Ha, Ha, Ha.
On the eighteenth day of the first lunar month, Eighth Prince Lu Rongshen paid a visit to Prince Li’s residence.
At that time, Lu Ronghuai was in the side hall of Fuju Courtyard, supervising Xian Yu and the others as they copied scriptures.
“Write faster. There’s no need to imitate this Prince’s handwriting. No one is going to inspect it anyway.”
Xian Yu slumped with exhaustion. “My lord is confined, but you cannot torment us like this.”
“He is right. Third Brother, spare them.” Lu Rongshen entered carrying several large bundles, smiling as he spoke.
“This Prince is giving them an opportunity to cultivate their character,” Lu Ronghuai replied with a casual wave of his hand. “You may all withdraw.”
Xian Feng and the others fled as though pardoned from execution. They flashed Lu Rongshen grateful smiles and vanished in an instant.
“Look how frightened you have made them,” Lu Rongshen laughed aloud. He stepped forward and sat down, setting the parcels on the table. “Ah, where is my Third Sister-in-law?”
“Head Imperial Physician Wu is administering acupuncture to him. What brings you here?” Lu Ronghuai tapped the table lightly. “Xian Yu, bring tea.”
Xian Yu had barely stepped out before he returned, carrying a tea tray with a hollow look in his eyes.
“Is there no one left in the residence? Why is even the task of pouring tea done by Xian Yu?” Lu Rongshen accepted the teacup, confusion written across his face.
Xian Yu regarded him with a ghostly stare. “Your Highness the Eighth Prince may not know, but this subordinate has been promoted to steward of the residence. I am very happy. Ha, ha, ha.”
Lu Rongshen: “…”
His hand trembled slightly. “This Prince can certainly feel your joy. Congratulations.”
Xian Yu cast Lu Ronghuai another hollow glance before drifting out like a wandering spirit.
“…That was rather unsettling. Third Brother, I left the palace today under Father Emperor’s verbal decree. He sent me specifically to find you.” Lu Rongshen turned toward him.
Lu Ronghuai rested his chin on his hand and nodded perfunctorily.
“Are you not curious about what it concerns?”
“It cannot be anything good,” Lu Ronghuai replied.
“...That’s true. If it were good news, it would not fall to us.”
“He wants this Prince to oversee the construction of Daoist temple?” Lu Ronghuai raised his left hand and pressed at the bridge of his nose, his tone dropping slightly.
Lu Rongshen stared in shock. “You guessed it?! Third Brother, then guess who my future wife will be.”
Lu Ronghuai paused, casting him a meaningful look. “You are eager to marry?”
Lu Rongshen scratched his head, a bashful smile spreading across his handsome face. “Marriage is not so urgent, but I do wish to leave the palace and establish my own residence. When the time comes, I will build it beside yours. How good would that be?”
“Rest assured. At the latest, by next year, you will certainly marry.” Lu Ronghuai spoke with absolute certainty.
Lu Rongshen believed him without question and nodded happily.
“By the way, Mother Consort knew I was leaving the palace. She had me bring many tonics for you both and instructed that you must cherish your health and recover well.” He gestured toward the parcels on the table.
A trace of warmth entered Lu Ronghuai’s eyes. He inclined his head. “Convey my thanks to Consort Ye.”
“We are family. There is no need for such courtesy.” Lu Rongshen crossed one leg over the other and grinned smugly. “Third Brother, during this trip outside the palace, I heard quite a few amusing stories. Do you know that the rumors about you have already gone through several versions these past few days?”
“Let this Prince hear them.”
Lu Rongshen grew animated at once. “Some say that on the Lantern Festival night, Prince Li callously took lives and sent Wang Wu’s entire family to the afterlife at the residence gate. That version was quickly denied by the common people, however. The matter of Wang Wu’s younger brother having an illicit affair with his own sister-in-law has already been announced by the authorities. They will be executed tomorrow.”
“The most widely circulated tale claims that Prince Li keeps a bewitchingly beautiful male favorite within the residence. You cannot bear to let him walk even a single step. Wherever you go, you carry him on your back. You kiss him after only a few words. They say he clings like a spirit enchantress... Third Brother, are they speaking of my Third Sister-in-law?”
“What else?” Lu Ronghuai’s lips curved faintly.
“The other versions are even more exaggerated. Some claim the male favorite is an immortal descended to restrain you. Some say you have been blinded by lust and that your confinement is merely an excuse to dally within the residence with a fox-spirit lover.”
“The most ridiculous one says your soul was seized and reborn. It nearly killed me with laughter, ha ha ha!”
Lu Ronghuai: “…”
“Still, it is not entirely bad. No one outside is speaking of you as bloodthirsty and cruel any longer. The focus has shifted. I wandered through the market and saw many freshly printed storybooks. Everyone was scrambling to buy them.”
Lu Rongshen was laughing so hard he nearly choked. Counting on his fingers, he recited the titles: “The Domineering Prince’s Beloved, Falling for the Peerless Male Favorite, The Cold Prince and the Enchanting Consort, and so on. Third Brother, your image has utterly transformed. Let us see how those Censorate officials will criticize you now.”
“This Prince dares not ask for much. It will suffice if Censor Ye refrains from impeaching me again.”
Lu Rongshen’s smile stiffened.
Grand Censor Ye Qi was precisely Lu Rongshen’s maternal grandfather.
“You know my grandfather well,” Lu Rongshen said helplessly. “His lifelong hobby is submitting memorials to scold others. He once impeached me for buying a mastiff hound, claiming I was indulging in frivolous pleasures.”
“By the way, your former steward, how did he come to defect to the Crown Prince?”
Lu Ronghuai let out a cold laugh. “This Prince expelled him from the residence. Marquis Xuanning refused to shelter him. The Crown Prince moved swiftly. Upon hearing the news, he immediately brought him into the Eastern Palace. That Lantern Festival performance was also the Crown Prince’s scheme.”
“Did Prince Qi not intervene?”
“Prince Qi sent men to mingle among the crowd, stirring the flames and seeking an opportunity to cause unrest.”
“You struck those two too lightly. Otherwise, how could they still leap about like this?”
“Prince Qi and the Crown Prince present a harmonious front yet remain at odds in private. For the sake of dealing with this Prince, they stood united this time.”
“You returned military authority. Are you not afraid they will seize it?” Lu Rongshen asked with concern.
Lu Ronghuai smiled with quiet certainty. “What this Prince awaits is precisely for them to seize it.”
“Regarding the temple, return and inform Father Emperor that I accept.”
At that moment, Le Shu appeared at the entrance of the side hall. “Your Highness, Head Imperial Physician Wu requests your presence.”
Lu Ronghuai immediately rose and headed toward the main courtyard, trailed by an eager shadow.
When they arrived, Director Wu had already wrapped a narrow strip of white silk over Chu Yuan’s eyes, circling it twice to cover those autumn-water-bright eyes.
“What has happened?” Lu Ronghuai’s brows drew together in tension.
Lu Rongshen seized the opportunity to greet him. “Third Sister-in-law, greetings. I am Xiao Ba.”
Chu Yuan sat upright on the bed. Hearing the voice, he smiled faintly. “Eighth Brother has come.”
Director Wu said, “The stagnant blood within the Princess Consort’s skull has fully dispersed. This medicine is mild and protects the eyes. Remove it tomorrow after the evening meal. The Princess Consort’s sight will be as clear as before.”
“Many thanks,” Lu Ronghuai replied sincerely.
“The Princess Consort’s right leg still requires time to recover. The weather is cold at present. It must be well protected and not exposed to chill. Otherwise, even after recovery, there may be pain in the bones in later years.”
Lu Ronghuai committed the words to heart and nodded. “Rest assured, Head Imperial Physician Wu. This Prince will care for him properly.”
Director Wu raised his gaze to him. “These words are directed precisely at Your Highness. Until the leg bones are fully healed, do not take the Princess Consort out and do not trouble him excessively.”
“…”
Lu Rongshen suppressed a laugh, coughed lightly, and stepped forward to lift the medicine chest himself, escorting the physician out.
“Head Imperial Physician Wu speaks rightly. My Third Brother is merely anxious out of love for his wife. It was the Lantern Festival, after all. My Third Sister-in-law had not left the residence for half a month. Third Brother could not bear it…”
Their voices gradually faded into the distance.
Within the chamber, Lu Ronghuai walked to Chu Yuan’s side. His gaze rested on the white silk over his eyes. Beneath it lay his straight, refined nose. Below that, Lu Ronghuai reached out and lightly touched the corner of Chu Yuan’s lips.
He glanced at the injured leg and lowered his voice. “It was my fault. Ah-Yuan, did your leg ache that day?”
Chu Yuan shook his head.
“I have long been rough by habit. It is my first time caring for another. If I hurt you, Ah-Yuan must tell me.” His tone carried unease.
Chu Yuan was quiet by nature and had endured too much hardship since childhood. Often he concealed his thoughts and feelings, unwilling to speak them aloud.
“This subject understands.”
“Do not call yourself that. You are not permitted to do so again.” He spoke with displeasure.
Lu Ronghuai pinched his cheek. Chu Yuan’s skin was smooth and fine. During this period, Lu Ronghuai had continuously nourished him with tonic foods. A thin layer of flesh had finally filled out his cheeks, and the sensation was pleasing to the touch. He found it difficult to let go.
He could not resist pinching twice more.
Chu Yuan felt as though his face had become dough in his hands, kneaded and toyed with to his heart’s content.
When Lu Rongshen returned after seeing Head Imperial Physician Wu off and witnessed the scene, he grabbed Xian Yu and asked through gritted teeth, “Does my Third Brother always behave like this with Third Sister-in-law?”
“How do you mean?” Xian Yu replied, holding a food container.
“Like that. Clinging and teasing him constantly.”
“Frightening, is it not? We subordinates are already accustomed to it.”
“You truly have it difficult,” Lu Rongshen said with heartfelt sincerity.
“Will Your Highness the Eighth Prince dine here at noon?” Xian Feng approached with his customary composed smile.
Lu Rongshen glanced toward the room and grinned. “I had not intended to, but now... prepare an extra set of bowls and chopsticks for this Prince.”
Lu Ronghuai carried Chu Yuan to a chair and took the food container from Xian Yu. Upon opening it, a rich fragrance greeted them.
“It smells wonderful,” Lu Rongshen exclaimed, hurrying over to sit opposite, gazing eagerly at the container.
Lu Ronghuai cast him a sidelong look. “Eat your meal and keep your mouth closed.”
Lu Rongshen held his bowl and muttered, “How does one eat with one’s mouth closed?”
“You may choose not to eat.” Lu Ronghuai lifted a piece of meat, blew lightly to cool it, and brought it to Chu Yuan’s lips. “Ah-Yuan, open your mouth.”
“I will eat, I will eat.” Lu Rongshen stuffed a large mouthful of rice into his mouth and chewed with exaggerated force. “Brother, how can you possess two faces? Was I picked up from the roadside?”
“Indeed. Another day, this Prince will sell you.”
Chu Yuan listened quietly to their bickering, a faint smile appearing on his face.
He could hear that the affection between the two brothers was genuine. Only thus could they speak so freely, trading barbs without restraint.
Silence lingered for a brief moment.
“Third Sister-in-law, you look so beautiful when you smile,” Lu Rongshen said, clutching his bowl in amazement.
No sooner had he spoken than he received his elder brother’s attention.
Lu Ronghuai flicked him lightly on the head. “This Prince’s wife is naturally the most beautiful. What concern is it of yours? Look again and get out.”
“How petty you are!” Lu Rongshen protested, rubbing his head. “If Third Sister-in-law is so beautiful, do you intend to hide him at home forever and never take him out? If you take him out, others will see.”
Lu Ronghuai gave a cold laugh. “Whoever dares look, this Prince will gouge out his eyes.”
“Then go gouge out the eyes of the whole world. Otherwise you cannot stop them from looking.”
“You believe this Prince would not dare?”
Chu Yuan turned his head aside, avoiding the pearl meatball offered to his lips. “This subject is done eating.”
“You have eaten only two bites. Even a cat eats more than you. Be good. Eat a little more. Gain some flesh, it will make you look better.” When speaking to Chu Yuan, Lu Ronghuai’s voice always unconsciously softened, low and alluring.
Lu Rongshen felt a chill pass through him.
“This subject has no wish to look well. This subject does not wish to see eyes scattered everywhere.”
Lu Ronghuai: “…”
“Third Sister-in-law, pay no mind to him. He is a jealous husband who grows jealous over anything,” Lu Rongshen said bluntly.
Lu Ronghuai noticed Chu Yuan pressing his lips together, his mood subdued. He understood that his earlier words had frightened him.
His gaze swept over the table before settling on a soft white pastry. “Ah-Yuan enjoys sweets. This jade-dew dumpling is well made. Ah-Yuan, taste it.”
Chu Yuan paused. He parted his lips. His voice was clear as striking ice against jade, touched with confusion. “How does Your Highness know that this subject enjoys sweets?”
He did not recall ever telling him his preferences.
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Lu the Dog: Barbie Q. Quickly cover this Prince’s little vest tightly.
Yuan Yuan: (=_=)
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