Chapter 50: CH 41

Originally, Zhong Wan wanted to take advantage of the fact that it was still early to pay Tang Ming another visit. But after Lin Si had disturbed him, it was too late to leave the city walls. He could only give up on that.

As he thought of Lin Si, Zhong Wan wondered if he should burn incense at the ancestral tomb of the Zhong family. And once he thought of the ancestral tomb, the possibility that Tang Ming’s mother was from the Zhong family once again crossed his mind. Once his thoughts came to this point— 

In an instant, he was certain. Tang Ming was definitely his relative!

Tang Ming had no wife or sons. He would also not leave behind any descendants!

Zhong Wan couldn’t help but smile.

Without him knowing it, his thoughts wandered to the spectacle at the mourning shelter. 

He lightly pursed his lips. He recalled for a short while, and found it fine even if he didn’t leave behind any descendants this life.

As he was caught in his reverie, Xuan Congxin entered the room.

A guest had suddenly arrived at the residence. Xuan Congxin couldn’t be at ease, so she came over to ask for his opinion.

“It doesn’t matter. I… he’s a friend I met in my youth,” said Zhong Wan in an ambiguous manner. “Back then, he had been implicated because of me and met hardship. A few days ago, he offended his master and came out to hide. I’ll let him stay here for a while.”

Not minding, Xuan Congxin said, “Alright. Then let’s allow him to stay here. Oh right, someone said today that His Majesty’s birthday, which is coming in a few days, won’t be celebrated as grandly anymore. Everything will be simplified. After the imperial clan members enter the palace and kowtow, they can leave. There will be no banquet and we don’t have to prepare any gifts.

“During the mourning period, things will be like this.”  Xuan Congxin noticed that Zhong Wan seemed somewhat restless and added, “What’s wrong? Could it be…”

Inattentively, he asked, “What?”

Xuan Congxin said in a soft voice, “Once the fifth seven-day set is over, we will return to Qian An. What about your Kuafu? Could we still go home together?” 

Zhong Wan broke free from his thoughts. He lowered his head, a smile gracing his lips. After a moment of silence, he said, “I’ll see if Lin—if my old friend can escort you back to Qian An. If it’s not convenient for him, then I would. And once you’ve reached Qian An, I will return here. “

Xuan Congxin looked at Zhong Wan, unwilling to be apart from him. She wanted to say something, but then hesitated. In the end, she said in a helpless manner, “Alright. But… we’re not in a hurry. It’s fine to wait until you’ve married little sister-in-law and return together.”

“It won’t be that quick,” said Zhong Wan carelessly. “Anyway… right now we still have to observe filial piety in the mourning period. How could I take a concubine now?”

Xuan Congxin furrowed her brows. “Xuan Yu and I are the ones who have to observe filial piety, not you. So what are you afraid of? Additionally…” 

She said with indifference, “I don’t think this capital has as many rules as Qian An. These past few days, there were people wanting to be in-laws with Princess Royal Anguo.”

Zhong Wan felt like he was trying to climb a flight of stairs, only for his foot to slip on the first step.

He fell silent for a moment. Sat down. Carelessly said, “Which family?”

“I’m not sure. Although I recognize those people, I don’t know the messy state of their in-laws. Whichever brother’s daughter or sister’s daughter, I can’t determine who.” Xuang Congxin frowned. “Perhaps… Forget it. I’m not very sure of the details, but in short, they had a conversation about this. Princess Royal Anguo seemed very interested.” She sighed. “…They actually discussed these matters during a funeral arrangement. Such good manners.” 

Zhong Wan nodded. “Young Prince Yu is twenty-three. He truly ought to settle down now.”

Curious, Xuang Congxin asked, “Is that the Young Prince Yu who came to see Eldest Brother at the estate before?”

She had yet to marry and Zhong Wan had guarded her well. As such, she didn’t know about the romance between Yu She and Zhong Wan that had spread in the public.

Ill at ease, Zhong Wan grunted his acknowledgement. 

“I’ve never met him. Word has it that he’s the apple of Princess Royal Anguo’s eye, pampered to the point of out of control,” she said. “Although we’re not considered in the same clan, in any case he is a relative of the imperial clan. Surprisingly, they’re actually discussing his marriage at this time…”

Out of instinct, Zhong Wan stuck up for Yu She by saying, “Command of parents and good offices of a matchmaker. He has no say in it.”

“Who knows?” Xuan Congxin didn’t have a good impression on any of the people in the royal capital. Somewhat harshly, she said, “Didn’t people say no one could control him? So he’s definitely the one who wanted to discuss his marriage.”

Zhong Wan weakly smiled. “Maybe.” 

Princess Royal Anguo’s estate.

Yu She fiddled with a decorative piece. Not bothering to raise his head, he said, “No need to waste your energy for me.”

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Indifferently, Yu She said, “I don’t want her.” 

“Why not?” Princess Royal Anguo calmed her temper, saying in a coaxing manner, “I know that you don’t like strangers. As a matter of fact, I’m not forcing you to do anything. Just marry her first and slowly get to know her. After living together for a while, you would know that that young lady has a great temperament. At that time, you two will share a mutual love, and…”

Yu She set aside the decorative piece. Raised his head. “Don’t I have to participate in the mourning period?”

“You’re actually caring about this?” Princess Royal Anguo smiled. “Aren’t only three months necessary? Even if the marriage is decided now, we still have to wait half a year before she could marry in. It won’t interfere with the mourning period.”

The corners of Yu She’s lips raised a hint. He smiled. “Wait a moment…” 

Somehow, Princess Royal Anguo sensed that Yu She’s next words would not be kind.

Indeed they weren’t—

Calm in the midst of chaos, Yu She asked in a serious manner, “Princess, tell me the truth first. Now that Xuan Jin is dead, should I be in mourning for three months or one year?”

The smile on Princess Royal Anguo’s face weakened. 

As a member of the imperial clan, mourning for three months was enough.

But if one were Xuan Jin’s blood-related younger brother, one must mourn for a year.

The few servant girls who waited on Princess Royal Anguo all retreated.

She tried her best to suppress her anger, forcing herself to say, “Are you drunk? What nonsense are you spouting—” 

“I’m asking about protocol,” said Yu She apathetically. “So as to avoid not knowing things and committing an insurrection like last time…”

Yu She lowered his head, a smile spreading across his face. “Like wholeheartedly requesting to take Fourth Princess as a bride, causing the emperor to hurl his paperweight at my forehead…”

“You!”

Relaxed, Yu She said, “What? I’ve been beaten until I’m afraid and want to be more cautious. Is that not allowed?” 

Princess Royal Anguo was angered to the point where her breathing grew rough and jagged. She rushed to say, “Back then, you were obviously unhappy that His Highness tried to matchmake for you! And that’s why you deliberately told Emperor-Brother that you wanted Fourth Princess! You almost made Emperor-Brother ill from anger! Are you just twisting the words right now?”

Yu She smiled. “But until now, no one has told me the reason. Why can’t I marry Fourth Princess?”

His gaze fell upon Princess Royal Anguo, tone frivolous. “To speak the truth… Up until now, I still miss that girl.”

“How many times have you seen her?! Do you even know what she looks like?” Princess Royal Anguo fell into a rage. “You absolutely want me unhappy, want Emperor-Brother unhappy, is that it?!” 

Expression natural, Yu She looked at her.

She was so furious that her chest hurt. She rubbed at that area to soothe it and no longer spoke.

These past few days, Princess Royal Anguo had heard the servants in the side courtyard say that Yu She seemed to have restrained his temperament. For several days, he did not cause trouble, doing what he should daily. He acted according to convention, as if he had returned to his youth self.

Thinking that he had come to a realization, Princess Royal Anguo had felt delighted. She wanted to settle his marriage when he was still normal. 

Never had she expected it was like this instead.

Princess Royal Anguo’s tone was unsteady as she urgently said, “You… Can’t you be good?”

Yu She lightly knocked at the armrest. Slowly said, “These past few years, the palace has had consecutive funeral arrangements. Xuan Jing and Xuan Qiong’s marriage matters have all been delayed up until now. There also hasn’t been any movements from their estates.”

Princess Royal Anguo lifted her head. Yu She seemed as if he were talking to himself. “I’m older than Xuan Jing by a few months. If I get married before him, and have a son early…” 

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Yu She looked at her. “If His Majesty sees that I am healthy and have a son, he would inevitably place more importance on me, right?”

Princess Royal Anguo had her thoughts figured out. Her pupils trembled.

Still facing Princess Royal Anguo, Yu She said in a soft voice, “Mother, who do you think is scheming who?

“Just give up.” Yu She rose to his feet. “I’ll still say this no matter what. If you want me to marry, I will only marry members of the imperial clan. The best case scenario would be a princess. The daughters of other princes are also acceptable. But if she isn’t a member of the imperial clan, then forget about it.” 

“Ziyou.” Princess Royal Anguo gritted her teeth. “You just absolutely want to stab my heart, to stab Emperor-Brother’s heart, don’t you?”

Yu She’s feet stilled. He turned around to look at her. “You’ve got it backwards.”

After saying this, Yu She was about to leave, when Princess Royal Anguo rushed to stand and blurted, “Emperor-Brother… His health is not good!”

Once again, Yu She stopped in his tracks. 

“Ziyou.” She rushed to his side and helplessly said, “I was worried and urgent for you! Ever since Xuan Jin had died, Emperor-Brother fell ill. He’s not doing as well as he had in the past. If something happened… how would you prepare?”

Yu She turned to look at her. They stood face to face for a moment. Then Yu She said softly, “Princess, you are Xuan Qiong’s aunt, Prince Yu’s main consort. You only need to not commit any large crimes, and you’ll have a lifetime of wealth and rank no matter what.”

Soft laughter from Yu She’s lips. “Be content with your lot. Or do you insist on being the empress dow—”

Princess Anguo slapped Yu She. 

Afterward, fear rushed into her heart. She hurried to say, “Ziyou…”

Princess Royal Anguo wanted to pull Yu She closer to see his face, but he turned away from her.

It wasn’t the first time she had slapped him. This time’s Yu She wasn’t startled or afraid. Expressionlessly, he raised a hand to wipe away the blood on the corner of his lips with a thumb. A glance, and he wiped his thumb with a handkerchief in passing.

Yu She licked the corner of his lip. Smiled as he finished what he was saying before. “ Or do you insist on being the empress dowager?” 

Ashamed and regretful, Princess Royal Anguo said, “Just now, you had angered me too much. Let me see…”

“No need.” Yu She retreated half a step. “Princess has already hit me. I will return to my residence to reflect on my errors.”

“Ziyou… I’m not doing this for myself! No matter what, you are currently my closest blood relative. How would I not help you? You… Are you not afraid that in the future, when Xuan Qiong ascends the throne, he won’t let you live? At that time, it won’t only be you. How could the people around you not be implicated?! When that time comes, even if I can preserve the princess estate, I could only live by the whims of others! I…”

Yu She’s pupils trembled. The people around him… 

He gritted his teeth.

Why couldn’t he just stay in Qian An properly?!!

Princess Royal Anguo noticed that cracks had seemed to appear on his firm exterior. She rushed to say, “Ziyou… Are you truly heartless now? Do you not care about anything anymore?”

Originally, the answer was yes. 

Yu She’s ears rang, a headache appearing. He drew his brows tightly together. “We’ll talk about this later…”

Staggering two steps, he left the warmroom.

On the road back to the side courtyard of Prince Yu’s estate, his headache grew splitting.

Xuan Jin’s death broke the balance in the capital. The fight for the throne had already started. 

At the start, Yu She could relax as he muddied the water and watched as others fought. And then in the end, die in the hands of those blockheads without a care in the world.

Death ended all of one’s troubles.

However, however…

An illusion started to appear before Yu She’s eyes. The corner of his mouth still hurt. It were as if he had suddenly returned to six years prior. When he was in the princess estate. When he was slapped back then… In an instant, that slap woke him up from his youthful ignorance and muddle-headedness. 

Originally, Yu She would have committed su*cide at that time. However, once he thought that Zhong Wan was far away, he actually forced himself to keep living out of anger.

At present, Yu She could just sit back and not care about or manage anything. But Zhong Wan just had to stay at that whatever Prince Qian An estate currently!

In a towering rage, he could not help but direct all his hatred at Zhong Wan. It was him. It was all that person’s fault…

“He’s also making use of me. He really is also making use of me…” Yu She mumbled to himself, killing intent flashing in his eyes. 

The ears of the family soldiers escorting his carriage were very sensitive. They heard the movements in the carriage, and one rode his horse to the side of the carriage. Bowing, he asked, “Does Heir have any orders?”

Inside, Yu She sat with his eyes bleeding red. In a raspy voice, he said, “Help me… deal with a person.”

After the family soldier had heard the name, his heart chilled. He couldn’t refrain from asking again, “Is Heir certain?”

Silence fell upon the interior of the carriage for a moment. “Yes.” 

The family soldier bowed. He listened carefully to Yu She’s orders. He asked, “…Tonight?”

Yu She’s voice was ice cold. “Right now!”

The gaze of the family soldier proved complicated. But he did not dare to disobey. A whip of his horse, and he left.

In Prince Qian An’s estate, Zhong Wan had not eaten much in a day. Lying in bed was also not comfortable. He kept tossing and turning. 

Zhong Wan said to himself, “He doesn’t owe me…”

He turned in bed again.

Zhong Wan did not think of much. He and Yu She weren’t anything. If Yu She truly took a bride, then…

Then Zhong Wan would still remain here. 

However, he would no longer cross that line anymore.

Zhong Wan said in near whisper, “If I had known this earlier, I would have kissed him more…”

A rustle by his window. Zhong Wan laughed in spite of himself. “You’re sharing this courtyard with me, yet you still hop through the window to enter my room?”

Zhong Wan raised his hand and lifted the net-curtains. In a daze, he asked, “What is it?” 

It was dark in the room with no candles lit. Zhong Wan sat up. Borrowed an ember from his handheld brazier to light a candle. The moment he turned around, his heart thumped.

A man with his face covered stood in the middle of the room with a blade.

Lightly, Zhong Wan set down the candlestick. Tried his best to calm down. “Gallant swordsman…”

The family soldier pulled down his cloth mask. Said in a cold voice, “I’ve come under Young Prince Yu’s orders and have offended you.” 

Then he took one step forward. He yanked Zhong Wan’s left arm. He lowered his head and glanced at Zhong Wan, making sure he had grabbed the unbandaged arm. 

He pulled out the dagger by his waist, but did not unsheathe it. Held the scabbard by the blade’s side, smacking it lightly onto Zhong Wan’s palm.

Zhong Wan was speechless.

The family soldier pulled back the dagger with its scabbard. He cupped one hand in another as a sign of respect. “I also do not know what Young Master Zhong did wrong. However, our Heir is furious. He had me come… to discipline Young Master Zhong!” 

Zhong Wan lowered his head and gazed at the white of his palm. At a loss, he said, “Mm.”

The family soldier bowed. “Asking Young Master Zhong to also reflect for a few days and not to repeat it again! I will take my leave.”

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