This Servant Will Soon Send You on Your Way.
New Year’s Eve.
The main avenue of Ye Jing was hung with lanterns and bright ornaments, lively beyond measure.
Red lanterns were suspended high on roof ridges, stretching for several miles.
The imperial palace was also filled with celebratory cheer.
Emperor Hongjia held a banquet in Qianzheng Hall to receive the assembled ministers. Within the hall, the underfloor heating channels burned warm. Incense was rich and fragrant. Music drifted soft and languid. Eunuchs and palace maids filed in one after another, orderly as they set out fine wine and exquisite dishes.
Just past the hour of Xu, the ministers had already arrived in full, snowflakes still dusting their hair.
They braved wind and snow to travel the night road into the palace. After attending this sovereign-and-ministers banquet, they still had to hurry home before the third watch to keep vigil with their families.
Before long, Emperor Hongjia entered the hall accompanied by the consorts.
The ministers performed the grand kowtow ceremony and recited blessings in unison, praying for the Kingdom of Lu to be peaceful and secure, for favorable winds and timely rain, for the realm to flourish.
Emperor Hongjia was greatly pleased. He raised his cup. “All my beloved ministers, rise, and drink a cup with Zhen.”
“We thank Your Majesty.”
“Father Emperor, Third Brother has not yet arrived,” Prince Qi suddenly said after the wine was finished.
Emperor Hongjia swept his gaze toward Lu Ronghuai’s seat and indeed did not see him there.
“Where are Prince Li and Prince Li’s Consort?” he asked.
The eunuch Yuan Sheng replied softly, “Your Majesty, after Prince Li entered the palace, he went straight to Mingwei Palace. He should be arriving soon. Prince Li’s Consort is unwell and is resting at home.”
Mingwei Palace was the residence of Lu Ronghuai’s birth mother. Noble Consort Ning never attended the New Year’s Eve banquet. Lu Ronghuai going first to pay respects to his mother was not improper.
Emperor Hongjia’s eyes flickered. He said nothing further.
Yuan Sheng withdrew cautiously to one side.
Seeing the Emperor fall silent, Prince Qi continued on his own. “Third Brother has grown increasingly willful these past years. In this son’s view, the Crown Prince’s reputation is renowned. It would be better to have Third Brother follow the Crown Prince and learn proper rules and conduct. Father Emperor, what do you think?”
In an instant, all eyes turned to the Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince bit back his irritation. His smile remained gentle. “Eldest Brother jests. Whether in age or experience, I fall far short of Eldest Brother. Since Eldest Brother is concerned about Third Brother, it would be best if Eldest Brother instructed him personally. That way, I can also be at ease.”
Lu Ronghuai reached the entrance of the hall just in time to hear them. He gave a cold laugh and cut in, “Teach this Prince? Does Eldest Brother wish to teach this Prince to take more beautiful concubines, or does Second Brother wish to teach this Prince how to be Crown Prince?”
Prince Qi: “...”
The Crown Prince: “...”
Emperor Hongjia coughed and shot Lu Ronghuai a glare. “Your eldest brother and second brother are also concerned for you. Speak less. Hurry back to your seat.”
Lu Ronghuai walked over and sat down.
The Empress let her gaze pass over the Crown Prince before turning to Lu Ronghuai. Her smile was flawless. “This palace has heard that Prince Li’s Consort has fallen ill, and my heart is concerned. Has an imperial physician been summoned to examine him?”
“In reply to Mother Empress, the residence physician has already examined him. It is nothing serious. Mother Empress need not worry,” Lu Ronghuai said without expression.
“The last time Prince Li’s Consort entered the palace, this palace noticed his complexion was not well. You left in haste that day, and this palace forgot to address it,” the Empress said, wearing the bearing of the realm’s mother, as if deeply concerned for Chu Yuan’s health.
Those present were not fools. The matter of Lu Ronghuai forcing the Third Princess into the water had already spread like a gust of wind into many ears. Yet the Emperor and Empress had not spoken openly, and the details were unclear. No one dared discuss it freely.
The Empress’s reminder stirred Emperor Hongjia’s memory as well.
Lu Lingshuang had a troublesome temperament and had never gotten along with Lu Ronghuai since childhood. Hearing he had married, she meant to bully his consort. Lu Ronghuai saw through it, and in the end the one who fell into the water was Lu Lingshuang herself.
Lu Lingshuang ran to the Emperor crying her grievances, only to be scolded by Emperor Hongjia.
Lu Lingshuang had been at fault first. Emperor Hongjia, mindful of face, did not wish more people to learn the truth. He simply acted as if nothing had happened. Toward the innocent Chu Yuan who had been implicated, received only a brief, twinge of guilt in the Emperor’s heart.
“Convey Zhen’s verbal decree. Have Imperial Physician Wang and Imperial Physician Jiang go to Prince Li’s residence and personally take Prince Li’s Consort’s pulse.”
Eunuch Yuan Sheng went in person to deliver the decree.
What no one noticed was an inconspicuous palace maid in the corner of the great hall also quietly departed.
Consort Xu lifted her cup with elegant grace and took a small sip. Hidden by her sleeve, her head tipped slightly back, and the little finger wearing ornate nail guards flicked lightly.
The young eunuch behind her understood at once. While the palace maid stepped forward to refill wine, he vanished from sight.
The bustle outside could not reach Baichun Courtyard.
Master and servant sat beneath the window watching the snow. Outside, the world was blanketed in white. Inside, the room was pitch-dark and unlit.
“Young Master, last New Year’s Eve you told the story of Zhurong, the Fire God. This year, this servant wants to hear about the Snow God,” Le Shu said as he lay across the window ledge, snapping off an icicle to play with it.
Chu Yuan cradled a hand-warmer. Snowlight reflected against his striking, delicate features. His lips curved gently as he extended a slender, pale finger toward the window. A crystalline snowflake fell onto his fingertip. It was cold. He gazed at that tiny flake, warmth softening his brows and eyes.
“All right. It is said the deity of frost and snow was a woman. She was extraordinarily beautiful, and she also...”
“Consort, someone from the palace has come. They are waiting for you at the residence gate,” the gate servant said in a rush, pushing the door open as he urged them.
Chu Yuan rose. Le Shu hurriedly said, “This servant will go with Young Master.”
Le Shu feared Chu Yuan entering the palace. The last time he went, disaster nearly struck. It had been the same in the palace of the Kingdom of Chu. For his young master, entering the palace never brought anything good.
Chu Yuan did not refuse. He brought Le Shu to the main gate.
The visitor was a palace eunuch, fair-faced and beardless, appearing not very old. The moment he saw Chu Yuan, he put on a smile.
“Prince Li’s Consort, may you be well. This servant comes by His Majesty’s command to escort you into the palace.”
Chu Yuan frowned. “Why has His Majesty summoned me into the palace?”
The eunuch smiled. “His Majesty learned that the Consort’s body is weak and personally selected two imperial physicians to treat you. Yet the roads are slippery in this snow, and the physicians are advanced in years with inconvenient legs. The palace also has many precious medicinal materials, easy to obtain. His Majesty therefore had this servant come to bring you to the Imperial Medical Bureau.”
“Many thanks for His Majesty’s concern. Then let us depart,” Chu Yuan said. In truth, he did not wish to go, but an Emperor’s command could not be disobeyed. He descended the steps and boarded the palace carriage.
“This little eunuch should sit outside,” the eunuch said to Le Shu. “The snowy road is hard to travel. Later you may need to trouble yourself to get down and clear the way.”
Le Shu had no objection. He sat near the carriage door, pulled the wind-blocking curtain down for Chu Yuan, and covered it tightly, leaving no gap.
The snowy night road truly was difficult. The carriage wheels pressed through the drifted snow and crawled onward.
After the time of two ke, Chu Yuan heard Le Shu’s voice. “Is this truly the road to the imperial palace? Why is it getting darker and darker?”
The eunuch replied, “Yes. We are almost there.”
Then Chu Yuan heard a soft thud.
An ominous premonition rose in Chu Yuan’s heart. He immediately called out, “Le Shu.”
No one answered.
Chu Yuan clenched his hand and yanked up the carriage curtain.
Le Shu had collapsed on the carriage board, eyes tightly closed.
“Le Shu!” Chu Yuan lunged forward, his face pale as paper. His trembling hand went to check Le Shu’s breath. Only after he felt the faint warmth of it did he finally exhale in a sharp release.
The eunuch stood below the carriage, still wearing that smiling expression. “Prince Li’s Consort, please come down from the carriage.”
“Who sent you?” Chu Yuan asked coldly.
“Prince Li’s Consort has no need to know such things.” The eunuch’s smile did not change. “This servant will soon be sending you on your way.”
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Lu Ronghuai: Do not speak too soon. Who goes on the road first is not yet certain.
(One more chapter, and our previous-life Lu the dog is about to make his entrance.)
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