Two Matters
Twelfth day of the second month.
After court, Lu Ronghuai went to the Ministry of Works.
Emperor Hongjia paid close attention to this matter. Since it had been handed to him, he at least had to come and make a show of effort.
“Minister Chen, the construction of the Daoist temple cannot be completed by this Prince alone. It will also require the assistance of all colleagues,” Lu Ronghuai said as he entered Chen Youwei’s west room. After he sat down, he glanced at the screen behind Chen Youwei.
All kinds of drawings lay spread across Chen Youwei’s desk. He raised his gaze to Lu Ronghuai. “Your Highness has full responsibility for this matter. It is our honor to serve. We will certainly do our utmost.”
“With Minister Chen’s words, this Prince is at ease.”
Chen Youwei asked, “How does Your Highness wish to proceed?”
“This Prince has been a bit busy these days and can only take charge of one task. The rest will be distributed to the others in the Ministry of Works. When the Daoist temple is completed, this Prince will certainly thank everyone properly,” Lu Ronghuai said, fingers hooking the jade pendant at his waist as he began tossing tasks outward.
After Chen Youwei heard him out, he asked, “Then what will Your Highness be responsible for?”
“What is the most leisurely?” Lu Ronghuai asked in all seriousness.
“...” Chen Youwei fell silent for a moment, then said slowly, “Then perhaps Your Highness can be responsible for supervising the work.”
Lu Ronghuai rubbed at the pattern on the jade pendant. “Supervising requires frequent appearances. This Prince is very busy.”
Chen Youwei said, “Your Highness does not need to come every day. It will do to come take a look every few days. With this minister here, there will be no problems.”
Lu Ronghuai’s smile deepened. “Very well, then supervising it is.”
“If Your Highness trusts this minister, the silver can be allocated by this minister. Your Highness may rest assured, this minister will record every account clearly.”
Lu Ronghuai’s fingers, which were playing with the pendant, paused. He curled his lips as if nothing were amiss, then spoke with feigned regret. “Unfortunate. When this Prince arrived, I happened to run into Vice Minister Su. This Prince saw that he is meticulous in his work, so I already handed the account books to him.”
Chen Youwei frowned. “Vice Minister Su is still young. Such an important matter as managing the account books, how can it be entrusted to him?”
“If one doubts a person, one should not use him. If one uses a person, one should not doubt him. This Prince believes every one of you. No matter who it is handed to, it is the same.”
“Enough. This Prince is still waiting to return to the residence, so I will not stay longer.” As Lu Ronghuai spoke, he rose and turned toward the door. When his words fell, he strode straight out.
“Your Highness...” Chen Youwei stood up, wanting to call him back.
However, Lu Ronghuai’s steps were fast and long, and in the blink of an eye he disappeared beyond the doorway.
Chen Youwei’s expression darkened. He slammed a fist onto the table. “That Su Ruhe brat really picked up a bargain!”
A person stepped out from behind the screen.
“Minister Chen, just do as we discussed before. It will certainly make Li Prince fall into ruin and lose all reputation,” Guan Wei said, clasping his hands.
Chen Youwei glanced at him and sighed. “Now that the account books are not in our hands, many things are inconvenient to act on.”
Guan Wei smiled calmly. “What is so difficult about that? The minister can find an opportunity to give Vice Minister Su a little guidance. If he is clever, he will naturally know what to do.”
Chen Youwei paused. “Then if he...”
Guan Wei said, “Then kill him, and along the way while framing Prince Li for it.”
“Good, I understand.”
Guan Wei nodded. “His Highness the Crown Prince is waiting for the minister’s good news.”
Guan Wei left the Ministry of Works’ main gate openly and without concealment. In the bent, narrow alley at the side, Lu Ronghuai coldly watched Guan Wei’s back and gave a soft scoff.
“My lord, should this subordinate go kill him?” Xian Feng asked in a low voice.
Lu Ronghuai shook his head. “Let him jump around for a few more days. This Prince will play with them.”
The two led the horses out of the alley and rode to Fu Xian Lou.
Fu Xian Lou was very lively today. The spring examination had already ended, and countless scholars gathered in Ye Jing’s largest restaurant, drinking to their hearts’ content.
“Come, Brother Xia, I toast you a cup, to thank you for taking care of this foolish younger brother these days.”
“Not at all, not at all. It was only what little I could do. If you truly want to thank someone, then thank Prime Minister Nie properly. If it were not for his old lordship, you and I would have frozen to death in the wind and snow long ago.”
“Yes. Prime Minister Nie serves the country and the people with a compassionate heart. If I place in the rankings, I will certainly take Prime Minister Nie as my example and become an official who holds the common folk in my heart.”
“Everyone, let us raise our cups together and thank Prime Minister Nie!” a scholar shouted.
In an instant, the entire first floor erupted in countless voices responding.
“Thank you, Prime Minister Nie!”
Lu Ronghuai stood on the third floor and looked down. Seeing gratitude and joy on those young faces, the corner of his lips raised. “May these people, after they enter court as officials in the future, not forget their original intent.”
Xian Feng also smiled. “Your Highness truly does good deeds without leaving your name. They all think that being able to stay in Fu Xian Lou’s guest quarters is entirely Prime Minister Nie’s merit.”
“No matter. This Prince prefers listening to them curse at him anyway.”
Xian Feng: “...”
“Eldest Young Master Nie is here!” someone on the first floor shouted loudly, excitement impossible to hide in his tone.
The crowd instantly stirred. Everyone craned their necks and looked around, searching for Eldest Young Master Nie’s figure.
Lu Ronghuai stood high, his view unblocked, and he saw the Young Master Nie the crowd spoke of.
Broad-sleeved everyday robes were worn by him with an air of noble restraint. His figure was clear and upright, and every lift of hand and turn of body displayed gentle elegance and romantic grace.
He was born with a smiling face that made people feel goodwill.
That face, when his smile was abundant, was like spring light spilling into a bed of flowers, dazzling enough to make hearts sway.
“Young Master Nie, how were the examination questions this time?” someone immediately asked.
“That even needs asking? With Young Master Nie’s talent, he will certainly sit firmly in first place.”
“Yes. If Young Master Nie takes first, we are convinced and have nothing to say.”
Nie Siran smiled and cupped his hands to everyone. “You flatter me, everyone.”
More jokes were exchanged, and the hall filled with warmth and noise.
The scholars liked him, and it was not all because of Nie Chouwen. Nie Siran himself had an easy, agreeable temperament and was approachable, without a noble young master’s airs. He was also learned and widely experienced, and chatting with him was a very pleasant thing.
Nie Siran smiled and spoke with everyone for a while. Without intending to, he raised his head, and his gaze met Lu Ronghuai’s on the third floor.
He withdrew his gaze, then looked at everyone with apology. “I still have matters to attend to. Another day, I will speak at length with all of you.”
“Of course, Young Master Nie, go tend to your affairs.”
Nie Siran slowly stepped onto the wooden stairs. Under everyone’s watchful eyes, he took his time going up to the third floor.
Lu Ronghuai had just raised his tea when a knock sounded at the door, neither light nor heavy.
Three knocks, no more and no less, even the force controlled to be the same.
“Enter.” He set down the teacup, parting his lips with lazy ease.
Nie Siran pushed the door open and entered, smiling as he greeted him. “Your Highness, long time no see. Your Highness’ bearing is unchanged.”
Lu Ronghuai gave a cold snort. “Do not disgust this Prince. Sit.”
Nie Siran could not help laughing. He walked over, lifted his robe, and sat. Seeing there was no teacup prepared for him on the table, he did not mind. He reached out and took a cup for himself.
“Your Highness has good tea here. This one will shamelessly beg for a cup to taste.”
“Speak plainly. Stop circling around with this Prince here,” Lu Ronghuai gave him a look of mild irritation.
His acquaintance with Nie Siran was equivalent to having no relationship at all.
That old fellow Nie Chouwen had a lifelong intolerance for injustice and an inflexible, upright character. Lu Ronghuai had never been able to hold a conversation with him.
He often could not understand how that fellow could raise such a grandson, slick in every direction, full of schemes, and impressively devious.
Nie Siran poured hot water to rinse the cup and said unhurriedly, “Your Highness need not slander this one in your heart. This one came today specifically to find Your Highness. There are two matters this one wishes to trouble Your Highness with.”
Lu Ronghuai glanced at the sky outside. “The sun must have risen from the west today. Eldest Young Master Nie wants to resolve trouble and actually comes to this Prince.”
“This one has encountered a small trouble these past few days and does not wish to make grandfather worry. This one would like to ask Your Highness for a favor.”
“What trouble?”
Nie Siran showed helplessness between his brows and eyes. “Prince Qi wants to draw this one in. His methods are truly somewhat... not fit to be seen. This one is vexed beyond endurance.”
Lu Ronghuai looked at him with interest. “Now that is a fine opportunity, Young Master Nie. You ought to accept.”
Nie Siran would certainly step into court. Prince Qi understood this very well, and the moment Nie Siran returned to the capital he had deployed every tactic available in pursuit of the Nie family’s support.
“The Nie family does not participate in factional struggles. Prince Qi is not fit for great use. This one only wishes to keep himself wise and protect his own body. This one asks Your Highness to grant convenience.”
Lu Ronghuai nodded. “That can be arranged, but this prince has a condition.”
Nie Siran smiled, his gaze certain. “This favor, Your Highness will not only help with, Your Highness will also help unconditionally.”
Lu Ronghuai: “?”
Lu Ronghuai: “Who gave you that confidence?”
Nie Siran said, “The moment this one entered Ye Jing, this one learned from grandfather that Your Highness married a male spouse.”
“This one is somewhat curious about Your Highness’ spouse.”
Lu Ronghuai’s gaze turned sharp. He gripped the teacup and spoke flatly, “You are curious about this Prince’s Consort. What is your intent?”
“Not only I. Prince Qi is also quite interested in Your Highness’ spouse,” Nie Siran said, his eyes curving.
“What does that mean?”
“This one has heard that the Prince Consort’s appearance is exquisitely beautiful, enough to overturn kingdoms and cities. Your Highness would do well to be careful.”
Lu Ronghuai said nothing.
In the previous life, he met with disaster three months later and was exiled to the Northern Frontier. Before that, aside from entering the palace to pay respects that one time, Chu Yuan never again stepped out of the Prince’s residence.
Prince Qi and his people had never laid eyes on his Ah-Yuan.
This life was different. At Ning Yuqiang’s coming-of-age ceremony, Chu Yuan had appeared.
Lu Ronghuai’s expression turned cold, killing intent rising in his eyes.
Nie Siran seemed not to notice at all. He finished his tea and set down the cup. “At the Wanchao Hui, when the six kingdoms come to offer congratulations, someone wants to use that opportunity to make the Prince Consort fall into ruin and lose all reputation.”
“Well then, can this message cancel out Your Highness’ condition?”
“It does.” Lu Ronghuai’s gaze was deep. “Young Master Nie has done this Prince a great favor. This Prince will remember this kindness in his heart.”
“No need. This one and Your Highness are mutually benefiting.”
Lu Ronghuai nodded. He rose, picked up the packaged pastries at the side, and said, “Young Master Nie may sit at ease. Zhen will be leaving first.”
Nie Siran watched him reach the doorway. He suddenly curved his lips and said, “Your Highness’ temper seems much better than before.”
“Young Master Nie wants to know the reason?” Lu Ronghuai turned back to look at him.
Nie Siran dipped his head, his smile calm and leisurely. “It truly is somewhat unexpected.”
“It is simple. When Young Master Nie marries, you will naturally understand.”
Nie Siran’s smile stiffened for half a moment.
“This one’s heart is set on freedom. Marriage is far too early a matter to consider.”
Nie Siran was the same age as Lu Ronghuai. Lu Ronghuai remembered that when he returned to Ye Jing in the previous life, it was already years later, and at that time Nie Siran was approaching thirty, yet still alone.
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Our Lu Ronghuai’s number one love rival has appeared (great joy and celebration!)
Lu the dog: The urge to stab someone is impossible to hide.
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