What Bad Intentions Could Your Husband Have?
After Lu Ronghuai left morning court and returned to the prince’s residence, he made a detour to the Imperial Medical Institute and brought Head Imperial Physician Wu back with him.
Chu Yuan’s leg injury had been close to fifty days by now. Lu Ronghuai had been watching carefully at night, and the recovery overall looked very promising. He asked Head Imperial Physician Wu to take another look and see when Chu Yuan might be able to set his foot on the ground and walk.
Once inside the residence, the two of them headed together toward Fuju Courtyard.
“During this period, this Prince has been following what Head Imperial Physician Wu said, using dietary nourishment to help the Prince Consort recuperate. Later, Head Imperial Physician Wu should examine the pulse carefully and see whether it has been effective,” Lu Ronghuai said.
Head Imperial Physician Wu stroked his beard. Thinking of Chu Yuan’s frail little face, he reminded Lu Ronghuai, “The Prince Consort is weak and delicate. Dietary nourishment must be more meticulous. You must not be perfunctory or careless.”
“This Prince understands.”
As he spoke, he lifted his foot to step over the threshold. Then he froze in place, as though someone had nailed him to the ground.
“Your Highness?” Head Imperial Physician Wu stood behind him. Seeing him stand there without moving, blocking most of the courtyard entrance, he could not help calling out to him.
Lu Ronghuai snapped back to himself.
He turned around, shut the courtyard gate, and tossed out a single line. “Wait a moment. This Prince has something to do.”
Head Imperial Physician Wu nearly had the door slapped into his face. The old man’s cheek twitched, and he rolled his eyes comprehensively at the sky.
Chu Yuan had been stifled from staying inside and wanted to come out for a breath of air. Le Shu carried him out on his back. Chu Yuan had only just steadied himself on one leg when Lu Ronghuai stepped through the doorway and stared at him, unblinking.
After that, like a large dog, he sprinted straight toward him.
“Ah-Yuan.” His delight showed openly, and anyone could hear the excitement in his voice.
Chu Yuan was startled. He did not dare move and stayed where he was. “Your Highness...”
In two or three strides, Lu Ronghuai rushed up in front of him. His ink-black eyes glittered with starlight, his brows and eyes peerlessly handsome. “Ah-Yuan is finally willing to wear the clothes I bought. I am very happy.”
Chu Yuan’s cheeks flushed faintly. He said awkwardly, “This subject only felt that not wearing them would be a waste.”
“Ah-Yuan is so beautiful. On you, splendid garments and fine adornments are merely adding flowers to brocade. From now on, wear them like this every day.” Lu Ronghuai could not bear to blink. Such bright, vivid Chu Yuan was a beauty he had never seen in either lifetime.
“...Mm.” Chu Yuan was praised until even his neck turned red.
Lu Ronghuai was so happy he could not say it all. Since Ah-Yuan was finally willing to accept his intentions, warmth and lightness rising in him. He could not resist opening his arms toward him.
“Come. Let me hold you once.”
Chu Yuan did not move. If not for his inconvenient leg, he would have wanted to step back.
In broad daylight, with Le Shu and the others still nearby, this man was truly unrestrained.
“This subject...”
He was about to refuse when Lu Ronghuai stepped forward, wrapped both arms around his shoulders, and, with a natural familiarity, pulled him into a tight embrace.
“Ah-Yuan is so beautiful, I cannot even bear to let other people see you,” he said by Chu Yuan’s ear, half in jest.
Chu Yuan was helpless. “Your Highness is overthinking it. This subject has no opportunity to go out. No one will see.”
Lu Ronghuai refuted him. “How could there be no opportunity? Once Ah-Yuan’s leg is healed, I will take you out to play every day. Ye Jing is so large, and Ah-Yuan has never properly strolled through it.”
Chu Yuan said, “What Prince Consort runs outside day after day? Your Highness should not coax this subject merely to make this subject happy.”
“Other people’s Prince Consorts cannot. My Ah-Yuan can. Today I invited Head Imperial Physician Wu here. He will take a look at your leg injury. It should be close to healed.”
Lu Ronghuai held him a while longer, then released him with satisfaction. After that, he carried him back into the room in his arms and had Le Shu invite Head Imperial Physician Wu inside.
Once Head Imperial Physician Wu finished examining Chu Yuan’s leg, he nodded. “It is recovering very well. These next few days, you may try taking two steps. Once the beginning of the Third Month arrives, this old man will come and remove the splint for the Prince Consort, and you will be able to set your foot down and walk.”
Chu Yuan said, “All right. Many thanks, Head Imperial Physician Wu.”
Head Imperial Physician Wu said, “Prince Consort, please extend your wrist. This old man will take your pulse.”
Chu Yuan rested his wrist on the soft cushion. Head Imperial Physician Wu covered it with a silk cloth and began to examine it seriously.
After a while, he lifted his head again and scrutinized Chu Yuan’s complexion.
Head Imperial Physician Wu said, “Mm. The Prince Consort’s qi and blood flow smoothly, and your complexion is ruddy. The dietary nourishment of these days has had good effect. Continue taking it.”
“All right.” This time it was Lu Ronghuai who answered.
After seeing Head Imperial Physician Wu out, Lu Ronghuai let out a breath, his brows and eyes open and relaxed.
“Your Highness is in a good mood?” Chu Yuan was attentive. He could see the slight change in his expression.
“Yes. Everything is moving toward a good direction. I truly am very happy.” He walked over to the couch and sat down, then reached out to draw Chu Yuan to his side. “Soon the weather will turn and spring will return. We can go ride horses in the outskirts together. We can go on spring outings, and we can also enjoy flowers and admire the moon.”
He wanted to bring Chu Yuan to savor the beauty of mountains and rivers under heaven, to see through every spring, summer, autumn, and winter.
Chu Yuan smiled, yet he did not take it as truth.
As an imperial prince, with country and realm on his shoulders, how much leisure could he truly have to indulge himself? The good life he spoke of would likely be difficult for them to realize.
“Do you still want to go out into the courtyard and take a turn?”
“Does Your Highness not need to go and attend to matters?”
They spoke at the same time and looked at each other.
Lu Ronghuai smiled. “There is indeed something I must handle in the study. Ah-Yuan will come with me?”
Chu Yuan tilted his head slightly. “If this subject is present, will it not disturb Your Highness in discussing matters?”
“If you are not present, my mind is full of you. If you are in front of my eyes, I can be a little more focused.” Lu Ronghuai looked at him meaningfully.
Chu Yuan: “...”
“Your Highness, this subject has a small suggestion.”
“Say it.”
Chu Yuan said, “This subject feels that when Your Highness does not speak, Your Highness is more dashing and handsome.”
Lu Ronghuai’s eyes filled with puzzlement. “Truly? When I do not speak, they all say I look very fierce.”
Chu Yuan denied it. “No. They are intimidated by Your Highness’s brave and fierce bearing. In truth, in their hearts, they all admire Your Highness greatly.”
Lu Ronghuai nodded thoughtfully.
Yet very quickly he said, “Ah-Yuan can rest assured. Before them, I have always spoken little. It is only before Ah-Yuan that I speak a bit more, to make Ah-Yuan happy.”
Chu Yuan felt a thin sweat in his heart.
Forget it. Let him be. Speaking more is also quite good. Otherwise, with both of them not liking to speak, the room would be too stifling.
Lu Ronghuai brought Chu Yuan to his study.
He had Xian Yu move in a couch and set it by the window. He also arranged a bamboo-and-orchid folding screen embroidered with gold thread beside it. Anyone entering the study would not be able to see Chu Yuan behind it. Only from where Lu Ronghuai sat could he see him.
He took a travelogue from the shelves and gave it to Chu Yuan to read for amusement, then had Xian Feng and the others enter.
“Master guessed correctly. His Majesty assigned five thousand elite troops stationed in Ye Jing to Prince Qi, and did not touch our soldiers,” Xian Feng reported.
Lu Ronghuai said, “Father Emperor dares to assign them to him, yet he does not dare to use this Prince’s troops.”
Xian Feng smiled. “Then what do we do next?”
At the side, Xian Yu made a sly gesture. “What an excellent chance. Have the three thousand brothers guarding Ping Cheng put in more effort and take them apart.”
Xian Shuang swept him with a cold look. “Kill Prince Qi? Have you eaten the gall of a bear and the heart of a leopard?”
Xian Yu shrugged innocently. “It is not only me who thinks so. His Highness already had General Zhao Lu secretly go to Ping Cheng, did he not? Prince Qi is going to have a layer of skin peeled off, at the very least.”
Once the words fell, everyone in the study looked toward Lu Ronghuai.
Even Chu Yuan, who had been flipping through the travelogue, raised his head to look.
Lu Ronghuai leaned back in his chair. He did not so much as move a brow. “He should indeed be taught a lesson. Things that are not his to covet, he should not even dare to think of them.”
As he spoke, he turned his head and glanced at Chu Yuan.
Chu Yuan sat obediently on the couch, the travelogue in his hands. His expression was slightly blank, as though he were lost in thought.
Prince Qi had dared to set crooked intentions on Ah-Yuan. It disgusted Lu Ronghuai to no end. This time, once Prince Qi went to Ping Cheng, the people there would receive Prince Qi properly on Lu Ronghuai’s behalf.
“How is Su Ruhe’s side?”
Xian Feng gathered his focus. “This subordinate has received news. These past few days, quite a few people have tried to buy and bribe Vice Minister Su in secret but refused them all.”
Xian Shuang said, “Yes. Chen Youwei also tried to draw him over, but Vice Minister Su is clever, and his life has no stain. Chen Youwei has no way to deal with him for the time being.”
Xian Yu praised him sincerely. “Vice Minister Su is clearly a good man. They also used the wrong method. Trying to bribe Su He with silver is useless.”
Xian Yu had been crossing paths with Su Ruhe frequently these past few days on the latter’s visits to the residence, and they had enough brief exchanges that Xian Yu had developed some familiarity.
Lu Ronghuai listened and grew interested. “You even know what he likes?”
Xian Yu chuckled, his eyes narrowing in a mischievous squint. “I do. Vice Minister Su’s hobby is rather interesting. He likes searching the markets for storybooks to read. This subordinate has run into him several times while going out to purchase things.”
“Storybooks?”
Lu Ronghuai instantly recalled that when the court had impeached him before, a censor had even pulled Su Ruhe out to serve as a witness. At the time, Lu Ronghuai thought it was coincidence. It seemed he truly did like reading storybooks.
“That is easy.” Lu Ronghuai held back a laugh and deliberately glanced at Chu Yuan. “This Prince does not have much else, but I do have plenty of storybooks. Since Lord Su likes reading them, then when he comes to the residence in the future, have him bring a few back with him.”
Chu Yuan immediately called out, “Your Highness!”
That single syllable held equal parts embarrassment and irritation. Lu Ronghuai burst out laughing.
“You may all withdraw now. Xian Feng will follow the matter of entering Ping Cheng. Xian Shuang will be responsible for keeping an eye on the Crown Prince’s side.”
Everyone withdrew.
Lu Ronghuai stood and smiled as he walked toward Chu Yuan.
Chu Yuan glanced at him and turned his head away.
“Those storybooks are not to Ah-Yuan’s liking anyway. Leaving them in the residence is also a waste. It is better to let those who know how to appreciate them take a look, is it not?” He deliberately teased Chu Yuan.
Chu Yuan said, “This subject can have Xian Yu destroy those storybooks.”
Lu Ronghuai raised his brows. “How could that do? This Prince does not want to be impeached by Censor Ye again.”
Chu Yuan puffed his cheeks. “Then lock them away and do not let anyone read them.”
Seeing him so indignant, Lu Ronghuai knew he was embarrassed. He hugged him and sat him on his own lap. “It is fine. I was only speaking casually. Perhaps Su Ruhe does not even like reading storybooks about the two of us.”
“Truly?”
Lu Ronghuai changed the subject. “Compared to that, does Ah-Yuan not want to know what happened in Ping Cheng?”
Chu Yuan had already heard them mention Ping Cheng just now. Now that Lu Ronghuai brought it up, he asked, “This subject heard Your Highness say that Prince Qi is going to lead troops there. Ping Cheng should have suffered a riot.”
Lu Ronghuai nodded and explained the matter of Ping Cheng to him.
Chu Yuan frowned. “As for pacifying the unrest, why would Father Emperor hand it to Prince Qi?”
He had only met Prince Qi once or twice. Prince Qi was hot-tempered and easily provoked. Sending him to pacify unrest, was barely different from sending him to cause one.
Seeing Chu Yuan grasp the key issue so quickly, Lu Ronghuai’s smile deepened. “Because it is a trap this Prince laid for Prince Qi. The Crown Prince is also fanning the flames within it. Even if Prince Qi does not want to go, he must go.”
“The Crown Prince?”
“Mm. The Crown Prince has been nursing his injury in the Eastern Palace. During this period, Prince Qi has made no small amount of moves. He even drew several officials away from the Crown Prince’s camp and even stole the prestige of organizing this year’s Wanchao Hui. How could the Crown Prince swallow that?”
Chu Yuan’s gaze was clear and cold. “The Crown Prince’s greatest hatred should not be Your Highness?”
“Mm. Yet he has no way to deal with me. Prince Qi has also moved his interests. Of course the Crown Prince will first clean him up.”
“In morning court today, Father Emperor has already handed Wanchao Hui back to the Crown Prince to manage.”
Chu Yuan’s ears twitched. He fixed his gaze on Lu Ronghuai, his eyes hiding inquiry. “Why did Your Highness not seize that opportunity for yourself?”
At Wanchao Hui, not only would the rulers of the six kingdoms come, but the outstanding youths of each kingdom would also attend. The Crown Prince and Prince Qi were both fighting for this chance, hoping to draw more connections for themselves.
In contrast, Lu Ronghuai seemed wholly uninterested.
“I do not want to deal with them.” Lu Ronghuai rested his head on Chu Yuan’s shoulder. “Those people, in due time, I will clean them up one by one.”
As he spoke, he leaned closer, resting his head against Chu Yuan’s neck. While currying favor, he also spoke harshly. “As for that wretched father of yours, I will see him dealt with.”
Chu Yuan: “...”
Lu Ronghuai saw him fall silent and feared he still had feelings for that worthless of a father. His words even carried a faint, deliberate sweetness, as though steeped in tea.
“If I go after the ruler of Chu, Ah-Yuan will not be angry with me, will you?”
“What bad intentions could your husband have?”
“I only want to vent Ah-Yuan’s anger for you.”
Chu Yuan stared at the big head pressed against his shoulder. “...”
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Yuan-Yuan: He is perfectly fine as a person, and yet he insists on having a mouth.
Lu Dog: Muah muah da.
Babies, Happy Golden Week! Eat well, drink well, and live hard!
Thank you all very much for your support. I will continue to work hard!
IsitRo: I decided to switch from Master to My lord (vice versa) every now and then when Lu Ronghuai’s personal guards address him.
0 Comments