“Did You Kill the Prince Consort?”
From the sound of it, whoever it was drew closer.
Chu Yuan did not know who had come. He shifted subtly, using the stone wall to conceal himself.
He stood alone and unarmed. Instinct urged him to guard against any danger that might emerge.
Soon, the footsteps stopped to his left.
Chu Yuan held his breath, slowly clenching his fingers in the darkness.
He did not know why this person had come, but if it was the poisoned scheme of those two maids, then it must be meant to ruin him beyond redemption.
The person seemed to stand for a while. Hearing no movement, the footsteps sounded again, gradually moving away.
After waiting for the time it takes a stick of incense to burn, and confirming that silence had returned, Chu Yuan released a breath so faint it was almost imperceptible.
He braced himself against the stone wall and slowly edged out with stiff limbs.
He had barely stepped out when, before he could even raise his head, the left side suddenly flared bright.
A lantern appeared abruptly before his eyes.
A tall figure enveloped him in shadow.
“Who is there?” A cold, oppressive voice followed.
However, Chu Yuan could no longer hear anything.
Before his eyes remained only that lantern. Inside the paper shade painted with plum blossoms and orchids, the candle flame leapt wildly, baring its claws and fangs like a demon from the depths of hell stretching ghostly hands toward him.
“No… don’t… take it away…” His face drained of blood. Dizzy, he kept backing away.
His ears rang. In that instant, the blood in his body seemed to freeze.
Like a fish out of water, his body began to tremble uncontrollably. He struggled to breathe, yet the suffocating weight clung to him without mercy.
The candlelight still burned. Despair and helplessness crept across his face.
Lu Ronghuai frowned and stood where he was, watching the scene with cold detachment.
He had passed by the rockery earlier and heard something fall. When he approached, he discovered a paper umbrella abandoned on the ground and footprints pressed into the snow.
Following the tracks, he sensed someone hiding here. Amused, he decided to play cat and mouse and deliberately startled the hidden figure.
“You…”
Before he could finish, there came a soft thud. The swaying figure before him fell into the snow like a drifting leaf.
Lu Ronghuai: “…”
Xian Shuang and Xian Yu leapt over swiftly. They spoke almost at the same time.
Xian Yu: “My lord, the Prince Consort is missing.”
Xian Shuang: “My lord, did you kill the Prince Consort?”
Xian Yu: “?”
Lu Ronghuai: “?”
Xian Yu stared blankly. “What nonsense are you talkin… What in heaven’s name is that person doing lying there!?”
Xian Yu’s words suddenly shot up in pitch halfway through. He looked quite shocked.
Xian Shuang, under the deathly gaze of his master, realized he had misspoken. He weakly pointed at the figure on the ground.
“My lord, this is the Prince Consort.”
“…”
Xian Yu looked at the ground, then at Lu Ronghuai, his mouth hanging open.
Surely not. On a night dark as ink, perfect for murder, had his lord truly done away with the Prince Consort?
“Hold this.” Lu Ronghuai tossed the lantern to Xian Shuang, stepped forward, and lifted the fallen man into his arms.
He lowered his gaze. The person in his embrace was light. Leaning against his chest, his expression twisted in pain, curled tightly into himself, murmuring indistinct words as his body continued to tremble.
Lu Ronghuai adjusted his hold slightly. Chu Yuan tilted his head, burying his entire face against his chest.
Xian Yu’s mouth opened even wider.
“Close your mouth.”
“Summon the physician.”
Lu Ronghuai turned and strode away.
Le Shu paced anxiously in circles inside Baochun Courtyard.
The snow fell heavier and heavier. The entrance remained pitch black and quiet. Still no one returned.
Just after the Xu hour passed, footsteps finally sounded upon the snow.
“Young Master!” Le Shu rushed out at once.
He ran straight into Lu Ronghuai without warning.
Clad in a black cloak, Lu Ronghuai’s features were stern and cold. In his arms lay Le Shu’s young master. Le Shu was so frightened his feet slipped, and he fell flat onto the ground.
“This servant greets Third Prince.”
Lu Ronghuai responded lazily. Snow dusted his shoulders. The person in his arms was wrapped tightly in the cloak from head to toe, spared the biting wind, and carried directly into the room.
Cold sweat began to bead down Le Shu’s back.
How had his young master ended up in the Third Prince’s arms?
“Get up. They are already inside.” Xian Yu approached with the lantern and called out to him.
Le Shu scrambled up, following behind the two with a tense expression.
Lu Ronghuai’s night vision was keen. Even in darkness, he moved with ease and placed Chu Yuan accurately upon the bed.
“Light the lamps,” Lu Ronghuai said in a low voice.
Xian Yu removed the candle from the lantern and set it temporarily on the table.
One candle, however, was far from enough to illuminate the entire room.
Lu Ronghuai frowned. “Light several more.”
Xian Yu and Xian Shuang both turned toward Le Shu.
Le Shu remained standing, twisting his fingers. His voice came out small and strained. “Th-there are no candles in the room.”
Xian Yu asked curiously, “You do not light candles at night?”
Le Shu lowered his head. Worry for his master warred with fear of approaching. “Mm. Young Master… is afraid of candles.”
“Afraid?”
Le Shu nodded. He cast a fearful glance at Lu Ronghuai before lowering his head again. “Young Master cannot bear the smell of candles nor can he look at them. He cannot breathe. If it is severe, he will faint.”
Silence fell once more.
Lu Ronghuai pressed his lips together, apparently thinking about something.
Xian Yu raised a brow and glanced discreetly at the lantern in his hand.
So that was the reason.
Xian Shuang hurried back with the physician.
“This old servant greets Your Highness.” The physician knelt to Lu Ronghuai.
“Rise. Examine him,” Lu Ronghuai said, moving to sit at the foot of the bed.
The physician had once served in the Imperial Medical Bureau. Later, Emperor Hongjia assigned him to Lu Ronghuai, and he had remained in the Third Prince’s residence ever since.
“The Prince Consort is frail and weak. He was overly startled, which caused the fainting. I will prescribe a calming decoction. Once he drinks it, he will be fine.” The physician withdrew his hand.
“However,” he continued carefully, lifting his eyes toward Lu Ronghuai, “the Prince Consort lacked proper nourishment in childhood. His body is severely depleted and must be nursed carefully.”
Lu Ronghuai listened, then turned his gaze toward the bed.
Chu Yuan lay there quietly. His features were peaceful. His skin was pale and smooth, yet too pale, like the snow outside, drained of warmth.
His lips, cold and colorless, moved faintly in unconscious murmurs. Lu Ronghuai watched for a long moment before leaning closer, intent on hearing what he was saying.
Then he was struck.
The four pairs of eyes nearby widened in horror.
“…”
Lu Ronghuai lowered his head and touched his right cheek, struck without warning. He narrowed his eyes at the unconscious man who continued to flail.
Le Shu was scared nearly to death. His knees went weak and he dropped to the ground with a thud, his voice trembling as he explained, “Third Prince, please forgive this transgression. When Young Master has nightmares, he waves his arms without knowing. He meant no offense. Please, Your Highness, do not be angered.”
Lu Ronghuai let out a low laugh, its meaning unclear.
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Lu Ronghuai: My wife just touched my face. I’m so happy!
Chu Yuan: (⊙_⊙)?
Thank you for the support!
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