“Fox Spirit?”
“This subject will walk on his own.”
“No. You walk too slowly. I cannot wait.” Lu Ronghuai was desperate to prove his sincerity at once.
Xian Feng, who was guarding outside, heard the approaching footsteps and hurriedly opened the door.
Lu Ronghuai stepped out and immediately locked his gaze onto Xian Yu, who was squatting in a corner. “If you hide there, do you think this Prince cannot see you?”
Xian Yu instantly changed from a squat to kneeling, the movement smooth beyond measure. “Your Highness, this subordinate was wrong. This mouth may as well be cut off.”
Lu Ronghuai nodded. “A reasonable thought. You caused the Prince Consort to misunderstand this Prince. That mouth truly could be cut.”
Chu Yuan’s heart jumped. He hastily said, “This matter has nothing to do with Xian Yu. This subject deliberately drew out his words. He was unguarded, and that is why…”
“Prince Consort need not plead for Xian Yu. His Highness is merely teasing him,” Xian Feng said with a grin.
Chu Yuan: “…”
His dark, lustrous eyes looked straight at Lu Ronghuai, and the indifference within them returned in an instant.
His face changed quickly.
Lu Ronghuai’s brows relaxed, and he smiled brightly at him. “We are returning to the residence.”
Le Shu and the others hurried to follow.
As they passed the winding watercourse, they encountered Ning Yuqiang face to face.
“Cousin.” Ning Yuqiang stopped at once, calling to him in a low voice.
After many days without seeing him, Ning Yuqiang had grown noticeably thinner. His complexion was no longer as soft and luminous as before.
Lu Ronghuai acted as though he had not seen him at all and walked past without breaking stride.
Ning Yuqiang could not endure being treated so. His eyes reddened at once.
That day, he had quarreled bitterly with his father and learned that his father indeed harbored thoughts of siding with Prince Qi or the Crown Prince. Within him were resentment, anger, and grievances beyond counting.
He had long wished to seek out Lu Ronghuai and explain himself. Yet now, he could not even step through the gates of Prince Li’s residence.
“Cousin, I have already come to find you. Must you be so heartless?” Ning Yuqiang turned his head, tears sliding from his eyes.
Lu Ronghuai did not respond in the least. His pace was swift. In the blink of an eye, he had rounded the rockery and disappeared.
Ning Yuqiang shut his eyes in pain, his mind filled with the cold image of Lu Ronghuai carrying Chu Yuan as he walked away.
That fox spirit had stolen his cousin.
Ning Yuqiang started forward to chase after him.
Xian Feng and Xian Yu extended their arms and blocked his path.
“What are you doing?” Ning Yuqiang was forced to step back, and fixed the two of them with a dark, hostile stare.
Xian Feng smiled harmlessly. “Young Lord Ning, His Highness does not wish to be disturbed at present.”
“I have matters to discuss with Cousin. Do not stop me.”
Xian Yu said, “Please do not make things difficult for us, Young Lord Ning. His Highness has urgent affairs and no leisure to see you.”
“Move aside! This path does not belong to Prince Li’s residence. Why should I be barred from walking it?”
Xian Feng pulled Xian Yu aside and gestured politely. “After you, Young Lord.”
Ning Yuqiang ran quickly toward the rockery, but Lu Ronghuai was long gone. He bit down on his lower lip in anger and stormed back.
“You deliberately delayed me. I have always treated you well. Why do each of you now side with that fox spirit?”
The two exchanged a glance. “Fox spirit?”
Xian Yu was the first to put it together. His brow furrowed. “Young Lord Ning’s fox spirit, could it be you refer to our Prince Consort?”
Ning Yuqiang stared at him with cold contempt.
Xian Yu said, “The Prince Consort is pure in character. Young Lord Ning should not make baseless accusations and tarnish his reputation.”
Xian Feng added, “It would be best not to utter such words again. If His Highness hears of it, he will surely be angered.”
Having failed to speak with Lu Ronghuai and seeing them defend Chu Yuan so staunchly, Ning Yuqiang’s suppressed anger burst into flame.
“Why may I not say it? He is a prince of the Kingdom of Chu, our enemy. You are as though bewitched by him. I have known you for years, yet you do not stand with me!”
“Young Lord Ning’s words are biased. Though the Prince Consort is a prince of Chu, the Kingdom of Chu has long maintained amicable relations with the Kingdom of Lu. On what grounds do you call them enemies?” a clear voice sounded from behind the rockery.
Ning Yuqiang’s gaze darkened as he looked over.
A young man emerged from behind the rockery, his eyes bright and alert.
“So it is Young Master Han,” Ning Yuqiang said flatly, masking the anger in his eyes.
Han Ruiqi waved a hand and smiled warmly. “Young Lord Ning, do not be offended. I came on behalf of my father to deliver gifts and slipped here for a breath of air. I accidentally overheard your words and could not restrain myself from speaking. It was discourteous of me.”
“In truth, I had not intended to show myself. Yet if Young Lord Ning’s words were heard by those with ulterior motives, who knows what suspicions might arise regarding the Prince Consort? That would not be well.”
“What concern is it of yours?” Ning Yuqiang snapped.
Han Ruiqi blinked. “Next month is Wanchao Hui. By the end of this month, the rulers of the six kingdoms will arrive one after another. Should rumors spread and damage the friendship between the Kingdom of Lu and the others, Young Lord Ning would bear infamy for ages.”
“Your father is Minister of Rites. Has he never taught you that one should not look at what is improper, nor listen to what is improper?”
Han Ruiqi clicked his tongue and scratched the back of his neck. “It cannot be helped. This young master is warm-hearted by nature and delights in speaking up for justice.”
Ning Yuqiang drew a deep breath.
“Oh, and as for your talk of the Prince Consort, if I did not see wrongly, Prince Li just now carried the Prince Consort onto his carriage. They should already have departed.”
Ning Yuqiang chased all the way to Prince Li’s residence.
He had already resolved that if Lu Ronghuai refused him entry today, he would stand at the gate and not leave.
Yet to his surprise, after he had waited for roughly the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, a servant opened the gates and invited him inside.
At that moment, intense hope burst forth in his eyes.
Cousin must have relented. He had known Cousin would not truly abandon him.
He lifted the hem of his robe and hurried inward, running straight to the front hall.
“Cousin.” He crossed the threshold and called out before clearly seeing the scene within.
Then his gaze met Su Ruhe’s.
“?”
After his coming-of-age ceremony, Ning Yuqiang had been granted a leisurely official post. Though he did not qualify to attend court, he was acquainted with most officials.
He scanned the hall and found not only Su Ruhe, but also Cheng Zhi and Zhao Lu.
Lu Ronghuai sat in the main seat. On the other side sat Chu Yuan. Between them stood a square huanghuali table, the tea tray and fruit removed. Lu Ronghuai was bent over, writing.
The others stood on either side. The only sound in the hall was the brush gliding across paper.
Xian Feng and Xian Yu stood at the doorway, looking toward Xian Shuang.
Xian Yu whispered, “When did you return?”
“An hour ago.”
“What is happening inside?”
Xian Shuang’s mouth twitched. “His Highness is drafting a vow document.”
“???”
They were not alone in their confusion. Everyone inside the hall was equally confused.
Zhao Lu had only just returned from a mission with Xian Shuang and was summoned here to serve as witness.
Su Ruhe had come for official business.
As for Cheng Zhi, he had already secured the timber for the construction of the Daoist temple and required Prince Li’s seal.
Cheng Zhi’s thoughts raced, calculating how to obtain Lu Ronghuai’s private seal.
Just then, Lu Ronghuai finished writing. He tossed aside the brush and picked up a red-sealed golden booklet.
He reviewed its contents carefully. Satisfied that no revision was needed, he pressed his fingers into the ink paste and, without hesitation, pressed his handprint onto the paper.
“Ah-Yuan, come.” He extended the golden booklet toward him.
The ink had not yet dried, releasing a faint fragrance. Chu Yuan lowered his gaze and read line by line. Shock gradually surfaced in his previously calm eyes.
“What does Your Highness mean by this?” he asked, holding the booklet.
“Exactly what it says,” Lu Ronghuai replied lightly.
Chu Yuan had not expected that Lu Ronghuai’s idea of proof would be to write such a vow.
The contents stirred waves within him.
“This golden document is established to set Ah-Yuan’s heart at ease. All present may serve as witnesses. You and I enter into a covenant, bound in life and death. If I betray Ah-Yuan, everything I possess shall belong to Ah-Yuan. I will request removal from the imperial registry and submit to yue punishment.”
“Heaven above bears witness. Should I utter even half a false word, may I meet a miserable death.”
Chu Yuan sat completely still.
Lu Ronghuai took his hand, smeared it with ink paste, and pressed it onto the booklet, leaving him no chance to retreat.
Their fingerprints rested side by side upon the white page.
Lu Ronghuai spread the booklet upon the table and drew from his robe a jade seal the width of a palm.
Cheng Zhi’s pupils contracted at the sight of the Snow Wolf Jade Seal.
Lu Ronghuai pressed his private seal onto the golden booklet. This was his personal seal, used only for documents of grave importance. That he produced it today demonstrated how seriously he regarded this vow.
“Cousin! Calm yourself!” Ning Yuqiang suddenly shouted.
Looking at the golden booklet, a dark impulse he could not restrain rose within him.
Why should Chu Yuan receive such favor? Why should Cousin go so far for him?
Jealousy nearly drove him mad.
All eyes in the hall turned toward him.
Ning Yuqiang’s chest rose and fell rapidly. He clenched his fists, striving for composure. “Cousin, do not forget your identity. Even if you favor him, you should not draft such a vow and place yourself in a disadvantaged position.”
Chu Yuan pinched the sleeve of his robe lightly. His thoughts were in turmoil.
Lu Ronghuai said, “This Prince will not only draft it, but will also intend to submit it to the Bureau of Rites for official certification, so that all under Heaven may know this Prince loves Ah-Yuan alone in this lifetime.”
“Clap, clap, clap…”
Measured applause sounded within the hall.
Every eye drifted quietly toward the source.
Su Ruhe’s hands were together. “...Is one not permitted to applaud?”
Zhao Lu immediately joined in, clapping vigorously. “Applaud, of course! His Highness’s reputation for loving his consort is most commendable. This subordinate would gladly spread the word at once.”
Cheng Zhi followed suit. “His Highness and the Prince Consort share a fine bond.”
Even Xian Feng and the others at the doorway applauded.
Only Ning Yuqiang stood with fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white, trembling in anger.
His purpose accomplished, Lu Ronghuai found Ning Yuqiang exceedingly unpleasant to behold. “Very well. The witnessing is complete. Young Lord Ning, please depart.”
Ning Yuqiang had not expected to be used in such a manner.
“Cousin, how have you become like this?” He shook his head, condemnation in his eyes. “You are no longer the perfect cousin in Yuqiang’s heart. You are nothing but a lustful and foolish man!”
“What you think is of no concern to this Prince. Xian Yu, see the guest out.”
Ning Yuqiang refused to leave. Seeing Lu Ronghuai unmoved, he turned and shouted at Chu Yuan, “He covets only your beauty. Once your looks fade, he will cast you aside!”
Lu Ronghuai found the words grating and could not bear even a single insult toward Chu Yuan.
He thrust the private seal into Chu Yuan’s hands. “Keep it. Should anyone dare bully or insult you, use this Prince’s name and return the insult. This Prince will stand behind you.”
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Lu Dog: This Prince is reading “The Self-Cultivation of a Fatuous” Ruler in advance to study.
Tonight I almost missed the update, what a close call. Everyone, how many days off do you have for Golden Week? (Laughing to death, I only get one day.)
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