By the time Shangchuan Hong rode back to the Lubei delegation, the sky had darkened. The last light of sunset fell across the side of his face, making his exhaustion and indifference even more obvious.
Hao Lin leaned out from the carriage and called, “Why aren’t you coming up?”
Shangchuan Hong shook his head slightly and smiled calmly. “No need. Riding like this is fine.”
Hao Lin’s thin lips curved. In an instant he leapt down from the carriage onto another horse and rode beside Shangchuan Hong.
“Your Majesty, this is…” Shangchuan Hong looked outwardly flattered but felt little inside. He knew perfectly well that Hao Lin had lowered himself to ride beside him only because he wanted to question him about Mu Xueshi.
To save Hao Lin the trouble of asking, Shangchuan Hong said directly, “I have already seen Young Master Xue’s true face. Just as Your Majesty suspected, he is extraordinarily handsome.”
“We will stop here for the night and continue at first light. We should arrive at Yunxi’s capital exactly at the agreed time tomorrow.”
Shangchuan Hong was slightly surprised, though nothing showed. Meeting Hao Lin’s direct gaze, he quickly said, “Then I will order the servants to prepare tents so we may camp here tonight.”
Hao Lin pressed his lips together. His expression became complicated. As Shangchuan Hong turned away, Hao Lin caught his arm and said seriously, “Leave those things to the servants. Rest properly tonight.”
“Your Majesty, I…”
“I told you already. In private, there is no need to call me Your Majesty. We are as close as brothers. Why stand on ceremony?”
Hao Lin deliberately emphasized the word “brothers.” When Shangchuan Hong looked at him, Hao Lin appeared perfectly composed.
For some reason, meeting Hao Lin’s eyes made guilt rise from the bottom of Shangchuan Hong’s heart. He knew Hao Lin was a king and that truth and deception mixed easily in his words, yet Shangchuan Hong still found himself believing him. Perhaps that was simply the difference between ruler and subordinate.
Shangchuan Hong closed his eyes and drew a deep breath. The clear, lovable smiling face in his mind was wiped away at once.
The rising sun appeared east of the imperial capital. Beneath it stretched a sea of banners along the line where heaven met earth. Cloud-patterned flags and five-colored canopies rolled toward the city like enormous painted waves. A ceremonial procession of a thousand people surrounded two magnificent royal sedan chairs. The front chair, carried by sixteen bearers, was lacquered redwood and decorated with golden cloud-and-dragon designs. Behind it came a smaller dark-red sedan, delicately built and edged with floral ornamentation.
The procession slowed to a stop at the moat. Countless citizens crowded both sides of the road, faces bright with excitement and curiosity as they watched the rare spectacle.
Shangchuan Hong rode beside Hao Lin’s sedan. Seeing an equally grand cavalry formation already lined up across the road, he bowed toward the carriage and reported, “Your Majesty, Yunxi’s welcoming party has arrived. The Third Prince has come to receive you.”
Hao Lin narrowed his phoenix eyes and stepped down with the assistance of a handsome young eunuch. He radiated the unrestrained authority of a ruler. His younger sister, Princess Wenyang, descended from the second sedan. She was still young, with delicate features and two shallow dimples when she smiled, giving her an approachable charm.
The Third Prince leapt down from his horse and crossed to Hao Lin’s sedan in a few strides. Raising both hands, he bowed and said:
“Lu Jue greets the ruler of Lubei on behalf of my father. Lubei’s visit to Yunxi is a great honor for our nation. Please accept this greeting.”
Hao Lin smiled at the man before him. The Third Prince was dressed differently from the day before. His hair was tied high beneath a gold-and-jade crown, and his clothing was formal and splendid. Every movement carried nobility, his appearance elegant and extraordinary.
A wave of excitement ran through the crowd. Everyone’s attention shifted entirely to the Third Prince. They had originally gathered to see a foreign ruler and princess; now that the most beautiful man beneath heaven stood before them, no one wanted even to blink.
“Miss, look! That’s the Third Prince. We’re so lucky to see him in this lifetime!”
“That princess is supposed to be here for a marriage alliance. They say she’s going to marry the Third Prince…”
“The ruler of Lubei is so young and handsome. I thought he would be closer to our emperor’s age…”
Hao Lin accepted the ceremonial object the Third Prince presented and handed it to an attendant. Then he stepped forward and took the Third Prince by both arms with a smile. “There is no need for ceremony, Your Highness.”
The Third Prince raised his head without expression and smoothly removed Hao Lin’s hands from his arms. His gaze was icy.
Princess Wenyang slowly approached. With reddened cheeks, she said, “Princess Wenyang greets Your Highness the Third Prince.” The Third Prince glanced at her and answered without warmth, “Lu Jue greets the princess.”
Wenyang immediately felt her heart speed up. Nervous and unsure what to do, she glanced at Hao Lin. When he made no move to help, she pouted and slipped behind him.
Hao Lin laughed heartily and ruffled his sister’s hair. “What’s this? Even our Princess Wenyang, who fears neither heaven nor earth, knows how to blush?”
Wenyang was already embarrassed, and hearing her brother tease her instead of helping only made her angry. A maid beside her hurriedly whispered, “Princess, don’t be angry here. Anger will make you less beautiful. The Third Prince is looking at you…”
Wenyang did not dare meet the Third Prince’s eyes directly. Hearing that made secret delight rise inside her, and she asked the maid softly, “Really?”
The maid looked toward the Third Prince and became nervous herself, but still forced out, “Yes… yes… he is looking at the princess…”
Wenyang brightened at once, her flushed face glowing. When she first heard Hao Lin intended to marry her into Yunxi, she had thrown an enormous tantrum. Now that she had seen the Third Prince, every objection had vanished.
Governor Liu of the Ministry of Rites was helped down from his horse by two soldiers. He approached Hao Lin, bowed, and said, “Please allow the ruler of Lubei and the princess to enter the imperial city and rest. His Majesty has prepared a banquet and is waiting before Taihe Hall to welcome our honored guests.”
At that, the two processions began moving slowly into the capital. The Third Prince rode at the front, followed by Yunxi’s imperial guards and ceremonial musicians, then by Lubei’s thousand-person delegation. The procession stretched like a dragon through the streets until the roads were packed tight.
When Mu Xueshi woke, he found the Third Prince absent from the pillow beside him and felt faintly dizzy again. Forcing himself awake, he walked toward the outer room, only for Qing Ya and Qing Zhu to call out.
“Young Master Xue!”
Seeing their wide smiles made Mu Xueshi feel a little more alert. He was still wearing his underclothes, and his hair was messy. Usually these two maids were not responsible for helping him wash or dress. Why had the Third Prince allowed them into the inner chamber today?
“Where is the Third Prince?” Mu Xueshi craned his neck and looked around.
Qing Ya’s smile shifted slightly. She held up a neatly folded set of clothing and said, “The sewing room made Young Master Xue a new outfit. Qing Yun embroidered every pattern on it herself, stitch by stitch.”
Mu Xueshi drew back his gaze and examined the clothes repeatedly. Delighted, he said, “Really? I already have more clothes than I can wear, but since Qing Yun made this one herself, I’ll wear it from now on.”
Mu Xueshi took the clothing and carefully unfolded it. Looking awkwardly at Qing Ya and Qing Zhu, he said, “I’ll change by myself… if you both watch me, I’ll get embarrassed…”
Qing Zhu giggled. “Young Master Xue must be used to having His Highness dress you…”
Qing Ya suddenly squeezed Qing Zhu’s hand and shot her a look. Qing Zhu immediately stuck out her tongue and looked regretful.
Mu Xueshi reacted almost instinctively. “Right, where is the Third Prince? Why haven’t I seen him since morning?”
“Come, Young Master Xue. Put the clothes on first. The kitchen made you delicious food. You haven’t eaten properly since you came back, and the little pastries were prepared by the palace’s finest cooks…”
“Hmph!” Mu Xueshi slapped the table and widened his eyes. For once, he looked almost intimidating.
“That little trick won’t work on me. Stop changing the subject. Tell me where the Third Prince went. If you keep talking about other things, I’ll… I’ll…”
His confidence vanished halfway through. Seeing that he had frightened both maids into tears, Mu Xueshi hurried to retrieve the crumpled handkerchief from his bed and handed it to Qing Ya.
“Uh… don’t cry. We can talk this out. What happened…” Mu Xueshi tried awkwardly to comfort them, looking anxious.
Qing Zhu cried demonstratively for two breaths and then returned to normal. Qing Ya, however, still had reddened eyes even after she stopped.
“The Third Prince went to receive a princess from some country. I heard people in the palace saying His Highness is going to marry her…” Qing Ya’s expression darkened again as she spoke.
“Me too… I don’t want another princess moving into this courtyard. Everyone says that princess is famous for being domineering…” Qing Zhu added.
Qing Ya immediately smacked Qing Zhu’s hand and muttered, “Stop talking…”
“But you said the same thing just now,” Qing Zhu protested. “Why do you all cut me off every time I say something…”
“Because you never know what is appropriate to say…”
“Enough…” Seeing the two maids bicker endlessly, Mu Xueshi said with exaggerated indifference, “What’s the big deal? If the Third Prince becomes emperor someday, he’ll have three thousand beauties in his harem. Besides, they’ll all have their own residences. They won’t all move in here…”
Qing Ya still looked troubled. “We aren’t worried about them living here. We’re worried about Young Master Xue. We’re afraid you’ll…”
“We’re afraid the Third Prince will drive Young Master Xue away!” Qing Zhu finished for her.
Qing Ya glared again and clenched her teeth. “I told you not to talk…”
“His Highness isn’t here today. I’ve been holding it in forever…”
Having had his secret fear exposed, Mu Xueshi hurriedly covered it. “What do I have to worry about? I’m a grown man. Am I supposed to compete with women for his affection?”
“Then that’s good. If Young Master Xue is fine, we’re relieved.” Qing Ya and Qing Zhu immediately exchanged smiles.
Mu Xueshi forced out a smile uglier than crying. “I’ll change now. Go prepare the pastries.”
Qing Ya and Qing Zhu answered “yes” and left with cheerful faces, leaving Mu Xueshi alone in the room for a long time.
A heavy sensation suddenly struck again. Mu Xueshi felt as though several stones had been piled on his head, making it impossible to lift. Even while speaking with Qing Ya and Qing Zhu, waves of pressure had been scraping across his scalp, each stronger than the last.
No. I shouldn’t care that much… Mu Xueshi murmured to himself. Even if I’m unhappy, even if it hurts emotionally, it shouldn’t affect my body like this…
“Ah!” Mu Xueshi suddenly collapsed. His body felt as though a rope were tightening around it, constricting harder and harder until breathing became difficult. He tried to call for help but no sound came out. The old terror returned, only this time the Third Prince was not there.
Gradually Mu Xueshi could no longer hear his own breathing. The objects around him seemed to spread apart one by one. His body rose, then fell. A tearing pain suddenly struck, and Mu Xueshi realized he had separated from his own body.
“No!” Mu Xueshi clawed uselessly at his own hair, but the strands did not move at all.
I can’t leave like this. I haven’t even said anything to the Third Prince yet. And without the silver coin, where would I even go…
Mu Xueshi suddenly became frighteningly clearheaded. He felt certain his time in this place was running out. The Third Prince’s face and the silver coin he had seen days earlier appeared in his mind with perfect clarity.
A heavy force dropped through him again. Mu Xueshi felt pain and opened his eyes. Everything just now had been a dream. His arms were still his own, intact and attached to his body. He had barely relaxed when he realized he could not lift them at all, no matter how hard he tried.
The complete loss of control nearly broke him. Qing Ya’s bell-like laughter seemed to ring beside his ear, but the world kept turning light and dark like a dream. Again and again he woke believing himself conscious, only to fall back into confusion the next instant.