Yuqiang, You Have Feelings For This Prince
Lu Ronghuai walked over.
“Cousin!” Ning Yuqiang smiled and hurried toward him, his tone aggrieved. “Cousin, your subordinates have gone too far. They would not allow me to enter.”
“It was this Prince who ordered that you were not to enter. Do you object?” Lu Ronghuai’s voice was cool and thin.
The smile froze on Ning Yuqiang’s face.
“Cousin, have you mistaken something?” Ning Yuqiang could not understand. His eyes were open and innocent as he looked at Lu Ronghuai. “Since childhood, Yuqiang has entered Fuju Courtyard so many times. I am as familiar with it as my own home. Is there something inside that Yuqiang may not see?”
Lu Ronghuai cast him a sidelong glance, amusement faint in his eyes. “This Prince is now married. Fuju Courtyard is the main residence. Men from outside the household are not permitted entry.”
At those words, grievance welled up in Ning Yuqiang’s eyes. He bit his lip. “In Cousin’s heart now, is there no longer any place for Yuqiang?”
Lu Ronghuai raised a brow and smiled.
“In this Prince’s heart, there has never been a place for you.”
Ning Yuqiang swayed. All color drained from his face.
Mao Shu stood at his side. He quickly reached out to steady him, his expression heavy with pain. “Your Highness, the Young Lord Ning grew up beside you. You shared a childhood bond. These words are too cruel.”
“Oh, and you.” Lu Ronghuai said, as though only now noticing Mao Shu. His tone carried faint mockery. “When Marquis Xuanning first sent you to follow this Prince, he valued your honesty. These years, this Prince does not believe he has treated you poorly. Yet some people lean outward with their elbow, as though they still serve in Marquis Xuanning’s manor.”
Mao Shu hastily released Ning Yuqiang and fell to his knees. He denied it vehemently. “Your Highness wrongs this old servant. This old servant’s heart has always been toward Your Highness.”
“Toward this Prince?” Lu Ronghuai curved his lips. He stepped forward and placed his foot upon Mao Shu’s shoulder. “These years this Prince has campaigned beyond the borders. You managed the manor’s affairs. How much profit have you swallowed for yourself? Do you think this Prince is unaware?”
A flash of panic passed through Mao Shu’s eyes. He shook his head in haste. “This old servant has not. If Your Highness doubts it, you may examine the accounts.”
“This prince chose not to pursue it, given your age. Yet you have grown bold, using this Prince’s name to lend money at interest outside.” Lu Ronghuai kicked him aside. His expression turned dark and cold.
“Your Highness, Your Highness,” Mao Shu scrambled up from the ground, hair disheveled and body covered in dust. “This old servant was wrong. This old servant has no children and only wished to save a little money for old age. This old servant harbors no intention of harming Your Highness. I beg Your Highness to judge clearly—”
Xian Feng returned at that moment. Hearing this, he shook his head in disappointment. “His Highness discovered your dishonesty long ago and has been giving you chances ever since. It was your own greed. The law of the Kingdom of Lu stipulates that lending at interest warrants arrest and imprisonment. You were clearly harming His Highness.”
Mao Shu lunged forward and clutched at Lu Ronghuai’s leg, tears streaming down his aged face. “Your Highness, this old servant was greedy for silver, but this old servant truly did not know lending at interest would bring imprisonment. Even if this old servant were given ten gallbladders, this old servant would still not dare harm Your Highness—”
Lu Ronghuai withdrew his leg. He smoothed his robe and looked at Ning Yuqiang, who stood stunned and vacant. “Take your loyal dog of Marquis Xuanning’s manor and get out of the Prince Li’s residence.”
Tears welled in Ning Yuqiang’s eyes. “Why? Cousin, what have I done wrong, that you treat me so?”
“That question is one for yourself.” Lu Ronghuai had no desire to speak further. He instructed Xian Shuang and Xian Feng to escort them out.
Xian Feng stepped toward Ning Yuqiang and made a polite gesture toward the gate.
Ning Yuqiang suddenly erupted. He cried out toward Lu Ronghuai, voice breaking. “You said with your own mouth that you would take care of me. When I was wronged, you stood up for me. Whatever I desired, you found it for me. Cousin, you cared about me. I do not believe you will abandon me!”
Lu Ronghuai regarded him coldly.
“Why is it that ever since you married him, you have been like a different person?!” Ning Yuqiang shouted, as though he wished to pour out all the unwillingness and anger in his heart at once.
Lu Ronghuai raised a hand, signaling the others to withdraw first.
Xian Shuang and Xian Feng dragged Mao Shu away. Mao Shu cried and pleaded, “Your Highness, this old servant may have no merit, but I have labored faithfully. Grant this old servant one more chan—”
It was already too late.
When the others had gone, Lu Ronghuai stepped forward until he stood before Ning Yuqiang. His expression revealed neither pleasure nor anger.
“Yuqiang, this Prince once believed that you and Marquis Xuanning were this Prince’s kin.”
Ning Yuqiang’s sobbing faltered. He stared at Lu Ronghuai in disbelief, eyes widening slowly. “Cousin, what do you mean? We are kin.”
Lu Ronghuai shook his head.
“Not anymore.”
The blows Ning Yuqiang suffered this day surpassed all he had endured in the past twenty years combined.
“No, that is not so. Our relationship has always been good. Cousin must be jesting.” He reached to seize Lu Ronghuai’s sleeve, yet grasped only empty air.
Lu Ronghuai stepped aside. His gaze was cold, cold as the wind of the twelfth lunar month. Ning Yuqiang shivered involuntarily.
“Yuqiang, you have feelings for this Prince.”
With a single sentence, every hidden thing Ning Yuqiang had ever guarded was dragged into the open, exposed without mercy under the full light of day.
Ning Yuqiang stood frozen.
He had spoken these words before. This time, it came five years earlier.
Lu Ronghuai lowered his eyes. “Because you have feelings for this Prince, on New Year’s Eve you deliberately pointed the wrong path, intending to destroy Ah-Yuan’s chance at survival.”
Ning Yuqiang’s lips moved. His pupils contracted.
“Yuqiang, you should be grateful Ah-Yuan still lives. Otherwise, this Prince would not have let you live until today.”
Once an evil thought takes root, it is difficult to return to one’s original heart. In the previous life, Ning Yuqiang had sunk deeper along that path.
“From this day forth, Marquis Xuanning’s manor and this Prince shall have no further connection.”
Having spoken thus, Lu Ronghuai turned to leave.
Yet the instant he turned, someone seized him from behind.
Ning Yuqiang wrapped his arms around his waist, pressing his face against Lu Ronghuai’s back, tears flowing unchecked. “Yes, I have admired Cousin for many years. Why should he take Cousin from me the moment he appears? I am unwilling. For his sake, Cousin would sever ties with Marquis Xuanning’s manor. Is it worth it?”
“What can that sickly man give you? Marquis Xuanning’s manor is your true reliance. Cousin, in Yuqiang’s heart there has only ever been you. In this world, only I truly love you.”
Lu Ronghuai pried his hands away and seized his wrist hard, strength evident in his grip. “Instead of entangling yourself here, return and ask your good father what he has done.”
Pain shot through Ning Yuqiang’s arm. Tears burst from his eyes. He tried to speak again, yet Lu Ronghuai offered no further chance.
Lu Ronghuai released him and walked into the courtyard without looking back.
“Cousin!” Ning Yuqiang shouted behind him.
Lu Ronghuai closed the courtyard gate.
Le Shu had been listening within the courtyard. When he saw Lu Ronghuai enter, he clutched his broom and hurried aside.
Lu Ronghuai pushed open the door. He saw Chu Yuan leaning against the head of the bed, lost in thought. His dark hair fell loose before him. His lashes were distinct, his bearing clear and fine-boned.
Lu Ronghuai’s expression softened. He approached and waved a hand lightly before Chu Yuan’s eyes, bending slightly with a smile. “What are you thinking about?”
Chu Yuan blinked and turned his head slowly toward him. “This subject seems to have regained a little vision.”
Lu Ronghuai moved closer and studied those beautiful eyes. “Truly? Let this Prince see.”
Chu Yuan, unsuspecting, lowered his gaze and nodded obediently.
In the next instant, a foreign sensation brushed against his eyelids.
Warm. Soft. Faintly damp.
Chu Yuan stiffened.
Lu Ronghuai straightened up, lips curved. “It appears not yet restored. You could not see this Prince approach nor did you evade.”
Chu Yuan: “...”
Anger and embarrassment rose within him. He knew this man was deceitful, yet still he had fallen for it.
Chu Yuan turned his head toward the inner side of the bed, presenting him only the back of his head in silent reproach. “Your Highness should attend to your affairs. This subject grows sleepy again.”
Lu Ronghuai laughed softly. He reached out and touched the crown of Chu Yuan’s head. “Each time you turn your head away and refuse to look at me. Ah-Yuan is practicing withdrawal to advance, knowing that this Prince yields to this method.”
Chu Yuan raised a hand and covered his ears.
“All right, no more teasing.” Lu Ronghuai gently pulled his hand down and hooked his slender little finger within his own, idly toying with it. “This Prince has matters to attend to these next two days. I will return late at night and do not wish to disturb your rest. I will sleep in the study for the time being.”
This morning when he rose for court, Chu Yuan had not yet awakened.
Hearing him now, Chu Yuan suddenly realized that the strange oppression he had felt last night may not have been a dream. It may have been this man crowding him.
Chu Yuan nodded. He raised no objection.
“Your Highness, what occurred at the gate earlier?” He had been sitting in the room with his thoughts and had caught fragments.
Lu Ronghuai tucked his hand back beneath the quilt, his expression unchanged. “Nothing. This Prince dismissed Mao Shu from the manor.”
Chu Yuan asked no further.
This was Lu Ronghuai’s private matter. It had nothing to do with him. If he inquired too deeply, it would only invite suspicion.
“Does your head still ache today?” Lu Ronghuai asked directly, remembering the previous night.
“It does not.”
“Good. I will return at midday to dine with you.”
After a few more instructions, Le Shu entered to refill tea. Lu Ronghuai drank two mouthfuls, then departed.
Thereafter, except at the noon meal, Lu Ronghuai shut himself in the study and forbade others from entering.
That night, Xian Yu called from outside, “His Highness, after the Young Lord Ning returned, he quarreled fiercely with Marquis Xuanning and stormed out. It has been three hours and he has not returned.”
Lu Ronghuai pasted colored paper onto thin bamboo strips. He did not raise his head. “Send someone to follow. Only this once.”
Xian Yu stepped aside and asked Xian Feng, “What did I miss during the day? How did His Highness fall out with Marquis Xuanning’s manor?”
“Marquis Xuanning has long harbored other intentions,” Xian Feng replied. “He has not yet determined where to stand, so he has not openly broken with His Highness. The appearance could have been maintained. Yet the Young Lord Ning previously harmed the Prince Consort. His Highness will not tolerate it further.”
Xian Yu nodded and cursed under his breath. “The human heart is hidden behind the belly. His Highness treated them so well. They are blood kin and they would still act thus. Disgraceful.”
“Enough. Speak less,” Xian Feng said, tapping the hilt of his sword with a smile. “His Highness has ordered the three of us to deal with the old apricot tree in Xing Courtyard and tidy the garden before dawn. Let’s go.”
“Where is Xian Shuang?”
“He has already gone. His lightness skill is the best. His Highness instructed him to trim the canopy of every tree in the courtyard.”
Xian Yu covered his face. “Even if the canopy is trimmed into a blossom, the Prince Consort cannot see it.”
“His Highness has finally set his heart upon someone. Naturally he wishes to give him his whole heart. Watch and see. This is only the beginning.” Xian Feng walked ahead.
Xian Yu’s eyes were filled with sorrow. “We are shadow guards. When did we fall to being house stewards? All the miscellaneous tasks fall to us. Even at night we cannot sleep.”
“Speaking of that, I nearly forgot something.” Xian Feng stopped and turned back under the night light. A smile rested upon his face, one Xian Yu could not decipher.
There was something strange in it. Three parts sympathy, three parts pity, three parts certainty, and one part anticipation of a spectacle.
“The manor currently lacks a steward. His Highness believes you are the ideal candidate.”
“Congratulations, Yu Shu.”
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Former Xian Yu: first-class shadow guard
Present Xian Yu: first-class steward
Future Xian Yu: first-class old nanny
Lu Dog: I truly am a talent (thumbs up)
0 Comments