Chapter 19 Has the Iron Tree Bloomed?
During evening lessons, Daiyu noticed that both the eldest and second princes were dozing off. This was understandable, as the young boys, around ten years old, had ridden their horses from the palace and had only rested for a little over an hour before being summoned by the Empress Dowager to recite scriptures. They were obviously exhausted!
Although some people were not dozing off, they were clearly distracted. Daiyu glanced at Prince Duan a few times and found that he was just moving his lips as if to make a gesture, but was not actually reciting the sutra at all.
From the moment the marriage to Yongkang was mentioned, Prince Duan began to act strangely. Was it because of the deep affection between the siblings or for some other reason?
Daiyu didn't notice anything amiss, and she couldn't fathom the true meaning behind Chu Heng's seemingly random words—after all, she never imagined that Prince Duan would re-examine their marriage from her perspective.
Unfortunately, no matter what Chu Heng thought, he could not change the fact that had already been established.
He and Daiyu had to fulfill this marriage agreement.
When practicing calligraphy before bed, Chu Heng dipped his brush in ink and placed the tip on the Xuan paper. Because his mind was not at peace, he hesitated to move, and a large blot of ink appeared on the white paper.
Two days ago, Chu Heng couldn't understand why Daiyu was suddenly displeased, and he couldn't practice calligraphy as usual at night. But at that time, he quickly came up with a plan for the next day. This time, however...
Chu Heng had no way to compensate Daiyu.
Looking back now, Daiyu's displeasure was probably because he mentioned the Prince's Mansion, which involved the engagement that Daiyu disliked, and not because of the reason Daiyu mentioned at all.
But... Daiyu is not a girl who speaks carelessly. She has already been implicated by Chu Heng, so how can Chu Heng make such assumptions about her?
Chu Heng crumpled the paper into a ball, threw it into the wastepaper basket, and sighed sadly.
Zhao Qing had already noticed that his master's expression was off, and seeing this, he quickly asked, "Your Highness, what's wrong?"
Chu Heng took the brush washer, poured in some water, and placed the brush in it, shaking it slightly: "It's nothing."
"His Highness hasn't written a single word today, which shows he's preoccupied," Zhao Qing guessed. "Is it related to the princess, the Empress Dowager... or perhaps Miss Lin?"
After replacing the water with fresh water, Chu Heng said in a low voice, "You talk too much."
Recalling the events of the past two days, Zhao Qing mustered his courage and said, "It must be Miss Lin..."
Chu Heng glanced at him, and Zhao Qing knew he had guessed correctly.
Zhao Qing hurriedly said, "Your Highness, one person's plan is short-sighted, but two people's plans are long-sighted. What is it that you have to say? Although I am stupid, I may be able to inspire Your Highness to come up with a brilliant idea so that you can get rid of your worries."
"Alright." Chu Heng put down his pen and asked, "Do you have a way to dissolve my engagement with Miss Lin?"
Zhao Qing was stunned: "Huh?"
Chu Heng said irritably, "If you don't have one, then shut up."
Zhao Qing stammered, "Your Highness...Your Highness, how could you have such thoughts? This is a marriage decree personally bestowed by the Emperor! Disobeying the imperial decree is the same crime as treason, punishable by the extermination of nine generations of one's family!"
Of course, the emperor couldn't possibly execute Chu Heng's entire family, but Chu Heng was definitely doomed.
“Yes, it’s punishable by the extermination of nine generations of a family,” Chu Heng said. “So no matter how unwilling she is, Miss Lin has no choice but to accept this marriage.”
Zhao Qing was momentarily speechless. Was the prince doing this for Miss Lin?
Is this... a cycad blooming?
This is really...
Oh dear, Zhao Qing was speechless with emotion. Their royal palace was about to welcome its true mistress!
“Your Highness, if you feel that Miss Lin has been wronged, then you should treat her well from now on,” Zhao Qing hurriedly said. “Although our manor is not as grand as the palace, we still have some good things, and we will certainly not let Miss Lin suffer any more grievances in the future!”
Chu Heng glanced at Zhao Qing silently, then waved his hand, signaling him to stop talking.
Is this what Miss Lin wants?
What she wants... I'm afraid Chu Heng is powerless to provide.
...
The next morning, Chu Heng and Daiyu went to pay their respects to the Empress Dowager and saw the Second Prince reading in the woods from afar.
Daiyu didn't say anything, and the two walked over silently. Only then did she glance at Chu Heng.
Prince Duan's emotions have not yet recovered.
Could it be...? Daiyu wondered if Chu Heng was reminded of the power struggles between the princes when the late emperor was alive because of the two princes?
Daiyu silently calculated in her mind that the late emperor had served as the retired emperor for several years before his death. When he abdicated, Chu Heng was only fourteen or fifteen years old. At that time, the current emperor had been the crown prince for many years. How could a young prince who had not yet left the palace to establish his own residence have any lingering shadow over him?
Judging from Duan Wang Guowan's words, he must have experienced some things in the palace when he was young, and those things shaped him into who he is today.
And those words from yesterday, even though Prince Duan may not have been involved, he heard and witnessed a great deal.
Royal families are indeed rife with trouble.
Daiyu was somewhat relieved, for the Prince Duan was now the emperor's younger brother, not a prince, and what would happen to him in the future was a matter for the next generation.
Remembering that Prince Duan had tried to apologize to her a couple of days ago because she was unhappy, Daiyu felt sorry for him seeing him so sullen.
After a moment's thought, Daiyu asked, "Your Highness, we were delayed yesterday. Are we still going fishing today?"
Chu Heng looked down at her. He couldn't let Miss Lin have her way. How could he refuse such a small thing again?
“Of course I’ll go,” Chu Heng said. “Miss Lin, is there anything else you…would you like?”
"Hmm?" Daiyu asked, puzzled. Thinking of how dull Prince Duan usually was, she smiled and said, "I wonder if Your Highness has brought a zither? If there is music, perhaps the fish will take the bait."
Chu Heng couldn't help but smile at her words. He turned to look at Zhao Qing and asked, "Did you bring your zither?"
Zhao Qing hurriedly replied, "Yes, Your Highness. I will have someone bring it over this afternoon."
Daiyu glanced at Zhao Qing. He was indeed very thoughtful. Prince Duan might never use these things from beginning to end, but he still prepared them all.
Zhao Qing is a eunuch, a person from the palace. Judging from his age, was he given to Prince Duan by the Empress Dowager?
When they arrived at the Empress Dowager's place, they found that the eldest prince was already talking to her. Yongkang had also arrived early and was sitting on a stool, rolling his eyes repeatedly.
Just as Chu Heng was about to glare at her, he saw Daiyu smile slightly, so Yongkang straightened his expression, stood up and smiled at Daiyu, saying, "Sister Lin has arrived." Then he bowed to Chu Heng, "Fifth Brother."
Daiyu returned the greeting: "Princess."
Chu Heng and Daiyu paid their respects to the Empress Dowager. The eldest prince then came over to greet Chu Heng, but Chu Heng stepped aside to avoid him.
The Empress Dowager smiled and said, "We're all family, no need for such formalities, please sit down."
However, when the second prince paid his respects to the Empress Dowager, she stopped speaking. Upon seeing this, the eldest prince's face showed a hint of smugness.
No wonder Yongkang said that once they arrived, the peaceful days would be over, and if Daiyu had to watch this show every day, her mood would plummet to rock bottom.
Fortunately, Longhua Temple had Buddhist scriptures to calm the mind. At noon, Daiyu recited some scriptures in her room. When she went to the river in the afternoon, the already ethereal person seemed even more like a fairy.
As Chu Heng looked at her, he couldn't help but recall the first time he met Master Pingyi, when he said that Daiyu was a fairy.
If only she were truly a fairy, having escaped the mortal world, worldly rules would be powerless against her.
Chu Heng now felt he owed Daiyu a great deal, so he had already instructed Zhao Qing to arrange everything properly. Needless to say, in addition to the zither mentioned in the morning, he also prepared writing brushes, ink, paper, inkstones, chess pieces, and a flute.
When Daiyu saw this, she was surprised, but seeing that Chu Heng was drinking water with his head down, as if it were all very ordinary, she didn't say anything, otherwise she would seem to be making a big fuss.
"Your Highness has arrived early," Daiyu said with a smile and a bow.
Chu Heng put down his teacup, stood up, and said with a smile, "Miss Lin, we often meet, so there's no need to be so polite in the future."
Daiyu was surprised again, but then she thought that since they were putting on a show for the Empress Dowager, it was indeed unreasonable for them to be so reserved after spending every day together.
Daiyu then smiled and said, "Your Highness is right, otherwise it wouldn't be right to tell the Empress Dowager."
Chu Heng paused, then smiled and said, "Yes, Miss Lin, please sit down."
Daiyu nodded and smiled, "Your Highness, please go first."
Chu Heng did not sit down. Just as he was about to speak again, Daiyu spoke up: "I just said that we shouldn't be so polite, Your Highness. If we keep passing each other around, it will be more polite than before."
A smile gradually appeared in Chu Heng's eyes. He looked at Daiyu and said, "This has backfired. Why don't we sit together?"
Daiyu nodded, and the two sat down together.
After drinking half a cup of water mixed with honey, Daiyu said, "How about I play the zither for the prince, and the prince comes fishing?"
She was the one who first came up with the idea. Chu Heng shook his head and said, "I will play the zither."
Daiyu didn't argue with him, but smiled and said, "Okay."
It's just unclear whether Prince Duan's skill in playing the zither is more like his calligraphy or his chess.
Don't scare the fish away.
Daiyu sat down by the river. A young eunuch handed her a fishing rod with bait on it, while two other eunuchs held umbrellas behind her to shield her from the sun. Zijuan sat beside Daiyu and fanned her.
Daiyu glanced at the water's surface absentmindedly. Fish swam nimbly by, none taking the bait. Suddenly, melodious zither music drifted into her ears, causing Daiyu to sit up straight and listen intently.
The melodious and clear sound of the zither carried a hint of melancholy, as if the flowing river was being held captive by its gentle melody.
The fishing rod in Daiyu's hand sank slightly. Zijuan was about to remind the young lady that the fish had taken the bait, but seeing her expression, she shut her mouth again.
As the song ended, its lingering melody still flowed in Daiyu's heart.
Zijuan said softly, "Miss, a fish has just taken the bait."
Daiyu blinked, still unable to process what she had just heard: "What?"
"The fish that took the bait got away," Xueyan said bluntly.
"..." Daiyu then realized what was happening and exclaimed, "Oh! My fish!"
Hearing the noise, Chu Heng quickly came over and asked, "What's wrong?"
Daiyu pulled up the fishing line, looked at the empty hook, and said with a bitter face, "Your Highness, my fish got away."
Seeing her like this, Chu Heng found her incredibly adorable and couldn't help but laugh: "I wondered what was wrong..."
Daiyu said regretfully, "This is the first time I've almost caught a fish."
Seeing her like this, Chu Heng comforted her, "We're going to release the fish we caught anyway, so consider this as you releasing them ahead of time."
Daiyu felt a little better.
Chu Heng added, "There's still some time, so you can fish one more time."
Daiyu thought for a moment and smiled, "It's easy to go fishing again, but please don't play the zither anymore, Your Highness, otherwise I won't be able to take care of it again."
Chu Heng raised his eyebrows and smiled, "I'll listen to you."
A note from the author:
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