Yet Chu Yuan Is an Exception.
On the day of the poetry gathering, Nie Chouwen waited an entire day without ever seeing Chu Yuan arrive
All around him, friends dueled in verse with fervor, but his mind kept straying.
“Does Minister have something on his mind?” someone beside him asked with concern.
Nie Chouwen sighed. “A young friend did not come. I do not know what has happened.”
With that, he rose abruptly and took his leave of the crowd. “This old minister is going to seek out this young friend. Please enjoy yourselves. Forgive this old minister’s poor hosting, and I ask your understanding.”
Everyone hurried to stand and return the courtesy, watching him depart.
Nie Chouwen boarded a small sedan chair A compact carried chair used for short travel, especially within cities or between nearby residences. and went to the Prince Li’s residence.
When Mao Shu learned that Nie Chouwen had arrived at the gate, he hastened out to greet him.
“Prime Minister Nie, my Prince has not yet returned. Please come in and sit awhile, have a cup of tea, and this old servant will send someone at once to summon His Highness.”
Nie Chouwen refused outright. “No need. This old minister did not come to find him.”
“Is Prince Li’s Consort within the residence?”
Nie Chouwen stood at the entrance with hands clasped behind his back, his expression stern and unsmiling.
Mao Shu paused, then smiled. “He is. The Consort is currently accompanying Young Lord Ning in a game of chess and has specifically instructed the servants not to disturb them.”
The meaning in his words was clear. Chu Yuan had no time to see him.
Nie Chouwen glanced at Mao Shu. “Then today this old minister will be that uninvited guest. Trouble yourself to lead the way.”
Mao Shu saw his resolve and could only bring him to Baichun Courtyard.
Chu Yuan and Ning Yuqiang sat in the courtyard playing chess. A brazier rested by their feet. Chu Yuan held a small hand-warmer, yet his hands and feet were still chilled to the bone.
“Cousin-in-law, it is your turn.” Ning Yuqiang lifted his head and smiled at him.
Chu Yuan rubbed his fingertips together in secret. He picked up a white stone, just about to place it, when Nie Chouwen had already stepped into the courtyard.
“Consort, Prime Minister Nie has come,” Mao Shu called from the side.
Chu Yuan froze and looked up. Nie Chouwen had already reached him.
Chu Yuan hurried to stand. A trace of fluster and self-reproach rose in his expression. He lowered his head, not daring to meet the elder’s eyes.
Ning Yuqiang also stood, his gaze bright as he looked to Nie Chouwen. “Prime Minister Nie is holding the poetry gathering today. How do you have time to come here?”
As a scholar and an outstanding disciple of Cangyun Academy of this generation, Ning Yuqiang naturally admired Nie Chouwen, but he was still young and not qualified to attend the poetry gathering.
Nie Chouwen ignored him. He glanced at the chessboard, then at Chu Yuan’s hands folded before him. His brows knit. “Your fingers are frozen red, yet you sit here playing chess in ice and snow, putting on a show of elegance and treating your body as a toy. This is nonsense.”
Ning Yuqiang’s smile stiffened. He bit his lower lip.
Playing chess had been his suggestion. If Chu Yuan spoke the truth, Nie Chouwen would surely scold him and think poorly of him. How would he enter the poetry gatherings in the future, and gain greater renown and praise?
He looked at Chu Yuan with pleading eyes, hoping Chu Yuan would not tell Nie Chouwen.
Chu Yuan had no intention of exposing the truth. Nie Chouwen’s words were a rebuke, yet they carried an elder’s concern. Warmth rose in Chu Yuan’s heart. He quietly hid his fingers within his sleeves, unwilling to worry the old man.
“This old minister has already seen it. Hiding them is useless.” Nie Chouwen swept his gaze around and grew angry again. “A dignified Prince Li’s Consort, living in such a shabby, meager place. That scoundrel Prince Li is not fit to take a spouse. He should spend his life alone in bitter desolation.”
Mao Shu’s old face fell, thoroughly displeased.
Seeing the elder’s fury, Chu Yuan could not help smiling faintly. “Prime Minister Nie need not worry on this junior’s behalf. This junior does not find it crude. It is a quiet and comfortable place.”
Nie Chouwen harrumphed and said no more.
He understood the moment he entered. Lu Ronghuai did not care for this male consort of his. He had tossed him into a remote corner. One might call it tranquil and refined. Say it plainly, it was no different from the cold palace of the imperial harem.
“This old minister asks you, why did you not come to the poetry gathering today?” Nie Chouwen looked at him.
Ning Yuqiang was stunned. His voice rose sharply. “What? He was allowed to attend the poetry gathering?”
Chu Yuan lowered his head. A flash of loneliness passed across his face. He said softly, “This junior has little talent. My learning is only surface-deep. If I went, I would only feel ashamed.”
Nie Chouwen felt that was not his true answer.
“With this old minister present, you need not compose any verse. Treat it as a brief outing. What is there to fear?”
Chu Yuan pinched his fingertips, pressing hard enough that his nails marked the flesh. He forced down the sourness in his chest.
“Many thanks for Prime Minister Nie’s favor. I...”
“Come with this old minister. No one else follows.” Nie Chouwen cut him off and turned to walk out of the courtyard.
Chu Yuan followed him to the gate.
Nie Chouwen flicked a glance toward the people within, then looked back to Chu Yuan.
“This old man felt from the first time I saw you that you were a good child. There is no one else here now. You have no need for restraint.”
Chu Yuan listened in silence as Nie Chouwen spoke again.
“If you have grievances, tell this old minister. This old minister will decide matters for you.”
“What, precisely, does Prime Minister Nie wish to decide for this Prince’s Consort?” A cold, indifferent voice sounded behind them.
Lu Ronghuai approached, his face calm as he stared at the two of them.
“This Prince was not fully certain before. Now I am.” His tone remained level. “Prime Minister Nie shows exceptional concern for this Prince’s Consort. Did the two of you know each other before?”
“Prince Li, do not speak nonsense.” Nie Chouwen answered evenly. “This old minister simply feels affinity with the Consort. The Consort did not attend the gathering today, so this old minister came to see what was amiss.”
Lu Ronghuai’s expression was indifferent. “My Consort refused to go himself. This Prince will not force him, correct, Consort?”
Chu Yuan pressed his lips together and gave a very light, very faint “Mm.”
Nie Chouwen understood. With Lu Ronghuai present, he would not pry the truth out today.
“If so, this old minister will take his leave.” Nie Chouwen turned and took two steps, then stopped and looked at Chu Yuan. “Tomorrow’s New Year’s Eve palace banquet, will the Consort attend?”
“He will not.” Lu Ronghuai’s voice allowed no refusal.
Chu Yuan lowered his eyes, hiding the self-mockery within them.
He tightened his hand inside his sleeve and said calmly, “Your Highness, if there is nothing else, this subject will return.”
He turned and walked back inside with lowered head.
As he passed Ning Yuqiang, he did not see the flash of resentment and jealousy that crossed Ning Yuqiang’s eyes.
Nie Chouwen strode out of the residence. After he boarded the carriage, he instructed the attendant who followed him.
“Send a letter to the Eldest Young Master. Once he receives it, he is to return to Ye Jing at once.”
The attendant hesitated. “The Eldest Young Master roams the four seas. His whereabouts are uncertain. This humble one does not know where to send it.”
“Send it to Xiang Cheng. Each time he returns, he must pass through there.”
“Yes, my lord.”
Here, Ning Yuqiang followed Lu Ronghuai back to the front hall.
“In the future, if there is no need, do not go to Baichun Courtyard,” Lu Ronghuai said after he sat down.
Ning Yuqiang was delighted within, yet he showed surprise and confusion. “Why does Cousin forbid me? Does Cousin dislike Cousin-in-law?”
Again with this question.
Lu Ronghuai found it vexing. One after another, they obsessed over such tedious matters.
What did it matter whether he liked him or did not?
In the twenty-one years of his life, he had never once dwelt on tender feelings between lovers. He had many things to do. Danger surrounded him at every moment. Deceit and intrigue, plots and calculations, all demanded that he keep his guard raised to the utmost.
Yet Chu Yuan was an exception.
Lu Ronghuai understood it clearly within his own heart.
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Lu Ronghuai: This Prince does not want to pay attention to you, but this Prince cannot control his eyes.
Yuan Yuan: I suggest you dig them out →_→
(Recently moving house, too many things going on. Can’t keep a fixed update time every day. I’ll post as soon as I finish writing. Sorry for the inconvenience, darlings. Also, New Year’s Eve is coming and doggy is about to transform. Hehe)
0 Comments