Story of Consort Xi

Chapter 5: Chance Upon

The snow has just stopped. The maids of Zhong Cui Palace were sweeping away the accumulated snow from the footpaths. Ling Ruo strolled along the pathway aimlessly, in deep thought. Unknowingly, she had already left the grounds of Zhong Cui Palace. When she finally came out from her thoughts, she was surrounded by a large grove of plum trees. The trees were in full bloom, with red plum blossoms glistening through the white snow, looking like ruby jewels.

"Ruo er, we shall find ourselves a serene quiet place. I will plant miles of plum trees for you, such that we can enjoy the scenery of plum blossoms from our window." The words echoed in her mind, as if it was just being spoken to her ears. Rong Yuan... I have found the plum tree woods. But it belongs neither to you nor to me...

Squeezing her eyes shut, Ling Ruo forced her tears back. Everything had already been set in stone ever since she made the decision. Rong Yuan and herself, resembles a flowing stream and swimming fish. They are only fated to pass by one another in life. Whoever that looks back and remembers the other will only bring about sorrow and misfortune.

Breathing in deeply, Ling Ruo was about to leave, when she suddenly heard voices. Curious, Ling Ruo went in search of the owners of the voices. In the middle of the plum tree grove, at the side of a lake, there were 2 shadows – a male and a female. The man had his back facing Ling Ruo, and hence Ling Ruo was unable to see his features. The girl was about fifteen or sixteen, and Ling Ruo could tell that she was very beautiful even from a distance. Although she was unable to hear the conversation, Ling Ruo could deduce that the pair seemed to be having a disagreement.

A few moments later, the girl got infuriated and turned to leave. In her haste, she tripped over some fallen branches along the path. The man instinctively reacted and attempted to help the girl up. However, the irate girl slapped away the pair of helping hands and pushed herself up in difficulty.

The man watched her leave in silence. Never once did the girl look back towards the man as she limped away. Despite not being able to clearly see the expression on the man's face, Ling Ruo could deeply sense the heartache and misery from his back view.

While Ling Ruo was still pondering about the identity of the couple, the man suddenly turned back. Their eyes met, and shock was evident on both their faces.

He was stunned by the presence of a third person, whereas she was surprised to recognise the face of the man. Isn't that the man she met outside Qing An Medicine Hall? Although he was not wearing the same costume during their first encounter, she would never mistake him for another person. That harsh, frosty gaze. And the overbearing, forbidding aura. It cannot be anyone else.

But, who is he? Why is he in the Imperial Palace? Ling Ruo was not ignorant enough to assume that the man was a eunuch. The inherent noble and commanding aura that the man emanates cannot belong to that of a eunuch. Moreover, the mink fur cape is not an item that even a usual wealthy family can afford.

The Emperor? The guess was dismissed almost immediately. The current Emperor was already past 50 years of age, he definitely would not possess an appearance of a young man. Other than the Emperor himself, the only other men who can freely enter the Imperial Palace would be the Princes.

Ehhh? Wasn't he addressed as 4th brother on the day of their first encounter? If that's the case, it seems like this man must be... Ling Ruo quickly curtsied: "Ling Ruo sends greetings to the Fourth Prince."