“Does This Prince Look Flower-Hearted?”
The two remained on Niuqun Mountain for one hour, leaving Xian Feng behind to deal with the matter of the corpses.
Afterward they departed and returned to Ping Cheng.
They did not go straight back to the residence. Instead they wandered through the city for a while. Lu Ronghuai halted the carriage outside a tavern, tossed the stable boy a few coins, and had him lead the horses away to eat fodder. He then took Chu Yuan’s hand and strolled through the bustling street.
Chu Yuan rarely had the chance to stroll through markets. He liked the lively atmosphere very much, and the brightness in his brows and eyes was difficult to conceal.
Lu Ronghuai wore black robes with dark patterns, his hair tied neatly behind his head. Chu Yuan wore flowing green robes, his black hair bound behind his head with a green ribbon, the ends of his hair lifting lightly as he walked.
Lu Ronghuai carried a formidable presence. His long brows slanted toward his temples. Although his appearance was striking, ordinary people did not dare approach him.
Chu Yuan, however, possessed a different charm. His features held both feminine softness and masculine elegance, drawing the eye wherever he went.
They had not walked far when suddenly a red camellia flower struck Chu Yuan and quickly fell to the ground.
“Hm?”
Chu Yuan glanced at the camellia and then looked upward.
Several young women on the upper floor immediately cried out in embarrassment. They hurriedly raised their handkerchiefs to cover their faces, though they still peeked at him in secret.
One bold young woman called out from behind her handkerchief, “Young master, you are very handsome.”
The young ladies around her burst into laughter, clearly agreeing.
Chu Yuan froze for a moment. A faint blush slowly spread across his face.
Seeing that he appeared gentle in temperament, easily embarrassed, and pleasing to the eye, the women continued throwing flowers toward him. Soon people along the street followed suit, tossing fruits, blossoms, and even embroidered handkerchiefs.
Lu Ronghuai quickly shielded him and led him away from the commotion.
Only after they had crossed another street did they stop.
Lu Ronghuai removed a petal caught in Chu Yuan’s hair, vinegar almost spilling from his words.
“Young Master Chu possesses quite remarkable charm. Those young ladies were so captivated they could scarcely move.”
Chu Yuan looked at him and smiled, his breath slightly uneven.
“Your Highness also received a flower.”
“I did not.”
Chu Yuan revealed the hand hidden behind his back. In his palm lay a perfectly intact peach blossom.
“A gift for Your Highness.”
Lu Ronghuai stared at the blossom for a long moment. The pale pink peach flower looked small and delicate resting against Chu Yuan’s pale palm.
He silently took the flower and carefully tucked it inside his robe.
“Very well. This Prince accepts it.”
Chu Yuan glanced around.
“Your Highness, where are we going?”
“To find some amusement.”
He pulled Chu Yuan along and entered a music house.
The moment they stepped inside, Lu Ronghuai casually turned his head. From the corner of his eye he glanced toward the teahouse behind them, a faint smile appearing at the edge of his lips.
On the second floor of the teahouse, Zhang Ze lowered the bamboo curtain.
“Sir, this matter should not be delayed. The longer you deliberate, the worse it becomes.”
Zhang Ze looked toward Dong Tianwen, his lips pressed into a straight line that betrayed his displeasure.
“Proprietor Dong, Prince Qi has only just met with disaster. If Prince Li were to suffer the same… neither of us would escape the consequences.”
“What is there to fear? When the time comes we will simply blame everything on the bandits. Prefect Zhang hesitates so much that one might suspect you intend to pledge yourself to another master.” Cheng Dawei narrowed his eyes, his tone unfriendly.
Zhang Ze snapped, “Cheng Dawei, do not slander me.”
“I would rather not suspect you. Yet you have hesitated for days, giving us reason to wonder.”
“This official has been considering countermeasures. Do you think Prince Li is easy to deal with? That man is a hundred times more ruthless than Prince Qi, a true calamity star!”
Cheng Dawei lifted his hand and pointed upward.
“However formidable he may be, can he surpass that person? Prefect Zhang’s vision is too short. That is why a mere Prince Li has frightened you so badly.”
“Indeed. In my opinion he is merely a foolish prince bewitched by beauty. He will accomplish nothing.”
“Prince Qi at least attempted to investigate the case. This one spends his days amusing himself and clearly has no intention of interfering. I suggest sending him some silver and testing his attitude.”
“Yes. If he accepts it, matters afterward will be easy. If he refuses, we can take action then.” Dong Tianwen sneered.
Zhang Ze pondered for a moment before finally agreeing.
Meanwhile Lu Ronghuai selected a private room and entered with Chu Yuan. Chu Yuan immediately sensed the subtle shift in Lu Ronghuai’s mood.
“Your Highness, what are you smiling about?”
“Certain people are about to lose their patience.” Lu Ronghuai sat down leisurely with one leg bent.
Chu Yuan sat beside him and immediately understood. He smiled faintly.
“Your Highness’s reputation precedes you. Their fear is only natural.”
The owner of the music house was an elderly madam. She led several graceful musicians into the room.
“These are the finest musicians of Mingyin Pavilion. Do either of the young masters have a preference?”
Lu Ronghuai rested his chin on his hand and looked toward the shy young women before him. His tone was languid.
“We do not want the finest. Bring the one with the poorest skill.”
The madam’s smile faltered.
“Young master… what do you mean by that?”
“This young master has particular tastes. I like that sort of thing. Go and fetch her.”
The madam could only lead the musicians away. None of them had ever encountered a patron with this kind of request, and they could not help glancing back at him.
That glance stirred their hearts.
Two extraordinarily handsome young masters!
Before they could feel pleased, they saw the handsome man in black lift the hand of the man in green robes and gently kiss his fingertips.
The musicians: “…”
So they were a pair.
Their excitement quickly turned into complicated disappointment.
Not long afterward the madam knocked and entered with another woman.
“Young masters, this is the least skilled performer in our establishment and also the oldest,” she said with a smile. She then turned stern. “Why are you still standing there? Kneel and greet the honored guests.”
The woman lowered her head and knelt stiffly before Lu Ronghuai.
“Have you lost your tongue? Speak.” The madam reached out to twist the flesh on her back.
“That is enough. You may leave.” Chu Yuan spoke calmly, stopping her.
The madam smiled apologetically and shut the door behind her.
After years of business she had developed a keen eye. The moment a guest entered she could tell whether they were poor or wealthy.
These two men possessed a nobility she had rarely seen.
“She has gone. You may rise.” Chu Yuan accepted the tea Lu Ronghuai had poured for him and spoke gently to the woman.
“Thank you, young masters.” The woman rose.
“Raise your head,” Lu Ronghuai ordered.
She obeyed. Her eyes remained lowered and her expression indifferent.
Chu Yuan noticed that she was very thin. Her face was delicate, faint lines marked the corners of her eyes, and a scar about an inch long ran along the side of her neck.
“What is your name?”
“Fu Qing.” Her voice held no emotion.
Lu Ronghuai’s lips curved faintly.
“This Prince asks for your true name.”
Fu Qing’s eyelids trembled. She looked up at him carefully.
“You are Prince Li?”
“Mm.”
She looked toward Chu Yuan.
“You are the Prince Consort?”
Chu Yuan nodded.
After asking, she fell silent again.
“Since this Prince has found you, your identity has already been uncovered. Answer honestly and this Prince may spare your life.”
Her lips moved slightly.
She could not die yet. Her purpose had not been fulfilled.
“Yu Qing.”
Chu Yuan’s brows moved slightly. The name sounded familiar as though he had heard it somewhere before.
Lu Ronghuai soon clarified.
“Princess Yu Qing of Yu, firstborn daughter.”
Chu Yuan understood at once.
When he had once cultivated in seclusion at a temple in Chu Kingdom, the monks returning from alms had spoken of this princess.
The first princess in Yu’s history to command troops in battle. She had entered the battlefield at nineteen and perished at twenty-five when her ship was destroyed crossing the river. A life of tremendous heights and devastating falls, remembered with a long sigh.
Lu Ronghuai, satisfied by her cooperation, pressed on.
“You have been hiding in Lu for three years. Do you intend to continue hiding?”
Yu Qing was not a fool.
“What does Your Highness want?”
“This Prince will help you take revenge.”
“You would be that generous?” She had never dealt with him directly, but she had heard his reputation, ruthless and brutal.
“Naturally. This Prince accumulates virtue and performs good deeds.”
The room grew quiet. Incense smoke curled slowly through the air.
After the time it took to drink a cup of tea, Yu Qing finally agreed.
It was a decision she had reached after considerable thought.
If Prince Li had not come today, she would soon have left Ping Cheng. The undercurrents of unrest here were growing, to stay would be to risk exposing herself.
Lu Ronghuai paid a sum to redeem her contract and brought Yu Qing back to the residence.
Le Shu was completely taken aback.
While helping Chu Yuan change clothes he could not hide his worry.
“Young Master, why has the prince brought a woman back?”
Chu Yuan was concentrating on untying his belt and did not notice the anxiety behind Le Shu’s words.
Seeing that Chu Yuan appeared relaxed and unaware of the seriousness of the matter, Le Shu grew anxious.
He burst out, “Young Master, could the prince be planning to take her as a concubine?!”
Chu Yuan let out a surprised laugh.
“What thoughts fill that small head of yours all day? The prince will not take her as a concubine.”
Le Shu puffed out his cheeks, still unconvinced.
“Young Master should remain cautious. What if the prince deceives you?”
Chu Yuan shook his head, handed him the belt, and stepped behind the dressing screen.
“He would not.”
“Young Master has begun defending the prince already.” Le Shu stood on the other side, sighing with quiet melancholy.
Chu Yuan paused while dressing before continuing with his usual composure and stepped out.
“Have I?”
“Yes!” Le Shu bowed his head, fingers hooking together. “Young Master and His Highness are growing closer every day. This servant is happy to see it, yet also afraid.”
“Afraid of what?”
“Afraid the prince may disappoint Young Master one day.”
“Oh. His Highness is very devoted.”
“The prince looks flower-hearted.”
“Le Shu…”
“Truly. The Prince of Li is far too skilled at coaxing people. Young Master cannot defeat him.”
Chu Yuan stood at the side of the dressing screen, closed his eyes, and pressed a hand to his forehead.
“Turn around.”
Le Shu turned and saw Lu Ronghuai standing there with folded arms and a faint smile.
Only then did he realize the voice who had been asking him questions just now was Lu Ronghuai.
He was an utter fool. How had he not noticed the difference in voice?!
“Y-Your Highness!”
Le Shu fell to his knees immediately.
Lu Ronghuai walked toward him slowly and gave a soft snort. Le Shu trembled.
“This Prince looks flower-hearted?”
“Your Highness stands among men like a dragon among mortals. Your Highness is elegant as jade.”
Silence remained above him.
Le Shu hurriedly added, “Your Highness and the Prince Consort will share love for a lifetime.”
“That is better. Go inform Xian Yu to prepare a guest room for Miss Fu Qing.”
Le Shu acknowledged and fled at once.
“Your Highness should not frighten him.” Chu Yuan approached, laughter bright in his eyes.
“He slandered this Prince. Your little servant is troublesome indeed.”
Lu Ronghuai took his hand.
“Come. This Prince will take you to trouble someone.”
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
《If You Are the One》
Host: Everyone, please light up for Bachelor No. 1, Lu XX!
The entire stage goes dark.
Lu Dog: …
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