Chapter Thirty-Nine

  I was on duty in front of the palace, and even an unintentional cough could bring trouble, so although there was no great harm, I took precautions and specially asked Li Dequan for leave. Let Yutang replace me on duty.

  "After thinking for half a day, I still went to see Fang He and casually said: 'I've been resting these past two days, there are some things I want to ask Ba Ye in person.'"

  Lying on a bamboo recliner, covering my face with a book, I gently swayed back and forth, closing my eyes to bask in the sun. The gate creaked softly several times, I put down the book, opened my eyes, looked at the gate and said: "Please come in!"

  With a creak, Eighth Brother pushed open the door and entered. He casually closed it again behind him, took in the incense burner and tea set beside me with a glance, and smiled as he looked at me leaning against the chaise longue: "You really know how to indulge!" I stood up and said: "If you're truly envious, there are plenty of things to indulge in!"

  He gazed at the wisps of blue smoke rising from the incense burner for a moment, then asked: "Are you okay? Why don't you take better care of yourself? You went out for a stroll in the rain?" I shook my head and said: "I invited you here today because there's something I wanted to ask. According to Hongwang, he seems to often go find trouble with your sister, is that true?" He looked up at me, furrowed his brow slightly, and thought for a moment before saying: "When did Hongwang say this?"

  "What's important is not when it was said, but what was said."

  He looked at me with a hint of helplessness, smiled faintly and shook his head, saying: "It's just childish nonsense, why take it seriously?"

  I gazed at him and smiled, "It's the words of children that are most true!" He slightly furrowed his brow and said, "Hong Wang occasionally goes to tease Ruo Lan, but Ruo Lan herself just laughs it off, saying that children love to play and don't take it seriously. You're the one who looks like you're interrogating him. What's going on?"

  I said calmly: "Hongwang is your only child, and it's up to you to spoil him. But if someone uses the child to bully others, and you turn a blind eye, that's going too far!"

  He looked at me and asked, "How do you know I haven't mentioned Hongwang? How many things about my household do you know, to accuse me like this?" I was angry in my heart, and coldly said, "I don't care about the affairs of your household. I just hope that for the sake of your sister, who has been wronged by you her whole life, you will protect her well! As for whether Hongwang is just a child's nonsense or not, you should figure it out yourself!"

  He swung his sleeve, turned around and left. When he reached the door, he suddenly stopped, turned back, looked at me and asked: "What's wrong with us? Weren't we fine on the grassland? Why can't you be like that now? It's rare to see each other, do we have to quarrel?"

  I stood silently with my head down, and in my heart there was also a thread of sorrow. On the grassland, it used to be just you and me, no throne, no your wife, your son. Now, between you and me, there are so many people and things separating us, how can it be the same?

  He looked at me standing quietly with my head down, let out a soft sigh, and wrapped his arms around me, saying: "I'll go ask Hongwang about it. Don't get so worked up over a child's words!" I leaned against his shoulder, not responding. After a while, he spoke softly again: "If you're really that worried about Ruolan, then why don't we get married sooner? Wouldn't that be better? That way, you can see her every day, and with you by her side, who would dare to bully 'Thirteen's' sister? Aren't you afraid of getting slapped?" In my heart, I thought silently, "sisterly polygamy" was a romantic tale in their eyes, but it was a thorn in my heart.

  He waited quietly for a while, seeing that I had no reaction, and asked in a low voice: "Haven't you thought it through yet? I'm completely confused about what you're thinking. I don't believe you're a timid person, what are you hesitating about?" He raised my head, staring into my eyes, and said: "Don't you have any faith in me?" Pausing for a moment, he asked again in a slow voice: "Or is there another reason?"

  I forced a smile and said, "You've come, it's been a while, you should head back! Can you give me some more time? Let me think about it!" He silently stared at me for a moment, let out a soft sigh, and said in a firm tone, "Ruo Xi! I'm not Xiang Yu, and I won't make you be Yu Ji!" After finishing speaking, he turned around and walked out of the courtyard.

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  Today, Kangxi was in a particularly good mood and specially ordered fruit, tea and snacks to be set out in the imperial garden, where he chatted and strolled with several of his brothers. All the princes were also very friendly and respectful, smiling and laughing together. To an outsider, it seemed like they were all having a great time. When Kangxi got up to change clothes, Li Dequan had just finished serving him and was leaving. The joyful atmosphere suddenly felt a bit chilly for a moment. But then everyone quickly went back to chatting and laughing, covering up the brief feeling of coldness.

  I stood outside, looking down at the golden fallen leaves on the ground, thinking about how to find an opportunity to talk to Thirteen alone. Before leaving, Minmin repeatedly entrusted me to help her probe Thirteen's intentions, but I hadn't found a suitable opportunity to talk to Thirteen alone, and also because of my own affairs, I was indeed delayed.

  They were secretly pondering, when suddenly they heard several brothers burst out laughing. They looked up to see a small white poodle tugging at the hem of Fourth Brother's robe, wagging its tail and frolicking about. Fourth Brother lowered his head to look at it, completely nonchalant. All the brothers were amused by the little dog's antics.

  I also smiled as I watched the little dog, a thirteen or fourteen year old girl rushed over, suddenly looking at all the big and small brothers, then saw the little dog biting and pulling on Fourth Brother's clothes, her face immediately turned pale white, she knelt down to the ground, only kowtowing.

  This should be a palace maid specially in charge of taking care of the young master's little dog, who was momentarily careless and let the dog run away by itself, and then came to collide with my brother. I stepped forward a few steps, and asked in a low voice: "How could you be so careless?" She had tears in her eyes, looked at me and just kowtowed.

  My heart softened, thinking that this was just a small child who had entered this prison alone! I still wanted to pretend to be strong in front of everyone, but now I could only give up. Turning around, I bowed to the Fourth Prince and smiled: "I'll take the dog away." As I spoke, I thought about going forward to hug the dog.

  Fourth brother, who had been looking down at the dog, raised his head and glanced at me with a faint smile on his face. I knew why he was smiling, and my heart also felt amused, thinking that he had compared me to this little thing. I couldn't help but glance at the dog and give him a playful scolding look. He revealed even more of a smile, looked at me again, and then picked up the dog, which was wagging its tail, and handed it to me.

  When I took the dog, both of them looked at the puppy and smiled slightly with their mouths pursed. I looked at the little girl kneeling outside the pavilion and asked: "Your Highness, how should she be punished?" The Fourth Prince stroked the puppy's head and said: "It's not a big deal, you handle it."

  I handed the dog back to Xiaoyu, who was still kneeling on the ground with her head bowed. She took it with a grateful face. I didn't want to say anything else to her, but this palace wasn't always so lucky every time. The Fourth Prince had always liked dogs and wouldn't mind. But if next time the little dog rushed into one of the nobles who disliked dogs, it would be unlucky for her, not the dog. So I still reminded her in a low voice to remember this for the future.

  As I turned around with a smile in my eyes, I coincidentally met the dark and gloomy gaze of Eighth Brother. His expression was hard to read, and our gazes crossed briefly. He had a smile on his lips as he chatted with Fifth Brother. But my heart tightened, and the smile in my eyes immediately dissipated. Fourteenth's piercing gaze seemed to be smiling yet not smiling as he stared at me. Not daring to look again, I walked back to my original position and stood with my head lowered.

  After Kangxi returned, the brothers accompanied him and walked randomly for a while. Kangxi said he was a bit tired and let each of the brothers do as they pleased. Li Dequan attended to Kangxi and returned to the Qianqing Palace first. I instructed the eunuchs to clean up the things and also returned to the Qianqing Palace.

  Before I even left the garden, there were rapid footsteps behind me. I slightly paused my steps and before I could turn around to look, I was suddenly pulled and hidden behind a tree. My heart was slightly startled, but seeing it was Fourteen, I felt helpless instead! I glanced at his hand that was pulling my arm and calmly said: "Li Xiang is still waiting for me to go back!" Fourteen let go of my hand, clenched his fist tightly, and asked expressionlessly: "What's going on between you and Eighth Brother?" I turned my head and remained silent, not answering.

  Fourteen waited for a while, seeing that I didn't respond, and asked again: "I asked him why he still hasn't gone to ask the Emperor for permission to marry, but he didn't answer. I asked you, and you're also just silent! What's going on that I don't know about?" He paused for a moment, then asked in a stern voice: "You and Fourth Brother were smiling at each other today, what's going on with that?"

  I turned my head and said helplessly, "Fourteenth brother! You may have several concubines, but how much do you know about the matters between men and women? Don't interfere with me and Eighth Brother's affairs anymore. As for saying that I and Fourth Master, can we only laugh and play, but not allow me to make a fool of myself in front of Fourth Master?"

  After finishing, I wanted to push his body away and leave, but he didn't move. I looked at him, hinting for him to make way. He quietly stared back at me for a while, then stepped aside, slowly saying in a cold voice: "Don't disappoint Eighth Brother! Otherwise..." A fierce chill flashed in his eyes. I was really scared! I rolled my eyes and walked away.

  After walking a few steps, he suddenly stopped and turned back to ask: "Is there anything wrong with the body of the tenth brother?" Fourteen said lightly: "That's an excuse for the emperor, he didn't come today because the body of the tenth Fu Jin is not comfortable, the tenth brother's body is fine!" I softly said "oh" and my heart moved slightly, thinking for a moment, wanting to ask again, but seeing fourteen's indifferent expression, I swallowed back the words that were about to come out of my mouth, bowed to him, and turned to leave.

  It wasn't until I lay in bed at night that I suddenly remembered that I had forgotten to look for thirteen again! Fortunately, this matter was not urgent.