Chapter 100 Within the perfect royal family, love and affection are the most luxurious things. ...
Before dawn, the courtyard was filled with the crisp air unique to the pre-dawn season. Pei Xu gently stroked the horse's neck, his fingertips brushing against the warm fur to make sure everything was in order.
He did not want to disturb Meng Lingyao, lest he disturb her peaceful dreams, and even more so, avoid the awkwardness of parting in person.
Just as he was about to turn his horse around, his eyes swept across the corridor, and he stopped in his tracks.
Meng Lingyao, draped in a snow-white cloak, stood quietly by the pillar, her figure slender. The morning breeze was slightly chilly, ruffling her unbound black hair and the fur of her cloak. Her face still held the sleepiness of just getting out of bed, and there were faint dark circles under her eyes.
Pei Xu strode over and stopped in front of her, his voice lower than usual, "Why are you up?" He remembered that she was always a heavy sleeper, especially last night...
Meng Lingyao didn't answer. She took out a plain purse from her sleeve. It wasn't the bright color that young women usually wore; it was a serene, almost dark green. She untied the sash, picked out a few small items with her fingertips, and gently placed them in his palm.
It's a willow leaf.
The leaves have dried out and lost moisture, turning dark brown with slightly curled edges, but they are still intact and the veins are clearly visible.
Pei Xu's gaze sharpened, and he immediately recognized him.
“I just remembered there’s something I need to entrust to you, Shaoqing,” she said, her voice slightly hoarse from the early morning, “It would be better if the willows of the capital returned to the soil of the capital.”
It turned out that she had kept them all along, bringing them from the capital to Jinling. Now, she wanted to use his help to bring them back to the capital.
A surge of scalding heat unexpectedly rushed into Pei Xu's heart, instantly filling every crevice, heavy yet carrying a strange, tender ache. He cupped his palms, carefully putting the few fragile leaves back into his purse, clutching them tightly against his chest.
He responded softly, "Okay."
Meng Lingyao covered her lips and yawned slightly. Her eyelashes were damp with moisture, making her look even more sleepy.
"Let's go, I'm going back to sleep." The sky was just beginning to lighten, and it was still quite early before her usual time to get up.
Pei Xu looked at her struggling to stay awake, her face slightly pale from waking up early, and his heart felt as if it were being soaked in warm water, becoming incredibly tender.
He leaned down, his cool lips lightly touching her smooth forehead, like a butterfly's wing skimming the water.
"See you in the capital," he whispered, his breath brushing against her skin.
Meng Lingyao nodded, raised her hand, and gently brushed her fingertips against his cheek. The texture was pleasant; it had become much smoother after his time in Jinling. Unfortunately, the hardships of the journey ahead would likely cause it to revert to its previous roughness. This inexplicable regret made her fingertips linger for a moment longer.
The maid beside her felt her face flush for some reason, lowered her head, and dared not look any longer.
As Pei Xu led his horse back to his waiting subordinates, the well-trained guards all had shifty eyes, some looking up at the sky, some looking down at the ground, but none of them looking at their master.
Pei Xu mounted his horse, ignoring his subordinates' strange behavior, and ordered in a deep voice, "Let's go."
The hooves of the group broke the silence of the early morning as they galloped out, passing through the still-sleeping gates of Jinling. Dozens of miles outside the city, the once orderly procession, as if rehearsed countless times, tacitly split into two. One group continued north along the official road, while the other silently turned onto a side road, quickly disappearing into the gradually brightening morning light and rising dust.
The capital city, the residence of the Third Prince.
The Third Prince poured tea for everyone with elegant and composed movements, but his eyes were filled with worry and a trace of sorrow. "Mr. Han, is the news from Jinling truly confirmed?"
Mr. Han bowed and accepted the teacup. “Your Highness, it is absolutely true. Garrison Commander Yuan has been captured, several private mines have been completely shut down, and all those involved… have been apprehended. Minister Pei will be setting off for the capital soon.”
He paused, glanced at the Third Prince's expression, and continued, "The evidence in this case is conclusive, and the implications... are likely quite significant. It's one thing if it only involves Jinling, but I fear it might implicate others..."
Zhao Yuan, the heir of the Marquis of Wuxing, sat to one side, his face ashen. Upon hearing this, he couldn't help but slam his hand heavily on the table. "That idiot Yuan Chengde! We shouldn't have used him in the first place. Now that things have failed, he's dragged us down with him!" He looked at the Third Prince, his tone urgent, "Your Highness, we absolutely cannot let Pei Xu take those things back to the capital! Perhaps... we should send someone on the way..."
He raised his hand and brought it down heavily, his eyes revealing a fierce glint.
The Third Prince gently advised, "Your Highness, please calm down. Minister Pei is a pillar of the court; wouldn't it be a pity if things were like this?"
Another advisor, Mr. Zhu, shook his head. "Your Highness, intercepting Pei Xu at this time is tantamount to admitting guilt. His Majesty will definitely investigate thoroughly, and the consequences will be unimaginable."
Zhao Yuan's anger intensified. "Then, in your opinion, what should we do? Are we just going to sit here and wait to die?"
Mr. Han finally spoke, stroking his beard, his gaze calm. "Your Highness, please calm your anger. The best course of action now is to 'cut your losses and save yourself.' The evidence against Commander Yuan for corruption and bribery is irrefutable; he cannot deny this crime. As for those behind him... one could argue that it was a few incompetent members of the Cui family, blinded by greed, who used the Marquis's mansion and Your Highness's name to instigate Commander Yuan's actions. Your Highness and Your Highness were merely deceived by them."
Zhao Yuan's expression changed, and he abruptly stood up. "Mr. Han! The Cui family is my maternal family! How could they..."
A hint of struggle appeared on the Third Prince's face. "Sir, isn't this going too far... After all, they are Ruxuan's maternal grandparents' family, and also my in-laws. Is there... really no other way?"
Mr. Han bowed deeply, his tone heavy, “Your Highness is benevolent, which I admire. However, hesitation only leads to chaos. The Cui family is deeply entrenched; sacrificing pawns to save the king is the only way to preserve their strength and plan for the future. To lose everything in order to protect a few is truly unwise!”
Zhao Yuan opened his mouth, but seeing the Third Prince's heartbroken expression and considering the potential consequences, he finally slumped down and gritted his teeth, saying, "...I will do as you say, sir."
The group discussed some details and finalized their strategy. Zhao Yuan, feeling uneasy, was the first to rise and take his leave.
The Third Prince personally escorted him to the door of the study, patted him on the shoulder, and gently comforted him, "Your Highness, rest assured, I will not allow the Marquis of Wuxing's mansion and the Cui family to suffer an injustice."
Zhao Yuan felt somewhat relieved and bowed deeply.
The study door closed again.
The gentle glaze on the Third Prince's face seemed to have peeled away with the departure of the Crown Prince, leaving his eyes gloomy and devoid of any warmth.
“Sir,” he said slowly, “Pei Xu is a meticulous man who enjoys the Emperor’s deep trust. This time he returned with irrefutable evidence. Even if we temporarily control the situation by focusing on Yuan Chengde and a few collateral branches of the Cui family, it’s hard to guarantee that he won’t follow the trail.” He tapped his fingertips lightly on the table, making a rhythmic sound. “If he returns to the capital, he will surely become a major threat.”
Mr. Han understood and whispered, "Does Your Highness feel that this person cannot be kept alive?"
The Third Prince's lips curled into a faint, cold smile. "Yuan Chengde was strongly recommended by the Marquis of Wuxing's mansion, and the Cui family is also connected to the Marquis of Wuxing's mansion by blood, with shared interests. If Pei Shaoqing encounters misfortune on his return journey... it would be reasonable for either the remnants of the Cui family to act desperately or for the Marquis of Wuxing's mansion to silence him."
He said calmly, "No one would suspect me. After all, my relationship with both families is only an unfinished marriage alliance. I should be completely unaware of such a shocking matter."
Mr. Han bowed. “Your Highness is wise. We only need to make a clever arrangement at the scene, leaving clues pointing to the Cui family or the Marquis of Wuxing’s residence. At that time, they will be unable to protect themselves and will have no time to worry about anything else.”
The Third Prince suddenly sighed, "However, after this incident, the Marquis of Wuxing's mansion and the Cui family... have ultimately become a burden."
Mr. Zhu wholeheartedly agreed, “Your Highness is wise. These two mansions are not only unable to help, but have become a hindrance. If Your Majesty knew the details, you would surely feel pity for Your Highness. At that time, it would be easy to select a lady of higher social standing for Your Highness. The Duke of Dingguo’s mansion, the Duke of Anguo’s mansion… are all excellent choices.”
They discussed with great interest how to sever ties with their in-laws who were about to sink, and listed which eligible noble ladies in the capital were still suitable for marriage, speaking as casually as if they were selecting goods.
This scheme, though seemingly simple, reached the ears of the slender figure outside the thin door.
Zhao Ruxuan's face turned deathly pale. She bit her lower lip hard to suppress the gasp that almost escaped her lips.
She had come with her brother, and because of her status as the future princess consort, no one in the manor stopped her. She had intended to see him after the meeting to ease her longing for him. The closer the wedding date approached, the heavier her anxiety became, and today she was even more restless, which was why she thought of coming early, but she never expected... to stumble upon such a shameful truth.
All those tender words whispered in each other's ears, all those sincere expressions of concern... it was all a lie!
She staggered back a few steps, almost losing her balance, and barely managed to steady herself by grabbing onto a cold pillar. Her chest felt like it had been struck heavily by a blunt object, a dull, suffocating pain. Using the pillar for support, she steadied herself, composed herself, and quietly turned and left.
A few days later, a palace attendant from Consort Rou's palace came to deliver a message, inviting Miss Zhao to the palace for a chat.
When she received the imperial decree, Zhao Ruxuan was having breakfast. Upon hearing it, she nearly dropped her chopsticks. She had originally felt quite fond of this gentle future mother-in-law, but now she felt disgusted.
But reason told her she couldn't refuse. In the past, she had always entered the palace with great joy; if she were to refuse outright now, it would surely arouse suspicion.
She forced herself to apply makeup to conceal the dark circles under her eyes and the haggardness on her face before entering the palace.
Consort Rou remained gentle and kind, holding her hand and asking about her well-being. Seeing her listless expression, she asked with concern, "Are you feeling unwell? Or... did Jing'er upset you again?" Her tone was soft and full of concern, "If he bullies you, you must tell me."
Zhao Ruxuan lowered her eyelashes and forced a smile, saying, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. It's just that the wedding is approaching... I haven't been sleeping well lately." Her head was lowered, and her expression was indistinct, making her seem genuinely shy.
"I see," Consort Rou immediately instructed the palace servants, "Quickly go and fetch the imperial physician, and bring me that old ginseng."
She turned back and gently patted Zhao Ruxuan's hand, her eyes full of affection. "Marriage is a big deal, it's inevitable that you'll have a lot on your mind. Don't overwork yourself, your health is important." Her gaze fell on Zhao Ruxuan's pale face, and she sighed, "Look at your pale face, you must have been thinking about something. Go back and rest well, don't catch a cold."
Each and every one of these acts was incredibly considerate, yet it formed an ironic contrast to the cold-blooded scheming she had overheard yesterday.
Zhao Ruxuan's face showed a timely expression of being flattered, and she respectfully thanked her, "Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty."
My heart is already a frozen wasteland.
After leaving Consort Rou's palace, she walked into the Imperial Garden and encountered a woman in full regalia, adorned with jewels and radiant with beauty. It was Lin Yunshu, her former close friend and now the favored Consort Wen.
Consort Wen stopped in her tracks, a meaningful smile playing on her lips. "Congratulations, sister. Your wedding with the Third Prince is just around the corner. It's truly a joyous occasion."
Zhao Ruxuan paused slightly, looking up at her former friend, only to find her face unfamiliar. A bitter feeling welled up inside her, and she subconsciously murmured, "Is this... really something to congratulate her on?"
Upon hearing this, Consort Wen scrutinized her closely, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes. She leaned closer, her voice so low that only the two of them could hear, "You've been surprisingly clever for once."
Zhao Ruxuan gave a cold laugh and didn't reply.
Consort Wen smiled and said, "Look at you, you're still not very smart." Before Zhao Ruxuan could refute, she continued in a low voice, her tone carrying a hint of barely perceptible pity, "Out of consideration for our past relationship, I'll say one more thing—in the royal family, love is the most luxurious thing. Holding onto your rightful place is far more practical than coveting those illusory things."
Having said that, she said no more, leaving behind only a magnificent yet cold silhouette.
Zhao Ruxuan stood alone in the chilly west wind, feeling as if the wind was penetrating straight into her bones.
She slowly raised her hand, looking at the translucent jade bracelet on her wrist. It was placed on her wrist by the Third Prince himself a long time ago, who said it symbolized completeness.
Looking back now, it seems incredibly ironic.
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Author's Note: We've already reached 100 chapters! I'm sure you can all sense that we're nearing the end, hehe [cheering emoji]
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