I Have No Need of Your False Kindness
“On the Qiqiao Festival, of course one must go on a tryst.” Lu Rongshen’s face was full of delight as he said with eager excitement, “I have already arranged everything. I guarantee Qingyu will never forget it as long as she lives.”
Resting her chin in her hand, Min Xiaomiao looked at Bai Qingyu with envy. “Miss Bai is so fortunate.”
A faint smile passed through Bai Qingyu’s eyes.
Lu Ronghuai said, “Miss Bai would do best not to hold too great an expectation. His taste has never been very sound.”
Lu Rongshen’s smile froze.
Bai Qingyu said, “Whatever Your Highness prepares, I shall like.”
Having received Bai Qingyu’s affirmation, Lu Rongshen immediately straightened his chest with pride and declared in a bold, spirited manner, “Qingyu, rest assured. Our first Qiqiao Festival together absolutely will not disappoint you.”
“Mm.” Bai Qingyu looked at him with full attention.
Lu Rongshen said, “Third Sister-in-Law, let me tell you, on the Qiqiao Festival it would be better for you to stay at home. My Third Brother understands nothing of romance. Going out on a tryst with him is no better than staying home and sleeping soundly.”
He had barely finished speaking when a knuckle came down on top of his head.
Lu Ronghuai said, “If you dare speak nonsense again, do not even think of leaving the palace.”
“...”
Han Ruiqi raised his wine cup toward Su Ruhe and Nie Siran. “Come, this cup is for the three of us pitiable souls. The Qiqiao Festival has nothing to do with us.”
Min Xiaomiao also lifted her teacup. “Me as well! Me as well, heh.”
Blinking, Nie Siran kept his folding fan moving in his hand but did not raise his cup. “I have arrangements for the Qiqiao Festival.”
Han Ruiqi said, “Ah? Does Young Master Nie have someone he admires?”
Nie Siran smiled in a way that did not make his meaning plain. “No. I intend to seek out that writer and ask him for a little instruction.”
Min Xiaomiao widened her eyes. “Young Master Nie also intends to write storybooks?”
Nie Siran did not answer her directly. He looked at Su Ruhe, the corners of his lips curving upward. “It seems rather interesting. What does Vice Minister Su think?”
Su Ruhe: “...”
Once they had finished eating, the group went downstairs.
Unable to suppress her excitement, Min Xiaomiao looked toward everyone. “Shall we go stroll through the bookshop?”
Su Ruhe’s scalp tingled. He opened his mouth feebly, “I would rather not...”
“Very well.” Raising a hand to drape an arm around Su Ruhe’s neck, Nie Siran at once agreed to Min Xiaomiao’s suggestion.
Before going, Chu Yuan had prepared himself inwardly, knowing well that the bookshop would certainly carry storybooks about Lu Ronghuai and himself. Yet after arriving, he still found that he had underestimated Su Ruhe.
There were four rows of bookshelves, and three of them were filled with storybooks about the two of them. The subject matter was numerous and varied, with every sort of thing one could think of.
“There are so many newly released storybooks over here. Wah, there are even jianghu versions.” Min Xiaomiao’s noisy exclamation drew everyone’s attention.
They went over to have a look.
Just then, a person entered through the bookshop doorway, standing there against the light.
“Well now, is this not Young Lord Ning? A rare sight indeed. In the past, I never saw you come to such a petty place.” Several idle young masters gathered around, hemming Ning Yuqiang in the middle.
Ning Yuqiang saw the malice in their eyes. He pressed his lips tightly together yet still restrained himself and endured it. “I came to buy two books. Kindly step aside.”
“Young Lord Ning must feel the fire burning his backside by now, hm? And yet you still come to buy books, hahahaha.”
“The Deposed Crown Prince has been banished to guard the imperial mausoleum. As his loyal dog, how is it you did not follow him there?”
“When Prince Li married a male consort and lost his qualification for the position of heir apparent, the Xuanning Marquis Residence immediately drew a clear line from Prince Li. Now that the Deposed Crown Prince has lost power, of course he will hide as well.”
Ning Yuqiang bit down on his back teeth. “What do you understand? Speak no such nonsense here.”
“I am not speaking nonsense. This is plain for all to see.”
“How false,” one man said with mocking scorn.
“I heard the Xuanning Marquis does not even dare leave his residence now, hahaha.”
“Young Lord, you had best hurry back to the Marquis Residence. You are not welcome here.”
Ning Yuqiang drove his fist into the nearest face.
“Ow.” The man took the blow, and sharp pain struck him at once. In anger, he seized Ning Yuqiang by the lapels and directly cursed, “You bastard, you dare strike me?”
These spoiled young masters all came from good families and were persons of name in the capital. Accustomed to throwing their weight about, they had done no small share of bullying outside. Today was the first time one of them had been struck, and their anger flared in an instant.
Seeing this, the others all crowded forward to help, and a group of them began fighting at the entrance of the bookshop.
The common people nearby hurriedly gave way and hid off to one side.
Two fists could not stand against many hands. Ning Yuqiang soon fell to the disadvantage, and both his face and body bore injuries.
“Ai, ai, ai, make way, make way, do not block the road.” Carrying a storybook, Lu Rongshen walked over and called out loudly.
The young nobles looked over. Seeing that it was His Highness the Eighth Prince, they did not think much of it. Yet in the very next instant, they saw Prince Li appearing behind the Eighth Prince.
The young nobles: “!!!”
They immediately let go and stepped back. Those few who had been swaggering just a moment ago now at once became as meek as quails.
Holding Chu Yuan’s hand, Lu Ronghuai walked out, with the others following behind.
The young nobles moved aside and did their utmost to shrink their necks, unwilling to draw Lu Ronghuai’s notice.
What a jest. In all Ye Jing, the only one more overbearing than they were was the man before them. They could not match his power nor could they match his fists. In the past, they had suffered no little bitterness at Lu Ronghuai’s hands.
Ning Yuqiang covered the injured corner of his mouth. Lu Ronghuai passed before him with an indifferent expression, treating him as if he were not there at all.
Walking last, Nie Siran turned his head to look at Ning Yuqiang, his smile courteous. “Young Lord Ning should quickly go to a medical hall.”
Ning Yuqiang angrily turned his head aside, his tone stiff and hard. “I have no need of your false kindness.”
“Come along, Young Master Nie.” Han Ruiqi turned back to call him.
Nie Siran’s expression did not change, and his smile remained appropriately proper. “Young Lord Ning’s face is swelling rather badly. If you do not go now, it will truly become a pig’s head. I still have matters to attend to, so I take my leave.”
Ning Yuqiang: “...”
After they had gone another street, Chu Yuan caught sight of osmanthus sweet soup being sold by the roadside. Its fragrance was so sweet and inviting that it instantly stirred his appetite.
“Your Highness, I want to drink that.” He gave Lu Ronghuai’s hand a little shake and looked at the osmanthus syrup with eager eyes.
Lu Ronghuai said, “I shall go buy it. Ah-Yuan, wait here.”
Watching his Third Brother stride over in large steps, Lu Rongshen kept marveling. “Third Sister-in-Law, your appetite is truly good today.”
At Fuxian Tower, Chu Yuan had already been eating constantly, and had even specially chosen sweet and sour things. Lu Rongshen’s gaze dropped downward, settling on Chu Yuan’s flat and slender waist.
His Third Sister-in-Law looked slim and yet could eat quite a great deal. The crucial point was that after eating so much, not the slightest bulge appeared at his stomach.
Min Xiaomiao said, “The key is that he eats and yet does not grow fat. I truly envy him to death.”
Embarrassed by their comments, Chu Yuan raised a hand and lightly touched his small belly. In a soft voice, he said, “Recently I have indeed been eating a bit more. I shall grow fuller as well.”
Now that he was carrying the little one, his appetite was much greater than before, and his stomach welcomed food well. Whatever he saw, he wanted to eat.
As the only informed one among them, Nie Siran laughed bright and clear. “Ah-Yuan truly should eat more. Now his complexion looks all the better, and he is even more beautiful.”
Han Ruiqi nodded vigorously. This was the first time he had walked down the street together with Chu Yuan, and he had gained a very direct sense of just how conspicuous the Prince Consort of Prince Li was.
“Indeed, indeed. As we were walking here just now, so many people were looking at Prince Consort.”
Han Ruiqi had only just said this when a young man dressed like a scholar came running over with a red face, stopping five paces away from Chu Yuan.
The young man was nervous and excited. He did not even dare look directly at Chu Yuan as he stammered, “Um, Y-Your Highness Prince Consort, this student is a student of Cangyun Academy. Might Your Highness Prince Consort write a line upon the page of this book for me?”
Chu Yuan said, “Ah?”
“This student greatly, greatly admires Your Highness Prince Consort’s talent. In three years, this student is to sit the imperial examinations, and I wished to ask Your Highness Prince Consort to bestow a line of encouragement.”
Chu Yuan understood his intention and immediately laughed. “I have never sat the imperial examinations. If a line truly must be written, then it would be better to ask Young Master Nie to write it for you.”
Yet the young man shook his head, face red. “Your Highness Prince Consort need not be so modest. Your learning has received Old Master Nie’s approval. Many students at our academy deeply admire you.”
Nie Siran deliberately teased the young man. “It is not that Prince Consort cannot write for you. It is only that here in the street there is neither brush nor ink.”
Su Ruhe slowly walked to Chu Yuan’s side and drew a writing brush and a small bottle of ink from his sleeve.
Everyone: “...”
Nie Siran could not hold back. Laughing, he pressed a hand to his brow. “Why does Vice Minister Su carry brush and ink upon his person?”
Su Ruhe said calmly, “A personal habit.”
Unable to suppress a smile, Chu Yuan accepted the brush and ink and wrote a line of blessing upon the page the young man had offered him.
The young man gave thanks repeatedly before leaving, holding the book in both hands with complete satisfaction.
After Lu Ronghuai returned with the sweet soup, the others also took their leave one after another.
After sending Chu Yuan to the Nie Residence, Lu Ronghuai himself entered the palace.
He first went to Consort Ye’s place and delivered a pile of excellent fabrics, asking Consort Ye to make several sets of children’s clothing for him.
Consort Ye was so startled that she rose from her chair. “Why children’s clothing? Wangli, you must not wrong Yuan-Yuan.”
“No, no, do not overthink it.”
Consort Ye was still uneasy. Grasping Lu Ronghuai’s arm, she said, “If you wish for a child, you may adopt one from within the imperial clan, yet you must first speak clearly with Yuan-Yuan. You must not hide it from him, and above all, do not... do not secretly go seek someone else to bear one, do you understand?”
Lu Ronghuai said helplessly, “It truly is not that. Later I shall explain it clearly to you. Please trouble yourself to make several sets of spring and winter infant clothing. You may make them slowly, there is no need to hurry. It will be enough if you give them to me before next January.”
Consort Ye was full of confusion. It was only the end of the sixth month, with more than half a year yet to go. Children’s clothing was made quickly. There was no need whatsoever to prepare so early.
Seeing her confusion, Lu Ronghuai sighed inwardly, yet gave no explanation.
Chu Yuan’s expected month of delivery was next February. If all went smoothly, he might remain by Chu Yuan’s side until the child was born.
Yet if things did not go smoothly, he feared he would not have much time left to accompany him.
For this reason, he had to make complete preparations in every regard.
After leaving Consort Ye’s place, he secretly went to see Fu Qing again.
“Within these next two days, news will come from the western border. Make your preparations. Very soon, you will be able to return to the Kingdom of Yu.”
Fu Qing said, “Very well. As for the pills that foul Daoist gave, your Father Emperor has been taking rather too many of them lately.”
Lu Ronghuai’s expression was cold and hard. “Let him take them. The old thing seeks death of his own accord. Has there been any unusual movement from the Empress lately?”
“None. She has been staying quietly in Fengqi Palace. Soldiers stand guard outside, and that foul Daoist cherishes his life. I guess he will soon flee.”
“Mm. If he wishes to flee, this Prince shall lend him a hand along the way.”
Fu Qing laughed softly.
Zhengqing now relied upon those pills to preserve Emperor Hongjia’s favor toward him. Once he fled, Emperor Hongjia’s supply of pills would be cut off, and the poison within his body would bite back against him without the slightest mercy.
“Three months.” Lu Ronghuai’s face was stern and resolute. “This Prince gives you three months’ time to open the natural barrier pass of the Kingdom of Yu.”
“Understood.”
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Lu dog: Rubbing hands together, time to start stirring things up.
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