The eunuch reading the decree had a high-pitched, piercing voice.
The first part was filled with flowery language and grand phrases. It wasn’t until the end that Mu Jue heard his own name.
“…To ensure eternal harmony between the two nations and prevent war, the Sixth Prince of Da Ning, Mu Jue, is hereby sent as a hostage. He shall depart for the Northern Di capital in three days.”
The eunuch closed the scroll and handed it to him.
“Sixth Prince, please receive the decree.”
A hostage.
Going to Northern Di as a hostage.
That day at Xiao Yun Restaurant, when the Crown Prince and the Ninth Prince tried to offer him to the Little Khan, this must have been the plan all along.
But there was no need for such a complicated scheme. Among all the princes, if one had to be sent to his death, it was always going to be him.
Mu Jue looked up. The way the eunuch looked at him was as if he were looking at a dead man.
“Sixth Prince, did you hear the decree clearly? If so, take it quickly.”
The eunuch led the other servants away. Mu Jue held the bright yellow scroll. The darkness in his eyes reflected no sunlight; against his pale skin, he looked almost ghostly.
“Congratulations, Sixth Brother. You’ll be leaving for Northern Di in a few days. I hear the climate there is freezing and the people are savages. You’d better adjust quickly so you don’t fall ill and die the moment you arrive.”
The Ninth Prince strode over, scanning Mu Jue’s face.
“But don’t worry too much. Northern Di loves ‘male winds.’ They especially like men who look like women, like you. When you get there, use those skills you used to seduce Chief Lu to climb into the Khan’s bed. Maybe you’ll live a life of luxury after all, hahaha…”
Mu Jue casually tossed the imperial decree onto the ground. His dark eyes calmly met the Ninth Prince’s gaze as he tilted his head slightly.
“You should worry more about how to get your ‘Brother Crown Prince’ to forgive you.”
“You dare throw away Father’s decree!” The Ninth Prince snapped, his pride stung. “You really did see everything that day—did Chief Lu save you? So what? Do you think Father would have issued this decree without Chief Lu’s approval?”
The Ninth Prince sneered, whispering in his ear: “Chief Lu won’t look after you anymore. Why would I need to beg the Crown Prince? Chief Lu discarded you because he clearly thinks I am better suited for that throne and likes me more.”
Mu Jue looked down. As the eunuch left earlier, he had heard him say, “Hurry up, His Majesty is at the traveling palace and waiting for us to serve him.”
Mu Jue stepped over the decree, his rose-colored lips curving slightly.
“Go ahead and tell the Emperor if you want. If the Emperor kills me, who do you think is the next prince to be sent to Northern Di? I’m sure the Crown Prince hopes it’s you.”
The Ninth Prince’s face changed. He looked like he wanted to curse, but he didn’t dare say another word.
Mu Jue strode out of the Hall of Literary Brilliance. The Ninth Prince shouted behind him.
“Don’t think about running! The palace is heavily guarded. You won’t make it out!”
If he could have run, he would have escaped the palace long ago.
He walked all the way to the palace gates, where guards immediately blocked him with their blades.
The young man stopped. “I want to see Chief Lu.”
One of the Eastern Depot guards among them whispered, “Sixth Prince, the Chief entered the palace today. He should still be inside. Commander Cao said the Chief went to the side hall.”
Mu Jue turned back. Outside the courtyard of the side hall, Lu Shiting sat on a stone bench with Fireball resting on his lap.
Lu Shiting’s slender fingers gently stroked the white cat’s head. Fireball clung to him, purring contentedly.
Mu Jue’s hand at his side clenched for a moment, veins popping.
Hearing the movement outside the hall, Lu Shiting looked up. He must have just finished the morning court session; he was still wearing his crimson python robes. Under his black official hat, his cold, handsome eyes watched Mu Jue indifferently.
The late winter wind was still cold. The withered trees in the courtyard cast dim shadows in the thin sunlight.
“…Chief Lu, please take Fireball with you.” Mu Jue suppressed the tremble in his voice. “Fireball is this little white cat.”
Lu Shiting handed the cat to Cao Yi. “Take it to the Eastern Depot to be raised.”
Cao Yi obeyed.
“Chief Lu won’t abandon it halfway, right?”
Cao Yi frowned and silently shook his head, warning Mu Jue not to say more.
“The cat will be fine at the Eastern Depot. So will Consort Li.”
Mu Jue nodded. “Then Chief Lu, please keep Xia Ming here as well. Don’t let him go to Northern Di with me, and don’t leave him in the palace. The Ninth Prince won’t let him live.”
“If Your Highness has anything else to say, say it now.”
Mu Jue took a few steps forward, searching for the meaning in the man’s dark eyes.
“…Does Chief Lu want to kill all the princes and become the Emperor himself?”
As soon as he asked it, he felt it was absurd.
The reason Da Ning established the Eastern Depot and gave eunuchs such great power was because they were “rootless” men without wives or children. Compared to ministers with powerful families behind them, the Emperor trusted eunuchs who had no descendants to inherit their power.
But since Lu Shiting became the Chief four years ago, no young prince had lived past the age of five.
Starting from the Third Prince, to the falling out between the Crown Prince and the Ninth Prince, and now him being sent to Northern Di…
Lu Shiting clearly had no intention of supporting any prince for the throne.
Cao Yi’s eyes nearly popped out at the question. He shook his head frantically, begging Mu Jue to shut up.
Hearing the mention of the throne, Lu Shiting’s expression remained calm.
“Princes will kill their own flesh and blood for power.”
The man stood up, seemingly finished with the conversation, and walked toward the exit of the courtyard.
As he passed Mu Jue, a very faint trace of sadness appeared in his distant eyes. Mu Jue bit his lip; by the time he tried to look closer, Lu Shiting had already turned his face away.
“If Your Highness can manage to escape while on the way to Northern Di, the Da Ning court will not send anyone to pursue you. Where you go is no concern of mine.”
Mu Jue hurried back to the side hall and organized all his winter clothes.
He stuffed his saved gold and silver into the hidden pockets of each garment.
Once finished, he carried two bundles to his mother’s room nearby.
His mother didn’t know that in three days, her son would be sent to Northern Di as a hostage, likely to remain in a foreign land forever. She was sitting before her dressing mirror, quietly reading the Classic of Poetry.
Since he had started studying at the Hall of Literary Brilliance, the food and clothing sent here were of the best quality, and maids came daily to help her dress.
She wore a pale blue dress with flower and bird patterns, her hair in a gentle bun. There were fine wrinkles at the corners of her eyes, but her features remained soft and beautiful. In the faint morning light, he hesitated to call out to her.
Mu Jue walked over softly, hid the bundles under her bed, and then reached out his hand to her.
“…Mother.” He forced a small smile. “I haven’t read to you today.”
She looked up at him, seemingly trying to recognize him. After a few moments, she placed the Classic of Poetry in his hands.
He looked down. The page she had been reading was “The Cypress Boat.”
Mu Jue read softly:
“It floats about, that boat of cypress wood, floating in the middle of the stream. Disturbed and sleepless, I have a secret sorrow. The sorrow of my heart is like unwashed clothes. Quietly I think of it, but I cannot spread my wings and fly.”