“The Fourth Princess’s birthday is in five days?”
Chu Yue’an put down his teacup, and a look of just the right surprise appeared on his face. His eyes widened slightly, hiding a trace of bewilderment at not having reacted in time: “I thought the Princess was joking just now. It seems this subject’s daughter will have to prepare a gift in advance.”
His voice was soft yet clear. Rarely did he show an expression other than his usual coldness, and Lu Jingci was slightly moved and said with a smile:
“Baizhou is thoughtful. I imagine Shuangchan will be happy too.” As Crown Prince, Lu Jingci put on no airs with Chu Yue’an. He reached out his slender fingers, steadily picked up a pair of silver chopsticks, and carefully picked out the bones from the fish meat. When the bones were removed, he gently picked up the piece of fish and, with some warmth and concern, placed it in Chu Yue’an’s bowl.
“This place’s steamed shad is a few parts fresher and sweeter than the Imperial Kitchen’s. Baizhou, quickly try it.”
Chu Yue’an had been about to pick up some green beans from the dish in front of him, but was startled by Lu Jingci’s sudden action. His chopsticks paused, and an ill-timed thought first popped into his head:
Are you and Gu Shaoshi in cahoots? Why is it that to get closer to someone, both put food in their bowl? And both fish?
On his face, though, Chu Yue’an slowly raised his eyes, his gaze calm and without ripple, landing on the piece of white, translucent fish that had been passed over, nodded slightly, and said in a clear, light voice with just the right amount of respect: “Many thanks, Your Highness.”
Having said that, he picked up his silver chopsticks, lifted it very delicately, and took a small bite. His movements were elegant, but carried a politeness that kept people a thousand li away.
This movement was indeed one part deliberate on Chu Yue’an’s part, but more so, it was because he had very bad childhood memories of fish bones, so he would not eat fish if he could avoid it, and if he had to, he must chew and swallow slowly.
Watching her like this, Lu Jingci felt a little vexed. Ever since entering the private room it had been he who raised the topics. Chu Yue’an himself ate little and frequently put food in the bowl of Lu Youning beside him, and responded to him only in a few short, reserved sentences.
He had rarely seen her expression loosen a moment ago and thought he could take the chance to mention her marriage, but unexpectedly in a moment she was back to the initial coldness.
Since their last meeting, Lu Jingci had more or less worked out this General’s Residence only daughter’s temperament and knew she was not doing it deliberately but that it was her nature, but he was still somewhat frustrated.
The room fell quiet for a while, with only the sounds of the street market occasionally drifting in from outside the window. Lu Jingci looked at Chu Yue’an’s cool and indifferent profile, the sunlight falling and casting a small shadow over her long lashes, setting off her delicate and refined face all the more. Lu Jingci was increasingly stirred and couldn’t help saying:
“I hear a new bookshop has opened in the west of the city, with many rare, single-copy editions. If Baizhou is interested, another day this Prince…”
“Your Highness,” Chu Yue’an suddenly raised his eyes and interrupted him, his tone still calm but with more distance, “this subject’s daughter has been unwell recently and fears she has no time to go out. Many thanks for Your Highness’s kind thought.”
Anyone with eyes could see that the Crown Prince now had designs on Chu Yue’an, with repeated special treatment and favor and frequent displays of goodwill, but she remained unmoved. With things said to this extent, even the slowest should understand her meaning.
Lu Jingci’s expression sank slightly and the atmosphere in the room suddenly froze. Lu Youning also sensed something wrong, her eyes swept swiftly between the two, and she grew restless.
This time before Chu Yue’an could act on his own, Lu Jingci spoke:
“Sister Youning, the lotus-flower pastries at the Hundred Flavors Tower are the very best. I’ll have someone take you to try them, what do you think?”
Although Lu Youning was young, she was much more sensible than Lu Shuangchan, and on hearing it nodded timidly.
Lu Jingci then called out loudly: “Someone!”
…
The private room finally had only the two of them left, as Lu Jingci had wished.
Chu Yue’an remained unmoved throughout, except that when Lu Youning stood up she quietly said in his ear, “Don’t be afraid,” and he then continued to turn his head to look at the street market outside the window. Lu Jingci personally saw her to the door, and with the soft sound of the door being closed with a “click” and the sound of Lu Jingci’s slow steps back to the table, Chu Yue’an finally turned his eyes back to him, his expression still unchanged in its calm.
“Baizhou’s bearing, though this is not the first time I’ve seen it, is even more dazzling, and one is intoxicated at the sight.” Lu Jingci took his seat with a tender smile, his burning gaze fixed on Chu Yue’an’s cheek, in his eyes an undisguised admiration and…possession.
Although Chu Yue’an was not a woman, he could not help feeling the intense appraising meaning in that gaze. He had seen many similar looks since entering the capital, but none had ever made him so uncomfortable, to the point that he wanted to turn around and leave at once.
In fairness, Lu Jingci, as Crown Prince, was naturally not bad-looking, the type who in a crowd would not take one’s breath away at first sight, but would win admiration for the steady temperament about him.
His brows and eyes were regular sword brows and star eyes, the brow peaks tilting slightly up, and he always looked at people with some sharp scrutiny, showing some dignity. The bridge of his nose was straight and the line of his lips distinct. When not smiling, the corners of his lips were slightly pressed, carrying a gravity of one who does not joke, and when he smiled it was only a faint lift, without a trace of frivolity.
By rights, His Highness the Crown Prince was likewise an indisputably upright gentleman, even surpassing Gu Shaoshi in a sense that overshoots rather than falls short, yet somehow, being with him, Chu Yue’an kept thinking of that Prime Minister Gu. At times he felt that, though both were gentlemen like jade, he seemed to prefer a mild smoothness, and found the plain, upright kind rather tasteless.
Chu Yue’an thought it over inwardly, frowned slightly without showing it, avoided Lu Jingci’s direct gaze, and answered respectfully:
“Thank you for Your Highness’s regard. This subject’s daughter is unworthy.”
Lu Jingci evidently was not here to hear thanks. He leaned over to refill his emptied jade cup, and at the same time emphasized his tone:
“It’s ‘Wuxi.'”
Chu Yue’an was slightly stunned, and immediately understood that Lu Jingci was referring to having him address him by his courtesy name. He shook his head at once, likewise emphasizing his tone: “Your Highness, I cannot.”
Lu Jingci was evidently more patient today than yesterday. He picked up chopsticks and put a shrimp dumpling in his bowl, and only then said:
“On such an occasion, is Baizhou still unwilling to grant this Prince this small wish?”
Chu Yue’an held his ground without retreating, his expression already faintly displeased: “Ruler and subject are different. This subject’s daughter begs to be excused from obeying.”
Lu Jingci gave a soft sigh, suddenly locked eyes with him, and said:
“Could it be that Baizhou can accept the Prime Minister’s proposal, yet has some prejudice against this Prince?”
“This subject’s daughter would not dare.” Chu Yue’an was startled, immediately rose to bow, his head lowered.
Prejudice, prejudice again. He grumbled in his heart: Gu Shaoshi also says I have prejudice against him, you also think I have prejudice against you, how come I didn’t know!
Lu Jingci did not personally help him up as before. He lifted the jade cup and sipped unhurriedly, and after a long while continued:
“Since you do not deny it, you agree? If so, why did you agree yesterday morning to stay in the hall with the Empress Dowager?” Lu Jingci gave a cold scoff. “Don’t think this Prince is truly a fool, who wouldn’t even know he’d been used as a shield.”
Lu Jingci was about three cun taller than he. Now, though standing, Chu Yue’an’s knees were bent, so he was a head shorter than Lu Jingci. Chu Yue’an was thinking how to respond when his throat suddenly hurt: Lu Jingci had suddenly reached out and clamped his neck!
“Not…not so.” In pain, Chu Yue’an took the chance to pinch his own palm and squeeze out two tears hanging at the corners of his eyes, looking pitiable: “Please judge clearly, Your Highness. Yesterday morning, the Empress Dowager, considering this subject’s daughter’s poor health, specially granted the favor of letting me rest in the side hall, and it was not that I knew Your Highness would come to the hall afterward. Please…please judge clearly, Your Highness! There is not a word of error in what this subject’s daughter says. If Your Highness doesn’t believe me, you may send someone to ask Auntie Zhishuang to verify.”
“I know it was Auntie who told you to go.” Lu Jingci narrowed his eyes and stared down at him from above. “It’s what came after. Do you dare say you weren’t deliberately seducing this Prince?”
If these words had been said to any other official’s daughter, she would probably have flushed red on the spot and flown into a rage, but what great storms had Chu Yue’an not seen? Hearing it, he only went a little pale, his lashes fluttered once, and he bit his lip. The force Lu Jingci applied to his neck was merciless, and speaking that long passage a moment ago had exhausted him and nearly revealed his own real voice. Now he was barely breathing:
“If Your Highness insists on thinking so, this subject’s daughter…this subject’s daughter has nothing to say.”
The two looked at each other. Chu Yue’an did not know that the corners of his eyes were now red and his red lips were trembling, the breath of each word spilling across the tiger’s mouth of Lu Jingci’s hand, a soft tongue faintly visible between white porcelain-like teeth, his pretty brows knit. That mountain-flower air of detachment was finally knocked away, and he became something to be abused at will.
Lu Jingci unconsciously licked the seam of his lips, and his other hand suddenly stroked Chu Yue’an’s face, saying softly:
“No matter, this is good too.”
Chu Yue’an’s brain was oxygen-starved from the choking and he did not notice what he was saying. The next moment, Lu Jingci suddenly let go.
Chu Yue’an hurriedly turned and sat back in his own seat, covering his lips with his sleeve and breathing in great gulps. In his heart he seethed, this damned Lu Jingci, when my eldest brother returns to the capital I will definitely make him—
“This Prince heard that Brother Chongshu held his capping ceremony in Wuzhou last month. Is that so?”
The topic changed so fast that even Chu Yue’an was stunned for a moment. To keep Lu Jingci from flaring up again, he coughed lightly, lowered his sleeve, and frankly met his gaze as if nothing had just happened, but when his eyes touched that dark pair of eyes, the knuckles he had placed under the table shrank.
“It is indeed so,” Chu Yue’an replied softly.
Why did Lu Jingci suddenly bring this up?
He did not understand, and could not take the initiative to ask now.
Lu Jingci was completely natural, and regained his kindly expression:
“This Prince has always been on good terms with Chongshu, but had no chance to witness his capping ceremony. Men all regard the twentieth year as adulthood and take the capping ceremony seriously, but always forget that this day is also his birthday. This Prince always consults with Chongshu, but this year had no idea. May I ask Baizhou to help this Prince choose a birthday gift?”
Chu Yue’an was slightly taken aback, nodded instinctively and was about to agree, but forcibly stopped himself:
That’s not right.
What sort of person was the Crown Prince? Even if he and Chu Muhe had been classmates in youth and were close in private, why would these trivial matters need his personal concern? He was afraid the intention was not in the wine.
He thought for a moment and replied cautiously:
“Thank you for Your Highness’s kind regard. Baizhou thanks you in advance on my brother’s behalf. It is only…” A hint of hesitation showed in his expression. “This subject’s daughter does not wish to hide it from Your Highness, but my brother has lived in the capital for many years, and only last month did we two meet again. In the many years between, I have not been familiar with my brother’s preferences and habits, and I’m afraid I cannot help with Your Highness’s needs, though I wish I could.”
Lu Jingci, however, with two parts of a smile, shook his head:
“Baizhou, you know best of all what gift Brother Chongshu wants right now. There is still time now. Why not think about it more carefully?”
Chu Yue’an’s heartstrings tightened and a flash of insight came to his mind.
So that was it.
The seal of the Commander of the Palace Guard!
Lu Jingci wanted him to personally beg him to petition the Emperor to return the seal, now in Zhao Delu’s hands!
In this way, even if the Chu family had no substantive conspiracy with the Crown Prince, in the eyes of outsiders they would inevitably be counted as the Crown Prince’s faction. Then once Lu Jingci asked again for the marriage, his marrying into the Eastern Palace would be almost nailed down.
Chu Yue’an unconsciously clenched his hand, and his fingernails dug into his flesh.
He was wrong. He had to withdraw what he had always thought. How was Crown Prince Lu Jingci any kind of unknowing, simple gentleman? He was clearly a big-tailed wolf hiding treachery.
He had thought he’d acted out a scene of a drowsy beauty and truly hooked the Crown Prince. He should say he was really foolish, thinking he could scheme these people round and round, and yet had stepped into a trap himself and almost lost his little life in it!
Chu Yue’an drew a deep breath, held onto the wobbling calm on his face, barely raised a smile, and changed the subject:
“…Your Highness, speaking of birthday gifts, I displeased the Fourth Princess just now, so I imagine this gift cannot be neglected even more. Since Your Highness condescends to invite me, may I ask Your Highness to help this subject’s daughter as well?”
He took the initiative to show weakness, lifted the teapot on the table to refill Lu Jingci’s cup, and in his heart madly thought about how to solve this plan.
Lu Jingci did not hear the answer he wanted. His brow furrowed, and he was about to flare up again when, just then, the door was suddenly thrown open from outside:
“Your Highness! Big trouble! Miss of the Marquis of Pingnan’s residence was just…taken away by the Third Prince! This subordinate was not in a position to stop him much. Now their party is close to the shore of Spring Lake. This subordinate cannot chase further, and begs Your Highness to decide!”
Having said that, the man abruptly crouched and bowed his head, his expression showing an obviously forced calm.
Lu Jingci flung down his teacup, and his face turned dark at once:
“A bunch of useless people! Someone! Prepare the carriage. I want to see what disaster my fine Third Brother is going to make this time!”
Chu Yue’an’s lips went white and the panic in his heart surged all at once. He did not need to act it, as the helplessness on his face could not be hidden. He looked at Lu Jingci almost at once and said urgently:
“Your Highness, this subject’s daughter will go too.”
It was that Third Prince Lu Jinghe, known as “Yongdu’s number one dandy.” If Bai Ziyao was rotten mud that could not be plastered on a wall, then Lu Jinghe was so low in character that even passing dogs wanted to kick him a couple of times.
But as it happened, his birth mother was the present Noble Consort Yao, whose favor with His Majesty never faded, and so His Majesty also turned a blind eye to him. Pampered since childhood, he now dared to abduct a young lady of the Marquis of Pingnan’s residence on the street. He was truly lawless!
No wonder Chu Yue’an was so flustered, since he knew well that if Lu Youning came to any harm under her care, then Lu Youning’s elder brother, the legitimate son of the Marquis of Pingnan’s residence, and also his eldest brother Chu Yixiao’s deputy general, Lu Mingrui, would surely not let it go.
At that time, not to mention that at the least Lu Mingrui and his eldest brother would grow apart, if things went badly the Chu and Lu families would grow apart, and that would be losing more than gaining.
The situation was urgent. Lu Jingci nodded in response, and before long the two climbed into the carriage and headed straight for the shore of Spring Lake.