My Daughter Likes Gemstones
On the second day of the ninth month.
The marriage escort reached the capital of the Kingdom of Yu and took temporary lodging in the inn used by Yu to receive foreign guests.
Lu Ronghuai sat before the writing desk, reading the letter Bai Yi had sent through the shadow guards.
Min Chao had returned to Ye Jing eight days earlier. Thereafter, Emperor Hongjia issued an order for Bai Yi to return to the Western Frontier and resume its defense.
Perhaps Emperor Hongjia himself also felt this arrangement was somewhat improper. He had already stripped Bai Yi of his military authority, yet now he was sending him back to the frontier. Fearing censure from both the people and the Censorate, he made a grand show of bestowing rewards and even raised Bai Yi’s marquis rank by one grade.
Bai Yi entered the palace to receive an audience and politely declined the reward. His only request was that Bai Qingyu be allowed to return to the Western Frontier with him.
Bai Qingyu had grown up in the Western Frontier from childhood. This time, once Bai Yi departed, no one knew in which year he might return. Emperor Hongjia looked at the white hair at Bai Yi’s temples and knew as well that he bore old wounds and illness. Spending his later years alone in the Western Frontier would be too bitter. He thus agreed to the request.
Only poor Xiao Ba would suffer. Since childhood, he had never endured much hardship and now had to go with them to live in the Western Frontier.
After Consort Ye learned of this, she held Lu Rongshen and cried most sorrowfully.
Lu Rongshen comforted her at great length and remained in the palace to accompany her for several days. Consort Ye prepared many winter things for him and Bai Qingyu, as well as winter garments she had sewn with her own hands.
Bringing these things with them, the three set out for the Western Frontier at the end of the eighth month.
At the end of the letter, Bai Yi asked, “Everything has already been arranged according to Your Highness’s instructions. How are we to proceed next?”
Lu Ronghuai folded the letter away and lowered his brush to a blank sheet.
There came two knocks at the door. Without even raising his brow, Lu Ronghuai said, “Enter.”
Fu Qing flashed inside.
“Having seen your imperial father and younger brother today, how do you feel?” Lu Ronghuai folded the letter he had just written and handed it to the shadow guard hidden in the darkness. The guard swiftly vanished from the room.
“Just as before, repulsive,” Fu Qing said coldly. The disguise she wore made her face unremarkable. No one looking at it would guess she had once been the Grand Princess of the Kingdom of Yu.
Lu Ronghuai said, “Proceed according to the original plan. In three days, Lu Lingshuang will enter the palace to be enfeoffed as an imperial consort. As her personal senior maid, you must seize the opportunity well.”
Fu Qing said, “Rest easy. I have been preparing for this day for a long time.”
“I have arranged people outside the palace to receive you. Be cautious in everything.”
Fu Qing nodded. “Very well. Your Highness leaves on the day of the wedding?”
“Mm.”
“May Your Highness have a smooth journey,” Fu Qing said with a smile. “By the time the war is over, Prince Consort should be ready to give birth as well, should he not?”
“Mm, in the first month of next year.” The moment Chu Yuan was mentioned, Lu Ronghuai’s expression softened, and in his eyes appeared longing and a faint smile.
Fu Qing saw the change in his face and smiled with genuine warmth.
“Prince Consort is rich in blessing and grace. Here, Fu Qing wishes Prince Consort a safe delivery and joy without sorrow.”
“Many thanks. Remember to prepare a gift. My daughter likes gemstones.”
Fu Qing laughed softly. “Mm, I greatly look forward to the child you two will have. If I can survive, I must see the little one with my own eyes.”
“You will.”
Fu Qing poured herself a cup of tea and said thoughtfully, “Your Highness, from what I know of the Yu royal house, this time they have sent troops to help not solely for the sake of seeking a marriage alliance. There may be another purpose.”
“This Prince knows.” Lu Ronghuai dipped his brush into the ink and wrote the character for Yu (于), then drew a large cross over it.
“At the Wanchao Hui, This Prince once slew a band of Xiqiang men in the forest. Even then, This Prince suspected that among the six kingdoms, there were those colluding with the Xiqiang.”
Fu Qing said, “At the Wanchao Hui, the six kingdoms came to pay tribute. Ye Jing’s guards were strict. If Xiqiang men could be smuggled in at such a time, it could only have been by one of the six kingdoms.”
A layer of coldness veiled Lu Ronghuai’s dark eyes, his gaze difficult to read. “Whether all six kingdoms are involved remains unknown. However, the Kingdom of Yu has certainly already joined hands with the Xiqiang.”
“Then with this Xiqiang uprising, Yu and the Xiqiang clearly planned it together in advance and staged a play for your imperial father to see. What exactly is their purpose?”
“What do you think?” Lu Ronghuai’s smile was full of contempt.
Fu Qing sighed. “The six kingdoms wish to join hands and dismantle the Kingdom of Lu.”
Lu Ronghuai extended one finger and shook it. “The Kingdom of Lu will not be dismantled. Just wait and see how This Prince tears apart the old nests of all six kingdoms.”
Fu Qing could not help smiling. “Very well. I shall wait and see.”
When Chu Yuan received Lu Ronghuai’s third letter from home, war had suddenly broken out in the Northern Frontier, and urgent military dispatches traveled eight hundred li at top speed to Ye Jing.
“His Highness should already have reached the Northern Frontier by now, should he not?” Chu Yuan raised his head to ask Xian Yue.
Xian Yue answered respectfully, “Yes. His Highness joined up with General Zhao two days ago.”
General Zhao was none other than Zhao Lu, the one who had escorted Chu Yuan to the capital. He could not sit idle in Ye Jing and, after the New Year, requested on his own initiative to go to the Northern Frontier city, where he found his old brothers and drank shaodaozi liquor with them.
Once he left, it was for more than half a year.
Chu Yuan held the family letter tightly in his hand, and a sigh slipped from his clear, gentle voice. “His Highness has gone this time. I wonder whether he will be able to return in time for the New Year.”
Once war begins, Lu Ronghuai certainly will not be able to return in the short term. In another two months, the Northern Frontier will only grow colder. Wind and snow will rage together, and the soldiers will have not only enemies to kill but also fight the harsh climate of the Northern Frontier that devours men.
Xian Yue knew that Prince Consort was longing for Prince Li and smiled. “His Highness is an exceptional commander; his tactics are unorthodox and impossible to anticipate. The northern barbarians are no match for him.”
Xian Shuang said, “Mm, His Highness will certainly return before the year’s end.”
He could not be sure whether the war would be finished before the New Year, but he knew clearly Prince Consort’s place in His Highness’s heart. His Highness would certainly strive to end the war before year’s end and come back to spend the New Year with Prince Consort.
Hearing this, Chu Yuan felt somewhat reassured.
There were still more than three months until the New Year. He and the baby would wait for him to return.
“Xian Yue, send this sachet to His Highness.” Chu Yuan took out a blue lotus-colored sachet from a box and handed it over.
“His Highness suffers from headaches. The medicinal herbs inside this sachet were prepared by Ah-Die. They can ease his headaches.” He had seen Lu Ronghuai use medicinal sachets before, though those likely had little effect, and afterward all had been thrown away by Lu Ronghuai.
“Very well.”
Xian Yue put the sachet away, then exchanged a glance with Xian Shuang.
Xian Shuang gave the slightest nod.
Xian Yue secretly gathered his breath, stepped to Chu Yuan’s side, and from his sleeve produced two more letters.
“Prince Consort, the Ruler of Chu has sent letters.”
Chu Yuan’s brows drew tight, and his gaze fell upon the envelopes with utter coldness.
Xian Yue said, “The Ruler of Chu wrote two letters in all, one to you and one to the Emperor. The courier has temporarily been detained by our people.”
“Mm, I understand. Come again tomorrow night.”
Xian Yue withdrew.
Xian Shuang closed the door and returned to keep watch outside.
Chu Yuan moved to sit before the writing desk, his shadow cast against the bookshelf at the side. For a long while, he did not stir.
After about half the time of half a stick of incense, the shadow slowly raised a hand and picked up one of the letters.
Once he opened it, his beautiful eyes swept across its contents. Ignoring the false concern that made him sick to the point of retching, Chu Yuan endured his disgust and read on, whereupon his pupils suddenly contracted.
“... This Lonely One misses your Imperial Mother with great longing, yet the beauty has already passed away. Thus, This Lonely One had no choice but to invite your mother’s clansmen into the royal palace as guests...”
With a thud, something heavy fell over in the room.
Le Shu sprang up in alarm.
Xian Shuang moved at once to the door, fearing that Chu Yuan had fallen. Just as he was about to knock, the door opened from within.
Chu Yuan strode out quickly. He felt as though his heart were about to leap from his chest, while his mind had gone entirely blank.
“Quickly, let us go find Ah-Die.”
Xian Shuang supported him by the arm, his voice steady. “Very well. Take a breath first. Walk more slowly.”
Le Shu ran back inside and returned with a night-luminous pearl lamp. The two of them went on either side of Chu Yuan and accompanied him to Jiang Ni’s courtyard.
When Jiang Ni learned that Chu Yuan had come, he and Nie Xuxing rose from bed, threw on robes, and opened the door to admit them.
“Why have you come so late? Has some urgent matter arisen?” Jiang Ni caught hold of his hand. In such hot weather, Chu Yuan’s fingertips were nevertheless icy cold, and he quickly rubbed them warm for him.
“Ah-Die, look...” Chu Yuan gave him the letter clutched in his hand. The gentle, melodious quality of his voice trembled without his noticing.
After Jiang Ni and Nie Xuxing finished reading the contents of the letter, both their faces changed.
Chu Yuan bit his lip. “Mother never once told him anything about his clansmen. He even lied to him about his native place. How did he manage to find them and seize them...”
Seeing how badly he was shaking, Jiang Ni ached with distress. He drew him into an embrace and gently patted his back, soothing him like a mother quieting a child struck by nightmares.
“Good child, do not be afraid. The Jiang clansmen live in concealment, and the direct line is protected behind layer upon layer. They will not be so easily captured.”
Nie Xuxing said, “That is right. I suspect the ones taken by the Ruler of Chu are collateral members of the Jiang clan. They go out regularly to purchase provisions, so their chances of being seized are much greater.”
Jiang Ni said, “Exactly so. Ah-Yuan, do not panic first. Even if the Jiang clansmen have been taken, they would sooner die than reveal the secrets of the clan.”
“Mm...” Chu Yuan clutched tightly at Jiang Ni’s sleeve, tears glittering in his eyes. “They must be rescued quickly. That man... that man is more terrible than a demon.”
“Very well. Rest easy. I shall write to the clan elders at once and ask after the situation.” As he spoke, Jiang Ni went to write, leaving Nie Xuxing to look after Chu Yuan.
Nie Xuxing handed him a cup of warm water. “Sit first and drink some water to steady yourself.”
Chu Yuan accepted it. “Many thanks, Father.”
“Why stand on ceremony. Drink quickly.”
Seeing that Chu Yuan had run over wearing only a thin inner robe, and knowing that summer nights still turned much cooler, Nie Xuxing went into the inner room and brought out one of Jiang Ni’s cloaks to wrap around him.
“This letter was written to you by the Ruler of Chu?” Nie Xuxing sat at his side and asked in a gentle voice.
Chu Yuan nodded.
Thoughts flashed through Nie Xuxing’s mind. “Before this, had he ever written to you?”
“No. This is the first time.”
As soon as he said this, Chu Yuan immediately understood. “Father believes that this letter of his has another purpose?”
“Mm. You have been married here so long, yet he neither asked after you nor cared for you. Now he suddenly writes to you and even deliberately reveals in the letter that he has taken Jiang clansmen. My guess is...”
“He wants you to return.”
“He wants me to return?” Chu Yuan was puzzled.
“Mm. He knows you will not stand by and let them die. Therefore, he uses the lives of the Jiang clansmen to threaten you, waiting for you to return to Chu of your own accord in order to save them.”
Le Shu turned anxious at once. “That will not do. Prince Consort must not return. It was hard enough to escape from that place. How could he go back again?”
Nie Xuxing smiled faintly. “No one said he would return, and we will not let Ah-Yuan return either.”
Chu Yuan lowered his head and stared at the ripples trembling on the surface of the water in his cup. “I understand now.”
“Mm? What does Ah-Yuan understand now?” Jiang Ni had finished writing his letter and came over, only to hear those incomplete words.
Chu Yuan said, “I understand why he wants me to go back.”
As he spoke, his chin lifted slightly, and his gaze turned utterly cold.
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Lu dog: Which cut-throat wants my wife to go back?
Yuanyuan: Beat him up!
Lu dog: That is far too polite. I suggest beating him to death.
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