Four Seasons Brocade – CH 141

Chapter 141 ☆、

That night, Ah Wu had a terrifying dream. She dreamt that Chu Mao, hating her for usurping his place and refusing to bear him a legitimate son, tied her to a small boat and, in the midst of a storm, released her onto the river.

Ah Wu felt the boat tossing violently. Terrified, she could not even open her eyes. Chu Mao stood on the bank, holding an oil-paper umbrella, watching her and smiling.

Ah Wu felt the storm was endless, and she was about to be submerged. She screamed and sat up. Opening her eyes, she saw that it was still dark outside, and the space beside her was empty.

“What’s wrong?” Chu Mao’s voice came from outside the curtain. “Had a nightmare?”

Chu Mao was just lifting the curtain from the outside, looking at the still-astonished Ah Wu, and asked again, “What did you dream about?”

“I dreamt I was on a boat; it was rocking violently, and I was terrified…” Although Ah Wu was still shaken, she knew she could not say that Chu Mao had kidnapped her.

But as soon as Ah Wu finished speaking, Chu Mao’s expression became very strange. After a moment, he said, “Perhaps it’s because you’ve been thinking about it all day, and it manifests in your dreams.”

Ah Wu thought for a moment and nodded. It was probably because her emotions were too volatile, and she was uneasy in front of Chu Mao, that she had this dream. Little did Ah Wu understand Chu Mao’s veiled and wicked implication.

However, one thing did not escape Ah Wu’s notice: although Chu Mao was wearing trousers of the same color, the subtle pattern on them had clearly changed. Ah Wu was puzzled as to why Chu Mao would get up in the middle of the night to change his trousers and drink water. She had never seen him have so many strange habits before.

“Your Highness, are you feeling unwell?” Ah Wu asked softly, her clear eyes scanning upwards from Chu Mao’s groin.

Chu Mao abruptly threw back the covers and lay down. “No, the floor heating in this room is too strong. I will have them reduce it tomorrow.”

Ah Wu nodded, believing that Chu Mao had probably changed his clothes because he was hot and sweaty. If it were her, waking up in the middle of the night in the summer, feeling sticky all over, would also warrant taking a bath and changing clothes.

After Chu Mao lay back down on the bed, Ah Wu drifted off to sleep again, but it was not as good as sleeping soundly until dawn. When she woke up, she had a headache and felt dizzy. The people around her were already up, and even the bedding was cold.

Speaking of the bedding, Ah Wu felt something was off. After thinking carefully, she realized that Chu Mao’s bedding from the previous night was missing. Although his bedding was changed daily, the maids would only tidy it up after Ah Wu got up.

Although Ah Wu found it strange, she did not think much of it. She did not understand such details; her mind was only focused on returning to the Rong Mansion today. In the Great Xia Dynasty, married women usually returned to their parents’ home on the second or third day of the first lunar month.

Ah Wu was impatient, so she had set her date for the second day. As for Chu Mao, Ah Wu had not expected him to accompany her. As expected, when Ah Wu sent someone to speak with Chu Mao, he simply nodded to indicate he understood.

Perhaps because Chu Mao did not go, both Master Rong and Lady Cui seemed much more relaxed.

Lady Cui, looking at Ah Wu’s still girlish figure and face, complained, “Why have you not gained any weight? Women are better off a little plump.”

Ah Wu smiled but did not speak.

“Is His Highness Prince Qi treating you well? Has there been any news?” Lady Cui asked with concern. Actually, this was the first question she wanted to ask, but she did not want to put pressure on Ah Wu.

“Did Madam not say I am young and not in a hurry to have children? His Highness is also considerate, saying there’s no rush in the next two years.” Ah Wu was good at presenting the truth in a different way, which, to Lady Cui’s ears, meant that the couple was very harmonious.

“Why did His Highness Prince Qi not come back with you today?” Lady Cui could not help but worry that Ah Wu was only reporting good news and not bad.

“Whenever he comes, Father and Madam always have to bow and kneel, making us feel awkward when we meet. He’s just being considerate of your daughter and also considerate of you all,” Ah Wu explained perfectly why Chu Mao was too busy to come.

Lady Cui nodded repeatedly in agreement. After the mother and daughter finished their conversation, Master Rong sent someone to invite Ah Wu over.

As soon as Ah Wu entered, Master Rong cut to the chase: “Did you send Lady He to the estate at the Fourth Prince’s behest?”

Ah Wu thought to herself, “My father is quite the shrew.”

“No,” she replied, “I did not like meddling in household affairs at first, but His Highness subtly hinted that there was a lack of discipline in the household. He Peizhen is indeed arrogant and domineering. I decided to send her away, and His Highness knew about it. He did not object, and afterwards, he showed no intention of bringing her back.”

Master Rong stroked his long, flowing beard, nodded, and then said, “In your opinion, the Fourth Prince’s actions towards…” Master Rong pointed to the sky, being much more direct because he was speaking to his daughter, “…are interesting?”

It was not just interesting; it was extremely interesting, except that the Fourth Prince was taking a self-reliant approach. However, Ah Wu was not sure if it was right or wrong to tell Master Rong such a bold statement. If word got out, they would be the ones to suffer. “His Highness never mentioned these things to me, but in my opinion, he’s not incompetent. Father, do you think that just because His Highness has the intention, it will work out?” Ah Wu wanted to know Master Rong’s opinion.

Master Rong shook his head. “It’s hard to say. In my opinion, the Fourth Prince does not seem to care about that position; otherwise, he would not act the way he does. It’s just that I see him as exceptionally intelligent, and it’s truly a pity.”

Master Rong was, after all, Chu Mao’s teacher, and the two often discussed the words of the sages. Rong Jichang felt that Chu Mao’s thoughts were always insightful and that he had a broad vision and foresight, truly a sign of a wise ruler.

Seeing Master Rong’s regretful expression, Ah Wu tentatively said, “But in these two visits to the palace, I saw that His Majesty was indeed very indifferent to His Highness.” Ah Wu’s words were tactful, but how could Master Rong not know the Longqing Emperor’s attitude? Ah Wu cautiously glanced outside, then opened all the windows of the study to see what was happening and prevent eavesdropping before continuing, “I imagine the name on the future imperial edict will not be His Highness. Father, what do you think should be done if His Highness does indeed have some ideas?”

Ah Wu’s question was extremely bold, making Rong Jichang’s heart skip a beat. This thought had crossed his mind more than once, but he was unsure of Chu Mao’s attitude and dared not offer such a treasonous suggestion.

However, the temptation of gaining favor with the Emperor was too great, and Rong Jichang was now a staunch supporter of the Fourth Prince. If another Prince ascended the throne, he feared he would suffer greatly; simply surviving would be a blessing. This was clearly not the outcome Rong Jichang had sought after ten years of arduous study. They studied the words of the sages not for loyalty and filial piety, but merely for the ideal “to establish merit and glorify one’s ancestors.”

Even to his own daughter, Rong Jichang dared not speak this thought aloud. Instead, he said, “Your eldest brother’s wedding is set for the fifth month, and Ying’er’s for the ninth month. I plan that if your eldest brother passes the imperial examination this year, I will ask the Emperor to send him to a post outside the capital, so he will not have to take the civil service exam.”

Ah Wu nodded. Sending Rong Jie to a post outside the capital was likely because Emperor Ai, at the beginning of his reign, would not extend his influence too far; he would first settle things in the capital before consolidating his power in the provinces.

“Ying’er loves martial arts. After his marriage, when we separate the family, I plan to send him to a post outside the capital to join the army.”

In chaotic times, nothing was more secure than having an army at your disposal. At this point, Ah Wu could not help but admire the foresight of Master Rong; he had considered everything perfectly.

“I think it’s perfectly appropriate.” The father and daughter exchanged a knowing smile, seemingly saying nothing, yet understanding each other perfectly.

Just after lunch, someone came to report that someone from the Prince Qi’s mansion had come to fetch Ah Wu.

Ah Wu was taken aback, wondering if something had happened at the residence; otherwise, why would someone suddenly come to pick her up? Lady Cui and Rong Jichang did not dare detain Ah Wu any longer, urging her to return quickly.

Once Ah Wu boarded the carriage and saw Chu Mao, she became even more astonished. “Your Highness!”

Ah Wu never expected Chu Mao to come to fetch her personally. “Your Highness, is something wrong at the residence?”

Chu Mao did not answer, only staring intently at Ah Wu. Today, Ah Wu wore a dark brown brocade jacket with a gold-embroidered pattern of peonies, chrysanthemums, and begonias, the collar of which was trimmed with dark brown lambskin. The dark color made her snow-white face appear even whiter, and her pink lips looked even more delicate. Below her was a pale yellow skirt with a bat and grape pattern. The skirt was rather peculiar, cut in a bell shape, which accentuated Ah Wu’s slender waist.

This outfit was strangely beautiful. Chu Mao had never seen such a bell-shaped skirt before; he naturally did not know that this style was supposed to appear years later.

Ah Wu preferred slightly fitted clothes, which looked especially good on her tall figure—though to men, it was simply a seductive pose.

Chu Mao did not answer Ah Wu’s question. Instead, he placed the white fox fur cloak that Ah Wu usually used to rest her feet on on his lap.

“Is Your Highness ill?” Ah Wu noticed Chu Mao’s unusual expression, as if he was trying hard to suppress something, and seeing his fear of the cold, she became even more certain of her judgment. After all, this man was the type who could walk in the snow in the dead of winter wearing only a lined robe.

Chu Mao clenched his right fist, held it to his lips, and coughed lightly, saying, “It’s nothing.”

In Ah Wu’s eyes, this was an admission of illness.

“Since Your Highness is ill, why go out and catch a chill? Just send someone to call me if you need anything.” Ah Wu was truly the epitome of virtuousness.

Seeing Ah Wu’s cherry-pink lips moving up and down, Chu Mao felt a pang of unease and irritation. “Shut up.”

Ah Wu immediately fell silent, remembering that Master Rong also disliked Lady Cui’s chatter, and told herself inwardly not to talk too much in front of Chu Mao in the future.

The carriage was quiet. Ah Wu smelled the cold plum blossom scent emanating from Chu Mao, while Chu Mao’s nose was filled with Ah Wu’s exotic fragrance. Ah Wu lowered her head slightly, as if the floral pattern of the carpet on the floor was extremely attractive to her. She did not even dare to look up, feeling as if two beams of light were shining on her forehead, lacking even the courage to ask.

Ah Wu thought she understood Chu Mao quite well, but after truly spending time with him, she realized what the saying “the Emperor’s heart is unfathomable” really meant—he was indeed born to be an Emperor.

As the carriage passed through Liuli Street, Chu Mao pulled the rope on his right, and the carriage stopped. Ah Wu could not help but look up; she glanced at Chu Mao questioningly. Chu Mao said, “Let’s go see Xu Bai Studio.”

Xu Bai Studio was quite famous in the capital, often selling genuine paintings and calligraphy, fine works, and antique books. Their “Plum Blossom Auspicious God Paper” was also very famous.

Ah Wu was very interested in Chu Mao mentioning Xu Bai Studio.

Ah Wu and Chu Mao entered Xu Bai Studio one after the other. She looked around the furnishings with great interest; the decor was elegant, the incense was subtle, and the greetings were refined—truly worthy of its reputation.

However, when Ah Wu saw the person coming down from the second floor, her interest vanished completely. A look of surprise flashed across her face, and she then guiltily avoided Tang Xiujin’s gaze.