Volume 2 Chapter 20 (1/2)
The Prince's escaped fiancée (Arc 2-3)
It was currently evening, the glory of the sunset splashed the sky with orange streaks, painting the clouds with a faint layer of gold, brilliant and soul stirring, evoking the dreamlike quality of a poem.
The scenery was undeniably beautiful, but Su Yang's mind was only occupied with one thought—- escape!!
It has nothing to do with old hatred or new grudges, this fight or flight response was merely the natural response when faced with extreme danger.
The man in front of him was dressed in the black and stately robes that marked him as a Prince. His face was cold and haughty, and his glance raked him from head to foot with withering disdain. His dark eyes held no warmth, his wintry gaze was oppressive, as was the firm grip which threatened to crush the bones in Su Yang's wrist.
With this delicate body of his, how could he withstand such manhandling? Su Yang's face turned pale as he struggled and shouted: “You let me go now! Ow!”
He also sent a pitiful, entreating look at Wu Xueyan. He may not be good at much, but acting cute and loveable was a basic skill of his. His black eyes shone bright and round with a film of tears and his lower lip quivered, like a little puppy denied food, full of grievance and pain.
Wu Xueyan's maternal instinct was roused, she immediately stepped forward to rescue Su Yang, but was held back by Tao Yunfeng. The two stood deadlocked.
Realizing that no help would be found in Wu Xueyan, he turned his pitiful gaze onto Jing Cheng.
“Why are you bullying me, I don't know you,” he cried, voice hitching. He was genuinely in pain and couldn't stop the tears from flowing. “You bad man, let me go! Ah Gui, Ah Gui, save me!”
From where he was hiding in a corner, Ah Gui s.h.i.+vered even harder, willing himself to shrink out of sight for fear of drawing the Fifth prince's wrath.
Oh fine, so this is the extent of your loyalty!
Su Yang's anger reached its peak, he couldn't think of any other way to release himself, and so he opened his mouth to bite. As a result, the back Jing Cheng's hand was wet and s.h.i.+ny, but there wasn't even a tooth mark to show for his efforts.
Su Yang: “…….”
He stared at Jing Cheng, and Jing Cheng stared back at him. Su Yang could have sworn he glimpsed a trace of mockery in the other's dark eyes.
The h.e.l.l, how was he going to survive! Tao Ziyu's neat little white teeth were purely for show, not meant to be used for biting at all! And now his teeth were aching!
Jing Cheng slowly loosened his hold on Su Yang, and turned away from him without another glance. To Tao Yunfeng, he said: “Minister Tao, the dowry will be sent in three days. The recent battle of the Northern Desert campaign means that funds are now tight, hence the celebration will be a simple one.”
Tao Yunfeng as the Ministry of Revenue was most clear on whether or not funds were tight, but since Jing Cheng said it was tight, it can only be tight.
He hurriedly pulled on an ingratiating smile: “Naturally, everything will be arranged according to your wishes, but for the Your Highness to consider matters of the military as well, is really worthy of admiration. Yu-er is by no means outstanding, for him to be able to marry the Prince, it is our blessing and good fortune.”
Su Yang shrieked in his heart. Say what1? Marry! Him?!
There was no trace of emotion on Jing Cheng's stoically impa.s.sive face, he replied faintly: “That is all, I will take my leave now.”
Tao Yunfeng quickly tried to detain him: “Your Highness, please stay. This official has ordered for wine to be prepared. If it pleases Your Highness, do allow this official and this pup to welcome you as our guest for the night. You have had a tiring journey, some rest would be good.”
Note: 犬子 (Quǎnzǐ) – little dog, an affectionate way to refer to a son.
Jing Cheng paused, and turned to look at him. Then he gave a single bark of laughter.
“If memory serves, Minister Tao used to have a hundred different ways to avoid me, despising me for an old cow2 who is not worthy of your family's young gra.s.s. Pardon me, I don't think I'm worthy of your wine either.”
Without wasting any more words, he left with large strides.
Tao Yunfeng did not blink from this indignity, and kept up with the gracious act of seeing the guest out, his conduct and decorum remaining flawless.
Wu Xueyan furrowed her brows as she checked Su Yang for injuries. The bruises on the knees were of no consequence, but the ring of blue and purple on his wrist looked stark and terrible, it was clear that he had not been handled gently.
The Jing Cheng of the past would not even be willing to touch him for fear of causing injury. Now there was a gaping chasm between them, seemingly impossible to bridge.
Su Yang pulled her hand off angrily: “You are also a bad person.” Then he ran into the house and burrowed into his quilts, with the air of one determined to never re-emerge in his lifetime.
Wu Xueyan dismissed the servants, leaving only mother and son in the room. When she heard the soft “sobbing” sounds from the bed, her eyes turned red.
She sat at the side of the bed, and whispered: “I'm sorry, it's not that Mother didn't want to save you, but…. the Emperor and the Fifth prince are now playing a dangerous game, and we of the household of the Ministry of Revenue is their most important piece, it's actually not easy for your father either….”
She would never have revealed her thoughts to the Tao Ziyu of the past. As a fiercely protective mother, she did not believe in imposing the burdens of the family on her child, and hoped for her child to live a carefree life, unfettered by the heavy truth.
But now her child was a simpleton, unable to comprehend anything she tells him. And so, she spoke to him freely.
“A long time ago, your father used to be a poor scholar, selling paintings and calligraphy on the street side. One day, I pa.s.sed by, and fell in love with him on sight. I did not hesitate to conceal my ident.i.ty and approached him as an ordinary embroiderer. Eventually, he promised to take me as his wife in the following year after he has sat for the Imperial exams.
“And indeed, he succeeded in the exams, handpicked by the Emperor as the champion. When he rode down the street on a horse, it was a beautiful scene, the hearts of all the ladies of Jianzhou city beat for him, but his mind was only filled with thoughts of a little embroidery woman.” She laughed softly as she said this, patting the quilt coc.o.o.ned Su Yang. “He was really silly, rejecting offer after offer of many ladies' hand in marriages, not realizing he was courting misfortune as he sought me.
“Your grandfather is the great General of the dynasty, he once saved the Emperor's life in exchange for the Death Exemption plate, and he still holds command over tens of thousands of Imperial troops. But the previous Emperor was suspicious and ill at ease, unskilled in his command of military power, always wary of deceit and betrayal…. and then your two uncles lost their lives during service in the army, and were deemed to have died with honors. And now, you and I are the lifeblood of the Wu family.
“When you were five years old, you were selected to enter the palace to be the Emperor's grandson's companion. I was actually unwilling, afraid that chance misfortune would befall you. When you returned safely, before I could even feel relief, the decree for your marriage was issued. That year, the Fifth prince was eighteen, what need to mention the age gap, when you are both male…..”
Su Yang had already poked his head out from under the covers, gently wiping away her tears. This woman has not had an easy life.
The previous Emperor was a poisonous sort, incapable of showing or earning grace. He wanted to end the Wu family. Once General Wu has aged, everything would return to the Imperial family.
Wu Xueyan held his hand, smiling wistfully: “But the Fifth prince treated you remarkably well, and I was relieved. You carry the blood of the Wu family, but all I hoped for is that you grow up safe and well, never mind about having children. This was a gift bestowed by heaven, but in the end, we couldn't escape after all…..