“Being Called a Calamitous Beauty Is Quite Good. It Sounds Better Than ‘Male Favorite.’”
Chu Yuan looked at the five full packages of clothes on the table and turned to Xian Yu in confusion. “Why were so many bought?”
Xian Yu smiled. “His Highness said Master has too few garments. Spring is coming soon, so he prepared more spring clothes for you.”
Ever since Xian Yu learned that Lu Ronghuai had given him to Chu Yuan, he immediately changed how he addressed him and began calling Chu Yuan “Master.” He wandered about Fuyu Courtyard all day. Anyone with eyes could see who the true authority of the residence would be in the future.
The Prince Consort was gentle and easygoing. If he attached himself to the right person, his future prospects looked very comfortable indeed.
“Please pass my thanks to His Highness. Le Shu, put the clothes away.” Chu Yuan thanked calmly and instructed Le Shu to place the garments into the wardrobe.
Xian Yu saw that Chu Yuan’s expression remained steady. There was neither excitement nor joy. When he looked at those magnificent and exquisite garments, it was as if he were looking at the scenery outside the window. They could not stir the deep pool at the bottom of his eyes.
In his heart, he broke out in a sweat for the Prince.
The Prince Consort was not a vulgar person greedy for profit. His Highness currying favor like this might not achieve much.
“Where is His Highness?” Chu Yuan asked.
“His Highness went to the study as soon as he returned to the residence. He said he wanted to check the almanac.”
“Check the almanac? Is there something important recently?” Chu Yuan looked puzzled. A rare ripple appeared in his eyes.
“The important matter recently is the spring examination seven days from now, but that has nothing to do with His Highness.”
On the other side, Lu Ronghuai had shut the study doors and sat alone inside flipping through the almanac.
The fifteenth of the second month was an auspicious day. It was suitable for marriage, for joining unions, for praying for blessings, for planting, for fasting and ritual offerings, and so forth.
He picked up a cinnabar brush and circled the date with red, then closed the almanac in satisfaction.
After a month of recuperation, Chu Yuan’s leg injury had improved considerably. In another half month, on the fifteenth, he intended to break ground in Fuyu Courtyard.
“My lord, Cheng Zhi is at the residence gate requesting an audience,” Xian Feng knocked on the door and called from outside.
Lu Ronghuai rose, tossed the brush onto the desk, pushed the door open, and walked out. “No time. Tell him to leave.”
Xian Feng shook his head. “My lord has not seen him for some time. Cheng Zhi is suspicious by nature. This time he refuses to leave no matter what.”
Lu Ronghuai walked toward Fuyu Courtyard. A trace of killing intent flashed across his stern face. “Then let him come to Fuyu Courtyard. This Prince has not truly acted yet, and he is already anxious.”
Xian Feng accepted the order and left.
Lu Ronghuai returned to the main courtyard. Chu Yuan had just risen from the warm couch and was preparing to go to the small study to read.
“This subject greets Your Highness.” Seeing Lu Ronghuai enter, he folded his hands and raised them. His wide sleeves spread gracefully. An ordinary gesture of courtesy, yet when he performed it, it was pleasing to the eye.
A smile appeared at Lu Ronghuai’s lips. He walked over and sat on the cushion Chu Yuan had just vacated. Then he grasped Chu Yuan’s hand and gave a slight tug. Chu Yuan’s right leg could not bear weight. Losing balance, he fell and landed seated upon Lu Ronghuai’s lap.
“!!!”
Chu Yuan steadied himself against the edge of the low table, his delicate brows drawing together. “Did Your Highness not promise this subject that you would not casually hold and embrace again?”
“When did I promise? Why do I not remember?” Lu Ronghuai had become skilled at feigning ignorance. He wrapped an arm around the slender, well-proportioned waist of the person in his arms and leaned to ask softly beside his ear, “Those clothes, does Ah-Yuan like them?”
“The fabrics and styles are good. It is only that there are too many. Your Highness need not buy so many. This subject has clothes to wear.”
Lu Ronghuai replied, “How can that do? All those old clothes from before have been thrown away. I will buy you new ones. Ah-Yuan can change them as he pleases.”
This was probably the carelessness of the wealthy, utterly unconcerned with such expenses. Chu Yuan had lived in poverty for more than ten years. Seeing him spend money so freely, he could not help but worry somewhat.
“Your Highness’s money does not come from a great river flowing endlessly. It should be used where needed. This subject cannot wear so many. Buying them would only be wasteful.”
“How could spending money on Ah-Yuan be wasteful? Besides, I have plenty. Ah-Yuan need not worry.” Seeing disapproval in his eyes, Lu Ronghuai called for Xian Yu to bring the account books.
“Originally I intended to let you manage these after your leg healed. I have quite a number of shops and properties under my name. If Ah-Yuan does not understand anything, you may ask me.”
Xian Yu moved swiftly, carrying in several thick stacks of account books and placing them on the low table before Chu Yuan.
Chu Yuan had not expected him to truly bring the books. These were Lu Ronghuai’s foundations. He actually dared to hand them over so easily.
Was he not afraid that he might use these to bring him down?
Chu Yuan looked at the stacked volumes and did not reach for them.
“Are you not curious about your husband’s family property?” Lu Ronghuai toyed with his dark hair and nudged the account books closer with his other hand. “All my assets are here. I hand them all over to my wife.”
Chu Yuan was about to decline, seeing that he was starting to act coy, when footsteps sounded outside. Xian Feng entered.
“My lord, Cheng Zhi has arrived.”
The smile on Lu Ronghuai’s face faded. He straightened, one hand still resting at Chu Yuan’s waist. His voice turned even. “Let him in.”
Chu Yuan tried to rise from his lap. As soon as he moved, a force at his waist pressed him easily back down.
Warm breath brushed his ear.
“Ah-Yuan, sit obediently and accompany your husband in performing a play.”
Chu Yuan did not understand, yet seeing that he was serious, he suppressed his impulse to flee for the moment.
Cheng Zhi still wore his gray robe. He entered, first bowing in greeting. When he raised his head, he looked far older than he had a month ago.
Lu Ronghuai smiled. “It has been many days since we last met, Master Cheng. How have you become so haggard?”
Cheng Zhi immediately burst into tears and knelt, weeping profusely. “Your Highness, has this humble one done something wrong? Your Highness will not even allow this humble one to enter the residence gate now.”
Lu Ronghuai feigned surprise. “Master Cheng misunderstands. The Prince Consort was attacked on New Year’s Eve and dislikes noise. For this past month, the residence has been closed to guests.”
Chu Yuan glanced at him.
Cheng Zhi wiped his tears with his sleeve. When he lowered his head, his voice sounded hoarse and exhausted. “This humble one thought Your Highness had grown tired of me. When I thought of that outcome, it felt as though I had died.”
Lu Ronghuai looked at him with a smile that did not reach his eyes. A cold glint flashed beneath them, yet his voice was exceedingly gentle. “Master Cheng may not know. This Prince has developed affection for the Prince Consort. Whatever the Prince Consort tells this Prince to do, this Prince does. The Prince Consort also clings tightly. This Prince has hardly gone to the Ministry of Works this past month.”
“The land of tenderness truly makes one intoxicated,” Lu Ronghuai sighed.
Chu Yuan: “...”
Setting aside everything else, he was beginning to suspect the Prince of Li had been born in the Year of the Dog.
How dared he speak such inverted black-and-white words so brazenly? He splashed black water upon him while keeping himself clean.
Cheng Zhi raised his head uncertainly and looked at Chu Yuan.
When he had entered earlier, he had seen him but not examined him closely. Now that he looked carefully, Chu Yuan was seated on Prince Li’s lap. His brilliant, coldly beautiful face was calm and indifferent, and he seemed to have a somewhat poor temper.
Chu Yuan looked at Lu Ronghuai coldly.
Lu Ronghuai immediately returned a radiant smile, gazing at him with deep affection. “Beloved Consort, do not look at this Prince with such tender eyes. This Prince is still speaking with Master Cheng. It is easy to lose focus.”
Cheng Zhi: “?”
Had his eyes grown dim with age? Why did he think the Prince Consort looked more like he was glaring?
Moreover, when he had previously asked Lu Ronghuai, he had clearly said it was merely acting for show. Now it had become genuine affection. No matter how Cheng Zhi considered it, he felt Lu Ronghuai was playing with him.
“The Prince Consort now manages the residence accounts. This Prince truly has no money to go out entertaining. In that case...”
Halfway through speaking, Lu Ronghuai pulled Chu Yuan closer into his arms, his posture lazy. “Father Emperor has ordered this Prince to oversee construction of a Daoist temple. This Prince will give you a deputy post. The matter of procuring timber will be entrusted to you.”
“Then what about Your Highness?”
Cheng Zhi knew of this matter. Emperor Hongjia had entrusted it fully to Lu Ronghuai, but Lu Ronghuai was in no hurry at all and had not gone to the Ministry of Works to begin the project.
“The Prince Consort cannot walk well now and clings too tightly to this Prince. When the Prince Consort acts coquettishly, this Prince’s heart softens like water. How could I manage other matters?” He looked at Chu Yuan with a pleased smile.
Chu Yuan was cold as frost.
Lu Ronghuai smiled and reached to pinch the soft flesh at Chu Yuan’s waist. Chu Yuan jerked and clenched his teeth tightly.
“Your Highness!” Chu Yuan gritted his teeth, his voice low with alarm and anger. His earlobes reddened.
Lu Ronghuai laughed sweetly and helplessly. “There is truly nothing I can do about you. Who told this Prince to covet the Prince Consort’s beauty?”
Chu Yuan bit his lip. His watery eyes held a trace of shy mist as he looked at him. The deep pool in his eyes seemed stirred by a violent wind, waves rising layer upon layer.
When Cheng Zhi left the residence, his aged brows were twisted together. The unease in his heart had not lessened.
He had long felt that something in Lu Ronghuai’s conduct was amiss. After returning home and pondering for a long time, he still sent word to the other side.
That night, Cheng Zhi disguised himself, covered his face, and under the concealment of night walked into a deep alley.
He pushed open the door of a tofu shop. The room on the left had no lamp lit. Cheng Zhi carefully shut the door and even glanced outside with careful eyes.
He entered the left room. After closing the door, a dim oil lamp was lit inside.
“You came so urgently. What happened?” A voice emerged from the darkness, low and rough.
Cheng Zhi’s expression was grave. “I suspect Prince Li has grown suspicious of me.”
The figure in black was contemptuous. “That is because you were careless and revealed flaws for him to notice.”
“I am only guessing.” Cheng Zhi was displeased by his words. He tried to prove his worth. “Prince Li asked me to handle the purchase of timber for building the Daoist temple. This is a good opportunity. I will find a way to obtain his private seal.”
The figure in black said, “The Crown Prince has ordered that this time Prince Li must be brought down so that he will never rise again.”
Cheng Zhi’s expression hardened with resolve. “Please assure Your Highness the Crown Prince. Cheng Zhi will not fail his trust.”
Cheng Zhi continued, “There is another matter I find very strange. Prince Li’s attitude toward the Prince Consort has changed greatly. I believe there must be something suspicious.”
“What situation?”
Cheng Zhi briefly recounted what he had seen that day. “I speculate that Prince Li intends to push all the blame onto the Prince Consort, letting him bear the name of calamitous beauty who has led the prince astray, and suffer public criticism.”
The other person nodded. “The rumors we previously spread were wasted. Now every street and alley speaks of Prince Li and the Prince Consort’s romantic affairs. In that case, we may as well help Prince Li.”
Cheng Zhi asked, “What do you mean?”
“Next month is the Wanchao Hui. Before then, we will work to thoroughly ruin the Prince Consort’s reputation and stir dissatisfaction in Chu State. At that time, the Prince Consort will have no way out and can only cooperate with us. Otherwise, he can wait to die together with Prince Li.”
“Understood.” Cheng Zhi extinguished the oil lamp immediately after exchanging information, and each disappeared into the darkness.
What they did not know was that their entire conversation had been heard clearly by the person on the rooftop.
Lu Ronghuai sat on the eaves. In his arms was Chu Yuan, wrapped tightly.
“You heard it all. I did not lie to you. He truly betrayed me,” Lu Ronghuai said softly.
Chu Yuan nodded. He could not help but feel some sympathy for him.
To be betrayed by a strategist one had trusted for many years, such a feeling could not be easy.
Seeing the man’s open and calm expression, as if he had already accepted the fact, Chu Yuan considered a moment and still offered a few words of comfort.
“Your Highness need not be grieved over such a petty person.”
“I am not grieved. I am angry.” Lu Ronghuai ground his teeth and stared darkly in the direction Cheng Zhi had gone. “That dog thing dared to spread rumors that I intend to harm you and even called you a calamitous beauty. It infuriates me.”
Chu Yuan cast him a slow sideways glance. “He did not say anything wrong.”
“?”
“Being called a calamitous beauty is quite good. It sounds better than ‘male favorite.’”
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Yuan Yuan: I am a calamitous beauty.
Lu the dog: I am the calamity.
Little Eight: I suggest locking them together. I have swallowed the key.
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