Langhua: The Codependence of a Prince and His General

Farewell

As quickly and suddenly as the controversy had erupted, it just as rapidly faded into obscurity with the Second Prince's voluntary exile. The air in the palace went from stormy to generally overcast. On the surface, it seemed as though no one was particularly happy with how things turned out.

"I don't get it. He made the decision himself, didn't he? He gets to escape."

Xuanyuan Lang's brush paused on the parchment, and he looked up sharply at his Sixth Brother. "What do you mean?"

Xuanyuan Rui swung his legs from where he was sitting on the edge of Xuanyuan Lang's desk. "Everyone's talking about Second Brother like he's practically dead and done for. But there's no way they could have toppled him so easily, not unless he willed it for himself. In that case, shouldn't there be smiles all around? Whoever was out to frame him, their ploy worked spectacularly. And he got to dictate the manner of his exit." Xuanyuan Rui stuck out his tongue. "That's a lot more than most of us can say. So his allies should be happy for him too."

Xuanyuan Lang gave him a long, pensive look and finally sighed. His Sixth Brother was surprisingly bright in some areas but still painfully naïve in others. "You wouldn't get it."

"Not sure I want to." Xuanyuan Rui leaped off his desk and walked over to his shelves. "By the way, I finished reading the fifth book in the Tiger-killer series. Is the sixth volume out yet?"

"...Over there on the tea table."

"Nice!" Xuanyuan Rui pounced on the book and flipped through its pages. "I knew it, it's fresh from the presses. I hope Master Hua doesn't mind me reading it before he does."

Xuanyuan Lang frowned. "How did you—"

"You're not the type to read these books, Seventh Brother, yet you have the entire collection lined up prominently on your shelves. You have the newest book poised and ready, yet it's obvious that you haven't so much as flipped open the cover." Xuanyuan Rui was already running his eyes down the pages in interest. "Ooh, they outdid themselves with the illustrations this time. I must pay the artist my respects someday."

As Xuanyuan Rui settled down by the window to read the newest installment of his current favorite series, Xuanyuan Lang reflected on how often he had been dropping by lately. After Xuanyuan Lang first visited him and led him out of Competence Palace, he had been like a bird who learned how to toggle open the lock on its bamboo cage. At the very least, he had no qualms about stopping by Xuanyuan Lang's study uninvited and without notice these days, hanging around until Xuanyuan Lang had to tell him in no uncertain terms to leave.

On one hand, he made it hard to focus. On the other hand, Ah Heng had been busy with his final preparations recently, and the study sometimes felt too quiet.

Xuanyuan Lang stared unblinking at his parchment and sighed again. The ink had dried, and there was nothing else he wanted to say, so he rolled the letter up and fixed it with a seal. "Sixth Brother, I'm going to see Second Brother off. Do you want to come with me?"

"Huh?" A cloud seemed to fall over Xuanyuan Rui's face. He was still hesitant to deal with almost everyone else in the palace. And when he was worried, Xuanyuan Lang noted, he instinctively held his left wrist with his right hand. "Why?"

"Why not? We're still brothers, and who knows when we'll see him again."

"You do know that people are saying you're the one who tried to frame him."

Trust Xuanyuan Rui to say that aloud. "I know I'm innocent. I have nothing to hide nor prove."

"You're so brave, Seventh Brother," Xuanyuan Rui said in open-eyed admiration. "I... I wouldn't dare. Our older brothers scare me."

Well, at least he admitted it. Xuanyuan Lang stood up, slipped the scroll into his sleeve and then patted Xuanyuan Rui on the shoulder as he passed. "I won't force you. In that case, maybe you should head back before Consort Xian starts worrying."

However, the prospect of going back turned Xuanyuan Rui even paler than the idea of seeing Xuanyuan Yao off. The Sixth Prince lowered his gaze, his hand tightening around his wrist. "If you don't mind, could I stay here for a while longer? I want to finish reading the book before I go back."

Xuanyuan Rui had been lingering longer and longer with each visit. Xuanyuan Lang paused and remembered his earlier note to himself. "Alright. Why don't you stay for dinner with me and my mother? I'll tell a eunuch to send word back to Competence Palace."

"Can I?" Xuanyuan Rui's head snapped back up, his eyes wide.

"Sure. But you have to go back after that, okay?"

"Okay!" Xuanyuan Rui did not even try to hide his relief. "Give Second Brother my best wishes... but um, only if he asks."

Xuanyuan Lang cracked a smile. "Understood."

To his surprise, he faced a little trouble conveying the promised message. There was a hushed silence everywhere he went, with servants either heading single-mindedly toward the gates or resolutely away from them. He heard none of the idle chatter or occasional slacking off. When they saw him, they gave way with barely more than a murmured greeting, and he practically had to chase down a hasty eunuch to give him his orders.

It was only when Xuanyuan Lang arrived at the gates that he realized why.

"The Noble Consort isn't here?"

"Mother is still displeased with me, it seems." Xuanyuan Yao smiled wryly, but he gripped Xuanyuan Lang's arms all the same. "I'm glad you could make it, Seventh Brother. I mean it."

Xuanyuan Lang observed Xuanyuan Yao closely. He was a little pale and a touch thinner than the last time Xuanyuan Lang had seen him, made more evident by his uncharacteristic lack of make-up. As a result, he looked a few years older... and more mature. There was both weariness and a hint of relief in his beautiful almond eyes.

"I see you've made your peace, Second Brother." Xuanyuan Lang put his hand over Xuanyuan Yao's. "For that, I too am glad."

Xuanyuan Yao laughed with a burst of sincere joy. "Thank you. I'm sorry to leave you here in this swamp, but I'll be taking off first."

"Yao'er." The Emperor's stern voice made them both jolt, but he quickly softened. "Hurry now. Don't keep your children waiting."

"Right." Xuanyuan Yao scooped his young son into his arms and boarded the carriage. Once a servant closed the door behind him, he leaned out of the window with a smile. "Farewell, Father. I'll be praying for your good health."

"I'd be a lot of healthier if you could just settle down and spare me the worry," the Emperor grumbled, surprising Xuanyuan Lang with his casual tone. "Be sure to write."

"I will. Don't feel obliged to reply if you're too busy, though."

"Hmph."

Suddenly, the previously-silent Fourth Prince spoke up. "Have a safe journey, Brother."

Xuanyuan Yao looked at Xuanyuan Li, his only brother from the same mother. After a lengthy pause, he said, "Take care of Mother for me."

"Yes, Brother."

With that, Xuanyuan Yao put down the curtains and disappeared into the carriage. They could just barely hear his calm voice as he ordered the carriage driver to begin the journey, and as the horses' hooves clopped against the stone pavement, the Second Prince made his leisurely exit from the imperial scene.

Until the end, Xuanyuan Chen never showed up.