Love in Red Dust - Chapter 43
Chapter 43
Happiness always arrives when one is least prepared for it.
The Seventh Prince had originally kissed her out of seven parts of spite, but once his lips made contact, he realized he had actually struck gold. These lips were softer than silk—not a single woman in the Prince’s estate could compare. How could there be such a darling child in this world? Looking at him, he seemed like a woman; kissing him, he felt like a woman; this little "chick" between his legs was truly a wasted appendage. If he were only a woman, it would be perfection itself. He would take him home and raise a houseful of children. A low birth didn't matter; he could slowly elevate his status—how wonderful that would be! It was a pity that reality was not as smooth as his imagination, but that didn't matter either. He didn't mind breaking his sleeves (engaging in a homosexual relationship) for him. This kiss was his signature; the Old Twelfth was a gentleman and surely wouldn't be as fast with his hands and feet as he was. Besides, whoever got their hands on him first was the winner; this time, he wouldn't let him be the magnanimous one.
The Seventh Prince’s heart was rippling and unable to free itself. As a veteran of the flower fields, he knew that if this person could stir up such reveries, it meant that he truly was a lost cause. Walking further and further down this road, would he eventually lose interest in women? That was a bit troublesome; he had no son yet, and what if he had no heir to continue his line? The Seventh Prince’s mind spun rapidly. He was the type of person who cared most about himself; as for the path for his descendants, he didn't consider it much. Everyone knew that without an "iron-hat" hereditary title, the next generation’s rank would be lowered; raising a Crown Prince was nothing more than making him a Commandery Prince—nothing major. As for himself, he had the blood of the retired Emperor and was the brother of the current Sage; it was impossible for no one to handle his funeral when he died. As long as someone helped manage his afterlife affairs, getting by without a son would have to do.
The Seventh Prince had planned everything out, believing his plan to be airtight. As for the thoughts of the retired Emperor and his mother, they were completely unimportant to him. As long as he himself lived his life with satisfaction, that was enough. They were old, and once they managed their own affairs, they would be done; he didn't need them to manage his business.
For the brief moment their lips touched, the Seventh Prince had straightened out the life he had never planned—what an astonishing, monumental achievement! He was dizzy and disoriented, unable to tell north from south, but his goal was clear. However, before he could linger any longer, two fingers poked him on the forehead, pushing him away in one motion.
Dingyi leaped up, her face flushed red as she covered her mouth, tears in her eyes, looking very much like she wanted to tear him into eight pieces. After holding it in for a long time, she finally squeezed out a sentence: "You use force just because someone isn't willing, all because you rely on the fact that I am a servant and you are the master!"
The Seventh Prince was dazed. Seeing her tearful accusations, he felt a bit panicked. But he would never lower his head; he squinted at him sideways. "You still know that I am your master?"
She had never been treated with such lightness before. She feared being bullied as a girl, but even under the name of a man, it was no different! From the master down to the servants, there wasn't a single good apple in the Wise Prince’s estate. She had previously thought that although the Seventh Prince was unprincipled, his character was passable. Now, it seemed he was nothing but a bandit leader—predatory toward both men and women, absolutely insane!
Dingyi felt a wave of nausea and wiped her mouth fiercely several times. "Your Highness has forgotten that I entered the registry halfway through. If you have any sense of morality, remove my name from the register, and Xiaoshu will bid farewell to Your Highness from here on out."
The Seventh Prince was set on fire by him. Like a fighting cock, he shouted, "Don't even think about it! My Feather Banner is not a temple gate—you can't just enter and leave whenever you please! If you aren't willing, I will propose to your master the moment we return to the capital, and I will take you as a male concubine!"
He had spoken without thinking in his anxiety. A "male concubine"—he had never heard of such a thing, but he intended to set this precedent. Dingyi’s hair stood on end. She stared at him in horror and said, "Mu Xiaoshu is a lowly person, but I am willing to sacrifice my life. If Your Highness insists on using force..." She pulled out her waist knife and pressed it against her throat. "At worst, I will die to show you."
The Seventh Prince panicked. "Don't, don't, we can talk this over. Isn't it just a kiss? You haven't lost your virginity; is it worth dying over? Put the knife down. If you really feel that I took advantage of you, you can just kiss me back; I wouldn't mind at all."
Dingyi glared at him fiercely. "I don't want justice, I only ask that Your Highness promises 'never again'."
He couldn't bear to let her die, so the Seventh Prince resignedly said "Alright," though he left himself plenty of room. "From now on, if you don't agree, I won't kiss you."
She wasn't on guard and just flushed with embarrassment. "And you are not allowed to bring it up again, nor are you allowed to reveal a whisper of it to anyone. Can Your Highness do that?"
The Seventh Prince stared blankly, still wanting to bargain. "I won't tell others, but it's hard to keep it bottled up inside. I need to consult with the Old Twelfth; I’ll ask him to help me think of a solution."
Dingyi felt that the Seventh Prince must have been sent by the Heavens to ruin her, deliberately showing off in front of the Twelfth Prince just to embarrass him. She didn't want the Twelfth Prince to know—why? It was just a hidden worry in her heart. The Twelfth Prince was a man of deep affection; if he were to facilitate a match, what would that make her? She couldn't say it aloud; loving him in secret was her own affair. She had no parents or brothers, and she knew her own worth; she wouldn't harbor extravagant hopes, but she absolutely refused to settle for second best. The Seventh Prince was a filthy cat; such a frivolous person wasn't even qualified to share her thoughts, let alone anything else.
She pressed the edge of the knife harder against her throat. "I don't want to live anymore; I'll really die for you to see!"
The Seventh Prince was terrified and hurriedly urged her not to. "I won't tell anyone, just the two of us know—let it be our little secret, alright?" As he said this, he extended two fingers to pinch the thin back of the blade, moving it away from her throat. "The blades equipped for the Goshaha are for killing enemies, not for you to slit your own throat. Can you act a bit more like a man? Using death to threaten others at every turn—what kind of behavior is this? Does it take a piece of flesh off you for me to kiss you once? I truly like you; otherwise, based on your performance since entering the estate—that attitude of 'your body is in Cao Ying, but your heart is in Han'—I would have already dragged you to the flagpole."
Dingyi had a splitting headache. She was completely unmoved by what the Seventh Prince said. Comparing him with the Twelfth Prince—how could one even compare? The other was like a precious jade tree, never boastful, and what was rare was that he was always just right. As for this Prince, he was crude and careless; he couldn't be relied upon in times of crisis. He was fine as a playmate, but he was not a good choice to entrust her life to.
She sighed and looked him over. She had never really looked at him properly before. The Seventh Prince was a descendant of the Yuwen clan; his majestic appearance went without saying. He had everything, except for a sense of stability—like a tripod put together reluctantly that would collapse at any moment.
She turned away, hopped off the low couch, and tightened her belt. His interruption had thrown her off balance. She hadn't forgotten why she had fainted: Ruliang, Rugong, Rujian—they were all gone. She was afraid the records in the register weren't true, so she had run all the way to the slave camp. After inquiring and confirming they were dead, what hope was left? She could cry in front of the Twelfth Prince, but when the Seventh Prince came, she had to hold back her tears. The fewer people who knew, the better. She had lived the last twelve years in grievance, thinking of them and hoping every day, vowing that once she became an adult, she would come to the Imperial Manor. She had finally grown up and arrived, and yet, it ended like this.
Her spirit deflated, and she looked at the Seventh Prince, speechless. The Seventh Prince seemed to understand something and chased after her, asking, "Why do you look so strange? Did you encounter something unpleasant? Was the Twelfth Prince being handsy with you last night? Tell me, and I’ll go settle the score with him."
The Seventh Prince was filled with righteous indignation, not considering himself an outsider at all. Dingyi hurriedly said that wasn't the case. Did he think everyone was like him, grabbing people and kissing them like a rogue? She walked out of the tent and looked into the distance. The people from Prince Chun’s estate were inspecting the slaves under the cold morning sun, sifting through them one by one. The Twelfth Prince stood with his hands behind his back; the fox-fur collar framed his handsome face. His complexion was pale from the cold, but his gaze was unwavering. He happened to turn around and spot her, a warm glow of light in his eyes. Dingyi watched him, her heart feeling peaceful. It was as if they shared a telepathic connection; the things she wanted to do, he could take care of for her even before she spoke. How could such a person not move one’s heart?
The Seventh Prince followed behind her, complaining incessantly about the cold, calling the Old Twelfth a one-track-minded fool for causing trouble for himself. Dingyi ignored him. The Seventh Prince was always slow to catch on; a man who couldn't take responsibility was fine as an untroubled Prince, but did he understand what suffering was?
She walked over and peeked behind the Twelfth Prince. "Is there any news?"
"There are many people, so there’s no news yet. Don't be anxious; it's unlikely we won't find anyone who knows something." He scrutinized her carefully. "How are you feeling right now? Is there anything uncomfortable about your body?"
She shook her head and said, "I lost my composure just now; it made you laugh." Before she could speak further, she caught a glimpse of the Seventh Prince ambling over and stopped talking at the right moment.
The Seventh Prince was a person who was disliked by all. Having taken some advantage, his tail was wagging high, and even the tone of his voice was different. He clicked his tongue and said, "Old Twelfth, you've worked hard. The court will reward you once they know of your diligence. You can't be promoted anymore, but there’s talk of rewarding you with gold, silver, and land. I will submit a memorial to praise you greatly later, and maybe next year I’ll point out a good marriage for you; you’ll have everything."
Such nonsense—it was truly impossible to know how to respond. Just then, Sha Tong brought an Aha (slave) over and bowed, saying, "Master, this person lived in the same shack as the Wen brothers and knows a thing or two about them. Your servant has brought him here for your instructions."
This slave was dressed in rags, his face covered in cracked frostbite. He looked to be over thirty, and he should still have memories of things that happened over the last decade. Hongce said, "I have come on Imperial decree to inquire about the whereabouts of the Wen brothers. If you answer honestly, I will not treat you unfairly."
The slave raised his eyes in panic and said in a trembling voice, "I dare not deceive your Excellency. This small one was not exactly close to the Wen brothers, but we lived on the same mat, so I have heard things about them. The Wen brothers were men of spirit; they refused to submit when they arrived and spent all day inciting others to revolt, so they were punished quite miserably. They weren't afraid of the whips or anything back then. Later, the Zuoling (Captain) gave the order to put them in hundred-pound heavy shackles and cast them into the water prison. They had to carry the shackles every day—the weight was enough to make a person vomit. The water prison was full of rats that swam around and bit people’s legs, and the water was filthy, so their wounds rotted. But they were tough and didn't utter a single plea for mercy. They were locked up for three months, and in the end, there was no choice but to let them out. It was their bad luck; they didn't die in the water prison, but when they got out, they caught the plague and were struck down. After lingering for a while, they all went to the 'Watching Home Terrace' (the afterlife)."
Dingyi listened quietly. With everyone saying the same thing, she stopped holding onto hope. Sadness was sadness, but she could slowly face it with a calm heart. The Twelfth Prince still didn't give up and asked, "Where are they buried? Who handled the funeral?"
The slave said, "I was the one who carried them out. At that time, we loaded the dead onto carts and sent them to the hill behind to dig shallow pits and bury them. If we went back three days later, the pits would be turned upside down. There are many jackals, wolves, tigers, and leopards in the mountains; they smelled the scent, and not even a corpse could be left behind—they all became snacks for those creatures."
Hongce turned to look at Dingyi. Her expression was calm, but the sorrow in her eyes was bottomless. He sighed and decided that since they had gotten the truth, they should know what they were dealing with, and let go of whatever shouldn't be remembered. He said, "Our trip to Changbai Mountain has yielded nothing. After a brief rest, we will head to Ningguta in two days. The case of Wen Lu will not be set aside just like this; we will go over it again from the beginning when we return to the capital. There are deep mysteries within, and we must submit a memorial to the Emperor to seek his holy judgment."
She gave a delayed response. With the Seventh Prince present, she couldn't say much more.
The Seventh Prince, for his part, rubbed his hands and said, "There, the road is broken; don't be so fixated." He turned to look at Xiaoshu with an ambiguous smile. "Shu, you've been running for a night. Your two birds must have missed you terribly; go back and feed them well. After that, come to my place; we’ll discuss things. Your registry can be elevated; if your senior brother is willing, I’ll recommend him for a post in the registry office or manage banner affairs in my banner—either works." He winked. "After all, we are deeply connected; when one person gains the Tao, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven—it's the old custom."
Dingyi was incredibly embarrassed. "Thank you, Master, but this matter must be asked of him personally; I cannot make that decision."
Hongce showed no ripples on his face. He turned his eyes and smiled at her—a very intimate smile. He didn't interrupt the Seventh Prince’s words, but instead instructed Sha Tong, "Call everyone back. They’ve been tired all night. Since we can't get to the bottom of it, any further delay is useless."
At the order, the bodyguards of Prince Chun’s estate withdrew, and the Seventh Prince also clamored for his team to collect their gear. In the interval, the Twelfth Prince touched her fingertips lightly and whispered, "I promised you that I would make up for your birthday when we arrived at Changbai Mountain. Tomorrow evening at the hour of the Dog (7:00-9:00 PM), I will wait for you in the open area to the southeast of the Imperial Manor. Don't tell anyone else; come alone."
He had put his heart into comforting her. She felt grateful in her heart. She looked up at him, then hurriedly lowered her head again, her earlobes slowly turning red and spreading into her collar.