“The Prince Consort Is Drunk.”
After requesting leave from Emperor Hongjia, Lu Ronghuai carried the person in his arms and departed openly under everyone’s gaze without a shred of embarrassment.
The night was deep and the mist heavy. Afraid Chu Yuan might catch a chill, Lu Ronghuai removed his own cloak and covered him with it. Countless stars scattered across the sky, the bright moon curved like a hook. The person in his arms stirred.
“Mm… my head is spinning.” Chu Yuan stared unfocused at the sky. The stars seemed to dart about before his eyes. “Put me down…”
He protested aloud, pressing his hands against Lu Ronghuai’s chest. By accident, he caught hold of the hair that hung down in front of him.
The strength of the Sangluo wine rose swiftly. He stared at the dark strands in his hand for quite some time, unable to figure out what they were. He even tugged them downward a little.
Lu Ronghuai felt the pull at his scalp and raised a hand to smack lightly against Chu Yuan’s backside.
“Be good. Do not move.”
Chu Yuan’s eyes glistened with moisture. His gaze slowly widened. “...scoundrel.”
Lu Ronghuai lowered his head. “Little drunkard.”
“Shameless rogue!”
Lu Ronghuai felt wronged. “I do not believe I have begun acting like a rogue yet.”
Chu Yuan tightened his grip on the hair. “Liar.”
“Liar?” Lu Ronghuai stared into the little drunkard’s shining eyes. “Why do you speak nonsense? I could never bear to deceive you.”
“Deceive me…” Chu Yuan followed his words and repeated them slowly. “You deceive me…”
Completely drunk and speaking nonsense.
A soft, fond smile flickered through Lu Ronghuai’s eyes. He kicked the door open and entered. “Xian Feng, bring hot water. Xian Shuang, prepare a bowl of sobering soup and some hot porridge.”
The two immediately went off to carry out the orders.
Returning to the inner chamber, Lu Ronghuai set Chu Yuan upon the bed and raised a hand to rescue his own hair.
“Ah-Yuan, be obedient. First remove the outer robe.”
The flush upon Chu Yuan’s face deepened further. The room was warm. His eyes were hazy, and he felt parched and feverish.
“So thirsty… hot…”
Lu Ronghuai rose and went outside to pour water. When he returned, Chu Yuan had already grown too warm and pulled open his collar, revealing the pale, tender skin beneath.
The skin was fair, faintly flushed with a soft sheen. Lu Ronghuai’s gaze fixed there, his eyes darkening.
He walked over, helped him sit upright, and slowly fed warm water into his mouth.
Chu Yuan drank hurriedly. A few drops slid from the corner of his lips, trailing along the sharp line of his delicate chin before falling upon his luminous skin. They continued downward, dampening his collar and disappearing within.
Lu Ronghuai remained still for a long moment.
Chu Yuan licked his lips. The empty teacup had not yet been taken away. Slowly he tilted his head back, intending to remind him.
Just as he lifted his head, those moist red lips parted slightly. A shadow suddenly descended and sealed them in a kiss.
“Mm…”
The man’s arms closed around him with both strength and tenderness. The kiss fell fierce and overwhelming. Chu Yuan could scarcely breathe beneath it. His thoughts dissolved into muddled haze.
Half drunk and half awake, he moved weakly in Lu Ronghuai’s arms. At some point his hair crown had come loose. His whole body felt as though it floated upon clouds, soft and powerless.
“Ah-Yuan is very beautiful.”
Chu Yuan opened his eyes in a daze. A mist of moisture clouded them, dampening his lashes. The corners of his eyes flushed red. His breathing came uneven, and his lips and tongue had grown numb and swollen from the man’s kisses.
The fragrance of wine mingled with the faint medicinal scent clinging to Lu Ronghuai. Chu Yuan’s vision blurred. He could summon no strength at all.
“Ah-Yuan, who am I?” Lu Ronghuai kissed the tip of Chu Yuan’s nose with fondness.
Chu Yuan thought for a long time. When he spoke again, his voice had grown hoarse. “Your Highness…”
Lu Ronghuai gazed at his beautiful face. “What is this Prince’s name?”
Chu Yuan bit his lip. His lips still tingled with numbness. His head spun. “Lu Rong…”
“Wrong. I just taught you this evening.”
He closed his hand around Chu Yuan's, soft as boneless silk, and looked down at the adorable, befuddled creature beneath him like a languid cat surveying its prey.
This time Chu Yuan pondered even longer. His lashes were damp, each one distinct. He appeared both pitiful and endearing.
“Mm… Wangli…”
He had barely breathed the words before Lu Ronghuai captured his lips again.
“Good boy.”
Broken sounds drifted faintly from within the chamber. Xian Feng and Xian Shuang stood outside the door. They glanced at one another with awkward expressions. After exchanging looks for quite some time, each of them quietly retreated with the hot water and tray in hand until they had withdrawn all the way beyond the main hall.
The two of them stood there like wooden posts, motionless, for the better part of the night.
Only after the hour of Hai had passed did Lu Ronghuai summon Xian Feng to bring water inside.
By that time, Chu Yuan had already fallen into deep sleep.
When he woke again, daylight was bright. The Fire-Sending Ceremony of the Wanchao Hui had already begun.
At the Eastern Plaza of the Traveling Palace, everyone gathered together, watching the seven figures standing before them.
In the Kingdom of Lu, fire symbolized light and hope. Winters were long and bitterly cold. Without fire, countless people would freeze to death every winter.
Therefore, when the Wanchao Hui began each year, the Emperor of Lu would lead the rulers of the six kingdoms to ignite torches together. They would ascend the ceremonial platform and light a massive brazier, declaring that hope would never be extinguished. The seven kingdoms, like this blazing fire, could only burn brightest when gathered together.
After the Fire-Sending Ceremony ended, the first performance contest began. The outstanding youths of the seven kingdoms competed in archery.
“Why have Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law not come?” Lu Rongshen sat beside Consort Ye, craning his neck toward the entrance.
Consort Ye saw him fidgeting constantly and hurriedly reminded him, “Shen’er, sit properly. The people of the six kingdoms are all present. Do not make your Imperial Father displeased.”
Lu Rongshen pursed his lips and glanced toward Emperor Hongjia upon the high seat. He was speaking with the Empress and had no attention to spare here.
“Had I known Third Brother would not come, I would not have come either.” Lu Rongshen pouted and slumped over the table in boredom.
Consort Ye sighed. “Your Third Sister-in-law drank too much wine last night. He likely has not woken yet. Ronghuai is probably accompanying him.”
“Mm. Only Third Brother dares to be so bold. He does not even attend the Fire-Sending Ceremony. If it were me, Father Emperor would have long since whipped me.”
Consort Ye laughed softly and tapped his head with a finger. “It is good that you know.”
At the center of the arena below the viewing stands, seven spirited young men already stood waiting. Each held a bow. Their arrows were aimed toward targets one hundred paces away.
“Why do we not place a wager? Who will win this round? Naturally, you may not choose your own kingdom.” The ruler of Kang proposed.
The ruler of Duan clapped his hands and tossed a piece of gold onto the table. “Very well. This king wagers that the youth of Lu will win.”
The ruler of Shi glanced sideways at him. “The ruler of Duan certainly knows how to choose.”
The ruler of Duan laughed loudly. “This is called seizing the advantage first.”
After the wagers were placed, the performance officially began.
The archery competition consisted of eight rounds. Each kingdom selected one youth to compete. In each round, three arrows would be fired. Only one could take first place. After seven rounds, the seven youths who had each claimed first place would compete again in the final round for the crown of archery.
The first round began. At the judge’s command, arrows flew from the youths’ bows like shooting stars and struck the targets.
A eunuch stepped forward to examine them and proclaimed loudly, “First round, Prince Xuan of Yu has taken first place.”
“Excellent!” the ruler of Yu shouted in praise.
The ruler of Liu gave a cold laugh and deliberately dampened the mood. “Do not rejoice too early, ruler of Yu. Two victories out of three. This has only just begun.”
The ruler of Yu replied, “This king has confidence in Kui’er.”
The Kui’er he referred to was Prince Xuan of Yu, Yu Kui, who competed below.
The second round began.
“General Li of Liu has taken first place.”
The ruler of Liu stood and announced loudly, “Attend here. Reward General Li with one hundred taels of gold!”
The ruler of Yu snorted. “The ruler of Liu makes it sound as though he has already won.”
The ruler of Liu replied, “This king merely learned it from Yu Kingdom’s ruler.”
The two traded barbed words back and forth in fine form. The other kingdoms, seeing they had little chance in the first round, simply cracked sunflower seeds and watched the spectacle, all attention moving toward the third round.
The third round began. The young general from Liu appeared either nervous or overexcited. When he released his arrow, his hand trembled slightly. The arrow veered off and failed to strike the bullseye.
The young general’s face instantly turned ashen.
At that moment, thunderous applause erupted from the people of Yu.
The third round went to Prince Xuan of Yu.
A measured smile appeared upon Emperor Hongjia’s face. “The ruler of Yu has taught his son well. Prince Xuan possesses such ability at so young an age. He is not to be underestimated in the years to come.”
The ruler of Yu hurriedly rose to express his gratitude, speaking a long string of polite formalities.
Emperor Hongjia said, “Summon Prince Xuan forward. Zhen will grant a generous reward.”
The ruler of Yu’s smile grew even more sincere. “This king thanks Your Majesty on behalf of his son.”
Yu Kui soon approached. Lifting his robe, he knelt. “This subject greets Your Majesty.”
Emperor Hongjia asked, “Prince Xuan has taken first place this round. What reward do you desire?”
Yu Kui glanced toward the ruler of Yu.
His expression earnest, he knelt upon the ground with both hands pressed to the floor and bowed deeply.
“This subject admires the daughter of General Bai of your honored kingdom and wishes to take her as this subject’s Princess Consort.”
Emperor Hongjia did not speak.
Bai Yi rose instantly, his expression stern. “Prince Xuan’s favor is appreciated, but this general has only this one treasured daughter and cannot bear to have her marry far away.”
The ruler of Yu immediately replied, “General Bai guards the western borderlands all year. Those lands lie close to Yu. If the general misses his daughter, he may come to Yu to see her at any time.”
Bai Yi cast him a cold glance. “That will not be necessary.”
He then turned and knelt toward Emperor Hongjia, clasping his hands.
“Your Majesty, what this subject said the day before yesterday came from the heart. This subject humbly implores Your Majesty to grant his wish.”
Emperor Hongjia showed hesitation. He looked toward the ruler of Yu and explained, “When General Bai returned to the capital, he already handed over his military authority to Zhen and intends to retire to the countryside with his daughter.”
The ruler of Yu laughed. “Your Majesty has not yet agreed, have you? We may discuss it properly. General Bai’s wish to retire may naturally be fulfilled, yet surely it should not delay his daughter’s marriage as well.”
Emperor Hongjia cleared his throat softly and did not refuse.
The Celestial Master had advised him to reclaim the military authority, which aligned perfectly with his own intentions. He had already retrieved the military power from Lu Ronghuai. Now he only needed to take back the authority held by Bai Yi. Then he could rest without worry and enjoy lasting prosperity.
However, he could not act too directly. He desired the military authority, but he also did not wish to lose Bai Yi, a general capable of winning battles.
Thus, he had not agreed immediately that day.
Bai Yi’s brows knitted deeply. “Your Majesty, my daughter’s stature is uncommonly tall. For many years we have struggled to find a suitable match for marriage. This subject is also thinking of Prince Xuan. If his Princess Consort were two or three inches taller than he is, would it not invite ridicule?”
Yu Kui paused at those words. Secretly he clenched his teeth, yet his expression remained sincere.
“General Bai may rest assured. What this Prince values is Miss Qingyu’s character. Such matters do not concern me.”
“Miss Bai already has someone in her heart. Prince Xuan should not seize another’s beloved.”
A deep, unhurried voice sounded from the entrance.
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Lu the Dog: Brothers, I am a happy man.
Lu Rongshen: I am not a happy man.
Ha ha, you are all so sharp-eyed! You caught every detail in the text! Sending a red envelope to the first reader who guessed correctly!
(Please be merciful, review team, sob sob sob)
(Dear reviewers, please spare me, sob.)
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