Chapter 04

Shen Nuo blinked and looked at the man he just bumped onto. After running marathon with Liyi he was slightly panting and sweat was dripping down his forehead. Just who the hell was in his way now?

Wow! This man was handsome as the Emperor! Who was he? Why does he look familiar?

Ok! Shen Nuo looked at him up and down and down and up again. Pale blue attire. A blue jade tassel hung by the side of his waist. The beautiful fan with the art of a lake by a plum blossom branch...

!!!

Shen Nuo did not want to look further to know who he was. Who in the world that had read the original novel did not know who this beauty is?

He was the famous Official in charge of Revenue, Yue Zhanhua. Simply if said in simple words, the bro that was said to have a secret affair with Shen Nuo from the previous life!

Shen Nuo was speechless. It was the Emperor before and now it was Zhanhua.

Don't these men have court affairs to deal with? Why were they all having pleasant time strolls in the city instead?

Shen Nuo had a faint idea about what Zhanhua was like. According to the novel, Zhanhua had to be twenty five now. He was always explained to have a favourable temperament with a kind heart who smiled warmly to anyone.

As far as Shen Nuo knew, he avoided court fights and made no grudges with any. So he had the Emperor's favour at first. All the more reason for the other officials to plot against him.

And later he was really plotted against and was framed into an affair with Shen Nuo. He was then despised by the Emperor and was beheaded later under the crime of seducing a king's man...

Zhanhua looked at Shen Nuo who was blocking his path for a while before gasping in amazement.

"Consort Shen!" He greeted with a beautiful smile.

Shen Nuo felt his heart skip a beat. Oh yeah, he was not gay, but Zhanhua was too handsome than he thought. Why did he marry the Dog Emperor without getting married to this man instead?

It would have been loads better. Original Shen Nuo was not only stupid and dumb, he was also blind it seems...

But Shen Nuo was still sixteen. Their affair was brought to the public when Shen Nuo was twenty. It was still too early.

"Official Zhanhua!" Shen Nuo greeted pleasantly. "What a coincidence that we met!"

Liyi looked at Shen Nuo blankly. "..." It was Sunday which was a holiday for Court Officials. And it was normal for palace people to run into each other in the city. But what's wrong with her master lately?

Zhanhua also hid his confusion and nodded in agree. "Consort Shen came for a walk?"

Suddenly Shen Nuo came back to his senses and remembered from what he was fleeing.

Li Yanlong that bastard of a Dog Emperor!

Shen Nuo looked back over his shoulder nervously and looked at Zhanhua again. "You walked here all the way?"

Zhanhua furrowed his brows even confused. "No I used the sedan. Why?"

Shen Nuo pursed his lips. There should be no issue of asking him help now right? Their so called affair was supposed to happened five years later... So,

"Help me!" Shen Nuo said hopefully. "I want to hurry back to the Palace without being noticed!"

Zhanhua understood immediately. Though he did not know that Shen Nuo was here just after greeting Emperor's baby brother and calling him a dog, he knew that Shen Nuo was under house arrest and was not allowed outside the Palace.

Zhanhua was kind. He was more or less aware of harem fights. He also knew about Consort Lian's cruelty that the Emperor was too blind to see. Anyone can say Shen Nuo was innocent. So it's not a fault to sneak into the city for a stroll when he's bored...

But Shen Nuo knew the real reason for his respect towards original Shen Nuo behind. Thirteen years ago, Shen Nuo's father, the old general happened to save his life during a rebel. Zhanhua had been always thankful for that. Shen Nuo knew he would definitely help.

Zhanhua nodded again, looking concerned. "Ok. My sedan is just in the lane behind. Let's go."

"Then sorry for spoiling Minister Zhanhua's pleasant noon time stroll." Shen Nuo said in an embarrassed voice, following him amid the crowd.

Zhanhua laughed softly. What was wrong with Shen Nuo lately? He was definitely a weak cry baby. But why does this Shen Nuo look alive and sneaky? It wasn't really his way though...

The sedan was big, with beautiful blue curtains and wooden carvings. Zhanhua pulled away the curtains making way to Shen Nuo.

"Liyi, just follow us outside for the moment, ok?" Shen Nuo said sheepishly. "Inside is a bit cramped. You're a woman. Not good to sit with two men... Ok?"

Liyi nodded happily, joining the personal body guard of Zhanhua. "Liyi will walk beside the sedan."

Shen Nuo smiled and entered inside. The strong and refreshing smell of Camphor hit his nose. It was really alluring. There was a high couch in the other end of the sedan, covered with precious blue and silvery cushions.

Shen Nuo sat on it and watched Zhanhua enter and pulled back the curtains closing the view from the outside and take a seat in the corner, politely.

Shen Nuo raised his brows. "Why are you sitting on the floor? Just come up and sit beside me!"

Zhanhua's eyes suddenly widened. He couldn't believe that he heard. "This Official doesn't dare to sit with the Emperor's -"

"Aiya big bro Zhanhua, we both are men! What is there to feel awkward about? You're not gonna rape me here right?"

And Zhanhua thought he was going to have a heart attack. He was too dumb struck for the moment that his jaw was nearly dropped..

Shen Nuo laughed gently. Too cute! How can he be this cute?

He simply pulled himself to a corner, making some space and tapped the space beside him.

Zhanhua gulped looking nervous. But he slowly drew closer and sat beside him. He didn't speak for a moment and was stiff as a piece of wood.

The sedan started moving. No one spoke.

Shen Nuo was in deep thought for a while. He was in a mess. He couldn't believe that the first day he came out would turn out like this. How can he avoid the Emperor?

He knew he can't avoid him for ever. But suddenly he had an idea in his mind. He could only hang his heart in his throat and follow that plan and see how things would turn out like. Since he accidently mistook the Emperor, the only way he can do was to pretend like he was actually mad...

He brought a leg up the couch and massaged it himself. His mind gradually became hazy with the strong but pleasant incense smell that was spreading from the incense burner by a corner. His eyes were half closed and his lips were stretched into a gentle smile. Too comfortable...

And Zhanhua who saw this from the corner of his eyes felt his throat go dry.

This consort of an Emperor did not really know how seductive he was...

Zhanhua suppressed his heavy breath with might and pulled away the curtain to look outside, fanning himself with his palm. He nearly forgot he had a fan...

Liyi and his bodyguard seemed to be in a serious discussion.

Shen Nuo felt Zhanhua's unease. He looked at the dignified figure who was frantically sweating. There was one shocking truth about this official that even the Emperor would not have expected even in his wildest dreams.

This minister was talented indeed. But he was not from the royal bloodline. He was adopted by a kind minister who picked him up from the roadside when he was three. At least others thought so. But Shen Nuo knew it wasn't.

This person was actually the Seventh Prince of Xian Yan Empire by the borders of Mongolia.

It was that even he did not know it until to the day he was killed by the Emperor. Also a tragic death...

Shen Nuo's smile widened. He won't let that happen this time. "Ah'zhan, don't expose me out no matter what kind of a pretending that I come up with, ok?" He said softly.

I mean in the future what the @#$k just I'm up to, you can shut up! Ok?

And for the third time for the day, Zhanhua choked in his breath again.

Ah'zhan??? Ah'zhan!!! Shen Nuo just called him that intimately!!?

Zhanhua blushed deep red. He did not know what to say or where to look. But he came back to his senses quickly and nodded. "Yes, Consort Shen!"

Suddenly the sedan was stopped.

"Greetings to the Emperor!" Outside the sedan, the bodyguard shouted bowing loudly.

*********