I Would Not Mind Roasting You First
Chu Yuan reached the entrance of the study and heard Nie Chouwen’s voice from within.
“Your Highness returned late last night. Was the Northern Frontier campaign especially difficult?”
Lu Ronghuai gave a faint scoff. “Not so. I made a detour to the Kingdom of Yu midway.”
“For what purpose did Your Highness go to the Kingdom of Yu?”
Lu Ronghuai replied, “Earlier, I received word that Zhengqing had fled there. I went to the Kingdom of Yu and brought him back.”
Nie Chouwen lifted his eyelids slightly. He did not fully believe him. “For a mere Zhengqing, why would it require Your Highness to personally make the journey?”
“I mainly went to obtain their defense map. Taking him was merely incidental.” He spoke with effortless calm and tossed a peanut into his mouth.
Nie Chouwen: “...”
Nie Chouwen drew in a steady breath, then said as evenly as possible, “The defense map of the Kingdom of Yu?”
Lu Ronghuai nodded.
The defense map was the core of a nation’s military strategy. For Lu Ronghuai to have obtained it meant he had long been planning an attack on the Kingdom of Yu.
Perhaps the campaign against the Kingdom of Yu was only the first step.
A deep, measured light gathered in Nie Chouwen’s eyes.
Chu Yuan knocked lightly on the door and pushed it open.
“Grandfather, Master Deng’s family has come to visit. Ah-Die asked me to call you.”
The look in Nie Chouwen’s eyes vanished at once. He smiled gently. “Very well. You have my thanks, Yuanyuan.”
When Lu Ronghuai saw him, he immediately rose and walked over. He took Chu Yuan’s slightly cool hand. “A servant could have delivered the message. Why come yourself? Your hand has grown cold.”
“I had just finished eating and wished to walk a little more,” Chu Yuan said softly, his eyes curving like willow leaves.
Lu Ronghuai glanced at his rounded belly. He took the hand warmer from Le Shu and placed it into Chu Yuan’s hands, then held his other hand.
“I will accompany you for another round.”
The two took their leave of Nie Chouwen. Their fingers interlaced as they walked slowly along the corridor.
When they reached a place with no one around, Chu Yuan asked, “Your Highness, why did you strike Xian Shuang?”
Earlier, when he had gone out, he had seen that the corner of Xian Shuang’s eye was darkened with bruising. Only after questioning him did he learn that he and Lu Ronghuai had fought outside late at night.
Lu Ronghuai smiled. “That is called sparring. He was simply not my match.”
“...”
Chu Yuan shook his head helplessly, then warned, “You must not strike him again. He is my guard. If you wish to spar with him, you must first obtain my permission.”
Lu Ronghuai felt even this small matter stir a trace of jealousy. “I also received two blows. Why does Ah-Yuan concern himself only with him and not with me?”
At the same time, he thought to himself that he had been too lenient the previous night. Tonight, he would take the man out again and deal with him properly.
Snow slid from the eaves, striking the treetops before scattering down in a soft rush.
“Has Your Highness finished writing the memorial?” Chu Yuan turned his head to look at the snow upon the ground.
Lu Ronghuai gave a languid hum. From somewhere, he produced a hairpin and gently set it into Chu Yuan’s dark hair, which flowed like clouds.
Chu Yuan did not notice.
He idly toyed with his hair. “The memorial is already on its way back to the capital. Whether it will reach Father Emperor is uncertain.”
At first, Chu Yuan did not understand the meaning behind those words.
What did it mean that it might not reach Father Emperor?
If it did not reach him, then…
He halted mid-step, suddenly understanding. “Indeed. Crown Prince Rui is currently overseeing governance. If he does not wish Father Emperor to see it, then Father Emperor will never know of it.”
Before leaving the capital, Crown Prince Rui had remained behind closed doors due to illness. Later, as the year drew to its end and Emperor Hongjia’s condition worsened, he began summoning him frequently. By mid-eleventh month, Crown Prince Rui had finally agreed to oversee state affairs.
Chu Yuan felt a trace of concern. “If he truly refuses to let Father Emperor see it…”
Lu Ronghuai smiled faintly, entirely at ease. “It matters not. We are far from the capital. The sky is high and the emperor is far.”
Chu Yuan recalled the intelligence delivered by the shadow guards. He felt it necessary to inform him and relayed everything Xian Yue had uncovered.
After listening, Lu Ronghuai showed no surprise.
Chu Yuan blinked. “Your Highness had already guessed?”
They had reached a mural. Lu Ronghuai pressed him lightly against the wall, shielding him from the cold wind. His broad chest enclosed him completely.
His breath fell warm and close as he brushed a gentle kiss at the corner of his lips. “Ah-Yuan should attend carefully. There is no need to dwell on those unimportant people.”
Chu Yuan had not yet spoken when a torrent of kisses fell upon him.
They had been separated too long. Even the smallest touch stirred deep tremors within, like molten fire breaking through the earth, fervent enough to melt a person entirely.
On the ninth day, the family gathered together to play leaf cards.
Lu Ronghuai sat lazily beside Chu Yuan. One arm rested along the back of his chair, while the other fed him water.
“That is enough,” Chu Yuan said after drinking. His lips were moist and bright. He lightly touched the corner of his mouth and eagerly reached for the cards.
Lu Ronghuai gave a quiet laugh. He set the cup aside and looked toward Nie Chouwen.
“Have you considered my previous suggestion?”
Nie Chouwen drew a card. “Your Highness wishes us to move to Sang Cheng. You should at least provide a reason.”
Jiang Ni added, “Exactly. You say nothing and simply ask whether we will move. That is no different from a bandit.”
Nie Xuxing spoke even more directly. “Sang Cheng is nowhere near as comfortable as Xiang Cheng. I will not go.”
Lu Ronghuai smiled gently, his expression mild. “If I were to say that Lu Rongze will soon ascend the throne, what then?”
The entire room fell silent.
The roasted chestnuts Su Ruhe held slipped from his hands and rolled across the floor to the doorway.
He turned his head back to look at them, his expression pained.
“Why are you all so astonished? I am merely stating a fact that is about to occur,” Lu Ronghuai said calmly, even refilling Jiang Ni’s cup.
Nie Chouwen set down his cards, his expression solemn. “Your Highness, such matters are not to be spoken of lightly.”
“Do I appear to be jesting?” Lu Ronghuai leaned back slightly. “I am only offering a reminder. Xiang Cheng is not safe. Bai Qingyu and Bai Yi are in Sang Cheng. If you go there with Ah-Yuan, I will be more at ease.”
“Yet I have heard that Crown Prince Rui’s health cannot last much longer,” Jiang Ni said, frowning.
Lu Ronghuai replied in an ambiguous tone, “That is not certain. What if he were to recover?”
Nie Siran spoke with a trace of mockery. “Your Highness is indeed magnanimous. To hand over the empire so readily is a virtue worthy of admiration.”
Lu Ronghuai spoke slowly, his tone carrying deeper meaning. “What worth is there in what others give? If one desires something, one must seize it oneself.”
Nie Siran merely smiled.
Lu Ronghuai’s gaze swept across them, his voice lowering. “Ah-Yuan’s investigation into Lu Rongze has likely already aroused his suspicion. Once the Northern Frontier campaign concludes, if I do not return to the capital, he will certainly attempt to seize Ah-Yuan to threaten me.”
Everyone fell silent.
In the end, the Nie family agreed to move to Sang Cheng.
They planned to wait until after Chu Yuan gave birth and allow him a month to recover. When spring arrived in the third month, they would depart.
“Your Highness, I wish to eat roasted sweet potatoes,” Chu Yuan suddenly said, turning his head. His eyes were bright and clear as he looked at him.
Lu Ronghuai immediately released his hair and stood. “I will go to buy them.”
Jiang Ni called out, “In this cold, they will be cold by the time you return. Cold ones do not taste good.”
Nie Xuxing nodded. “It is still the festive period. Vendors close early. By now, they have likely all gone home.”
Lu Ronghuai lowered his head. Chu Yuan looked up at him with eager eyes, filled with longing for roasted sweet potatoes.
“Do you truly wish to eat them?”
Chu Yuan had suddenly developed a craving for roasted sweet potatoes. The thought stirred restlessly within him. Hearing their words, his expression dimmed at once.
“Then… forget it…”
Lu Ronghuai turned to the Nie family. “Are there sweet potatoes in the kitchen?”
Jiang Ni drew a card, a smile hidden in his eyes. “There are, but they are all raw.”
Lu Ronghuai let out a breath of relief. He rolled up his sleeves and strode out. “I will roast them.”
Nie Xuxing signaled toward Nie Siran. “Go and watch His Highness. Do not let him set our kitchen ablaze.”
Nie Siran told Su Ruhe to sit beside Chu Yuan and watch the cards, then followed after him.
Chu Yuan held his cards, his gaze unconsciously following after Lu Ronghuai.
Jiang Ni smiled and tapped his forehead. “Do not look anymore. When he is here, he does nothing but disturb you, playing with your hair or your sash. He is most vexing. It was not easy to send him away. Come, let us continue.”
Chu Yuan pursed his lips, his cheeks flushing. He did not dare to refute.
Elsewhere, Lu Ronghuai gathered dry firewood and built a fire outside the kitchen. Under the tense gazes of the servants, he carried out five sweet potatoes from the kitchen.
The steward saw him crouching by the fire, tossing the sweet potatoes into the flames, and said cautiously, “Your Highness, allow the servants to assist you.”
Lu Ronghuai did not raise his head. He waved a hand impatiently. “No need. Attend to your own matters. I have no use for you here.”
Nie Siran stood nearby, arms folded, watching with interest. “Your Highness speaks boldly. Be careful that the sweet potatoes do not remain uncooked, leaving Ah-Yuan hungry.”
Lu Ronghuai said coolly, “If you speak another word, I would not mind roasting you first.”
The steward was so frightened that he waved his hands repeatedly. “Your Highness, please calm your anger. That cannot be done, it truly cannot be done!”
Nie Siran dismissed the servants, then walked over and sat beside him on a small stool. “I offer you a word of advice.”
“Speak.” Lu Ronghuai kept his eyes on the fire, carefully watching the sweet potatoes within.
Nie Siran stretched out his hands toward the warmth. “Keep a close watch on the ruler of Chu. Do not allow him to meet Ah-Yuan.”
“These are Ah-Die’s words for you.”
Lu Ronghuai paused briefly, then added another piece of wood to the fire.
“Understood.”
The two remained by the kitchen door for nearly half an hour. The fire gradually died down, leaving only faint embers glowing within the ashes.
Lu Ronghuai picked up a small branch and began to draw the sweet potatoes out from the ashes.
He had only taken out two when Le Shu rushed in, his face pale and covered in sweat.
“Y-Your Highness, the Consort is going into labor!”
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
I’m finally back. Working overtime has been absolutely miserable. When does everyone get their holiday? I got mine on New Year’s Eve, so here I am first.
Thank you to the little angels who supported me during this period!
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