“Heavens, There Is a Ghost!”
Prince Li and the Prince Consort had gone missing in the deep forest.
Xian Feng, dragging his injuries with him, searched the forest for a full hour. In the end he only recovered the horses. He mounted one at once and galloped back to the traveling palace to report the matter to Emperor Hongjia.
Emperor Hongjia was greatly alarmed and immediately dispatched three parties into the forest to search.
The guard unit found the black bear’s corpse after the wild wolves had eaten what remained of it. Two li away they discovered twenty-two corpses. The traces of battle were fierce. The two guard captains exchanged a glance, and each saw the grave look in the other’s eyes.
They searched the surrounding area from there. They continued until nightfall, yet still did not find Prince Li or the Prince Consort.
When the young nobles of the six kingdoms heard that assassins had appeared in the forest, none of them had any heart left for hunting. They mounted their horses and raced out of the forest, putting distance between themselves and danger.
“Have they been found?” Lu Rongshen rode over on horseback and asked anxiously.
The guards’ foreheads were covered in sweat. “Replying to Eighth Highness, not yet.”
“Three hours have already passed. Two living people could not possibly leave no trace at all. Search more carefully.”
The guard held a torch, his face bitter. “Eighth Highness, this subordinate and the others are searching with all our strength. The forest is too vast, and now that night has fallen it truly is difficult to find them.”
“This Eucommia tree has been cut into such a state. What a pity.” Nie Siran bent down and picked up a broken section of wood from the ground as he spoke.
Lu Rongshen rolled his eyes. “Young Master Nie, you insisted on coming along to search. Is this the manner in which you search for people?”
Xian Feng had keen sight. He strode over quickly. “Young Master Nie, may I look at the wood in your hand?”
Nie Siran smiled. “Of course.”
Xian Feng examined the broken face of the wood. Then he went to the tree Nie Siran had mentioned and searched around it with the torch for quite some time. At last he found the other half of the broken wood.
He fitted the two pieces together, and joy appeared on his face. “Found it. A marker left by the Prince.”
Lu Rongshen jumped down from his horse and hurried over. “Where? Where?”
Xian Feng’s expression grew solemn. “The marker left by the Prince was deliberately damaged.”
Lu Rongshen said, “Then what should we do now?”
Nie Siran asked, “Does this marker your Prince left behind indicate a direction?”
Xian Shuang took the wood and examined it for some time. “It should be the northwest.”
Nie Siran nodded and said steadily, “Then we shall search in that direction. Remain attentive to the surroundings along the way.”
The guard said, “Your Highness, the deep northwestern forest contains many fierce beasts. The mountains are steep and the paths narrow. It is extremely unsafe to enter there at night. This subordinate and the others will search. Your Highness and Young Master Nie should return to the palace.”
Lu Rongshen replied, “Prepare more torches, crossbows, and other weapons for defense. This Highness will go with you.”
“I will go as well,” Nie Siran said at once.
Lu Rongshen gave him a strange look. “Young Master Nie insists on joining this affair. Are you not afraid of danger?”
Nie Siran’s smile remained gentle. “I wish to experience a night excursion through the mountain forest once. It may be considered a small adventure.”
Lu Rongshen then gave him a complicated look. “Take care that you are not eaten by a tiger.”
Nie Siran replied, “If it eats me, that is my fate. If it does not, that is my fortune.”
Lu Rongshen raised his thumb. “Remarkable.”
Their group proceeded toward the northwest. Meanwhile another search party found Ning Yuqiang and Chu Zhang unconscious in the forest.
Ning Yuqiang bore the marks of snake fangs on his leg. The guards could not determine what snake had bitten him. Seeing that he still breathed, they hurriedly sent the two men back.
In the deep northwest, the group held torches and moved with difficulty through the narrow forest paths.
Lu Rongshen nearly twisted his ankle. After Xian Feng steadied him, he wiped the sweat from his forehead. “This place truly is rather frightening.”
Sounds came from the surrounding darkness from time to time, rustling and whispering, making the forest seem especially sinister.
They advanced cautiously. After walking roughly half a li, Xian Shuang suddenly spoke.
“There are tigers nearby.”
Lu Rongshen’s heart trembled in fright. “Surely not. I only spoke carelessly. There are truly tigers?”
Nie Siran answered calmly, “Not just tigers. There are also wolves, venomous snakes, bears, wild boars, among other things.”
Everyone gathered closer, shielding Lu Rongshen and Nie Siran. Xian Shuang surveyed the surroundings vigilantly, judging the tigers’ position.
Xian Feng said, “They are ahead to our right. Your Highness and Young Master Nie must remain still.”
Xian Shuang drew an arrow, its tip wrapped in oil-soaked cloth. Without hesitation he loosed it forward.
Firelight flashed through the darkness, and the roar of a tiger sounded from ahead.
Lu Rongshen’s eyes widened, and his tongue faltered. “Good heavens... th-three tigers...”
Even then Nie Siran did not forget to tease him. “Your Highness’s legs appear to tremble somewhat.”
Lu Rongshen replied, “Th-This Highness has walked too far. My legs are weary.”
“If I remember correctly, we have only walked for half a shichen since dismounting.”
“Roar!”
The tigers bellowed angrily and shifted from their positions, still staring at the group with fierce intent.
Nie Siran observed, “These are black-striped white tigers. One pelt may be sold for eight thousand taels. Three have appeared tonight. We have gained well.”
Lu Rongshen asked Xian Shuang, “Can the two of you handle them?”
Xian Shuang replied, “We can.”
“Very well. Take care not to damage the pelts.”
Xian Feng and the others spent two ke resolving the three great tigers.
Lu Rongshen remarked, “You two were somewhat slow today.”
Xian Feng said helplessly, “Eighth Highness, killing the white tigers is easy. Preserving the pelts intact requires time.”
“Very well.” Lu Rongshen walked over and began assigning the pelts. “The finest one goes to Third Sister-in-law. The one in the middle is for Qingyu.”
“The remaining one may be yours.” He tilted his chin toward Nie Siran. “You have no wife. That is rather pitiful. Keep the pelt for yourself.”
Nie Siran accepted it with perfect composure. “Many thanks, Eighth Highness. The final remark was unnecessary.”
Xian Shuang said, “There is another marker left by the Prince here.”
He stood where the tigers had appeared and raised the broken branch in his hand.
Nie Siran looked at the shattered branch. “Just how many people has your Prince offended? Why does every one of them wish for his life?”
Lu Rongshen sighed anxiously. “We must find them quickly. This Highness feels greatly uneasy.”
They continued northwest. By midnight Lu Rongshen leaned against a tree, breathing heavily.
“No more. This Highness cannot walk another step. My throat has grown hoarse from shouting.”
Xian Feng said, “Eighth Highness and Young Master Nie may rest here for a moment. Brothers, take a short rest as well. This subordinate and Xian Shuang will go ahead to search.”
Lu Rongshen sat against the tree. He took the water skin a guard handed him and removed the wooden stopper. “Do not act separately. Rest a while, and then we shall search together.”
He lifted the flask and tipped back his head to drink. Suddenly he saw something pale flash across the mountain wall not far ahead.
“Pfft—”
He spat out a mouthful of water, his voice abruptly rising. “Heavens, there is a ghost!”
Nie Siran followed the direction of his finger. With no trees blocking the view, the moonlight fell upon the mountain wall and clearly illuminated torn strips of clothing.
A smile rippled through his dark eyes, the first genuine smile he had shown that night.
“They have been found.”
Lu Rongshen immediately sprang to his feet. Without resting further, he led the others to the base of the cliff.
“Third Brother! Third Sister-in-law!” he shouted upward.
Hearing the calls, Chu Yuan climbed out of Lu Ronghuai’s arms and ran to the cave entrance.
“Eighth Brother,” he answered.
“Quickly, rescue them!”
Xian Feng and Xian Shuang leaped up the cliff face at once.
“This subordinate greets the Prince. This subordinate greets the Prince Consort.”
Lu Ronghuai sat up. He glanced at Xian Feng and saw that his wounds had been bandaged. “Xian Feng, take the Prince Consort down first.”
Chu Yuan looked toward him.
Lu Ronghuai’s face remained pale. He smiled faintly. “Go on.”
Chu Yuan said, “This subject will wait below for Your Highness.”
“Mm. This Prince will come shortly.”
Xian Feng carried Chu Yuan down the cliff.
Once they had left, the smile Lu Ronghuai had forced himself to maintain vanished instantly. The internal injury he had suppressed for half the day could no longer be restrained.
He coughed up a mouthful of blood.
“My lord!”
Xian Shuang stepped forward to support him. Only after approaching did he realize that something was wrong with Lu Ronghuai’s condition.
He produced a small porcelain bottle from his robes, poured out a white pill, and handed it to him.
Lu Ronghuai took the pill and swallowed it. Wiping the blood from his lips, he slowly rose.
“A concealed weapon struck me. The dart was poisoned with something that disrupts the circulation of inner force. This Prince forced the circulation of my inner strength, which damaged the meridians and threw the inner force into disorder. If the Prince Consort asks, say that This Prince injured muscle and bone and will recover after two days of rest.”
If not for the palm strike from the black bear, he could have endured the poison completely.
He did not wish Chu Yuan to worry, and thus had forced himself to endure. Earlier that afternoon the five viscera and six bowels twisted with pain. After suppressing it for too long, the blood flowed in reverse and he briefly lost consciousness.
“This subordinate will carry Your Highness down.”
Xian Shuang immediately knelt before him.
Lu Ronghuai did not insist on pride. He gave another instruction. “The assassins Xian Feng encountered were not people of the Kingdom of Lu. Investigate it.”
“Understood.”
Xian Shuang carried him from the cave. Once below he did not immediately set him down.
Chu Yuan stepped forward, his gaze falling upon Lu Ronghuai’s bloodless face.
“Xian Shuang, your qinggong A martial arts term meaning “lightness skill.” It refers to techniques that allow a practitioner to move extremely quickly and lightly, often depicted in wuxia and xianxia stories as running across rooftops, leaping great distances, or traveling swiftly without leaving clear tracks. is swift. Take the Prince back first.”
“We shall leave together. This delay does not matter,” Lu Ronghuai refused.
Nie Siran opened his folding fan with a smile. “This is the first time I have seen the Prince in such weakness that he cannot even stand. Your Highness should return quickly and allow the Imperial Physicians to examine you.”
Lu Ronghuai: “...”
He clearly heard the mockery hidden in those words.
Chu Yuan said, “I will return with Eighth Brother and the others. There are many guards here. Your Highness may rest assured.”
Lu Rongshen added, “Indeed, Third Brother, do not worry. I will protect Third Sister-in-law well. Your injury must be treated quickly.”
Lu Ronghuai was about to speak again when Chu Yuan gave a direct order.
“Take the Prince back first. Xian Feng will accompany you.”
“This subordinate obeys.”
“Wait a—” Lu Ronghuai struggled.
Xian Shuang leaped upward at once. Within a few bounds he was already more than a hundred paces away.
Lu Ronghuai laughed in exasperation and stared at the back of his head. “You no longer obey This Prince’s commands?”
Xian Shuang answered stiffly, “Your Highness, the Prince Consort is now this subordinate’s master. Your Highness once instructed this subordinate that one must obey one’s master.”
“This subordinate obeys well.”
“...”
Chu Yuan watched them depart. Suddenly warmth settled upon his shoulders. A cloak had been placed there.
“The chill in the mountains is heavy. Prince Consort, please take care of your health,” Nie Siran said gently, stepping back half a pace.
Chu Yuan wore a narrow-sleeved long robe beneath his outer garment, both of the same pale color. The belt drew tightly around his slender waist. Standing beneath the night sky, he resembled a midnight epiphyllum Blooms only briefly in the night and is a classical Chinese symbol of fleeting, otherworldly beauty. , pure and delicate.
Lu Rongshen immediately jumped forward and stepped between them. He pointed toward Nie Siran and demanded, “What are you doing? Why show such attentiveness?”
“Third Sister-in-law, quickly remove it and wear mine... er...”
Where was his cloak?
A guard spoke up helpfully, “Eighth Highness, along the road Your Highness found it too warm and cast your cloak aside.”
Lu Rongshen: “...”
“...Very well. Third Sister-in-law should keep wearing it. Health is most important.”
Chu Yuan smiled faintly. He removed the cloak, folded it carefully, and returned it to Nie Siran.
“Many thanks for Young Master Nie’s kindness. I am not cold.”
Nie Siran regarded him with a smile. “Your lips have already turned pale from the cold. Under such circumstances the Prince Consort need not stand on ceremony. Please wear it.”
Lu Rongshen studied Chu Yuan’s face carefully. He seized the cloak and draped it over him again.
“Third Sister-in-law should make do with it for now. Tonight we hunted tigers. When we return, the embroiderers shall make you a fine and warm tiger-fur cloak.”
Chu Yuan did not refuse again.
The group began the journey back.
Lu Rongshen ran ahead to obtain a torch. Nie Siran walked slowly beside Chu Yuan.
“Is the Prince Consort troubled?”
Chu Yuan glanced toward him. “Why does Young Master Nie say so?”
“There is a trace of worry between the Prince Consort’s brows,” Nie Siran said, then paused. “Is the Prince Consort concerned for Prince Li?”
“Mm.” Chu Yuan did not deny it.
Nie Siran studied his expression and asked quietly, “This one begs pardon for the boldness of the question. Does the Prince Consort care for Prince Li?”
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Lu-dog: [To Live.]
Little Eight: [It’s No Crime for a Man to Turn ‘Green’.]
IsitRo: Here is the yt vid of the song. It’s No Crime for a Man to Turn Cry is the OG title. :D
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