“Something Is Wrong… His Pulse…”
The following morning, Lu Ronghuai departed early for court. Before leaving, he specifically summoned the residence physician.
“After the Prince Consort wakes, take his pulse. His stomach felt unwell yesterday.”
The physician bowed respectfully. “Yes, Your Highness.”
Lu Ronghuai mounted his horse and rode out.
Another hour passed before Chu Yuan awoke.
Le Shu attended him while he rose and washed. As Chu Yuan was eating breakfast, Le Shu returned from outside and reported in a clear voice, “Prince Consort, the residence physician is waiting outside. He wishes to take your pulse.”
Chu Yuan was drinking porridge. “Have the physician return. I feel no discomfort today.”
He still intended to go out shortly. The two of them had spoken late into the night that he had gone to bed at an unreasonable hour. When he woke this morning, the sun was already high, showing that it was no longer early.
Le Shu smiled. “The physician said this is His Highness’s order. He does not dare disobey.”
Chu Yuan laughed softly. “Then let him come again after I return. Go tell Xian Yu to prepare a carriage. We will be leaving at once.”
After receiving the order, Xian Yu quickly had the servants prepare a carriage and waited outside the residence gates.
Chu Yuan stepped out.
Today he wore a long robe of pale yellow. His ink-dark hair was tied behind his head and fell smoothly to his waist. When he walked, the hem of the robe spread and swayed like water-borne lotus petals opening one after another.
“The Prince Consort looks especially handsome today,” Xian Yu said happily beside the carriage, nudging Xian Shuang with his shoulder.
Xian Shuang frowned and stepped farther away. “The Prince Consort looks handsome every day.”
Xian Yu nodded. “True, but today he looks especially handsome. Do you not think the Prince Consort’s complexion looks excellent? His skin is fair with a blush of rose beneath, tender and fresh to the eye.”
Xian Shuang turned his head toward him. Seeing the infatuated look on his face, the corner of his mouth curved almost imperceptibly.
“I shall be sure to pass your words along to His Highness.”
“…I withdraw what I said just now.”
“Let us go.” Chu Yuan approached and, holding Le Shu’s hand for support, stepped into the carriage.
“Prince Consort!”
A powerful male voice suddenly called out from nearby.
Everyone turned toward the sound.
Cheng Zhi strode forward and cupped his hands. “I trust the Prince Consort is well. Are you heading out?”
Chu Yuan smiled. “Indeed. Has Master Cheng come to see His Highness?”
Cheng Zhi’s smile appeared humble and deferential. “Not so. This humble one has come to retrieve the registers. His Highness brought the construction registers for the Daoist temple back to the residence yesterday. The Ministry of Works requires them urgently, so this humble one was ordered to fetch them.”
Chu Yuan said, “Very well. The registers are in Fuju Courtyard. Xian Yu, take Mister Cheng to retrieve them.”
Xian Yu nodded, handed the whip to Xian Shuang, and led Cheng Zhi into the residence.
Cheng Zhi cupped his hands again in thanks and followed behind him with lowered head.
“Xian Shuang,” Chu Yuan said.
His clear gaze settled on Cheng Zhi’s departing back, and there was no warmth at all in his eyes.
“After Cheng Zhi leaves, follow him secretly.”
Xian Shuang hesitated. “Then no one will remain beside Master to protect you.”
“It will be fine. I will have the carriage move slowly. Xian Yu will soon catch up with us.”
Xian Shuang nodded and quickly disappeared from the gate.
The carriage moved forward slowly. The tassels hanging from the curtain swayed gently. Chu Yuan closed his eyes, recalling Lu Ronghuai’s words from the previous night.
The fake seal had been stolen by Cheng Zhi.
The Prince Li residence was strictly guarded that not so much as a fly could pass through uninvited. Cheng Zhi believed they were not in the capital and secretly slipped into the residence to steal the private seal. What he did not realize was that everything had long been within Lu Ronghuai’s control. Lu Ronghuai had used the scheme to counter the scheme, deliberately allowing him to take the false seal.
“Prince Consort, are we going to Prince Qi’s residence?” Le Shu asked softly, excitement shining in his eyes.
Chu Yuan opened his eyes, and lively amusement gathered in them. “We are. I am taking you to watch the spectacle, make sure you perform well later.”
Le Shu rubbed his hands eagerly and grinned. “This servant will certainly accomplish the task.”
At this very moment, another carriage had drawn to a stop before the gates of Prince Qi’s residence.
The carriage was plain. A blue cloth curtain lifted, and a woman wearing a bamboo hat stepped down slowly.
She climbed the steps and knocked on the residence gate.
After some time the gate opened a narrow crack. Someone inside revealed half a face and asked warily, “Whom do you seek?”
By the time Chu Yuan’s carriage arrived, the entrance of Prince Qi’s residence was already crowded with onlookers.
“Heavens, how astonishing! Prince Qi has returned.”
“Indeed. The people of the residence were weeping earlier. The sound carried from far away.”
“I heard Prince Qi was carried down from the carriage. It seems his leg was injured.”
“To return alive is already fortunate.”
“What is strange is that even General Fang could not find him, yet a Daoist nun rescued him.”
“Who exactly is that Daoist nun?”
“No one knows. I have never heard of her.”
The carriage stopped at the corner of the street.
Chu Yuan smiled and patted Le Shu’s shoulder. “Go.”
“Yes!”
Le Shu leapt down happily and slipped into the crowd like an eel sliding through water.
Xian Yu leaned against the carriage with folded arms, grinning. “Master, after we watch the spectacle, shall we return to the residence or go to the shop?”
Chu Yuan watched the movement of the crowd through the gap in the curtain. “We shall see whether any alterations are needed for the renovation. Afterward we will go to Fuxian Tower and purchase some pastries.”
“By the way, Xian Yu, do you know where the residence of Marquis Yun’an lies?”
Xian Yu replied, “Marquis Yun’an? Ah, the residence of General Bai? It is still in the old place. Does the Prince Consort wish to go there?”
“Yes. If time allows later, we will pass by there.”
“Understood.”
A quarter of an hour later, Le Shu ran back with sweat covering his forehead.
“Prince Consort, this servant has returned!” he called happily while leaning against the carriage board.
Chu Yuan lifted the curtain and extended his hand. “Come up first. Xian Yu, let us go.”
Le Shu climbed into the carriage. Chu Yuan poured him a cup of tea. “Drink some water first. Your lips are quite dry.”
Le Shu gulped the tea down in a few mouthfuls, yet the excitement on his face had not faded.
“Prince Consort, this servant repeated all those words. Will it truly help Sister Fu Qing?”
“Naturally. You have rendered great assistance,” Chu Yuan said with a gentle smile.
Le Shu still looked worried. “This servant is still a little worried. Will the common folk truly believe it?”
“They will.”
Chu Yuan poured him another cup of tea.
“Within two days, the capital will know that Prince Qi was saved by an immortal nun. The reason she could rescue him is because she possesses a life-saving immortal pill.”
“Prince Qi will testify for us as well. He least wishes others to know that it was His Highness who rescued him. Therefore no matter what Fu Qing says, he will support the story.”
“Now that one task is finished, we will inspect the shop and then sit for a while at Fuxian Pavilion.”
“Yes, yes!” Le Shu nodded eagerly.
The shop was already in good condition overall, and there were few places that required adjustment. Chu Yuan pointed out several small issues and asked Xian Yu to arrange repairs. The rest could remain as it was, though all shelves and cabinets would be replaced with furnishings of a more elegant and refined style.
After completing these matters, the three of them went to Fuxian Tower.
The three of them found a private room, drank tea, and ate pastries. They had been sitting for about half an hour when Xian Shuang arrived.
“Well?” Chu Yuan asked.
Xian Shuang replied, “After Cheng Zhi took the registers, he first met Minister Chen Youwei of the Ministry of Works. Afterward he met Guan Wei, an adviser to the Crown Prince.”
“What did they discuss?” Xian Yu asked while pulling Xian Shuang down to sit.
Xian Shuang’s expression remained serious. “There are many ears here. I will report after we return.”
Chu Yuan nodded and pushed a plate of pastries toward him. “You have worked hard. Eat something.”
Xian Shuang opened his mouth to refuse, yet Xian Yu promptly stuffed a piece of cloud pastry into his mouth.
“Just eat. Our master now is the Prince Consort, not His Highness. Eat as much as you like.”
Chu Yuan laughed. “Why? If His Highness were present, would you not dare to eat?”
“It is not that we dare not. It is that we would not wish to. His Highness’s tongue is too sharp. It ruins one’s appetite.”
Xian Yu picked up another pastry and tossed it into his mouth with great satisfaction.
Le Shu added eagerly from the side, “This servant enjoys eating with the Prince Consort most of all. Merely looking at the Prince Consort’s face allows this servant to eat another bowl of rice.”
Chu Yuan tapped his head lightly. “Your tongue grows increasingly clever. Why do you not speak so boldly before His Highness?”
Le Shu shuddered. “Even if the Prince Consort granted this servant ten times the courage, this servant would not dare. This servant still wishes to live.”
His words made Chu Yuan laugh heartily.
Xian Shuang, who had been quietly eating pastries nearby, showed a faint smile as well.
The four of them finished their tea and pastries and headed downstairs.
Chu Yuan placed a veiled hat upon his head. “Xian Yu, tell the shopkeeper to prepare five portions of pastries to take away.”
“Understood.”
As they walked out, Le Shu asked, “Prince Consort, why purchase so many?”
“One portion for each of you. The remaining one will be given to someone else,” Chu Yuan explained while stepping across the threshold.
“Be careful!”
A soft exclamation sounded from outside.
Chu Yuan had not been watching the path and collided with someone entering the doorway. After the startled cry, the other person reacted quickly and seized Chu Yuan’s wrist.
“Prince Consort!”
Xian Shuang also reached out from behind and supported Chu Yuan.
Chu Yuan’s body tilted slightly backward. The gauze curtain of his veiled hat lifted in the air and briefly revealed his breathtakingly beautiful face.
Only for an instant.
The man opposite wore white robes and a veiled hat as well. When he caught sight of Chu Yuan’s appearance in that fleeting moment, his eyes widened sharply beneath the veil.
“Are you injured?”
The two spoke in unison.
Chu Yuan said, “I am unharmed. I failed to watch the path just now. I must apologize. Were you injured?”
“No.”
The man looked at Chu Yuan so intently that he forgot to release his wrist.
Le Shu reminded him from the side, “This… young master, please release your hand.”
The man suddenly returned to his senses. His voice carried deep apology. “I have been discourteous.”
“It is nothing.”
Chu Yuan stepped aside and yielded the path for him.
The other man also moved aside. “You may go first. I am waiting for someone.”
Hearing that, Chu Yuan inclined his head towards him and led his people back to the carriage.
“Xiao Ni, what are you looking at?”
A simply dressed, gentle-faced young man came walking over and stood beside the white-robed figure.
“Xuxing… I believe I just saw an old acquaintance,” the white-robed man said quietly while gazing in the direction Chu Yuan had departed.
“What?”
“Between his brows there is a cinnabar mole identical to that person’s.”
“Truly?” Xuxing exclaimed in surprise.
“No… something is wrong.”
The white-robed man suddenly raised his right hand. This hand had just touched the young man’s wrist.
He carefully recalled the pulse he had felt a moment earlier. Excitement and disbelief burst into his eyes.
“Xiao Ni, what has happened?”
“Something is wrong… his pulse…”
The white-robed man turned to chase after the carriage, yet Xuxing grabbed him.
“The carriage has already departed. You cannot catch it. What has happened?”
The white-robed man drew a deep breath. His voice trembled faintly.
“Xuxing… he is with child.”
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Lu the Dog: And you are?
White-robed man: Guess.
Lu the Dog: Random passerby. You are dead.
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