TPSC 06

Chapter 6

Carrying the neatly folded clothes, Shen Yin walked over to the Crown Prince.

He picked up the outfit he had first selected and was about to help the prince get dressed when he heard the latter speak indifferently.

“Not this one. Change it.”

Shen Yin lowered his head respectfully and put the clothes away.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

He turned around and picked out a dark green set.

The noble Crown Prince merely glanced at it before shaking his head.

“Too green. Change it.”

Shen Yin clenched his teeth secretly.

“Yes.”

He turned around and selected a black outfit.

The Crown Prince shook his head again.

“Too black. Change it.”

“Yes.”

Shen Yin gritted his teeth.

Next, he brought over a red robe embroidered with subtle patterns.

The Crown Prince shook his head.

“Too vulgar.”

A blue robe decorated with auspicious cloud motifs.

“Too pale.”

A dark blue robe that looked refined and dignified at first glance.

The Crown Prince tapped his precious fingernails.

“Too ugly.”

Looking at the rapidly dwindling number of clothes left in the wardrobe, Shen Yin secretly ground his teeth.

He sincerely felt that this crazy Crown Prince was sick in the head.

No color pleased him.

Damn it. Just run around naked, then.

At that moment, someone knocked on the door.

“Your Highness, the Second Miss of the General’s Manor’s birthday banquet is about to begin.”

The speaker was a middle-aged man with graying temples. He was the steward of the Crown Prince’s residence, surnamed Sun.

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince—who moments ago had been impossibly picky—suddenly straightened up and waved toward Steward Sun.

“Very well. I know.”

After Steward Sun left, the esteemed Crown Prince finally spoke.

“Let’s go with the first one you picked.”

“It looks quite nice.”

At those words, Shen Yin’s fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles cracked audibly.

This mad prince’s behavior was no different from the clients in his previous life who had made him revise a proposal twenty times, only to choose the very first version in the end.

The exact same infuriating nonsense.

Behind him, Chu Moli watched Shen Yin’s barely restrained frustration with great interest.

He found it extremely amusing.

Shen Yin reached out and retrieved the first outfit—a white robe embroidered with peony patterns and trimmed with gold edging.

Walking back to the prince, he lowered his head slightly.

“Your Highness, allow this subordinate to help you dress.”

“Heh.”

Chu Moli suddenly chuckled softly and raised his arms.

“Then I’ll trouble you.”

If you really feel troubled, then please stop tormenting people, alright?

Damn it.

A quarter of an hour later, Chu Moli stood dressed in white and gold robes.

A jade pendant hung from his waist.

A golden crown adorned his head, from which delicate golden tassels draped down.

In his hand was a folding fan.

Combined with his peerlessly handsome face, he embodied the saying:

“A gentleman as pure as jade; unmatched in the world.”

To Shen Yin—the exhausted working man at heart—there were only four words to describe the scene:

Rich as hell.

Looking at him now, Chu Moli seemed nothing like the rumored Crown Prince who was supposedly on the verge of being deposed.

Shen Yin followed behind him, step by step, as they exited the residence.

Glancing around the entrance, he noticed there were neither horses nor a carriage.

The General’s Manor was at least ten li away.

Were they seriously planning to walk there?

As a shadow guard, he personally didn’t mind.

But the Crown Prince was raised in luxury.

After some thought, Shen Yin spoke.

“Your Highness, should we not have a carriage prepared?”

Chu Moli glanced at him sideways.

“What? I haven’t complained of being tired, yet you are?”

Shen Yin immediately lowered his head.

“This subordinate would not dare.”

“The General’s Manor is at least ten li away. Your Highness is of noble status. Walking such a distance may harm your esteemed body.”

Hearing this, Chu Moli let out a mocking laugh.

“In all of Yong City, who doesn’t know that my life is cheap?”

“I am neither favored by Father Emperor nor cared for by my imperial mother.”

“I survived all these years relying solely on myself.”

“This is the first time I’ve heard anyone call me precious.”

As he spoke, Chu Moli turned to face Shen Yin and lifted the latter’s chin with his folding fan.

Forced to raise his head, Shen Yin met the Crown Prince’s gaze.

Chu Moli’s eyes were long and narrow, the corners slightly upturned.

His dark pupils stared directly into Shen Yin’s.

“My body is precious?”

His neck strained uncomfortably, but Shen Yin still replied:

“Of course.”

“Your Highness is this subordinate’s master. Naturally, you are more important than anyone else.”

“Heh.”

A smile slowly curved Chu Moli’s lips.

The corners of his eyes lifted as well, giving him a distinctly wicked charm.

“Little shadow guard, you’re even more interesting than I thought.”

With that, he waved his hand toward Steward Sun, who stood at the gate.

“Prepare a carriage.”

Steward Sun bowed respectfully.

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Chu Moli withdrew the fan from beneath Shen Yin’s chin and snapped it open with a flourish.

Looking at the dark circles beneath Shen Yin’s eyes, he remarked:

“You didn’t sleep well last night.”

Shen Yin lowered his head.

“Thank you for Your Highness’s concern. This subordinate is fine.”

Inside, however, he grumbled endlessly.

Ever since becoming Shadow One, it had been a long time since he’d had so little sleep—less than four hours.

Chu Moli reached out and patted his face.

“Since you didn’t sleep well, then tomorrow you may come at the Hour of Chou instead.”

Shen Yin’s usually calm expression nearly cracked.

What did you just say?

Say that again.

What time?

The Hour of Chou?

That was around one to three in the morning.

At that point, he might as well skip sleeping entirely and just die from overwork.

The resentment practically poured out of him.

Chu Moli acted as if he noticed nothing and patted his shoulder again.

“I know that shadow guards often stay awake all night.”

“I’m allowing you to report for duty at the Hour of Chou tomorrow, giving you a few extra hours of sleep.”

“You should remember my kindness and devote yourself to me wholeheartedly.”

Shen Yin secretly ground his teeth.

He was reaching his limit.

He really was.

Who exactly told this man that shadow guards never slept?

Yes, there were times they stayed awake all night—or even several nights in a row.

But that was because they were on missions.