Chao Yan withdrew his hand and said to Meng Zhao, “Ning Qianhu should be back soon.”
Meng Zhao said, “Ning Qianhu hasn’t been attending to Your Highness at your side? What has he been doing?”
Chao Yan replied, “I sent him and his men out to search for the snake.”
“A snake?” Gu Yun looked at Chao Yan in astonishment.
Chao Yan said, “Ning Qianhu and I went to the pharmacy and heard that the shopkeeper’s son had acquired a yellow python with red stripes. It had a large swelling on its head, which I found rather interesting. I thought it might be an auspicious omen, and intended to offer it to my imperial father. If he were pleased, his illness might improve. Many illnesses are rooted in the mind. I asked to see the snake, but it escaped from the box.
“Judging by the tracks in the mud, it had not gone far, so I sent them to search for it.
“Later, the shopkeeper’s son returned and said the snake had been found in a drainage ditch. I was about to go there when he said that, on passing the post station, he had heard commotion inside and suspected something had happened, so I hurried back. On the way, I ran into our men. So it seems something did indeed occur.”
Chao Yan frowned, then quickly relaxed again.
“It is good that everyone is safe. I have already sent people to search the surrounding area. We must catch the thief and cut him to pieces!”
Meng Zhao said, “In this weather, it will likely be difficult to catch him. Your Highness, if we cannot find him today, we should abandon the search and return to the capital. That is the priority. Before setting out, I also heard some rumours.”
As he spoke, he glanced at Gu Yun.
Chao Yan ran his fingers along the teapot, lifted it, and handed it to Gu Yun. “Go and have them change this pot of tea. It’s gone cold.”
Gu Yun thought to himself: if you didn’t want me to listen, you could have simply told me to leave. Why go through all this trouble?
Still, he took the teapot and went out.
Chao Yan tapped lightly on the armrest of his chair, his gaze settling on Meng Zhao.
“Speak.”
Meng Zhao said, “There are rumours circulating in the capital that Your Highness’s injuries are worsening day by day, and that you are not long for this world. Several princes, held in check by His Majesty and forbidden from visiting you, have nonetheless been making covert moves. I have heard they are joining forces with closely allied princes and ministers to submit a joint memorial, urging Your Highness to appear in public to dispel the rumours and calm the people.
“My father also told me that these rumours were likely spread by Prince Yan. He has long suspected that something has happened to Your Highness, and has been encouraging the Second Prince and Sixth Prince to disobey the imperial decree and enter the Eastern Palace to see you.”
Chao Yan let out a quiet laugh.
Meng Zhao looked at him in confusion.
Chao Yan stopped laughing.
“The capital truly is chaotic,” he said lightly. “Very well, let us do as you suggest and return to the capital as soon as possible. We should not be entangled in these troubles.”
Meng Zhao said, “Your Highness is wise.”
Chao Yan continued, “You, like me, have suffered injuries from sharp weapons. Take my medicine with you for now. Before I left, I instructed the shopkeeper’s son to pack up the medicine we prepared and send it over.”
Meng Zhao thanked him, adding that Madam had already sent some medicine over.
“That’s good,” Chao Yan said without hesitation. “He has always been considerate, which puts my mind at ease.”
Meng Zhao lowered his head and softly agreed.
Chao Yan rose. “Third Brother, rest well. I shall take my leave.”
Meng Zhao, still seated on the bed, raised a hand slightly and said, “This subject respectfully sees Your Highness off.”
Gu Yun had already arranged for fresh tea to be brought. He stood outside with the tray, observing the situation. If Chao Yan did not call him in, he would not enter.
Chao Yan came out and cast a faint glance at the attendants standing to one side.
Sensing his expression, Gu Yun guessed he was about to reprimand them. He quickly stepped forward, tugging at him with one hand while passing the tray to the servants, signalling them to take it inside.
“I thought you wouldn’t be speaking long, so I carried it myself for convenience. It has nothing to do with them,” he explained.
Chao Yan pulled him along and led him out of the courtyard.
“Have you not suffered enough?”
Gu Yun paused briefly before replying calmly, “I am no more noble than they are.”
Chao Yan said, “You are mine.”
Gu Yun replied, “Not yet, Your Highness!”
He immediately regretted the retort, pressed his lips together, then took the initiative to hold his hand, trying to divert the topic.
“How big was that python, exactly?”
Light rain pattered against the umbrella, producing a steady “pitter-patter”. Chao Yan stopped, took the newly opened umbrella from him, lowered his gaze, and looked at him quietly.
Gu Yun thought: this is bad.
He racked his mind for a way out. But the other spoke first.
“Where did you grow up,” he asked, “to be like this? You are unlike anyone I have ever met.”
Gu Yun’s gaze flickered.
“I grew up in the Xuan Dynasty,” he said. “I’m just… a little different. I’ve always had odd ideas. I think everyone should be equal…”
Chao Yan waved away the attendants following behind them, then interrupted him gently.
“Ruler and subject, father and son, noble and lowly, rich and poor. All must abide by propriety. Ritual and law are the order of heaven and earth. Without them, yin and yang fall into disorder and the state becomes unstable.”
So irritating. This old-fashioned relic just had to start lecturing.
“Mm, yes, yes,” Gu Yun replied perfunctorily, his mind drifting elsewhere.
Chao Yan watched him for a moment, then asked with some helplessness, “Can you tell me why you disagree with propriety? Is it because the court is too corrupt?”
Gu Yun thought: if I tell you, you’ll think I’m a demon.
He pushed Chao Yan along.
“Change out of your wet clothes first. Your hair is still damp. Hurry back—I’ll dry it for you.”
Chao Yan gave a soft assent.
When they arrived, Chao Yan closed the umbrella and handed it to a servant. Gu Yun’s hand hung at his side, fingers slender and pale like white jade shoots, faint blue veins visible beneath the skin.
He reached out, but the other had already stepped forward. His fingers only brushed the hem of the robe. For a moment, he felt a strange distance between them.
Such a brilliant, beautiful person. Did he not deserve to possess him? And if he did not, then who in this world did?
“What is it?” Gu Yun turned back.
Chao Yan said calmly, “Step back.”
Gu Yun hesitated, then slowly retreated. Chao Yan released his sleeve and held out his hand.
Gu Yun looked at him, then at himself. He lifted his hand, splayed his fingers like a cat’s paw, placed it in his palm, then slipped his fingers between his and gently clasped his hand.
Looking up, he saw the Crown Prince’s expression clear, as though the clouds had parted to reveal the sun, a faint smile appearing.
“Good,” he said, firmly holding his hand and leading him inside. “Once we are in the Eastern Palace, you need not be constrained. Treat it as your own home.”
…
Back in the courtyard, Meng Zhao ordered a kang table to be brought in. Paper, brush, ink, and inkstone were laid out. A servant ground the ink, and Meng Zhao dipped his brush, thinking for a moment before writing.
When he finished, he cut out the written portion with a ruler, rolled it carefully, placed it into a short bamboo tube, sealed it, and handed it to his attendant.
“Send this to the Fellow-Townsman Inn. They have carrier pigeons there that can deliver it to the Chancellor’s residence.”
The attendant took it and hurried away.
Meng Zhao lay back against his pillow, staring at the ceiling.
“Who wants to kill me?”
“Who wants to kill you?”
The following day, the rain had thinned to a fine mist.
Chao Yan did not ride in the carriage. Instead, he rode on horseback, slowing his pace as he drew level with Meng Zhao’s carriage and asked casually,
Meng Zhao, still injured and unable to ride, was seated in the carriage. This was not the carriage they had purchased earlier, but one provided by the post station, no less comfortable.
He lifted the curtain fully and bowed.
“My lord, I fear my foolish words have offended your ears.”
The horse trotted steadily on.
Chao Yan laughed.
“Third Brother, if your mouth goes untreated for three days, it becomes quite something. Ning Qianhu, listen to what he is saying.”
Ning Qianhu, leading the way, called back, “My lord, Third Brother, I’m just a rough fellow. I truly don’t understand what you’re talking about!”
“Ning Qianhu, don’t play dumb,” Chao Yan said.
Ning Fu chuckled.
After a few light exchanges, Chao Yan said to Meng Zhao, “Third Brother, you’ve always been clever. Why are you confused now?”
“I do not understand. Please enlighten me, my lord,” Meng Zhao replied.
Chao Yan shook his head slightly.
“As Vice Minister of the Court of Justice, how many people have you tried, and how many have you offended. Do you still remember?”
“Countless,” Meng Zhao said.
Chao Yan said, “Yet some of those people, though sentenced and punished, still remain in the capital. They see you—the one they blame—still alive and well. Do you think they would let it rest? This trip out of the capital has simply given them an opportunity.” He let out a faint scoff. “Foolish, really. If they had harmed me instead, you would never have escaped.”
With that, he cracked his whip and rode ahead.
He reached Gu Yun’s carriage, lifted the curtain, glanced inside to see him asleep, then gently let it fall back into place before riding on to the front of the convoy.
Meng Zhao slowly mulled over his words. After a moment, his expression cooled slightly.
…
They set out before dawn and rested late at night. Eight days after leaving Zhuyang County, they finally arrived in the capital.
