In the fifteenth year of Wenkang, in the third month, the spring mountains were like smiling, grass grew and orioles flew, the Third Prince Li Yue returned to the Imperial Capital from the Northern Frontier.
On the fifth day of the third month, at the moment when the sky was just faintly bright, Meng Fu got up from the bed, sat in front of the mirror, and carefully dressed up.
Qingping heard the movement and walked in from the outer room while yawning, she rubbed her eyes and asked Meng Fu: “Miss, are you going out today?”
Meng Fu made a sound of “mm”, put down the eyebrow brush, got up and went to the wardrobe to choose clothes. Qingping tilted her head, her face full of confusion, and asked her: “Miss, where are you going? Why didn’t you say a word to me?”
Meng Fu took out a goose-yellow long dress from the wardrobe, turned around and said to Qingping: “Today you stay at home, no need to follow me.”
Qingping frowned and asked her: “You are going out alone? If Master comes back and knows, he will surely scold you again.”
Meng Fu smiled a little, said indifferently: “Let him be.”
This was not the first time Meng Fu went out alone; almost every year she would have a few days where she would go out alone. Qingping knew she could not persuade her, and could only, as always, remind her: “Then you must be careful.”
Although Miss had already been practicing martial arts for a few years, and had even made Master unhappy for a long time because of it, in Qingping’s heart, Miss was still very delicate and weak, needing her protection.
Meng Fu comforted Qingping with a few words, put on a veiled hat, mounted a white horse, and galloped toward the suburban Xun River.
On the surface of the river floated a light white mist, and the distant mountains loomed faintly in the white mist. A youth dressed in black stood on the riverbank, throwing the stone in his hand into the Xun River, stirring up circle after circle of ripples.
Meng Fu sat on the horse and, from afar, saw this youth. She unconsciously curved the corners of her mouth, the smile in her eyes seemed as if it was about to flow out like a river.
In the eleventh year of Wenkang, during the Shangyuan Festival, she got separated from her family, and almost was bullied by a gang of ruffians. It was a black-clothed young man who suddenly appeared and saved her. Later, the youth taught her martial arts. Though the time was not long, Meng Fu still benefited greatly from him.
To this day, Meng Fu did not know his identity; she only called him Third Brother [三哥 “San Ge”]. She thought he was a wandering person of the Jianghu, roaming the four seas.
Being able to meet him a few times a year was already very satisfying.
Meng Fu jumped down from the horse, walked to the back of the youth, and gently called him: “Third Brother.”
Li Yue was stunned for a moment, then turned around to look at Meng Fu. The morning light sprinkled all around Meng Fu; she wore a goose-yellow long dress, walking out from the faint mist, like a fairy in a story.
The corners of Li Yue’s mouth also curved slightly; the little girl from back then had now already grown into a big girl, and seemed much happier than before.
In these past few years, whenever this little girl had troubles, she would tell Li Yue. Li Yue never found her annoying.
If sometimes there were no wars in the Northern Frontier, he would even secretly return to the Imperial Capital to see her.
“How come you came over so early?” Li Yue asked her.
Meng Fu replied: “Could not sleep, so I came over.”
Yesterday she had received a letter saying he would return today; she was so happy that she barely slept all night.
Li Yue asked again: “Not sleepy?”
Meng Fu shook her head, “Just woke up a little earlier than usual, just a little bit.”
Li Yue took the reins from Meng Fu’s hand, casually asked her: “At this time on normal days, what are you doing?”
Meng Fu thought for a while, then said: “Practicing martial arts, probably.”
Li Yue nodded: “Then I must test how your practice has gone.”
Meng Fu tilted her head and asked him: “How does Third Brother want to test?”
Li Yue bent down, picked up a brick, handed it to Meng Fu, and said to her: “Come, split one for me to see.”
Meng Fu: “….”
She raised her hand, preparing to let Li Yue properly see how a brick could, in one blow, shatter her hand.
Li Yue hurriedly put down the brick in his hand, wanting to, like before, pat her head, but felt it was inappropriate. He smiled and said: “Teasing you.”
Meng Fu somewhat helplessly gave him a glance, and asked him: “Third Brother seems to be a little unhappy?”
“Hmm?” Li Yue had quarreled with his father as soon as he returned last night. Just now, he had still been thinking about this matter, otherwise he would not have failed to notice Meng Fu walking up behind him.
“How did you see that?” he asked.
“Not telling you,” Meng Fu stretched out her hand, and in her palm were three hazelnut candies. “Third Brother, don’t be angry anymore, I’ll give you candy to eat.”
“Treating me like a three-year-old child?” Li Yue said while at the same time taking the hazelnut candies from her hand, crunch crunch eating them all, then asking her: “Have you eaten?”
Meng Fu shook her head.
“Come, I’ll take you to eat something good.”
Meng Fu was helped onto the horse by Li Yue. He led the horse by the reins, slowly walking along this Xun River.
It was not until evening that Meng Fu separated from Li Yue. When she returned to the Meng Residence, Meng Yanxing had not yet returned from the palace, and Meng Yu was standing in the courtyard waiting for her.
Seeing her return, Meng Yu enthusiastically walked forward and asked her: “Elder Sister, where did you go today?”
Meng Fu appeared a little cold. She answered: “Went out to walk around casually.”
Meng Yu said: “Elder Sister, why did you go out without bringing a servant? What if something happened?”
Meng Fu smiled a little and did not answer, only asked Meng Yu: “You came looking for me, is there something?”
Meng Yu hesitated for a while, looked at her for a long time, and finally softly called her once: “Elder Sister.”
Meng Fu could sense Meng Yu’s entanglement and hesitation, but was not anxious, patiently waiting for her to finish speaking.
Meng Yu hesitated for a long time, then finally asked: “Father and Mother have recently been discussing Elder Sister’s marriage, does Elder Sister know?”
Meng Fu shook her head and asked Meng Yu: “They have not said anything to me. How did A’Yu know?”
“I overheard it,” Meng Yu pursed her lips, walked over and quietly said to Meng Fu: “Father and Mother want to marry you to the Crown Prince.”
Meng Fu was slightly surprised; she had not thought that Meng Yanxing would have such intentions.
Meng Yu originally wanted to take this chance to observe Meng Fu’s attitude about this matter, but after looking for a long time, could not see anything. She had no choice but to ask: “Does Elder Sister want to marry the Crown Prince?”
Of course, Meng Fu did not want to. In her heart, she already had someone she liked.
No matter whether in the future she could be together with him or not, at present she had to think of a way to make her father give up this idea.
Meng Yu saw that Meng Fu did not speak for a long time. She took a deep breath, directly said: “Elder Sister, I want to marry the Crown Prince.”
Meng Fu was again slightly surprised, but thinking about Meng Yu’s temperament, she could understand. She lightly sighed and said to Meng Yu:n“A’Yu, marrying into the royal family is not a good thing, especially at this time. The several princes have already come of age—”
Meng Fu had not finished speaking when she was interrupted by Meng Yu: “I know, Elder Sister, I truly really like the Crown Prince. I want to marry him.”
Meng Fu was puzzled: had Meng Yu ever met the current Crown Prince?
Her relationship with Meng Yu was not particularly close; there were some things she could only hint at, could not speak too much. She said to Meng Yu: “If you have already made up your mind, then go and tell Mother.”
“But Father’s side?” Meng Yu looked at Meng Fu with eager eyes, as if hoping Meng Fu could help her resolve this matter.
Meng Fu said lightly: “At Father’s side, Mother will help you solve it.”
Meng Yu thought about it, felt it made some sense, heavily nodded her head, and then happily ran out.
Madam Meng, upon learning that Meng Yu was fond of the Crown Prince, had almost the same reaction as Meng Fu — while surprised, she was also puzzled about when Meng Yu had met the Crown Prince.
But seeing Meng Yu with such a look of “if not the Crown Prince then no one else,” Madam Meng had no choice but to go and beg Meng Yanxing.
Although the Emperor had not said it explicitly, Meng Yanxing could see he had the intention to establish marriage ties with the Meng family.
Although Meng Fu these past few years was not very obedient to him, compared to Meng Yu, her temperament was still a bit steadier.
Marrying her to the Crown Prince, Meng Yanxing could at least be a little more at ease.
As for Meng Yu, Meng Yanxing had originally wanted to marry her to his own disciple — even if later she did something improper, on his account, her husband would not be too harsh with her.
Now Meng Yu actually said she wanted to marry the Crown Prince; Meng Yanxing for a moment simply could not accept it.
But he could not stand Madam Meng crying and pleading with him all day long. Meng Yanxing finally could not endure it and said: Meng Yu could marry the Crown Prince, but from now on she must properly learn the rules at home.
Meng Yu agreed immediately.
Only, he had two daughters in his family. If he directly skipped Meng Fu and settled Meng Yu’s marriage, it would surely arouse suspicion.
Meng Yanxing thought it over, first invited the Crown Prince to the Meng residence, letting him meet Meng Yu, and then tactfully brought up Meng Yu’s feelings for him.
The Crown Prince respected his teacher very much.
Whichever daughter he married made no difference.
Since the teacher said the younger daughter liked him, then marrying the younger daughter could be considered fulfilling a beautiful affair.
After the Emperor learned of this, he was quite happy, thinking they had mutual affection.
He said to Meng Yanxing: “Since they both have feelings for each other, let’s fulfill them.”
After speaking, the Emperor paused and then said: “As for this old Third, his marriage should also be settled. What do you think, beloved subject?”
Meng Yanxing, hearing the Emperor mention the Third Prince Li Yue, instantly felt his head grow big.
He completely did not want to think about it.
But the Emperor would not mention this without reason — Meng Yanxing immediately had a bad premonition in his heart.
He feigned ignorance and said: “Perhaps Your Majesty should ask Third Prince’s own thoughts.”
The Emperor coldly snorted and said: “Ask him? I would not dare ask him. Arguing with him once would shave ten years off my life.”
“Your Majesty is exaggerating.”
Although Meng Yanxing said this on the surface, inwardly he agreed very much.
Thus, he had no wish at all for the Third Prince to become his son-in-law — he still wanted to live a few more years.
But the Emperor did not want to give him this chance, and directly said: “Beloved subject, don’t you have two daughters? The younger daughter will marry the Crown Prince; the elder daughter will match my Third.”
Meng Yanxing, wearing a bitter face, said: “Your Majesty, this… this is not very appropriate. If both my daughters marry into the imperial family, I fear it will cause the officials to gossip.”
The Emperor said: “What’s inappropriate about it? Who dares gossip? Beloved subject, you are overthinking it — it’s settled.”
The more the Emperor thought, the more he felt these two marriages were excellent.
Meng Yanxing’s daughters were certainly ladies of noble families, just right to restrain Li Yue’s rotten temper.
Moreover, he also wanted to use this marriage tie to bind Li Yue onto the Crown Prince’s ship.
At this time, Li Yue was chatting idly with Consort Hui in her palace, completely unaware that his marriage was about to be decided in a few words by his father.
Consort Hui, holding the Ninth Prince in her arms, sat opposite Li Yue and said to him: “You are of age now; it is time to marry.”
“I’m of age?” Li Yue lowered his head to look at himself, shocked, and said: “No way, Mother Consort? Your son is only eighteen this year.”
Consort Hui frowned and said: “Eighteen, and you think that’s still young? Your several younger brothers are all about to get married, you cannot go on like this forever.”
Li Yue leaned back lazily and said, rather roguishly: “What’s wrong with me like this? I’m doing perfectly fine like this.”
Consort Hui, seeing him like this, truly became somewhat angry.
She turned her head away and said in a deep voice: “This Palace [“this Palace” is a way imperial consorts refer to themselves] heard that your Father Emperor has already started selecting a suitable wife for you among the noble ladies of the Imperial Capital.”
Upon hearing this, Li Yue immediately sat up straight and said: “He’s so idle, can’t he better worry about state affairs instead?”
Consort Hui glared at Li Yue and said: “How can you speak like that, child? Your Father Emperor is also caring for you.”
Li Yue aiya-ed and sneered: “I really have to thank him then. He should go care more about Crown Prince His Highness.”
Consort Hui sighed.
The other princes had already been taught “matters between men and women” by palace maids when they were fourteen or fifteen years old.
The Emperor even had to worry whether they would indulge too much in women.
But Li Yue — seeing girls, he hid faster than anyone.
As for palace maids, not to mention teaching him human affairs, it was difficult even to get close to him.
Sometimes Consort Hui even suspected whether this son of hers had some sort of problem.
But she had also summoned an imperial physician to examine him.
The imperial physician said everything was normal.
Consort Hui felt this was completely not normal.
Could it be that he was a cut sleeve? [a historical euphemism referring to homosexuality among men, originating from a story about an emperor who cut his sleeve rather than disturb his male lover.]
She, full of worry, said: “You’re already so big, yet there isn’t even a girl you’re fond of?”
“No.”
When Li Yue said this, there was not even a hint of hesitation.
Consort Hui became even more worried.
Just at this moment, the Internal Affairs Bureau sent over a batch of jewelry and fabrics.
They were all the most fashionable styles currently popular outside the palace.
But Consort Hui had never been fond of dressing up.
These things would be of no use staying with her, so she thought it better to distribute them among other favored concubines in the palace.
Consort Hui was just about to have someone take them out when Li Yue suddenly spoke: “Wait a moment, Mother Consort, can your son pick a few items?”
These pieces of jewelry were exquisitely crafted, sparkling and bright.
Little girls would surely like them.
“You can, you can,” Consort Hui said, but asked doubtfully: “But what do you want these things for?”
Li Yue got up and walked over, saying: “To give them away.”
“To give to whom?” Consort Hui chased after with a question.
“Someone you don’t know.”
Li Yue lowered his head, his gaze sweeping over the hairpins, buyao, and bracelets.
He was somewhat at a loss on how to choose, so he could only first recall what Meng Fu had worn these past few times he saw her — what kind of clothes, what kind of hair ornaments.
The smile on Li Yue’s face unconsciously deepened a little.
Consort Hui felt that her son’s current smile was somewhat wavering, very much like spring love stirring.
Her heart was both happy and anxious.
She continued asking: “A man or a girl?”
Li Yue lifted his head and glanced at Consort Hui, feeling that his Mother Consort shouldn’t have asked such a tasteless question.
He said: “Of course a girl — what man would use these things?”
This should have been a very good piece of news, but at this moment, after hearing it, Consort Hui only felt extremely speechless.
She took a deep breath and asked Li Yue: “Li Yue, do you remember what you just told me?”
“Which sentence?” Li Yue asked — he had said quite a lot just now.
Consort Hui darkened her face, and seriously asked him: “This Palace asked you whether you had a girl you liked.”
Li Yue ah-ed, and said: “No.”
Consort Hui opened her mouth, but the words she had prepared were completely unable to be spoken.
At this moment, she truly was confused.
Looking at Li Yue there, lowering his head seriously choosing jewelry for a girl, Consort Hui couldn’t help but wonder: How exactly did this son of hers say such a thing with a completely straight face?!
Could it be that outside he had found himself another mother?!