“Your Highness, there is nothing to do when a person cannot remember except wait.”
Seeing how certain Su Ruhan looked eased some of the Third Prince’s unease. He studied Su Ruhan for a moment, then asked in a cool tone, “Where have you been these past few days?”
Su Ruhan answered in detail. “It was Master’s birthday. I went up the mountain with the other disciples to pay our respects and stayed several extra days with him. If I had known something like this would happen to Xueshi, I would have returned earlier.” A trace of guilt appeared in his expression.
“It has been a long time since I visited him as well,” the Third Prince replied.
Su Ruhan looked at the Third Prince and could not shake the feeling that he was very different today. He remembered the days when Mu Xueshi had lived with him in Linhan Palace. Mu Xueshi was scatterbrained, careless with his words, but never truly reckless or malicious. Most of the time he understood reason perfectly well. Remembering how strict Su Ruhan had sometimes been with him now brought regret.
Two figures suddenly raced toward them and broke through Su Ruhan’s thoughts.
“Your Highness, something terrible has happened…” A dark-faced middle-aged guard ran over, panting, then immediately knelt to salute the Third Prince.
The Third Prince showed no expression and stared coldly at him.
The second guard hurriedly continued, “Your Highness, several hundred elite soldiers from Lubei entered the courtyard. They claim they carry His Majesty’s decree and have come to demolish Linhan Palace.”
Su Ruhan’s expression hardened and he looked toward the Third Prince. The prince remained calm, only waving the two guards away.
“Stay here and watch Mu Xueshi for me. I am going to Taihe Hall,” the Third Prince told Su Ruhan.
Su Ruhan could not help asking, “Your Highness, allow me to handle the people at Linhan Palace. I am no longer officially your guard, so anything I do will not implicate you. I can also arrange someone else to protect Mu Xueshi. Nothing will happen to him.”
“No.” The Third Prince’s voice was cold. “You do not need to involve yourself. Watch Xueshi.”
With that, the Third Prince disappeared into the trees.
“Why does this place feel so creepy…” Princess Wenyang rubbed her arms, fear appearing on her face.
Zhang Mu answered respectfully, “This is not somewhere the princess should be. It is damp and cold, and you could easily fall ill. Let this subordinate send you back. If the princess wants to come again, another day…”
“Insolent!” Wenyang shot Zhang Mu an arrogant look. “Since when do I need a servant like you to tell me where I may go? Just lead the way. If anything happens, I’ll tell my royal brother and have him spare your lives.”
After that, Zhang Mu naturally did not dare argue. He assigned several more people to guard Wenyang in case anything went wrong.
As Wenyang walked, she could not resist looking around in secret. This was the Third Prince’s courtyard. She had been here once before but had seen almost nothing. This time she had come without informing him. She wondered what expression he would wear when he saw her.
Thinking about the Third Prince made Wenyang’s cheeks turn red. Excitement and nervousness tangled together. She wondered what he would think of her appearance today. When they went to see the lanterns, she had worn ordinary clothes. Perhaps he had not really seen what she looked like at her best.
“Ahhh!” A scream suddenly shattered the silence of Linhan Palace.
Zhang Mu turned and saw Wenyang’s face drained of color. He hurried over. “Princess, what happened?”
Wenyang trembled all over. The arrogance from moments earlier had vanished. Her shaking hand pointed toward the ground. “Quick… look… something is wrapped around… my foot…”
The two maids behind her gasped and quietly backed away.
Because it was dark, Zhang Mu could not see clearly until he crouched down. A small snake was coiled around Wenyang’s ankle. Strangely, instead of fleeing or biting, it remained there perfectly still.
“Princess, don’t be afraid. It is only a snake…”
“Ahhh!” The word alone sent Wenyang screaming again.
Zhang Mu helplessly removed the snake and examined it. The sight of it in his hand left Wenyang unable even to scream. Her legs shook violently, and cold sweat ran down her forehead.
Her maids hurried over to support her. Wenyang remained dazed for quite a while. Zhang Mu looked thoughtful but still tossed the snake away. Wenyang refused to take another step. Since the sedan chair had not been brought inside, someone would have to carry her.
After considering several people, Wenyang chose Zhang Mu. She clung to his back, still breathing hard from fright.
“Why did Royal Brother insist that the palace His Majesty gave me be built here? The environment is terrible, and it is so far from the Third Prince’s residence…” Wenyang complained.
Zhang Mu thought for a moment before answering, “This was originally built by the Third Prince for his mother. Now that his mother is gone, rebuilding the princess’s residence on the same site would show that the princess is regarded with the same honor she once was.”
Wenyang felt secretly pleased but still sounded dissatisfied. “Would my status somehow be lower than the Third Prince’s mother if I lived somewhere else?”
“Of course not,” Zhang Mu said carefully. “The princess is precious beyond measure in Lubei. Once you remain here, you will naturally hold the highest position in the inner palace.”
Wenyang suddenly slapped Zhang Mu’s shoulder and pretended to be angry. “Who said I am definitely marrying the Third Prince? How dare you insult my chastity…”
Afterward she held out her hand to the maid beside her and demanded they blow on it. Then she complained at Zhang Mu, “It hurts. It’s your fault. I’ll punish you when we get back.”
Zhang Mu rolled his eyes inwardly. He had never actually said she would marry the Third Prince. Wenyang had supplied that meaning herself. Even so, he chanted obediently, “Princess, please don’t be angry with this subordinate. If anger damages your health, ten thousand of me could never repay the loss.”
Wenyang was no longer listening. She was still savoring his earlier words. His Majesty had ordered a palace built here. Did that make the marriage alliance with the Third Prince practically certain? And if the Third Prince became emperor someday and she became empress, surely she would no longer live in a place like this.
When the Third Prince reached Taihe Hall, the Emperor was playing chess with Hao Lin. An attendant went inside to report his arrival. The game had become engrossing, so the Emperor gave Hao Lin an apologetic look.
“No need to worry about me,” Hao Lin said pleasantly. “If the Third Prince has come to see Your Majesty, it must be important. Please handle the matter first. I can drink tea here.”
“Very well. King Lin, please rest here for a moment. I will return shortly.” The Emperor rose and walked toward the door with a serious expression.
Hao Lin followed him with his gaze. The purple-gold doors opened slightly, and through the gap Hao Lin saw the Third Prince. At the same instant, the Third Prince looked inside. Hao Lin smiled. The Third Prince’s expression remained frozen.
“Jue’er, Father was about to send for you. You already know about Linhan Palace, don’t you?” The Third Prince replied calmly, “This son has heard a little…”
The Emperor stepped closer and patted the Third Prince’s shoulder. “Jue’er, Father knows Linhan Palace was built for your mother. Now Consort Mu is gone, and her actual tomb is not in the courtyard. Linhan Palace is effectively an abandoned residence.”
“What does Father intend to build after demolishing it?”
The Emperor caught the defiance hidden beneath the Third Prince’s calm gaze. Still, no matter how unusual the Third Prince was, he was ultimately his son and would have to obey.
“Princess Wenyang chose the location. She knows you dislike being disturbed, so she selected Linhan Palace because it lies farther from your residence. That way she can remain close to you without becoming overly intrusive.”
“Princess Wenyang is very considerate.” The Third Prince laughed coldly.
The Emperor’s smile disappeared. “Jue’er, you should understand Father’s meaning by now. Tomorrow I will issue a decree betrothing Princess Wenyang to you. Surely you cannot call that coercion?”
“Why would I? Whether I take a consort or not means nothing to me. I will follow Father’s arrangement.”
The Emperor looked relieved and studied him more closely. “Jue’er, you seem tired. Have you been unwell lately?” He reached toward the Third Prince’s face.
The Third Prince avoided the touch without obvious movement. “If Father has nothing else, this son will take his leave.”
The Emperor suddenly remembered something and stopped him. “I’ve done all the talking. I still haven’t asked why you came.”
The Third Prince looked at him, his gaze perfectly still.
“I only wanted to know what Linhan Palace would be used for.”
After speaking, the Third Prince bowed and withdrew. As he turned, he looked once more at the Emperor.
That single glance made the Emperor’s chest tighten. Looking more carefully, he found only still water in the Third Prince’s eyes, as though the bone-deep coldness he had sensed were an illusion.