Wait and See. You Brought This Upon Yourselves.
Five days later, the sixth day of the twelfth lunar month arrived.
After drinking five days of medicinal decoctions, the bitterness clung to the root of Chu Yuan’s tongue. At last, his cold had fully subsided.
The weather cleared that afternoon. Snow did not fall, which was rare of late. Chu Yuan took a book, wrapped himself in a cloak, and sat beneath the corridor to read in quiet composure.
The courtyard held many withered trees. Le Shu was busy clearing the snow, gathering fallen branches with the intention of drying them for firewood.
Fang Ya and Fang Fei returned from outside.
Fang Fei pushed the gate open and, seeing Le Shu pile the branches together, nudged Fang Ya with her chin. “Look at that. As expected of someone from a minor kingdom, lacking refinement. He even hoards rotten wood from the ground.”
“What else would you expect? A servant reflects his master,” Fang Ya covered her mouth as she laughed, her voice deliberately loud. “His master will not even light a single candle at night. Naturally the servant imitates him. Truly surpassing the teacher.”
“I heard that Young Lord Ning came to the residence this morning and gifted His Highness a rare purebred Ferghana horse. His Highness was so pleased that he took Young Lord Ning out to race horses. Compare that to this place. How pitiful.”
After speaking, both women burst into hearty laughter.
These past few nights, when they delivered meals, Baichun Courtyard had been so dark that one could not see one’s own hand. Even the path was indistinct. Their dissatisfaction had long since taken root.
Le Shu tightened his grip on the branches. Squatting on the ground, his cheeks puffed slightly with anger, he remembered Chu Yuan’s earlier words and lowered his head to continue gathering wood.
After laughing for a time, the two noticed that neither master nor servant responded.
“Hey!” Fang Ya strode over and kicked the pile of branches over. “Are you deaf? Didn’t you hear us talking?”
The branches Le Shu had spent so long stacking scattered across the ground. He sprang to his feet, his chest heaving violently.
“I heard you. Both my ears heard you! Is that enough?”
The two were momentarily stunned by his shout.
Le Shu’s anger had not cooled. “Tomorrow I will report this to Uncle Mao. Baichun Courtyard is small. It cannot accommodate two great Buddhas like you.”
“Report us?” Fang Fei stared in disbelief. Her eyes widened, nearly bulging, and her voice turned shrill. “You think you can seek support from the steward?”
Fang Ya added, “Do not think that because the steward sent you a few things, you have become masters. That was mere courtesy. Take a good look at where you are. You dare to act high and mighty before us? Go on then, report us.”
“Go ahead, go ahead. Do you truly think we fear you?”
The two went back and forth, not giving Le Shu any chance to speak.
Le Shu stood there, cheeks puffed in indignation.
At that moment, a faint figure in green drifted past him.
Chu Yuan stepped forward, positioning himself before Le Shu. His gaze rested coldly upon the two women.
His refined features seemed veiled in frost. The cinnabar mole between his brows burned vivid against his pallor. His voice held no fluctuation as he spoke two words.
“Get out.”
The single command was clear and cold. Fang Fei and Fang Ya felt an inexplicable pressure settle over them.
It was as though someone accustomed to authority had stepped before them, bearing a quiet dominance that surveyed all beneath it.
They could scarcely believe such presence could emanate from a powerless, frail man.
Before they fully recovered their senses, Le Shu had seized a broom and driven them out of the courtyard.
Outside the gate, they glared at the tightly closed doors.
“That wretch,” Fang Fei spat.
Fang Ya gave a cold snort. “Wait and see. You brought this upon yourselves.” She spat at the door, her tone vicious.
By evening, snow began to fall again.
The sisters who were meant to deliver supper did not appear.
Le Shu glanced toward the gate several times. He waited until night had fully descended, then clutched his stomach and sighed. “Young Master guessed correctly. They did not bring us food.”
“When you were ill, I went to the kitchen once. I know the way. Young Master, please wait here. I will fetch dinner myself.”
He rubbed his frozen hands together and prepared to leave.
Chu Yuan did not feel at ease and rose, intending to accompany him.
“Snow is coming again. Your cold has only just healed. You cannot endure the chill. I will return quickly.”
Le Shu blocked him and ran off before another word could be spoken.
Chu Yuan could only remain inside to wait.
The room lay in darkness. He sat quietly as time passed. His hands and feet grew numb with cold, yet Le Shu did not return.
At that moment, the courtyard gate was suddenly blown open by a strong gust of wind. The shrill, howling cold wind was like fierce ghosts and evil beasts, making one shudder with fear just listening.
Fang Ya’s face appeared at the entrance.
She held a lantern, her expression arrogant, calling toward the dark room. “Prince Consort, Le Shu broke something in the kitchen and refuses to admit fault. The steward requests your presence.”
Chu Yuan raised his eyes. His gaze was clear and steady. His expression remained composed.
They walked in silence, one ahead and one behind.
Footsteps pressed lightly into the snow. Fang Ya glanced back. Chu Yuan wore robes of pale green, a white fox-fur cloak wrapped around him. His long fingers held a bamboo umbrella. Ink-black hair draped over his shoulders. He followed ten paces behind, neither too close nor too distant.
Her lips curved in a malicious smile. “Prince Consort, stay close. You would not wish to lose your way.”
Chu Yuan did not respond. He kept his eyes lowered, watching the ground.
Fang Ya’s eyes darted around. With deliberate intent, she swung the lantern backward so that the warm glow swept across the snow before him.
Chu Yuan halted abruptly. His breathing tightened.
Fang Ya observed with undisguised satisfaction. She saw him lower the umbrella, blocking the light entirely. Her mood lifted at once.
She turned and strode ahead, chin raised high.
They continued through the snowy night. Only one lantern flickered faintly.
After some time, they reached a rock garden. The path wound in curves. When Chu Yuan rounded one section of stone and looked up, Fang Ya had vanished.
He called once. No answer came.
Chu Yuan pressed his lips together and touched the stone wall. It was piercingly cold. Wind rushed in from all directions.
He stood in silence for a moment, suppressing a faint, bitter smile.
He had known there was deception, yet he followed nonetheless.
Their target had always been him. If they merely wished to punish him, they would not have focused so persistently on Le Shu.
The snow was deep and the road slippery. The night was thick as ink.
Wind wailed between the stone crevices. Unable to discern direction, Chu Yuan felt along the walls in search of an exit.
He misjudged the expanse of the rock garden. After circling for more than half an hour, he remained within its confines.
At last, his strength failed. He leaned against a stone wall, breathing shallowly.
Once he stopped moving, damp cold seeped into his body. His limbs stiffened. The warmth in his breath diminished.
He must not remain still. If he did, he would lose sensation entirely.
The thought flickered through his mind. Bracing himself against the wall, he forced himself upright and stamped his feet lightly in place. In the darkness, only his breathing could be heard.
Walk a little farther. Perhaps the exit lies ahead.
He comforted himself inwardly. The wind struck his face, nearly forcing his eyes shut. His fingers had grown too stiff to maintain their grip. The paper umbrella was directly blown away by the wind.
Snow fell heavily, soon whitening his dark hair like frost.
Drawing his cloak tighter, Chu Yuan moved forward step by step against the wind.
Just as he prepared to turn another bend, where the stone wall shielded the path and the wind lessened, he suddenly heard footsteps behind him.
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Guess who’s coming.
Thank you for the support. *Bows.*
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