Do You Think You’re Still a Prince of Chu?
Cold crows wailed as bitter wind and bleak rain swept through.
The damp chill slipped through his thin collar, burrowing along his skin into the crevices of his bones, as though hundreds upon thousands of ants were gnawing at him, stirring a fine, dense ache.
“Cough, cough…” An uncontrollable fit of coughing broke out, rapid and violent, as if he might cough up his lungs.
The people waiting at the temple gates immediately stepped back, raising their sleeves to cover their mouths and noses.
The lead eunuch looked at the man in blue robes before him and said in a mocking, affected tone, “Oh my, Your Highness must take care. Your body is precious now. You absolutely must not catch a chill. Someone, escort His Highness into the palanquin.”
Chu Yuan steadied himself against the doorframe, his fingertips pale. As he bent over coughing, his thin, bony back was exposed.
After a long moment, he lifted his head, and the crowd drew in quiet breaths.
The man before them had a slender frame and a sickly pallor. His blue robes had been washed until the color had nearly faded away. Yet even in such destitution, nothing could conceal his face, as if carved from the heavens.
Not to mention the cinnabar mole between his brows, which made his bearing all the more distinctive: pure yet faintly alluring.
Blue robes and jade features, a beauty that could topple kingdoms.
The lead eunuch examined him closely and muttered inwardly that after several years living in the temple, he had acquired a trace of Buddhist serenity.
Neither sorrowful nor joyful, like a jade-faced Guanyin.
Le Shu stepped forward to support him, his eyes red as he glared at the people before them. Just as he was about to speak, a light pat landed on the back of his hand, silently stopping him.
Le Shu swallowed his words, sniffed, and carefully helped Chu Yuan into the palanquin.
The lead eunuch cast a glance at the desolate, crumbling temple, brushing his sleeves in disgust as though something filthy had touched him, unable to hide his revulsion.
“Raise the palanquin.” His shrill voice rang out. The palanquin was hoisted roughly, swaying as it moved forward.
Chu Yuan sat inside with a small bundle resting on his knees. The fabric had been washed until pale, but one could see it was very clean.
The jolting was severe. Enduring the discomfort, his slender fingers slowly tightened around the bundle.
An hour later.
“Lower the palanquin.” The lead eunuch called out. The palanquin thudded heavily onto the ground.
“Your Highness the Crown Prince, the person has arrived.” The eunuch’s voice outside was fawning.
Chu Yuan sat within, listening to footsteps approach.
The curtain was abruptly flung aside. Cold wind rushed in along with murmured chatter. He raised his eyes and met a pair filled with ridicule and mockery.
“What, must I personally invite you out?” Chu Zhang, Crown Prince of Chu, looked down at him from above, disdain written across his face.
Le Shu, who had been following beside the palanquin, bent and extended a hand. “Your Highness, this servant will help you.”
Chu Zhang let out a cold snort, as if amused by a joke. “Your Highness? If I recall correctly, this deposed crown prince was long ago expelled from the palace by Father Emperor and is no different from a commoner. You dog slave, what audacity.”
As his words fell, a guard stepped forward and kicked Le Shu, forcing him to his knees.
Caught off guard, Le Shu’s forehead struck the palanquin door with a dull sound.
The guard seemed ready to deliver another kick.
“Stop!” A voice as cold and clear as snow rang from within the palanquin.
A figure stepped out.
His features were like white jade carefully carved, his nose straight, his brows tranquil. His posture stood as upright as jade bamboo. His voice flowed like a mountain spring, cool and resonant, utterly captivating.
“Since Chu Kingdom intends to use me to form a marriage alliance with the Lu imperial family, then it tacitly acknowledges my status as a prince. What fault is there in addressing me as Your Highness?”
Chu Zhang crossed his arms, his lips curving in a half-smile. “It’s only to make it sound better when spoken aloud. Do you think you’re still a prince of Chu, the once exalted Crown Prince?”
Mocking laughter rose all around.
Chu Yuan helped Le Shu up. Seeing the red swelling on his forehead, a flicker of pain passed through his eyes. He pulled Le Shu behind him protectively.
“If you have grievances, direct them at me. Don’t harm the innocent.” His voice was like a breeze through a bamboo grove, calm and undisturbed.
“Elder Brother seems to have forgotten that he is now the Third Prince Consort of Lu Kingdom, a position of distinction. In the future, we’ll have to bow when we see him.” The Fifth Prince stepped beside Chu Zhang, his tone dripping with sarcasm, and his gaze toward Chu Yuan full of ill intent.
Chu Zhang sneered.
Looking at the ice-and-snow beauty before him, he thought viciously that the Third Prince had a notorious reputation. Once Chu Yuan married over, he would surely suffer.
At present, the Ye River marked the boundary of the realm. North of it lay vast, fertile lands belonging to the militarily powerful Lu Kingdom. South of the river were the six kingdoms of Chu, Yu, Liu, Kang, Duan, and Shi.
Lu Kingdom was formidable, and the six kingdoms feared being conquered. They secretly formed an alliance to jointly resist Lu.
Openly, they paid tribute each year. Thus, north and south had enjoyed decades of uneasy peace.
Not long ago, Lu Ronghuai, the Third Prince of Lu Kingdom, led troops to conquer a northern barbarian tribe. Lu’s power expanded once more. When the news reached the south, the rulers of the six kingdoms could neither eat nor sleep in peace.
Then word spread that Lu Ronghuai was violent by nature, bloodthirsty and warlike, and that three successive fiancées had met their deaths. No noble child of Lu dared marry him.
It was at this moment that the ruler of Chu Kingdom offered Chu Yuan.
Chu Yuan lowered his eyes, a chill emanating from between his brows. He said nothing.
He had thought he would spend the rest of his days in that ruined temple. Now even that had become a luxury.
The marriage envoy beside them wiped sweat from his brow and seized a chance to interject. “Your Highness the Crown Prince, the hour has arrived. It’s time for… the Third Prince Consort to depart.”
Chu Zhang had not wished to come today, but his Father Emperor had even less desire to see Chu Yuan. Volunteering himself allowed him to gain a reputation for magnanimity while enjoying this man’s current wretched state.
Two birds with one stone.
Now that his objective was achieved, he nodded in a rather good mood. “Very well. Escort the Third Prince Consort properly. Make sure he reaches the Ye River and is handed over to Lu Kingdom.”
He emphasized the words “Third Prince Consort.”
For a man, especially one who had once been Crown Prince, to become another man’s consort was undoubtedly the greatest humiliation of his life.
Chu Yuan’s expression remained composed as he turned toward the luxurious bridal palanquin.
Chu Zhang watched, clearly enjoying the misfortune as Chu Yuan boarded the palanquin. The procession prepared to depart and gradually disappeared into the distance.
To reach the Ye River from Chu Kingdom, they had to pass through Yu and Duan.
After half a month, at the end of October, the bridal procession finally arrived. On the river, a grand fleet of Lu Kingdom’s welcoming ships awaited.
The envoy breathed a sigh of relief and knocked on the palanquin. “Third Prince Consort, have you finished changing?” he asked perfunctorily.
A soft acknowledgment came from within. The envoy quickly lifted the curtain. “Hurry. Everyone’s waiting.”
He marveled inwardly. As expected of Lu Kingdom. The ships were broad and imposing, magnificent in scale.
Soldiers stood rigid on either side, blades sheathed at their hips, chests lifted, and expressions stern. These were clearly men who had seen battle. Thus, an aura of slaughter clung to them.
In comparison, Chu Kingdom’s bridal procession appeared shabby and miserly.
Zhao Lu stood at the bow in armor, his hands clasped behind his back. He frowned at the Chu contingent. “What is Chu Kingdom doing? Only two squads to escort the wedding, and those soldiers can barely walk straight. A bunch of incompetents.”
The welcoming envoy beside him also frowned. “Only ten carts of dowry. Even the daughter of a third-rank official in Lu would receive more.”
Zhao Lu merely glanced at him.
He was a deputy general under the Third Prince, responsible for the safety of the procession. The envoy, meanwhile, had been arranged by the Empress. The two did not see eye to eye.
Zhao Lu turned toward the palanquin.
Chu Yuan, dressed in brilliant red wedding robes and veiled, was helped down.
“Lower the ladder. Welcome the Prince Consort aboard!” Zhao Lu’s voice boomed.
The envoy straightened his cap and cleared his throat. “Third Prince Consort, according to Chu custom, you must perform the farewell bow before boarding. I shall receive it on behalf of His Majesty.”
Chu Yuan remained silent.
Le Shu supported Chu Yuan. He bit his cheek, not even looking at the envoy, his jaw clenched tight.
How improper, the envoy scorned inwardly.
Soon the Lu officials disembarked. After a series of insincere courtesies, the Lu envoy invited Chu Yuan aboard.
The Chu envoy cleared his throat, waiting for the farewell ceremony.
This was an order personally issued by the Emperor of Chu to remind Chu Yuan that even as a Prince Consort of Lu, he would always remain a man of Chu.
A person must not forget his roots.
Chu Yuan stepped forward.
“Wait,” the envoy called hurriedly. “Has the Third Prince Consort forgotten something?”
Chu Yuan turned a deaf ear.
Beneath the red veil, his gaze was cold, and his eyes as still as dead ashes.
Behind him, there was no longer a home.
Before him, there would not be one either.
He had lived alone, with no attachments. This once, he would be willful and refuse to be manipulated.
From the moment he left the capital of Chu, he had let go of that country, along with his past.
No looking back, no room for regret.
Soon the ships began to move, drifting farther from shore.
Inside the spacious cabin, Le Shu helped him sit, then hurried to pour tea.
“Your Highness, please drink some water.” Le Shu spoke softly. If one listened carefully, one could detect a faint sob in his voice.
Chu Yuan lifted the veil halfway and accepted the cup. “Why cry? No one else is here. Sit.”
Le Shu wiped his eyes and glanced at the closed cabin door. “Those people of Chu went too far. Your Highness has endured such jolting all along the way, unable to eat or sleep properly. When I helped you just now, I could feel only bones…”
He had followed the entire journey. He had seen the neglect and heard the cruel words.
Watching His Highness grow thinner by the day, Le Shu’s tears spilled over.
Chu Yuan sighed. Setting the cup down, he reached out and touched Le Shu’s head. A faint smile curved his lips, like dew in the early spring morning.
“It’s fine. It’s all in the past.”
Le Shu nodded. “Your Highness should rest. I’ll go see if there’s medicine. Your cough hasn’t fully healed.”
He helped Chu Yuan lie down, tucked him in, and slipped out quietly.
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
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Lu Ronghuai: When do I get to appear?
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