RMACAUH Chapter 5

Chapter 5

Chapter 5 You’ve either had too much to drink, or you were…

Chapter 5

Inside the carriage, Feng Yue, who was resting with his eyes closed, heard a sharp cry of pain and asked in a deep voice, “Who was making a ruckus outside just now?”

Mu Yunhua, who was riding alongside, replied, “From the looks of it, it was a *ge’er*. He foolishly tried to stop the carriage and was pushed by one of the guards clearing the way. I reckon he took a nasty fall.”

He could have omitted the last part, but he just had to add it.

“What well-bred *ge’er* is wandering around outside this late?”

“My Lord, how about I ask who he belongs to? It’s awfully dark, and he’s a *ge’er*. He might be a family member who was separated from some grand household. We wouldn’t want anything to happen so close to the Emperor.”

“Mm.” Feng Yue continued to rest with his eyes closed, not wanting to interfere too much. Since Mu Yunhua wanted to handle it, he’d let him.

Mu Yunhua turned his horse and galloped towards Wei Xiaofeng.

Wei Xiaofeng’s backside was still throbbing, and he was limping rather pathetically. Seeing someone riding towards him, he froze in place, feeling uneasy.

“Hey, who do you belong to? Wandering around outside at this hour, aren’t you afraid the curfew patrol will catch you?”

Wei Xiaofeng saw that his waistwaist tablet indicated he was a Third-Rank Commander, and his body trembled. He hurriedly bowed, “Reporting, sir, I’m from the Wei family, the family of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.”

“The Wei family? Then hurry up and follow.”

“Yes, sir.” Wei Xiaofeng obediently followed, jogging into the ranks, but these people were walking too fast! His feet hurt so much!

Mu Yunhua rode back to the carriage to report.

“My Lord, I’ve inquired. He said he’s from the Wei family, the family of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel.”

Feng Yue’s heart tightened, and he opened his eyes. His voice was slightly strained, “What’s his name?”

“I didn’t ask that. Should I?”

“Go ask.”

“Alright!”

Mu Yunhua turned his horse around to ask for his name, finding that the young *ge’er* had fallen far behind. “You can’t walk anymore?”

Wei Xiaofeng simply sat down on the ground, panting and waving his hand. “Officer, sir, I don’t want to follow anymore. You’re walking too fast, and my feet can’t keep up.”

“My Lord asked me to ask you, what’s your name?”

“Reporting, sir, my name is Wei Xiaofeng.”

Mu Yunhua rode forward, leaned over, grabbed the back of his collar, and with a skillful lift, Wei Xiaofeng was hoisted onto the horse, hanging face-down.

He didn’t struggle, content to hang there like a corpse, his limbs swaying as the horse ran.

Mu Yunhua immediately found this *ge’er* interesting. He looked meek but was surprisingly calm.

“My Lord, I’ve brought the person. His name is Wei Xiaofeng.”

“Since he’s a *ge’er* from the Wei household, then he should come into the carriage.”

Mu Yunhua gave him a hearty smile, “Our Lord is asking you to ride in the carriage. Get in!”

With astonishing strength, he lifted him again and threw him onto the carriage’s crossbeam, where a maidservant quickly helped him into the carriage.

The carriage was spacious enough to be a small, mobile room. Although the decorations were simple, they exuded extravagance and refinement everywhere.

Light smoke curled from the incense burner on the red sandalwood table. Wei Xiaofeng sniffed hard, finding the scent familiar. He subconsciously looked up at the soft seat, and saw a man with a face like jade, his brow and eyes revealing a hint of solemnity. Those eyes were clear but as black as an unfathomable, icy abyss, making one dare not look directly at them.

Being stared at by him, Wei Xiaofeng’s heart contracted like a startled deer. His legs went weak, and he knelt down with a ‘thump’, “Greetings, greetings to Your Highness.”

Feng Yue slowly spoke, his tone as gentle as a feather falling softly on the heart, “Ge’er Wei need not be so formal. Come, sit.”

“Yes, thank, thank you, Your Highness.”

Wei Xiaofeng bit his lower lip, his head almost touching his chest. Feeling uneasy, he cautiously sat down on the long bench.

He was on pins and needles, glancing sideways at the Guangling Prince. Seeing that he was peeling an orange and not looking at him, he breathed a sigh of relief, shaking his sore legs.

“Eh~”

“Ah?” Wei Xiaofeng looked up abruptly.

“Catch.” Feng Yue tossed him the peeled orange.

Wei Xiaofeng held the orange, staring blankly at him, making Feng Yue wonder, “You don’t want to eat it?”

“Want to, want to eat it. I like oranges.” Wei Xiaofeng broke off three segments and stuffed them into his mouth, the juice sweet and sour. “Thank you, Your Highness.”

Seeing that he had relaxed and was speaking fluently, Feng Yue pretended to ask casually, “Do your feet hurt?”

Wei Xiaofeng lifted his leg. “It’s alright. These shoes were newly made for entering the palace. I don’t usually walk much, so they rubbed my feet raw.”

“Here, apply this, and they’ll be better by morning.” With that, Feng Yue handed him the external wound medicine he carried with him.

Wei Xiaofeng hesitated for a moment, then finally reached out and took it.

“I hurt you when I knocked into you. Don’t you blame me?”

“It didn’t hurt, so naturally I won’t blame you.”

“You’re actually quite nice.”

Feng Yue was amused by him. When he smiled, the frost between his brows seemed to melt like the spring waters of March, stirring the heart of the beholder.

Wei Xiaofeng’s heart began to beat uncontrollably again, and he hurriedly turned his face away.

So handsome, and smiling at him so gently, was this not taking his life?

Amitabha, Amitabha, don’t let your mind wander! He is the Guangling Prince, second only to the Emperor!

“Why are you going home alone?” Feng Yue suddenly asked him sternly.

Wei Xiaofeng finished eating the last segment of the orange, thought for a moment, and stared at his toes, “I was playing and forgot the time. Everyone had already left when I came out.”

Having been with him for ten years, Feng Yue knew that he never liked to talk about his troubles. When he was truly wronged, he would only cry alone. He really wanted to hug him, but if he really went up and hugged him in this situation, he would probably be mistaken for a frivolous rogue.

The carriage fell silent. Wei Xiaofeng didn’t know why, but even though he felt uncomfortable being with him, he just wanted to be near him. His heart couldn’t help but feel elated and fluttery.

He only hoped the carriage could go a little slower, but the wheels wouldn’t slow down because of his little thoughts. Wei’s residence was finally reached.

As the moment of parting approached, Wei Xiaofeng felt a sense of loss in his heart.

He was the noble Guangling Prince. It was already a great honor that he had given him a ride. Given the disparity in their identities, he feared that they would never even see each other again.

“Your Highness, I’m going back now. Thank you for giving me a ride home today.” He said, giving a well-behaved salute.

“There are three oranges left. Take them with you.”

“No, no need! How can I both eat and take?”

“These are tribute oranges from the palace. Take them.”

No wonder they were so delicious, round and plump, with a golden color. They really were different from the oranges they usually ate.

Wei Xiaofeng stepped forward to take the three oranges, carefully holding them in his arms. He hurriedly gave another salute, before letting the maidservant help him out of the carriage.

He stood at the door with the oranges in his arms, watching the carriage leave with longing.

Suddenly, the lowered curtain was lifted, and Wei Xiaofeng’s eyes met Feng Yue’s again, until the carriage disappeared into the dark night.

Wei Xiaofeng then realized that he had been holding his breath, so nervous that he couldn’t breathe. He took a deep breath, his chest swelling with excitement, “Does he like me?”

Oh my gosh! He seemed to have discovered something extraordinary! The Guangling Prince actually liked his type!

Wei Xiaofeng joyfully sneaked into the backyard through the small door. Fortunately, his father and the others were all asleep at this hour, and only his mother’s room was still lit.

He gently pushed open the half-closed door with his shoulder. Hearing the sound, Wan Lingxiu thought it was a stray cat. She wiped away her tears and saw that it was her good-for-nothing *ge’er*.

“Mother?” Wei Xiaofeng saw her teary-eyed and didn’t dare joke with her. He walked into the room with a worried expression, holding the oranges. “Why are you crying?”

Wan Lingxiu was silent for a moment, then said, “Your father came back and flew into a rage at me, saying that I didn’t discipline you properly, making you even more foolish.”

“Tsk, I thought it was something serious.” Wei Xiaofeng hesitated for a moment, then shoved an orange to his mother, “Eat an orange.”

Wan Lingxiu looked at him, her brow furrowed with worry, making her look several years older. “Xiaofeng, you need to eat less.”

Wei Xiaofeng held the orange against his cheek and rubbed it. Hearing this, his entire body slumped, “Mother, even you think I eat too much?”

“It’s not good for a *ge’er* to be too tall and strong, it’s hard to find a husband. Which *ge’er* doesn’t control their figure and weight from a young age? Only you eat so freely. It’s not that the family can’t afford it, but it’s not just about food, do you understand your mother’s good intentions?”

“I don’t!” Wei Xiaofeng said righteously, “I still want to live to be a hundred! Look at Zhu Yi, he’s so short and thin, like a monkey. I advise him to eat more, and he thinks I’m trying to harm him!”

“But Zhu Yi is already about to get married. You’ll be eighteen next year, and there isn’t a single high-ranking family in the capital willing to marry you.”

“If they’re not willing, why would I want to marry them?”

“Then what will you do when you get older?”

“My maternal grandfather’s family is so rich, I’ll go to my maternal grandfather’s house for meals!”

“That will cause people to look down on you!”

“There’s good food, good drink, a good place to live, and maids to serve me. What does it matter if I get a few scornful looks?”

“You…” Wan Lingxiu was about to be angered to death!

“Mother, it’s getting late, you should rest.”

Wan Lingxiu snatched the orange in a bad mood, sensing that this orange was different. After all, she came from the richest family in Jiangnan and had seen many things.

“Where did you get this orange?”

“This orange has a great origin!”

“What great origin can a few oranges have? Did you sneak them out of the palace?”

“This is the heart of the war-heroic, incomparably noble, and first ranked prince of the dynasty giving me his heart!” The more Wei Xiaofeng spoke, the more excited he became. “He must like me! You didn’t see the way he looked at me, his eyes were so full of affection they were about to drip water. How much does he have to like me?”

“Oh my heavens!” Wan Lingxiu supported her forehead, wanting to cry but having no tears. “You’ve either had too much to drink, or you were possessed by a ghost when you went out?”

“Hehe! I’m going to sleep.” After saying that, he ran to his room, carefree.

*

The carriage arrived at the Prince’s Mansion. This was the first time Feng Yue had come in this life. In his previous life, he had only lived here for about three years.

The steward was formerly a Sixth-Rank Principal in the Ministry of Rites, named Zhao Changming. He should have reached retirement age, but he was a lonely widower with nowhere to go. Because he was steady and meticulous in his work, he was assigned to the Prince’s Mansion as a steward.

“Welcome Your Highness back to the Mansion.” The three hundred people in the mansion, front and back, lined up from the courtyard to the front hall.

They were all unfamiliar faces. After ten years in a bitter and cold place, Feng Yue didn’t dare to think about the past for even a moment, so he had forgotten almost everything.

“It’s too late. Go to the accounting office and allocate some silver to reward these servants, and let them go to rest.” Feng Yue instructed.

“Yes, Your Highness.” Zhao Changming saw that his Prince was about to leave, and called out to him again.

“Your Highness, there’s also a letter for you here, from the estate…” Steward Zhao lowered his voice, feeling somewhat apprehensive.

“Give it to me.”

Steward Zhao handed it over with both hands.

Mu Yunhua couldn’t help but feel worried. Based on his Prince’s temperament, it was already rare for him to consider the overall situation this time, directly returning to the palace for the banquet. He had finally gained the Emperor’s appreciation, so he mustn’t be foolish because of the Second Prince.

“Your Highness, the Second Prince’s matter can’t be rushed. The Emperor still needs to vent his anger and waive the punishment himself. If you mention this matter now, you won’t get anything good out of it.”