Chapter 7: Scorching Heat

Zhao Yan sat on the couch wrapped in a blanket, her face exposed like a silkworm cocoon, showing a hint of desolation. Liu Ying placed the freshly brewed bitter medicine on the table, unable to hide her sympathy as she looked at her mistress.

The Prince Su became the tutor of the Crown Prince, which no one expected would lead to the worst possible outcome…

At this point, they could only take it step by step.

Liu Ying, with a determined heart, finally spoke up, “Today, the Ministry of Rites will preside over the ceremony for taking a master. Your Highness cannot be absent.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yan slumped to the side, weakly blowing away a strand of hair that hung in front of her forehead. Despite her reluctance, she couldn’t ignore the bigger picture and hide away.

She took several deep breaths, preparing herself, then stretched out her slender arm from under the blanket, palm facing up. Understanding her gesture, Liu Ying quickly placed the throat-soothing medicine in her palm.

As she changed her clothes, Zhao Yan, who usually complained about Liu Ying’s heavy-handedness, endured the pain of chest constriction quietly today, without a sound.

On the way to the Chongwen Hall, Zhao Yan took out the book recording her elder brother’s social relationships and habits, carefully studying it. 

The dawn filtered through the swaying curtains, her eyelashes shining, her lips tightly pursed, her expression unusually serious, as if she were not going to learn, but to the execution ground. The Crown Prince was still a teenage girl, despite her eloquence on ordinary days, she would still show timidity when dealing with someone as cunning as Prince Su.

When the auspicious time arrived, Wen Renlin, dressed in formal crimson robes, walked leisurely towards them.

Liu Ying stepped forward to tidy up her mistress’s robe, taking the opportunity to lower her voice, “The Empress will have Li Fu accompany you, Your Highness, no need to be nervous.”

Zhao Yan glanced back discreetly and indeed saw a familiar eunuch approaching with a bundle, smiling at her with a small tiger tooth.

Zhao Yan remembered this face; he was a eunuch personally trained and selected by the Empress, young in age and seemingly tender, but quite clever and reliable. According to etiquette, when the Crown Prince pays respects to the tutor, she must kneel and bow to show respect.

With mixed emotions, Zhao Yan could only convince herself that the person seated there was just a stone statue, and bowing to a statue was nothing to fear.

“Prince’s golden branches and jade leaves, let’s dispense with the formalities.”

Wen Renlin spoke, as if he could see through her thoughts.

Zhao Yan knew he had ulterior motives, but she made a grateful expression on her face, gathering her sleeves and performing a proper student’s salute, “This student thanks the Tutor.”

When an ordinary courtier receives such a great honor from the heir apparent, they would step aside in deference. But Wen Renlin didn’t even bother to show superficial humility, accepting it calmly. Who would dare to say he was arrogant?

The ceremonial official led the Crown Prince into the hall, and Li Fu, the eunuch, presented the six formalities.

Incense burned in the censer, and Wen Renlin, in his crimson robe, looked like a deity. His eyes were very attractive, but when he looked at people, there was no warmth, only a cold and oppressive gaze.

Zhao Yan focused all her attention, pouring the wine herself and holding it up to her brow, then bowed respectfully, “This student has learned from the Tutor, please drink and instruct.”

Once the Tutor drinks this wine, the ceremony would be complete.

Zhao Yan’s arms began to ache and her neck felt stiff after a while, until she heard Wen Renlin say slowly, “This Prince is favored by His Majesty, but receiving such an honor as a vulgar person is truly embarrassing. The Crown Prince should strive to be diligent and not be ashamed to ask for advice.”

Though it was meant to be encouraging, he said it very slowly, as if each word could be broken down into several syllables.

Despite her inner criticism, Zhao Yan maintained a respectful expression on her face, pretending to be attentive, “This student will remember.”

Her eyelashes trembled, and the wine in the cup even rippled slightly.

Only then did Wen Renlin graciously accept the cup, his fingertips accidentally touching hers, sending a chilly sensation like jade. She didn’t know what he did, but as soon as the cup reached his hands, the ripples ceased, turning into a clear mirror reflecting his profound and inscrutable smile.

Zhao Yan clenched her fingers tightly and lightly rubbed them against her sleeve.

Wen Renlin seemed to ignore her subtle movements, placing the cup upside down on the table, displaying an extremely elegant posture.

Zhao Yan gathered her sleeves again, completing the ceremony. The most dangerous courtiers in the palace had now become her daily companions and teachers. Zhao Yan felt as if her future path was as unclear as the cold fog outside the window in deep winter, a bit nostalgic for the carefree days in the Huayang Palace.

The death of her elder brother always remained a thorn in her heart. Since she had chosen this path, even if it was filled with thorns and bones, she would walk it with clarity. As she collected her thoughts, the ceremonial official had already bowed out of the Chongwen Hall, followed by rows of eunuchs carrying charcoal braziers entering in a single file.

Zhao Yan fixed her gaze and saw that each of the dozen braziers was burning silver bone charcoal without smoke, densely packed into every corner of the hall.

Next to Zhao Yan’s desk, two extra braziers were placed, showing extra thoughtfulness.

The eunuchs opened all the windows to let in fresh air, then orderly retreated without making a single extra sound from beginning to end. The entire hall was filled with warmth, drying out the skin.

“Tutor, are there too many braziers…?” Zhao Yan murmured softly.

“Too many?” Wen Renlin remained unmoved, lifting his eyelids to look at the little Crown Prince wrapped tightly in front of him, “Yesterday, the Crown Prince mentioned feeling cold and weak. Therefore, I specially ordered more braziers to ward off the cold, lest the Crown Prince feel dizzy again and unable to hold a pen to write.”

“…There’s no need for this!”

With so many braziers, she feared that she would be roasted alive before she could finish her writing!

Zhao Yan even suspected that Wen Renlin did this intentionally.

But the man in front of her remained calm, his words caring, as if he were truly only considering the weak health of the Crown Prince. Fire burned in Zhao Yan’s heart, and her nostrils felt hot and dry, making her palms sweaty.

“Your Highness need not be nervous. You won’t be writing essays today,” Wen Renlin seemed to misunderstand her resentment and pointed to the table, “Come here.”

His tone was not harsh, on the contrary, it carried a gentle implication, but Zhao Yan had already witnessed his methods. She had no choice but to take small steps forward and sit across from the desk with a stiff scalp.

As long as she didn’t have to write, everything else was negotiable.

With the fires on both sides roasting, Zhao Yan was not truly weak, wrapped in heavy fox fur, she felt like she was on fire, and she moistened her dry lips.

Behind her, Li Fu lowered his head and astutely handed her a cup of cool tea, then pushed open the crack in the window, smiling, “Your Highness, with a coughing ailment, mustn’t be stifled.”

Zhao Yan secretly gave Li Fu an approving look.

However, the cup of water was no more than a drop in the bucket, the airflow through the crack in the window hardly brought in any coolness.

She resisted the urge to take off the fox fur, pretending to sip the tea gracefully.

Wen Renlin lifted the yellow pearwood board on the desk, turning it over to reveal a chessboard with intricate patterns.

Zhao Yan froze, “Tutor, aren’t you going to continue explaining ‘Six Secret Strategic Teachings’?”

Wen Renlin casually brushed away a speck of dust on the chessboard, and said nonchalantly, “I heard that the Crown Prince’s chess skills are quite good. From whom did you learn?”

In the Imperial City, not even a fly could escape Prince Su’s eyes, so how could he not know who the Crown Prince’s chess tutor was?

Was he suspicious of her identity and testing her?

Fortunately, Zhao Yan had already memorized her elder brother’s social connections and replied, “Several years ago, I was fortunate to receive guidance in two games from the Left Chancellor, just scratching the surface.”

“Li Kexing’s chess skills are quite remarkable in great Xuan, playing against his disciples wouldn’t be a disgrace.”

Wen Renlin nodded and made a gesture of invitation with his sleeve, “Then, Your Highness, please play a game of chess with me.”

“…?”

The sweat on Zhao Yan’s back began to turn cold, and she said with a guilty conscience, “Tutor, I really enjoyed the ‘Defending the Homeland’ chapter you talked about yesterday, but there are still a few parts that I don’t quite understand. How about you continue explaining?”

Wen Renlin casually picked up the “Six Secret Strategic Teachings” and pushed the jade chess basket towards Zhao Yan, “Playing chess is like a battle between two armies, with its own intricacies, not unlike military strategy. Your Highness, feel free to ask questions, it won’t delay me from playing chess.”

He actually skillfully dodged her request.

With the braziers burning vigorously, the excuse of feeling cold and weak would not work this time. Zhao Yan’s cheeks were burning, she swallowed the dryness in her throat and reluctantly picked up a white piece.

Playing chess, she knew how to do that.

Previously, at the Huayang Palace, Zhou Ji had taught her a few moves.

Zhou, a disciple of Left Chancellor Li Kexing, was one of Liu Ying’s “Two Treasures of the Li Family” due to her exceptional chess skills. However, Zhao Yan was naturally not a docile person and had used her little cleverness to figure out how to retract her moves.

But now, her identity was Crown Prince Zhao Yan, a bright and promising youth, and she could no longer reveal her previous habits.

She made her first move cautiously, choosing a conservative opening.

Wen Renlin continued to read and write with one hand, not even looking up, and made his move. After a few moves, Zhao Yan’s speed of playing noticeably slowed down, her face showing difficulty, and tiny beads of sweat formed on the tip of her nose.

On the other hand, Wen Renlin seemed much more at ease, even teasing, “If Your Highness can’t see the traps again, you will lose.”

As an afterthought, he added, “How many moves have we played?”

Playing chess was most afraid of disturbing the mind, and with her mind unstable, she would surely lose in chess. Moreover, there were over a dozen braziers burning in the hall, the temperature was hot and dry, steaming her rationality like a steamer.

Li Fu handed her a handkerchief to wipe off her sweat, but it was of no use.

Only then did Wen Renlin lift his eyes from the books, leisurely looking at her.

The little Crown Prince’s face was flushed, covered in tiny glistening sweat beads, and her breathing was slightly rapid. Wen Renlin couldn’t help but recall that someone had once given him a priceless jade stone, usually as white as jade, but when soaked in water, it would show a beautiful red like rouge.

It was very similar to the flushed and sweaty cheeks of the little Crown Prince at this moment.

Although it was a long-standing saying that men with feminine features were too delicate and beautiful.

Using the book to support his chin, Wen Renlin said with a surprised tone, “Why is Your Highness sweating so much?”

Asking knowingly!

Zhao Yan’s lips were dry and her tongue was tied.

Wen Renlin leisurely turned a page of the book, showing no signs of impatience. The black jade chess piece between his slender fingers moved and rotated, his handsome face clear and cool, without a drop of dirty sweat, making him look as if he were carved from ice jade.

Was he even human? How could he not feel hot!

Just as Zhao Yan was silently cursing, she saw an eye-like mark on Wen Renlin’s forehead, and he added at the right moment, “It’s warm inside, Your Highness, why not take off the fox fur and winter coat to avoid feeling stuffy?”

This man seemed upright and innocent, but in reality, even his internal organs were black, coming up with such a sneaky move.

In front of everyone, taking off her outer garments, could she still conceal her identity?

Seeing Zhao Yan hesitate, Wen Renlin leaned forward.

“Well, since the Crown Prince is delicate, I’ll personally serve you.”

He reluctantly extended his hand towards her. As his slender fingers touched the fastening of the fox fur, Li Fu froze, and so did Zhao Yan.

Instinctively, she recoiled, almost toppling over from the force, only managing to steady herself by placing her hand on the ground.

Their eyes met, and Wen Renlin’s narrowed eyes dimmed slightly.

Taking advantage of the situation, Zhao Yan pretended to be weak and exhausted, made a hoarse sound, and swayed as she said, “Please forgive me, Tutor, I’m sweating profusely, losing composure.”

Li Fu took the opportunity to support her, hastily chiming in, “Exactly! The imperial physician warned His Highness not to expose himself to the wind. It’s good that he sweats like this.”

Wen Renlin raised an eyebrow, wondering if he should believe this nonsense.

He withdrew his hand and coldly watched Zhao Yan struggle to get up, asking, “So, has the Crown Prince figured out his next move?”

“I was just thinking.”

Zhao Yan lowered her head and muttered softly, her gaze shifting back and forth on the chessboard.

“The Yanwei Formation created by Prime Minister Li could break this deadlock.”

Wen Renlin flicked a chess piece, with a deeper meaning in his words. Zhao Yan had never seen this Prime Minister Li, so how could she know about the Yanwei Formation?

But Wen Renlin was staring at her, and she had to make a move even though she didn’t know.

But if she made a move, she might reveal her hand.

Holding the white piece firmly, Zhao Yan felt her breath burning, her cheeks hot, her internal organs almost burning, and the chessboard in front of her seemed to become blurred and distorted.

Suddenly, her nose felt wet and itchy, and something uncontrollably flowed down.

Li Fu widened his eyes, Zhao Yan looked bewildered, and when she touched it with her hand, she saw the bright red on her fingertips.

It was too hot, causing a nosebleed!

Zhao Yan’s eyelashes trembled, and then, as if on cue, her eyes rolled back, and she staggered forward and fell. Her forehead hit the chessboard, making a loud, muffled sound, and the black and white pieces scattered like beads of water.

“Someone, help! The Crown Prince is in trouble!”

Li Fu quickly rushed over, protecting her with a tragic cry.

Wen Renlin looked at the scattered chess pieces on the board, his eyelids twitching.

Previous

Next