Spring Once More

chapter 10

(Traditional Chinese cover scanned by Dairytea)

Chapter Ten

That night, I toss and turn in bed mulling over my next steps. The emperor and dowager are both forces to be reckoned with. Worse comes to worst, I’ll take a slice at the neck and spend more time begging for favours from the department chief. I’ll just start again a baby in some rich family. But right now I got the lives of twenty concubines – if I count the tanhua – plus over a hundred servants in the manor all on my shoulders. The struggle is real. Not to mention the fact that I have a grand mission: to leave my name in history and be praised for millennia.

When the c.o.c.k crows the next morning, I decide to take it one step at a time. First of all, let’s fetch those two back to the manor. Given the current circ.u.mstances, he’s a dead man walking if I relieve him of his new servitude. Virtue does not allow any excuses when it comes to saving a life. But I’ve got to deal with the emperor and all those other princes… Oh, f.u.c.k me. It’s like a blade waiting to come down at me no matter what I choose to do, so I might as well do it with a bang!

So today, I get on mypalanquin and head for the palace to see the emperor.

The palace is similar to whatappears on historical dramas, but even larger. The emperor receives me in NuanxinChamber, beside him is of course the empress dowager.

Right when I step in the room,he says, “The seventh prince may forgo formalities,” and prematurely kills myplans to sacrifice my delicate knee caps for my n.o.ble cause. I gladly hold myfists before my chest.

“Empress Mother. Brother.”

The emperor nods contently,but the empress dowager doesn’t let me go so easily. She summons for my seat tobe placed next to her.

The emperor, Chai Yu, looks tobe around thirty or so. His features somewhat take after the empress dowagerbut are not as fierce. He keeps a neatly trimmed moustache that is so handsomeit makes me want to grow one, too. I recite the lines I had prepared the nightbefore.

“Last night, the third brothercame to convey Your Majesty’s edicts, and I am forever thankful.” To be honest,I feel a little iffy. I have no idea if I’m speaking the right way.

But the heaven is kind, and Iapparently did fairly well. The empress dowager chimes in. “My son, you see Iwas right. Your little brother is even speaking more properly.”

The emperor nodded inagreement. “Right you are, Empress Mother. The way we see it, it seems thenear-death experience has made him more mature and responsible.”

Her face lights up and she isabout to jump into a detailed a.n.a.lysis of my improvements. Luckily, the emperorcuts her short just in time. “Empress Mother, if we are not mistaken, the ConsortDowager awaits your presence for the matter regarding the search for a fumafor Princess Yongshou.” And so, with a quick utterance, the nagging hen hasbeen chased away.

Then I exchange some moresmall talk with him. Sensing that the timing was good, I stand up and hold myfists together. “My brother, Your Majesty, you must have matters to deal with,so I shall take my leave if it pleases you.”

He eyes me for a moment.“Fine. Be sure to rest and recover your qiafter you fetch them. You shall come again at a later date so the two of us can catch up.”

I let myself relax and turn toleave.

“Halt.” He stops me before Ieven get to the door. My stomach tightens. Could it be that I didn’t sayfarewell properly and now my cover is blown? I turn back, and he’s looking atme. b.u.t.terflies in my stomach. He lets out a scoff. “I’ll let you off the hookthis time, but I’ll get you back for making me, the empress and all my consortseat plain congee for three days!”

Holy s.h.i.t! That’s it?! Ialmost c.r.a.pped my pants!

I chuckle. “I’ll be sure tofix something delicious for you, and we’ll drink!”

Leaving the palace, I’mfeeling pretty d.a.m.n good. I didn’t think the emperor would be that easily dealtwith. The palanquin bearers are quick on their feet. The litter wobbles along theeastern wind all the way to death row.

The husband of a princess.

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

(The royal family *:・ﾟ✧ ✧ﾟ・: *)

Chapter Eleven

Spring Once More by is licensed under a .