Extra (2)
They met Consort Dowager Ning on a narrow path.
Consort Dowager Ning was supported by attendants as she came to stand before them.
She held her head high, her expression proud, and cast a cold glance toward the child in Lu Ronghuai’s arms. The little fellow was fair and lovely as carved jade and piled snow, his lashes long and thick, making those bright, watery eyes appear all the larger. With red lips and white teeth, he was exceedingly lovable.
“So this is that bastard child of yours?”
Lu Ronghuai and Chu Yuan frowned at the same time, and with perfect unspoken accord, they answered together, “He is our child.”
“Yours?” Consort Dowager Ning turned a mocking gaze upon Chu Yuan, her tone icy. “Can you give birth? A grown man saying such words, yet you feel no shame.”
At those words, a chill rose within Lu Ronghuai’s ink-dark eyes. Even the hard line of his jaw seemed to cry out with dangerous cold fury. He was just about to speak when Chu Yuan lifted a hand and stopped him.
Not only was Chu Yuan unangered, his white-jade face even carried a faint smile. “I naturally can. Consort Dowager may as well take a closer look at the child’s features.”
Consort Dowager Ning laughed inwardly, yet seeing how calm and assured Chu Yuan’s expression was, she truly fixed her eyes upon the child.
That closer look startled her into a cold sweat.
The child’s eyes were the very image of Lu Ronghuai’s, while the nose, mouth, and shape of the face were almost as if molded from the same pattern as Chu Yuan.
Consort Dowager Ning studied Chu Yuan’s flawless face, then suddenly let out a cold laugh. “Could it be that you have a twin younger sister?”
Lu Ronghuai’s sharp gaze stabbed toward her. “After so long eating vegetarian fare and worshipping Buddha, has your mind grown muddled as well? This Prince loves only Ah-Yuan. Lu Duoyu is the child of This Prince and Ah-Yuan. Should you dare spread half another rumor, your tongue will be torn out, you will be thrown into prison, and exiled three thousand li.”
Consort Dowager Ning’s mouth drew tight, and it was plain to see that she was suppressing her anger. “What of it? He is only a male consort. Can this Consort not even speak of him?”
Lu Ronghuai’s expression was violent beyond measure. He curled his lips coolly, and the look in his eyes made her scalp go numb. “You are not qualified to speak half a word against him.”
Consort Dowager Ning said, “This Consort holds the rank of a Noble Consort Dowager. Naturally this Consort is qualified to discipline him.”
Chu Yuan curved his eyes, his voice soft and mellifluous. “Consort Dowager has dwelt deep within the inner palace, so perhaps you do not yet know. His Majesty has already abdicated in favor of His Highness. Should you truly anger His Highness, there will be no benefit in it for Consort Dowager.”
“After all... you and His Highness have already severed your bond as mother and son. Even if His Highness were to punish you, no one under Heaven would utter a word of reproach.”
Consort Dowager Ning’s expression stiffened.
Chu Yuan lifted his face, the line of his profile fine and smooth. Smiling, he looked at the man beside him. “Your Highness, it is growing late. Let us return.”
“Very well.”
Lu Ronghuai’s face expression remained dark. As he passed by Consort Dowager Ning, his gaze swept over her in warning, his whole person giving off a dark and baleful aura.
That was the disgust born after she herself had stripped away the bond of mother and son between them, leaving no room at all for return.
Startled by his gaze, Consort Dowager Ning stiffened and took half a step back. Her lips parted, yet no words came. She could only watch as they walked farther away.
After leaving the imperial garden, Lu Ronghuai took Chu Yuan and Lu Duoyu onto one horse with him and rode unhurriedly toward the palace gates.
They had no intention of moving into the imperial palace for the time being. News of Lu Rongze’s death had to be announced at once, and many matters still required attention. It would be more convenient to remain at Prince Li’s residence.
From a distance, the officials waiting on the official road caught sight of Prince Li riding over on horseback, and hurriedly moved to either side of the road, now straightening their official headgear, and smoothing their robes.
“This subject and the others kowtow to greet Your Majesty.” When he drew near, the court officials dropped to the ground in one sweep, kneeling respectfully to welcome their new sovereign.
Lu Ronghuai rode past with Chu Yuan held in his arms, not pausing for even half a moment.
After the sound of hoofbeats had receded, the ministers, their mouths full of dust, rose again in silence.
They looked at one another, each one ash-faced and dirt-streaked, their expressions dim.
They had long since offended Lu Ronghuai. Quite apart from all that had happened before, today they had even gone under the Empress Dowager’s orders to intercept Prince Li at the city gates, intending to pin the charge of rebellion upon him.
In the end, not only had the charge of rebellion failed, but they had even awaited an imperial edict of abdication.
Once Lu Ronghuai ascended the throne, none of them would have any good fruit to eat.
“This… do any of you have a good method?” In the dim evening light, a censor frowned and asked in distress.
“What good method could we possibly have? Surely we cannot imitate Minister Xia and force matters with death in the audience hall.” Someone spoke back with a cold sneer.
“You!” The censor’s face shifted from green to red. “We are all grasshoppers on the same rope now. Why must Minister Zhou speak such cold words here?”
“Say less, both of you. With Prince Li... no, with His Majesty treating us in this manner, I fear our black gauze hats are not going to remain on our heads.” Seeing that the two were about to quarrel again, another official stopped them with a sigh.
“Indeed. What are we to do?” These officials, who in ordinary days held their noses toward Heaven, were all deeply uneasy now. Not one of them retained the slightest trace of composure.
“How about... we go and ask Elder Nie to plead for us?” someone suggested.
The Nie family had returned to the capital together with Prince Li, causing no small stir in the city. At present, who in Ye Jing did not know that Prince Li valued the Nie family? If Nie Chouwen would consider that they had once served in the same court, he might yet be willing to speak a few words on their behalf before Prince Li.
“Yes, yes, what Minister Chang says is most true. Let us go visit Elder Nie.”
They had already reached the end of their road. This proposal stirred everyone at once, and they immediately went together to the Nie residence.
Only, they had arrived a little too late. After dealing with people for an entire day, Nie Chouwen’s strength was spent, and he ordered the gates closed to visitors, saying it could wait until tomorrow.
The contents of the abdication edict spread through the city in less than half a day. Learning that Prince Li was to become Emperor, the common people were exceedingly pleased.
Prince Li’s great achievements in unifying north and south won their praise. Some even compared Prince Li to the founding Emperor, and in every word there was admiration for him.
They did not understand the political situation, yet they understood one thing: from this day forward, there would no longer be war and slaughter. They would be able to live peaceful and prosperous lives. In the days when north and south had been divided, such a beautiful reality had been something they had not even dared imagine.
They discussed excitedly when Prince Li would hold the enthronement ceremony. Yet on the next day, the death knell sounded from within the palace, followed at once by seven days of national mourning.
After Lu Rongze’s funeral had been completed, Lu Ronghuai had a false coffin secretly used to replace Lu Rongze’s remains within the imperial mausoleum. He then ordered men to raise an unnamed grave in the Western Hills and bury the remains there, which could be counted as fulfilling Lu Rongze’s wish in life.
Within Prince Li’s residence, everyone was drinking tea in the courtyard.
“At last it is over. Since returning, I have been so busy my feet have not touched the ground. It is more tiring than waging war outside.” Lu Rongshen moved his shoulders twice and sighed bitterly with a mournful face.
Bai Qingyu smiled and fed him a cup of tea, then lifted his hand and began massaging Lu Rongshen’s shoulders to ease the soreness.
“Xiao Bai is the very best.” Lu Rongshen turned around in delight and flashed Bai Qingyu a radiant smile.
Bai Qingyu curved his lips and said nothing. His fingers moved from the shoulder to Lu Rongshen’s face and lightly pinched his fair, soft cheek.
The smile on Lu Rongshen’s face instantly grew all the brighter.
Lu Ronghuai, sitting across from them and watching this scene of open flirtation and loving display, felt his teeth turning sour beyond endurance. “If the two of you wish to display your affection, go back to Prince Jing’s residence and display it there.”
Lu Rongshen blushed a little in embarrassment, yet still grinned merrily at his Third Brother.
Nie Siran had always liked singing the opposite tune to Prince Li. Smiling, he said, “These past two days Ah-Yuan has been helping Clan Leader Jiang settle into the new residence, and at night he goes back to the Nie residence to accompany Little Fish. Why is Your Highness like one who has eaten firecrackers, setting people alight the moment he sees them?”
Lu Rongshen raised a paw. “I know, I know. Third Brother has been left at home by Third Sister-in-law to guard an empty room alone, and he is holding a bellyful of grievance.”
Bai Qingyu silently pressed down that excited little paw.
Lu Ronghuai: “...”
A hint of meaning touched Nie Siran’s smile as he deliberately struck at the sore spot. “Oh, so that is how it is. Your Highness is not even as strong as Little Fish, who has only just been weaned. Little Fish is far more steadfast than you are.”
Lu Ronghuai sent a blade-like glance over. “Steadfast? If he were steadfast, would he snatch my wife from me at night? Hah.”
That final cold laugh rose and fell with full cadence, brimming with Prince Li’s dissatisfaction.
After returning to the capital, Lu Ronghuai and Chu Yuan were both extremely busy. The two feared they would not be able to care for Lu Duoyu properly, so they temporarily settled him at the Nie residence. With Nie Chouwen, Jiang Ni, and the others there, the two of them were quite at ease.
Only, this little whelp clung too much to Chu Yuan. If he could not see Chu Yuan at night, he would refuse to sleep. In the end, Lu Ronghuai was the only one left alone in Prince Li’s residence.
The several people present could not help laughing, yet they did not dare truly laugh without restraint, for fear of provoking this Prince Li, who seemed possessed by the spirit of jealousy.
“Very well, let us first speak of proper matters.” Nie Siran gave a low cough and tried hard to keep the corners of his mouth straight. “The Deposed Crown Prince and the Empress Dowager are now both imprisoned in the cells. What does Your Highness intend?”
Bai Qingyu said, “General Zhao said that the Empress Dowager refuses to eat in prison and has been shouting all this time that she wishes to see Your Highness. The Deposed Crown Prince fought with Liu Mingyue in the cell. When the jailers pulled them apart, the Deposed Crown Prince bit off one of Liu Mingyue’s ears, while Liu Mingyue crippled the Deposed Crown Prince’s right eye.”
Lu Ronghuai had no interest in the matter. Hearing this, he idly played with his cup. “Is that so? I shall go and have a look tonight.”
Nie Siran laughed twice and asked of another matter, “When does Your Highness intend to ascend the throne?”
Lu Ronghuai lifted his eyelids. “Speak plainly. Are you not tired, talking in circles?”
Nie Siran’s smile did not diminish. “Your Highness is in no haste to ascend the throne, yet there are already people who can no longer sit still.”
Lu Rongshen said in surprise, “What do you mean?”
Could it be that someone wished to seize his Third Brother’s imperial throne?
Nie Siran said, “These past two days, the officials at court have pressed Grandfather without pause. Grandfather had not wished to see them at first, yet this group cast aside even their own face and remained at my family’s gate, refusing to leave, determined to force Grandfather to give them a way out.”
Bai Qingyu understood at once. “They want Elder Nie to plead for them?”
Nie Siran nodded.
Lu Rongshen spat, “They have truly cast aside their face. In the past, how many hidden knives did my Third Brother suffer from them? Each and every one of them has a rotten heart. Yet now they still want my Third Brother to spare them. Does my Third Brother look like one who is soft-hearted?”
Everyone: “...”
Lu Ronghuai was angered into laughter. “Is your skin itching again?”
Lu Rongshen realized he had misspoken, shrank his neck, and hurriedly tried to mend it. “I spoke wrongly, I spoke wrongly. What I meant was, does Third Brother look like someone easy to speak to? Heh heh.”
The more he tried to explain, the darker it became. Bai Qingyu pressed a hand to his forehead helplessly and stood up. “Your Highness, Consort Dowager Ye is still waiting for us in the palace. We shall take our leave first.”
Lu Ronghuai cast a half-smiling glance toward Xiao Ba, who had made himself into a quail. “Go then. Convey this Prince’s greetings to Consort Dowager.”
Lu Rongshen hurried after Bai Qingyu and slipped away at once.
“Cowardly thing.” Lu Ronghuai watched the two leave and passed merciless judgment on his Eighth Brother.
Nie Siran sipped his tea slowly, his smile refined and gentle. He looked upright as jade, noble and peerless.
Yet Lu Ronghuai had long seen through this fellow and knew that beneath the fair face hid a black heart. He was not one to be easily provoked.
“Grandfather will not agree to their request. Speak. What good deed have you done?” Lu Ronghuai took up his teacup again, his thin lips parting slightly.
Nie Siran’s eyes curved with warmth as he smiled. “I only reminded them, if they wish to keep their lives, they must first understand what Prince Li truly values. Only by offering what suits his liking can they seek honor from peril.”
Lu Ronghuai looked at him, unable to put his feelings into words. “They are going to be toyed to death by you.”
Nie Siran lightly pushed the blame back onto him. “Those words are not quite right. In doing this, I am also thinking on Your Highness’s behalf. If they truly understand, they will naturally know what they ought to do. If they do not understand, then this also happens to provide a fair and open chance to strip them of office. Whether or not they can satisfy Your Highness depends entirely on their own fortune.”
✧ A Word from the Author ✧
Lu Dog: You brat, very bad indeed!
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