So fearsome
Chu Yuan was chatting idly with Fu Qing when Lu Ronghuai strode in with a dark expression, a chill seeming to pour off him.
Fu Qing immediately rose to her feet and tactfully withdrew.
Chu Yuan set down his teacup, rose from the couch, and said gently with concern, “Has Your Highness encountered some trouble?”
Lu Ronghuai shook his head. He reached out, lifted him up, carried him back to the couch, and pressed him down across his lap.
“Let me hold you for a while.”
His voice sounded the same as usual, yet Chu Yuan still sensed something amiss.
“Is Your Highness troubled?”
Leaning against his shoulder, Lu Ronghuai gave a quiet laugh. “Indeed, nothing escapes Ah-Yuan.”
Chu Yuan caught hold of his sleeve. “What happened when Your Highness left the city?”
Lu Ronghuai recounted the events of the day to him. Chu Yuan listened quietly and intently. When he finished speaking, Chu Yuan’s brows moved slightly.
“Prefect Zhang and the wealthy merchants bully the common people and seize farmland with impunity. That suggests their patron in the capital holds considerable power,” Chu Yuan said.
“Mm. Ah-Yuan’s thoughts match mine.”
Chu Yuan said, “Based on the leads we have at present, we cannot yet identify who that person is.”
“It matters not. Sooner or later we will drag him out,” Lu Ronghuai said, his smile turning cold. “For now, we must first lay hands on these small fish and little shrimp.”
Chu Yuan pondered for a brief moment, then said tactfully, “Prefect Zhang colludes with the merchants because they have all pledged themselves to that person behind the curtain. Yet this subject believes Prefect Zhang is cautious and calculating. To guard against misfortune, he must have kept evidence in his hands as protection.”
“Mm, Ah-Yuan speaks reasonably.”
Chu Yuan said, “Your Highness might attempt to sow discord between Prefect Zhang and the merchants.”
Lu Ronghuai said, “That may not be easy, especially with Zhang Ze. His vigilance is extremely high.”
Chu Yuan curved his lips, his eyes lively and alluring. “This subject means to feign discord, so that the merchants believe Prefect Zhang has betrayed them.”
“That method I know well,” Lu Ronghuai said, brows lifting as he stole a kiss from his face. “Let them bite one another like dogs while we watch the spectacle.”
“Mm.” Chu Yuan raised his sleeve and wiped the saliva from his cheek.
He had only just finished wiping when the other side of his face was kissed again.
Chu Yuan: “...”
Lu Ronghuai grinned at him with unabashed satisfaction.
Expressionless, Chu Yuan pushed him away, jumped down from his lap, and turned to walk out.
“Where is Ah-Yuan going?” Lu Ronghuai hurriedly rose and followed.
“The Prefect’s wife sent an invitation, asking this subject to visit her residence tomorrow to admire flowers. This subject is going to see whether there is a suitable gift,” Chu Yuan said, calling Xian Yu over as well.
“Only you were invited?” Lu Ronghuai asked in dissatisfaction.
Chu Yuan nodded.
“That will not do. I am going too. I will not feel at ease if you go alone,” Lu Ronghuai said, taking hold of him.
Chu Yuan said, “This subject will bring Xian Yu, Xian Shuang, and Fu Qing tomorrow. Your Highness may rest assured.”
“The two of them together still do not match my martial skill,” Lu Ronghuai protested.
“If Your Highness appears with that face of yours, the ladies would be too frightened to even look at the flowers, let alone enjoy them,” Chu Yuan said, tilting his head at him with a teasing tone.
“I do not care. In any case, you must take me with you.”
“Your Highness, this subject still hopes to draw some information from the Prefect’s wife tomorrow. It will not do if you go. If danger arises, Xian Yu and the others will protect me.”
Xian Yu said, “Yes, yes. Your Highness need not worry.”
Lu Ronghuai fixed his gaze on Chu Yuan.
Chu Yuan’s brows relaxed as he smiled. “This subject also wishes to share Your Highness’s burdens. Your Highness should grant this request.”
Warmth filled Lu Ronghuai’s heart. He reached out and rubbed Chu Yuan’s hair, indulgent yet helpless. “Very well. You have already resorted to coaxing me. How could I refuse? Xian Shuang and Xian Yu are not to leave the Prince Consort’s side even half a step tomorrow. Do you hear?”
The final sentence carried a strong warning.
Xian Yu’s back instantly straightened. “Yes!”
Xian Shuang had gone out on errands with Xian Feng and had not yet returned.
Lu Ronghuai went to the study to handle affairs, while Xian Yu accompanied Chu Yuan to select gifts.
Once he had left, Xian Yu let out a long breath and patted his chest. “That was terrifying. Toward Prince Consort, he is a spring breeze and gentle rain, yet toward us subordinates he is a raging storm. Fortunately, this subordinate is resilient.”
Chu Yuan suppressed a laugh. “You have followed His Highness for many years. You should already be accustomed to it.”
“Originally this subordinate was quite used to it,” Xian Yu said with a fawning grin. “Ever since His Highness married, his changes grow greater with each passing day. We all half wondered if someone had spirited away his soul.”
“Has His Highness changed greatly compared to before?” Chu Yuan asked softly as he entered the storeroom.
“Greatly, very greatly.” Xian Yu flung both arms wide to illustrate, dramatically sweeping a vast arc through the air. “His Highness seems like a completely different person. This subordinate even discussed it with Xian Shuang. We both feel it is entirely the Prince Consort’s merit.”
Chu Yuan took a scroll of calligraphy and painting from a chest and lifted his gaze at those words.
“Then what was His Highness like before...?”
Xian Yu glanced toward the doorway. Only after confirming that Lu Ronghuai was not present did he speak boldly.
“Previously His Highness was very cold in temperament and rarely spoke. Coupled with the headaches that plagued him for years, his moods were unpredictable. We subordinates both respected and feared him.”
“This subordinate has followed His Highness for many years, yet His Highness rarely laughed. On the rare occasions he did laugh, it meant someone was about to suffer great misfortune.”
Chu Yuan set down the scroll, amusement passing through his eyes.
“So fearsome.”
“Truly fearsome, and especially formidable in combat. When His Highness first entered the army camp, many refused to accept him and challenged him to duels. Apart from the first two matches he lost, afterward no one could defeat him again.”
As Xian Yu spoke, he puffed out his chest proudly, his face brimming with pride.
Chu Yuan said, “Mm. Formidable indeed.”
Xian Yu took the selected gift and followed behind Chu Yuan out of the small storeroom.
“Prince Consort, everyone is actually very grateful to you,” Xian Yu suddenly said after walking a short distance.
Chu Yuan turned back. “Grateful to me?”
“Yes. His Highness lived rather bitterly before. Before you arrived, His Highness had a terrible reputation and disliked remaining in the capital. In all of Ye Jing, aside from the Eighth Prince, he had no other friends.”
“Ever since you married into the residence, His Highness’s head illness has not recurred, and the smiles on his face have gradually grown more frequent... His Highness is truly very fond of you.”
“This subordinate has followed His Highness for many years and has never seen him indulge anyone like this. His Highness has a poor temper, yet before the Prince Consort he restrains every bit of it. Compared to himself, His Highness values you even more.”
He concluded, “This is true love.”
Chu Yuan lifted his head and looked toward the sky, clear and blue like freshly washed silk.
“The weather is truly fine.”
Xian Yu looked at the sky, then at Chu Yuan, and finally understood.
The Prince Consort was in good spirits.
Xian Yu thought to himself that for His Highness’s happiness, he had truly worked very hard.
Later he must make it clear to His Highness and have his monthly stipend increased!
Soon the next day arrived.
Early in the morning, Lu Ronghuai left with Xian Feng. An hour later, Chu Yuan also departed for the Prefect’s residence.
Xian Yu drove the carriage. Xian Shuang sat on the other side, while Fu Qing and Le Shu accompanied Chu Yuan inside the carriage and chatted with him.
Halfway along the road, they encountered Prefect Zhang.
“Prince Consort, is His Highness in the carriage?” Zhang Ze stood beside the carriage with a servant and asked with a smile.
Chu Yuan lifted the carriage curtain. “Unfortunately, His Highness left an hour ago.”
Zhang Ze looked surprised. “Where has His Highness gone? This official still needs to report the news regarding the bandits.”
Chu Yuan smiled. “His Highness received word at dawn that traces of bandits had been discovered in a village twenty li outside the city. He therefore took men to capture them.”
Zhang Ze appeared extremely worried. “Those bandits are exceedingly ferocious. His Highness’s journey is very dangerous. That will not do. This official will return at once to mobilize troops and go to support His Highness.”
“That would be most appreciated, my lord,” Chu Yuan said.
Zhang Ze bade him farewell and immediately turned to board his own carriage.
Their group continued toward the Prefect’s residence.
Fu Qing sat in the corner and had not been seen by Zhang Ze. After the carriage had traveled some distance, she suddenly said, “The servant beside the Prefect. I have seen him in the music house.”
Chu Yuan asked, “Listening to music?”
Fu Qing said, “I am not certain. My qin skills are poor, so most of the time I did odd tasks there. I encountered him several times in the corridors.”
“At the music house, he seemed to have a particular acquaintance he was seeing. Once I heard the women chatting. They said this man is quite generous and gives plenty of money.”
“For a mere servant to spend so lavishly is clearly unreasonable,” Chu Yuan said, turning to look outside. “Xian Yu, investigate this matter.”
Xian Yu answered from outside the curtain, “Understood.”
Fu Qing said, “I could also return to the music house and ask around.”
“No need. You have no further tie to the music house now. They may not speak truthfully to you.”
“Very well. If there is any need of me, simply say the word.” Fu Qing had a straightforward nature and spoke and acted without affectation. Chu Yuan admired her temperament.
“Naturally.”
Upon arriving at the Prefect’s residence, Le Shu helped Chu Yuan down from the carriage.
“Prince Consort, please.” The steward of the Prefect’s residence greeted him at the entrance.
Xian Yu looked at him critically. “You are the steward here?”
“Yes.”
The steward was a young man. His eyebrows were thick and dark, his features ordinary, though his build was quite sturdy.
Xian Yu asked, “What is your monthly wage?”
“One tael of silver each month.”
“So little?” Xian Yu said with exaggerated surprise, then grinned. “My monthly stipend is ten taels. Steward work is quite exhausting. You should hurry and have your master raise your pay.”
Chu Yuan looked toward Xian Yu. “Let us go.”
Xian Yu hurried forward to stand behind Chu Yuan. “Steward, if you would be so kind as to lead the way.”
The steward of the Zhang residence lowered his head and led them ahead.
Their group followed behind, maintaining a moderate distance.
Chu Yuan turned his head. “Why did you ask him about his wages?”
Xian Yu stepped closer to his side and lowered his voice. “Prince Consort, look carefully at his shoes. Those are not shoes an ordinary man could afford. A single pair costs five hundred wen. If his monthly pay is one tael, how could he afford such fine shoes?”
Fu Qing added, “Not only that. The cloth of his clothing is also not poor. Pawned at a shop, it would fetch several hundred wen.”
Xian Yu muttered, “Even I dare not buy overly expensive clothing, yet he wears them without a thought.”
Chu Yuan said, “Your monthly silver is not small. You simply cannot bear to spend it.”
Xian Yu said confidently, “This subordinate still needs to save money to take a wife. Taking a wife costs money, raising children costs money, food and clothing all cost money. Without money, one cannot even find a wife.”
The usually silent Xian Shuang spoke at this moment. “You will not find a wife.”
Xian Yu erupted at once. “Hold your tongue. ptui, ptui, ptui.”
Le Shu asked curiously, “Why can Steward Xian Yu not find a wife? Steward is not bad-looking.”
Xian Yu proudly puffed out his chest. “Precisely.”
Xian Shuang said, “Cries too much.”
Xian Yu: “......”
Xian Shuang continued, “You cry more than women. You even cry when reading storybooks.”
Xian Shuang added mercilessly, “You kick away the quilt when sleeping, you grow lazy and do not bathe, you scatter crumbs when eating...”
“That is enough!” Xian Yu kicked toward him.
Xian Shuang calmly dodged and continued, “If someone married you and quarreled with you, they could not even outcry you.”
The others imagined the scene.
Everyone: “.........”
“You are going to die today!”
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Xian Yu: Today I will kill this wretched creature!
Half an hour later.
Xian Yu: Wuwuwu, I can’t beat him.
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