Your Highness, I Want to Eat Tanghulu
“Prince Consort of Prince Li, my young lady invites you to the teahouse for a gathering.” The little maid stood at the doorway of the shop and raised her voice toward the inside.
Chu Yuan turned back. Seeing that the maid’s face was unfamiliar, he asked, “Who is your young lady?”
After the maid reported Liu Yun’s name, Chu Yuan’s expression remained mild. “This Prince Consort has never been acquainted with the young lady of the Liu residence. How would it be fitting for me to disturb Miss Liu’s refined enjoyment of tea? Convey my thanks to Miss Liu for her kind intentions.”
The maid’s brows twisted together. “My young lady ordered this servant to invite the Prince Consort. If the Prince Consort refuses to go, this servant will not be able to report back.”
Xian Yu laughed at once. Who did this maidservant think she was, speaking to them with such airs?
“The Prince Consort came out to stroll today and has no wish to drink tea. If your young lady wants to invite the Prince Consort for tea, she is welcome to send a card in advance to arrange a time.”
“You!” The maid’s eyes widened in anger. Inwardly she thought that Prince Li’s residence truly does keep such impertinent servants, just like their master!
The maid said aloud, “Prince Consort of Prince Li, it is not only my young lady who is present today. Miss Xu of Grand Tutor Xu’s household is here as well. Could it be that the Prince Consort also intends to slight Miss Xu?”
Chu Yuan felt like laughing when he heard that.
He was unfamiliar with both of them and had no dealings with either. Yet today they had specially sent someone to invite him over. Inviting him today suggested they had some other purpose in mind.
He did rather want to go and see what they intended to do.
“Since that is the case, lead the way.”
The maid brightened with delight. Afraid he might change his mind, she hurried to lead the way in front.
Chu Yuan followed behind her at an unhurried pace. His steps were light, his figure graceful. As his wide sleeves drifted and swayed, he moved with an airy elegance. Along the way, countless passersby paused to look at him.
Upon reaching the teahouse, the proprietor personally came out to receive him, his face wreathed in smiles.
Now everyone in Ye Jing knew that the Prince Consort of Prince Li was learned and gifted, and astonishingly beautiful as well. Even the fearsome Prince Li had been made utterly compliant before him. Such ability truly inspired admiration.
By now, in the hearts of the people, Chu Yuan had all but become some formidable immortal-like figure.
“Prince Consort, this way please.” The maid stood waiting for him at the stairway on the second floor.
Chu Yuan stepped onto the stairs. The maid moved behind him and blocked Xian Shuang and the others.
“My young lady invited only the Prince Consort upstairs for tea. The rest of you may wait below.”
Le Shu said, “The Prince Consort cannot be without attendants at his side. If you will not let us go up, are you going to attend upon the Prince Consort yourself?”
The maid said, “That is my young lady’s instruction. This servant is only carrying out orders.”
“It is fine. I shall be down shortly. Find a place downstairs and sit for a while.” Chu Yuan cast Xian Shuang a meaningful glance.
Xian Shuang understood at once. “Yes, Prince Consort.”
Chu Yuan followed the maid upstairs alone.
“Young lady, the Prince Consort has arrived.” The maid pushed open the door and lowered her head as she spoke.
Liu Yun rose and personally welcomed Chu Yuan inside.
“Why has Miss Liu asked me here?”
“I have long heard of the Prince Consort’s great name. Since we happened to meet today, I wished to make friends with the Prince Consort.”
Chu Yuan offered no opinion on these polite words.
Liu Yun said, “This is the youngest daughter of Grand Tutor Xu’s household, Xu Zhizhi.”
Xu Zhizhi said, “This subject’s daughter greets the Prince Consort.”
Chu Yuan gave a slight nod.
Liu Yun laughed softly and said in a sweet voice, “Come to think of it, the Prince Consort and Miss Xu share quite a remarkable connection.”
Chu Yuan did not pick up the thread of conversation. He waited for her to finish laying out her mystery.
Xu Zhizhi, however, frowned with displeasure when she heard those words.
Liu Yun covered her mouth and laughed, her eyes sweeping back and forth between the two of them. “Miss Xu once had a bit of history with Prince Li. It is only a pity that Grand Tutor Xu beat apart the mandarin ducks. Otherwise, perhaps she would be the Prince Consort of Prince Li today.”
After saying this, Liu Yun burst out laughing first. “Prince Consort, please do not take offense. I was merely making a jest for a bit of amusement.”
Chu Yuan’s brows drew together ever so slightly. He did not believe Liu Yun’s words yet hearing such things still left a trace of discomfort in his heart.
He lifted the tea that had already been poured on the table and lowered his head to take a light sip.
“Ah!” Liu Yun suddenly gave another strange cry.
“I made a mistake. This is ginseng tea, specially prepared for expectant mothers to replenish qi and nourish the blood. I forgot that the Prince Consort is a man and cannot conceive. Even if you drink it, you will be drinking it for nothing.”
Chu Yuan lowered his gaze to the cup of tea.
The tea was a deep reddish hue, with fine-sliced jujube and snow fungus floating on the surface, its fragrance rich and mellow.
Chu Yuan drank the entire cup openly and generously. With a faint smile, he said, “The taste is quite good.”
Liu Yun had not expected that he would not be provoked in the slightest. She tightened her grip on her handkerchief and was preparing to say something else to provoke him, yet Chu Yuan rose to his feet, intending to leave.
Liu Yun abruptly stood up, panic appearing on her face. “My ring is missing.”
The maid hurriedly shouted outside, “The young lady’s ring is lost. Hurry and come in to help look for it!”
As soon as the words fell, four or five guards rushed inside.
In an instant, Chu Yuan’s path was blocked.
Liu Yun looked anxiously toward Chu Yuan. “Prince Consort, have you seen my ring? My grandmother gave it to me. It is extremely precious to me.”
“I have not.”
Xu Zhizhi suppressed her irritation and asked, “What sort of ring was it?”
“A silver ring with a ruby set into it. It was still on my hand just a moment ago.” Liu Yun held out her left hand, so anxious she looked ready to cry.
Xu Zhizhi began helping her search as well.
After searching the room once over, no one found the ring Liu Yun spoke of.
At that moment, the maid suddenly said, “Could it be on the Prince Consort?”
Chu Yuan raised his eyes toward her. His gaze was cool. “It is not with me.”
Liu Yun bit her lip as she looked at him, aggrieved and pitiful.
The maid said, “Just now the Prince Consort was closest to the young lady. It may be that the young lady’s ring fell into the Prince Consort’s sleeve.”
Liu Yun’s eyes brightened at once. “That is right. Prince Consort, wait a moment. This ring truly is very important. Liu San, Liu Wu, go and help the Prince Consort inspect his clothing.”
“Yes!” The two guards answered and walked toward Chu Yuan. One of them had already reached out his hand toward him.
Chu Yuan turned aside and avoided that man’s hand. His expression instantly went cold. “Insolence!”
Liu Yun said pitifully, “They have no intention of offending the Prince Consort. They only wish to help me find the ring. I ask that the Prince Consort accommodate us a little.”
The two burly guards stood to the left and right before Chu Yuan, not retreating even half a step.
Anger rose within Chu Yuan. He calmly raised his eyes and looked toward Liu Yun. “Miss Liu must now be fifteen or sixteen years of age, must she not? How is it that you understand not the slightest rule of conduct? Today I shall act in place of your honored father and mother and teach Miss Liu properly.”
“Xian Shuang!”
At his command, Xian Shuang came crashing through the window.
Liu Yun and the maid behind her screamed in fright. Yet in the next instant, Liu Yun could scream no more.
Xian Shuang had flown to stand before her and, before anyone could react, delivered four resounding slaps in quick succession.
Then he kicked away the two guards standing before Chu Yuan and took his place in front of him, his face expressionless as he looked toward the people opposite them.
A scorching pain spread across Liu Yun’s face. Covering her cheek, she let out a shrill cry and began to weep and shout, “You dare strike me? Men, seize him! I want his hands chopped to pieces!”
Xian Shuang stood holding his sword. Yet the other guards did not dare move forward at all.
“You useless lot!” Liu Yun cursed loudly.
Chu Yuan stepped forward. Not a trace of emotion could be seen on his porcelain-white face. “I must trouble Miss Xu with a favor. Search Miss Liu’s sleeve.”
At those words, Liu Yun began to retreat. Her other hand clutched tightly at her sleeve opening, and a flash of guilt crossed her face.
Xu Zhizhi understood instantly. She stepped forward and pulled Liu Yun’s hand away. Sure enough, she found that ring in Liu Yun’s sleeve.
At this point, the truth was plain.
Xian Yu and the others, having heard the commotion below, rushed upstairs as well. Chu Yuan said, “Xian Yu, go report this to the authorities. Miss Liu has wantonly slandered this Prince Consort, falsely accusing me of taking her ring. This consort has been wronged without cause and nearly lost his good name. The injustice weighs heavily on this consort’s heart.”
When Lu Ronghuai heard from the shadow guards that Chu Yuan had encountered trouble, he immediately hurried over from the Ministry of Works.
By the time he arrived at the teahouse, it was already packed so tightly inside and out that not even water could have flowed through.
There were not only common people gathered to watch the excitement, but many officers and soldiers had come as well.
“I heard the Prince Consort of Prince Li stole something.”
“No, it was that young lady from the Liu family. She is overbearing and vicious, and she framed the Prince Consort.”
“How did the Duke Liu household raise such a person? What shameful conduct.”
“Who knows? It is fortunate the Prince Consort was clever enough to see through her scheme.”
Listening to the discussion of the surrounding people, Lu Ronghuai’s expression turned grave. He strode into the teahouse.
“This official greets Your Highness.” The Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review came forward and bowed.
Lu Ronghuai gave a nod, his gaze searching for Chu Yuan.
“Ah-Yuan.” When he saw that figure in green standing there safe and sound, the stone hanging in Lu Ronghuai’s heart finally dropped.
“Your Highness.” Chu Yuan saw him at the same moment as well.
“Were you injured anywhere?” He held Chu Yuan by the shoulders and looked him over from head to foot.
Chu Yuan shook his head, caught hold of his sleeve, then rose onto his toes and whispered by his ear, “Your Highness, I want to eat tanghulu A traditional candied snack made by skewering fruit, most commonly hawthorn, and coating it in hardened sugar syrup. Candied Hawthorn ishhh good but too sweet for me lol~ I have an elder's taste now :'). .”
“I will buy it for you. Ah-Yuan did very well today.” Lu Ronghuai wrapped an arm around his slender waist and pinched his soft cheek.
He looked toward Liu Yun on the opposite side, already restrained by officers and soldiers. After learning the course of events, he looked at that woman again, and the disgust and viciousness in his eyes nearly burst forth.
“Take her away. If the Liu family wants to redeem her, they may first come to Prince Li’s residence and apologize in person.” Lu Ronghuai ordered Xian Feng to go seize her.
Cold sweat beaded on the brow of the Chief Minister of the Court of Judicial Review. “Your Highness, this... this is not suitable, is it? Better to let this official take her away. This official guarantees an explanation to Your Highness and the Prince Consort.”
The vicious look in Lu Ronghuai’s eyes deepened further. “Oh? You wish to take her away?”
The Chief Minister Justice looked at Lu Ronghuai’s expression. In the end, fear gained the upper hand, and he silently retreated to one side.
Liu Yun was terrified. She did not want to go to Prince Li’s residence. There she struggled and writhed frantically until Xian Feng sealed her mute acupoint and took her away.
“Your Highness!” At that moment, Xu Zhizhi, who had been standing among the crowd all this time, suddenly called out.
Lu Ronghuai was just about to take Chu Yuan away. Hearing that, he halted and swept her a glance over his shoulder, his gaze indifferent.
Xu Zhizhi walked over to him and tipped up her face. “Has Your Highness forgotten me?”
“Is there any need for This Prince to remember you?”
“Of course. I am the one who once confessed my feelings to you. You ought to remember me.”
The crowd around them erupted into an uproar at this disclosure.
Lu Ronghuai tightened his hold on Chu Yuan’s waist, displeasure narrowing his eyes. “I do not know you, have not heard of you, and cannot remember you.”
Xu Zhizhi said, “...Are you afraid the Prince Consort will be displeased?”
Xu Zhizhi looked at Chu Yuan. “Prince Consort, what happened today does deserve apology. This subject’s daughter was also at fault. Also, the Prince Consort need not be displeased. I no longer like him now.”
“I admire the Prince Consort. I wish to be friends with the Prince Consort.”
In the end, Lu Ronghuai took Chu Yuan away with a dark face.
“There is something wrong with her head. Ah-Yuan must keep farther away from her in the future.” Even after returning to the residence, Lu Ronghuai was still emphasizing this point to him.
Chu Yuan held a tanghulu in his hand. He bit into a sweet hawthorn fruit and admired the way Lu Ronghuai was seething with frustration. “Why is Your Highness angry? I am not even angry.”
“Of course I am angry. Her approaching you was certainly no good-hearted act.”
“Oh.” Chu Yuan stuck out the tip of his tongue and licked away the sugar crumbs at the corner of his lips.
“I do not dislike her.”
Lu Ronghuai drew him onto his lap and kissed his moist lips. Sweetness spread across the tip of his tongue.
“The Xu family will likely align with the Eastern Palace. Ah-Yuan must not grow too close to her.”
“With the Liu family there, even if the Xu family does stand with the Eastern Palace, they likely will not gain too much benefit. Why does Your Highness not try drawing the Xu family over instead?”
He knew of Lu Ronghuai’s ambitions, and Lu Ronghuai had never intended to hide them from him.
A glint of dark intent passed through Lu Ronghuai’s eyes. “The Liu family will fall very soon.”
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Xu Zhizhi: Your wife is wonderful. I like him very much.
Lu the Dog: You had best sleep tonight with one eye standing guard and one eye keeping watch!
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