“What Ah-Yuan Likes, I Also Like.”
The news that Prince Qi’s residence had been blessed with a son spread quickly. On the following day, officials arrived one after another bearing gifts to offer their congratulations.
Prince Qi stood in the main hall with a face full of radiant satisfaction. He had deliberately dressed in festive attire that day, and the smile at the corner of his lips never once faltering.
Emperor Hongjia had already bestowed numerous rewards upon Prince Qi’s residence yesterday. Today, he specially dispatched Grand Eunuch Yuan Sheng to come in person and see the young imperial grandson.
“Your Highness, His Majesty has been waiting eagerly in the palace to see the little imperial grandson,” Eunuch Yuan Sheng said with a genuine smile after glancing at the infant in swaddling clothes.
Prince Qi replied, “Rest assured, this Prince will bring the child into the palace tomorrow so Father Emperor may properly behold his imperial grandson.”
“Very well, then this servant shall take his leave. His Majesty still awaits my return to report,” Eunuch Yuan Sheng said.
Prince Qi treated Eunuch Yuan Sheng with marked courtesy. From within his sleeve, he produced a heavy purse and pressed it into Eunuch Yuan Sheng’s hand. “A trifling token. Many thanks to you, Eunuch, for making the trip in person.”
After speaking, he personally escorted him to the gates of the residence.
Once Eunuch Yuan Sheng had departed, Prince Qi was just about to return inside when he saw the carriage from Prince Li’s residence approaching.
His eyes changed, a glint of amusement flashing within them. He deliberately remained where he stood, waiting for the carriage to draw near, intending to seize the opportunity to humiliate Lu Ronghuai thoroughly.
The carriage halted at the gate. A hand appeared beside the curtain and slowly drew it aside.
Before even seeing who it was, Prince Qi raised his voice toward the carriage. “It is Third Brother, is it not? Elder Brother has been waiting for you for quite some time. Come in and take a look at this Prince’s son.”
The movement of the curtain paused briefly.
Prince Qi’s smile grew ever wider. He stared at that hand with undisguised satisfaction, already picturing Lu Ronghuai’s expression inside. Surely his face was dark, his heart nearly bursting with rage.
“Third Brother, this Prince still has several beautiful concubines here. When you leave, why not take a few back? If any of them are fortunate enough to produce a child, even if you lack a legitimate son, at least you will have illegitimate ones to provide for you in old age.”
A soft chuckle came from within the carriage.
Then Prince Qi heard Lu Ronghuai’s voice, intimate and lazy. “Ah-Yuan, why is there a dog barking outside? Did you hear it? It is rather noisy.”
Prince Qi: “?”
The curtain lifted fully, revealing a face of peerless and indifferent beauty.
Prince Qi went still.
Lu Ronghuai had actually brought Chu Yuan out. This Prince Consort was frail and delicate. The last time Prince Qi had seen him, his complexion had been so pale it resembled paper. Yet today, his color was noticeably rosier. He looked even more beautiful than before.
Lu Ronghuai rested his left hand upon Chu Yuan’s shoulder and leaned half out of the carriage. “Oh, so it is Elder Brother standing outside.”
Prince Qi shot him a look of pure irritation. “This is this Prince’s residence. Is it strange for this Prince to appear here?”
Lu Ronghuai replied, “Not strange. It is merely that the surroundings of this residence are somewhat lacking. Dogs barking all around the place, and since you have just added an infant to your household, take care the child is not frightened into foolishness.”
“If you do not know how to speak, then keep your mouth shut.”
“The truth is always unpleasant. Elder Brother would do well to grow accustomed to it.”
While they spoke, Le Shu had already leapt down from the carriage. He carried Chu Yuan on his back and carefully helped him stand. Lu Ronghuai followed close behind, handing over the ebony walking staff he held.
Since yesterday, Chu Yuan would rather hop on one foot until he was drenched in sweat than allow himself to be carried. Left with no choice, Lu Ronghuai had rummaged through the treasury overnight, found a solid piece of ebony, and fashioned a wooden staff for him.
Prince Qi was eager to return to his son. Seeing Chu Yuan’s unhurried pace, he did not wish to wait and said directly, “Prince Consort of Prince Li has difficulty with his legs and may walk slowly. This Prince still has guests to receive and shall go ahead.”
He strode away.
Lu Ronghuai stepped to Chu Yuan’s side and lowered his head to look at him.
“There are many steps here. Your legs are wrapped thickly, which makes it inconvenient. Shall I carry you up?” he coaxed softly.
Chu Yuan glanced at the steps. He should be able to manage. He shook his head. “Many thanks, Your Highness. This subject can ascend by himself.”
Leaning on the wooden staff, he gave a light hop and mounted the steps.
Lu Ronghuai watched with his heart in his throat, afraid he might fall. Together with Le Shu, he guarded him from either side. When Chu Yuan finally reached the top, both men exhaled in unison.
A thin layer of sweat broke out along Lu Ronghuai’s back. Seeing beads of perspiration form upon Chu Yuan’s brow, he drew a handkerchief from his sleeve to wipe them away.
The steward of Prince Qi’s residence, stationed at the gate to register gifts, stared with widened eyes as though he had seen a ghost.
Had he seen correctly? Prince Li had taken the initiative to wipe sweat for his Prince Consort.
Heavens. The Prince Consort had even refused him!
How did the Prince Consort dare? Was he not afraid of being beaten?
The steward rubbed his eyes vigorously. When he opened them again, he found Prince Li standing before him with a dark expression.
“What are you staring at? Register the gift list!”
The steward’s face trembled. He hurriedly picked up brush and ledger. “Y-Your Highness, what has Your Highness brought?”
Lu Ronghuai clapped his hands. Xian Yu and Xian Feng carried forward an enormous green jade gourd.
“This is this Prince’s gift to Elder Brother. Invaluable. This Prince searched long before finding something so fitting. Make haste and accept it.”
The steward directed servants to receive the enormous jade gourd. He studied it for quite some time. The shape was indeed distinctive. It was simply… exceedingly green.
“Oh, this gourd has been blessed by a high monk. Placed indoors, it wards off evil and repels misfortune. Infants are fragile, such an object suits the nursery chamber well.”
The steward nodded repeatedly. “Naturally, naturally. This servant will certainly convey Your Highness’s intentions and not fail to appreciate Prince Li’s goodwill.”
“Very good.” Lu Ronghuai clasped his hands behind his back and entered together with Chu Yuan.
Prince Qi had specially set aside a garden hall. In this biting weather, hot spring water had been drawn to irrigate artificial rockeries, creating the artistic conception of flowing cups along winding streams.
Lu Ronghuai cast a glance at it and commented, “In childhood he was never seen studying with diligence. Now he has learned to affect refined tastes. This vulgar hobby must have been learned from the Crown Prince.”
“Your Highness, this subject would like to sit over there,” Chu Yuan said, having relied almost entirely upon one leg throughout the walk. He was somewhat fatigued and pointed toward a warm pavilion.
“Very well. I shall accompany you.”
Chu Yuan pointed instead toward the main hall. “Your Highness would do better to go there.”
He merely wished to rest quietly by himself.
A flicker passed through Lu Ronghuai’s brow. A mild and obedient smile rose to his face. “The main hall is filled with Prince Qi’s faction. It is of no interest.”
“Your Highness came here precisely to mock Prince Qi. If you do not go there, how will you exercise the full force of Your Highness’s tongue?”
Lu Ronghuai fell silent for a moment and touched the bridge of his nose. “I shall not go. I have yet to coax my wife back into a good temper. I will spare him for the time being.”
Chu Yuan did not respond.
Le Shu supported him into the warm pavilion. Tea and fruit had been set upon the table. While Le Shu busied himself preparing tea, Lu Ronghuai seized the opportunity to sit beside Chu Yuan.
“Ah-Yuan, there is nothing amusing in this residence. We shall leave after seeing the child.”
Chu Yuan looked faintly puzzled, “Why does Your Highness wish to see that infant?”
Lu Ronghuai answered with righteous confidence, “I simply wish to see how ugly he is.”
Seeing Chu Yuan’s expression remain placid, he added, “I do not like children at all. They are troublesome, always crying and clamoring. When they are born, they are terribly ugly. I do not want children.”
Chu Yuan accepted the teacup, lifted the lid, and gently skimmed away the floating leaves. His expression remained calm as water.
“This subject is the opposite. This subject is very fond of children.”
Lu Ronghuai: “…”
He hastened to amend himself. “What Ah-Yuan likes, I also like.”
“Your Highness need not utter words contrary to your heart. Prince Qi’s suggestion may in fact be adopted.”
What suggestion?
Lu Ronghuai recalled it, and his face darkened at once.
“Ah-Yuan, are you deliberately seeking to anger me? I will not marry another. Even if I die, I will be bound together with you.”
Those present: “…”
Xian Yu and Xian Feng silently gazed at the sky. Each day their master seemed to reach new heights in clinginess.
One would grow accustomed. One must grow accustomed.
Chu Yuan felt laughter rise within him. He nearly wished to ask outright how Lu Ronghuai found the nerve to speak such words.
Before him he feigned deep affection; behind him he investigated his past. The Prince Li spoken of by the common people as cold-faced and fierce possessed countless visages, each donned at will.
“Your Highness, the Crown Princess approaches this way, together with the Third Princess,” Xian Feng reported from the doorway, where the surrounding movements were clearly visible.
“No need to stop them. They have come for this Prince.”
Chu Yuan sipped his tea. A faint bitterness spread across his tongue. Before the liquid had fully descended his throat, footsteps sounded outside.
“The Crown Princess arrives. The Third Princess arrives,” a eunuch announced.
The door of the pavilion had been half-closed. Xian Yu and Xian Feng opened it wider and bowed.
“Greetings to the Crown Princess. Greetings to the Third Princess.”
Liu Jinglan did not spare them a glance. She entered directly with Lu Lingshuang.
“Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law are in fine spirits. The scenery here is rather pleasing,” Liu Jinglan said as she seated herself opposite, her demeanor dignified.
Lu Lingshuang pressed close beside her. Since her fall into the water last time, she had not left the palace for a month, confined by the Empress to recuperate.
Thinking of this, she cast a resentful glance at Lu Ronghuai.
If not for him, how would she have fallen into the water and missed the New Year’s banquet?
“Rise. Does kneeling not weary you?” Lu Ronghuai said, glancing at Xian Feng and Xian Yu.
The two immediately stood.
Lu Lingshuang mocked, “Elder Sister-in-law has not yet spoken, yet Third Brother speaks first.”
Liu Jinglan smiled faintly. “Enough, Lingshuang. It was this palace who did not notice the two guards earlier. An oversight.”
Lu Lingshuang snorted. “Even so, they should have waited for Elder Sister-in-law to see them before rising. And Prince Consort of Prince Li, do you not understand that you must greet the Crown Princess properly?”
Lu Ronghuai, never one for rules, cast a cold glance at Lu Lingshuang. He pressed down upon Chu Yuan’s hand and smiled at him with gentle warmth. “No need to perform the ceremony. The Crown Princess is not so vulgar. Your injuries have yet to recover. Take care not to fall again.”
As he spoke, he casually raised the teacup from Chu Yuan’s hand and drank from the very place where Chu Yuan’s lips had touched.
Chu Yuan could not stop him in time. He watched helplessly as Lu Ronghuai’s lips pressed to that spot.
“Beloved Consort’s tea is indeed excellent,” Lu Ronghuai said, raising his eyes. The sheen of tea upon his lips lent them a dangerous allure.
Chu Yuan had long since learned to ignore his shameless conduct. He turned his gaze aside and lowered his eyes to his own fingers, resolving silently that he would speak no more than three sentences to Lu Ronghuai today.
Not one more.
To drink from his cup before all these people, his face thicker than city walls.
Lu Lingshuang had not seen them for over a month. Observing their present intimacy, she conceived ill intent and said deliberately, “Third Imperial Sister-in-law is truly beautiful. If you were born a woman, the noble ladies of Ye Jing would have no way to survive.”
“What a pity, such fine looks belong to a man, and one who cannot bear children…” Her tone brimmed with false sympathy.
Chu Yuan disliked people remarking on how feminine his features were. In childhood he had endured much ridicule from his brothers for this very reason.
At that time he had his Mother Empress’s protection. Whoever mocked him received the tutor’s ruler across their palms.
Now…
Chu Yuan closed his eyes and feigned deafness.
Lu Ronghuai said, “Did you eat filth this morning? The moment you open your mouth, foul stench pours forth.”
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Lu the Dog: Dare to speak ill of my wife and you will witness the might of my sharp tongue.
Yuan Yuan: (￣^￣)
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