LC chapter 10

 

Zhan Xi was only fourteen when he left the prince’s mansion. With the emperor gone, the imperial relatives descended into chaos. Although the Chun Prince’s mansion held a position of great prestige, the person managing the household was merely an immature child. This situation inevitably invited covetous eyes.

The clan elders used their status to bully others, and anyone remotely related to the prince sought a share of the spoils. Even the household servants harbored ulterior motives, colluding with outsiders. Countless souls were fickle and easily swayed by new opportunities. Among the two secondary concubines, Fucha had a three-year-old son, which made Zhan Xi a thorn in her side. The Li secondary concubine, having a princess of her own, naturally prioritized her and her daughter’s safety, practicing the principle of self-preservation to the extreme.

Zhan Xi struggled for a time, but the constant troubles became unbearable. Ultimately, he abandoned everything in the prince’s mansion, taking only his mother’s dowry with him.

Zhan Xi paid no attention whatsoever to the mansion’s fate afterward. Lin Ruan only heard from Uncle Tong that Fucha’s son had died of illness and that the mansion’s assets had been forcibly divided, with half seized by the imperial relatives. The remaining half was retained only because Li and Fucha enlisted the help of their maternal families—though the amount of gratitude gifts ultimately given away remained unknown.

While the royal household declined day by day, Zhan Xi’s career flourished. Seeing this, the household members turned their attention to him. Since his return from abroad, they had sought him out at least eight or ten times.

Concubine Li lifted her teacup, took a light sip, and set it down to exchange pleasantries with Zhanxi. He responded with a word or two here and there; his manner was not particularly warm.

“…Though you’ve moved out, you remain the prince of the Chun Prince’s Mansion. You cannot be separated from it,” remarked Concubine Li. “Your time abroad these past years was one thing, but now that you’ve returned, you should visit more often. We shouldn’t grow too distant.”

Lin Ruan listened while placing the teacup on the small table beside Zhan Xi.

“Is this the Lady Lin?” Concubine Li shifted her focus. Lin Ruan froze, then realized he was being addressed. He gave a slight bow, lowered his head, and replied, “Yes.”

“Come forward so I may see you,” commanded Concubine Li.

Lin Ruan had no choice but to step forward and kneel, while Consort Li examined him as if appraising an object. After a long moment, she remarked, “You’ve served the prince well these past years.”

As she spoke, a maid presented a tray and announced, “These are gifts from Concubine Li.”

The tray held several pieces of fabric in delicate shades of pale pink and light green, along with some gold and silver coins. Lin Ruan pressed his lips together. “Thank you for the gift, Concubine Li.”

He accepted the items and moved to stand beside Zhan Xi. Concubine Fucha suddenly smiled. “I hadn’t noticed before, but Lin has grown into a fine figure. Second Concubine Li gave gifts, and I have something as well.”

Another maid presented a tray of gold and silver jewelry, including earrings, pendants, and a delicate jade bracelet. The jewelry was sized for a young maiden and was far too small for Lin Ruan’s hands, even if he broke his bones trying to slip it on.

No one in the prince’s mansion regarded Lin Ruan as a man. They gave him girls’ clothes and jewelry and addressed him with the absurd title “Lady Lin.”

Lin Ruan thought, I should really put on a skirt, apply makeup, and parade myself before you all. Then we’ll see who ends up disgusting whom.

Lin Ruan didn’t reach out to take it, either because he was distracted or for some other reason. Zhan Xi glanced sideways at him. It was unusual for Lin Ruan to resist. He had always been passive, especially in the palace he feared.

Cocubine Fucha sneered, “What an insolent servant, ignorant of proper etiquette.”

Lin Ruan remained silent. Yet, a hint of amusement flickered in Zhan Xi’s eyes. It was good when someone could express their dislike.

Zhan Xi set down his teacup, adjusted his sleeves, and said, “Last night, I dreamt of Father. He said he misses Concubine Fucha. If she has time, she should kneel before his memorial tablet. That will let him find peace from his longing.”

Concubine Fucha paled. Zhan Xi rose to leave, and Lin Ruan followed him. Suddenly, Zhan Xi turned back and asked, “Doesn’t carrying that thing tire you out?”

Lin Ruan felt a wave of relief wash over him. He hurriedly set the object down and followed Zhan Xi out.

The expressions in the hall varied; Concubine Li showed no sign of hurt pride at being snubbed. She thought that Lin Ruan was more important to Prince Zhanxi than she had imagined.

Concubine Fucha rose to leave. Concubine Li called after her, “Didn’t you hear what the prince said? The old prince misses you.”

Fucha’s face paled further. The matron beside Li stepped forward and almost forced Fucha to kneel before the memorial tablet.

Meanwhile, Lin Ruan followed Zhan Xi closely, traversing the winding corridor and passing through gate after gate. In a daze, he felt as though he had returned to the moment he first arrived at the Prince’s residence. Back then, he had also clung tightly to Zhan Xi’s heels.

Perhaps ancient architecture possesses a unique ability to preserve time. Within its walls, ten years felt like a single instant.

It took a long time to reach Zhan Xi’s courtyard. There were already people there: a maid in pink robes and a servant in gray garments. Uncle Tong had arrived and was lecturing them on the rules. When he saw Zhan Xi return, he hurried over to greet him.

The courtyard was quite spacious and laid out in the traditional quadrangle style. Traces of snow still clung to the red tiles on all four sides, though the paths within had been swept clean. Several Western crabapple trees stood in the center, now bare and stripped of leaves, with only lingering snow remaining. Two pomegranate trees flanked the steps, and a songbird hung in the corridor, chirping incessantly, perhaps from the cold.

The West Warm Pavilion served as Zhan Xi’s bedroom. A network of fire channels beneath the floor kept the room pleasantly warm. Though the windows had been replaced with glass panes, the room remained dim, likely due to the overcast sky.

Lin Ruan lit the lamps, flooding the space with light. Opposite the entrance, two paintings hung on the wall. An incense burner sat on a table flanked by chairs. Under the south window was a reclining bench draped with an apricot-colored mattress.

The inner room was separated by a sandalwood screen. Inside stood a rosewood four-poster bed draped with canopy curtains. Beside it was a small bed for the night watchman. Lin Ruan had slept in that bed many times.

Zhan Xi removed his cloak and sat in a chair. Lin Ruan first boiled water for tea, then began tidying the room. The room wasn’t dirty; it was already quite clean. However, some items needed to be replaced with things that Zhan Xi had brought himself.

Tong Bo entered and asked if a separate room should be arranged for Lin Ruan.

“No need,” Zhan Xi replied. “He’ll stay with me.”

Tong Bo glanced toward the inner chamber, where he saw Lin Ruan half-buried in the wardrobe, sorting through Zhan Xi’s garments.

Tong Bo said nothing more, bowed, and left. He seemed to adapt exceptionally well to the prince’s residence. The moment he arrived, all the etiquette he had previously disregarded resurfaced.

At dinnertime, Concubine Li came to invite them again, but Zhan Xi ignored her. He and Lin Ruan ate alone in their room. Despite the fact that the prince’s residence employed numerous cooks and served exquisitely prepared dishes, they simply fell short compared to Aunt Cao’s cooking.

As night fell, the mansion grew eerily quiet. Before electricity was introduced, candles were the only source of light. These candles were over a foot long and thick, too large to hold in one hand. Carved with intricate dragon and phoenix patterns, they were unique to the mansion.

Lin Ruan had fallen asleep to the glow of these exquisite white candles since childhood. They appeared in countless dreams, burning endlessly.

Even after electricity was introduced, Consort Li maintained the old tradition of extinguishing the lamps at the appointed hour. Once night fell, the vast mansion was left with only a faint glow. The black canopy of night and the oppressive silence felt suffocating.

It was hard to imagine how the two young princesses within the mansion could endure such a life.

Zhanxi’s courtyard glowed brightly. Outside, Tong Bo’s voice could be heard. After finishing his business with Zhanxi, Shi Ning returned to his own quarters. He had brought his favorite gramophone along—apparently his new favorite possession—moving it wherever he went. When the sound of music reached Tong Bo, he scolded Shi Ning for playing music in his room.

The music echoed through the grand mansion, making it feel like the opening of a horror story.

Lin Ruan fetched water to wash Zhan Xi’s feet. He rolled up his sleeves, squatted on the ground, and listened distractedly to the voices of Uncle Tong and Shi Ning outside.

Suddenly, a weight settled on Lin Ruan’s head—Zhan Xi’s hand had fallen upon him. He gently stroked Lin Ruan’s head, then pinched the back of his neck.

Lin Ruan lifted his gaze to meet Zhan Xi’s. His eyes remained serene. No matter where he went, he had the ability to make any place feel like his domain.

Staring into his eyes, Lin Ruan slowly relaxed.

Lin Ruan fetched water and returned to find Zhan Xi standing by the phone in a robe, talking to someone. Not daring to disturb him, he went into the inner room to wash up.

After finishing, Lin Ruan instinctively walked to the small bed. Zhan Xi returned from his call and said, “Sleep on the bed.”

Lin Ruan froze but obediently agreed and climbed into the inner side of the bed.

Zhan Xi turned off the light and climbed into bed. Lin Ruan curled up on the inside, listening to Zhan Xi lower the bed curtains.

This seems like my job, Lin Ruan thought aimlessly.

Zhan Xi lay down and reached out to pull Lin Ruan into his embrace. He lowered his head, his breath hot against the back of Lin Ruan’s neck. Lin Ruan shuddered and tried to pull away instinctively.

Zhan Xi was displeased by his resistance. One arm encircled Lin Ruan, and the other hand rested lightly on his neck. Though not tight, Lin Ruan felt a chill run down his spine.

Zhan Xi lowered his head and scattered soft kisses along Lin Ruan’s neck.

“Sir…” Lin Ruan’s voice trembled.

Zhan Xi offered no reply, instead running his fingers over Lin Ruan’s skin from his cheek to his neck, a gesture that felt both comforting and tantalizing.

Lin Ruan’s buttons were undone, exposing half of his shoulder. The heat trapped beneath the quilt rose in waves, mingling with Zhan Xi’s scent.

Lin Ruan kept his eyes tightly shut, looking tense. Yet, beneath the covers, his legs unconsciously entwined and rubbed together like a teenager’s on their first night.

Zhan Xi left several crimson marks on Lin Ruan’s neck. As he moved downward, Lin Ruan suddenly struggled violently. His eyes reddened as he pleaded with Zhan Xi: “Sir… Sir, I’m scared…”

Zhan Xi didn’t force him. Though he had initiated the teasing, he now appeared utterly composed, as if nothing had happened.

This made Lin Ruan seem almost wanton by comparison.

Zhan Xi pinched the back of Lin Ruan’s neck in a soothing gesture, slipping his hand beneath the covers to ease his tension. With each movement of Zhan Xi’s hand, Lin Ruan trembled.

He bit down on the corner of the quilt, stifling his voice; yet, his heavy breathing echoed distinctly within the canopy. Soon, a musky scent filled the space between the bed curtains.

Lin Ruan’s entire body burned as he curled up in a ball, unable to meet Zhan Xi’s gaze. Zhan Xi casually wiped his hands on Lin Ruan’s clothes and peeled them off like shrimp shells, tossing them aside.

Lin Ruan waited a moment, hearing no movement behind him. Exhausted, he drifted into a deep sleep.