Tormented by nightmares, Chu Yue woke up feeling exhausted. As he slowly opened his eyes, the first thing that came into view was Xing Li’s alluring, icy face.
“Commander Xing? Why are you here?” Chu Yue only felt a splitting headache. As he spoke, he sat up and reached out to press his temples, but Xing Li clamped a hand around his wrist with a burning gaze.
The strings in Chu Yue’s heart instantly tightened.
“There is something on your forehead!” Xing Li released Chu Yue’s hand, pulled a silver needle from his forehead, and held it upright before Chu Yue’s eyes, then pulled out another. Before all the needles could be removed, Chu Yue closed his eyes and collapsed into Xing Li’s arms.
The moonlight was hazy. Mu Qing kept watch beside Chu Yue’s bed with his hands pressed together, closing his eyes to pray silently to the heavens, pleading for his young master to wake up quickly. Perhaps the heavens felt Mu Qing’s sincerity, as Chu Yue opened his eyes, sat up from the bed, and rubbed the bridge of his nose. “Mu Qing, what time is it now?”
Opening his eyes in pleasant surprise, Mu Qing exclaimed, “The heavens have truly opened their eyes! You are finally awake, Young Master!”
“Have I slept for a long time?” Chu Yue asked.
With a face full of worry, Mu Qing replied, “You have been asleep for several hours, Young Master. It is already the hour of Hai. Are we still returning to the estate tonight, Young Master?”
Pressing his brow, Chu Yue glanced out the window. Sure enough, the moonlight outside the courtyard was bright and clear; he had not expected to sleep right until now. “That is right, did Xing Li come by?” Suddenly remembering that Xing Li seemed to have appeared, Chu Yue asked offhandedly.
“He came, and Commander Xing stayed here keeping watch over you for a long time before leaving. If he had not had to escort His Majesty’s imperial carriage back to the palace, looking at his attitude, he would not have wanted to leave at all!” Mu Qing scratched the back of his head. “This Commander Xing is really strange. He never used to bother with the young master, so why did he suddenly change his tune today?”
“He really came?” Thinking it had been a dream, Chu Yue was surprised to learn it was real, and quickly asked, “How was he strange?”
Grievingly, Mu Qing said, “He chased both me and Record Keeper Zhao away. He was so fierce that neither of us dared to resist. Who knows what he did to you while he stayed in the room by himself? Are you feeling uncomfortable anywhere, Young Master?”
Chu Yue thought carefully. He had never done anything that would make Xing Li suspicious, and since this body was not his own, could Xing Li have grown suspicious and stripped him bare to inspect him after dismissing them?
Chu Yue subconsciously checked his clothes for any signs of disorder, looking very much like a young maiden worrying she had lost her purity.
Mu Qing’s jaw dropped in a daze for a moment before he raged, “That scoundrel dares to covet the young master’s beauty! I am going to tell my lord and lady! We absolutely cannot let him off!”
As Chu Yue was sorting through his thoughts, hearing Mu Qing’s words almost made him pass out again.
Speak of the devil and the devil appears. Lord Mei’s knocking sounded from outside the door. “Lingze, open the door. It is Father.”
As Mu Qing moved to open the door, Chu Yue immediately blurted out, “Father, I have already gone to sleep. Is something the matter?”
Mu Qing froze in place, listening to Chu Yue lie with a completely straight face.
“Father just heard from Record Keeper Zhao that you were not feeling well and were resting here. If there is anywhere you feel uncomfortable, tell Father right away so I can take you back and have a physician look at you,” Lord Mei said with a kindly tone, full of worry and care.
“I am fine, Father. Do not listen to Lord Zhao; I was just a bit tired, and a sleep has made me better. Go back, Father. I will not return to the estate tonight. There are still some things I did not quite understand from today’s readings, so I figured I would wake up a bit earlier tomorrow to study them.”
“You are really alright?”
With full vigor, Chu Yue answered, “Really alright. Lord Zhao’s words cannot be trusted.”
“Mhm,” Lord Mei nodded in agreement, hearing that Chu Yue’s voice sounded nothing like someone who was ailing. “Then Father will head back to the estate first. You do not need to wake up too early for your studies; you must rest more now that you have just recovered from a major illness.”
“Alright, take care on your way back, Father.”
Once Lord Mei’s figure disappeared from the doorway, Chu Yue nimbly got up to put on his shoes and socks. “Mu Qing, prepare the carriage. We are going to the Prince of Cheng’an’s Estate.”
Seeing how anxious Chu Yue was to put on his shoes and socks, Mu Qing immediately squatted down to help his master dress properly, advising, “It is so late, Young Master. Wouldn’t it be better to go tomorrow?”
“No. A gentleman must treat others with sincerity. Since I promised the heir I would visit today, I cannot become someone who breaks his word.”
After tidying his appearance, Chu Yue boarded the carriage and headed all the way toward the Prince of Cheng’an’s Estate.
It was currently approaching curfew. Shangjing City was a land of wine and song; aside from Chang’an Street, Yongle Street, and Sheng’an Street, the three main thoroughfares leading directly to the imperial palace where curfew was strictly enforced, the other streets remained as lively as day. Generally, only imperial relatives or princely nobles lived near the palace.
The Prince of Cheng’an’s Estate was located on Chang’an Street. By the time Chu Yue arrived at the estate, it was already curfew time. Upon arrival, Chu Yue ordered Mu Qing and the driver to return to the Mei estate. Mu Qing, who was always obedient, left as soon as he received the order.
Standing before the estate gates, Chu Yue raised his head to look at the plaque bearing the six characters representing the Prince of Cheng’an’s Estate, then gazed at the solemn, giant crimson doors that symbolized royal majesty. This had once been home for the six years Chu Yue lived there, where the Prince and Princess had also raised his younger siblings. Later, because the Princess was frequently addressed respectfully as Your Ladyship by the noble women of the capital, and the capital aristocrats showed strong intentions of currying favor, the Prince of Cheng’an felt it was inappropriate and rarely returned to the capital.
Stirred by the sight and recalling the past, Chu Yue’s eyes misted over. He stepped forward and knocked on the door. After a moment, the door opened a crack. “Who are you looking for?”
“Naturally, I am here to see the heir. Please announce me; Mei Lingze has come to fulfill an appointment.”
Seeing that Chu Yue possessed the appearance of a young noble, the guard said politely, “Please wait a moment, young master.”
Ever since finishing his studies, Chu Yi had been waiting for Chu Yue at the Imperial Academy, only to wait for an entire hour without seeing anyone show up. As the dignified heir of the Prince of Cheng’an’s Estate, he had actually been stood up by the son of a fourth-rank minor official, filling him with a bellyful of rage.
At that moment, the steward came to report that Mei Lingze was outside the estate gates requesting an audience.
“Not seeing him!” Chu Yi coldly dropped these words in the study. As the steward prepared to leave, Chu Yi added, “Pay him no mind, just go do whatever you need to do!”
“Understood.” Acknowledging the order, the steward withdrew.
After waiting for a long time without anyone coming out to report, Chu Yue guessed that Chu Yi was probably angry, so he knocked on the door once more. No one answered. Leaving empty-handed like this was clearly not Chu Yue’s style either. Chu Yi inviting him to the estate meant he wanted to rope in the Mei family. Although Lord Mei was not a high-ranking official, most of his six sons-in-law held prominent positions, connections that Chu Yi naturally wanted to latch onto. Yet Chu Yi had always disdained the hypocrisy of official circles, so why would he want to drag himself into it?
Chu Yue could not wait to ask face-to-face; he had to see Chu Yi tonight.
Knocking on the door again, Chu Yue said, “Please announce to the heir that whatever he wants, I can give it to him.”
Sure enough, shortly after those words were spoken, the heavy gates opened. Emerging from within was the steward, Uncle Li. “Please come in, Young Master Mei!”
“Many thanks!”
Uncle Li led the way ahead, walking unsteadily with a severe limp in his legs. Chu Yue took it all in from behind, feeling an indescribable bitterness in his heart!