Chapter 30: The Name of True Love
The sudden revelation left Qi Xiaojun completely stunned. He felt unsteady on his feet, managing only to maintain a calm facade in front of Yin Mei.
But why such a strong reaction? He’d already known Chu Lianmo didn’t love Zhou Jun, hadn’t he?
“Do you want to know who that person is?” Yin Mei gestured towards a drawer, as if about to open it.
“What are you trying to do?!” Qi Xiaojun instinctively grabbed Yin Mei’s hand.
“Oh, are you afraid of knowing?” Yin Mei still smiled sweetly.
“…” Qi Xiaojun didn’t want to admit it, but he knew a part of him was indeed afraid.
Considering Chu Lianmo’s previous behavior, he secretly hoped that the person in Chu Lianmo’s heart was him.
But what if it wasn’t?
Only now did Qi Xiaojun realize he had unknowingly fallen for Chu Lianmo during their time together. However, pondering this wasn’t the most important thing at the moment. “Yin Mei! You illegally entered His Highness’s room. What is your intention? Get out!”
Just as Qi Xiaojun was about to confront Yin Mei, an announcement rang out: “Her Majesty the Empress has arrived! Lord Wen has arrived!”
Qi Xiaojun was startled. Why would the Empress suddenly come to the Rui Wangfu (Prince Rui’s residence)? As for Lord Wen, it must be the Empress’s elder brother, Minister Wen Yuanru of the Ministry of Works.
Sure enough, Empress Chu and Wen Yuanru walked in together. Upon seeing Yin Mei, Wen Yuanru excitedly rushed forward and embraced him: “My son! Father has finally found you!”
“…?” This scene left Qi Xiaojun utterly bewildered.
Empress Chu kindly explained to Qi Xiaojun: “You don’t know, besides my younger son Shan’er, my brother originally had an elder son. Sadly, he was abducted by human traffickers when he was two years old. We only recently caught the trafficker and finally learned the child’s whereabouts – he had been sold to a brothel! We checked the records of every young man sold to that brothel, matching their ages and the time they were sold, and confirmed that it was Yin Mei.”
“…This…couldn’t be a mistake?” Qi Xiaojun was completely dumbfounded. Yin Mei had actually turned out to be the eldest son of the Minister of Works?
“My eldest son has a birthmark on his collarbone.”
Wen Yuanru said, lifting Yin Mei’s collar. Indeed, a heart-shaped birthmark was clearly visible near his collarbone.
“It’s you! It’s really you!” Wen Yuanru cried, embracing Yin Mei again.
“Father!” Yin Mei’s eyes also welled up with tears.
…Well, although something felt off, Qi Xiaojun could only offer his blessings for their reunion.
“My poor nephew,” Empress Chu also approached, lovingly stroking Yin Mei’s face. “Why are you so thin? Have you had a hard time these years?”
“No, no,” Yin Mei quickly shook his head. “Your Highness, while I did suffer in Nanfeng Guan (brothel), I’ve been very well treated in the Rui Wangfu these past few days.”
“Good.” Empress Chu nodded. “Now that we’ve found you, I want to take you to the palace to see the Emperor. Are you willing?”
Yin Mei obediently replied: “I’ll do as Your Highness wishes.”
It was then that Qi Xiaojun realized what was amiss – if Yin Mei had such a noble status, he could report Chu Lianmo to Emperor Chu Wen at any time!
However, he was helpless for now, watching Yin Mei leave with Empress Chu and Wen Yuanru.
After they left, Qi Xiaojun stared at the drawer Yin Mei had tried to open, lost in thought. He still didn’t dare open it to see what was inside.
Come to think of it, Yin Mei had acted so confident, as if he knew someone would come for him today?
“Welcome His Highness back to the manor,” a servant’s voice interrupted Qi Xiaojun’s thoughts.
He realized Chu Lianmo had returned and hurried to report what had happened: “Your Highness, Yin Mei was in your room earlier. He said he saw a portrait…”
“What?” Chu Lianmo’s face darkened. “Who allowed him to enter my room?! Where is that scoundrel now?!”
“He was taken away by Her Majesty the Empress.”
Qi Xiaojun briefly recounted the events.
“…” After listening, Chu Lianmo also felt something was wrong. “I suspect this is a deliberate plot against me…Aying,” he called to Murong Aying, “Have someone investigate whether Wen Yuanru truly had an elder son. The birth of the eldest son of the Empress’s brother, such a significant event, couldn’t have gone unnoticed.”
“Yes.” Murong Aying went to make arrangements.
“Your Highness, if this is a conspiracy, then,” Qi Xiaojun asked with a furrowed brow, “Yin Mei said Your Highness only loves the person in the portrait. Is that true?”
“…It’s none of your business.” Chu Lianmo’s tone was cold when mentioning this.
Qi Xiaojun’s heart ached, feeling a sense of hurt.
“What’s wrong? When I married you, I made it clear that it’s impossible for me to truly love you.”
“…I know.” Qi Xiaojun tried to compose himself, appearing normal. “Your Highness, I mean, Yin Mei seems to want to use those portraits as leverage. Perhaps, Your Highness should destroy them.”
“Why should I destroy them!” Chu Lianmo waved his sleeve. “Is my love for that person so shameful that it can be used to attack me?”
“…” Qi Xiaojun sensed Chu Lianmo’s deep affection for that person. He remained silent for a moment, his voice hoarse, “As Your Highness wishes.”
Seeing Qi Xiaojun’s reddened eyes, Chu Lianmo’s heart softened. He had the urge to hug him and comfort him gently. But he reminded himself that this person was just Zhou Jun, not Qi Xiaojun, and he couldn’t develop real feelings for him.
Meanwhile, Yin Mei was in the palace, sweetly charming Emperor Chu Wen with endearing terms. Having sold smiles in Nanfeng Guan, he was naturally adept at flattery, showering the Emperor with compliments like “Your Majesty’s wisdom and power are evident,” and “Your Majesty’s bearing is majestic.” Combined with the alluring perfume he wore, most men would find him hard to resist.
“Uncle Emperor, could I ask a favor?” Yin Mei said, having charmed the Emperor sufficiently.
“Go ahead,” Emperor Chu Wen replied happily.
“Uncle Emperor, I would like a position, a small one will do.”
His words caused Empress Chu’s face to change slightly.
Emperor Chu Wen was also startled, then said: “As the son of the Wen family, it’s only natural for you to hold an official position. However, you are currently Prince Rui’s concubine, and there has never been a precedent for a concubine holding office.”
“Uncle Emperor, you misunderstand,” Yin Mei’s eyes instantly reddened. “I have been educated and learned to read and write. But as a commoner, I didn’t even have the chance to take the imperial examination! Now, a man in the prime of his life, confined to the narrow confines of my home, without purpose, and without my husband’s attention, it is truly agonizing.”
Emperor Chu Wen felt pity for Yin Mei. “Very well, I shall grant you the position of a Shūlìngshǐ (scribe).”
“Thank you, Uncle Emperor!” Yin Mei was overjoyed at the Emperor’s decree.
“By the way, you just said you don’t receive your husband’s attention?” Emperor Chu Wen belatedly noticed this information.
“…Ah…” Yin Mei feigned sadness, wiping a tear from his eye. “Since I’ve already mentioned it, I dare not deceive Uncle Emperor any longer. Since marrying into the Rui Wangfu, I have food and clothing, and my situation is much better than it was at Nanfeng Guan, but His Highness doesn’t even touch me. I’m always alone.”
“How can he be so callous?!” Emperor Chu Wen was displeased. “Having taken a concubine, he should treat them all equally… However, did you perhaps do something to displease him?”
“No, no. His Highness is cold not only towards me but also towards the Princess Consort. In fact, he has only one person in his heart, and we were only taken into the household because we resemble that person.
“But recently, he has been especially fond of a concubine named Zhou Jun, and he has been swayed by Zhou Jun to repeatedly and unjustly punish me!”
“Is there such a thing?” Emperor Chu Wen was both angry and astonished. “Who is the person he loves?”
“Actually, I don’t know that person. I only saw portraits of them in his room. Uncle Emperor, why don’t I take you to see them?”
“Good!” Emperor Chu Wen readily agreed. “To think my fourth son is so foolish in matters of his inner household. I must educate him properly.”
Then, Emperor Chu Wen and Yin Mei angrily rushed to the Rui Wangfu.
“Greetings, Father.”
Chu Wen and Yin Mei ignored Chu Lianmo and went straight to Chu Lianmo’s room.
Chu Lianmo and Qi Xiaojun had no choice but to follow.
Finally, the drawer was opened.
It was indeed full of portraits of the same person.
Qi Xiaojun finally saw clearly that the portraits were all of himself—
His dashing appearance wielding his sword like a dragon, his gentle demeanor while writing poetry, and scenes of him drinking with Chu Lianmo…
Qi Xiaojun’s eyes blurred.
Emperor Chu Wen was furious: “The person you love is the deceased Second Prince of Qi, Qi Xiaojun?!”
“Yes, the person I love is Qi Xiaojun,” Chu Lianmo readily admitted. “What’s wrong with loving him?”
“…It’s fine that you love him, but you shouldn’t neglect your wife and concubines for him! Also, this Zhou Jun, because he resembles him…”
Emperor Chu Wen angrily looked at Qi Xiaojun, who was standing behind Chu Lianmo. “You listened to his slander and hurt my nephew! Someone! Take this Zhou Jun away and give him thirty lashes!”
Two servants were about to seize Qi Xiaojun.
“Stop!” Chu Lianmo’s expression hardened. “Father, how can you believe Yin Mei’s one-sided account?! It was he who bullied Ajun and gave him aphrodisiac first. Why shouldn’t I punish him? I regret not killing him, letting him run rampant here!”
“Audacious!” Emperor Chu Wen roared. “He is my nephew, and you dare to kill him for a male concubine! …What are you all standing there for?!”
Emperor Chu Wen angrily looked at the two hesitant servants of the Rui Wangfu. “Do you only listen to your master and not to me? Don’t forget that this Rui Wangfu was bestowed upon your master by me! I can take it back anytime!”
The two servants deemed this reasonable and rushed towards Qi Xiaojun.