“Your Highness? Your Highness, wake up, something has happened at the prince’s mansion.”
Prince Yu hadn’t awakened yet, but his bedside companion Li Jiubao was a light sleeper and was roused by the calling from outside the bed curtains.
Li Jiubao’s position in Prince Yu’s mansion was like Shang Qinglan’s in the Forbidden City—both uniquely favored. She was beautiful, gentle and considerate, and no matter what happened, her eyes remained unperturbed like a tranquil lake, which could heal Prince Yu’s grief over losing his entire family. Prince Yu often anchored himself in this peaceful lake.
Aside from staying in the main wife’s quarters on the first and fifteenth of each month, and spending time at temples or in his study on the birthdays and death anniversaries of his mother, wife, and children, Prince Yu spent almost every other night in Li Jiubao’s room.
Though he displayed a dejected, negative attitude daily, acting as if nothing mattered, he was only twenty-three years old after all—still a young man in his prime. With such a beauty beside him, he remained quite enthusiastic in bed. Last night, Li Jiubao had requested hot water twice before they finally rested.
After his enthusiasm, Prince Yu was exhausted, so the people outside had called twice without waking him, instead rousing Li Jiubao.
Li Jiubao was accustomed to housework from her home, often rising before dawn to manage household affairs and prepare breakfast for the whole family. Being a light sleeper, she sat up upon hearing the voice and asked softly, “Is that Eunuch Li?”
Prince Yu’s chief companion was called Li Fang, an outstanding graduate from the Inner Palace School, learned and knowledgeable. When Prince Yu was still a young prince in the palace learning to read, Emperor Jiajing selected Li Fang as Prince Yu’s study companion to serve with ink and brush, answer questions and provide guidance. From then on, his entire life’s honor and disgrace were tied to the prince’s, absolutely loyal—he was the prince’s most intimate partner.
The Yuan Dynasty royal house called such people “companions” (like how Guo Jing in “The Legend of the Condor Heroes” was the fourth prince Tolui’s companion to Genghis Khan). The Ming Dynasty royal house continued this practice, calling them “chief companions.”
Eunuch Wei was Prince Jing’s chief companion. Li Fang was Prince Yu’s chief companion and also the head eunuch managing Prince Yu’s mansion.
Li Fang said, “This servant is Li Fang. Has Your Highness not awakened yet?”
Li Fang was quite shrewd, asking though he knew the answer. Prince Yu’s snoring could be clearly heard, but having served this prince since he was five years old, he deeply understood his strange, cold, stubborn temperament. If awakened from good sleep, he would certainly be angry.
Li Fang thought to himself: Rather than me waking Prince Yu, better you wake him—perhaps the prince will spare his temper for the beauty’s sake.
Seeing Prince Yu sleeping deeply, Li Jiubao said, “His Highness is somewhat weary and hasn’t awakened yet. Does Eunuch Li have urgent business?”
Li Jiubao wasn’t foolish either—she wouldn’t take this blame! If there’s important business, you report it yourself.
Li Fang said, “According to several night patrol guards, they saw a black specter in the mansion and fled in terror. Now everyone in the mansion is in a panic. The princess has also awakened. All the lanterns in the mansion have been lit and placed outside, and a lantern mountain like the one from Mid-Autumn Festival has been set up at the main courtyard entrance to prevent the black specter from entering.”
Black specters fear bright light and only appear at night.
Prince Yu had been a hands-off leader for so long that Princess Yu had been living essentially as a widow for two years. Life had already trained her in household management skills. Without needing instructions from Prince Yu, this nearly invisible pillar of the household, she had already arranged everything properly.
Li Jiubao didn’t believe in ghosts and spirits, asking, “Was anyone injured?”
Li Fang said, “No one was. After the black specter appeared, they ran to the nearest duty room and shut the door.”
Li Jiubao said, “A month ago there were reports of black specters causing trouble in the imperial palace. Lan Daoxing performed rituals to subdue them. But our prince’s preferences are well known to you, Eunuch Li—he most detests these supernatural things. If we wake the prince, he’ll probably get so angry he’ll grab sword and blade to search for that demon in the wind and snow. In this bitter cold, what if His Highness injures his health?”
Prince Yu most despised Taoist priests and even converted to Buddhism specifically to oppose them, feeling that Taoists bewitched people with nonsense. While others respectfully called Lan Daoxing “Immortal Lan,” Prince Yu felt disgusted at the mere mention of “immortal,” so Li Jiubao referred to him by name directly.
Prince Yu was the hope of everyone in the mansion, including Li Fang, who also worried about what serious consequences this obsessive prince might cause if he went berserk—this was a prince who dared to directly confront even the emperor. Li Jiubao’s concerns were not without reason.
Li Fang said, “In that case, we’ll wait and see. If there’s any new development, this servant will come in to report.”
Li Jiubao said, “Good, I’ll follow your guidance.” Li Jiubao certainly couldn’t take this responsibility.
Li Fang thought: Clearly you suggested it, how did it become my decision? It seems this Lady Li isn’t just serving with her beauty—her mind and tongue are both quite agile. No wonder Prince Yu likes her.
Li Fang went to the main quarters to report. Here it was brightly lit like daylight. Princess Yu looked expectantly, but the pillar of the household remained invisible—he still hadn’t come.
Li Fang said, “His Highness… hasn’t awakened yet.”
Princess Yu became angry. “With such a major incident, Lady Li didn’t wake His Highness?” They must have been quite busy last night!
Li Fang said, “His Highness has always most detested talk of ghosts and spirits. Forcibly waking him might anger him. If he impulsively opens the door to seek the truth about that black specter on this night of wind and snow, should anything happen…”
Princess Yu thought: Day after day, my life is worse than actually being widowed!
But as a wife and princess, she couldn’t harbor resentment toward the prince. Princess Yu suppressed her anger and said, “Understood. Pass the word down—those on night duty must promptly add lamp oil. Tonight everyone is Zhuge Liang borrowing life with seven-star lamps. The lamps are life itself—none can be extinguished. Endure until dawn, then sleep.”
Li Fang acknowledged the order. Soon after, Li Jiubao arrived to pay her respects to Princess Yu.
Prince Yu might not come, but as a mere concubine, she had to obey the princess’s words.
Princess Yu noticed the faint blue circles under her eyes and her weary expression—clearly she hadn’t been spared much activity last night. She couldn’t help feeling jealous. “You may return. I have people to serve me here. His Highness is in your room—if he wakes in the middle of the night wanting tea or water, wouldn’t it be terrible if there’s no considerate person to serve him?”
“Yes.” Li Jiubao withdrew.
Li Jiubao seemed not to hear the sarcasm in Princess Yu’s words. She didn’t defend herself, came when summoned, left when dismissed—very obedient.
But in Princess Yu’s eyes, her obedience was a form of silent resistance.
A managing matron nearby said, “The princess usually elevates Lady Li too much. She’s just a concubine, yet the princess has her living in the main courtyard. Give an inch and she’ll take a mile—now she wants to fly to the highest branch.”
Of course Princess Yu didn’t want to live with a concubine either, saying, “Once Pomegranate Garden is renovated, we’ll move her there. Her courtyard must be the largest and most beautiful among the nine concubines. After all, she contributed to the garden renovation funds. Without Dr. Wei’s connections, Minister Yan wouldn’t have released the silver so quickly.”
“In future, if His Highness wants to visit her place, even ten times a day won’t bother my eyes. I can live quietly in peace. As long as she keeps her place, I won’t mistreat her. I’m not one to burn bridges after crossing. Otherwise, who would dare help us in future?”
Hearing this, the managing matron dared say no more.
Princess Yu was actually only eighteen this year. After marrying into the imperial family two years ago, harsh reality had already transformed her from a naive girl who still held some hopes for love, marriage, and the future into a weathered woman who treated being princess like a job, working for Prince Yu’s mansion daily and just getting by.
Yet Princess Yu was still human, with moments when her heart stirred, occasionally feeling some jealousy. But her timing was unfortunate—arriving neither early nor late, but precisely two months after Prince Yu had consecutively lost his son, wife, and daughter, when she was arranged as the new princess.
Prince Yu couldn’t refuse the imperial marriage decree, but he silently observed a year of mourning for his original wife before consummating their marriage.
Princess Yu sighed: This is all fate! Besides accepting it, what else can be done? Life must go on.
By daybreak, the black specter never appeared—they had finally endured through the night.
Princess Yu looked at the lamp oil expenses on the account and felt heartbroken: Oh my, money flows like water. I must be more frugal.
Li Jiubao served Prince Yu’s morning ablutions while Li Fang, separated by curtains, casually mentioned last night’s black specter incident.
Prince Yu indeed paid it no mind. “The more dramatically one responds to such supernatural matters, the more people panic and create trouble from nothing. Pass the word down—the mansion forbids discussion of any black specter. Whatever demons and monsters exist, they can’t compare to the evil in human hearts.”
Prince Yu went to the main quarters. Princess Yu hurriedly welcomed her husband. Today was the death anniversary of their deceased eldest daughter. Properly, Prince Yu should go to the temple early morning to perform rituals for his daughter, returning at night to spend it alone in his study.
Princess Yu hadn’t expected her husband to return to the main quarters and quickly said, “Yesterday I ordered His Highness’s breakfast prepared in Lady Li’s room. I’ll have them bring it to the main quarters immediately.”
Prince Yu said, “I already know about last night’s events. In future, when encountering such situations, the princess mustn’t panic as you did last night. Such supernatural talk is untrustworthy—mostly fabrication, scaring oneself. Recently the mansion is undergoing major renovations with many craftsmen living inside. With so many people and eyes, just last month the palace had black specter incidents, and our mansion immediately has them too. This is too coincidental—someone is likely stirring up trouble. I’ve seen such things since childhood. Those with clear consciences need not fear ghosts knocking at their door. If the princess isn’t afraid, the servants won’t be afraid either. Handle everything calmly, and those evil spirits won’t approach.”
Princess Yu quickly agreed, “I’ll follow Your Highness’s guidance.”
Prince Yu continued, “Also instruct the kitchen—absolutely no alcohol tonight. Prepare mutton soup and hot noodle soup for the night watch to warm themselves. Too much alcohol causes hallucinations. If one person claims to have seen something, others who saw nothing will also claim they saw it. Word spreads from one to ten, ten to a hundred—that’s how rumors start.”
Princess Yu signaled the managing matron, “Go to the kitchen quickly!”
Prince Yu gave several more instructions. Princess Yu nodded like a pecking chicken, responding with “yes, yes, yes” and “right, right, right,” treating her husband like her boss.
Finally Prince Yu said, “I’m going to Guanghua Temple today, returning before dark. I’ll dine at home and have all the ladies including Lady Li join us to gather everyone and steady people’s hearts. During the day when you have nothing else to do, copy Buddhist scriptures to accumulate merit and cultivate character.”
Princess Yu said, “Your Highness is right—everyone should copy the Diamond Sutra one hundred times.”
Meanwhile, in the northern part of the capital at Shichahai, in the Lu family’s separate residence, Wei Caiwei had moved here early in the morning. Today was Wang Daxia’s fifteenth birthday, and the three of them sat together eating Wang Daxia’s longevity noodles.
After the meal, Wang Daxia rested here today to nurse his leg injury while Lu Ying was to trudge through snow to the Embroidered Uniform Guard office. Wang Daxia joked, “It’s my birthday today—isn’t Commander Lu giving me any gift?”
Lu Ying looked around, “This house isn’t mine, it’s my father’s.”
This scared Wang Daxia into trembling, “I wouldn’t dare accept it! If I could just collect that five hundred taels reward money today, that would be the best gift.”
Lu Ying considered this, “This matter can’t yet be made public, but the reward can be given to you in advance. However, in such cases I can’t make the decision—I need to go to the office and have my father sign off.”
Wang Daxia dragged his injured leg and acted coquettish, “Please!” I urgently need to earn money for a wife!
Lu Ying said, “Wait for me, shouldn’t be a problem.”
Lu Ying mounted his horse. Wei Caiwei remembered something and rushed over saying, “You must keep close watch on Commander Lu—no drinking, no drinking, no drinking, repeat it at least ten thousand times daily.”
According to the previous lifetime’s progression, there were only seventeen days until Wang Daxia’s self-castration. Only twenty-five days until Lu Bing’s sudden death from alcohol.
In this lifetime, the cause of Wang Daxia’s self-castration had been completely eliminated. But Wei Caiwei remained constantly worried about Lu Bing’s situation. He had suffered two serious strokes, especially during year-end when social obligations were most frequent—she feared he couldn’t resist drinking for social reasons.
Author’s Note: The arrow is nocked and ready to fire. It’s weekend again. This chapter comes with 100 red packets—wishing everyone a pleasant weekend~ Early readers get red packets hahahaha