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

Chapter 390 His Highness the Crown Prince is Outstandingly Talented (28)

On a summer afternoon, the cicadas chirped lazily, their calls drifting in through the half-open carved window, adding to the languid atmosphere.

Ice chests were placed in the four corners of the hall, and wisps of cool air escaped from them, dispelling the summer heat.

Lin Shen, dressed in a light, moon-white casual robe, sat casually on a soft couch by the window, his posture relaxed.

He was holding a book in his hand, reading it casually.

Chun Yue, who was standing beside her, was gently fanning herself, bringing a refreshing breeze.

On the small table was a plate of freshly delivered glutinous rice cakes, white and soft, garnished with a few bright red candied fruits.

Lin Shen put down his book, picked up a piece, and took a satisfying bite. The chewy, sweet texture made him squint his eyes contentedly, like a cat that had successfully stolen some fish.

Just then, the eunuch Li Mao tiptoed in and bowed to report, "Your Highness, the Third Prince has arrived."

Lin Shen swallowed the pastry in his mouth and nodded casually. "Let him in."

"Yes," Li Mao replied and withdrew.

Before long, a series of steady footsteps approached from afar. Lin Yu was dressed in a dark purple brocade robe today, which made his figure appear even more upright. His hair was tied up high with a crown, meticulous in every detail, making him look heroic and spirited.

He strode into the hall, his gaze immediately falling on the leisurely young man on the soft couch.

Seeing Lin Shen's lazy, carefree, and unambitious demeanor, Lin Yu's tense lips unconsciously softened, a barely perceptible warmth flashed deep in his eyes, and he curved his eyebrows and bowed respectfully.

"Brother Crown Prince, how are you today?"

"It's okay."

Lin Shen raised his chin and pointed to the spot beside the couch. A palace maid, who had been paying attention, immediately brought over an embroidered stool and placed it next to the soft couch.

Lin Yu bowed and sat down, his posture respectful, but his gaze remained subtly fixed on Lin Shen.

Lin Shen picked up a damp cloth from the side and wiped his hands. He spoke casually, his tone carrying a hint of pure doubt.

"My third brother has been training on the frontier, traveling tirelessly. Why did he suddenly tell Father Emperor at yesterday's palace banquet that he wants to stay in the capital and assist me?"

This is what he's really curious about.

According to the original plot in his memory, this third brother, Lin Yu, was an ambitious man. He had originally sided with the original owner, but because the Crown Princess was pregnant, he was worried about losing his position and chose to rebel.

This sudden change is really strange.

Upon hearing this, Lin Yu raised his eyes and looked at Lin Shen with gentle eyes. His gaze was deep, as if it contained many emotions that Lin Shen could not understand.

His voice was steady, yet carried an undeniable sincerity: "Because my third brother has long admired the Crown Prince. The frontier is bitterly cold, unlike the warmth of the Eastern Palace. To stay by your side and do my part is my wish."

Lin Shen raised an eyebrow, but the little voice in his mind was ranting and raving.

Longing for it? In the original story, you didn't show the slightest "longing" when you rebelled!

He couldn't help but recall the awful plot of the original story—the trigger for Lin Yu's rebellion seemed to be the Crown Princess's pregnancy.

It's estimated that he was afraid that if the Crown Prince had a legitimate son, he, as the prince who held military power, would have even less hope, so he simply decided to strike first.

Tsk, power, it really drives people crazy.

Thinking of this, Lin Shen couldn't help but frown, and subconsciously raised his hand slightly, wanting to pick up the teacup on the coffee table.

Seeing this, Chunyue, who was standing by the side, was about to step forward to serve, but Lin Yu, who was sitting on the embroidered stool, moved even faster.

Almost instinctively, he leaned forward, naturally and skillfully picking up the cup of tea at the perfect temperature and steadily handing it to Lin Shen's outstretched hand.

The movements were fluid, as if they had been rehearsed hundreds of times.

Lin Shen was also taken aback, not expecting Lin Yu to personally serve him tea.

He paused for a moment, then took the tea, lowered his head and took a sip. The fragrant tea soothed his throat and dispelled the sweetness of the pastry.

After Lin Yu finished serving the tea, his fingers curled slightly, froze in mid-air for a moment, and then slowly withdrew.

He looked down at his palm, which had just touched Lin Shen's fingertips, and his eyes suddenly became unfocused, as if he could see the distant past through this moment.

It's this hand...

In his previous life, his elder brother, the Crown Prince, would hold his hand tightly when no one was around, his beautiful phoenix eyes filled with trust and certainty, and whisper to him.

"Ayu, don't be afraid. In my heart, you are the most important. The Crown Princess... is just a facade, a way to appease those old ministers of the previous dynasty."

At that time, he believed it, cherished the oath as a treasure, and was willing to fight for him and clear away all obstacles.

But what happened next?

Later, when the news of the Crown Princess's pregnancy arrived, the Eastern Palace was filled with joy.

At that moment, he felt a chilling sense of betrayal gnawing at his heart like a venomous snake. Anger and despair consumed all his reason, making him forget all the vows and tenderness of the past.

He chose to repay the betrayal in kind—by raising an army and forcing the emperor to abdicate…

But in the end, they were not happy at all.

Only after his death, when his spirit lingered, did he accidentally learn the truth: the child the Crown Princess was carrying was not his elder brother's child at all! It was the illegitimate child of that woman and his fourth brother!

He misunderstood him. He destroyed the person he cherished most with his own hands, and also destroyed the only possibility of warmth he had ever received.

Overwhelmed by immense regret and pain, Lin Yu could barely breathe.

He clenched his fingers tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms, using the stinging pain to force himself to pull himself away from that bloody and desperate memory.

When he raised his head again, his face had regained its previous gentleness and obedience, but the complex emotions surging deep in his eyes were like a bottomless, icy pool, difficult to calm.

Looking at his elder brother, the Crown Prince, who was leisurely sipping tea and knew nothing about it, he had only one thought in his mind that was extremely clear.

In this life, he will never repeat the same mistake.

No matter the cost, he would protect him and atone for the sins of his past life.

Lin Shen put down his teacup and looked up to meet Lin Yu's overly focused gaze, which even carried a hint of inexplicable pain. Lin Shen felt even more strange.

Why is my third brother acting so strangely today?

Lin Shen felt somewhat uncomfortable under Lin Yu's direct gaze, which seemed to be filled with too many complex emotions.

He raised his hand and touched his cheek; his fingertips only touched smooth skin, with nothing foreign in it.

He raised an eyebrow, breaking the slightly tense atmosphere with a hint of mockery: "Why is Third Brother looking at me like that? Is there something on my face?"

Lin Yu snapped back to reality, realizing his lapse in composure, and quickly suppressed the turmoil in his eyes.

He lowered his eyes slightly, his long eyelashes concealing the expression in them. When he looked up again, his expression was gentle and peaceful.

A perfectly timed smile played on his lips as he spoke softly, his tone carrying a hint of genuine admiration.

"Please forgive me, Your Highness. It's just that... Your Highness is so handsome, like a celestial being, that I was momentarily captivated by you."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Shen raised his eyebrows even higher, looking with great interest at his younger brother who seemed quite different from the "original" impression.

In his mind, Lin Yu should be a cold-blooded, ruthless, and taciturn military general. When did he become so sweet-talking? These compliments didn't sound entirely hypocritical flattery; instead, they seemed to reveal a hint of... sincerity?

That's interesting.

Lin Shen couldn't help but smile. The wariness and distance he had felt due to the "original" plot melted away a little under the other party's straightforward praise.

He relaxed his body, lazily leaned back on the soft couch, picked up a piece of chewy pastry, and asked in a casual tone while taking small bites.

"Alright, let's not talk about that. Third brother, you've been on the frontier for a long time. It's bitterly cold there, and life must be quite monotonous. Have you heard anything interesting that you could tell me to cheer me up?"

Seeing that Lin Shen took the initiative to ask about the frontier, and his expression softened, Lin Yu felt a little relieved. The anger and pain that had surged from recalling his past life were temporarily suppressed.

He straightened his posture, his gaze falling on Lin Shen's curious face, and nodded.

"Although the frontier is harsh, the world is vast and has a unique charm."

Lin Yu's voice calmed down, taking on a soothing rhythm as if telling a story. "I remember last autumn, I led a troop of light cavalry on a patrol to the northern desert region. There was a vast poplar forest there. In autumn, the leaves turned golden, stretching for hundreds of miles. Under the setting sun over the Gobi Desert, it looked like a burning golden ocean, extremely magnificent."

As Lin Shen listened and imagined the scene, he couldn't help but nod.

It is indeed rare to see such a vast scene within the palace walls.