In the autumn of the thirty-seventh year of the Yuan calendar, Yanling and Old Qin declared war on the State of Dai. Old Qin appointed Young Master Chu Rong as its general, who led one hundred thousand elite soldiers out to Pengcheng. Subsequently, Yanling dispatched General Yanchao, Shen Yunyan, with thirty thousand cavalry and fifty thousand infantry to attack Shi City.

At the beginning of the war, the State of Dai was unprepared and overwhelmed, losing two cities in a matter of days, and the morale of its people was shaken. General Yanchao, after a great victory, pressed his advantage and joined forces with the Old Qin army. They marched east toward the capital city of the State of Dai, Bianyang, with unstoppable momentum. For a time, General Yanchao's fame spread far and wide, becoming a household name. The common people all spoke of him with great relish in their spare time.

"General Yanchao is truly invincible."

Chu Jin sat at the table, lazily fiddling with the Lingzhi Mushroom Shen Mengzhi had given him. "I hear he followed Grand Marshal Shen on campaigns everywhere since he was young and quelled the internal strife of that time. He is truly a brilliant young talent."

Shen Mengzhi was lowering his head to feed the Imperial Censor, his movements a bit sluggish. He didn't react to the words, seeming to be in a daze.

"Senior Brother," Chu Jin came around the screen to stand before him, leaning in to take the object from his hands. He then waved away the aggrieved-looking parrot. "Why have you been so absent-minded lately?"

His voice was soft and his tone serious. Shen Mengzhi came back to his senses. "...It's nothing."

There were faint dark circles under his eyes, his expression holding an unconcealable weariness, as if he hadn't slept well for a long time. Chu Jin furrowed his brows, turning his averted face back to face him, and said in a low voice, "Have you not been sleeping well these past few days?"

Shen Mengzhi gave a vague hum, offering an excuse, "I sometimes have insomnia, no need to worry."

"If you can't sleep," Chu Jin said, "I can stay with you."

Shen Mengzhi let out a laugh. "If I'm awake the whole night, does that mean you'll have to stay up with me with your eyes open until dawn?"

After he said it, Chu Jin actually pondered for a few seconds, then smiled as well, his tone natural. "Why not?"

Shen Mengzhi was taken aback, momentarily unable to reply. He was speechless for a moment before he said, "There's no need for that."

"I want to see more of you, Senior Brother." Chu Jin paused. "In a few days, I have to go to Xiangjing for my routine imperial audience, and I'll be staying for half a month. I won't be able to see you then."

Shen Mengzhi froze upon hearing this, his gaze shifting slightly as he asked in a low voice, "...Then when will you be back?"

Chu Jin said, "It's not certain yet. Maybe at the end of this month, maybe after the new year."

The situation in Xiangjing was still unclear. The date of his return was not set, and anything could change.

Shen Mengzhi was silent for a long while before he suddenly said softly, "On New Year's Eve..."

Chu Jin looked up. "Hm?"

Shen Mengzhi watched him for a moment, and after a while, he opened his mouth. The words on the tip of his tongue changed to, "Nothing... come back soon."

It was a common affair for an heir from a foreign state to enter the capital for an imperial audience at the end of the year. It was just that Chu Jin hadn't mentioned it, and after a long time, Shen Mengzhi had forgotten about it too. He thought about the gift he had prepared for the other's birthday on New Year's Eve and felt a little troubled.

'A birthday gift should be given on the day, right? But if Chu Jin isn't back by then, won't it be too late?'

Shen Mengzhi sighed inwardly.

He knew that if he asked, the other would definitely agree, but he could never bring himself to coerce someone with his own selfish desires.

Chu Jin lifted a lock of his hair and wound it around his fingers, playing with it as he asked, "Is there anything you need me to bring back for you? Anything you want?"

"..." Shen Mengzhi looked at him. "I'm not a child anymore."

His expression was truly adorable, and Chu Jin laughed out loud.

He then said languidly, "How can buying something for my beloved be considered coaxing a child?"

He was getting into the spirit of teasing him. Shen Mengzhi gave him a pained look and said, "When you get to Xiangjing, just try not to be too conspicuous. After all, you still have to enter the palace..."

His voice suddenly stopped.

At such a palace banquet, not only would Xiao Zhuo be present, but the important ministers of the court would also attend by imperial decree.

Therefore, Shen Ke would be there as well.

Just as Chu Jin did not know the other identity of that powerful Grand Marshal of Yanling, Shen Ke would not know the current relationship between this Heir and his son.

Chu Jin noticed the change in his expression and frowned. "What's wrong?"

Shen Mengzhi snapped back to his senses. After two breaths of silence, he managed a slight smile. "It's nothing. I just suddenly remembered that when you enter the palace this time, you will probably run into the Grand Censor."

"Censor Qi..." Chu Jin understood. "Qi Yu's father?"

Shen Mengzhi said, "Yes. He'll probably ask about Qi Yu's grades at the academy."

At that time, Qi Yu's life would be in Chu Jin's hands.

The latter had clearly thought of this as well. He chuckled twice, then added, "Then I'll have to put in a good word for Qi Yu. However, I hear that Grand Marshal Shen is quite close with Censor Qi, so I should be able to see him as well."

"He and Censor Qi are of a similar age, right? It's a pity he only has one son, General Shen. Otherwise, his second son should be about the same age as Qi Yu and might have been sent to the academy as well." Chu Jin said casually. "If that were the case, it would be great. Qi Yu wouldn't have to cling to you alone and meddle in everything."

Shen Mengzhi's whole body stiffened, and he subconsciously glanced at him. Chu Jin's expression was as usual, his eyes closed, completely unaware, as if what he had just said were merely unintentional words.

His intuition was too sharp. For a moment, Shen Mengzhi almost thought he had already discovered his true identity.

After a long silence, he listened as his heartbeat gradually calmed down. When he finally spoke, his voice was already steady. "But he doesn't."

Chu Jin responded lazily, repeating, "Yes, what a pity he doesn't."

His tone was full of regret, as if being disturbed by Qi Yu was an incredibly painful affair, which made Shen Mengzhi want to laugh.

He wanted to say that even if there was a second son, the situation today would still be the same. Because Jiang Zhen and Grand Marshal Shen's second son were one and the same person.

But after some thought, he said instead, "If that were really the case, what if the person you liked became that Young Master Shen? Wouldn't you still have to be jealous of Qi Yu?"

Chu Jin's eyes were closed, looking like he was about to fall asleep. He had also been exceptionally busy these past few days because of the trip to the capital, so he was extremely drowsy at the moment.

Shen Mengzhi wasn't sure if he had heard his question. But the question had popped into his head suddenly, and he had asked it without thinking. After asking, upon further reflection, it felt more like he was being jealous of himself.

...He felt that he was really not thinking straight.

Just when Shen Mengzhi thought that Chu Jin had fallen asleep and would not answer, the fingers entwined in his hair suddenly moved. They then let go, followed the direction to his lips, and then gently caressed them.

Shen Mengzhi was caught off guard. He froze for a second, then met Chu Jin's eyes.

His eyelids were slightly closed, his gaze sweeping lazily from the slight opening of his eyes, and he looked as if he would fall asleep in the next second.

"I wouldn't," Shen Mengzhi heard him say. "I only like you."