Fifty Thousand Taels of Gold
“Your Highness, Duke Liu requests an audience outside.” Xian Feng stood at the entrance of Fuju Courtyard and called inward.
Lu Ronghuai answered lazily. Not long after, he emerged while holding Chu Yuan’s hand.
Two candied hawthorn fruits remained on the skewer in Chu Yuan’s hand. He looked at it and very much wanted to finish it, so he said to Lu Ronghuai, “Your Highness, perhaps I need not go.”
Lu Ronghuai refused to agree and insisted on bringing him along. “Let me earn you some spending money.”
Chu Yuan was thoroughly confused as he was led to the front hall.
Duke Liu and Liu Mingyue were waiting inside. The elder and the younger both sat there drinking tea. Their expressions appeared calm. Xian Yu, acting as the steward of the residence, stood to one side in attendance.
“Your Highness.” When he saw him arrive, Duke Liu rose unhurriedly to perform a greeting. His gaze then turned deep and measured as it fell upon Chu Yuan. “Xiao Yun acted without sense and offended the Prince Consort. This old man apologizes to the Prince Consort on her behalf and asks that the Prince Consort forgive her conduct.”
Lu Ronghuai shot back at once, “Without sense? In this Prince’s view, she simply lacks the use of her brain.”
Liu Mingyue smiled as he tried to smooth matters over. “Your Highness, this matter truly was Yun’er’s fault. If Your Highness has any demands, please state them. If the Liu family can accomplish it, we will not refuse.”
“Yun’er is, after all, still an unmarried young woman. Being detained in Prince Li’s residence will ultimately sound improper. We ask that Your Highness show leniency.”
“Taking her away is not impossible.” Lu Ronghuai toyed with Chu Yuan’s fingers as he spoke in a lazy tone. “That depends on how sincere the Liu family is.”
Liu Mingyue glanced toward Duke Liu.
How could Duke Liu fail to understand Lu Ronghuai’s meaning? He spoke in a low voice. “Mingyue, prepare five thousand taels of silver for the Prince Consort to buy tanghulu.”
Liu Mingyue was just about to respond when Lu Ronghuai gave a faint snort.
Duke Liu lifted his gaze, his eyes narrowing slightly. “Prepare another five thousand taels. A gift for the Prince Consort.”
Lu Ronghuai clicked his tongue. Turning his head, he looked at Chu Yuan with a smiling expression. His hand rose to rub Chu Yuan’s hair as he spoke with exaggerated sympathy. “This Prince’s treasure suffered such grievous injustice today, and Duke Liu offers a mere ten thousand taels. It truly chills the heart.”
Chu Yuan blinked his bright eyes and nearly laughed.
A look of displeasure had already surfaced in Duke Liu’s eyes. “Your Highness might as well name a figure directly. This old minister has no patience for idle pleasantries with Your Highness.”
“Is Duke Liu very busy?” Lu Ronghuai suddenly asked.
Duke Liu glanced sideways at him. “This old minister is not like Your Highness, blessed with the leisure to pass his days at ease. This old subject must assist His Majesty with affairs of state every day. Today this subject had only just left the palace when news came that Yun’er had been detained in Your Highness’s residence, and this subject came at once without a moment’s pause.”
Lu Ronghuai propped his chin in his hand and looked at Duke Liu with a half-smile. “Quite busy indeed. Yet at Duke Liu’s years, it is long past time to be resting comfortably at home, nursing one’s twilight years and dandling grandchildren on one’s knee. If one labors too long, accidents easily occur. Would you not agree, Duke Liu?”
Duke Liu raised his head and smiled with unfathomable depth. “Prince Li has been absent from the capital for a long time and may not know that Prime Minister Nie has already resigned his post. His Majesty has now lost a capable minister. The court is in need of talent. Even if this old minister wished to retire, His Majesty would not easily permit it.”
“Oh.” Lu Ronghuai yawned. “The Kingdom of Lu possesses a minister like Duke Liu. This Prince truly feels happy for Father Emperor.”
“Very well then. In consideration of our serving in the same court, I will offer a friendly price. Compensation of fifty thousand taels.”
Liu Mingyue stared in shock. “Fifty thousand taels?”
“Mm, fifty thousand taels.” Lu Ronghuai raised his right hand and spread his palm, kindly reminding them, “Fifty thousand taels of gold.”
“What?!” Liu Mingyue drew in a sharp breath as his voice rose several degrees.
Duke Liu’s eyes turned cold. “Prince Li opens his mouth as wide as a lion. The Liu family cannot produce such a sum.”
“The Liu family has served in high office for generations and possesses deep resources. Surely you cannot say you lack fifty thousand taels of gold.”
Duke Liu and Liu Mingyue remained silent.
Lu Ronghuai’s gaze drifted and he smiled. “If you cannot produce it, then forget it. It happens that the Apricot garden in this Prince’s residence requires fertilizer. This Prince finds Miss Liu quite suitable as compost. Xian Yu, see our guests out.”
Duke Liu and Liu Mingyue left Prince Li’s residence.
Liu Mingyue said bitterly, “Prince Li truly is a rogue.”
Duke Liu’s expression was dark and heavy. A grave expression crossed his aged face. “Prince Li’s words today carried hidden meaning. This old man feels somewhat uneasy.”
The two boarded their carriage. Liu Mingyue lowered his voice. “Grandfather is worried about the matter in Ping Cheng?”
Duke Liu closed his eyes. “Are you certain everything was burned?”
“Grandfather may rest assured. In addition, this grandson has already bribed the prison guards and passed your instructions to Zhang Ze. He knows what must be done.”
The carriage rolled forward slowly. After some time, Duke Liu opened his eyes.
“Prepare the fifty thousand taels. When night falls, send it to Prince Li’s residence and bring that useless creature back.”
“Grandfather, we have already given the second branch sufficient face by coming today. If we truly spend fifty thousand taels to redeem her, this grandson feels it is not worth it.”
“Moreover, the people all know that Prince Li kills without restraint. If Liu Yun were to die at his hands, we could take the opportunity to deal with Prince Li.”
Duke Liu shook his head. “She still has use.”
“What?”
Duke Liu said, “Your elder sister has been married into the Eastern Palace for five years and has only given birth to two daughters. I intend for Liu Yun to marry into the Eastern Palace as well. First, she may keep your elder sister company. Second, it would be best if she bore a grandson of the Emperor, thus stabilizing the Liu family’s position.”
Liu Mingyue looked at Duke Liu. Discontent rose in his heart. This plan clearly benefited the second branch. If Liu Yun were to bear a son, would there still be any place for the main branch in years to come?
“Grandfather, the Eastern Palace already has two secondary consorts.”
“One more or one fewer secondary consort matters little. I will speak with your elder sister about this in due course. Let her find a suitable moment to have the Crown Prince take little Yun as a consort.”
“...Yes, Grandfather.”
Late that night, after the two in Fuju Courtyard had finished washing and were preparing to lie down, the fifty thousand taels of gold were delivered to the residence.
Lu Ronghuai was well satisfied and released the person without delay.
“The Liu family knows when to yield. Ah-Yuan, keep it. This Prince earned you some spending money.” Lu Ronghuai pushed the fifty thousand taels of gold toward him.
Chu Yuan could not help laughing as he looked at the table piled with glittering gold. He teased him, “Your Highness behaved rather like a bandit today.”
“Indeed. With such a beautiful bandit’s bride in the stronghold, this bandit chief must seize every opportunity for plunder. Otherwise how could I afford to keep you in the manner to which you are accustomed?” He lifted Chu Yuan’s chin in mock roguishness, careless flattery rolling off his tongue.
Chu Yuan gave a small indignant hum. “That is not so. I am easy to keep.”
As he spoke, he raised his hand and made a tiny measuring gesture. “A very small amount of silver is enough to support me.”
Lu Ronghuai was so thoroughly charmed that he bent down, scooped him up sideways into his arms, and turned towards the bed.
Chu Yuan had barely sunk into the soft bedding when that tall, upright figure came pressing down after him.
Chu Yuan raised a hand and pushed him away. “No, Your Highness.”
Lu Ronghuai paused. “What is wrong?”
“My stomach feels uncomfortable today.” Chu Yuan looked at him with wide, innocent eyes.
Lu Ronghuai’s palm came to rest on his abdomen as he carefully felt it. “What happened? Have you had the household physician look at it?”
“Not yet. By evening it had already improved considerably, it may have simply been a little bloating.”
Lu Ronghuai was not reassured. “We should still summon the physician to examine you. It may be that something you ate disagreed with you.”
“The physician has likely already retired for the night. Do not trouble yourself, Your Highness. If it is still uncomfortable when I wake tomorrow, I shall seek him out then.”
Lu Ronghuai saw that he had no wish to stir and let the matter rest for now. Lu Ronghuai instead, studied Chu Yuan. His brows and eyes were languid and beautiful. Dark hair spread across the pillow, setting off that small face like fresh snow, yet alluring as a spirit.
He could not resist lowering his head to kiss him.
The two shared a long kiss. Lu Ronghuai released him afterward and repeatedly reminded him to tell him if his stomach began to hurt.
“Your Highness, the calligraphy and painting shop I wished to purchase has been secured.” Chu Yuan said, lying nestled in Lu Ronghuai’s arms. He caught one of Lu Ronghuai’s loose strands of hair in his fingers and tilted his head up with a smile. “Will Your Highness give it a name?”
Lu Ronghuai said, “It is Ah-Yuan’s shop. Ah-Yuan should name it yourself. Why should it fall to me?”
“Because most of the money used to buy the shop came from Your Highness. Your Highness also has a share in it.”
“Oh? Such a good matter exists?” Lu Ronghuai laughed. As he stroked Chu Yuan’s back, he thought for a moment, then took Chu Yuan’s hand and gently wrote three characters in his palm.
After he finished writing, Chu Yuan’s eyes widened little by little.
Suppressing the faint ticklish feeling in his palm, he spoke the three characters aloud.
“Bu Xian Xian?”
“Mm. Does Ah-Yuan like it?”
Chu Yuan considered it seriously for a moment. Delight spread through his eyes. “I like it.”
I would rather envy mandarin ducks than immortals. He liked it very much indeed.
“Ah, Your Highness. Vice Minister Su came to see me today. He wishes for Your Highness to send some people to protect him.”
Lu Ronghuai did not understand. “There have always been men assigned to protect him. Why does he need more?”
Chu Yuan explained the matter between Nie Siran and Su Ruhe, including the part in which Lu Ronghuai himself had caused the trouble.
Unexpectedly, Lu Ronghuai frowned more deeply after hearing it. “Something is not right. If it were only a matter of fearing that Nie Siran might make trouble for him, he would not personally come to the residence to request people.”
“Mm?” Chu Yuan did not understand his meaning.
“Su Ruhe is bold, careful, and very stubborn in his ways. If he truly feared Nie Siran, he would never have agreed to my request from the beginning.”
“Moreover, do you believe Nie Siran would truly harm him?”
Chu Yuan immediately shook his head. “No. Young Master Nie would not be so petty.”
After saying this, a flash of realization suddenly passed through Chu Yuan’s mind. “Your Highness, earlier you said Vice Minister Su was handling certain matters for you that carried some danger. Could it be that he has already sensed the danger?”
Lu Ronghuai’s expression turned grave. “That is possible. Su Ruhe manages my account books. If someone wished to bribe him in order to frame me, Su Ruhe would not come to the residence seeking support.”
“Then only one possibility remains.”
Chu Yuan understood at once. “Vice Minister Su refused those people and therefore invited a fatal threat upon himself.”
“In coming to the residence to find me, he was seeking my protection on the one hand, and on the other, making his allegiance plain.”
“He is very clever.” Lu Ronghuai rose from the bed and strode outside. He spoke a few quiet words to Xian Feng.
After giving his instructions, Lu Ronghuai returned and closed the door.
Chu Yuan sat half upright on the bed. Worry showed clearly on his face. “Your Highness, is the construction of the Daoist temple dangerous?”
“It is not dangerous. Everything is within my grasp.” Lu Ronghuai drew him into an embrace and patted his back reassuringly. “Do you remember the private seal I gave you before?”
Chu Yuan nodded and reached toward the treasure cabinet beside the bed. “I remember. The Snow Wolf private seal. I will fetch it for Your Highness.”
He knew how important such a seal was. Even though Lu Ronghuai had given it to him, he had not dared carry it on his person.
“It is not there.” Lu Ronghuai took the seal from beneath his pillow and placed it in Chu Yuan’s palm.
“When did Your Highness take it back?” Chu Yuan asked curiously.
“The day we left Ye Jing, the seal was already with me.”
Chu Yuan’s expression stilled.
“The false seal in the treasure cabinet,” Lu Ronghuai said, “has already been stolen.”
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Lu the Dog: I envy only the mandarin ducks, not the immortals. I envy Prince Li every single day.
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