Lu Wangli, Are You Rising or Not?
Within Ye Jing these past days, the tea houses and wine shops doing exceptional business of late.
The storytellers spoke with flying spittle, embellishing the affairs of the Liu family and the Eastern Palace over and over until their mouths went dry, yet the listeners remained as eager as ever and discussed the matter with great fervor.
“When the Liu family house was confiscated, chest after chest of silver of silver were carried out. It took two whole days before it was all moved. Truly greedy. They scraped the common people’s money clean away.”
“For such a great corrupt official, let his head fall quickly. Ptui.”
“Has there been a verdict on the Eastern Palace yet?”
“I heard it will be announced at morning court within these two days. Let us wait and see.”
“Ai, to think I used to speak well of the Crown Prince. Who would have thought he was not only lustful and greedy for wealth, but vicious as well, using vile schemes to harm his own brothers.”
“The Liu family and the Eastern Palace are snakes and rats in one nest. Neither is any good.”
“One without virtue cannot bear great responsibility. It would be better to depose him sooner.”
“Thank heavens Prince Li saw through his schemes and was not struck by it.”
“Speaking of Prince Li, if the Crown Prince truly loses power, then would not the position of heir apparent fall to Prince Li?”
The moment those words were spoken, the whole tea house fell silent.
“In truth... Prince Li is not so bad either.”
“Yet Prince Li married a male consort. That disqualifies him from legitimate succession.”
“That is true. Then could it be Prince Rui as heir apparent?”
“Uh... Prince Rui’s health... I fear it will not do...”
At this very moment, Prince Li and Prince Rui, who were the subject of everyone’s talk, stood side by side within Qianzheng Hall, dressed in princely court robes, their expressions grave and unreadable.
“Who would have thought Fourth Brother would come to morning court?” Lu Ronghuai faced the dragon throne ahead. Having slept well the previous night with Chu Yuan in his arms, he was in excellent spirits today. He was unlike the wild, cold demeanor of the past few days, and even had leisure enough to speak with Lu Rongze.
Lu Rongze clasped both hands within his sleeves. His face was as unnaturally pale as ever, his lips so faint in color they held not a trace of blood, and his frame so slight that the protrusion of his shoulder blades beneath his robes was plainly visible.
“Though we are brothers, one cannot simply stand by and do nothing.” Lu Rongze let out a low sigh. No sooner had he spoken than he began coughing again.
Coldness spread at Lu Ronghuai’s lips. “Even an outburst of mercy ought to depend on the person.”
Lu Rongze smiled. “If Third Elder Brother were the one standing trial today, I would likewise plead for Third Brother before the hall.”
Lu Ronghuai said nothing.
In his previous life, when he had been unjustly condemned, Lu Rongze had indeed spoken on his behalf. It was only that Lu Rongze was merely a sickly prince, his position light and his words carrying no weight, so it had availed him nothing.
Listening to that hoarse coughing, each sound as if it would tear the lungs from his chest, Lu Ronghuai said, “There is no need. Your words in Father Emperor’s ears do not amount to so much as a passing wind.”
Lu Rongze stared for a moment, then gave a bitter smile. “Even so, one must still try. It is always better than giving up outright.”
“As you please.”
Emperor Hongjia soon arrived before the hall. His complexion was no better than Lu Rongze’s, pale with a hint of dark bluish black within it. Breathing hard, he sat upon the dragon throne and had Eunuch Yuan Sheng proclaim the imperial decree.
The assembled officials knelt to receive the decree.
Eunuch Yuan Sheng first read the first decree, which concerned the punishment of the Liu family.
The Liu family was stripped of its title. Duke Liu and eighteen members of the Liu direct line were sentenced to be beheaded five days later. The rest were exiled to the Northern Frontier, reduced to slave status, and forbidden to return to the capital for life.
When the decree had been read, the entire court fell silent.
After waiting a moment, Eunuch Yuan Sheng took out the second decree, which concerned the Crown Prince.
Emperor Hongjia’s gaze swept over the face of every person below with open scrutiny. Lu Ronghuai raised his eyelids for a careless glance, then lowered them again with little interest.
He understood Emperor Hongjia exceedingly well. The man’s suspicion ran deep. Once a seed of doubt had been planted in his heart, it would take root and sprout, growing in the dark corners into a thorn in his eye, “something that must be removed entirely, from root to tip.
Whether it was the Liu family or the Crown Prince, every person and matter that threatened his imperial seat had to be erased completely, leaving behind no calamity.
Cold frost gathered in Lu Ronghuai’s eyes, and at that very moment Yuan Sheng finished reading the contents of the decree.
It was much as Lu Ronghuai had expected.
The Crown Prince was deposed and, together with the Crown Princess, was to guard the imperial mausoleum for ten years. The Empress was confined within Fengqi Palace, and Noble Consort Xu would temporarily hold the phoenix seal.
Secondary Consort Yuan was sent back to her natal home. Secondary Consort Xu was reduced to commoner status. Her father, Xu Mengshan, was likewise found to have taken part in the Liu family’s corruption case and to have been deeply entangled with the Eastern Palace, secretly securing many conveniences for it. He was stripped of office and expelled from Ye Jing.
The remaining factional associates also received punishments in accordance with their crimes.
“Do any of my ministers have objections?” Emperor Hongjia’s tone carried the weight of absolute authority.
Not one official in the full court dared make a sound.
These two decrees implicated more than ten court officials. At a time like this, who would dare step forward? Had they worn their black gauze hats too long and grown tired of them?
“If there are no objections, court is dismissed.” Emperor Hongjia rose to his feet.
“Father Emperor.” Lu Rongze stepped forward. His expression was humble and gentle, and with lowered head he said earnestly, “The imperial mausoleum is bitterly cold. A punishment of ten years, Second Imperial Brother may not be able to endure it. This son begs that Father Emperor—”
“Fourth,” Emperor Hongjia interrupted, his tone heavy. “That Zhen allows him to live is already imperial grace.”
Knowing Emperor Hongjia was displeased, Eunuch Yuan Sheng hurriedly advised, “Your Highness Prince Rui, His Majesty has already shown the utmost leniency in punishing the Crown Prince. Please do not plead again.”
Lu Rongze opened and closed his lips several times, as though about to speak, but in the end it all dissolved into a long, quiet sigh.
After Duke Liu received the decree in prison, first gave three great laughs. When calm returned, he accepted the decree without saying a single word and without shedding a single tear. It was as though he had long guessed his ending and made his peace with the worst.
The Crown Prince’s reaction, however, was far more violent. He shouted and raged that he wanted to see Emperor Hongjia, only to have a filthy rag stuffed into his mouth by the jailers before being beaten harshly besides.
The matters of court soon reached the ears of the common people, adding yet more talk for after meals and over tea.
The Eastern Palace and the Liu family had received retribution for their evil deeds. The Crown Prince in particular had seen his carefully cultivated good reputation collapse in a single day. The common people’s hatred for him knew no end. Every calligraphy piece, painting, and essay of his that had circulated on the market was thrown into the foul drainage ditch, and those storybooks as well were cast into kitchen stoves and burned into ash.
Fortunately, there had never been many works about him. What everyone still liked best were the storybooks about Prince Li and Prince Li’s Consort. Recently, the storybooks about the young Vice Minister and the noble young master had also become deeply popular among the people.
Three more days passed, and Chu Yuan’s shop opened its doors.
At first light, Chu Yuan deliberately chose a somewhat more vivid robe of crimson red. Le Shu arranged his hair and fixed it with a silver hairpin, leaving one strand of crimson ribbon to fall behind his head, set among his black hair. When he moved, it drifted with elegant ease, exceedingly beautiful to behold.
Once he had finished making ready, he went to rouse the prince who still clung to the bed.
“Your Highness, it is time to rise. The sky is already bright.”
Without even opening his eyes, Lu Ronghuai’s large hand accurately wrapped around Chu Yuan’s waist. He gave the soft flesh there a pinch, then opened his eyes with a smile.
“You have grown a little fuller.”
Chu Yuan: “...”
“You are even better to hold now. Come, let your husband hold you and sleep a little longer.”
Chu Yuan caught him by the ear, his voice warm and gentle. “Lu Wangli, are you rising or not?”
“... I am.”
After the two of them had eaten breakfast, they left the residence and took a carriage to the shop.
Outside the shop, gongs and drums were sounding. Festive red silk was hung all around. Xian Yu had long since been waiting at the entrance. Strings of firecrackers hung down from the beams and eaves, and on the ground there were also rows upon rows of long red crackers arranged so neatly that the end could not be seen.
The shop plaque was entirely covered by a great red cloth. Already, quite a few common people had stopped nearby, craning their necks to look.
When the Prince Li Residence carriage arrived, the people all moved aside and spoke in low voices.
Lu Ronghuai stepped down first. Standing below, he called into the carriage, “Ah-Yuan, come down.”
A pair of fair, slender hands lifted the curtain. Then that face, beautiful as a painting, appeared before everyone’s eyes. Chu Yuan slowly stepped to the edge of the carriage board, and Lu Ronghuai reached out, steadily lifting him down into his arms.
When he turned, Prince Li’s Consort’s robes floated in the air, coldly radiant and lofty, like a lotus swaying with graceful life within water-mist, bearing dew and gathering pearls, beautiful beyond mortal measure.
At that moment, the people all felt that the descriptions of Prince Li’s Consort in the storybooks did not reach even one part in ten of the man himself.
“Master, the hour has come.” Xian Yu approached with a face full of smiles.
Chu Yuan said, “Very well, then let us begin.”
Lu Ronghuai wrapped an arm around Chu Yuan’s waist and accompanied him toward the doorway, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding people as though by accident.
At the same time, he murmured into Chu Yuan’s ear, “A trifling matter like opening a shop might well have been left to Xian Yu and the others. It is dangerous for you to come out. There are many ill-intentioned people everywhere. To my eye, not one of them looks decent.”
Chu Yuan: “... Those are all common people of the capital. Your Highness must not indulge in wild fancies.”
Lu Ronghuai said, “I am not indulging in wild fancies. I am protecting you and our daughter, guarding against every danger that might arise.”
“There is no danger. The people have merely come to watch the excitement,” Chu Yuan stressed again and again.
“Very well then. Yet you must not leave my side, lest you be jostled or struck.”
On this point, Chu Yuan did not argue. He obediently nodded. “Very well.”
The two of them came before the entrance of Immortal Envy Pavilion. Chu Yuan turned around and looked toward the common people gathered not far away to watch. His features were calm and gentle, and the smile in his eyes was plain to see. When he spoke, his voice was clear and mild.
“Today marks the opening of Bu Xian Xian Pavilion. All calligraphy and paintings are wu zhe. Everyone may come inside and have a look.”
After speaking, he turned to Lu Ronghuai. “Your Highness, you should say a few words as well.”
Lu Ronghuai paused, then raised his head to look at the people opposite him.
“You may come in and look,” his dark eyes swept across the whole crowd, and his words carried thick warning, “but you may not touch those calligraphy and paintings.”
Chu Yuan: “?”
The people in the crowd were all the more bewildered.
Lu Ronghuai said, “This Prince has taken all of these paintings. None of you need to purchase anything.”
His precious one had worked so hard to paint each piece. How could they be cheaply let go to these people who did not know their worth? He would buy every last one and take them back. The Prince’s residence was vast, he might simply set aside a whole room specially for Ah-Yuan’s calligraphy and paintings.
The crowd: “...”
Xian Yu: “...”
Chu Yuan’s face puffed up with indignation. “Your Highness!”
He had opened this shop to do business. Had this man come to smash the occasion?
“Ha ha.” A light laugh came from the crowd. Nie Siran appeared, waving his fan. “Your Highness speaks with great grandeur. Ah-Yuan’s paintings are now worth a thousand pieces of gold apiece. With so many in the shop, does Your Highness truly intend to buy them all?”
Lu Ronghuai gave a snort. “And if I do?”
Nie Siran smiled pleasantly. “Nothing at all. Your Highness has money, and you may buy as many as you please. It is only, can Your Highness truly appreciate them?”
“Ah-Yuan’s calligraphy and paintings, this Prince naturally knows how to appreciate.”
Nie Siran let out another laugh.
Chu Yuan spoke faintly, in a voice that only the two of them could hear. “Does Your Highness wish to sleep in the study tonight?”
Lu Ronghuai immediately drew himself up in grave propriety and said, “I do not.”
Lu Ronghuai said, “Everyone is welcome to enter and admire them. If you see something to your liking, you may buy it and take it home to appreciate.”
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Lu dog: I was wrong. Next time I will still dare.
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