“Darling, Hold Tight.”
At the gates of the Li Prince’s residence, more and more townspeople gathered.
Tonight was the Lantern Festival. Those who had come out to admire lanterns and stroll the streets moved in an unbroken stream. Hearing there was commotion to witness at the Prince Li’s residence, they hurried over to surround it.
Even so, none dared draw too near. The rumors of the Prince Li from several days past had been too terrifying. Their fear of him was etched deep into their bones.
Wang Wu’s family had brought six people: an elderly grandmother, a married woman, three children kneeling behind her, and a middle-aged man. All six knelt before the grand gates of the Prince Li’s residence, weeping and lamenting together.
When Lu Ronghuai reached the gate, he heard the old woman wailing at the top of her lungs. “My son had such a bitter fate. He was minding his business, running his stall. How did he provoke an evil star and lose his life?”
Someone nearby called out, “Was your son truly killed by Prince Li?”
The old woman ground her teeth and glared over, venom flashing in her eyes. “It was him. My son was honest and never offended anyone. Who else could it have been?”
The onlookers, having heard the answer, moved their gazes toward Mao Shu, who knelt beside them and silently wiped away tears.
“I have seen him before. He is the steward of the Prince Li’s residence. Should he not be inside? Why is he kneeling here as well?”
“It seems the old steward was driven out.”
Mao Shu prostrated himself, knocking his head against the ground before the gates. He wept pitifully. “Your Highness, this old servant followed at your side for ten years, serving you with utmost care, yet you drove this old servant from the residence. My heart suffers...”
“The old steward is pitiable. At such an age he kneels in the snow. The Li Prince is truly ruthless. Even those who served him faithfully are treated with such heartlessness.”
The guards of the residence pulled open the gates.
The vermilion doors swung wide. A line of guards bearing torches ran out first and stood in stern formation along both sides of the steps.
Then, from the darkness, one figure emerged slowly.
His steps were steady and strong. His frame was tall and upright, standing like a winter cypress, cold and sharp as a mountain peak.
The Prince of Li came to a halt atop the steps. His expression was cold, his sword-like brows faintly drawn, as though somewhat impatient.
Yet this was not the most startling sight.
What truly astonished the crowd was that Prince Li carried upon his back a young gentleman of jade-like bearing and divine elegance.
The young gentleman’s arms encircled the Li Prince’s neck. His head inclined slightly downward. In the torchlight, his lashes were long and dense, and his brows curved like a crescent moon. The cinnabar mark upon his forehead was like plum blossom adornment, blooming with breathtaking beauty.
It was a sight unlike anything they had ever seen, and even the old woman who had been wailing herself hoarse fell silent, staring.
Chu Yuan felt every gaze fall upon him. Those looks were almost tangible, like sparks of fire, and scalding him. He dared not lift his head.
He bit his lip. It was all the fault of this insufferable great tortoise Lu Ronghuai, who had ignored every protest and carried him out here by force.
Never... never had he appeared before others in such a humiliating manner. Shame left him wishing the ground would swallow him.
Lu Ronghuai surveyed the crowd. His gaze settled upon the old woman’s face. He did not grow angry. Instead, the corner of his lips curved faintly. “Cry. Why have you stopped?”
She trembled, wanting to cry and not daring to, her weathered face crumpling like dried cloth.
Lu Ronghuai turned to Mao Shu. “What? Did you not understand this Prince’s words that day? You still dare to appear before this Prince. Have you grown weary of living?”
“This old servant begs Your Highness to allow me to remain in the residence. Give me only a bowl of rice. This old servant is willing to toil like an ox or horse.”
“There is still need of a watchdog. It suits you well.” Lu Ronghuai’s tone carried cold ridicule.
Mao Shu: “...”
Mao Shu’s face flashed with hatred for the briefest moment. Then he crawled forward two steps and kowtowed again. “Many thanks for Your Highness’s great grace. This old servant is willing to be a watchdog.”
His white hair touched the ground. His robes were soaked with melted snow, mixed with mud and grass. The townspeople, watching him, could not help but feel pity.
If this was how he treated a loyal servant, then in his eyes they might be no different from Wang Wu, cheap as wild grass, to be cut down at will.
Murmurs rose. Many gazes toward Lu Ronghuai now carried resentment.
Lu Ronghuai sensed the hostility. He gave a light snort, unconcerned. He was just about to speak when Chu Yuan moved.
“Your Highness.”
His head leaned closer, breath brushing faintly against Lu Ronghuai’s neck. Lu Ronghuai turned his head.
Chu Yuan had meant to speak to him.
Yet in that instant, Lu Ronghuai turned as well. Their distance closed. Before the eyes of all, Lu Ronghuai’s thin lips brushed against Chu Yuan’s pale, soft cheek.
The crowd drew in a collective breath.
Chu Yuan went completely still.
Outside the gates of the Prince of Li’s residence, silence so complete you could have heard a pin drop.
Xian Shuang raised a hand expressionlessly and covered his own eyes. He also covered Xian Yu’s eyes, though Xian Yu’s were bright with excitement.
Lu Ronghuai laughed aloud.
Taking advantage of the fact that Chu Yuan had yet to recover from his shock, he leaned in and pressed two more kisses and only then drew back, reluctance written plainly across his face, his dark eyes full of warmth. “What did Ah-Yuan wish to say?”
The change in Chu Yuan’s expression moved from dazed to stunned to mortified in the space of a single breath.
His heart pounded wildly and his breath quickened. Heat rose from his toes upward until it gathered at his face. The place he had been kissed burned with a tingling warmth that refused to be ignored.
“This subject—”
“My son, my pitiful son! You died so miserably. Your mother cannot avenge you. I shall come down to accompany you!”
The old woman suddenly interrupted. She scrambled up and rushed toward the stone pillar before the gates.
Gasps rang out.
Xian Feng flashed forward and seized the old woman before she could dash herself against it.
“Release me! There is no law in this world. A Prince may kill without paying with his life. When this old woman reaches the underworld, I shall report to Yama and beg him for justice!” She fell to the ground, kicking and wailing.
The woman and the three children burst into tears.
The middle-aged man stood and glared at Lu Ronghuai with hatred.
“My elder brother died so unjustly. The yamen gave us only ten taels of silver and sent us away. That was a human life. My mother has lost her son in her old age. My sister-in-law and the children are alone. How are they to live?”
The murmurs grew louder.
Seeing the crowd leaning toward him, the man’s courage increased. “If Prince Li’s residence does not give an explanation today, our whole family will dash ourselves to death here and let Heaven see that the world is unjust, that good people meet no good end.”
Someone in the crowd shouted, “A life for a life!”
Lu Ronghuai cast a glance over the dense crowd. Xian Feng understood at once and made a subtle gesture into the shadows.
Chu Yuan held to his arm and spoke softly near his ear. “Your Highness, tonight’s matter is likely directed by someone.”
From what he had heard, each accusation pointed directly at Lu Ronghuai, as though rehearsed. They had chosen tonight deliberately.
Lu Ronghuai gave a soft acknowledgment. His gaze swept coldly across Wang Wu’s family and Mao Shu. “I know. Ah-Yuan need not worry. Simply watch the play.”
Chu Yuan’s fingers curled slightly.
So he had brought him out to watch a spectacle. Chu Yuan lowered his head. The corner of his lips curved faintly without his noticing.
Lu Ronghuai ordered Wang Wu’s family detained. Standing above them, he examined them.
“This Prince once purchased two pieces of sugar cake from Wang Wu to please the Princess Consort. Afterward, Wang Wu died. Without any conclusive evidence, you insist this Prince killed him. This Prince would like to ask you...”
“Since you cannot produce proof and yet dare to come here to cause a disturbance, allow this Prince to guess. Whose silver did you accept?”
Something stirred in the middle-aged man’s eyes. He concealed it well, but his face still filled with grief. “Your Highness refuses to admit killing my elder brother and now slanders us as bribed. What is your intent?”
“This Prince only wishes everyone to see who is truly wronged. Xian Feng.”
Xian Feng sprang like a swallow. The crowd saw only a blur. When their sight cleared, the youngest boy among the three children was already in Xian Feng’s arms.
“What are you doing? Return my child!” The woman scrambled up in terror and rushed toward him.
“My good grandson, my good grandson! Heaven has lost all conscience!”
The guards restrained the woman and the old grandmother.
The boy struggled and cried in Xian Feng’s arms, reaching out for his mother.
“Xiao Shun’er!” The middle-aged man’s eyes split wide with rage. He rushed forward and was kicked back down the steps by Xian Shuang.
The crowd stirred.
Xian Feng returned to Lu Ronghuai’s side with the child. Lu Ronghuai looked at the man with a faint smile. “Why are you so agitated? He is not your son.”
The man clenched his teeth. His eyes were bloodshot. “Shun’er is my nephew, the only blood my elder brother left in this world. What does Your Highness intend?”
“Were you not just saying the whole family would dash themselves to death together?” Lu Ronghuai smiled. His features were handsome, and yet not one person in that crowd found anything pleasant in it. It settled cold in the pit of the stomach instead.
Chu Yuan encircled his neck quietly.
Suddenly, he felt a light pat against his thigh. Lu Ronghuai’s voice carried through the vibration of his chest into Chu Yuan’s ear.
“Darling, hold tight.”
He lifted Chu Yuan’s uninjured left leg and wrapped it around his own waist.
Chu Yuan’s eyes widened in disbelief. He could not believe such words had been spoken in public.
And this posture...
Chu Yuan wished to leap down at once.
“Your Highness, this subject wishes to get down.”
“Do not move. It will be over soon. I will take you back to continue listening to the divine tortoise sing.”
With a soft chuckle, Lu Ronghuai drew Xian Feng’s sword in one swift motion.
Before everyone’s eyes, he laid the blade against the boy’s neck.
The old woman took one look at this and failed to draw her next breath. She collapsed in a dead faint.
The woman collapsed to the ground, covering her face and crying.
“Too cruel. He will not even spare a child!”
“Wang Wu had two daughters. Only this one son. Prince Li means to wipe out the entire line—”
The boy struggled in Xian Feng’s arms. The blade nicked his tender skin. Feeling the sting, the child let out a piercing cry.
As he cried, he reached toward the blood-eyed man below. “Baba... Baba...”
The moment the word left his mouth, the restless crowd fell silent.
“What is this?”
“Why does Shun’er call him baba?”
Lu Ronghuai cast aside the sword and steadied Chu Yuan once more. His voice was deep. “Two days ago, this Prince discovered that Wang Wu was killed by his own younger brother.”
“Huh? His younger brother killed him, why?!”
“Because he had long been involved with his elder brother’s wife.” Lu Ronghuai’s gaze was ice as it fixed upon the man. “After this Prince bought sugar cakes, Wang Wu closed early. Returning home, he discovered his wife and younger brother together. In anger, he confronted them. In panic, they killed him.”
“This child is not Wang Wu’s. These two will be handed to the Ministry of Justice for judgment.”
As he finished speaking, officials arrived with constables.
The man and the woman were shackled and taken away.
Su Ruhe hurried over, sweat upon his brow. Standing below the steps, he cupped his hands and bowed to Lu Ronghuai. “The evidence provided by Your Highness has been delivered to the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review. This official still has matters requiring his attention and must take his leave.”
Lu Ronghuai inclined his head. “Many thanks, Vice Minister Su. This Prince still has lanterns to admire with Ah-Yuan this evening and cannot invite you to stay for tea, but this Prince will call on you to express his gratitude properly another day.”
Su Ruhe’s mouth twitched. He bowed hastily while thinking this official would never dare and turned and walked away at considerable speed.
Some men could hold beauty in their arms beneath festival lights, while others were fit only to pore over documents alone by lamplight.
When the officials departed, the townspeople looked again at Lu Ronghuai, their expressions complicated.
“I nearly forgot you.” Lu Ronghuai’s gaze swept to Mao Shu, who still knelt there. His tone was mocking. “Return to your Crown Prince’s residence and continue being his dog.”
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Lu Dog: Darling, hold tight.
Yuan Yuan: Will you please shut up?
Xian Yu: Face going completely yellow.
0 Comments