“Very well, Little Ancestor. I’ll Kneel When We Return.”
Lu Ronghuai tossed the bow aside and leaned toward the seven men, murmuring a few words. No one knew what he said, yet all seven immediately wore expressions as though they had swallowed flies.
Duan Feijing, the most even-tempered among them, could not help the twitch at the corner of his mouth.
“Choose another condition. This Crown Prince cannot do that.”
Lu Ronghuai replied calmly, “Do not misunderstand. This is the punishment for losing. You have no qualification to bargain with this Prince.”
Their faces darkened to the color of storm clouds.
The seven exchanged glances. A true man can bend as well as stand tall. It was only a matter of saying a few words.
Kang Delin turned and strode toward the viewing platform. In three quick steps he arrived before Chu Yuan.
The crowd was baffled, their gazes following him.
Kang Delin stared at the veiled hat, then he bellowed at the top of his voice, “Lu Ronghuai is the finest husband under heaven!”
The moment he finished speaking, he turned and ran.
The crowd: “?”
Chu Yuan: “……”
The second to approach was Yu Kui.
His face was a thundercloud of barely contained anger as he said unwillingly, “Lu Ronghuai is elegant and unmatched in bearing. Lu Ronghuai is peerless in the world.”
Lu Rongshen snorted with laughter. “Pfft—”
Yu Kui rounded on him instantly with a glare.
Lu Rongshen covered his mouth obediently, looking exceedingly well-behaved.
The next was Duan Feijing.
“Lu Ronghuai loves Chu Yuan most of all.”
Chu Yuan: “…………”
He sat where he was without moving, without a sound. Beneath the bamboo hat, that handsome face slowly reddened until it was flushed all the way through.
Shi Geng said, “Lu Ronghuai’s heart delights in Chu Yuan.”
Liu Yuehong followed, “May Lu Ronghuai and Chu Yuan live a hundred years in each other’s company, their devotion never wavering.”
Last came Chu Zhang.
With this pig-head face, he seethed his way through it, “Congratulations to Lu Ronghuai on taking the finest wife beneath all the heavens. The Prince Consort is the greatest.”
He swallowed down his revulsion, finished his lines, and turned to leave immediately.
Chu Yuan replied with perfect composure, “Mm. Thank you.”
Chu Zhang’s expression changed several times, nearly bursting into curses.
Lu Ronghuai ascended the steps.
Everyone looked toward him, especially the noble ladies present. Prince Li’s open and shameless affection and indulgence toward his Prince Consort, almost proclaimed to the heavens for all to see, made many of them look on with red eyes of envy.
Emperor Hongjia finally recovered from his surprise and said, “Third, what trick are you playing?”
“Nothing at all, Father Emperor. This son simply has excellent popularity. They could not help praising me.”
Seeing the seven men’s expressions of utter misery, Emperor Hongjia clearly did not believe his nonsense.
“Very well. Today’s archery contest ends here. Zhen—”
“Father Emperor,” Lu Ronghuai interrupted, “you have not yet congratulated this son.”
“?”
Emperor Hongjia said, “Winning first place in an archery contest is no reason to become arrogant. Had the young men of the six kingdoms not yielded to you, you might not have succeeded.”
Lu Ronghuai raised an eyebrow. “Father Emperor truly thinks so?”
Emperor Hongjia’s eyes gave an involuntary twitch. “……”
He truly did not think so. It was merely polite speech. The rulers of the six kingdoms were still present, and some face had to be given to them. Yet this third son of his seemed determined to anger him to death.
“Very well.” Lu Ronghuai waved a hand with an air of great magnanimity. “This son can endure such grievance. Your son asks for no reward. I simply did not expect that even a single word of blessing from Father Emperor would be impossible.”
The Empress smiled gently. “Your Majesty, though Third Prince has reached adulthood, he still carries a youthful temperament. Your Majesty may indulge him this once.”
Emperor Hongjia let out a disgruntled sound.
Youthful temperament? A man this size and still without a shred of decorum. Later he would have to learn proper conduct.
“What blessing do you want?”
Lu Ronghuai pretended to ponder. After a moment he clapped his hands.
“Father Emperor may simply wish that this son and the Prince Consort enjoy a life of untroubled ease and happiness.”
Emperor Hongjia: “……Very well.”
That evening another banquet was held among the officials. However, the guests from the six kingdoms were clearly less cheerful than the day before, and the atmosphere throughout the hall felt somewhat subdued.
After the banquet ended, everyone returned to their residences. Lu Ronghuai held Chu Yuan’s hand as the two of them walked forward at an unhurried pace.
“Your Highness, is this the road back to the palace?” Chu Yuan glanced around, slightly puzzled.
“How attentive.” Lu Ronghuai had been watching the stars overhead. Hearing this, he turned and lightly flicked Chu Yuan’s nose. “We are not returning yet. I will take you somewhere first.”
The touch made Chu Yuan’s nose itch faintly. Holding the veiled hat in his hand, he prepared to put it back on.
Lu Ronghuai stopped him. “It is already night. There is no need to wear it.”
Chu Yuan shot him a look. “Your Highness may be thick-skinned. This subject cannot manage the same.”
When he washed that morning, he caught sight of the dense, winding trail of kiss marks along the side of his neck. His lips were red and swollen, indecently so. He stood rooted where he was, mortified and utterly at a loss.
He could not possibly appear before others like that. Having no other choice, he continued wearing the hat.
“It is so dark at night that no one will notice. Be good and leave it off. Today I hardly had the chance to look at you properly.”
Lu Ronghuai took the hat from his hands and tossed it to Xian Shuang behind them.
“This morning was rushed. When we return tonight, I will find you a fox-fur collar to wear. Once it is on, nothing will be visible.”
“Mm.”
The two walked together until they reached the Juxing Pavilion.
“You two remain outside.” He left Xian Feng and Xian Shuang to stand guard and led Chu Yuan inside without any particular attempt at decorum.
The pavilion was smaller than Guanghao Palace but still spacious and orderly. Candles burned in the main hall. Lu Ronghuai lifted a hand to cover Chu Yuan’s eyes and drew him into his arms before glancing toward the hall.
“Extinguish the candles. Come out and speak.”
Chu Yuan shifted slightly. His nose was full of the cool, deep scent that clung to the man. That same scent had enveloped him the previous night, lingering endlessly.
His face flushed as he slipped out of Lu Ronghuai’s arms.
“Still refusing to let me hold you?” Lu Ronghuai sighed softly with wounded grievance. “I set aside all dignity today and made those several fools coax you out of your displeasure. Little ancestor, do not stay angry. Shall this prince kneel and beg your pardon?”
Chu Yuan could not help laughing. He struggled to suppress the smile tugging at the corners of his lips and composed his features into deliberate sternness.
“Then kneel.”
Lu Ronghuai pulled him close and nipped lightly at his earlobe.
“Very well, little ancestor. I will kneel when we return.”
“Ahem, Your Highness.”
A familiar voice sounded nearby.
Chu Yuan turned his head. The candles had already been extinguished. In the darkness only two tall silhouettes could be seen.
Lu Ronghuai patted Chu Yuan’s back gently. “General Bai and Miss Bai.”
“Let us sit and speak.”
Lu Ronghuai wrapped an arm around Chu Yuan’s shoulders and guided him to the left.
A stone table and chairs stood there. At night the stone was cold. Lu Ronghuai refused to let Chu Yuan suffer that chill and instead seated him directly upon his own lap.
Chu Yuan refused at first. Though the two figures opposite could not be seen clearly, he knew that with a general’s skill they would certainly see him plainly.
Lu Ronghuai said calmly, “If you disobey, you will fall ill. If you fall ill, you must drink medicine. Ah Yuan has not forgotten the taste of that medicine, has he?”
Chu Yuan paused, then slowly released his resistance.
The medicine was far too bitter. He hated drinking it.
“Prince Consort need not feel restrained. This subject and my daughter see nothing,” Bai Qingyu said softly, thoughtfully easing the awkwardness.
Lu Ronghuai stroked the small head in his arms reassuringly before turning to Bai Yi.
“General Bai hinted during the banquet that this Prince should come find you. Now that I am here, you may speak freely.”
Bai Yi glanced toward Chu Yuan.
Lu Ronghuai held Chu Yuan’s waist with one hand and rested his chin upon the other.
“Ah Yuan is the person closest to me. There is nothing I would hide from him.”
Bai Yi did not entirely agree. Chu Yuan was from Chu. Placing such trust in a foreign prince was not wise.
Though he did not say this aloud, Lu Ronghuai understood from his expression.
Lu Ronghuai chuckled softly and suddenly turned toward Bai Qingyu.
“Miss Bai, the most important matter between husband and wife is honesty. Am I correct?”
Bai Qingyu understood the implication. After a moment of silence, she replied, “Yes.”
Bai Yi spoke seriously. “Your Highness, this subject came tonight to ask what Your Highness meant by those words today.”
Lu Ronghuai replied calmly, “Was it not clear enough?”
Bai Yi said, “Does Your Highness realize that those words have already created consequences that cannot be reversed for this subject and my daughter?”
Lu Ronghuai shrugged lightly. “This Prince merely offered a suggestion. The decision remains the general’s to make.”
“This subject wishes only for his daughter to live out her days in peace and safety.”
“Miss Bai has already made the finest choice available to her.”
Bai Qingyu said nothing.
Bai Yi pressed further. “How does Your Highness know choosing the Eighth Prince is correct? If… if…”
“Then let Miss Bai wed Yu Kui instead.”
Bai Yi slammed the table. His voice rose with agitation. “How could this subject allow Qingyu to marry a man whose eyes are full of calculation toward her?”
“Is that not a sufficient answer? Rongshen is simple and lively. Miss Bai is steady and reserved. This prince thinks they suit each other well.”
Bai Qingyu closed her eyes briefly. When she opened them again, dark heaviness lingered within.
“The Eighth Prince is a good person. This subject’s daughter does not wish to harm him.”
“You wish to dissolve the betrothal?” Lu Ronghuai seized upon the heart of her words with precision.
Chu Yuan looked at Bai Qingyu in surprise.
Bai Qingyu said quietly, “Were the betrothal not dissolved, when the wedding day comes… this subject’s daughter would be guilty of deceiving the emperor.”
“Who says so?” Lu Ronghuai toyed with the tassel at Chu Yuan’s waist. “When the cart reaches the mountain, a road will present itself. Rather than spend a lifetime in trembling dread, why not stake a single throw? Who knows but that the willows may yet open into bright flowers.”
Bai Yi thought of the military authority he had already surrendered. He had believed that in doing so, he could shelter his Qingyu.
Yet those people were devouring beasts. As long as he remained Bai Yi, his daughter would never know a peaceful life.
The Eighth Prince…
He seemed simple and sincere. The question was whether he could accept Qingyu’s circumstances.
Bai Yi looked toward his daughter with concern.
In his heart he made a decision.
Bai Yi drew a scroll from within his sleeve and placed it upon the stone table, pushing it slowly toward Lu Ronghuai.
“This is the defense map of the Western Frontier. It also contains maps of important terrain and mountain ranges of the six kingdoms, which this subject spent ten years compiling. Your Highness may accept them.”
Bai Qingyu looked at her father in startled disbelief.
Those scrolls represented the labor of Bai Yi’s entire life. Yet he had given them to Lu Ronghuai.
Lu Ronghuai looked at the scroll without the slightest trace of surprise.
“General, what do you mean by this?”
Bai Yi answered steadily, “These are the only bargaining chips this subject possesses. If this subject wishes to cooperate with Your Highness, I must show sincerity.”
Lu Ronghuai smiled.
“Take them back. This prince does not need them.”
Bai Yi raised his head sharply, astonished by the refusal.
“Your Highness?”
Lu Ronghuai shook his head. “You wish to work alongside this Prince, and this Prince is willing. Yet this Prince will not accept these things.”
“Why?” Bai Yi asked, his voice gone low and rough.
Lu Ronghuai replied, “If General Bai truly wishes to cooperate, then you should try trusting this Prince. What I value is General Bai himself, not these lifeless objects.”
“With these, Your Highness could conquer the six kingdoms with half the effort.”
“Even without them, this Prince will still one day conquer the six kingdoms.”
Bai Yi looked into Lu Ronghuai’s steady gaze and could not speak for a long time.
“Furthermore,” Lu Ronghuai added, “General Bai may rest entirely at ease. This Prince will not harm Miss Bai. During this time, Miss Bai may take the opportunity to come to know Eighth Brother better.”
“From what this Prince knows, Eighth Brother already likes Miss Bai quite a bit.”
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Before the wedding:
Lu Rongshen: Wife is so prettyyyy~
After the wedding:
[Lifts the quilt] Lu Rongshen: !!! 😱
(pupils: earthquake)
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