Chapter 15
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Chapter 15: Title
Lian Chen was predictably blocked at the gate of Prince Rong’s residence. He had already prepared his words, slowly waving the folding fan in his hand, with a cheerful expression. "Steward Feng, please help me convey a message, just say that the second young lady of the Gu family is in trouble." Just that one sentence; he was betting whether Lian Rong would see him. Gu Meisheng was the first one he could let the prince take home with honor.
The woman called Steward Feng was naturally the steward of Prince Rong’s residence, appearing to be in her twenties, beautiful enough to rival the star performer at Yaoyue Pavilion. This truth had always made Lian Chen quite frustrated. It was a waste to have such a lovely woman as a steward; his royal uncle truly did not understand how to cherish a beauty.
"Third Prince, please go back. The prince is not in today," the woman said with a smile.
Lian Chen felt a bit gloomy. "When has the royal uncle ever been here? Every time I come, I hear the same thing. Good sister, please just pass on one message."
"The prince is not in."
"Good sister…"
"Qian Yue," a slightly hoarse voice called from behind Lian Chen.
Qian Yue smiled slightly and walked toward the carriage. "The prince has finally returned; the Third Prince is here making a fuss with me."
Lian Rong stepped down from the carriage with a smile on his face. "To make my third nephew fuss, it must be something significant."
Lian Chen felt sweat in his palms, bowing respectfully, "Lian Chen greets the royal uncle."
Lian Rong nodded. "Speak inside."
In the study, Lian Chen sat rigidly in the chair, watching Lian Rong leisurely sip tea. He pinched his folding fan nervously before hesitantly speaking. "Royal uncle, I have a request."
Lian Rong leisurely stirred the leaves in the teacup, "Feel free to speak, third nephew."
Lian Chen stood up; he felt more comfortable talking to Lian Rong while standing. "It’s like this; do you remember the second young lady of the Gu family?"
Lian Rong nodded.
"Yesterday, she and Madam Dou were both tied up by Prime Minister Gu. The Gu family’s Eldest Son could not persuade them and came to find me. You know how Prime Minister Gu is; it would be useless for me to go."
"You want this king to intervene?"
Lian Chen secretly wiped his sweat. "Yes."
Hearing this, Lian Rong laughed. Lian Chen felt cold sweat streaming down his back. "Royal uncle?"
Lian Rong stopped laughing and said, "Are you so sure that my royal uncle can persuade Prime Minister Gu to release her?"
Lian Chen nodded eagerly, "Everyone knows that Prime Minister Gu fears you the most."
"Really?"
"Uh, I mean, respects you the most," Lian Chen quickly corrected himself. Well, he admitted he was quite nervous. When speaking with Father Emperor, he was always calm and talked endlessly.
Lian Rong picked up her teacup and steadily took a sip. "Has she been locked up all day?"
Lian Chen was taken aback and then nodded. "Yes, and they don’t even give her food."
A slight smile appeared at the corner of Lian Rong’s lips. She could guess what Gu Meisheng must look like right now, stubborn as a bull, it was a good thing she wasn’t being beaten.
"I think Second Miss Gu should be taught a proper lesson."
Lian Chen was surprised.
"Which girl from a noble family dresses like that to receive guests?" Lian Rong asked blandly.
Lian Chen shook his head. He had never seen such a thing, especially from royalty; that was a great disrespect. Yesterday, the royal uncle seemed very displeased.
Lian Rong set down her teacup. "If she is correct, I will help her. If she is wrong, she must accept the punishment she deserves."
Lian Chen was shocked. "Royal Uncle."
"Qian Yue, escort the Third Prince."
Qian Yue smiled slightly at Lian Chen. "Third Prince, this way please."
Lian Chen glanced at her, then turned to Lian Rong and said, "Nephew takes his leave."
After sending Lian Chen out of the manor, Qian Yue said with a smile, "So, I didn’t lie to the Third Prince, did I?"
Lian Chen forced a smile. Whether it was a lie or not, the outcome was still the same. Although he knew he had little chance, he did not expect to be sent away so quickly.
After Qian Yue saw Lian Chen off, she returned to the study where Lian Rong was still sitting at the desk. "Are you not going to help with this matter, My Lord?"
Lian Rong stared at the invitation in his hand and said indifferently, "An irrelevant person, I can’t be bothered with this."
Qian Yue chuckled softly. "You woke up very early today, My Lord. Didn’t Wuyang come back with you?"
Lian Rong tossed aside the invitation and rubbed his forehead. "These days, those people are busy working against me, so Wuyang can’t return for a while."
"My Lord is quite favored by these people right now."
"Isn’t it? My life is worth enough for their ancestors to enjoy for generations. How is it with the Emperor?"
"No news. This assassination seems directed at the Emperor and Empress, but anyone with eyes can see they are actually aiming at you, My Lord. Since the Emperor remains calm, we can only act in secret."
Lian Rong nodded, and from the corner of his eye, he suddenly noticed an object on the desk. It had been there for a few days; it was what the maids found in the bathing pool at Daguan Temple. As she thought of something, she reached out and picked up the jade pendant.
It was a hollow phoenix. She had not looked closely before, but now it resembled her own dragon pendant. "Qian Yue, go to my bedroom and bring me my dragon pendant."
In just a moment, Qian Yue returned with the dragon pendant, handing it to Lian Rong while asking, "My Lord, forgive my curiosity, but these two jade pendants seem to be a pair."
Lian Rong placed the two pendants side by side. Whether by craftsmanship or the form of the dragon and phoenix, they were strikingly similar, even the sizes of the holes were exactly the same. This discovery intrigued Lian Rong. If she remembered correctly, this jade pendant belonged to Gu Meisheng. That day, Wuyang had someone prepare water and then left; when they entered, Gu Meisheng had already fallen asleep in the bath.
Though Qian Yue was curious about where Lian Rong’s jade pendant had come from, she knew not to ask. She quietly stood by, watching Lian Rong take a keen interest in examining the two pendants.
Lian Rong’s jade pendant was also heard from others; they said that when she was twelve, an old beggar gave it to her while she was out on a trip with the Empress Dowager. Many advised her not to keep the pendant, saying it was bad luck, but she seemed to have taken a fancy to it. No matter what others said, she insisted on keeping it. The Empress Dowager said nothing, thinking it was just a child’s whim. Little did she know, over the years, she had treasured the pendant dearly. Because it was a dragon pendant, she would remove it for larger occasions and have Wuyang keep it safe, as the dragon symbolized the current emperor.
"Qian Yue, light the bamboo smoke for me," Lian Rong said, her gaze still fixed on the jade pendant.
Qian Yue nodded, walked to the black cabinet, and took out a dark red item with a tube on one end and a bowl on the other. The mouthpiece was made of red jade. This was brought by Empress Nanyin two years ago when she visited Dongyin, and Lian Rong immediately fell in love with it. She often enjoyed placing bamboo smoke between her lips, taking a few puffs, and exhaling smoke. As for the substance burning in the bowl that looked like tea leaves, she sent people to collect it from various countries, endlessly enjoying it, truly unable to let go of the bamboo smoke.
"Your Highness, I feel like your constant coughing might be related to this?" Qian Yue couldn’t help but ask.
Lian Rong took the bamboo smoke from her hand, placed it to his lips, and took a puff. "It should be."
Just as Qian Yue was about to speak, Lian Rong continued, "Have someone go to the palace and convey a message to Third Prince. Tell him that I can help with this matter but won’t appear in person. As for what comes next, he should know what to do."
