Xia Ling hurried towards the front courtyard, but before long, he encountered Bai Chuyin on the way.
The two groups bumped into one another. Unlike him, Bai Chuyin was dressed simply, yet his face, so pitifully delicate, made it impossible to look away.
What annoyed Xia Ling most was Bai Chuyin’s face. Both were intent on getting there first to tend to Xu Chen in the front courtyard and win her favour. For a moment, the atmosphere became tense and charged.
“Brother Bai, you’re certainly quick off the mark. I didn’t see you when it came to paying respects to His Lordship, yet here you are, more eager than anyone else.”
Bai Chuyin maintained his usual detached demeanour. “Her Highness has been attacked; this is precisely when he needs care. Brother Xia Ling, with your flighty nature, you’d likely be unable to look after Her Highness properly. With me here, I shall certainly tend to his injuries with care; you may simply return and wait.”
“You!”
Xia Ling was furious. “Her Highness surely wishes to see me at this very moment. What business do you have here?”
Bai Chuyin: “It is a virtue to know one’s place. Who Her Highness wishes to see is not something Brother Xia Ling can simply decide with a word.”
The two of them were like peacocks locking necks in a fierce battle, neither willing to yield, the air thick with tension.
Ultimately, it all came down to the Crown Princess’s fickle nature. Neither of them was confident about who held greater favour in her heart; both feared that if this opportunity were snatched away by the other, the other’s standing in the Crown Princess’s eyes might surpass their own.
After all, everyone knew the immense value a man held in a woman’s eyes when he stood by her side during her most vulnerable moments.
Just then, Lu Qiuci, accompanied by Dongyi, arrived on the scene.
Hearing the commotion, the two turned their heads in unison to look at Lu Qiuci.
Lu Qiuci paused in his steps. Dongyi, who was supporting him, recalled Xia Ling’s earlier arrogance and instinctively shrank his shoulders in fear, which only served to highlight Lu Qiuci’s composure and exceptional poise as he held his ground.
Xia Ling and Bai Chuyin immediately turned their sights on Lu Qiuci, acting in perfect unison against the outsider. Whilst they certainly could not stand the sight of one another, dealing with a third party took precedence at that moment.
“Why has the Lord come here? Surely not to pay a visit to His Highness?” asked Xia Ling.
“ “I would advise Your Lordship not to flatter yourself. On your wedding night last night, Her Highness did not even come to your chambers, nor did she send so much as a greeting… If you go to her now, you might only irritate Her Highness and hinder her recovery.”
Lu Qiuci: “There is no need for Young Master Xia to trouble himself. As Her Highness has been injured, it is only right that I, as her Lord, should attend to her.” ”
He was simply beyond reason. Xia Ling grew even angrier and was about to say something more when Bai Chuyin stopped him.
He gave Lu Qiuci a slight bow, his movements graceful and proper, his voice as clear as a babbling brook. “My Lord, please do not misunderstand. Brother Ling was merely looking out for you; it is just that his frankness has caused you displeasure.”
“We have been with Your Highness since before you entered the residence, and know Her Highness’s temperament best. Having suffered an assassination attempt and sustained injuries, Her Highness’s mood is likely unsettled at this time. Should she see you… and become enraged, I fear you might not be able to bear the consequences.”
“After all, an assassination attempt on your wedding day—rumours are likely already spreading outside that your fortune is ill-fated for Her Highness.”
Lu Qiuci could not help but clench his fists within his sleeves. He looked at Bai Chuyin; though his face was strikingly handsome, with the grace of a celestial being, to him at that moment, he seemed as venomous as a snake or a scorpion.
A bringer of misfortune to his wife!
This was the most severe and vicious accusation one could level against a man.
If this accusation were proven true, his future life would likely be utterly ruined; it was a ruthless, bloodless form of murder.
Lu Qiuci spoke, his face set: “I am the Crown Princess Consort, betrothed by His Majesty’s decree. My birth chart and that of His Highness have been examined by the Imperial Astronomical Bureau; we are a match made in heaven, a union destined from the start. Where, then, is this so-called ill fortune?”
“This must be Young Master Bai from the Fushu Pavilion. Do you perhaps take issue with the Emperor’s decree of marriage?”
Bai Chuyin’s composed demeanour crumbled instantly; his gaze turned icy, whilst Xia Ling’s face betrayed a smug satisfaction at seeing her opponent’s humiliation.
Lu Qiuci said, “I beg you two gentlemen to step aside; do not delay us.”
Yet how could Bai Chuyin and Xia Ling possibly yield the way and let Lu Qiuci have her way?
A single glance from the pair was enough to summon attendants who immediately approached Lu Qiuci, ready to block his path.
Xia Ling: “As for this path today, if I say you cannot pass, then you cannot pass. Do not waste your efforts.”
A flicker of anger ignited within Lu Qiuci, and he could not help but retort: “ ‘What if I insist on passing?’
Xia Ling’s expression turned cold. “Then do not blame me for offending you, my Lord.”
The three stood facing each other, the atmosphere as frozen as ice; conflict was imminent. Lu Qiuci’s power was too weak; apart from Dong Yi, he had no one in the Princess’s residence who would obey his commands.
It seemed utterly impossible for him to prevail against Xia Ling and Bai Chuyin, both of whom were deeply favoured by the Crown Princess.
“What on earth is all this commotion about?”
A stern voice suddenly cut in, shattering the standoff.
A middle-aged man, followed by two attendants, strode steadily towards the three of them.
Lu Qiuci observed the man and found his demeanour deeply contradictory. The fabric of his garments was of the finest quality, indicating his high standing within the Princess’s residence, yet his face and hands bore the marks of hardship—traces one would only acquire from regularly performing arduous and heavy labour.
Furthermore, his features were strikingly handsome, with a dignified and refined countenance; the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes and lips only served to lend him a calmness and wisdom born of the passage of time, exuding an air of authority without needing to raise his voice.
Xia Ling and Bai Chuyin clearly recognised this man. Upon seeing him, they reacted as if mice had spotted a cat; the haughty air they had displayed towards Lu Qiuci instantly vanished, replaced by a deference that was both docile and courteous.
As the man approached, they immediately stepped aside, calling out, “Master Lin.”
Unexpectedly, Lin Yi of the Lin family did not so much as glance at the pair, nor did he offer any response. Instead, he walked up to Lu Qiuci, offered him a kind smile, and bowed properly, asking, “Does my lord wish to pay a visit to His Highness?”
Lu Qiuci felt both flattered and taken aback. He paused for a moment before realising that this was the Head Servant of the Crown Princess’s residence. He quickly nodded in response: “Her Highness was the victim of an assassination attempt; I am deeply concerned and wish to see how she is faring.”
The other man’s kind smile immediately took on a tender, affectionate quality as he said to Lu Qiuci: “Then the Lord should come with me. Knowing that the Lord is concerned for her, Her Highness will surely be delighted.”
“Her Highness suffered greatly last night; with the Lord’s comfort, she is sure to recover sooner.”
“The family’s instructions are clear: I shall certainly take good care of Her Highness.”
Lu Qiuci hurriedly followed the other towards the front courtyard. Watching their retreating figures, Xia Ling and Bai Chuyin seemed slow to react; it was only when the group had walked several dozen metres away that the look of astonishment faded from their faces, replaced by an unmistakable mix of jealousy, resentment and anger.
Lu Qiuci couldn’t help but glance back at the pair. Seeing the fury in their eyes—a fury they dared not voice—he suddenly felt a sense of relief wash over him, as if a cool breeze had swept through his heart.
In that moment, his regard for the Lin family steward at his side surged.
The front courtyard differed from the rear; it lacked the cloying air of the inner quarters, with the gardens and décor leaning more towards solemnity. Soon, led by Head servant Lin , Lu Qiuci arrived at Xu Chen’s quarters—Chenghua Hall.
Upon entering Chenghua Hall, Lin Yi led Lu Qiuci to a side chamber—the office area within Xu Chen’s private quarters, the study—and said to him, “My lord, please wait here a moment whilst I seek Her Highness’s permission.”
A short while later, Head Servant Lin emerged from the study and informed Lu Qiuci, “My lord, Her Highness requests your presence.”
It was only when Lin Yi entered that Xu Chen remembered she had a newlywed husband.
This was not to say she was unaware that someone had married her the previous day, or that she did not know of his existence; rather, she simply did not care.
The name Lu Qiuci held no significance for her whatsoever; the true value of this wedding lay in the plan executed last night. Everything else—including the other protagonist of the ceremony—was merely an insignificant footnote to that plan.
“What is he doing here?” Xu Chen asked, fixing his gaze on the older man.
Lin Yi wore an expression of resignation as he softly interceded on the other’s behalf: “Although Your Highness did not go to the Yuhua Pavilion last night, once you crossed the threshold, Master Lu became your husband. You were injured in an assassination attempt; the Lord coming to visit you demonstrates his concern for you.”
“When I went to fetch His Lordship just now, Young Masters Xia and Bai at the manor tried to stop him from coming. As soon as His Lordship entered the manor, with no one to assist him, he was nearly bullied. Your Highness, can you guess what His Lordship said?”
At the mention of the clash between the three men moments earlier, Xu Chen’s expression remained unchanged, betraying no hint of approval or disapproval.
Lin Yi pressed on: “At the time, the Lord Consort declared that his marriage to Your Highness was ordained by imperial decree—a match made in heaven—and that no one was more qualified than he to look after Your Highness.”
“The Lord, newly wedded to Your Highness is truly a most intelligent young man, and his appearance is even three times more striking than that of the other young lords in the Princess’s residence.”
Xu Chen suddenly said, “Uncle Lin, send him in.”
Lin Yi was immediately delighted. To be honest, he did not care for the men currently in Xu Chen’s harem, particularly those in favour; he considered them either sly foxes or too foolish to look after Xu Chen.
On the contrary, he was quite satisfied with Lu Qiuci. During that minor altercation earlier, Lin Jialing had actually arrived long before it began; he had stood in a blind spot out of everyone’s view for quite some time, waiting until the moment was right before stepping forward to restore order.
In that brief span of less than a quarter of an hour, he had developed a favourable impression of Lu Qiuci. Though still rather green, the young man possessed, at the very least, the bearing befitting a lord.
Lin Yi, delighted, said he would go out immediately to summon Lu Qiuci. His eyes then fell upon the roughly bandaged wound on Xu Chen’s arm, and he couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy. He added, “Your Highness’s wound hasn’t been properly treated. Shall I send for the imperial physician again to have it re-dressed?”
Xu Chen: “The imperial physician has already examined it. It is not a serious injury; there is no need to summon him again.”
“Uncle Lin, please fetch some gauze and medicinal powder for me.”
Lin Yi was not entirely in favour of this, but looking into Xu Chen’s eyes, he could not bring himself to utter a single word of objection.
A vague sensation crept over him once more: Her Highness had, at some point, become quite different.
Yet he felt this was only natural; after all, she was the daughter of the late Emperor and Empress!
Lin Yi left the room. Moments later, a pair of slender, fair hands gently pushed the door open, and a tall, slender figure stepped inside.
The backlighting as the door opened prevented Xu Chen from seeing Lu Qiuci’s face immediately; it was only when the door closed with a soft click that Xu Chen could fully make out his features.
“He is indeed handsome.”
Xu Chen concluded casually, though he did not think Lu Qiuci was three times more attractive than the two men his predecessor had favoured most.
After all, once one’s looks reach a certain level, the only differences left are in temperament and style.
At most, he possessed an extra touch of gentle refinement; perhaps Lu Qiuci’s appearance simply better suited her aesthetic.
…………………….
A Word from the Author:
The young couple meet—yay, yay, yay!