Chapter 62

Chapter 62: Be Gentle

Huo Zheng stepped over the threshold and stopped at the gate.

The carriage that brought him back had already gone. Only Lu Jing Yun’s carriage still waited outside.

He had changed into plain clothes. He was not dressed like at Prince Ning’s birthday feast, where silk and brocade made him look untouchable, but the air of someone in power had not faded at all. Perhaps it was because, in the cover of night, he did not try to hide it.

Lu Jing Yun cupped his hands and bowed, saying: “Your Highness.”

Huo Zheng said in a low voice: “I cannot reveal my identity to Chun Zhi yet, and you will not tell her.”

Lu Jing Yun had been one step away—just one breath—from telling Chun Zhi that the man before her was Prince Chang’an. Then Huo Zheng returned at that exact moment.

“Your Highness,” said Lu Jing Yun. He understood this was a warning. He had already failed Chun Zhi once; he could not let someone else fail her again.

After a long pause, Lu Jing Yun said: “Chun Zhi is a good girl. She treats people with an honest heart and hates lies most of all. Your Highness, as Prince Chang’an, you could have any beauty you want. I hope you will show mercy and not toy with her.”

Huo Zheng gave a cold laugh and said: “You, a faithless man, dare tell me not to toy with her?”

“I wronged her,” said Lu Jing Yun, “but it was not my wish. I had no choice.”

“Enough,” said Huo Zheng, voice hard. “Less nonsense. Go back to where you came from and never disturb Chun Zhi again. Otherwise, do not blame this prince for being rude.”

Lu Jing Yun opened his mouth to say more, but Huo Zheng had already turned into the small courtyard and shut the gate.

Lu Jing Yun stood at the door for a long time. He thought he heard a faint sound inside. He had never expected Chun Zhi to be tied to Prince Chang’an, and he had no way to guess what Prince Chang’an was thinking.

Prince Chang’an was inspecting Nanzhou. He had been ambushed the moment he entered the region and almost died. Now he and Prince Ning and his son smiled in public, but in truth they wished the other dead. If Chun Zhi got mixed up with Prince Chang’an and Prince Ning’s father and son learned of it, she would not live.

Thinking of this gave him a headache. He sighed, climbed into his carriage, and told the coachman to return to the Lu Residence.

Inside the courtyard, Chun Zhi had lit the fire to cook noodles. She was almost done. After filling a big bowl, she fried two eggs for Huo Qi.

She carried the generous bowl to the Eight Immortals Table and called: “Huo Qi, come eat your noodles.”

After driving off Lu Jing Yun, Huo Zheng had stood before the donkey shed to look at Lucky Fortune. The donkey was in fine shape, now a bit plumper thanks to Chun Zhi’s care. The shed was sturdy and neat too. It felt like whatever Chun Zhi did, she did it with care—and she did it well.

Hearing her call, he strode to the Eight Immortals Table.

She handed him the chopsticks, saying: “Eat while it’s hot.”

He took them, and Chun Zhi turned to go back inside. Her needlework was only half done, and she meant to finish it.

Huo Zheng caught her by the wrist.

“What are you doing?” asked Chun Zhi, looking back.

“Sit and keep me company for a while,” he said.

“You can just say so,” she said, returning to the table to sit, “no need to grab my wrist.”

Before tonight, Huo Qi had only been this clingy when he was on the bed. Saying such a thing off the bed was a first.

Huo Zheng ate quickly, bite after bite, with a good appetite.

“You went to the feast at Prince Ning’s Residence today,” said Chun Zhi. “Why didn’t you eat dinner there?”

He paused and said: “Did Lu Jing Yun tell you that again?”

“Yes,” said Chun Zhi. “He said he saw you at Prince Ning’s birthday banquet. I told him you work for Prince Chang’an, so going with your lord to a feast is normal. That birthday banquet wasn’t only for the top scholar. You could go too.”

[So Lu Jing Yun did not explain it. She misunderstood,] thought Huo Zheng.

While he ate, he asked: “What else did Lu Jing Yun say to you?”

Chun Zhi thought for a moment and said: “He said you do not work under Prince Chang’an. He said you—”

At once his heart leaped. “He said I what?”

“He didn’t finish,” said Chun Zhi. “You came back first.”

Huo Zheng let out a quiet breath. [Good thing I came back in time.]

Chun Zhi watched his face and could not read it. But what Lu Jing Yun had said tonight truly was strange. “Huo Qi,” she said, “if something is going on, just tell me. Do not lie to me, all right?”

He did not answer. He only lowered his head and kept eating.

“It doesn’t matter if you work for Prince Chang’an or for someone else,” she said. “Just don’t help evildoers.”

She had guessed that Lu Jing Yun came to tell her that Huo Qi did not work for Prince Chang’an, but for someone else.

“I would never help evildoers,” said Huo Zheng, his face serious. “You can trust me.” [There is only one thing I am hiding from her: who I am.]

Chun Zhi nodded and said: “All right.”

He kept eating.

She steered the talk back and asked: “So you really did not eat at Prince Ning’s birthday feast?”

“I only drank wine,” he said.

She could smell wine on him, but his face was clear. He was not drunk.

“Then remember to bathe after you finish your noodles,” she said. “I’ll go inside first.”

“Mm.”

He soon reached the bottom of the bowl. After sitting with him for a good while, Chun Zhi went back to her room to keep sewing.

Huo Zheng washed the bowl, then went to the next room and wrote several letters for Jiang He to deliver to officials secretly helping his strict investigation.

It was a summer night. He drew up water from the well, took off his clothes, and washed in the yard.

From where she sat, Chun Zhi had only to lift her eyes to see through the open window. Water poured across his body with a rush. His lean waist carried no extra flesh. [Do not look. Do not recall those long nights.] She remembered how, on nights of deep closeness, it had been that strong waist pressing to her, while he asked for her again and again. She turned away. She could not look, and she could not think about it.

Before long he finished. With the fresh, clean scent of soap beans on his skin, he walked into the room.

Chun Zhi did not look up.

He stepped forward, scooped her into his arms, and said: “It is late. Time to rest.”

She still held her needlework. Startled in his arms, she did not have time to put it down and said with a helpless little laugh: “Careful, you’ll get pricked.”

He bent a little so she could set it aside, then carried her to the bed.

Though they had been married for some time, the Red Gauze Canopy was still as bright as new.

He kissed her and loosened her sash with practiced ease. He knew when she would grow shy and what she could not bear. He also knew she wanted the light out when they did this.

Before she could ask, he waved his sleeve and put out the oil lamp.

The Red Gauze Canopy fell.

They tangled in the dark. He was especially fierce tonight. Kissed breathless, Chun Zhi could only call “Huo Qi” again and again, and she pleaded softly: “Be gentle.”