“The Prince Consort Truly… Toiling Away Day and Night.”
After entering the palace, Emperor Hongjia summoned Lu Ronghuai alone into the great hall.
The others waited in a side hall.
Lu Rongshen sat beside Chu Yuan, while the Fang siblings sat on the opposite side.
During this time, Fang Shuyu’s gaze drifted toward Chu Yuan more than once, with an air of studied casualness.
After roughly half an hour, Eunuch Yuan Sheng arrived to summon the Fang siblings into the great hall.
Once they had left, Chu Yuan’s eyes fell upon the delicate pastries arranged on the table. He could not resist reaching for a hawthorn cake A traditional Chinese confection made from hawthorn berries, set into a firm, jewel-red jelly-like cake. Hawthorn fruit (山楂, shānzhā) has a distinctive sweet-sour flavour and is used widely in Chinese sweets and medicinal cooking. Its sharp, bright taste is considered to aid digestion. .
He had wanted to taste it earlier. The hawthorn cake carried a light, sweet fragrance that had been tempting him.
He took a small bite. At once the sweet and tart flavor spread across his lips and tongue.
Delicious.
Chu Yuan’s brows curved slightly in pleasure, the corner of his mouth lifting faintly.
“Third Sister-in-law…”
Lu Rongshen sat beside him staring intently, his expression rather complicated.
“Mm?” Chu Yuan turned to look at him, his eyes clear and calm.
The Eighth Prince scratched his chin. “Why do I feel that after this trip back, Third Sister-in-law seems a little different?”
“Different how?”
“I cannot quite say…” Lu Rongshen scratched his head for a long moment, unable to properly describe his feeling.
“It is just… your whole bearing has changed.”
Chu Yuan looked down at the clothes he wore that day. It was still the green robe he often favored. He could not help feeling puzzled.
“I do not think so. I seem the same as before.”
“No, it is different.”
Lu Rongshen sounded very certain.
“Even Fang Shuyu kept looking at you just now. Third Sister-in-law, you really have changed a great deal.”
“Third Sister-in-law used to have such a cool and distant air. Now there is a softness to the whole person.”
What he truly wished to say was that his Third Sister-in-law now seemed to radiate a warm and gentle presence that made people want to draw closer.
Chu Yuan nodded and finished the hawthorn cake in a few bites. Then he reached for another piece.
Lu Rongshen continued watching him closely.
“The relationship between Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law has grown better too.”
“Cough, cough!” Chu Yuan nearly choked. His face flushed as he looked at Lu Rongshen.
“Eighth Brother, why would you…”
Lu Rongshen quickly handed him tea and grinned foolishly.
“I noticed. Third Sister-in-law is much more relaxed around Third Brother now. Before you were always so cautious. Third Brother must be very happy.”
Chu Yuan looked at him quietly.
Lu Ronghuai always called this younger brother foolish, yet that was not quite true. Lu Rongshen understood things clearly in his heart and cared deeply for the people he valued.
“How have things been between you and Miss Bai?” Chu Yuan asked.
At the mention of his betrothed, the Eighth Prince’s face flushed crimson at once.
“She… she has refused to see me lately.”
Chu Yuan blinked. “?”
“Why?”
Lu Rongshen hesitated awkwardly for quite a while before explaining in a small voice.
“Last time I invited her out to admire flowers… I could not restrain myself…”
“And kissed her.”
“…”
Chu Yuan stared at him.
“You… kissed Miss Bai?”
“Mm.” Lu Rongshen nodded shyly, his face still red.
“How did Miss Bai react?”
Lu Rongshen sighed. “She was stunned for a moment… and then she ran away.”
Chu Yuan pressed a hand to his forehead.
Bai Qingyu had most likely been frightened away by him.
Lu Rongshen said miserably, “I have apologized to her since, but she still refuses to see me. Third Sister-in-law, please help me think of something.”
“What are you two discussing?”
Lu Ronghuai’s voice suddenly sounded from outside.
He strode inside and noticed the half piece of hawthorn cake still in Chu Yuan’s hand.
“You like this?”
Chu Yuan was still occupied with the Eighth Prince’s predicament and nodded without thinking.
“Very well. I will have the cooks at the residence make it for you later.”
Holding Chu Yuan’s hand, he leaned down and took a bite from the piece in Chu Yuan’s hand. His brows immediately knitted together from the sourness.
Chu Yuan withdrew his hand and glanced at him reproachfully. “That was mine. If Your Highness wishes to eat, take one yourself.”
Lu Ronghuai glanced at the tray and picked up a piece of cloud pastry, holding it out to him. “This one is better. The hawthorn cake is too sour.”
“It is not sour at all. It is just right. I like it. The cloud pastry is too rich. I do not want it.”
As he spoke, Chu Yuan finished the remaining half piece.
Lu Rongshen asked, “Third Brother, are you finished speaking with Father Emperor?”
“Mm.”
“Then shall we visit Mother Consort? She was very happy to hear you had returned.”
Lu Ronghuai looked at Chu Yuan.
Chu Yuan smiled gently. “Consort Ye has been thinking of Your Highness. Naturally Your Highness should visit her.”
“Come with me.” Lu Ronghuai took Chu Yuan’s hand.
The three of them left the side hall and turned in the direction of the inner palace.
Before long they encountered the Crown Prince.
He appeared to have just come from the Empress’s palace. His leg injury had healed, and he wore his standard Crown Prince attire.
“Third Brother, it has been a long time.”
Then he looked toward Chu Yuan with a gentle smile. “Third Brother’s Consort, I trust you are well.”
Chu Yuan returned the greeting politely.
Lu Ronghuai paused in his steps. “The Crown Prince is looking very well of late. Your complexion is quite rosy.”
The Crown Prince quickly stiffened his face.
“Third Brother must not speak carelessly. With Elder Brother’s misfortune, I remain deeply grieved. Is Third Brother heading to the inner palace? I have just come from Noble Consort Fang’s residence. Third Brother should visit her when you have time.”
Lu Ronghuai gave a casual sound of acknowledgment.
The Crown Prince asked, “Is Father Emperor in the Qianzheng Hall?”
Lu Ronghuai nodded.
After he finished speaking with Emperor Hongjia earlier, he had left. The Fang siblings had remained inside the hall. The Emperor currently relied upon Fang Xinhai to win the coming battle and had deliberately kept his son and daughter behind to speak with them.
The Crown Prince had business with the Emperor. After exchanging a few words with Lu Ronghuai, he departed.
Lu Rongshen lowered his voice.
“After the accident with Eldest Brother, Noble Consort Fang fell gravely ill. It seems she may not recover. Should Third Brother not go and look in on her?”
Lu Ronghuai replied flatly, “Do you think she wishes to see me?”
Lu Rongshen fell silent. Probably not.
They went directly to Chunzhu Palace.
Consort Ye was overjoyed to see them. She immediately ordered the palace servants to prepare the midday meal and dismissed all the maids and eunuchs.
She looked at the two of them with warm, smiling eyes. “You two must stay here to eat today.”
Lu Ronghuai and Chu Yuan naturally did not refuse.
Consort Ye continued, “The weather is growing warmer. I had nothing to occupy myself with in the palace, so I made two sets of summer undergarments for each of you. Try them later to see whether they fit.”
“Especially yours, Yuan Yuan. The clothes may be slightly large. If they do not fit, bring them to me and I will adjust them.”
Chu Yuan felt a warmth settle deep in his chest. He thanked Consort Ye with a gentle sincerity.
Lu Rongshen spoke up. “Is there any for me?”
“None.”
The Eighth Prince shook his head with a sigh.
“Anyone who did not know better would think Third Brother was your real son. Every time I come by I never see you this pleased. Third Brother and Third Sister-in-law both have new clothes, yet I have nothing.”
Consort Ye tapped him on the head.
“Your Third Brother lives outside the palace all year. It is difficult even to see him once. You, on the other hand, leap around before my eyes every day like a mischievous monkey. Stop performing.”
Lu Rongshen clutched his head and protested loudly.
“I am already grown. Why does Mother Consort still strike me? Do I not have any dignity?”
“You will soon be married and still behave so immaturely. Learn from your Third Brother.”
Consort Ye rolled her eyes at him.
Lu Ronghuai quietly watched the mother and son joking together. A faint smile lingered on his lips, every sharp edge of his deep-carved features softened into something gracious and at ease.
At that moment, a soft hand gently covered the back of his.
Lu Ronghuai turned his head. Chu Yuan was looking at him with warmth in his eyes.
He said nothing, yet Lu Ronghuai understood everything.
Lu Ronghuai inhaled softly and tightened his hold on Chu Yuan’s hand.
They remained in the palace the entire day. That evening, they even dined with Emperor Hongjia.
Only when the night had grown deep did they return to Prince Li’s residence.
The residence had been kept in perfect order throughout their absence. The main courtyard was neat and clean. After washing up, they retired early.
After so many days traveling in the carriage and a full day of activity, Chu Yuan felt soreness in his waist and legs as soon as he lay down.
“Your Highness.” He turned over and moved closer to Lu Ronghuai.
Lu Ronghuai wrapped an arm around him.
“Mm?”
“My waist aches, and my legs feel sore.” He nestled in the crook of the man's arm and looked up.
Lu Ronghuai chuckled softly. “I will massage them for you.”
His palms were warm and his pressure steady. Chu Yuan hummed comfortably and closed his eyes.
Yet as the massage continued, those hands began wandering elsewhere. From there, they lit a fire.
Late in the night, hot water was delivered once to the courtyard.
Le Shu leaned against a pillar and yawned while chatting quietly with Xian Shuang, who stood watch.
“His Highness truly has remarkable stamina, still going at this hour.”
Xian Shuang lifted his head to look at the stars.
The night was a little cold. Le Shu wrapped his outer robe tighter and muttered softly.
“It is the Prince Consort I pity. When I went inside to deliver water earlier, I saw the Prince Consort had already fainted. His Highness carried him to the bath chamber.”
Xian Shuang glanced sideways.
“The Prince Consort’s health constitution is delicate. His Highness intends to help him build up his strength.”
Le Shu eyes went wide. “His Highness is not going to wake the Prince Consort at dawn to practice swordsmanship, is he?”
Xian Shuang replied calmly. “It is possible.”
Le Shu: “.…”
He felt a wave of sympathetic anguish.
“The Prince Consort truly… toiling away day and night.”
Chu Yuan slept until midday the following day.
When he woke, the room was long empty of Lu Ronghuai.
As he sat up, a sharp soreness spread through his waist.
He pressed his hand there and silently cursed a certain scoundrel from head to toe. If he ever allowed Lu Ronghuai to massage his waist again, he would no longer be surnamed Chu.
“Prince Consort, you are awake.” Le Shu lifted the curtain and entered.
“Mm. Help me dress.” Chu Yuan stepped down from the bed.
“Where is His Highness?”
“Early this morning the Ministry of Works sent someone to summon him. They said it concerned the construction of a Daoist temple.”
Chu Yuan nodded.
“What would the Prince Consort like to eat for midday?”
As Le Shu adjusted his sleeves, Chu Yuan suddenly pressed a hand against his abdomen.
His brows knit slightly.
“Le Shu, my stomach hurts a little.”
Le Shu hurriedly said, “This servant will go and fetch the household physician at once.”
“No need. It is only a faint pain. Perhaps I strained something.” Chu Yuan waved him off without much concern.
“By the way, has Fu Qing been arranged properly?”
Le Shu nodded. “Fu Qing arrived in Ye Jing last night as well. She secretly brought Prince Qi to the estate outside the city and plans to send him back to Prince Qi’s residence tomorrow.”
Chu Yuan smiled, his expression bright. “Good. Then we shall go and watch the spectacle tomorrow.”
“Master, Vice Minister Su has arrived.”
Xian Yu reported from outside the door.
Chu Yuan walked slowly toward the doorway. “His Highness has already gone to the Ministry of Works. Why would Vice Minister Su come to the residence to see him?”
Xian Yu responded. “Not His Highness. Vice Minister Su came to see you.”
“To see me?”
“Yes.” Xian Yu, recalling Officer Su’s disheveled and harried appearance upon arrival, broke into a grin.
“Prince Consort should go take a look. Vice Minister Su appears quite anxious.”
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Yuan Yuan (aggrieved): My stomach hurts.
Lu Dog: It must be an upset stomach! (with absolute confidence)
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IsitRo: Starting next week, it will be 2 chapters a day on weekdays~
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