Chapter 48 Apricot Blossom Village
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“Yu Hualiang! You must pay for your crime!” Princess Xuan stood outside the courtyard of the Seventh Prince, crying and shouting.
Ye Fang stopped her. “Princess, please return home. The Seventh Prince will conduct a thorough investigation.”
Princess Xuan threw a tantrum. “What’s left to investigate? The evidence is clear—the murder was committed by Yu Hualiang. I know the Seventh Prince favors him, but Qingzhang’s life was lost!”
Ye Fang’s ears were nearly numb from her shouting; he repeated, “Please, Princess, return home.”
Princess Xuan planted herself at the courtyard gate, hands on her hips. “I won’t leave! If the Seventh Prince doesn’t offer an explanation today, I’ll report this directly to the Emperor!”
Hearing those words, a flicker of murderous intent flashed in Ye Fang’s eyes, frightening Princess Xuan into trembling. She stepped back, stammering, “You… what are you trying to do? Harm me?”
Ye Fang lowered his lashes. “I would not dare.”
“You wouldn’t? Then why won’t you let me see the Seventh Prince?”
“What business brings you here?” The Seventh Prince, annoyed by her noise, came out to meet her.
Yu Hualiang followed behind the Seventh Prince, shrinking back when he saw Princess Xuan’s eagerness to see him punished.
Princess Xuan pointed at Yu Hualiang and cursed, “I demand you pay for Qingzhang’s life!”
Yu Hualiang’s mood soured at her words; he frowned. “Qingzhang wasn’t killed by me, Princess Xuan. Please don’t falsely accuse the innocent.”
“How am I falsely accusing you? Qingzhang died in your courtyard’s lotus pond. Who else could have done it?”
Yu Hualiang was at a loss for words. Seeing Yu Hualiang unable to argue, the Seventh Prince stepped forward. “Enough! A princess should conduct herself with dignity. This matter will be handled by me; it is not for you to meddle in and pass judgment.”
Princess Xuan, aggrieved, stomped her foot. “Your Highness, please do not show favoritism. Qingzhang’s life matters.”
“This matter will be settled by me. A princess who recklessly accuses others without discernment—what punishment should she face?”
Upon hearing the Prince’s rebuke, Princess Xuan immediately wilted, bowing her head like a lamb. “Sir Ran admits her mistake.”
The Seventh Prince’s anger eased. “If you know your mistake, you will be confined for a month.”
“What? Again with confinement?”
Princess Xuan felt wronged. Why was it that Yu Hualiang could be favored and given the Prince’s token to come and go freely, but she herself was confined every few days because of him?
The Seventh Prince glared coldly, and Princess Xuan immediately swallowed her protest.
In the end, her attitude softened. She glared at Yu Hualiang, then spoke softly to the Seventh Prince. “Your Highness, please ensure justice for Qingzhang… I take my leave.”
Yu Hualiang breathed a sigh of relief as she left. The Seventh Prince turned to him. “Ziliang, you won’t be able to return to your own courtyard for now. Stay here these days.”
Yu Hualiang was stunned. He had finally hoped to sleep alone, but now that one troublesome guest had left, the Seventh Prince arrived instead.
The Seventh Prince noticed the concern on his face. “Ziliang, don’t worry. You’ll sleep in the room next to mine.”
Yu Hualiang relaxed and smiled. “Thank you, Your Highness.”
He glanced at the time. Normally, he would be heading to work—no, to court—at this hour.
He asked, “Your Highness, isn’t this usually the time for morning court? Is today a holiday?”
The Seventh Prince replied, “I’ve taken leave for family matters today. Work has been busy lately, so the next few days are rather idle.”
“I see. By the way, what should we do about Qingzhang’s body?”
The Seventh Prince’s eyes darkened. “Ziliang, to outsiders, tell them Qingzhang drowned accidentally in the lotus pond. Do you understand?”
Yu Hualiang nodded. The Seventh Prince clearly wished to downplay the matter, hoping it would disappear entirely. He did so to prevent anyone from linking Qingzhang’s death to Yu Hualiang.
Truthfully, Yu Hualiang was moved, but also afraid. Especially with the Seventh Prince, who treated life as insignificant; death seemed commonplace.
Their hearts were cold. The thought made Yu Hualiang uneasy, especially remembering that the Seventh Prince had wanted to kill Aliu as well.
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“Ziliang? Ziliang? What are you thinking?”
Yu Hualiang snapped back. “Nothing.”
“The Prince finally gets a day off. Ziliang, you must accompany me for a proper walk.”
Yu Hualiang perked up. “Where to?”
“Qingming is approaching. The apricot blossoms on the mountain must be blooming. Will you accompany me to see them?”
Apricot blossoms? What’s so interesting about them? They lack the resilience of plum blossoms and the brilliance of peach blossoms. If it weren't for the Prince, Yu Hualiang would never go. To him, this gloomy day was perfect for sleeping indoors!
“Wow!” Yu Hualiang hadn’t expected much, but upon seeing them, he was stunned.
“Li Village is famous for its apricot blossoms,” the Seventh Prince said, gazing at the sea of flowers covering the mountains.
Most villages nestled against the mountains. Li Village, especially, was settled on the slopes. Every year, around the Spring Equinox and Qingming, the apricot blossoms would bloom, turning the village into a sea of flowers.
The apricot blossoms were pale pink, five-petaled, with a gentle sweet fragrance. Yu Hualiang broke off a branch and played with it in his hands. He had rarely seen so many apricot blossoms together.
These trees were seldom planted for ornamental purposes, and apricot blossoms were rarely the subject for painting. Most artists painted plums and peaches.
He stepped lightly among the peach trees, observing their growth. The Seventh Prince, seeing him so delighted, felt his own mood lift.
“What are you looking at, Ziliang?”
Yu Hualiang smiled. “The trees are thriving, and the flowers are beautiful.”
“As long as Ziliang likes them,” the Seventh Prince replied with a smile.
Yu Hualiang teased, “Doesn’t Your Highness like them?”
“Of course I do. But Ziliang, call me Zicheng today. I’m on leave—being recognized would be troublesome.”
Yu Hualiang laughed, handing him the blossom. “Brother Zicheng.”
The Seventh Prince chuckled, brushing a petal from his shoulder. “Brother Ziliang.”
“Pfft…” Yu Hualiang couldn’t help but laugh. To have the Prince call him ‘brother’—the literary formality was truly odd.
“I want that branch!”
Under a tree in the distance, a group of children clamored for the flowers. Yu Hualiang went over to watch.
A short boy pointed at a branch. “I want that one, to give to my sister! Whoever picks it for me gets a bite of my candied hawthorn.”
Yu Hualiang laughed, then joked with the Seventh Prince, “Look, these children already understand that money makes the world go round.”
The Seventh Prince replied dryly, “Indeed. I did not understand these things when I was young.”
“Hm?” Yu Hualiang looked at him in surprise. Did this mean the Prince was slow as a child? How did he grow so shrewd?
A tall, chubby boy declared, “I’ll pick it for you, but I want two bites.”
The short boy agreed. The chubby boy jumped as high as he could, nearly falling, but still couldn’t reach it. He scratched his head, embarrassed—losing both the treat and his pride.
The other children laughed at his silliness. The Seventh Prince sneered, “Greedy and incompetent—how can such a one win hearts?”
Yu Hualiang felt the Seventh Prince was too stern. He laughed, “Haha, it’s normal to be clueless as a child. Isn’t it adorable?”
The Seventh Prince said nothing, just continued watching. The children were perplexed; one handsome boy said, “I have an idea!”
The short boy asked, “Guichun, what’s your plan?”
“Go fetch a sickle.”
At Guichun’s command, two children ran off to get a sickle.
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Guichun seemed to have some status among the group. When the sickle arrived, Guichun tied it to a long stick, took aim, and cut down the branch.
The short boy picked up the flower, but it was battered and incomplete. He was upset, so Guichun comforted him, “Don’t be sad. I’ll break off a better branch for you.”
The short boy stubbornly insisted, “No, I want one from that tree—higher up! My sister says only the apricot blossoms from the highest branches are worthy of her.”
“Pfft…”
“You’re laughing!” The short boy pointed at Yu Hualiang.
Yu Hualiang was bewildered and waved his hand. “No, nothing…”
“I saw you laugh!” As soon as he spoke, the other children chimed in, making Yu Hualiang seem like a bully.
The Seventh Prince teased, “So, besides women, children are the only ones who leave you helpless, Ziliang.”
“You’re the one who leaves me most helpless…” Yu Hualiang muttered.
The Seventh Prince was delighted, thinking he misheard, and asked again. Yu Hualiang said nothing more.
He stepped forward. “Alright, children.”
“Who’s your friend?” The short boy hid behind Guichun.
Guichun addressed him politely, “Sir, is there something you need in Li Village?”
“No, no. I heard the apricot blossoms were beautiful, so I came to see them.”
“He must be a bad man!” The short boy pointed at him.
The whole group followed suit, chattering and insisting Yu Hualiang was a villain.
Yu Hualiang felt wronged. He explained, “No, you misunderstood. I’m not a bad person.”
“Let’s throw stones at him! Chase him out of the village!”
Yu Hualiang thought, what did I do to deserve this? He protested, “Hey, hey, gentlemen talk things out—please show mercy!”
“Ziliang, come here,” the Seventh Prince called. Yu Hualiang hurried over.
The children still wanted to chase him, but upon seeing the Seventh Prince’s stern face, they shrank back like frightened kittens.
The Seventh Prince, intimidating even without anger, subdued the children. Yu Hualiang patted his shoulder. “You’re impressive.”
The Seventh Prince sighed. “You indulge them far too much.”
“Guichun! Come here!” A man in yellow called from beneath an apricot tree. Guichun said goodbye to the others and went over.
Yu Hualiang squinted—he recognized the man. He smiled, “Isn’t that Doctor Xiao Wang? Could that be his son?”
The Seventh Prince replied, “I recall he never married.”
Guichun drooped his head, looking guilty as he approached Wang Ruosheng.
“Guichun, how many times have I told you not to run off?”
“Sorry, Doctor Wang…”
“Doctor Wang? It’s really you!” Yu Hualiang approached politely.
Wang Ruosheng noticed Yu Hualiang, and seeing the Seventh Prince behind him, attempted to kneel in greeting. Yu Hualiang quickly stopped him. “Doctor Wang, today I’ve come with Zicheng to enjoy the blossoms.”
Understanding, Wang Ruosheng bowed slightly, raising his hand in salute. “Greetings, sir.”