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My fever seems like it’s gone down because my mind is quickly trying to wrap my head around this.
Jinzi’s words and performance were nothing other than unexplainably bizarre, but there’s something I can grab from it.
He called me Zhang Qinglian.
Unless he’s gone mad or lost his memory or something, he wouldn’t call me like that.
So… is someone listening in from outside?
What did he mean, in the end? Why is he keeping me in the dark about what he’s doing? Is Prince Liang that “Lord”? That traitorous usurper?
As the only blood-related Prince of the Gui dynasty, he really is the present first-rank successor to the throne.
Yet it doesn’t seem to be that easy. For one, he’s stricken with an incurable illness, though that doesn’t rule out him feigning that illness and being a wolf in sheep’s clothing. For two, even if even the G.o.ds didn’t know whether he’d tried to eliminate His Majesty, if he aspired to be the ruler, he’d need strong political – and especially military – support. His current strength in the dynasty is clearly not that, and the resources conferred upon a Prince here isn’t likely to be more than twenty to thirty thousand private troops. He doesn’t even seem to have that power right now.
As it stands, keeping distance from the imperial palace is quite suspicious in the first place, and always worthy of having an eye on.
Or, maybe… does Prince Liang have something he wants there?
Or maybe Jinzi really did lose a chunk of his memory? A preposterous event like that would only take place in a Korean soap opera, right?
My worries fly free: no matter what the reason, I fear that what Jinzi’s doing right now has some degree of danger.
Furthermore, what Jinzi had said to me was so easy-flowing, so reasonable, so logical– why did I get the general sense that within certain ones were his real feelings?
Could it be that my constant belief that Jinzi didn’t care about the gazes of others just my wishful thinking? Was he just not letting it show? Was I too inattentive to him, too self-opinionated?
I was sick for only two days, so it was likely just a random cold. I got better at lightning speed thanks to my iron will.
Enduring those two days was terrible, of course.
I had Zhou Zizhu take over the relief aid and provisions Lu Liang had and add it to what I had collected and Prince Liang had provided. The rich merchant’s donations arrived one after the other. I didn’t want Lu Liang and Guo Zhengtong to meddle with what was received, but the victims here are only a small part of the whole, and it all needs to be transported to the much greater part over in the disaster area of Lingyang. Zhou Zizhu is up to his ears in work, wasting no time as he frantically runs in circles with all sides, only hoping that I get better.
On that matter, how to help the victims rebuild their homes after the flood and how to repair currently existing dams that have been damaged are big issues.
To be frank, I believe Lu Liang isn’t as honorable as he portrays himself. The problem is that he just really doesn’t get on with Guo Zhengtong, using a public office for private revenge to trip him him up, or he actually did dredge up those scathing words to make a bit of black-hearted money.
At present, according to Zhou Zizhu’s word, there are no problems in accounting for all the money and food that Lu Liang had handed over to him.
There’s still Guo Zhengtong. Is he truly an official doing his due, or is he a ruthless one spiting the life and death of the citizens, randomly adding taxes and compulsory service?
Which one is selling food to the Princess?
It’s for this reason that on the third day, though my head was still a bit fuzzy, I sat up in bed.
Getting up from bed is the first thing I have to manage.
I have to coordinate with Jinzi’s att.i.tude, words, and current situation, and use Zhang Qinglian’s personal characteristics to put on a good show.
“Your Highness!” I spew with rage, making a huge spectacle as I bust into Prince Liang’s bedroom. “Your Highness Prince Liang!”
Some servants try to block me without success, until Wei Guanliu heard the news and came in. Only then was I stopped, just a quarter of a meter before the curtains on Prince Liang’s bed.
“Sir Zhang, His Highness is in poor health. How can you make such a racket like this?” Wei Guanliu was practically holding me. His voice was as steady as always, but there was a faint nippiness to it. The hands that held me were like iron pincers, pinching my upper arms until they hurt badly.
This person appeared to be gentle with a literary air, but unexpectedly has the bearings of a barbarian.
The sickly beauty propped up half of his body from where it was settled within the curtain. He hadn’t yet said a word before he started a long spell of coughing, then said with wet, short breaths, “Guanliu, let go of Qinglian.”
The very obedient Wei Guanliu gently released me.
Prince Liang lightly raised his hand, and some subordinates got the hint to hang up the curtain. I once again see the sickly beauty is all his glory.
Focusing on the scenery behind him, I notice Jinzi isn’t there. That’s great, as I was afraid that my big exaggerated display just now would’ve made him laugh. He’s a gloomy guy, but still a young one.
And I would’ve been just a little embarra.s.sed.
“Cough, Qinglian…” Prince Liang opens his mouth to ask about why I’ve come.
I finally take a look at my costume for this play: I didn’t have on my official’s robes, my clothes were in disarray, my lapels were a little loose and revealed a bit of chest, my hair was a mess, and there were herbal plasters on both my temples. It gave something of an ailing look, and a post-modernist air that combined a complaining wife and a boytoy.
“Your Highness!” My voice is mournful as I toss myself into this without looking back.
Everyone present jumped in fright, Prince Liang and Wei Guanliu included. Prince Liang coughed a few times and said, “Qinglian… what’s going on with you?” He waved his hand towards me, and all the extra people aside from Wei Guanliu quietly withdrew.
“Your Highness!” I threw myself at the side of his bed, raising my head to look at him, looking determined yet about to cry, with the implication that I’m about to throw a tantrum. “Return Jinzi to me!”
Prince Liang gave me a once-over. “What makes you say this, Qinglian?
“You don’t need to keep it from me, Your Highness!” I put a bit of anger on. “Is there anyone in this land that doesn’t know I like Yao Jinzi? Or how much of my heart’s blood I’ve spent on him? You’ve taken the one I love, Your Highness!”
Prince Liang didn’t yet respond when Wei Guanliu spoke up from the side. “With Yao Jinzi being a loyal and just person of literary grace and martial talent, exceeding the rest of his generation, how would he go along with being a pretty pet?”
This is the first time I’ve seen him convey his clear-cut opinion, and it’s apparently partial towards Jinzi, probably from being moved by his talents and giving a bit of well wishes. However, on the surface, I jump three chi in the air, and stare coldly at him. “Mister Wei, are you scolding me?”
Wei Guanliu stares, then cups his hands. “This Wei misspoke,” he says indifferently.
He probably abhors me down to the core.
“Alright.” Prince Liang slowly laid down, shutting his eyes with some weariness. “What Guanliu said wasn’t that wrong. With Yao Jinzi’s talent, this Prince can’t bear to let him get rusty, and looking at his father before him, I ought to pull him in… cough, Qinglian, there’s so many good-looking youths in the world. He surely can’t be worth all the trouble he gives you? To put an end to this, in two days I’ll have Wei Guanliu find two pretty children and two good-looking maidens to give to you…”
“I don’t just want–“
“Qinglian.” Prince Liang suddenly opened his eyes, and within them flashed a sharp coldness, his tone sinking to the depths along with his face. He has some of the dignity of a G.o.d, sending a chill throughout my bones, and shutting me up quickly.
When he saw my cowardice, he relaxed his tone in satisfaction, slowly easing his expression. “The poor temper you have when you think of or do something is the same as always. If it weren’t for the late Emperor favoring you, it’s very likely that even what’s left of your skeleton wouldn’t remain today… in fact, Jinzi hasn’t ever had you in his heart. You being like so towards him is naturally a knot in his heart he can’t undo. If you let him go, maybe he’ll change his mind in time.”
He’s acting like I’m a fool to be coaxed. I see now that in Prince Liang’s mind, towards me – towards Zhang Qinglian – he has more than a hint of disdain for this lowly boytoy who relied on his body to climb up in life, and felt that I didn’t have the brains or the know-how to properly scheme.
Very good. I’ll take advantage of this to step off the stage. I just came here to go along with Jinzi, not for Prince Liang to actually give him back to me.
As I’ve not made a peep, Prince Liang thinks he’s successfully persuaded me and settled this matter. His mind also settles, and he faintly smiles. “Nevertheless, Qinglian, is it only excellent skill you like? Because I can get Guanliu to accompany you often…” Saying so, he deliberately shot a glance at Wei Guanliu next to me.
I freeze upon discovering that Prince Liang is also a man, and just like the modern, boring man, he likes to say to say innuendos that he thinks are “funny”. I’m really… speechless, and throw a revolted look at Wei Guanliu.
The unfortunate man’s complexion goes green, to white, to red, changing very many times before ultimately returning to normal with no difference to be seen. It’s extremely marvelous. I inwardly admire his self-restraint.
Prince Liang burst with laughter. His laughter eventually forks off into violent coughing.
Serves him right! I mentally curse at him fourteen times while making my dispirited goodbyes, but Prince Liang calls out to me.
“Qinglian– coughcoughcough— for Sir Lu, I believe he’s just stubborn, but honest, and Guo Zhengtong is choked with resentment, but wouldn’t dare to deliberately make an error in a matter this huge… relax your hand a bit when you handle this…”
I stood in place, frowning. “I know Sir Lu is always doing everything with me in mind. It’s just I have no say in this matter, it all depends on Sir Zhou…”
Prince Liang looked like he understood well, nodding. “It’s alright.” Then he knit his brows, likely thinking that Zhou Zizhu would be very tough to wrangle.
As I take my leave, Prince Liang says, “In two days, Guanliu will look for people for you. If you don’t like them, just say it, and he’ll keep looking.”
I extremely unwillingly said my thanks, and very slowly went out.
A successful curtain call.
Afterwards, I talked business with Zhou Zizhu. I decided that I would take a large amount of the provisions and a chunk of the funds, then go together with Guo Zhengtong to provide relief to Lingyang and personally investigate the disaster. Zhou Zizhu would stay behind in Xinyang, collecting the donated grain, taking stock, continuing to provide aid, and watching over Lu Liang.
Zhou Zizhu was a little hesitant, feeling my health hadn’t recovered completely and I wouldn’t be able to take the journey, wishing to switch jobs with me. I sigh. “The world knows that you and Guo Zhengtong were cla.s.smates and have a very personal relationship. Were this to be done by you, Brother Zhou, then it won’t be any more clear on whether a great many mouths are being stuffed up, and how would the minds of the ma.s.ses be convinced?”
Zhou Zizhu knew that what I’d said had reason to it and had no choice but to accept it.