This Prince Does Not Like Men.
A long stretch of silence.
“Ahem. Your Highness, Master Cheng has arrived. He awaits you in the Purple Bamboo Grove.” Xian Feng appeared at the courtyard entrance. He kept his head lowered, not daring to look inside.
Lu Ronghuai rose to his feet. His gaze fell upon the book in Chu Yuan’s hands. “My Consort’s usual interests are rather… distinctive.”
Chu Yuan’s long, well-proportioned fingers tightened around the book. He wished he could bury his head into his clothes.
Only after the sound of departing footsteps faded did the tension in his back ease.
As he stood, his gaze swept inadvertently across the ground. There lay a plain-colored sachet.
He bent to pick it up and lowered his head to smell it. A faint medicinal fragrance drifted forth.
Chu Yuan recalled Lu Ronghuai mentioning his headache earlier. The herbs within this sachet must serve to ease it.
He hurried to the gate, yet Lu Ronghuai’s figure was nowhere in sight.
Le Shu returned after heating water and craned his neck curiously. “Young Master, what are you looking at?”
Chu Yuan turned sharply and tossed the storybook into his arms, biting his lip as he shot him a glare. “Do not read such nonsensical books again. They are bad for the mind.”
“I am going out for a moment. I will return shortly.” With that, he clutched the sachet and jogged out.
Le Shu called after him, “Young Master, at least wear a cloak. You cannot bear the cold!”
He stroked the newly purchased storybook and muttered to himself, “It is such a good read. The dashing prince and the handsome scholar. It is selling splendidly. How is it bad for the mind?”
Lu Ronghuai walked toward the Purple Bamboo Grove with Xian Feng.
On the way, Xian Feng reported, “Your Highness, a verbal decree has come from Noble Consort Ning. She commands that you kneel in the Buddhist hall for one hour and reflect properly.”
Lu Ronghuai did not slow his steps. “Oh. Then this Prince shall kneel.”
Xian Feng smiled. “This time it should be Xian Yu’s turn to kneel on your behalf.”
“Prepare tea and refreshments to be delivered to him.”
Xian Feng suppressed a laugh. “Yes. This subordinate will inform him shortly.”
“Your Highness has arrived. This humble one greets Your Highness.” Cheng Zhi spotted Lu Ronghuai from afar and hastened forward in welcome.
Within the Purple Bamboo Grove stood a bamboo pavilion. The three entered. Lu Ronghuai spoke directly, “For what matter does Master Cheng seek this Prince?”
In recent days, Lu Ronghuai had not summoned him. Though he had reported for duty at the Ministry of Works, he merely signed his name and left early each day. Let alone cultivating ties with Minister Chen, he likely did not even remember what the man looked like.
Lu Ronghuai’s brazen conduct had stirred dissatisfaction throughout the ministry. Yet owing to his fearsome reputation, none dared lodge complaint before the Emperor.
Unable to discern Lu Ronghuai’s intentions, Cheng Zhi could only come in person. “Has Your Highness found the Ministry agreeable?”
“It is tolerable.” Lu Ronghuai tapped the bamboo table lightly. “If Master Cheng has something to say, speak plainly. There is no need for circling.”
“Does Your Highness not intend to draw Minister Chen to your side?”
Lu Ronghuai regarded Cheng Zhi’s feigned concern and laughed coldly inwardly. He had merely cooled his manner for a few days and already the man could not restrain himself.
“Master Cheng may rest assured. Without heavy bait, one cannot hook a great fish. This Prince has his own arrangements.”
Seeing him unwilling to elaborate, Cheng Zhi grew somewhat anxious. Yet he knew Lu Ronghuai to be suspicious by nature. Too much eagerness would invite doubt.
He forced a smile. “If Your Highness has matters well in hand, this humble one is relieved. There remains, however, one more concern. This humble one worries for Your Highness.”
Lu Ronghuai’s smile deepened. “What concern?”
“This humble one has heard that yesterday Your Highness brought the Consort to the Marquis of Xuanning’s manor and even… behaved intimately before all. Forgive this humble one’s boldness, but Your Highness ought not grow so close to the Consort.”
Lu Ronghuai did not respond.
Taking his silence as permission to continue, Cheng Zhi pressed on, “The Consort is, after all, from another state. One must guard against others. Moreover, the Consort is a man. Does Your Highness truly intend to let your grand ambitions be ruined by such a person?”
“Your Highness must not be bewitched by his appearance and jeopardize your great enterprise.” Seeing no reaction, Cheng Zhi ventured one more probe. “Could it be Your Highness has truly taken a liking to him?”
The bamboo pavilion fell silent for a long moment.
Then Lu Ronghuai’s voice sounded, carrying his usual languid clarity. “Master Cheng worries too much. Between him and this Prince, it is but acting for the occasion. This Prince does not like men and will certainly not like him.”
From outside came Mao Shu’s voice. “Your Highness, the Consort has arrived.”
Lu Ronghuai narrowed his eyes.
Cheng Zhi immediately looked toward him, his aged eyes earnestly examining Lu Ronghuai’s expression.
“Let him enter,” Lu Ronghuai said without change in tone.
Before long, Chu Yuan pushed open the door. Under everyone’s gaze, he walked forward and stopped before Lu Ronghuai.
His expression was light and composed. With lowered eyes he bowed. “This subject greets Your Highness.”
“What is it?” Lu Ronghuai tilted his head slightly. From his vantage, he could see those eyes clear as spring water, luminous as polished glass. Yet at present, they did not meet his own.
“Your Highness left your sachet in Baichun Courtyard. This subject came to return it to Your Highness.” Chu Yuan withdrew it from his sleeve and presented it with both hands.
Lu Ronghuai glanced at it. That morning, amid severe headache, he had seized it casually from a drawer.
“You have my thanks, Consort.” Lu Ronghuai reached to take it.
When his fingers brushed Chu Yuan’s fingertips, he flung his hand away as though struck by lightning. The sachet fell to the floor.
All present held their breath.
Chu Yuan lowered his eyes to the sachet upon the ground. His lips pressed tightly together.
He bent, picked it up, and placed it upon a bamboo stool. “The item has been delivered. This subject takes his leave.”
Lu Ronghuai watched his retreating back, a faint crease forming between his brows.
Each time he made physical contact with Chu Yuan, he dreamed that night. The throbbing in his chest from the morning still lingered. He had no wish to dream two nights in succession. Even a body of iron would not endure it.
Cheng Zhi, observing Lu Ronghuai’s reaction, felt reassured.
Mao Shu approached Chu Yuan as he emerged. “Consort, has the sachet been returned?”
“Mm.”
Seeing his distant expression and recalling the words overheard earlier, Mao Shu felt some sympathy. Yet he also thought Lu Ronghuai correct.
As steward of the residence for many years, he had long hoped His Highness would marry. Who would have expected that though marriage was accomplished, it was to a man, and one bestowed by imperial decree. He could only maintain a forced smile and accept it.
If a male consort must be taken, there were better candidates within Ye Jing.
He did not like Chu Yuan. Since His Highness married him, the frequency of his episodes far exceeded before.
This Consort must be incompatible by fate, sent solely to clash with His Highness.
“Consort, do not take His Highness’s words to heart,” Mao Shu accompanied him outward. “This old servant has followed His Highness many years and has never seen him close to anyone. Ah, except Young Lord Ning.”
“Young Lord Ning’s character, appearance, and talent are all excellent. He has grown alongside His Highness since childhood. That bond cannot be compared by others.”
Chu Yuan halted. He turned his head slightly and regarded Mao Shu with cool detachment. “What is it that Steward wishes to say?”
“This old servant offers kind counsel. Your status is sensitive. For His Highness’s sake, it would be best for you to remain within Baichun Courtyard. It would benefit everyone.”
A chill flickered in Chu Yuan’s eyes. “You heard it yourself. Between your prince and I, it is only acting for the occasion. Steward may rest assured.”
Mao Shu smiled kindly, though calculation showed within his eyes. “Then as for the poetry gathering in ten days…”
At these words, cold seeped into Chu Yuan’s bones. His life of nineteen years had been bound at every turn, never free from dependence upon others.
What if he wished to attend the gathering? He could not decide for himself.
He had once thought Lu Ronghuai’s tolerance held a measure of sincerity.
Now he saw clearly it was his own foolish delusion.
How ridiculous. He lectured Le Shu to remain clear-headed, yet in the end he himself had been the one unawake.
“Inform His Highness that this Chu is shallow in learning and fears sullying the elegance of the gathering. I will not go to invite humiliation.”
His voice was cold as frost. His dark hair lifted lightly in the air, leaving only a slender shadow behind.
Mao Shu, satisfied with the answer, returned in good spirits to the Purple Bamboo Grove.
Cheng Zhi had already departed. Mao Shu stepped forward and bowed. “This old servant greets Your Highness. Young Lord Ning invites Your Highness to drink tea tomorrow at midday at Jioming Pavilion.”
Lu Ronghuai seemed uninterested. He turned a jade thumb ring idly, gaze shifting toward the window. “Has it begun to snow?”
Mao Shu nodded. “Yes. It has just fallen. Your Highness, regarding Young Lord Ning’s invitation, you…”
“Did the Consort bring an umbrella?”
“Ah?” Mao Shu was taken aback. “The Consort walked too quickly. This old servant’s legs are slow. I could not keep up.”
“Oh.” Lu Ronghuai ceased turning the ring. Rising in one fluid motion, he strode from the bamboo pavilion.
Seeing him leave, Mao Shu hurried after him and called out, “Your Highness, the Consort asked this old servant to relay that he does not wish to attend the poetry gathering in ten days and that Your Highness may go alone.”
Lu Ronghuai’s steps paused. Snowflakes settled upon his dark hair. The air stilled for a breath, then another. He resumed walking.
“If he does not go, so be it. It spares trouble.”
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Lu Ronghuai: This Prince does not like men.
Yuan Yuan: Heh.
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