DCPxEP CHAPTER 77

“Then Let It Hurt You to Death.”

“The painting is quite good. A very fitting pair.”

Chu Yuan said, “Your Highness already knew about this, did you not?”

“This Prince only learned of it just now as well. How could Ah-Yuan suspect your husband?” Lu Ronghuai lifted a hand and touched his cheek. He then glanced around the room before walking to the bedside and hanging the illustrated pages there.

Chu Yuan immediately rose and went over to stop him. “Your Highness, you still intend to hang those?”

“Of course. Such a fine set of illustrations. This Prince wishes to admire it every day.”

Chu Yuan reached up to take it down. Standing on his toes, he tried to reach it, yet Lu Ronghuai deliberately raised his arm higher so he could not reach.

“Your Highness!”

“Yes, my treasure?”

“You!”

“Mm? What is it?” He feigned innocence while lifting his arm even higher.

Watching the illustrations move farther and farther away, Chu Yuan stamped his foot in anger. This time he called him directly by name.

“Lu Ronghuai!”

A flicker of genuine surprise crossed those dark pupils. He was not offended in the slightest. Rather, he was startled by the unmistakable note of familiarity carried in Chu Yuan’s voice.

That tone, half coaxing and half annoyed, seemed to reveal that the many defenses in Chu Yuan’s heart had opened a small window for him, slowly widening until it might one day welcome him entirely.

“Ah-Yuan, what did you call this Prince?”

Chu Yuan’s eyes were clear and steady. “Lu Ronghuai.”

“Ah.” Lu Ronghuai laughed happily.

Chu Yuan felt somewhat puzzled. Was hearing his own name truly that pleasing? He was still angry.

Lu Ronghuai said, “In the future, do not call me ‘Your Highness.’ Simply call me by my name. I like hearing it.”

Chu Yuan replied, “That would be improper. Moreover, if someone with malicious intent overheard it, who knows what rumors they might spread about this subject.”

Lu Ronghuai spoke arrogantly, “Who would dare spread rumors about you? I would tear their mouths apart. Or you may call me Wangli instead.”

“Wangli.” Chu Yuan accepted the change at once.

“So obedient. Changing at once when asked.” Lu Ronghuai curved his lips, his dark eyes fixed on him.

Chu Yuan’s voice softened. “Your Highness likes to hear it.”

“This Prince would like even more to hear you call me husband.”

“Oh.”

“Will you not say it once?”

Chu Yuan recalled the few times he had called him that before. He gently pushed Lu Ronghuai aside, covered his ears, turned around, and kicked off his shoes before climbing onto the bed.

“Ah, this subject’s ears are full of water. This subject cannot hear clearly.”

Lu Ronghuai finished hanging the illustrated pages and climbed onto the bed, embracing him from behind. Deliberately he blew warm air against Chu Yuan’s ear.

“Water in your ears? Let me have a look. If the water is not removed in time, it may flow into the brain. I refuse to end up with a foolish wife.”

“You are the foolish one.” Chu Yuan covered his ears again. His pale pink lips pouted slightly, and a hint of softness appeared on his cheeks, making him look even more tender.

Lu Ronghuai’s throat shifted.

He grasped Chu Yuan’s chin, turned him toward himself, and lowered his head to kiss him.

Chu Yuan froze when the kiss fell. By the time Lu Ronghuai’s lips and tongue had taken possession, his breath stolen away, and the tip of his tongue sucked until it tingled, Chu Yuan finally could not hold back a muffled protest.

“Mm… mm!”

Lu Ronghuai tightened his hold on his waist, pressing him close against his own body. Only after kissing him for a while longer did he release him.

Those pale-pink lips had been kissed to a deep, enticing red. The tip of his tongue was still faintly numb and tender. Chu Yuan caught his breath in small sips, not yet fully recovered.

Lu Ronghuai reached out and wiped away the glistening moisture at the corner of his lips, laughing with satisfaction.

“Just now I wished to kiss Ah-Yuan.”

Only after doing it did he say so. What meaning was there in that?

Chu Yuan’s gaze shifted slightly as he puffed out his cheeks.

“Ah-Yuan is very sweet.”

“I would like to kiss Ah-Yuan every day and replenish nourishment.”

“??”

Chu Yuan blinked. “Nourishment?”

Could kissing replenish nourishment?

“This.”

Leaning forward, Lu Ronghuai kissed him again. His tongue swept once through Chu Yuan’s mouth before he withdrew contentedly.

“So sweet. Ah-Yuan’s nourishment.”

Chu Yuan: “………………”

“Lu Wangli!”

This shameless man spoke flirtatious nonsense while the place below continued pressing against him, even shamelessly rubbing once.

“Stay farther away from me!” he ordered angrily, abandoning all honorifics.

“No. Without you, I cannot sleep, and my head will ache.” The man attached himself like an octopus, wrapping arms and legs around him and locking him firmly in place.

“Then let it hurt you to death.”

“Ah, Ah-Yuan is so heartless.”

“You… stop moving!”

“Do not move. It will calm down shortly.”

Chu Yuan: “……”

Seeing him struggle, Lu Ronghuai deliberately diverted his attention.

“Ah-Yuan, Xiao Ba and Bai Qingyu’s marriage has been arranged.”

Chu Yuan was immediately distracted and lifted his head. “When?”

“The eighth day of the eighth month. Father Emperor has also granted General Bai the title of Marquis of Yun’an.”

Chu Yuan knew that Bai Yi had obtained that title by sacrificing both his daughter and military power. Therefore General Bai likely did not welcome such a reward.

Yet when the Son of Heaven bestowed a favor, whether thunder or rain, it is still imperial grace. Even if unwilling, one must receive it with gratitude and kneel in thanks.

Lu Ronghuai said, “Once matters here are settled, we shall return to the capital.”

“Very well.”

The two spoke for a while longer. After roughly a quarter of an hour, they drifted into deep sleep in each other’s arms.

Early the next morning, while the two were having breakfast, the Prefect arrived to invite Lu Ronghuai to investigate the bandits.

Lu Ronghuai refused directly. “This Prince must first go to Niuqun Mountain to mourn my ill-fated elder brother. As for investigating the case, handle it yourself.”

With that, he swaggered away, holding Chu Yuan’s hand.

The two boarded their carriage and arrived at Niuqun Mountain. There they saw Fang Xinhai covered in dust. The Fang siblings stood on either side of him, quietly offering comfort.

They had traveled day and night and arrived several days earlier than Lu Ronghuai’s party. Upon reaching Ping Cheng they immediately led men to dig through Niuqun Mountain. Later they even summoned the townspeople to assist. Yet after excavating more than a thousand bodies, they still had not found Lu Rongjun.

When Lu Ronghuai arrived, Fang Xinhai stood before a heap of corpses, weeping until he gasped for breath. The Fang siblings’ eyes were also red with tears.

Chu Yuan spoke softly, “General Fang seems very close with Prince Qi?”

The grief did not appear false.

Lu Ronghuai snorted with undisguised amusement. “Over the years he has spent quite a fortune on Lu Rongjun. He had been counting on Prince Qi ascending the throne. Now that the man is gone, naturally he weeps as though his heart will break.”

As he spoke, he walked behind Fang Xinhai.

“General Fang, please restrain your grief.”

Fang Xinhai turned abruptly. Seeing it was Lu Ronghuai, his expression changed instantly.

“There is no need for Prince Li’s false sympathy!”

Lu Ronghuai replied calmly, “This Prince came in goodwill to assist. How can you call it false sympathy? After all, he was also this Prince’s elder brother. Upon hearing the tragic news of his death, this Prince felt pain in my heart. For days I could neither eat nor sleep.”

Fang Xinhai’s eyes were swollen red as he stared at Lu Ronghuai’s handsome face, watching him lie without blinking.

Fang Shuyu stepped forward. His expression was hostile, and dark circles beneath his eyes suggested he had not rested for several days.

“Prince Li, this place is filthy and chaotic. Your Highness should leave early.”

Lu Ronghuai replied, “This Prince has witnessed many scenes in life. Hearing that General Fang has yet to find my brother’s corpse, this Prince came to lend a hand.”

Fang Shuyu glanced at Chu Yuan beside him, then looked behind Lu Ronghuai.

Not a single soldier had accompanied him.

Fang Shuyu sneered. “Prince Li calls this helping? Arriving empty-handed?”

“Not at all. This Prince brought Ah-Yuan.”

Fang Shuyu froze. He looked at Lu Ronghuai in disbelief, unable to imagine that anyone could be so lacking in tenderness.

He had been present at the Wanchao Hui and had witnessed Chu Yuan’s brilliance. Such a talented and beautiful person, even though a man, could stir the hearts of others. Yet Prince Li had brought him here to dig up corpses?

Fang Shuyu felt indignant. “The Prince Consort is not suited to digging corpses.”

Chu Yuan was truly unfortunate to have such a cold-hearted husband. If such a rare beauty had belonged to him, he would have hidden him away like a treasure and cherished him carefully.

Lu Ronghuai laughed coldly. His expression grew arrogant.

“Who said Ah-Yuan would dig corpses? This Prince brought him here to reward the people of Ping Cheng.”

“I hear you summoned the townsfolk to dig up corpses and did not even pay them wages. The work is filthy, exhausting, and repulsive. Even Yama of the underworld could not exploit people as you do.”

Fang Shuyu’s expression stiffened.

Beside him Fang Rouling spoke suddenly. “The people of Ping Cheng volunteered to assist. Once the matter is concluded, my father will naturally pay them wages. Your Highness wrongs us.”

Lu Ronghuai glanced at her. “Who are you? When this Prince speaks, why do you interrupt?”

Fang Rouling began, “This young lady is—”

“Move aside. You are blocking this Prince and Ah-Yuan.”

Lu Ronghuai did not bother with further conversation. Holding Chu Yuan’s hand, he walked past them. When they passed the pile of corpses, he covered Chu Yuan’s eyes and lifted him in his arms, carrying him across.

“Your Highness, this subject is not afraid,” Chu Yuan murmured softly against his shoulder.

“Corpses are unpleasant to see. They might give you nightmares tonight.”

Chu Yuan lowered his gaze, his eyelashes trembling slightly.

“This subject has seen corpses before.”

“Oh? When?”

Chu Yuan did not answer.

Seeing that he would not speak, Lu Ronghuai did not pursue the question. Carrying him to the foot of the mountain, he looked toward the townspeople hauling stones. Their clothes were patched everywhere, some even working bare-chested beneath the rising sun.

“Everyone take a rest. Come here and collect your pay,” he called out loudly.

The busy townspeople stopped and looked at him uncertainly.

Standing beside him, Chu Yuan smiled gently. “Please come over. Prince Li is distributing wages.”

His handsome appearance and gentle manner made him far easier to approach than the stern-faced prince beside him. The townspeople set down their carrying poles and shovels and came forward.

“Ah-Yuan, help distribute them.” Lu Ronghuai handed him a money pouch.

The two stood upon the slope and had the townspeople form a line. They distributed silver coins one by one, five taels each, more than three months of farming income.

The people were deeply grateful and knelt to thank them repeatedly.

Lu Ronghuai smiled faintly. “Do not thank this Prince. Thank the Prince Consort. He heard that you had worked for days without wages and used his own money to settle the matter.”

Chu Yuan glanced at him.

It had clearly been Lu Ronghuai’s idea, yet now he placed the credit upon him.

The townspeople bowed even more earnestly. “Many thanks, Prince Consort! Many thanks!”

“Please rise. Rest in the shade for a while,” Chu Yuan said softly.

Before long Xian Feng and the others arrived with several carts of steamed white buns and well water, distributing them among the people.

Fang Xinhai watched coldly from the side.

He had come here solely to find Lu Rongjun. All other people and matters were irrelevant. Allowing these commoners to help was already a favor. He had never intended to pay them a single coin.

Indeed, if the bandit troubles had not occurred here, Prince Qi would never have met disaster.

In his heart he had even begun to resent the people of Ping Cheng themselves.

Meanwhile Lu Ronghuai chatted with a ragged townsman.

After distributing the buns, Chu Yuan glanced at the sky. It was already past the hour of Si. The sun climbed higher. Now that the fourth month had arrived, the weather was steadily warming.

The corpses that had been excavated remained piled nearby beneath the sun.

Corpses decayed quickly. Though Chu Yuan had avoided looking directly, his keen sense of smell had already detected the foul odor. If not handled soon, the bodies would decay rapidly and could even spread dangerous disease.

“Your Highness, how should those bodies be handled?”

Lu Ronghuai replied, “This Prince assumed they would bury them. Yet they have simply piled them there without care. Ah-Yuan, do you have a suggestion?”

“Perhaps… cremation.”

“Cremation?”

According to Lu’s customs, the dead were buried so their souls could return to the earth. Only then was death considered complete. Cremation had never been practiced.

Moreover, certain regions held cruel rituals of burning living people as sacrifices to heaven. For this reason burning corpses was considered extremely ominous.

Lu Ronghuai did not object. Instead he looked at Chu Yuan.

“Why did Ah-Yuan think of cremation?”

“The bodies are already severely decayed. Even burial may not be safe. Cremation is the best choice.”

As he spoke, his head gradually lowered.

His voice became almost inaudible.

“If they are burned… nothing will remain.”

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✧ A Word from the Author ✧

Lu-dog: None of you get to replenish your nutrients. Heh.

Yuanyuan: Where is my knife?

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