Chà Chà Novel

Song Liang had not expected anyone to be thinking about a consort selection amid all this turmoil.

Liu Heng, Minister of Imperial Sacrifices. He studied the remarkable fellow’s name, feeling he might have heard it somewhere before, though it left no particular impression. As far as he remembered, no such person had appeared in the original story either.

He gave it no further thought. Taking up his brush, he wrote, “Mind your own affairs,” and sent the memorial back. Then he had someone bring Rong Jing a wooden box about a foot wide.

“Trouble you to make another trip.”

“…”

Rong Jing naturally knew whom it was for. Lately, almost every visit to the prince’s residence involved carrying a box like this. They varied in size, but all were intended for the same person. That person, however, had never accepted any of them. They were all being kept with Rong Jing’s martial sister. Seven or eight had accumulated already, and she kept complaining that he was taking up space meant for her medical books.

“I hurt him. He doesn’t have to forgive me easily, but I can’t simply pretend nothing happened. That would only hurt him a second time.”

Rong Jing’s prolonged silence told Song Liang what he was thinking. Without looking up, he continued, “Just deliver it. If anyone at the residence gives you trouble, tell them to come to me.”

With that, Rong Jing could hardly object. Before leaving, however, he turned back to ask, “Will Your Majesty appoint an empress?”

Song Liang’s brush paused. His lips curved, and an irrepressible lightness entered his voice.

“That depends on whether he agrees.”

Rong Jing stood motionless for a moment. He wanted to say that an emperor’s excessive devotion was not necessarily a blessing for the country. But seeing the smile on Song Liang’s lips, he swallowed the words.

Perhaps it was simply youth, and the belief that love would last a lifetime. When beauty faded and affection cooled, things might look very different.

But where would the two of them stand then? And what would that mean for the people of Great Yao?

…

The sight of the box gave Qi Yunzhang a headache. She hardly wanted to open the door for her martial brother anymore. Hastily clasping her hands in appeal, she begged, “Martial Brother, my dear Martial Brother, please! It’s hard enough opening the door for you every day with Cen Huan glaring at me like that. Stop tormenting me. If I really get thrown out of the residence, I’ll have nowhere to go!”

“Then stay in the palace.”

Recalling His Majesty’s assurance, Rong Jing was certain he would not refuse.

Qi Yunzhang looked unimpressed.

“Oh, please. That emperor of yours would never agree. If I moved into the palace, do you think you’d still be allowed through these gates?”

Rong Jing: “…”

He had forgotten that complication.

He lowered his head to consider a solution, but Qi Yunzhang did not make things harder for him. Taking the box in both hands, she walked into her room.

“What has he sent this time? It feels so light.”

“I don’t know.”

Rong Jing never asked about such things. Observing the propriety of not entering an unmarried woman’s bedchamber, he remained at the doorway and began fulfilling his assignment, reciting the questions as though from memory.

“Has the Prince Regent eaten today? How many bowls? Has he taken his medicine? Was it bitter? Did he frown while drinking it? Has he been in good spirits…”

After delivering a whole string of questions in one breath, he paused, then asked the most important one.

“Has the Prince Regent mentioned His Majesty’s name today?”

Qi Yunzhang: “…”

Although this had become a daily routine, she still found herself speechless. Were all the people of Great Yao well fed? Was the realm at peace? Were the Hu all dead? Did His Majesty really have so much free time?

“He ate. One bowl. He took his medicine, drank it calmly, and didn’t frown. His mood… I don’t know. He’s the same every day. As for whether he mentioned His Majesty’s name, no.”

Cen Huan, on the other hand, mentioned him all day long, she thought. “That damned emperor,” “that faithless wretch,” “that ruler bound to lose his country”—the insults were practically catchphrases by now.

Rong Jing was not surprised. In truth, he thought this was for the best. Ideally, Xie Yun would keep ignoring His Majesty until he eventually gave up. Any heartbreak would last only a while. After all, His Majesty cared deeply for the realm and the people of Great Yao. He would soon recover, devote himself to affairs of state, and become a wise ruler remembered through the ages.

“Then I’ll take my leave.”

“Wait.”

Qi Yunzhang suddenly stopped him.

“Why were you asking me about those two people I rescued?”

Rong Jing stiffened almost imperceptibly, then quickly composed himself.

“No particular reason. I was merely asking.”

“Hah.” Qi Yunzhang gave a disdainful snort. “Apart from your country and the realm—oh, and that emperor of yours—when have you ever taken an interest in anyone else?”

Rong Jing: “…I was merely asking.”

“Enough. Stop being stubborn.”

Lowering her voice, Qi Yunzhang stepped closer.

“Was it your emperor who wanted to know?”

Rong Jing was capable of lying, but he could not quite overcome his conscience when faced with his own martial sister. So he chose silence.

That was answer enough for Qi Yunzhang. Still speaking quietly, she continued, “Have you noticed anything strange about His Majesty?”

Rong Jing paused, then nodded with a frown.

“He often talks to empty air. I don’t know whom he’s speaking to.”

“…That isn’t what I meant.”

She had no interest in the emperor’s mental state.

“I’m asking whether you think he seems different from the emperor he used to be.”

Rong Jing nodded solemnly.

“Of course. His Majesty is a rare and enlightened ruler, surpassing the late emperor in talent and matching Emperor Gaozu in virtue!”

“…”

Qi Yunzhang stared at him wordlessly for a moment.

“I mean he seems different from his former self.”

Rong Jing looked taken aback.

“What makes you say that?”

“Five years ago, I came to Yanjing to treat Xie Yun and saw His Majesty once at a palace banquet. The emperor back then was truly…”

Qi Yunzhang’s face betrayed both disdain and disgust. Remembering that she was standing before one of the emperor’s staunch supporters, however, she chose a more tactful description.

“Absurd and foolish.”

Rong Jing said nothing. He had been young five years ago, but he had still heard stories of the outrageous behavior of the emperor who had come from Kangping. That was why, when disaster later struck the Rong family, he had not blamed His Majesty. He had blamed Xie Yun, who controlled the government.

Only when they met again beneath the cliffs of the Western Hills had he discovered that His Majesty was nothing like the rumors. At just eighteen, he was already courageous, resourceful, and devoted to the realm—a rare and worthy ruler.

Rong Jing frowned.

“His Majesty was only thirteen then and had just arrived in Yanjing. The Prince of Kangjing was absorbed in his travels and had never taught him anything. Naturally, His Majesty knew very little. Now he has grown up and received instruction from the Lesser Sage. Of course he is different.”

Qi Yunzhang could not be bothered to argue over the emperor’s merits. Her martial brother simply refused to acknowledge that the young emperor had ever been so foolish and absurd. She got straight to the point.

“Then do you remember His Majesty’s expression at the Western Hills camp, when I mentioned the two people I rescued?”

Rong Jing’s expression stilled.

“He had already left with the Prince Regent, but he suddenly came back. And he immediately guessed that I had rescued them by the roadside. Then there was the way he looked at me…”

Qi Yunzhang still felt a lingering fear.

“Even now, remembering it frightens me. I can’t shake the feeling that he wanted to kill me.”

“So what are you suggesting?” Rong Jing asked, his gaze darkening.

Qi Yunzhang faltered, uncertain whether she should say it aloud.

Rong Jing had already lowered his gaze.

“I serve at His Majesty’s side, and I have never seen any sign of a human-skin mask on his face. As for his body, if there were traces of skin replacement, the eunuchs attending him would inevitably betray some reaction. Yet His Majesty makes no effort to conceal himself in his daily life.”

He wore a human-skin mask himself. Its craftsmanship was excellent, reproducing most of the intended features and complexion, yet he still had to remove it every day to let his skin breathe and clean it. He had never seen His Majesty need to do anything of the sort.

Qi Yunzhang could not refute that.

“But… the Prince Regent has suspected something was wrong with His Majesty too.”

Rong Jing looked sharply at her.

“Those two people—”

“No, no! I haven’t told the Prince Regent about them.”

Qi Yunzhang hastened to clear herself. She merely wanted to study medicine and save lives, not become entangled in any struggle for power. That was also the main reason Xie Yun tolerated her presence in his residence.

Rong Jing remained uneasy. He did not believe Xie Yun would choose His Majesty over the throne. His Majesty might trust him, but Rong Jing could not afford to lower his guard.

He regarded Qi Yunzhang solemnly.

“Keep a close watch over those two. Don’t tell anyone where they are, or reveal anything about them.”

“I know.” Qi Yunzhang nodded. “They were both gravely wounded. Only the woman woke once. She asked me to help find her younger brother, Li Huai, and that was all. She hasn’t revealed anything else.”

Only then did Rong Jing relax. Realizing that he needed to report this to His Majesty as soon as possible, he left her with a hurried “Remember to give it to him” and departed.

Qi Yunzhang was about to see him out when a voice sounded unexpectedly beside her.

“Give him what?”

“Ah!”

She jumped, then glared at Cen Huan.

“If you frighten me to death, there’ll be no one left to treat your prince!”

Ignoring her, Cen Huan glanced at the seven or eight boxes stacked as high as a person in her room. Fine rosewood, imperial markings—he did not need to ask who had sent them. He frowned.

“Doesn’t this count as bending the rules for personal reasons? Aren’t you afraid His Highness will punish you?”

“I don’t belong to your household. What right would he have to punish me? Besides, do you really think he doesn’t know?”

“…”

Cen Huan had no answer. How could their prince not know? He would notice an extra dog in the residence. A living, breathing person came here every day—a man from the palace, no less—carrying enormous boxes and asking endless questions about him. Of course he knew.

The only person still in the dark was Elder Xie in the neighboring western courtyard. If he found out, he would probably close his eyes and faint on the spot.

“What did he send today?” Cen Huan asked casually.

“I don’t know. It feels quite light, but the box is so large that it’s probably clothing.”

Qi Yunzhang brought it over, indicating that he could open it himself if he wanted to look. She certainly did not dare.

Cen Huan flicked open the clasp and lifted the lid. At the sight of its contents, he paused.

Curious, Qi Yunzhang leaned closer, but he promptly snapped the box shut, snatched it up, and turned to leave.

“What are you looking at?”

“…”

Qi Yunzhang rolled her eyes at his retreating back. As if she cared. There were still seven more boxes in her room.

Besides, although she had not seen everything, she had seen enough. There really was a garment inside: moon-white fabric, its woven patterns gleaming like pearls, soft as moonlight yet clearly visible even in broad daylight. One glance was enough to tell it was a treasure.

It looked rather like the robe Xie Yun had changed into before leaving that day—and burned after coming home.