Your Highness, Stay a Little Farther from Me
Su Ruhe painted with full concentration. From time to time, he would glance downstairs, never noticing that across from him, Nie Siran was also painting him.
Below, the noise and bustle did not cease. Here, they sat in quiet stillness.
Just as Su Ruhe was about to finish, Lu Ronghuai and Chu Yuan ended their dance below, winning a burst of applause.
The dancing girls took down the flower lantern and gave it to Chu Yuan.
Watching this scene, a smile climbed onto Su Ruhe’s lips, light as a pear blossom.
Nie Siran glanced at him, then set down his brush. The slight sound drew Su Ruhe’s attention, and he turned back.
“Why are you painting me?” Su Ruhe stared at the sheet before him and bent forward to take it.
Nie Siran lifted the paper out of reach. “I was idle, so I painted for amusement. It will do nicely to take back and hang up, then look at once every day.”
Su Ruhe’s expression twisted slightly. “Look at it once every day?”
“Indeed. Vice Minister Su writes storybooks so skillfully that I deeply admire and esteem you. If I look once every day, I may learn from you.”
“... I will not write about you again.”
Nie Siran slowly folded the paper. When he lifted his eyes, laughter brewed in his dark gaze. “Words alone are no proof. I cannot set my mind at ease.”
So he had deliberately painted his likeness as a form of leverage.
Su Ruhe said nothing more. He bent over to gather his own painting neatly together. “I am going back. Young Master Nie, please do as you wish.”
“The performance upon the water has not yet begun. Stay and watch before leaving.” Nie Siran pushed open half the window on his side and looked toward the Feng River in the distance.
When he turned back again, Su Ruhe had already reached the doorway.
“Another time. Every year is much the same. Young Master Nie may watch at leisure.”
He opened the door and left without once looking back.
Nie Siran looked at the empty doorway. After a long while, he gave a low laugh and turned to gaze toward the Feng River once more.
“He truly is cold-hearted.”
Half an hour later, the worship of the Weaver Maiden began, and the crowd all gathered at the riverbank.
After watching the performances, Chu Yuan found a bookstall, borrowed brush and paper, and wrote down his wish. He then folded the slip and placed it inside the flower lantern.
“What did Ah-Yuan write?” Lu Ronghuai walked over.
“I am not telling you. If it is spoken aloud, it will no longer come true.” Holding the flower lantern, Chu Yuan turned and walked toward the riverbank.
Lu Ronghuai followed closely, guarding him at either side as he accompanied him in setting the lantern upon the Feng River.
Lotus lanterns floated one after another upon the water, drifting away with the wind, each one carrying the feelings entrusted to it.
Standing by the river, the two looked at one another and smiled.
“Your Highness, let us go home.”
“Mm.”
They walked back hand in hand. As they turned a street corner, an old monk and a young monk, both with shaven heads, came walking toward them.
One of them happened to glance over, then suddenly stopped in his tracks.
“Benefactors, please stay a moment,” the old monk said in a kindly voice.
Lu Ronghuai still held Chu Yuan’s hand, and the masks had not yet been removed from their faces. Seeing the old monk standing before them, his gaze moving back and forth over himself and Chu Yuan, Lu Ronghuai could not help frowning slightly.
“What is it?” His tone naturally carried the natural authority that ordinary people did not possess.
The old monk, however, showed not the slightest fear. In his eyes was the calm wisdom of one who had seen all the changes of sea and field. Unhurriedly, he said, “Buddhism speaks of karmic affinities. That this poor monk should meet the two of you here today is affinity.”
Chu Yuan had lived in a Buddhist temple for ten years, and so he felt a natural closeness toward temples and monks. For that reason, when the old monk looked at him, a smile unconsciously appeared on his face.
The old monk’s eyes flowed with a smile. “This young gentleman is one of great fortune, and his affinity with Buddhism runs deep. The sufferings of this life are already at an end. Hereafter, he will live in peace and freedom from worry, enjoying boundless wealth.”
Chu Yuan froze for a moment.
Lu Ronghuai drew out a heavy silver ingot from his robes and held it out. “Mm, those are words I like to hear. This is your reward.”
The old monk turned to him but did not take the silver, remaining as calm and detached as before. “As for this gentleman, the baleful weight in his fate is too heavy. In the days to come, he must by all means refrain from slaughtering the innocent and adding further karmic debt.”
Lu Ronghuai showed little reaction after hearing this. He tossed the silver ingot to the young monk behind the old monk and lifted his foot to leave.
As they brushed past one another, the old monk’s voice sounded again.
“This benefactor has already expended one lifetime’s worth of lifespan and karmic merit. In this life, you must certainly accumulate virtue and do good, else all previous effort will come to nothing.”
Chu Yuan stopped abruptly.
He turned back to look at the old monk, his lips paling slightly, while an invisible hand seemed to clutch at his heart. “Master, what did you mean just now by saying a lifetime of longevity and fortune has already been expended?”
“He was speaking nonsense. Ah-Yuan, pay him no mind.” Lu Ronghuai touched Chu Yuan’s head, raised an arm around his shoulders, and cast the old monk a warning glance.
The old monk joined his hands before him and gave a slight bow to the two of them. The young monk set the silver down on the ground before Chu Yuan and retreated behind the old monk.
“When bitterness ends, sweetness comes. Do not pursue what has already passed.”
After saying this, the old monk led the young monk away into the night without once looking back.
This matter weighed on Chu Yuan’s mind for many days afterward. Lu Ronghuai exhausted a great deal of effort coaxing him before finally soothing him, while inwardly cursing that monk in every way he could think of.
Summer was hot. As the oppressive heat of the eighth month arrived, and the streets grew quieter as the swelter deepened
Every day, aside from attending court, Lu Ronghuai remained at home keeping Chu Yuan company. By now, his pregnancy had passed the three-month mark. Jiang Ni came every so often to take his pulse. Everything with the child was well, it was only that the weather was too hot and, together with the pregnancy, Chu Yuan had grown unwilling to move much.
“Painting again?” After entering the room, Lu Ronghuai went straight to the western window.
Chu Yuan was painting with full attention. Le Shu was fanning him at his side, and the heavy wind outside drifted in through the window, lightly stirring the sheets of paper.
“Mm, it is already finished.” Chu Yuan added the inscription and set the brush upon the rest.
“The painting shop’s business is very good. I wish to paint a few more.” Chu Yuan stretched lazily, loosening his limbs.
Lu Ronghuai took the round fan from Le Shu’s hand and began fanning Chu Yuan himself. Yet the moment he drew close, a wave of heat came off him, and Chu Yuan could not help stepping back half a pace.
“Your Highness, stay a little farther from me.”
“?” His hand stopped halfway through fanning.
“Too hot.” Rising on his toes, Chu Yuan took the fan back from him. “Did Your Highness just come back from Eighth Brother’s residence?”
Lu Rongshen’s residence lay in the alley behind theirs, only a quarter of an hour’s walk away.
“Mm. He is getting married tomorrow, so I went to see whether anything needed attending to.”
Fanning himself, Chu Yuan brightened at once. He had been staying home for a month, and what he had looked forward to most was Lu Rongshen’s wedding.
The next day.
Chu Yuan rose very early. He searched the wardrobe for quite some time before finally finding a long robe with a somewhat looser cut at the waist.
“Why are you not wearing shoes?” Lu Ronghuai came over with a frown, his shoes still in hand. “Sit on the chair.”
Chu Yuan sat as he was told. Lu Ronghuai held his ankle, that section of slender white bone smooth and warm as mutton-fat jade, making it impossible for him to put it down.
“Your Highness?” Seeing Lu Ronghuai staring at his foot without moving, his large hand pressed tightly against his skin as scorching warmth spread from his palm, Chu Yuan began trying to draw his foot back.
“Do not move. Even in hot weather, you cannot go without shoes. It is easy to catch a chill.” Lu Ronghuai crouched on one knee and put the shoes on for him.
Chu Yuan pursed his lips. “Then hurry a little. I am still waiting to change clothes.”
“I have not seen you wear this set before.” Lu Ronghuai rose and looked toward the clothes hanging on the rack.
“A great many people will be coming today. My stomach now has just the slightest little curve, and I am afraid people might notice.” Wearing only his light summer inner robe, Chu Yuan looked down at his belly with a troubled expression.
Once the months grew larger, he would be even less able to go out.
Lu Ronghuai raised a hand and laid it over his abdomen, feeling the small swell beneath his palm. His expression softened without his noticing.
“Do not be afraid. The pregnancy is not obvious. Ah-Yuan is slender to begin with, and your waist is even slimmer. Summer outer robes are light and airy. It will not be discovered.”
“Then what about later? It will not stay hidden forever.” He wrinkled his face and spoke bitterly.
“If it cannot be hidden, then do not hide it.” Confidence and arrogance shone between Lu Ronghuai’s brows. “I would like to see who dares say a word. I will break their mouth for them.”
Lowering his head toward his belly, Chu Yuan muttered to it, “Little one, do not listen to him. We are going to be a good baby who understands courtesy.”
“The child Ah-Yuan bears will naturally be as obedient, lovable, and courteous as Ah-Yuan himself.” Lu Ronghuai made haste to mend his words.
Chu Yuan gave a proud little huff. “Your Highness, hurry and get dressed. The baby and I are hungry.”
“At once.”
After the two of them had breakfast, they set out for Lu Rongshen’s residence.
“Third Brother, Third Sister-in-Law, you have finally come.” The moment the two stepped into the front hall, Lu Rongshen ran over with a face full of nerves. He wore only the inner layer of his wedding robes, while the red outer robe still hung upon the clothes rack.
“Congratulations on Prince Jing’s wedding.” Smiling, Chu Yuan smiled and held out the gift box, then gave him a mischievous wink.
Lu Rongshen hurriedly accepted it, saying with a bitter smile, “Third Sister-in-Law, please do not tease me. I am nearly frightened to death as it is.”
Chu Yuan only smiled without speaking.
Lu Rongshen turned to Lu Ronghuai again as if asking for rescue. “Third Brother, Third Brother, hurry and tell me if there is any way to ease my nervousness. My palms are full of sweat. I...”
Lu Ronghuai looked at him with full disdain. “It is only a wedding, not a battle. Do not disgrace me.”
Lu Rongshen: “...”
Lu Rongshen said faintly, “Yes, I nearly forgot. When you got married, Third Brother, you were truly untroubled, not nervous in the least.”
“...”
At that time, he had been far more than not nervous. Back then, he had not wanted Chu Yuan to enter the residence at all.
Thinking of this, Lu Ronghuai suddenly felt very guilty.
He turned his head to look at Chu Yuan, only to find the corners of Chu Yuan’s lips curved, his eyes clear and pure. “In truth, at that time, I was not nervous either.”
Lu Rongshen: “?”
“Ah? Third Sister-in-Law, you were not nervous?”
“I was not.”
At the time, all he had felt was the deep weariness left by the long journey.
Unable to suppress his curiosity, Lu Rongshen glanced at Lu Ronghuai, then asked, “Then what were you thinking at that time, Third Sister-in-Law?”
Lowering his eyes, Chu Yuan’s gaze flowed with gentle light. “At that time, I was thinking that getting married was truly such a tiring matter. Fortunately, there would be only this once.”
No sooner had he finished speaking than Lu Ronghuai pulled him into his arms.
The man’s voice sounded above his head, weighted with guilt. “I am sorry. At that time, I was too much of a bastard and made Ah-Yuan suffer a great deal of grievance.”
“Your Highness was only a little late. You did not lose your temper at me. It was not grievous at all,” Chu Yuan said softly.
Lu Ronghuai closed his eyes, his Adam’s apple working several times, nearly moved to tears.
The scenes of that wedding were vivid before him, his own tyranny, his cold indifference. He had been a complete and thorough bastard, nothing like what Chu Yuan said...
How could his precious one have such a soft heart?
“That wedding does not count. In the future, I shall give Ah-Yuan an even grander wedding.”
Lu Ronghuai had thought Chu Yuan would be touched. Instead, his precious one’s face fell at once.
“I do not want one. It is so exhausting.”
“It will not be tiring. You will not need to do anything. Everything will be left to others.”
“One has to rise very early.”
“There will be no need to rise early. Ah-Yuan may sleep until midday before getting up.”
“One has to wear such heavy clothing.”
“Then we shall marry in the cool days of spring or autumn, and the clothing will not be heavy.”
“One also has to go hungry and cannot eat anything.”
“You may eat. We shall pay no mind to those broken rules.”
Standing to one side, Lu Rongshen opened his mouth several times, trying to remind the two of them of something, but the pair spoke as though they did not see him at all, so wholly absorbed were they in their own exchange.
Driven frantic, Lu Rongshen rushed over and forcibly pulled the two apart. “Have you two forgotten me?”
“I am the one who is the main figure today!”
“This is my wedding, mine!”
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Lu Rongshen: angry as a pufferfish
Lu dog: tsk
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