TPSC 14

Chapter 14

The bun vendor nodded repeatedly in agreement, grinning from ear to ear.

The pancake seller beside him waved at Shen Yin with a friendly smile.

“Young master, would you like to buy some pancakes?”

“Meat pancakes.”

Shen Yin reached out and took the two bags of buns along with the change the bun seller handed back to him.

Turning to glance at the pancake vendor, he vaguely remembered that Ying Er seemed to like pancakes.

With that thought in mind, Shen Yin walked over to the stall and considered for a moment.

“Give me thirty of them.”

The pancake seller immediately beamed, his face blooming like a chrysanthemum.

“Of course, of course!”

As he spoke, he grabbed some oil paper and began wrapping the pancakes.

“Young master, that will be one hundred and twenty copper coins.”

Shen Yin nodded, paying with one hand and taking the pancakes with the other.

“Thank you! Travel safely, young master. Please come again.”

Carrying thirty buns and thirty meat pancakes, Shen Yin walked down the street. From time to time, he lifted his head, then lowered it again.

There were one hundred and fifty Shadow Guards in the camp, right?

The sixty buns and pancakes he had bought probably wouldn’t be enough for everyone.

Tsk.

If he bought more, he wouldn’t be able to carry them.

Shen Yin shook his head as he walked.

A miscalculation. He should have dragged Ying Er out with him to help buy food.

Lost in thought, Shen Yin failed to notice a carriage moving slowly alongside him.

Inside the carriage, Chu Moli lifted a corner of the curtain with his folding fan. His eyes sparkled with amusement as he watched a certain Shadow Guard carrying a mountain of buns while walking and shaking his head.

“Shen Yin.”

Hearing the familiar voice, Shen Yin stiffened.

Turning his head, he saw the carriage window partially open, revealing the Crown Prince wearing a smile that looked anything but well-intentioned.

Shen Yin: …

Why was he here?

Wasn’t he the type who never got out of bed before the hour of Si?

With both arms full of buns and pancakes, Shen Yin couldn’t raise his hands in salute, so he could only bow.

“This subordinate greets Your Highness the Crown Prince.”

After speaking, Shen Yin glanced up at the man inside the carriage.

He watched as the Crown Prince’s gaze shifted from him to the buns in his arms.

And once it landed on the buns, it refused to move away.

Shen Yin swallowed nervously.

Wait.

Did the Crown Prince like eating buns?

Under the intense gaze of his superior, Shen Yin ultimately couldn’t bring himself to ignore it any longer.

He raised his head slightly.

“Your Highness… would you like a bun?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, the noble and exalted Crown Prince nodded.

Seeing this, Shen Yin hurriedly offered him the bag of buns.

Chu Moli extended a hand through the window. His fingers were long, fair, and elegantly defined.

He took one bun.

Then another.

Finally, he casually waved the hand holding the buns.

“I can’t eat that many.”

After saying that, the carriage curtain fell, hiding the interior from view.

The person inside seemed to give some kind of instruction. Soon, the carriage began moving faster.

Within moments, it disappeared from Shen Yin’s sight.

Shen Yin remained standing there, staring after it like a fool.

Inside the carriage

Chu Moli took a bite of a bun.

Then he lowered his eyes and looked at the cabbage-and-pork filling inside.

A trace of amusement lingered in his gaze.

“I thought it must have been something far more delicious.”

Watching the little Shadow Guard unconsciously swallow and stare at the food earlier had made him want to tease the man.

The person driving the carriage outside sounded surprised.

“Master, who was that just now?”

The voice belonged to a youth of about sixteen or seventeen, full of curiosity.

Chu Moli showed no displeasure at the familiar tone.

It was almost as though such behavior had long been permitted by him.

Hearing the question, Chu Moli took another bite of his bun.

“Someone interesting.”

“Oh.”

The youth responded before speaking again with a somewhat regretful tone.

“What a pity. He’s so good-looking, but he probably won’t live long.”

“What do you mean?”

By now, Chu Moli had finished one bun.

Outside, the youth shook his head while steering the carriage.

“Anyone you find interesting never survives longer than three months. The previous people who caught your attention lasted, at most, two months before dying.”

“Tsk, tsk.”

“Master, how about this? If you decide to kill that boy someday, don’t dismember the body right away. Give it to me first.”

“He’s so handsome. His skin would make a fine fan.”

At those words, Chu Moli’s eyes darkened slightly.

“Ru Yun, you’re becoming rather presumptuous.”

Ru Yun immediately apologized.

“Yes, this subordinate knows his mistake. Please forgive me, Master.”

That was what he said.

But there wasn’t the slightest sign of remorse on his face.

Chu Moli knew perfectly well that the apology was only lip service.

Ru Yun didn’t think he’d done anything wrong at all.

“Master, I’ve been following you since dawn to Huanxi Tower. I ran all over the place before sunrise and haven’t eaten a single meal.”

“You took two buns just now, didn’t you? Share one with me.”

Ru Yun’s voice sounded pitiful.

Inside the carriage, however, Chu Moli simply raised the second bun to his lips and took a bite.

“Too late. I’ve already eaten it.”

Outside, Ru Yun let out a dramatic wail.

“Master!”

Elsewhere

After careful consideration, Shen Yin ultimately decided he couldn’t play favorites.

So he went back and bought another sixty buns and fifty meat pancakes.

By the time he returned to the Shadow Guard camp, all the Shadow Guards saw was a mountain of buns and pancakes walking toward them.

Only after hearing their captain’s voice did they realize who it was.

Everyone rushed forward to help relieve him of his burden.

Once the enormous pile of food had finally been taken off him, Shen Yin dared to take a deep breath.

Dear heavens.

Doing a good deed was really hard work.

Ying Er stood beside him, patting his back and pouring him a cup of tea.

“Boss, why didn’t you ask me to come with you?”

Leaning heavily against his chair, Shen Yin let out a long sigh.

“Don’t ask. Don’t mention it.”