Your Highness, Did I Perform Well Just Now?
After the midday rest, Lu Ronghuai took Chu Yuan out.
The sky was bright and clear. Afraid the sun might fall too harshly upon Chu Yuan, he had Xian Yu bring over an oil-paper umbrella. The umbrella’s surface was plain, adorned only with a design of rain striking lotus leaves, carrying with it a cool and refreshing charm.
Holding the umbrella, Lu Ronghuai walked hand in hand with Chu Yuan along the broad avenue of Ye Jing. The cicadas sang in waves, and from time to time a gentle breeze drifted through. People came and went along the street, the vendors’ calls rising and falling in steady rhythm, while groups of children chased and played along the roadside.
Both sides of the street were hung with garlands of flowers, a riot of colors, bright and lively.
“Your Highness, the Qiqiao Festival in Ye Jing is truly lively.” Chu Yuan looked about on all sides. After walking for a while, his cheeks had gone pink beneath their fair complexion, like a ripe and full-fleshed peach.
“The greatest liveliness is yet to come at night. There will be many interesting performances then, and people will gather by the Feng River to pay respects to the Weaver Maiden.” Lu Ronghuai’s gaze remained fixed upon him, mindful lest he feel any discomfort. “Are you warm? Are your legs tired?”
Chu Yuan shook his head, swaying it lightly from side to side. “Your Highness seems very familiar with the Qiqiao Festival. You must have come often before?”
Lu Ronghuai halted in his steps, both amused and helpless at the unjust accusation suddenly poured upon him. “No. I have never come before.”
“I do not believe it.” Tilting his head, Chu Yuan’s lips were red and full, and when he spoke, glimpses of his white teeth appeared. “Your Highness had so many betrothed ladies before. Not once did you bring any of them out?”
Lu Ronghuai lowered the umbrella. Beneath its shade, the two of them stood close together. His voice dropped, low and a little rough. “…Little troublemaker, is this jealousy or are you deliberately tormenting me? Other than you, where could there be anyone else?”
Chu Yuan pushed him away. When the man drew close, there was a dangerous air about him. He did not wish to be embracing in the street and become a spectacle for the common people.
“I shall not tease you any longer. Your Highness, I am a little hungry.”
“Call me a good husband, and I shall take you to eat something delicious.” Lu Ronghuai hooked an arm around his waist with one hand, speaking in a deliberately teasing tone.
Chu Yuan cast him a sideways glance, his beautiful eyes narrowing as he glared. “Big bad egg.”
Lu Ronghuai laughed. “You are a little bad egg and I am a big bad egg… then would not the one in Ah-Yuan’s belly be a little bad egg to be?”
“...”
Lu Ronghuai had already reserved a private room in a teahouse in advance, a fine seat by the window on the second floor with an excellent view.
The shop attendant brought up two bowls of chilled mung bean soup. “This is a complimentary refreshment from our establishment today. We hope the two honored guests will enjoy it.”
Lu Ronghuai said, “Too cold. Replace them with room-temperature ones.”
“Of course, Your Highness and Prince Consort. Please wait a moment.”
Chu Yuan watched longingly as the chilled mung bean soup was taken away. He had discovered that lately he was somewhat strange, the more something could not be eaten, the more he wished to eat it.
“Not yet. During the first three months, you must take greater care. When you reach the middle and later stages, you may drink it.”
Chu Yuan’s eyes lit up. “Truly? I shall soon reach three months. Does that mean I may drink it then?”
Lu Ronghuai reached out and tapped his soft cheek. “Yes, little glutton, but you must not drink too much.”
“Mm, mm.”
The mung bean soup was brought back. The sweet liquid slipped into his stomach; the beans had been simmered until they were soft and tender. Chu Yuan happily ate a small bowl.
Seeing he had finished, Lu Ronghuai pushed the untouched bowl before him over.
“No more. I must leave room for other food.” Chu Yuan pushed the bowl back.
Seeing the fine beads of sweat upon Lu Ronghuai’s brow, and that even after sitting for some time the heat had not faded, he could not help saying, “Your Highness, drink a bowl of the chilled one. It dispels the heat more quickly.”
“It is of no matter. If Ah-Yuan cannot have it, then I shall not have it either. I shall accompany you.”
Chu Yuan took out a handkerchief to wipe the sweat from him. Lu Ronghuai had always kept his word. Chu Yuan knew his words were sincere.
Moved, yet also somewhat amused, he softly persuaded, “Your Highness need not suffer this along with me. The child and I still require Your Highness’s care. What if Your Highness falls ill from the heat?”
Lu Ronghuai said, “Childbearing is arduous. I cannot share that hardship for you. I can only take greater care of you in these small matters. Compared to you, this is nothing at all.”
Chu Yuan stared at the man’s solemn and earnest expression. After a long pause, he suddenly let out a soft laugh.
“On the day of delivery, Your Highness had best not remain outside the door.”
“Ah?”
“I fear Your Highness will grow so anxious that you faint.”
“...”
“Then others would have to divide their attention to worry over Your Highness as well.” Covering his mouth, Chu Yuan laughed until his eyes curved like crescent moons.
“You dare laugh at me.” Lu Ronghuai pulled him over and held him, pressing a firm kiss upon him. “Just wait and see. On the day you give birth, I shall be more clear-headed and composed than anyone.”
“Your Highness must keep your word.”
“Naturally.”
Seated upon his lap, Chu Yuan heard the lively sounds outside. Leaning forward, he looked out and saw people below engaged in riddle guessing.
“Do you wish to go play?” Lu Ronghuai lightly nibbled at his earlobe, asking in a low voice beside his ear.
Chu Yuan’s earlobe was sensitive. When it was taken between his lips and lightly pressed by his teeth, his body trembled, and a flush spread behind his ear at once.
“Mm, I wish to go. I have never played this before,” he said, his voice trembling slightly.
“Very well. Whatever Ah-Yuan has not played before, today we shall play it all.” Lu Ronghuai said with indulgence.
The two went downstairs and came to the open square.
There, a riddle wall had been set up with green bamboo. It was filled with flowers of many kinds, and within the heart of each flower was hidden a character riddle.
As the afternoon wore on, the air gradually grew cooler. Clouds drifted across the sky, bringing with them an even more refreshing breeze. Many young scholars gathered before the bamboo wall, discussing the riddles with great enthusiasm.
Two students of Cangyun Academy were in competition, seeing who could solve more riddles within the time of one stick of incense.
“Prince Li and Prince Consort have arrived.” A sharp-eyed student caught sight of them and called out loudly, immediately causing a stir.
Lu Ronghuai raised a hand to stop them from bowing. “Do not be restrained. We have merely come to enjoy ourselves.”
“Would Your Highness like to join in the riddle guessing?”
With the first person speaking, the others grew bold and joined in urging them.
“Yes, yes, Prince Consort should try as well.”
Lu Ronghuai smiled faintly but did not move. Supporting Chu Yuan’s waist, he gently nudged him forward by a small step.
“Go and play.” His stern gaze always softened when it rested upon Chu Yuan, calm and gentle.
The two students who had been competing took the initiative to invite Chu Yuan. “Prince Consort, why not compete with us? Let us measure one stick of incense’s time and see who answers the most correctly.”
The vendor also spoke. “The final victor may receive the highest reward, a string of Buddhist prayer beads that has been blessed by a master of Guangyuan Temple.”
“Good, good, this is excellent.” The crowd clapped with excitement.
Chu Yuan smiled and readily accepted the proposal.
Three more students joined, and the atmosphere grew increasingly lively as more and more people gathered.
“Prince Consort, please choose a flower first.” The vendor smiled kindly at him.
Chu Yuan looked toward the bamboo wall and quickly made his choice. “The first one on the left in the second row.”
The vendor went over, took the camellia flower, and handed it to Chu Yuan.
Chu Yuan removed the small slip hidden within the flower’s center, his voice clear and melodious as he read aloud, “Three mountains become three mountains, each mountain hangs inverted in sweetness. One moon returns to one moon, each moon linked to the next.”
After reading the first part, his gaze lowered, and he softly read the latter half, “On the left and right are paired wings, crossing and aligned into two rivers. In one household there are six mouths, yet two mouths are not reunited.”
Before anyone could even begin to think, Chu Yuan lifted his head to look at the vendor, the cinnabar mark between his brows shining brightly. “It is the character ‘use.’”
“Ah? Correct, Prince Consort has answered correctly.” The vendor nearly bit his own tongue, not expecting Chu Yuan to be so swift.
The other five students were clearly taken aback as well.
Lu Ronghuai laughed aloud. He was the first to applaud, his eyes full of tender affection as he looked upon his beloved. “Ah-Yuan is truly excellent.”
Chu Yuan turned back, and when their eyes met, the smile in his gaze bloomed like spring flowers.
“His Highness smiled,” someone whispered softly to a companion.
“Their Highness Prince Li and Prince Consort share such deep affection. Though there are so many people here, it seems in their eyes there is only one another.”
“Indeed. His Highness smiles only for Prince Consort.”
Hearing the soft murmurs around him, Chu Yuan’s delicate ears gradually turned red. He quickly turned his head away and continued answering riddles.
“Fresh.”
“Bird.”
“Cypress.”
“Shaman.”
One answer after another fell from his lips, and the flowers cradled in his arms grew more numerous with each one. Without his quite noticing it, the crowd around them had assembled into a dense ring, three and four people deep on every side.
When the time of one stick of incense had passed, Chu Yuan had answered forty-two riddles, and in his hands he held forty-two flowers.
“Prince Consort is incredible!” The other students exclaimed repeatedly, looking at him with admiration.
“It is only that everyone yielded to me, giving me the chance to win.”
“No, no, we did not yield at all. It is that Prince Consort is too formidable. You left us no time even to think.” The youths waved their hands, speaking with embarrassed smiles.
Someone in the crowd called out, “Prince Consort, why not solve all the riddles?”
“Yes, yes, we have not yet had our fill of watching.”
Chu Yuan lowered his head, his gaze soft as it fell upon the flowers in his arms. His profile was fair and fine, the bridge of his nose straight and high, his lips exquisitely shaped, so that one forgot the world upon seeing him.
“Let us not. The rest should be left for everyone to enjoy. I shall go and see other things.” He returned to Lu Ronghuai’s side.
The vendor hurried after him, holding out a box. “Prince Consort, this is your reward for solving the riddles. Please accept it.”
Chu Yuan had intended to decline, as he had only come to enjoy himself and had not meant to take the reward. Yet when he turned his head, he saw Lu Ronghuai accept the box from the vendor’s hands.
“Prayer beads blessed by a master of Guangyuan Temple. If Ah-Yuan wears them, they will protect both you and the child in peace.” After they had walked some distance, Lu Ronghuai took out the beads and placed them upon Chu Yuan’s fair wrist.
Chu Yuan lifted his wrist slightly, and the beads gave a clear, gentle sound as they struck together. They were made of sandalwood, each bead full and rounded, suffused with a calm and mellow fragrance of the Buddhist order.
“Does Your Highness believe in this?”
“I do.” Lu Ronghuai lowered his gaze to his wrist, his fingertips slowly brushing over the beads.
“Then very well. They are quite pleasing to look at.” Chu Yuan raised his hand toward the sunlight, smiling.
“Mm. A prize won by Ah-Yuan suits you well.” Lu Ronghuai smiled and clasped his hand.
“Your Highness, did I perform well just now?” Chu Yuan lifted his face, like a child awaiting praise, dimples appearing sweetly at his cheeks.
“Exceptionally well.”
“Then does Your Highness have a reward?”
“Yes. What reward do you desire?”
“I wish to eat that dried beef.” He raised a hand and pointed toward a stall not far ahead, where the savory fragrance drifted enticingly through the air.
Lu Ronghuai looked at the thick layer of chili powder upon the dried beef and drew in a breath. “…Choose another. It is too pungent and not good for the body.”
“Then this one, stinky tofu.”
“…Too foul. A little immortal does not eat stinky tofu.”
Chu Yuan: “...”
He bit his lower lip and looked at Lu Ronghuai with grievance, a mist of moisture gathering at once in his large eyes.
Lu Ronghuai: “!!!”
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Lu dog: Buy it! Must buy it! Charge!
Just a few words: Good evening, everyone. I may have to go back on my promise of extra updates. There are four people in my office, and aside from me, all of them have fallen ill. I am now doing the work of four people alone. It is exhausting, and my heavy cold has not yet recovered. If I fall ill as well, it will be even worse… I will do my best to maintain daily updates. My apologies.
IsitRo: This author’s note was written in December 2022, during the peak of China’s COVID-19 wave following the lifting of the zero-COVID policy. The author was writing through illness and staff shortages while maintaining a daily update schedule. Oh my goodness, honestly 😭
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