To Underestimate the Enemy Is a Great Taboo in War
Xian Yu swiftly wrote a letter to Chu Yuan.
The intelligence network of Prince Li’s residence was swift and precise. Five days later, they received Chu Yuan’s reply, ordering them to set out for the Western Frontier at once.
Emperor Hongjia now coveted Chu Yuan’s blood, and his state of mind had grown alarmingly erratic. For Xian Yue to remain in Ye Jing any longer would be extremely dangerous.
In the letter, Chu Yuan specifically emphasized that their own safety must come first in all matters. He said they would wait in Sang Cheng for their safe arrival.
The two of them planned to travel light. They packed only some dried provisions and water skins, along with a change of clothes. Afterward, they gathered all the servants of the Prince Li residence, carefully explained matters to them, and distributed an extra year’s wages.
Once everything had been arranged, Xian Yue directly tore off the false face he had been wearing. With his real features exposed, he and Xian Yu strode openly out through the front gates of the residence, mounted their horses, and rode out of Ye Jing without hindrance.
Three days later, Emperor Hongjia summoned Prince Rui before him.
“Fourth Son, look at Zhen’s complexion these past few days. How is it?” he asked.
Ever since that day when a bowl of blood had been taken from Prince Consort Li, it was divided into three portions and simmered together with ginseng and other tonics, he had drunk it over several sessions and felt considerably better.
Prince Rui held a courteous smile upon his lips. Looking at Emperor Hongjia’s ashen, darkened face, he did not even blink as he said, “Father Emperor’s complexion is excellent. This son heard from Eunuch Yuan Sheng that Father Emperor even used half a bowl more rice at dinner yesterday evening. This son is gladdened on Father Emperor’s behalf.”
Emperor Hongjia was greatly pleased. Clapping his hands, he laughed and said, “Indeed. These past two days Zhen also feels much more spirited, and Zhen’s appetite has improved considerably. Very well, send someone to Prince Li’s residence with some rare jewels and precious treasures, and say they are bestowed by Zhen upon Prince Consort Li.”
Prince Rui acknowledged the order and, as instructed, dispatched people from the Inner Court to make a trip to Prince Li’s residence.
He remained in the hall, attending Emperor Hongjia as he took his medicine.
As Emperor Hongjia drank the medicine, he was already calculating the next day on which he would summon Prince Consort Li into the palace.
He had already privately consulted the imperial physicians. As long as the measure was properly controlled, losing some blood would not do too much harm to a person’s body. Besides, he was not taking the blood for nothing. He had sent considerable valuables in return.
He was the Son of Heaven. Whatever he desired was his by natural right. If he summoned Chu Yuan into the palace under the pretext of treating his illness, and had him obediently offer up his blood, the people of the realm might even praise him for filial devotion.
After finishing his medicine, the more he thought upon it, the more feasible the matter seemed. Just as he was considering when he ought to have Chu Yuan take up residence in the palace directly for the convenience of drawing blood, the people from the Inner Court rushed back to the entrance of the hall in a fluster and loudly begged for an audience.
Eunuch Yuan Sheng strode out and rebuked them in a low voice, “His Majesty is about to rest. What are you making such a commotion about out here?!”
The eunuch of the Inner Court knelt on the ground. Behind him knelt three young eunuchs, each of them holding a tray in his hands. On the trays lay the very jewels and treasures Emperor Hongjia had, an hour earlier, ordered to be bestowed upon Prince Consort Li.
The Inner Court eunuch had rushed back in haste and was sweating profusely. In a trembling, shrill voice, he said, “Grand Eunuch, this servant and the others went to Prince Li’s residence to deliver the gifts. However... however, Prince Consort Li was not in the residence.”
Eunuch Yuan Sheng wished nothing more than to soundly curse the few young eunuchs. “If he was not in the residence, could you not wait a while longer? The Prince Consort may have stepped out on an errand. You cannot even handle such a small matter. You had best take care of your skins.”
The Inner Court eunuch knew Yuan Sheng had taken offense, and his face turned three shades paler with fright. Just as he was about to speak, Emperor Hongjia’s voice came from within the hall.
Yuan Sheng could only lead the eunuch of the Inner Court inside.
Emperor Hongjia reclined against the head of the bed while Prince Rui sat at the foot of it, kneading his lower legs for him. The scent of dragon’s saliva incense spread throughout the whole palace hall. The eunuch of the Inner Court did not dare raise his head at all and immediately knelt to kowtow in greeting.
“Speak. What has happened?” Emperor Hongjia asked impatiently.
After entering the hall, the Inner Court eunuch broke out in a cold sweat. Shrinking his neck, he said in a small voice, “Replying to Your Majesty, this servant and the others went to Prince Li’s residence to deliver the gifts, only to find the main gate of the residence tightly shut. The gatekeeper said... said that Prince Consort Li has already left Ye Jing.”
“What?!” Emperor Hongjia shot upright on the bed. Yet his body no longer allowed such a forceful movement. He began to cough violently, and in the next instant fell back down again.
“Your Majesty.” Eunuch Yuan Sheng was terrified. He hurried forward, lightly smoothing his chest and helping him regulate his breath.
Prince Rui, on the other hand, rose and walked to the doorway of the hall. He spoke a few low words to the guards outside, then soon returned.
“Father Emperor, do not be anxious. This son has already sent men ahead to investigate the matter.”
Emperor Hongjia glared at the floor tiles, his breathing harsh and heavy. Anyone could see at a glance that his mood was exceedingly foul at this moment.
The guards were quick of foot and returned very soon.
And what they reported confirmed the words of the Inner Court eunuch.
Emperor Hongjia was so enraged that he smashed the porcelain vase set before the bed. He glared furiously at the gathered people within the hall.
“You pack of useless things. You could not even keep watch over one living person. Men, drag them out and behead them!”
The Inner Court eunuch and the guards instantly turned pale, struck by a despair so overwhelming it felt like the sky collapsing above them.
“Spare us, Your Majesty.” The two knelt on the ground and begged for mercy.
Yet Emperor Hongjia’s order had already been issued. The Jinlin Guards came in directly and dragged them out.
Prince Rui lowered his eyes. His voice remained as gentle and composed as ever. “Father Emperor, Prince Consort Li is a royal daughter-in-law. For him to leave Ye Jing without Your Majesty’s permission is not a matter fit to be made public. The pressing matter now is still to bring him back, lest others follow the example and disorder the rules.”
Suppressing his rage, Emperor Hongjia nodded and ground out through clenched teeth, “This matter shall be handled by you. You must bring him back.”
“This son obeys.”
Emperor Hongjia added, “He has most likely gone to the Western Frontier. Third Son has kept a mistress outside and even fathered a child. He should have gone there to demand an explanation from Third Son. Send people at once, riding hard for the Western Frontier.”
Prince Rui said, “Then if... Prince Consort Li arrives in the Western Frontier one step ahead?”
Emperor Hongjia’s gaze turned gloomy. “Then have him and Third Son return together.”
Prince Rui said nothing.
Earlier, Emperor Hongjia had written no few letters to the Western Frontier, yet Lu Ronghuai had ignored every one of them, as though determined not to return.
Emperor Hongjia said, “Withdraw first. Zhen is going to draft an edict. Zhen refuses to believe he would dare defy an imperial command.”
Prince Rui slowly stepped out of Emperor Hongjia’s sleeping palace.
Just as he had expected, one of the palace maids from Noble Consort Xu’s palace was waiting for him again at the same old place.
“Your Highness, Her Highness invites you.”
Prince Rui followed her to Noble Consort Xu’s palace.
“Xiao Ze has come. Quickly, come sit beside Mother Consort.” Noble Consort Xu smiled and beckoned to him, her newly dyed crimson nails exceptionally striking.
Prince Rui smiled and went over as told.
Noble Consort Xu said, “This consort heard that that male consort of Prince Li has run off?”
Prince Rui nodded. “Mother Consort’s news is well-informed. Nothing can be hidden from you.”
Noble Consort Xu snorted and used one fingernail to prod Prince Rui in the forehead.
“Last year when this consort sent people to keep watch on Prince Li’s residence, you still told this consort to stop. Now look at it. The man ran off and no one even knew.” Her words carried a trace of reproach, but much more gloating than anything else.
She raised her brows, admiring her own nails, and said with amusement, “At first this consort believed Prince Consort Li was Prince Li’s weak point, and that if we could control him, Prince Li would not be able to slip beyond our grasp. Who would have thought... the imperial house is most thin in feeling.”
Prince Rui lifted his eyes. “Mother Consort has it wrong.”
Noble Consort Xu paused. “Wrong about what?”
“Prince Li’s weak point has, from beginning to end, always been Prince Consort Li.”
“How could that be?” Noble Consort Xu gave a scornful laugh. “Prince Li has kept a bastard child outside behind his back. One can see he does not care for that male consort in the least.”
Prince Rui smiled once more, soundlessly, and said no more.
When he returned to his study, one of his guards entered.
“Your Highness, your guess was correct. Prince Consort Li left Ye Jing last year. He posed as a relative of the Nie family and left together with them.”
Prince Rui closed the memorial in his hands, calm as windless water between his brows and eyes. “When did he go to the Western Frontier?”
The guard replied, “The Nie family lived in Xiang Cheng for three months. After that, they set out for the Western Frontier. Prince Consort Li ought to have traveled with them the entire way.”
They had been unable to trace Chu Yuan’s movements, but investigating the Nie family was far easier.
“Mm, so that is how it was.” A light, restrained smile appeared on Prince Rui’s face.
The guard could not help growing anxious. “Your Highness, now Prince Li’s whole family is in the Western Frontier. In the capital there is no one left who can check Prince Li. If he were... if he were...”
“If he wished to rebel, it would be effortless, would it not?” Prince Rui lifted his eyelids with unhurried ease and completed the words the guard had not dared to utter.
The guard lowered his head, silently acknowledging the statement.
He could not read the emotion in Prince Rui’s words and feared he might think too much. He added, “This subordinate is merely somewhat worried. Besides, His Majesty has not returned military authority to Prince Li. Even if Prince Li harbored treasonous intent, with His Majesty and Your Highness present, he could never stir up a great storm.”
“Military authority is an inert thing. Men are not.” Prince Rui took up his brush, dipped it in vermilion, and wrote a brief comment upon the memorial. Then he closed it and set it aside.
“To underestimate the enemy is a great taboo in war.”
From childhood until now, the one he had admired most in his heart had always been his Third Imperial Brother.
At thirteen, he had gone alone to the battlefield, surviving nine deaths and one life. Thereafter, he had swept across armies in war, his name enough to shake the six kingdoms.
How could such a man possibly be bound hand and foot merely because he lacked military authority?
Father Emperor had always believed that as long as military authority remained in his own hands, Third Imperial Brother could do no more than obey meekly.
Yet he had forgotten that half the present strength of the Kingdom of Lu had been won by his Third Imperial Brother.
Those soldiers who had passed through the fires of battle shoulder to shoulder with Lu Ronghuai, when faced with life-and-death moments, would still stand with the camp they trusted, even without military authority.
This was the absolute, unshakeable loyalty his Third Imperial Elder Brother had purchased with his own life.
Prince Rui turned his head to look outside the window. Whenever he fell into thought, he always liked looking at those clusters of slender bamboo beyond the lattice.
“Third Imperial Brother has gained a son. This Prince has not yet sent him a congratulatory gift.”
Upon hearing this, the guard’s mouth opened and closed several times. In the end, he still lowered his head and said nothing.
Then he heard Prince Rui say, “Perhaps half a military tally would do as the gift. This Prince hopes he will like it.”
The guard lifted his head in alarm, looking at Prince Rui in utter disbelief.
“Your Highness, you...”
A clear breeze drifted in through the window. Prince Rui coughed lightly twice. His fingers tapped twice upon the table in a measured rhythm, as though he did not feel he had said anything astonishing at all.
As though thinking of something, a gentle smile appeared at Prince Rui’s lips. “Ye Jing has not been lively in a long while. This Prince looks forward to it greatly.”
As for what he was looking forward to, he did not say, and the guard could not make sense of it.
“Pass on This Prince’s order. Inform Lu Lingshuang that she may act now.”
“Understood.”
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Prince Rui: Third Imperial Brother, do you like the congratulatory gift?
Emperor Hongjia: Are you mad?!
Lu dog: You are both sick.
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