated, and finally turning to horror as he stumbled back several steps.

“Fa-fa-fa-fa-father… Emperor?!”

Shen Cangtian frowned slightly and said flatly, “I’m not your father.”

What?!

Holy crap!

This light statement hit like a thunderbolt, leaving Shen Tengfeng stunned on the spot.

Wait, had he been demoted to a commoner?! Why hadn’t anyone informed him?!

Shen Tengfeng’s vision darkened, and he nearly collapsed to the ground.

Zhao Hai, standing nearby, transmitted a message, feeling somewhat sympathetic: Your Highness, His Majesty is incognito and shouldn’t reveal his identity. Please don’t overthink it.

Huh? Ah! So that’s it!

Haha! Father Emperor still loves me after all!

Hearing the message, color instantly returned to Shen Tengfeng’s face. He’d been scared to death, truly believing he’d been kicked out of the family.

“Are you not going to serve your customer?” Shen Cangtian spoke again.

“Th-that… Mr. Shen… are you here to pawn, redeem, or buy?” Shen Tengfeng asked carefully, controlling his wobbly legs as he walked behind the counter.

Shen Cangtian’s brow furrowed deeper: “My surname is Xiao.”

“Oh, oh, Mr. Xiao…” Shen Tengfeng was on the verge of tears.

Dad, you’re killing me. Can we stop this roleplaying? He was timid by nature and couldn’t handle such games.

“I’ll just take a look around.”

Shen Cangtian’s deep eyes scanned Shen Tengfeng up and down. It had been days since they’d met, and some of the Fifth Son’s blocked meridians had actually been opened. Who could have done this? The Sixth Son perhaps?

“This way, please…” Shen Tengfeng swallowed and gestured with a forced smile.

The pawnshop manager was about to come down from upstairs, but upon seeing Shen Cangtian, he quietly retreated. It was most appropriate to leave this guest to the Fifth Prince.

The three of them briefly looked at the unredeemed items section when the bell at the door rang again, signaling another customer.

“Well! My dear disciple! Have you made up your mind? Want to formally become my apprentice?” 

Shan Yue walked in holding a roasted pork trotter, wearing a mysterious smile, but his eyes swept the surroundings coldly. Why were there so many hidden experts around this small pawnshop? Were they here to cause trouble?

He still remembered that sunny noon when he met Shen Tengfeng in a small alley.

They had a friendly chat, and when parting, he gave Shen Tengfeng a book.

Since that day, the other had become his unofficial disciple-to-be.

When a disciple is in trouble, how could a master not help?

It was the perfect opportunity to show Shen Tengfeng his true power as a master.

Shen Cangtian and Zhao Hai turned around simultaneously at the sound.

Shen Tengfeng felt like he was suffocating when he saw Shan Yue.

My dear big brother, couldn’t you have come at any other time? Why did it have to be at this crucial moment?!

Shan Yue’s pupils trembled and the hairs on his body suddenly stood up. There was no mistake. He had felt like a prey twice since he came to Tianwu City.

This middle-aged man and the old man were both experts stronger than him!

Tianwu City truly was a den of hidden dragons and crouching tigers.

“Clap!”

Shan Yue clasped his hands and said respectfully, “I apologize, I’ve come to the wrong place. Farewell!”

Without any hesitation, he turned and fled.

No joke, he couldn’t beat either of these two, let alone the many experts lurking in the shadows.

Disciple, this is the first lesson your master teaches you, I hope you understand.

What to do when the enemy is strong and you are weak?

Don’t hesitate, run as fast as you can!

Of course, you’re all grown up now, some things you’ll have to face on your own.

“Master, that man was not weak. Should this old servant go…” Zhao Hai said in a low voice, his eyes glinting dangerously.

“Let him be,” Shen Cangtian said calmly. He could see that Shan Yue wasn’t a treacherous person, but rather had a trace of righteousness about him.

Lu Wenxuan had once said that the Fifth Son had his own great opportunity in the future and wasn’t suited to cultivate the Shen Family’s “Eastern Emperor Scripture”.

That man just now should be one of the Fifth Son’s opportunities.

“Yes, master.”

Seeing the two look at him, Shen Tengfeng hurriedly waved his hands and explained, “I don’t know him.”

“Hmm, this porcelain vase is nice,” Shen Cangtian praised, picking up a sky-blue flared vase.

After browsing for a while, Zhao Hai carried a porcelain vase as he followed Shen Cangtian out of the pawn shop.

Shen Tengfeng slumped in the chair and let out a heavy breath. Working as a shop assistant for his father was too exciting!

Huh?!

Wait a minute, it seemed Father Emperor didn’t pay!

Would the manager deduct it from his wages? That vase was worth 200 taels of silver.

Shen Tengfeng’s face stiffened as he stood up. He was in a tough spot.

“Has His Majesty left?” The manager’s voice came from upstairs.

“Well, Father Emperor…” Shen Tengfeng awkwardly explained what had just happened.

“It’s our honor that His Majesty liked it,” the manager smiled slightly, not saying much more.

He should report to His Highness about His Majesty’s excursion from the palace.

At the King of Chu’s residence.

Shen Yian opened his eyes, keenly aware of the faint fragrance coming from beside him, while a pair of small hands was playfully toying with his hair.