Chapter 116: People Part Ways and Flowers Easily Fall (Part 7)

The refreshing breeze of dusk brushed gently against Luan Su’s face. It was clear that Prince Mu felt a pang of concern for her; before she could even offer a formal greeting, he spoke in a tender, soothing voice: "Your health has not yet fully recovered; there is no need to rush out to catch the breeze." Had Chuxiu not heard it with her own ears, she would never have believed that such a warm and caring tone could come from the ruthless and battle-hardened Prince Mu.

Watching Luan Su turn her gaze away, Chuxiu saw her curtsy gracefully to the Prince. "It is of no consequence," Luan Su said. "I have been resting for over twenty days; it is good to come out and catch a breath of air."

Upon hearing this, a flicker of relief crossed Prince Mu’s eyes. He gestured toward Chuxiu, who stood beside him, and introduced her to Luan Su: "This is the mistress of the Lixin Marquis Estate, Lady Chuxiu."

Chuxiu performed a ritualistic bow. "I am of the Yun clan, and I offer my respects to Concubine Luan."

Luan Su seemed taken aback, as if flattered. Her eyes widened, and she hurriedly returned the gesture. "My Lady, please do not demean me so." Her bow was even more formal and respectful than the one she had just offered the Prince.

This time, it was Chuxiu’s turn to feel surprised.

As the two women exchanged pleasantries, Prince Mu smiled at them. "You should go inside to talk. Concubine Luan must not stay in the wind any longer."

Chuxiu nodded, and then saw Luan Su ask the Prince, "Your Highness, will you not come in for a moment?"

"No," Prince Mu replied, waving his hand. "I have some urgent matters to attend to today, and besides, it is not appropriate for me to intrude upon the conversations of ladies." With that, he turned to Chuxiu and said courteously, "Concubine Luan has not yet recovered; I must trouble you to take good care of her."

Chuxiu smiled and nodded in agreement.

Prince Mu took one last deep look at Luan Su, and seeing that she seemed a bit more spirited than usual, he felt at ease and turned to depart.

Once the Prince had walked away, Luan Su invited Chuxiu into her chamber. "The inner quarters are humble, and I fear they may disappoint you, my Lady."

The world believed the immensely wealthy Lixin Marquis Estate to be a place of unimaginable luxury, and evidently, Luan Su held the same assumption. Chuxiu understood the implication behind her words and offered a faint smile. "There is no need for such formalities between us. Prince Mu has already informed me of your identity. If we speak of seniority, you and my late husband were actually cousins."

Upon hearing this, Luan Su appeared somewhat uncomfortable. "As you said, my Lady, we are close kin. Please, do not call me 'Concubine' anymore. You surely know well enough where I once spent my days and how I survived."

Listening to these words, Chuxiu felt a sense of melancholy—partly for Luan Su’s self-pity, and partly because she herself had once shared that same fate. If one were to truly weigh it, she and Luan Su were fortunate; at least both had found men who treated them with genuine affection. In truth, most women in the demimonde could not escape the fate of sacrificing their dignity and serving others with their beauty, only to be discarded once they withered with age.

Chuxiu’s mind drifted, and it was only when she felt Luan Su’s probing, contemplative gaze that she snapped back to the present. To prevent Luan Su from sinking further into self-pity, Chuxiu quickly changed the subject. "My late husband once mentioned to me that Aunt Feiyan had run away from home to escape a marriage. Who could have guessed that she would marry the world-renowned Minister Ling? It was a beautiful union."

Luan Su sighed softly. "It is only a pity that my mother lacked the fortune to live longer."

"That is exactly what makes the love between two people so precious." At this point, Chuxiu could no longer hide her sadness. "There are too many changes in this world. To find a partner with whom one can grow old is a rare blessing. To say nothing of others, my late husband and I are living proof of that."

Luan Su’s expression froze, and she fell silent. Seeing her reaction, Chuxiu was certain that the man Luan Su loved was not Prince Mu; otherwise, with her beloved by her side, she would not be so heartbroken. It seemed the rumors were true: Luan Su was in love with Emperor Chen Xuan of Northern Xuan.

Recalling Prince Mu’s instructions, Chuxiu chose to offer some subtle advice. "Since you have someone who admires your beauty by your side, you should seize the moment. If you do not cherish your own body and spirit, you will wither before you are even plucked—that would be a true tragedy."

Luan Su was stunned by these words, and two lines of tears streamed down her cheeks. "My Lady, you do not understand..."

Seeing this, Chuxiu became even more convinced of her theory. Chen Xuan was the Emperor in Northern Xuan, while Luan Su had married into Southern Xi... It seemed this pair of lovers had no hope of being together! Though the logic was clear, Chuxiu still offered a well-intentioned, albeit insincere, consolation: "Concubine Luan, you must take care of yourself. One day, those who long for each other will surely meet again."

Hearing this, Luan Su bowed her head and wiped her tears in silence. After a moment of choking back sobs, she put on a smile. "After hearing your advice, my heart feels much lighter. I do not know why, but I feel an inexplicable closeness to you."

"You do not know why, but I do," Chuxiu said, though she did not elaborate. Looking at Luan Su’s slightly bewildered and weary face, she said softly, "You have not yet fully recovered from your confinement; you should not overexert yourself or worry too much. If there is anything you wish to know, you may simply ask Prince Mu."

They were indeed close. "Nan Hanchu, North Luan Su"—both had once fallen into the demimonde, both had been renowned for their beauty throughout the realm, and both had found true love in the prime of their youth, only to experience legendary trials. And now, both were separated from the ones they loved by the vastness of the world...

Chuxiu did not reveal her own past to Luan Su. In truth, she did not want outsiders to know that she was the famous courtesan Hanchu. She did not want to tarnish the reputation of the Yun clan, nor did she want to stain the legacy of Yun Ci. However, Chuxiu knew that if Luan Su asked Prince Mu about these details, he would certainly tell her the truth.

Seeing that the consolation had served its purpose, Chuxiu looked at the sky outside the window and rose to her feet. "There are many trivial matters at the Yun estate. I must take my leave, and when I have time, I shall return to speak with you again."

Luan Su nodded without pressing her to stay, though she insisted on escorting Chuxiu to the edge of the courtyard.

*****

After parting ways with Luan Su, Chuxiu relied on the memory of her arrival to find her way back to Prince Mu’s study.

"Everyone says that Lady Chuxiu has a photographic memory, and it seems that is no lie. You have only walked this path once, and yet you remember the way back," Prince Mu remarked, his hands behind his back.

Chuxiu had always had an excellent memory. When she first arrived at the Yun estate, she had memorized the winding paths after a single walk. However, hearing the Prince’s tone, which seemed to carry a hint of accusation, she was unsure of his intent and simply smiled faintly. "I hope I have not offended Your Highness."

Prince Mu waved his hand. "How is she?"

"Everything that needed to be said has been said. The Concubine is sharp-witted; I believe she will understand after a day or two of reflection," Chuxiu replied.

Upon hearing this, Prince Mu, whose emotions had been tightly coiled, immediately relaxed. "In both public and private matters, you are my benefactor, my Lady."

A benefactor? If one were to speak of debts, it was Prince Mu who had saved her life in the first place! Chuxiu lowered her eyes and sighed softly. "The Yun clan has been passed down for centuries. It may appear as prosperous as ever, but in reality, the hearts of the people are scattered, and it is filled with the stench of copper. That you are on the verge of accomplishing a great feat and yet still value the Yun clan is our good fortune."

Prince Mu remained silent for a moment before replying solemnly, "Your willingness to support my cause with half of your family’s fortune is a kindness I will never forget. Rest assured, once I succeed, I will return your investment twofold and help you resolve all your concerns."

The two returned to the topic of their earlier secret discussion. Chuxiu smiled. "Family wealth is a small matter; the hearts of the people are what matter most. Once you succeed, you need only help the Yun clan clear away internal threats and ensure our continued prosperity."

"Your courage is truly beyond that of an ordinary woman. Do not worry; if I fail, I will never implicate the Yun clan." Prince Mu’s straightforwardness surprised Chuxiu, especially since he had voluntarily given such a guarantee.

Chuxiu did not back down, replying with confidence, "The Yun clan has operated for hundreds of years; we have our own methods of self-preservation. You may rest easy, Your Highness."

Prince Mu nodded and fell silent for a long time, as if recalling some old affair. He finally let out a long sigh. "It has been over three years. Seeing you again truly makes one lament the impermanence of worldly affairs..."

His words filled Chuxiu with a sense of infinite nostalgia. Thinking back to her first meeting with the Seventh Young Master of the South in Northern Xi, and now the entanglements between the Yun clan and Prince Mu’s estate, it felt as though fate had arranged everything in the shadows.

"I never imagined that the Yun clan would have such a connection to Concubine Luan, nor did I expect to meet her under such circumstances." Chuxiu said this deliberately, for she had already grasped Prince Mu’s weakness.

Prince Mu, however, remained oblivious, assuming Chuxiu was merely sighing at the state of the world. He smiled in agreement. "'Nan Hanchu, North Luan Su'—who could have guessed that you would marry into the Yun clan, and that Luan Su would become my side consort?"

This remark left both of them immersed in their melancholy over the fickleness of life, and neither spoke again for a time.

Eventually, Prince Mu broke the silence. "I remember the first time I saw you, at the Yihong Pavilion in the capital of Northern Xi. To be honest, I had heard that the Heir of the Prince of Zhen, Chen Xuan, was a connoisseur of beauty, and I guessed he would surely come to see the number one beauty of Southern Xi. I managed to sneak into your boudoir, hoping to meet Chen Xuan and discuss a great plan."

So, the day Prince Mu had been hiding in her room, it was to forge an alliance with Chen Xuan... Chuxiu finally understood the cause and effect of that day.

"The day you hid in my chamber, Your Highness, it was truly terrifying. But before I could even see what the Heir looked like when he walked through the door, a group of assassins broke in. Come to think of it, I owe you my thanks for saving my life." Recalling the heart-stopping events of that year, Chuxiu felt a sudden sense of longing.

This time, the Yun clan’s secret support for Prince Mu’s uprising could be considered her way of repaying the debt of that life-saving grace from three years ago.

Chuxiu did not know that this past event had also involved the meeting of Chen Xuan, Luan Su, and Prince Mu. She simply sighed to herself that "there are no coincidences in life."

At that moment, Prince Mu, Nie Peihan, was even more deeply moved, recalling the story that followed his rescue of Chuxiu:

That day, Chen Xuan was being assassinated at the Yihong Pavilion, and Hanchu was endangered as a result. He had acted on impulse to save Hanchu first, and by the time he rushed to save Chen Xuan, he saw that Luan Su had already spirited the man away.

If he had ignored Hanchu to save Chen Xuan first, he would never have met Luan Su, and there would have been none of the love and hatred that entangled the three of them. Yet, if he had allowed the defenseless Hanchu to be killed, how could he have easily obtained the massive financial support of the Yun clan for his own bid for the throne?

It was clear that the hand of Heaven, which flips the clouds and rains, had already arranged the affairs of the world in a strange and marvelous way.

The more Prince Mu thought about it, the more he was overcome with emotion, feeling a mixture of sorrow and joy. Seeing this, Chuxiu knew it was not the time to linger. "I have been out for a long time today, and there must be many matters piling up at the estate. Please allow me to take my leave."

With those words, she pulled their identities back from the past to the reality of the present. Prince Mu did not press her to stay and personally had her secretly escorted back to the Yun estate, fearing any mishaps on the road.

Upon returning to the Yun estate, the first thing Chuxiu did was not to report the results of the secret talk to the Grand Matriarch at the Rongjin Hall, but to summon Zhuyang and instruct her solemnly: "Go quietly to the Young Marquis’s private residence and tell him to be prepared to leave at any moment."