I Don't Want to Be a Charmboy【Quick Wear】

Chapter 383 His Highness the Crown Prince is Outstandingly Talented (21)

As dawn broke through the carved window lattices, dappled light and shadow fell upon the golden brick floor of the sleeping quarters.

The faint sounds of ceremonial music drifted from outside the hall, setting the tone for this extraordinary day.

Lin Shen stood in front of a bronze mirror as tall as a person, his arms slightly outstretched.

The mirror reflected the boy's slender figure, as well as the tall and imposing man behind him, who was now humbly bowing.

Those rough, large hands were now meticulously tying the prince's elaborate belt.

The gold-embroidered belt shimmered in the morning light, each line exuding supreme honor.

"A great victory in the northern frontier, coinciding with my birthday." Lin Shen looked at himself in the mirror, his tone carrying a hint of nonchalant pride. "Now, rumors are spreading everywhere that I am an auspicious omen protecting the Great Qi."

Cheng Song's fingers lingered briefly on the final knot of the belt.

He stared at the boy's waistline, outlined by his fine clothes, so thin it seemed as if it would break at the slightest touch.

“Your Highness is a man blessed by Heaven.” His voice was deep, and his fingertips almost imperceptibly brushed against the other’s waist.

The touch was as light as a butterfly's wing.

"Don't block my way."

Lin Shen impatiently brushed his hand away and turned to straighten his clothes.

Cheng Song took a half step back with an unchanged expression and stood with his head bowed.

For more than ten years, he had personally taken care of the Crown Prince's food, clothing, housing and transportation, and such beatings and scoldings had long become a habit.

Today, however, His Highness's brows were filled with a rare joy, and even his reprimands seemed light and insignificant.

Lin Shen looked at himself in the mirror—this dress was meticulously sewn by a hundred embroiderers at the behest of Emperor Qi over three months, and the pearl on his headdress was a rare treasure that was hard to find anywhere in the world.

Everyone understood what this unique favor meant.

"How am I today?" the young man asked with a slight smile, his gaze still lingering on the mirror.

Cheng Song lowered his head, but his gaze fell on Lin Shen's exposed ankle.

He was all too familiar with that fair skin. Every day when he knelt down to put shoes on the Crown Prince, he always had to restrain himself so that his fingertips would not linger on that delicate skin for too long.

"Your Highness is dashing and debonair today, quite the bearing of a crown prince," Cheng Song said calmly. "He must be an exceptional man."

Lin Shen nodded in satisfaction.

Over the years he had heard countless flatteries, but he admired Cheng Song the most—who, despite harboring ulterior motives, pretended to be utterly loyal.

"I heard your younger brother has made great contributions while serving your third brother?" the boy suddenly asked casually.

Cheng Song immediately knelt down, his knees striking the gold bricks with a crisp sound: "Your Highness, please see the truth. This servant has no connection with the Third Prince."

Lin Shen gave a noncommittal "hmm".

He didn't really suspect anything; Cheng Song hated the family members who had sent him to the palace to become a eunuch, and he also harbored resentment towards his younger brother.

He just needs to keep this biting dog in check from time to time, and not let him have too much peace and quiet.

"I'm thinking, my third brother has made great contributions on the frontier, how do you think Father will reward him?"

Cheng Song kept his head down: "This servant does not know. But His Majesty favors Your Highness the most. Even if the Third Prince has great military achievements, he cannot surpass you."

Lin Shen smiled softly.

In the story he knew, his third brother outwardly surrendered, but secretly plotted a rebellion.

After helping the original owner ascend the throne, he kept a low profile and almost overthrew the country. In the end, he failed and committed suicide outside the palace.

I wonder if his third brother will follow the same path in this life?

"Get up," Lin Shen said calmly, casually taking a jade pendant from the table and tossing it to Cheng Song. "This is a reward for you."

Cheng Song accepted the jade pendant with both hands; it still carried the warmth of the boy's fingertips.

This is a method of animal taming—a beating followed by a sweet treat.

He knew it all too well.

The sun had fully risen, bathing the prince's figure in a golden light.

Lin Shen adjusted his hair ornament one last time, and the corners of his lips curved into a perfectly pleasing smile.

"Let's go, it's time to receive the congratulations from the officials."

Cheng Song followed silently, maintaining a just-right distance.

His gaze remained fixed on Lin Shen's barely visible ankle, like a lurking wolf eyeing its most prized prey.

The palace doors slowly opened, revealing a tall, slender figure standing against the light.

In an instant, all the officials in the hall rose to their feet, their brocade robes rustling softly as they knelt on the ground, saying, "Greetings, Your Highness!"

Lin Shen strode in, his steps leisurely.

The jade pendant at his waist made a crisp clinking sound with each step he took, which was particularly clear in the silent hall.

The morning sun shone obliquely through the palace gate, gilding his entire body with a golden edge, so dazzling that people dared not look directly at him.

All the officials lowered their heads, only able to catch a glimpse of the crown prince's embroidered gold-patterned robes passing by out of the corner of their eyes.

Upon seeing the newcomer, Emperor Qi, who was seated high on his dragon throne, immediately rose to greet him, a genuine smile spreading across his dignified face: "Abao has arrived. Come quickly, sit beside your father."

Lin Shen's hand was grasped by a pair of warm, large hands. He nodded slightly, allowing Emperor Qi to lead him to the throne. When he sat down on the specially made rosewood chair next to the dragon throne, a barely audible gasp filled the hall.

Sitting alongside the emperor was an unprecedented honor since the founding of the Great Qi Dynasty.

Emperor Qi turned his head and gazed at the young man beside him, his eyes gradually softening.

It looks more and more like him... It's like he's come back...

that person……

The moon in the sky is a thorn in my heart.

"My dear ministers, please make yourselves at home. Not everyone has arrived yet." Emperor Qi waved his hand, his tone gentle, but his gaze never left the Crown Prince.

Just then, hurried footsteps were heard outside the hall.

Chief eunuch Li Quan quickly stepped forward and whispered in Emperor Qi's ear.

Emperor Qi's brows relaxed slightly: "Let him in."

Li Quan straightened up, his high-pitched voice echoing throughout the hall: "Summon—the Third Prince to the hall!"

Heavy footsteps accompanied the clanging of armor as a young man in golden armor strode into the hall.

He was only fifteen or sixteen years old, but his face showed a maturity and composure beyond his years.

The wind and sand of the frontier had stained his originally fair skin a healthy wheat color, a red ribbon tied his black hair high, and his golden armor gleamed in the sunlight.

This was none other than Lin Yu, the third prince who had been raised on the frontier since childhood.

Lin Yu stepped into the main hall, his sharp gaze sweeping around like a hawk's before finally settling on the figure sitting beside his father.

At that moment, he was slightly taken aback, and an indescribable feeling of bitterness welled up in his throat.

Prince...

He quickly averted his gaze, knelt on one knee, and the armor struck the ground with a crisp sound: "Your subject has returned victorious and pays respects to Your Majesty!"

Emperor Qi rarely showed such a kind expression to his sons other than the crown prince. He smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Get up and come sit down."

Lin Yu respectfully agreed, rose, and sat down on the chair to the right of Emperor Qi.

Lin Shen glanced sideways, meeting Lin Yu's gaze. Those eyes, which had witnessed countless deaths on the battlefield, now churned with complex and unfathomable emotions.

interesting.

Lin Shen chuckled inwardly. This life seemed even more intriguing than the original story.