Lin Yuanjin sat before the window, toying with the two pots of blooming green chrysanthemums before her. Her voice did not conceal her delight as she smiled and looked toward the tall, thin Steward Li behind her. “Is there a maid in the residence who is good at tending flowers and plants?”
“What a coincidence. This servant has a niece named Sang He; she cares for nothing else, and spends her days among these flowers and grasses. Most of the flowers in His Highness’s courtyard are tended by her.” Steward Li narrowed his eyes with a smile. “Sang He is clumsy of speech, does not like to talk, and can only do such rough work.”
Lin Yuanjin’s gaze paused on Steward Li for a moment, then she smiled lightly. “It seems coincidences do happen. I do not like chatterboxes—have her transferred to my side.”
“If these flowers are not well taken care of, then I will hold only you accountable.” Her fingertips supported a slender, hook-shaped petal, teasing as if in a girl’s jest.
“This servant, on behalf of Sang He, thanks Your Highness for your appreciation.” Steward Li smiled, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes squeezing together, and immediately knelt, performing a deep bow.
“What appreciation is there? I have only just entered the Crown Prince’s residence, and have no one at hand to use. It is thanks to the old hands of the residence for their assistance.” Lin Yuanjin blinked, her gaze toward Steward Li carrying a trace of youthful admiration. “In the future, I will still need your guidance.”
“Your Highness overpraises; this servant does not deserve it.” Steward Li declined repeatedly. After being helped up, he met Lin Yuanjin’s gaze and said with a smile, “This servant has come today for another matter.”
“In the past, there was no mistress in the residence. To prevent disorder between ranks, and to ensure the inner household affairs would not fall into others’ hands, the account books have all been managed by this servant. Now that Your Highness has arrived, this servant’s hanging heart has finally settled!”
As he spoke, several people behind him carried the account books forward and placed them on the wooden desk beside Lin Yuanjin’s hand.
“Steward Li is thorough; I am naturally at ease.” Lin Yuanjin nodded, her gaze drifting as though her mind was elsewhere, so she did not pay much attention. “If there are problems, I will seek you out and ask.”
Steward Li had just been about to respond when he heard Lin Yuanjin suddenly change the topic.
“There is indeed a matter I would like to ask you about.” Lin Yuanjin’s cheeks flushed slightly. She glanced around, then raised her hand to dismiss the maids surrounding her.
Seeing this, Steward Li cast a slight, dismissive glance at the maids who had come with the Lin family, then promptly waved away the few young servants behind him, clasping his hands before him. “Please speak?”
“I have long heard that the Crown Prince is self-disciplined and observes propriety, and that the inner courtyard is clean.” Lin Yuanjin clasped her fingers tightly before her, a trace of curiosity and bashfulness leaking through her brows and eyes as she said in a low voice, “May I ask, Steward, when was the last time His Highness summoned a xuanshi1Xuanshi (选侍): a low-ranking imperial concubine or palace woman selected to attend the emperor or crown prince, including serving in bed. to attend his bed?”
Finally, she had reached the question she truly wanted to ask!
As the Crown Princess, Lin Yuanjin could not directly inquire how long it had been since the Crown Prince summoned the imperial physician. She had only heard from the Emperor yesterday that it seemed to have been two or three months already, but she could ask in another way!
Steward Li believed he had glimpsed the young, maidenly thoughts of the Crown Princess, and smiled knowingly. The caution and probing in his heart unconsciously lessened by a few degrees. “Your Highness may be completely at ease!”
“The Crown Prince, with a body worth a thousand gold, devotes himself wholeheartedly to governance. He is not like the dandies of the capital who indulge in nightly revelry.
Moreover, he keeps the Empress’s instructions in mind, and believes that the legitimate eldest son is of utmost importance—he would certainly wait until the Crown Princess enters the residence before discussing such matters. The last time he summoned a xuanshi was already half a year ago.”
The astonishment in Lin Yuanjin’s eyes was not feigned. She quickly lowered her head, pressing her sleeve to her lips as if in delight. “I understand. You may withdraw.”
“This must absolutely not be spoken of to others!” Her voice carried both tension and fluster.
“This servant understands.” Steward Li bowed in understanding. “This servant will send Sang He over shortly; Your Highness may command her as you wish.” Having said so, he turned and left.
Lin Yuanjin sat before the window, her gaze fixed on the green chrysanthemums before her, a question rising in her heart.
Although she had never been in a relationship, nor did she understand much about the opposite sex, she vaguely remembered hearing from her classmates that boys of seventeen or eighteen—especially after having tasted such matters… would be full of vigor, unable to withstand the slightest provocation, and once they saw flesh, would not let go.
Especially someone of the Crown Prince’s status—if he wanted women, it would be the simplest thing. Even if he wanted a reputation, he could do it in secret. At this age, could he truly abstain for half a year?
This touched upon a gap in her knowledge.
“His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!”
A sudden call came from outside, interrupting Lin Yuanjin’s thoughts.
She immediately stood, her searching gaze falling upon the young man entering through the doorway. He wore a round-collared red robe of everyday attire; though the robe was loose, it did not make him appear bulky, but instead accentuated his tall and handsome bearing.
“Fuyi!” Lin Yuanjin lifted her skirt and hurried forward in small steps, raising her hand to pull him—yet she saw him try, without drawing attention, to avoid it, only to stiffen, and in the end, he had no choice but to let her take his hand.
That moment of attempted struggle was very slight, yet Lin Yuanjin, as if glimpsing a small part to infer the whole, sensed Cui Yiyu’s intention to distance himself.
“Your Highness, why are you avoiding?” Lin Yuanjin raised her eyes, noticing that Cui Yiyu’s pupils had unconsciously shifted slightly toward the direction of the window for an instant, then immediately returned to her.
As if there were someone there.
“When have I ever avoided you?” Cui Yiyu’s figure paused. He spoke with a faint smile, the corners of his lips slightly curved, his gaze calm. “It is only that I was momentarily distracted by the green chrysanthemums by the window. I sent them to you—do you like them?”
He had come to play the role of a Crown Prince who cherished the Crown Princess.
Even if he were suspected by the Crown Prince and the Empress, even if the Crown Princess did not fall for it at all, in front of others he still had to complete his task.
“As long as it is given by Fuyi, I like it.” Lin Yuanjin looked at his eyes, translucent like amber under the sunlight, pulled him to sit at the table, summoned the maids to serve tea and refreshments, and, holding Cui Yiyu’s fingers, smiled sweetly. “I thought Fuyi would not come today.”
“It is the time of a new marriage—if I do not come to seek the Crown Princess, whom should I seek?” Cui Yiyu lowered his eyes to look at her fingers, only feeling that the girl’s hand was especially soft; even the slightest touch felt like holding clouds, and the floral fragrance clinging to her fingertips made one’s back tingle unconsciously.
It was as if he had stepped onto a swaying single-plank bridge, beneath his feet a mountain of blades and a sea of fire, unable to advance or retreat.
A maid at the side approached carrying delicate tea and pastries, leisurely placing them on the table. Her sleeve inadvertently hooked onto her bracelet, revealing a section of lotus-white wrist.
Lin Yuanjin blinked, her smile unchanged. Her dark pupils suddenly lifted, abruptly meeting the maid’s eyes. Seeing the panic in her gaze, the movements of her hands became disordered, and she could only quickly set things down and hurry away.
This person seemed somewhat familiar—likely someone from the Lin family.
“Alright.” Lin Yuanjin’s eyes shifted as she withdrew her gaze, releasing Cui Yiyu’s hand. Seeing the unease in his eyes gradually fade and relax somewhat, she said, “This concubine will not make things difficult for Fuyi.”
“There are plenty of people Fuyi could go to seek…” Lin Yuanjin had just wanted to make a joke, but her gaze, falling upon Cui Yiyu’s face, suddenly stopped, and her voice ceased along with it.
The curve of her lips fell. Quietly, she raised her hand, her scallion-like fingertips landing beside his cheek.
The young man’s gaze froze. He quickly lowered his lashes, as if he had never expected Lin Yuanjin to notice, suddenly falling into brief confusion.
“You’re injured?” Lin Yuanjin spoke softly, her face without the slightest expression. Even as he retreated slightly, her hand stubbornly touched his face, her nail tracing upward along his jaw, and as expected, she felt a thin layer of skin like a cicada’s wing, slowly lifting it.
The skin she had touched was like snow-white xuan paper stained with ink, gradually reveal an unnatural flush.
As that gelatin-like layer of skin was lifted, it revealed, on his flawless jade-like face, a conspicuous blood mark—clearly cut open by something sharp.
Less than half an inch from his eye.
A strange, deathly silence spread between the two. The heat rising from the pastries on the table dissipated in an instant.
“It is only that I was busy with affairs, felt dizzy, and accidentally struck the inkstone.” Cui Yiyu curved his lips, lowering his gaze as he explained naturally with a smile, as if it were something he was long accustomed to. “It is all trivial.”
Yet after Cui Yiyu had finished adorning his lie, seeing that Lin Yuanjin still did not speak, he slowly raised his eyes. His body suddenly stilled when he saw that although the girl wore a smile, her eyes were faintly red.
She knew again.
What could he do? What could he do?
“It is only a small injury. What man in this world does not suffer bumps and knocks?” Cui Yiyu’s throat was slightly dry. The corners of his eyes lifted faintly as he spoke with an easy smile, revealing a few traces of the unrestrained youth who had grown accustomed to struggle and hardship, unyielding even when trapped. “The Crown Princess need not worry.”
No need to mind him, do not feel sad or distressed for him.
He had endured so many injuries in the past; today’s was not worth mentioning. He was merely a tool to be used by others—naturally, he would not feel pain.
“Of course I am not sad.” Lin Yuanjin smiled as if unconcerned, yet her voice was low. “Your Highness has plenty of people who care for you—how would there be any lack of me, this one person?”
The Crown Prince, with a body worth a thousand gold, would never lack people to care for him.
But what about him?
Cui Yiyu was startled. He raised his hand, and in the end still used his sleeve to wipe the faint redness at the corner of her eyes, saying in confusion, “Don’t cry.”
“What use is crying? I am not crying.” Lin Yuanjin lifted her water-bright eyes and smiled as she asked in return.
Those who had cared for her by her side had all died on that mountain road. She had been saved, but the one who saved her had not been.
Moreover, what use was the concern of someone who was likewise unable to control their own fate?
Lin Yuanjin said no more. She took from the dressing table the scar-removing ointment she had used when she was injured before, dipped a little with her fingertip, and raised her hand to apply it to Cui Yiyu’s wound.
Cui Yiyu said nothing, like a puppet with its strings cut, letting her apply the medicine.
The cool ointment carried the warmth of her body; like overburnt charcoal, it scorched his small wound, and in but a moment let a hundred flavors pass through his lips and teeth.
“Since this concubine has already discovered this wound, Your Highness need not hide it anymore in the future, lest the wound worsen again and instead affect its healing.” Lin Yuanjin held the ointment in her hand, just about to pass it to Cui Yiyu, yet under his silent gaze, she lowered it again.
Even if she gave him this medicine, it likely would not end up in his hands.
“This concubine was abandoned by others, and at the brink of life and death was saved by Your Highness’s people. I am endlessly grateful.” Lin Yuanjin looked at his half-lowered eyes and said softly, “I only hope Your Highness will cherish yourself more in the future.”
It was only gratitude, so there was no need to bear any burden.
The gentle morning light fell upon Lin Yuanjin’s face, making her gaze ripple like a clear lake, her words expressing a kind of kindness and consideration that belonged only to her—awkward, yet hard to put into words.
“The Crown Princess has a gentle and kind nature.” Under Lin Yuanjin’s gaze, Cui Yiyu slowly revealed a somewhat unskilled yet earnest smile.
This was not a perfect, deliberate imitation for the Crown Prince, but the first time he tried to smile in his own way, carrying a trace of bold spirit rarely seen among the nobility.
Strange and unfamiliar, yet not unpleasant.
Since he could remember, Cui Yiyu had tasted the hardships of the world. If not for consideration of his usefulness as a substitute, there would likely not be a single inch of uninjured flesh on his body.
He did not know why he had covered such a trivial wound on his face with disguise techniques—perhaps to try to hide it, or perhaps because he did not wish her to see it.
Lin Yuanjin was intelligent, yet her disposition was too soft. Whether or not she felt sympathy from shared suffering, for such a small injury to make her speak like this—she would inevitably be constrained by others in this palace that seemed magnificent on the surface, yet was in truth muddy and filthy.
“I promise you,” he said.
Cui Yiyu would try, as much as possible, to live a little longer—using his perhaps clumsy, perhaps ordinary way to protect the first person before him, and perhaps also the last, who showed him kindness.
To make her path as Crown Princess as smooth and easy to walk as possible.
Footnotes
1
Xuanshi (选侍): a low-ranking imperial concubine or palace woman selected to attend the emperor or crown prince, including serving in bed.
