Rebirth: Not Being a Waste - Chapter 134

“Little Prince, please stop drinking.” In the private room, the guards urged the little prince gently. Seeing him drunk, they felt a little sympathy for him. He came here in high spirits, but now it seemed he was in no condition to continue.

“Don’t bother me!” The little prince slapped the seal off the jar, lifted it, and gulped down another drink. Seven or eight jars were already tipped over on the table.

The guards wanted to stop him, but were hesitant, not knowing how the little prince would react. They feared provoking him into a fit of rage.

The young prince wasn’t actually drunk at all. He was completely sober, but it was his very clarity that made him feel miserable. From a young age, he always worked hard, all in an effort to prove false a few casual words his father and Uncle Zhang once spoke.

He kept his distance from worldly pleasures all those years, hoping to earn the favor of the Zhang family and someday marry Qianjin.

He couldn’t understand why he became so obsessed with those few words from his childhood. Maybe it was because the Zhang family showed him great kindness when he first arrived, or perhaps it was the warm atmosphere of their home that made him feel like joining them would bring him happiness.

But now, reality dealt him a heavy blow. All the dreams he built in his mind were shattered. He could never marry Qianjin. Qianjin now had a husband, and he was too late.

Zhang Shu sat reading a piece of paper for a long time. Seeing that he was silent, Li Mujin walked over. “Ah’shu, what’s wrong?”

Zhang Shu handed the paper to Li Mujin, his expression strange. “The little prince is coming. It’s said that he set off in March.”

Li Mujin looked at the note, which was written by Prince Cheng. “Shouldn’t he be here soon? But why is the little prince coming here?”

Zhang Shu shook his head. In his past life, the little prince came to pay tribute to his father. What could he want in this life?

“Never mind,” Zhang Shu said. “No matter his reason, we’ll treat him like any other guest.”

The little prince drank a lot that night and slept until noon the next day. After washing up and eating, he dismissed the guards and went out alone. His mood was poor, and he just wanted to walk in solitude.

Now that the world was at peace and the rebels were subdued, it was safe, so the guards did not insist on accompanying him, though secret ones kept their distance.

As he walked, the little prince suddenly noticed a familiar figure hurrying ahead. It was the man from that day. Where was he going? The little prince followed him.

Zhou Dabao, later given the school name Zhou Hao by his teacher, studied for years. Though he couldn’t write proper essays, he was skilled in basic writing and arithmetic. He secured a job as an accountant in the largest teahouse in the county, which was owned by a man named He. The shopkeeper took an immediate liking to Zhou Dabao, thinking him to be honest and trustworthy. Over time, this assessment proved accurate.

Zhou Dabao carried a bag of food in his hand—wormwood dumplings made by his mother. He hurried into the teahouse and handed the bag to a girl behind the counter. They chatted and laughed, and the girl playfully fed him a dumpling.

The little prince watched in growing fury. This man had two children with a wealthy ger, but still acted in such a flirtatious manner. It seemed that no matter how simple someone looked, they could still deceive others with their charm. Uncle Zhang once said that the little prince had naturally seductive eyes and would surely be a playboy. It seemed that Uncle Zhang misjudged this time!

The young prince marched forward and slammed the table, startling both the girl and the man.

Zhou Dabao glared at him.

The little prince thought to himself: He’s still got some fight in him.

He wanted to expose him right then and there but decided it was better to confront Qianjin first, then catch them together.

“Bring this young master two plates of good food!” he ordered.

Zhou Dabao and He Yunniang stared at him in surprise. The young prince looked imposing and wore fine clothes, yet his behavior seemed erratic.

“Young master, this is a teahouse. We only serve tea and snacks. Would you like some?” A waiter approached nervously, hoping to diffuse the situation.

The little prince sneered. “What a shabby teahouse, with not even a side dish.” With that, he stormed off, leaving the staff visibly relieved.

The little prince returned to the inn, mounted his horse, and rode quickly to Shuitou Village. In no time, he arrived at the Zhang family home and was about to knock on the door when he saw Qianjin, carrying a basket and accompanied by several ger.

The young prince strode over. “Qianjin, I’m here to expose the villain’s true face!”

Qianjin, who had been chatting and laughing with his friends, took a few steps back, confused. “Excuse me, I don’t believe I know you.”

“Don’t worry about it, just follow me.” The young prince was eager to expose the truth, so he reached out to grab Qianjin.

However, several of Qianjin’s friends, thinking he was trying to kidnap him, quickly set down their baskets and began hitting him with wild vegetables, shouting loudly.

Soon, more than a dozen men from the Zhang family appeared, each holding a stick.

Zhang Shu stood at the front, wielding a stick. Qianjin immediately stepped behind him, his gaze wary. Zhang Shu took one look at the young prince and his clothes—rich, with mutton-fat jade around his waist, and a ruby set in his crown. Clearly, he was from an extraordinary family.

Still, something about the young prince’s face seemed familiar. After a moment of reflection, Zhang Shu recognized the telltale peach blossom eyes. “Are you… from the Zhao family?” he asked carefully, not revealing the young prince’s identity outright.

“Yes, it’s me, Uncle Zhang. I apologize for coming without a gift, which is why I didn’t visit earlier. I’m in the wrong here, and I’ll come apologize another day. But for now, please let Qianjin come with me. It’ll be too late if we wait any longer.”

The little prince bowed respectfully, but Zhang Shu slightly turned his body to avoid him. Qianjin, standing behind his father, quickly realized who this young man was. This must be the son of Prince Cheng, the one who was injured at their home when he was little. He didn’t remember him well, since he was only three years old at the time, but his father mentioned that they used to play together. Was it really him?

Zhang Shu stepped aside as the little prince explained, but his eyes narrowed. “What do you need Qianjin for?”

The little prince, a bit exasperated, answered, “I’m taking him to expose the true face of a scoundrel. His husband already married Qianjin but still has affairs with others. You must punish him severely, and if necessary, have Qianjin annul the marriage!”

Zhang Shu, Qianjin, and the others were taken aback by his words.

Qianjin, blushing deeply, quickly retorted, “Don’t talk nonsense! I’m not married yet!”

The young prince froze.

After the truth dawned on him, the young prince felt a mix of relief and embarrassment. He wanted to find those mischievous children who called him “Aba” and spank them, but he also wanted to hug them.

Zhang Shu invited him inside. However, Qianjin, already preparing to leave, grabbed his things and went with his friends. As he walked, he glanced at the young prince’s horse outside and suddenly remembered the back of a figure he saw the day before. Perhaps it was a misunderstanding. He didn’t expect the little prince to be so sentimental about their childhood connection.

The young prince gazed after Qianjin reluctantly, only coming back to his senses when Zhang Shu cleared his throat loudly several times.

“Uncle Zhang, I want to marry Qianjin!” he blurted out in a sudden burst of excitement. Afterward, he quickly realized he spoke out of turn. He should have brought gifts first.

Zhang Shu’s expression darkened. “Please be respectful, young prince. My Qianjin will not become a concubine.”

“What are you saying, Uncle Zhang?” the young prince replied quickly. “How could we, the Zhao family, be ungrateful? You saved my father’s life, and if I marry your Qianjin, it will be done properly, with the full respect of a legitimate proposal, as is protocol for a legal spouse.”

The young prince’s words were well-chosen, and Zhang Shu’s expression softened slightly. Still, he said, “We farmers are not accustomed to the ways of the wealthy. We appreciate your kindness, young prince, but my Qianjin must stay here at home.”

The young prince smiled and reassured him, “Uncle Zhang, don’t worry. You know how my father is—he has only one woman in his heart, my mother, and I too wish for a love like that. As for being of noble birth, it’s really nothing special. I will certainly protect Qianjin and ensure he never suffers any wrong.”

“We must listen to Qianjin’s wishes,” Zhang Shu replied. “If he does not want to, we will not force him. Please don’t trouble him, young prince.” He did not want to make a final decision yet, in case Qianjin did like the prince, but he didn’t want him to force him either.

The young prince was confident. How could anyone dislike someone as great as him?

That day, the young prince moved his belongings into the Zhang household. Not only that, he also brought numerous gifts for everyone—each person received something, and even the family’s dogs got a chicken leg.

The young prince imagined he would soon live with Qianjin. But reality struck a heavy blow.

Qianjin only smiled politely when he arrived and then barely interacted with him. What was worse, he noticed that the children at the house were clearly being guided by someone.

Whenever he tried to get close to Qianjin, one of the children would approach him immediately—either Zhang Erbao with questions, or the twins asking him to practice martial arts, or the two little ones clinging to his legs asking to be carried.

The little prince was tempted to push them aside, but how could he offend his future brothers-in-law? Reluctantly, he smiled and answered every call.

It wasn’t just the little ones either; even the adults. Especially Uncle Li Yan, who could not stand his presence and would practice martial arts with him whenever he had the chance. But he did not dare to go easy on the young prince, and the little prince ended up getting hit several times.

But the young prince was undeterred. Though he was afraid of many things, getting beaten wasn’t one of them. He was used to it from his royal grandfather since childhood. He took every opportunity to get closer to Qianjin.

When Qianjin washed clothes, he carried the basin. When Qianjin hung laundry, he helped hold the pole. When Qianjin wanted to go up the mountain to pick mushrooms, he went with him, carrying the basket or cutting grass.

The guards watched this behavior with disbelief, muttering that the young prince was acting like a lackey. They never saw him act so servile.

Qianjin’s heart softened. Seeing the young prince acting this way moved him a little. After all, he was a noble from the emperor’s court, and such tasks were beneath him.

But he understood clearly that the young prince didn’t truly have feelings for him. There was no connection like the love his father had for his Aba or the bond between his uncles and their wives. Perhaps this was just the fulfillment of a childhood promise.

He may have been kind to him, but without love, he knew that this bond could never last. His father often told him and his brother to follow their hearts and never regret their choices. He didn’t want the young prince to regret anything.

The young prince was ecstatic when he received a secret invitation from Qianjin. He believed he finally won his heart. But when he arrived, dressed carefully and eager to meet him, he was struck by Qianjin’s words.

“Young prince, I think you shouldn’t waste your time on me,” Qianjin said sincerely. “You’re still brooding over childhood jokes. You don’t like me—not really, or at least, not enough. I don’t want my husband and I to merely respect each other. A life like that is too dull. I don’t want you to regret it later.”

Qianjin’s words hit him like a thunderbolt. What? After everything he did, he was saying he didn’t like him?

“What exactly is love?” the young prince asked, his voice clear and direct. “I think I like you very much.”

Qianjin looked around to make sure no one else was present. Then, he stepped closer to the young prince and placed his hand on Zhao Chengzhang’s chest. “Love means that when you see someone, your heart races. You feel flustered, and you do things for them you never thought you would. You’re happy when they’re near and jealous when they’re kind to others.”

Qianjin was shorter than him, so he didn’t see the flush creeping up Zhao Chengzhang’s neck. His heart was steady, but once Qianjin moved away, it began to race wildly. Qianjin noticed Zhao Chengzhang’s red face but was confused. These were the things his father told him, but he never explained why someone’s heart could race without their face turning red.

“You… you’re too bold,” the young prince stammered, flustered. “How can you just put your hand on a man’s chest? Remember… remember, you can only do that to me in the future!” He turned and hurried off, determined to cool his face with cold water.

Qianjin watched his retreating figure, puzzled. “Uh, so… is it still okay for my father and brother to touch me?”