Mei Jinshu felt that his current appearance must be immensely vicious. Using coercion and enticement, acting with a lofty and superior attitude to toy with the powerless, struggling youth before him, he watched his painful resistance and his eyes that silently begged for redemption.
Yet all of this was ultimately in vain; he would never harbor even a shred of softheartedness.
“Haven’t you always wanted to be seen by the Emperor and Empress? Now that the opportunity is right before your eyes, what is there to hesitate about?”
“No, except for this!” Meng Xueran shook his head, holding firm to what was in his heart. He would never trade his lifelong happiness to buy the attention of his imperial father and mother. Why should his own life be casually decided by others?
“Those family members who have never cared about me, what use is their love?”
“I have already served as Meng Changqi’s shadow for fifteen years. I no longer wish to yearn for that illusory, ethereal family affection. All the wealth and glory, the supreme power, none of it compares to staying by adoptive father’s side.”
Mei Jinshu was rendered momentarily speechless. He said he was willing to forsake everything just to stay by his side, which was a deeply touching sentiment. Even with a heart as unyielding as stone, it would inevitably stir a trace of reluctance.
He could indeed tell that this was Meng Xueran’s heartfelt truth. After wrestling with the thought for a long time, he said, “Don’t forget the three chapters of our agreement. Although I only granted you two conditions back then, you must still fulfill them.”
Meng Xueran lowered his eyelashes and asked him, “Then has adoptive father thought of the third condition by now?”
Mei Jinshu said, “Don’t try to change the subject. When you turn sixteen, you will have to leave the Prime Minister’s estate after all. By then, who you marry will not be something I can decide. However, I advise you to get married now.”
Because when he turned sixteen, there was a high possibility he would be sent to Wuhuan for a political marriage. Yet he couldn’t reveal any of this to Meng Xueran, nor could he proactively alter the trajectory of key characters. He just hoped the boy would know what was good for him!
What an absolute stubborn mule; he stopped talking again.
Just what does he want to do?!
Mei Jinshu felt his patience wearing thin. He had exhausted every kind and harsh word in the book; whether the boy could comprehend his painstaking efforts depended entirely on his own comprehension. Otherwise, if he suffered to the bone in the future, he wouldn’t play the fool who took the blame.
“Speak! Have you been struck mute?”
“It is truly mentally and physically exhausting. If His Majesty doesn’t reward me with ten thousand pieces of gold, it won’t be enough to soothe all these years of grace in raising you.”
Meng Xueran suddenly stood up and pulled him into a tight embrace, startling Mei Jinshu so much that he didn’t dare move for a moment. He said, “Alright, I promise you, if this will make you happy.”
Recovering his wits, Mei Jinshu shoved him away with a single palm strike, retreated a few steps, and snapped, “I told you not to touch me!”
Clutching his chest with a calm expression, Meng Xueran said, “Alright.”
“You? Eleven, bring him some food; don’t let him starve to death!” Suddenly feeling that Meng Xueran had changed, making him inexplicably guilty and flustered, Mei Jinshu turned around and hurried out of the Plum Quarters, his heart hammering wildly.
The Imperial Palace
After the morning court session, Mei Jinshu was summoned into the Imperial Study. Meng Junxuan was flipping through memorials, his brows tightly locked as if a heavy weight pressed upon his chest. He inquired, “Does the Third Prince have any opinions regarding the marriage arrangement?”
Mei Jinshu replied, “It is indeed not very smooth, but if it is Your Majesty’s decree, presumably he will not raise objections.”
“Oh?” Meng Junxuan roughly understood the implication and said with a troubled expression, “The Empress Dowager has always wanted to betroth Princess Shangning, Bu Jingyu, to the Crown Prince. Bu Jingyu possesses a noble status and is favored by the Empress Dowager, so she naturally must take the position of the primary consort.”
“Unfortunately, the Duke of Yi’s estate acts far too overbearingly. The Empress dislikes them, and I do not wish to let them gain any more prominence. External relatives who grow too formidable are ultimately a bad thing.”
“My youngest son is actually very well-suited for this match.”
“However,” Mei Jinshu stated bluntly, “The Third Prince’s current identity remains that of the Prime Minister’s adopted son. I’m afraid the Duke of Yi’s estate will not easily agree. Furthermore, Princess Shangning has previously bullied him, so I fear.”
Meng Junxuan said, “If I grant the marriage, do you think the Duke of Yi’s estate would dare refuse? If they refuse, I would actually find it even more interesting.”
Mei Jinshu said, “That may be so, but matters of affection? The Third Prince seems extremely resistant.”
“Affection?” Meng Junxuan revealed a trace of contempt wrapped in helplessness, a disdain unique to those in supreme positions. “Those in the imperial family view the word affection as a taboo. Whether one likes it or not is unimportant; I only care about the result.”
Mei Jinshu asked, “Then this marriage alliance?”
Meng Junxuan instructed, “Let it be settled for now; I will have people spread the word.”
“Understood. This subject will convey this accurately to the Third Prince.” Exiting the Imperial Study, Mei Jinshu pondered how to break the news to Meng Xueran. In any case, he wasn’t the one matchmaking this marriage; when the time came, he could just blame his biological father if he had any complaints.
The journey back to the estate was bustling with activity. He ordered the carriage to stop for a moment and led Ye Ting toward the main street. It seemed he hadn’t been out for a stroll in ages, and since his usual shops happened to be soliciting business, he bought plenty of pastries and snacks.
Ye Ting followed behind him with his hands full, barely able to hold everything.
In the past, even if he thought of it, he would only bring things into the palace for Meng Changqi. Even when passing right through the main street every day, he had never bought anything for Meng Xueran. Thinking about it now, he really was quite biased.
Since even Meng Junxuan didn’t care whether his youngest son lived or died, what could he himself do? Outwardly expressing concern and putting on an act of looking out for the boy’s best interests, he was in reality just treating him as a pawn to be balanced against other interests.
He also wondered what was going on in the Empress’s mind. If she truly felt even a shred of heartache and guilt, securing a fiefdom for Meng Xueran so he could live out his days in peace would have been far better than using him to check the Duke of Yi’s estate and the Empress Dowager’s faction.
In the back garden of the Prime Minister’s estate, Meng Xueran acted as if nothing had happened, going to the academy to study as usual and practicing his swordplay in the courtyard just like every other day.
The contrast was so stark, acting like two entirely different people compared to his desperate, life-or-death demeanor during the night. Quietly observing him, Mei Jinshu felt deeply perplexed, wondering if the shock had driven him out of his wits.
On second thought, it wasn’t likely that he couldn’t even withstand this bit of setback.
Meng Xueran stood tall and straight, his sword strikes fierce and sharp, carrying a suppressed and extraordinary ferocity. His movements were fast and steady, a testament to his usual diligence. Day in and day out without a single day of slack, this alone surpassed countless ordinary people.
He never begrudged appreciating excellence in others, even if that person was a potential threat to himself.
“Mei Jiu, come over here.” Standing under the veranda, Mei Jinshu called out to him.
“Yes.” Meng Xueran put away his personal short sword. Every time he looked at Mei Jinshu, his eyes always welled up with a light of yearning and admiration. Those clear, bright eyes would stare at him without blinking, and an overwhelming wave of youthful aura threatened to drown anyone nearby.
Mei Jinshu unconsciously retreated a few steps, wondering why he could never break the habit of lunging right up in front of him. Standing this close, laced with the scent of sweat, he intentionally reached out and used his sleeve to wipe the sweat from Meng Xueran’s face. The boy’s ear tips turned red, his cheeks flushed crimson, and his neck turned bright red as well.
It’s over, everything is completely over.
He sat powerlessly on the veranda bench, propping his forehead up in deep distress.
Meng Xueran’s heart was pounding frantically, his entire body feeling as if he had been thoroughly boiled, glowing bright red. His usually cold adoptive father had actually taken the initiative to wipe away his sweat, wondering if this was care?!
“Adoptive father, what did you buy?” Meng Xueran pointed at the large and small parcels in Ye Ting’s hands.
“Nothing, I bought.” Mei Jinshu corrected himself, “I bought them for.”
Ye Ting chimed in, “They were bought for the Young Master, and they’re still warm.”
“You certainly talk a lot.” Mei Jinshu couldn’t help giving him a sidelong glance before saying, “That’s right, hurry up and eat.”
Meng Xueran sat down beside him, his easy-to-coax demeanor leaving Mei Jinshu torn between laughter and tears. Opening the wrapping oil paper revealed fresh hawthorn cakes; picking one up and taking a bite, it melted in his mouth with a slight tartness.
“Why did you buy these?”
“Because Master said you haven’t been eating much lately and your appetite must be poor. Hawthorn cakes stimulate the appetite.” Finishing his explanation, Ye Ting wore an expression that practically shouted for praise.
Mei Jinshu said, “Ye Ting, go chop firewood in the kitchen.”
“Huh?” Ye Ting looked bewildered. “Why? Isn’t someone already chopping it?”
Mei Jinshu said, “Seeing that you have energy to spare with nowhere to use it, just go.”
“This subordinate will go.” Ye Ting was completely simple-minded and had no clue what he had done wrong. Weren’t they supposed to have bought these for the Young Master to eat? Why had his master suddenly gotten angry, and who on earth had provoked him?
Mei Jinshu simply couldn’t bear to face it, knowing he treated the boy so poorly, yet wondering what on earth made him cling so stubbornly.
What if Meng Xueran truly harbored inappropriate feelings? How was he supposed to face that? After all these years, expending so much effort and even sending the boy to the Fanghua Academy, which was packed entirely with young noble ladies, if the boy still turned out to swing the other way, he truly had no tricks left.
What should he do? He could tolerate the boy bending in any other direction, but he absolutely could not bend toward him!
Meng Xueran asked, “Adoptive father, do you have something on your mind?”
Mei Jinshu replied, “It is none of your business.”
Meng Xueran picked up a piece of hawthorn cake and brought it to his lips: “Want a taste?”
Mei Jinshu knocked it away with a swat, sending the hawthorn cake tumbling to the ground. Feeling distressed and vexed, he wondered whether or not he should mention the marriage alliance with the Duke of Yi’s estate. After all, the imperial decree hadn’t been issued yet, and whether it would succeed or fail was still undecided.
“Adoptive father, why are you angry?” Meng Xueran picked up the fallen hawthorn cake from the floor, a look of disappointment washing over his face. That batted-away piece of pastry was just like his own humble attempts to please, cast down onto the dirt at a moment’s notice.
Wasn’t it all because of you! Taking a roundabout approach, Mei Jinshu said, “Because you don’t strive to improve! What use is trying to ingratiate yourself with me? Can I spend a lifetime with you? Useless wretch, instead of wasting time on this, you’d be better off trying to please your future wife.”
Meng Xueran said, “Who my future wife will be remains to be seen.”
Mei Jinshu said, “His Majesty has already settled the marriage between you and Princess Shangning, Bu Jingyu. We are just waiting for the imperial decree.”
Meng Xueran said, “So, I have no choice?”
“You have a choice.” Pondering for a moment, Mei Jinshu teased playfully, “You can also take concubines.”
“Mm, that sounds not bad.” Putting the dirty piece of pastry back into the oil paper, wrapping it up with the rest, Meng Xueran said indifferently, “I said before, as long as adoptive father is happy, I accept all of it.”
“Though taking concubines is out, I don’t like it.”
“It’s best if you can think like that.” Mei Jinshu stood up, intending to leave, but his path was blocked.
Blocking his way, Meng Xueran asked, “Does adoptive father know what kind of affection I desire?”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Mei Jinshu answered, “I do not!”
Meng Xueran said, “A soul-stirring infatuation, a single devoted heart, never forsaking and never betraying. It is truly very simple, nothing more than that.”
“Hoh, simple? Then I wish you success.” Mei Jinshu sneered, thinking it was nothing short of daydreaming.
“That day will come.” He, Meng Xueran, could afford to wait. No matter how long it took, no matter what methods he had to use, whatever he wanted, he would stop at nothing to obtain it.