The Murmurs Around Them Grew Loud Once More
Fang Xinhai left with a stomach full of swallowed grievances.
Lu Ronghuai turned around and was just about to call Chu Yuan to come down from the carriage when the corner of his eye caught a shadow flash past by the wall.
His expression chilled. With the tip of his foot he flicked up a small stone.
The next moment, a cry of pain sounded beside the wall.
Xian Feng brought the person over.
“Your Highness, it is Miss Fang.”
Lu Ronghuai’s face darkened. “Why were you hiding by the wall?”
Fang Rouling had been struck in the arm. Covering it, she said in a pitiful and fragile voice, “Your Highness, this young lady was waiting there for my father. Just now I saw him leave and intended to follow him. I had no wish to offend Your Highness.”
Lu Ronghuai recalled that while he had been in the carriage earlier, he had indeed heard Fang Xinhai speaking with Fang Rouling.
He had no interest in speaking with her further.
He instructed Xian Feng to release her and called for Chu Yuan to come down.
The journey back to the capital was far slower than when they had come. Their convoy had grown several times larger. It stretched across the road like a winding dragon. Soldiers guarded the confiscated wealth and evidence. Even Fang Xinhai, when he wished to glance at it, could not approach without Prince Li’s permission.
After traveling for eight or nine days, they encountered an imperial eunuch on the official road bearing a decree from Ye Jing.
The situation on the western border had grown urgent. Once the news reached Ye Jing, it caused a great uproar within the court. Emperor Hongjia issued an order for Fang Xinhai to change his route midway and proceed to the western borderlands. The army had already set out and awaited his arrival to join them.
Fang Xinhai received the imperial decree, and his heart sank heavily. He did not know how dire the war had become, yet he understood the journey would be perilous. He ordered his son and daughter to continue back to the capital with Prince Li while he himself departed immediately for the western borderlands.
Thus another ten days passed. Through days of continuous rain, on the eighteenth day of the fifth month, the group finally arrived at Ye Jing.
That day the skies cleared and the dark clouds dispersed.
“Third Brother!” Lu Rongshen led a group of city guards and waved excitedly toward Lu Ronghuai.
As they approached Ye Jing, Lu Ronghuai had already changed from traveling by carriage to riding on horseback. The man sat upright upon his tall steed, his deep brows and sharp eyes lending him a commanding air.
As the procession drew closer, the citizens gathered at the city gates grew increasingly restless.
“Is that Prince Li?”
“It is.”
“Why does it feel like he became more handsome after leaving the capital?”
“I think so too. I never noticed before that Prince Li’s face was this good-looking. How strange.”
“Perhaps it is because Prince Li smiles now,” someone guessed.
“Yes, yes. Just like in the storybooks, ever since Prince Li married, his temperament has changed greatly. Now he seems far gentler.”
“Indeed. Prince Li succeeded in suppressing the unrest this time and even captured a great corrupt official. Truly impressive.”
“Is the Prince Consort here as well?”
“Exactly. I came to see the Prince Consort. Why have I not seen him yet?”
“He must be in the carriage behind.”
“Will the Prince Consort come down later?”
“I was hoping to ask the Prince Consort for a written character as a charm. I wonder if it is possible.”
“Prince Li’s temper has improved somewhat, but it is not that good. If you do not value your life, you may try.”
While the people whispered among themselves, Prince Li’s procession had already arrived before them.
Lu Rongshen rushed forward first.
“Third Brother, you have finally returned. Where is Third Sister-in-law?” the young prince asked eagerly.
“In the carriage.” Lu Ronghuai glanced around at the citizens. A faint frown appeared between his brows. He lowered his voice. “Why are there so many people here?”
Lu Rongshen grinned widely. “They all came to see Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law.”
“?”
Lu Ronghuai looked as though he had witnessed something unbelievable. To him the sight was somewhat alarming.
“To see this Prince? Since when did they grow such courage?”
In the past, people would not even dare look at him. A single word of his return was enough to make them bolt their doors. Avoiding him was all they had ever wished for. Yet now they dared appear right before his eyes.
“That is thanks to those storybooks,” a leisurely and gentle voice sounded.
Nie Siran emerged from the crowd holding a folding fan, his movements unhurried.
“Stories about Your Highness and the Prince Consort have spread widely throughout the capital and are greatly loved. Your Highness’s reputation has improved considerably as a result.”
“Is Your Highness pleased?”
Lu Ronghuai was not pleased. In fact he felt somewhat annoyed. “Why are you here?”
Nie Siran said, “Am I not permitted to come?”
Lu Ronghuai replied, “Do not say you came to welcome this Prince. That is unnecessary.”
Nie Siran opened his fan, revealing a painting of ink orchids upon the surface. As his arm moved, the fan swayed lightly.
“Your Highness need not flatter himself so.”
“I came to see the Prince Consort.”
Lu Ronghuai’s brows drew together. “He will not see you. Ah-Yuan does not wish to see you.”
Before his words had finished, Chu Yuan’s gentle voice sounded from inside the carriage.
“What does Young Master Nie wish to see this subject about?”
Nie Siran gave a soft laugh.
Ignoring the dark look that instantly fell across Lu Ronghuai’s face, he walked calmly to the side of the carriage.
“Is the Prince Consort’s capping ceremony not approaching?”
The carriage fell silent for a moment.
Soon afterward, light footsteps sounded.
Chu Yuan lifted the curtain, revealing his refined and gentle face.
“Yes. It will be in the middle of next month. Why does Young Master Nie ask?”
Lu Ronghuai immediately guided his horse closer, his expression wary.
Nie Siran glanced at him and the corner of his lips curved slightly.
“Prince Consort, please come down. I wish to speak with you privately.”
Lu Ronghuai said sharply, “Nie Siran, as an outsider do you not understand propriety? You dare approach this Prince’s beloved consort before my very eyes. Is this the teaching of the Nie family precepts? That the family should produce a frivolous and dissolute son?”
“Your Highness,” Chu Yuan interrupted gently, preventing him from continuing. “Young Master Nie is not a frivolous man. He must have his reasons.”
“He most certainly has ill intentions,” Lu Ronghuai retorted, glaring.
He had known from the start this man was full of schemes and now even A-Yuan had been taken in by him.
Nie Siran smiled openly. “If Your Highness does not trust me, you may listen as well.”
“Your Highness.” Chu Yuan extended his hand toward Lu Ronghuai, wishing to step down.
Lu Ronghuai dismounted, took his hand, and before Chu Yuan could set his foot upon the ground, lifted him down firmly into his arms.
Nie Siran stood nearby, watching this childish display with a faint smile.
The murmurs surrounding them grew louder again.
“The Prince Consort has come down!”
“Look, it truly is the Prince Consort!”
“Their relationship seems very good.”
“A jade-like face, the mark between his brows, eyes full of warmth... The Prince Consort is even more beautiful than in the illustrations.”
“I have never seen anyone so beautiful. Like an immortal from a painting.”
“No wonder Prince Li changed so much. If I had such a beautiful spouse, I would listen to him in everything.”
“You dream too boldly.”
Lu Ronghuai’s hearing was keen. He heard every word clearly and glanced toward the crowd.
His gaze was cold and the smile had vanished from his face. The citizens who had been praising him fell silent at once. The fear they held toward him had not yet completely faded.
“Your Highness, what are you looking at?” Chu Yuan asked.
“Nothing.” Lu Ronghuai withdrew his gaze and turned impatiently to Nie Siran. “Speak quickly.”
Chu Yuan squeezed Lu Ronghuai’s hand gently, his expression helpless. “Your Highness.”
Lu Ronghuai immediately understood his meaning and reluctantly said, “Very well. I will not be harsh.”
Chu Yuan smiled faintly. “Then Your Highness may stand with me. Please do not speak.”
Lu Ronghuai: “...”
Nie Siran watched this, visibly amused.
He clapped his hands. His attendant stepped forward and presented a gift box.
“During the hunt in the forest last time, Eighth Prince gave me a tiger pelt. I had it made into a cloak. When winter arrives, the Prince Consort should find it very warm.”
Chu Yuan said, “Thank you for your kindness, Young Master Nie. Yet Eighth Brother also gave me one. Young Master Nie should keep this one for yourself.”
“It would be wasted in my possession. I have a small request. Consider this gift my token of thanks.”
“What request?”
“For the Prince Consort’s coming-of-age ceremony, I wish to obtain a position for my grandfather as the ceremonial witness.”
Chu Yuan froze in place.
“These words may be abrupt, yet my grandfather truly wishes to perform the crowning ceremony for the Prince Consort.”
Chu Yuan’s heart stirred with a feeling that took a long moment to settle. For a long while he could not regain his composure. He pressed his lips together. Against the white clarity of his skin, his eyes gleamed like dark gemstones, bright with something luminous.
“I am deeply honored by the Prime Minister’s favor. Yet I feel uneasy. I do not know why he regards me so highly. I fear I may not deserve such kindness.”
Nie Siran said, “The Prince Consort need not feel uneasy or afraid. My grandfather holds you in the highest regard. Simply take it as fulfilling an old man’s wish.”
“Yet I recall His Highness once saying that Chancellor Nie has never attached himself to any faction at court. If he were to perform the capping rite for me, it would draw him too close to Prince Li’s household and inevitably affect the Chancellor’s standing. I cannot bring such trouble upon him.”
Nie Siran had naturally assumed the answer would be yes. Nie Chouwen’s reputation in the capital was unmatched. No one would refuse to have him perform their capping rite. He had not expected that at this moment, Chu Yuan would still be thinking of his grandfather's wellbeing.
Nie Siran sighed sincerely. “It is no wonder my grandfather admires you.”
“The Prince Consort need not worry. After the Wanchao Hui ended, my grandfather already expressed his wish to retire from office. His Majesty has granted his request.”
Chu Yuan had not expected that Prime Minister Nie intended to retire.
Lu Ronghuai, however, remained calm. It seemed he had already known of this matter.
Nie Siran continued, “On this point the Prince Consort may set his mind entirely at rest. If the Prime Minister attended in his official capacity, it would bring unnecessary speculation. Therefore he will resign and attend simply as an individual. Would the Prince Consort accept?”
How could Chu Yuan refuse?
He had always admired Nie Chouwen. The thought that such a respected elder wished to perform his crowning ceremony filled him with quiet joy.
When they had finished speaking, Lu Ronghuai finally allowed himself an unceremonious remark.
“Young Master Nie seems rather impatient. This matter could have been discussed later.”
Chu Yuan’s birthday was still about a month away. Lu Ronghuai had already been preparing for the ceremony quietly and had been considering the ceremonial witness. He had even thought of inviting Nie Chouwen himself once he returned to the capital.
Nie Siran shook his head and waved his fan leisurely.
“This is called seizing the opportunity. Any later, and my grandfather might have found the opportunity gone.”
Lu Ronghuai asked, “What do you mean?”
Nie Siran smiled. “I will not tell you.”
Lu Ronghuai: “...”
“Ah-Yuan, return to the carriage. We are entering the palace.”
Lu Ronghuai guided Chu Yuan back. Le Shu hurried over, placing the footstool and assisting Chu Yuan into the carriage.
Nie Siran had deliberately left his meaning unclear. Knowing this man’s scheming mind, Lu Ronghuai had no interest in puzzling over it further.
The procession began moving again. The city guards joined the convoy and escorted Prince Li’s party into the palace to meet the Emperor.
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Lu Dog: Someone even more dog-like than me has appeared. Everyone hurry and scold him! @Nie Siran
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