The Domineering Prince’s Male Consort Who Fled with Child?
Chu Yuan walked to the length of red silk hanging down. Grasping one end of it, he tugged, pulling away the red cloth that covered the plaque above.
The three characters Bu Xian Xian Pavilion came into everyone’s view.
“Fine calligraphy.” Nie Siran raised his head and praised it with open generosity. “Iron strokes and silver hooks, untroubled spirit and bearing, force and form in every direction. Your Highness wrote these characters, did you not?”
Lu Ronghuai said, “You have some discernment after all.”
Xian Yu lit the firecrackers. In an instant, smoke burst across the air in every direction, and Lu Ronghuai shielded Chu Yuan as they walked into the shop.
They went up to the second floor and sat by the window drinking tea, leaving the first floor to the common people who came in to look around, while the shopkeeper and painting attendants busied themselves receiving everyone.
Quite a few scholars and men of letters entered with the thought of merely taking a look, yet the moment they set eyes on the calligraphy and paintings upon the walls, they were seized by them. Even as they marveled, they hurried to fish silver from their purses, fearing that if they were one step too late, someone else would snatch the pieces away.
“Business is doing good. The paintings are selling very well.” After strolling around below for a round, Nie Siran bought many paintings before coming upstairs.
Hearing this, the great stone in Chu Yuan’s heart finally fell. The corners of his eyes curved, and with the sunlight from outside falling across his face, he gained a few more degrees of brightness.
“Elder Brother, sit and have some tea.”
Nie Siran sat down with easy composure and accepted the teacup Chu Yuan handed him. “Will you return home for the evening meal?”
Lu Ronghuai struck with cold mercilessness. “Have some shame. That is merely the natal home.”
Chu Yuan agreed readily. “Of course.”
At once, Lu Ronghuai lifted a smile full of tender feeling. “Very well, I shall accompany Ah-Yuan back.”
“Master, Vice Minister Su has arrived.” Xian Yu ran upstairs. “Eighth Prince, Miss Bai, Young Master Han, and Miss Min have all come as well.”
“?”
Xian Yu said, “They have all come to lend Master support. They have bought quite a number of paintings.”
The moment he heard this, Chu Yuan rose to go downstairs.
Lu Ronghuai rose with him and caught hold of his hand, as if afraid he might run off. “Slowly. There is no need to hurry.”
When Chu Yuan came downstairs, Lu Rongshen was speaking to a painting attendant. “This one, this one, and this one as well, wrap them all up and send them to the Yun’an Marquis Residence.”
The others were also holding several paintings in the crooks of their arms.
Chu Yuan walked over. “I am very happy that everyone could come today. Xiao Zhou, wrap up these paintings and send them to their residences. Let them count as my gift of thanks to everyone. There is no need to take payment.”
The painting attendant Xiao Zhou immediately answered, “Understood, Your Highness Prince Consort, rest easy.”
Han Ruiqi said, “My father is very fond of Your Highness Prince Consort’s calligraphy and paintings and instructed me to buy several more. It will not do for Your Highness Prince Consort to give them away for nothing. If my father learns of it, he will beat me to death.”
A small dimple appeared at Chu Yuan’s cheek. He blinked playfully. “Then do not tell Minister Han. Keep it secret.”
Min Xiaomiao clutched the paintings in her arms and refused to release them. “No, no, no. I want to buy these myself. This young lady has money.”
“That is right. We all came to support you, and these paintings are not expensive either. Painting takes time and effort. How could there be any reason to give them away for nothing? We shall buy them ourselves,” Han Ruiqi also insisted.
Chu Yuan revealed a troubled expression.
Lu Ronghuai squeezed his hand and said openly, “These little fat sheep are all plump enough. Do not go soft on them. Slaughter them well.”
The little fat sheep: “...”
After the morning ended, Chu Yuan invited them all to dine at Fuxian Tower.
Inside the private room, Nie Siran looked toward Su Ruhe, who was bent over his meal. “Vice Minister Su is likely about to rise in rank, is he not?”
Su Ruhe’s hand, which was shoveling rice into his mouth, paused.
Han Ruiqi was quicker than he was. “Vice Minister Su is certainly going to be promoted. I heard from my father that the positions of Minister of Revenue and Minister of Works are both vacant now. Vice Minister Su is certain to take one of them.”
Lu Rongshen was eating with great enthusiasm until his mouth shone with oil. He turned to ask Lu Ronghuai, “Third Brother, Chen Youwei was demoted to Han Cheng, was he not?”
“Mm.” Lu Ronghuai filled Chu Yuan’s bowl with food.
Lu Rongshen gave a gleeful chuckle. “Qingyu said that place is exceedingly remote and harsh. This time he ought to be pleased, should he not?”
Bai Qingyu took out a handkerchief and called softly, “Your Highness, lift your head. Let me wipe your mouth.”
Lu Rongshen immediately lifted his head and obediently let Bai Qingyu wipe the soup from the corners of his mouth clean.
Min Xiaomiao sat opposite them, staring at the scene before her again and again.
She always felt something about it was somewhat amiss.
Yet as to what, exactly, she could not say.
“Xiaomiao, what are you staring at?” Han Ruiqi waved a hand before her eyes.
Interrupted by him, Min Xiaomiao lost her train of thought entirely. Rolling her eyes, she said, “What concern is it of yours? Eat your meal.”
Seeing how familiar and natural their exchange was, Chu Yuan asked, “Young Master Han and Miss Min know one another?”
Min Xiaomiao nodded and cast Han Ruiqi a look full of disdain. “This fellow lives right next door to my family. From childhood until now, he has not spent little effort bothering me.”
Nie Siran suddenly understood. “Oh, so you are of green plums and bamboo horses.”
“Green plums and bamboo horses, is it? Then who, exactly, is that pers—” Min Xiaomiao bristled. “Young Master Nie does not know, this fellow is absolutely wicked. At every turn, contriving tricks to bully me.”
Han Ruiqi raised a hand and smacked her lightly. “Hey, hey, that is enough. Their Highnesses are all here. What kind of hero exposes another’s shortcomings before everyone? Am I not to keep even a little face?”
The two of them bickered back and forth, amusing everyone into laughter.
After a while, Nie Siran stood up and pulled Su Ruhe with him. “I have suddenly taken a fancy to green-plum brew. Vice Minister Su, come with me and buy a little green-plum wine.”
The two left one after the other.
Min Xiaomiao ceased her quarrel with Han Ruiqi and seemed to have discovered something amusing. “Vice Minister Su and Young Master Nie seem quite close.”
A meaningful smile rose at Lu Ronghuai’s lips. “Miss Min truly has a discerning eye.”
Min Xiaomiao scratched her head. Why did Prince Li’s smile look so strangely chilling?
Nie Siran and the others returned quickly. Su Ruhe held a small jar of green-plum brew in his arms, while Nie Siran’s hands were empty.
Strangely enough, Su Ruhe had his head lowered so far that he seemed to wish he could block his entire face with the wine jar.
Lu Rongshen asked, “Vice Minister Su, what is the matter with you?”
Su Ruhe shook his head and hugged the jar tightly, saying nothing.
Nie Siran sat down. He looked around the room, then suddenly smiled.
“Something rather interesting happened downstairs just now.”
“What was it?”
“Many people were placing wagers and betting on whom His Majesty will establish as heir apparent.” Nie Siran rested his chin on one hand and looked at Lu Ronghuai with smiling eyes. “I joined the excitement and had a look. To my surprise, more than half of them placed their wagers on Your Highness.”
With innocent simplicity, Lu Rongshen replied, “It is only natural they would choose my Third Brother. Eldest Brother is ruined, uh, Second Brother is ruined as well, so naturally Third Brother may become heir apparent.”
Lu Rongchen had not yet caught on, yet everyone else present understood Nie Siran’s meaning at once. Lu Ronghuai had taken a male wife and had no legitimate son. Yet even while standing at such a disadvantage, there were still so many people supporting him.
“Your Highness’s reputation among the people is very high now.” Han Ruiqi laughed merrily.
Even now he still remembered the bitter face his father had worn when he first received the imperial order to arrange Prince Li’s wedding. At home, he had complained more than once that he had taken up a scalding-hot task. Yet in only half a year, public opinion had changed in the blink of an eye.
“However, Prince Consort is a man. Your Highness is fated to be unable to inherit the great succession.”
Min Xiaomiao was blunt by nature. Whatever came to mind, she said aloud, speaking without first passing it through her head. The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them and at once wished to slap herself.
Yet when she lifted her head, she saw Chu Yuan smiling at her, not the slightest anger or displeasure in his eyes.
Nie Siran opened his folding fan. Deliberately fanning himself twice, he covered his lips and smiled. “Indeed. Prince Consort is a man, so why then do those common people still support Prince Li?”
“That is right. Why?” Lu Rongshen asked curiously.
Nie Siran said, “For that, one person deserves thanks.”
“Who?” Min Xiaomiao asked.
“I do not know either.” Nie Siran’s gaze slid across Su Ruhe. “Yet this person is very formidable. You all know that storybooks about Prince Li and Prince Consort are being sold throughout the streets now, do you not?”
“We know.”
Min Xiaomiao pressed her lips together to hide her smile. Not only did she know, but she had also bought many of them. They were written wonderfully, and she loved reading them.
“The storybooks written by this person not only helped turn around Your Highness’s dreadful image in the past, but they have also now made the common people believe that Your Highness possesses the qualifications to become heir apparent.”
At this moment, everyone was looking at Nie Siran. None of them noticed that, with each sentence Nie Siran spoke, Su Ruhe’s head lowered a little more.
“Ah, but why?” A great look of confusion appeared on Lu Rongshen’s face.
“Because...” Nie Siran slowly took a storybook from his robes and, smiling, placed it upon the table. “The common people now believe the contents of this storybook from the bottom of their hearts.”
“What is it, what is it? Let me see quickly.” Lu Rongshen was the first unable to remain seated. Bracing himself on the table, he stood and snatched up the storybook.
Then, taking a closer look, he was dumbfounded. “Ah? What sort of ghostly thing is this, The Domineering Prince’s Male Consort Who Fled with Child?”
“Cough, cough, cough!” Chu Yuan choked on the sweet dumpling in his mouth and bent over coughing, one hand covering his lips.
Lu Ronghuai scooped him up in one motion, one hand supporting his stomach and the other patting his back with practiced skill until the sweet dumpling caught in his throat came loose.
“Drink some water.” Lu Ronghuai drew him into his embrace, then lifted warm water and fed it to him.
Once Chu Yuan had recovered, he opened his misty, watery eyes and turned to look at Su Ruhe.
Yet Su Ruhe had both hands clasped tightly around the wine jar, his face completely hidden behind it as he shrank there without moving.
Caught between laughter and helplessness, Chu Yuan withdrew his gaze. He truly had no way to deal with this Vice Minister who so loved writing storybooks.
“Wah, is this a newly released storybook? How interesting. I must go and buy one.” Light burst from Min Xiaomiao’s eyes.
Chu Yuan: “...”
You are a young lady of good family, so how could you enjoy reading such a thing?
Chu Yuan was deeply puzzled in his heart.
The smile in Nie Siran’s eyes deepened. “Thanks to this storybook writer, the common people now believe from the bottom of their hearts that even if Prince Consort is a man, he can still carry a child.”
Lu Rongshen was so shocked that he stammered, “Can... can... formidable indeed, I never imagined it... I never imagined it... Third Sister-in-Law is remarkable.”
Chu Yuan: “................”
After hearing the entire matter, Lu Ronghuai let out a low laugh. “Ah-Yuan truly is remarkable.”
He cast an amused glance at the storybook, then another at Su Ruhe, who appeared to feel too ashamed to face anyone. The tip of his tongue pressed against the edges of his teeth. He was exceedingly satisfied with this result, struck by chance though it was.
“If Young Master Nie happens to know this writer, then tell him this Prince is very pleased. There shall be a heavy reward.”
Nie Siran held back his laughter. “Very well. I shall look for him later and will certainly convey Your Highness’s words.”
“I also wish to make the acquaintance of this writer,” Lu Rongshen said.
Min Xiaomiao raised her hand. “Include me as well.”
From the corner of his eye, Nie Siran caught sight of the bright red face behind the wine jar and laughed aloud. “I only fear this writer is thin-skinned. Once I find him, we shall see whether he is willing.”
“Very well. I truly would like to make friends with this person. He must be very amusing,” Lu Rongshen said happily.
Nie Siran nodded. “Mm. I think so as well.”
Seeing Su Ruhe on the verge of having nowhere left to hide himself, Chu Yuan could not help changing the subject. “Does anyone have plans for the Qiqiao Festival?”
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Little Su Bird: Rebirth: I Am Nie Siran’s Father, Chapter One, A Staff Beating for the Unfilial Son.
Lu dog: I support this.
0 Comments