From midwinter through the New Year and into early spring, everything passed within the closed gates of Prince Zhao’s Mansion; outwardly, life had indeed settled back into its former calm. In the ninth year of Zhenyou, the fire-and-water hostility between the Lu siblings escalated further. Lu Lingzhen arrived right on cue as dinner was being set out in the hall. Lu Lingcong immediately scolded her, “Why is it that you show up at mealtime every single day? Put away that freeloading fox tail of yours!”
Lu Lingzhen also didn’t back down an inch, “Would eating two bites of yours bankrupt you or something? Is it worth all this nagging! Saosao enjoys spending time with me and wants me to come often, that’s the only reason I pestered Mother to let me out of the palace. Do you really think I’m here for you? What a nerve!”
It had been a long time since so many people gathered in the dining hall; even Lu Shuqing was held on Lu Lingcong’s lap and fed a bit of millet soup. The table held three varieties of spring rolls: one filled with red bean paste, another with yellow chives and minced pork, and a third that Lu Lingcong claimed as his own creation, stuffed with a mixture of pagoda tree blossoms, eggs, and flour. To cater to Xie Jing’s palate, he had added a bit of salt, though it was balanced by the faint, clear sweetness of the flowers.
Lu Lingzhen said, “Isn’t this just dough wrapped in dough?”
Lu Lingcong replied, “What do you know?” Lu Lingzhen asked, “Did you plagiarize this from some cookbook just to present it as a gift?”
Xie Jing said, “Both of you, hold on a moment. Can this mix of sweet and savory even be eaten?” Still, unwilling to brush off Lu Lingcong’s good intentions, he opened his mouth and took a bite. To his surprise, it was quite delicious, not cloying in the least.
They had also prepared a fresh bamboo shoot and Yunnan ham porridge, garnished with a few dried shrimps, a sprinkle of minced scallions, and a generous handful of crisp, golden fried dough crumbs. Lu Lingzhen was especially fond of it; after finishing every last drop in her bowl, she had another serving brought over so she could keep piling on the toppings. Lu Lingcong teased her for not knowing how to appreciate the good stuff, noting she hadn’t eaten many slices of the ham because her stomach was entirely filled with fried bits.
After finishing the meal, Lu Lingzhen wiped her mouth and finally stated her purpose, “Since it hasn’t rained these past few days, the sunlight is gentle and the breeze is clear under cloudless skies, let’s go out for a spring excursion.”
Lu Lingcong knew then that she simply couldn’t suppress her urge to play. “Where do you want to go?”
Lu Lingzhen tilted her head in thought, letting out a long “Hmm” as she deliberated. “Anywhere is fine—Bailu Prefecture ah, Niushou Mountain ah, or Xuanwu Lake ah. As long as we can ride horses and fly kites, anywhere will do.”
Lu Lingcong said, “A round trip would take half a day, and Qing’er isn’t suited to stay outside that long yet. What should we do? Either you go with your sister-in-law, and I stay home with him, or vice versa.”
After he spoke, the siblings both looked at Xie Jing, waiting for him to make the decision. Xie Jing knew in his heart that Lu Lingzhen wanted to coax him out to clear his head and get some fresh air, but his body had not yet fully recovered enough to handle strenuous activity; if Lu Lingcong didn’t come along, he feared Lu Lingzhen wouldn’t be able to enjoy herself to the fullest. It so happened that an old acquaintance of Yin Chou’s from the Star-Plucking Tower had arrived in the capital to settle down. Having heard she was now serving at Prince Zhao’s Mansion, the acquaintance sent word to check on her. Xie Jing had granted her leave to go and have a proper reunion, so she wasn’t home today either.
He thought for a moment and said, “How about we send Qing’er back to the Xie’s Mansion? It just so happened that my mother hasn’t visited for a few days. If she helps look after him for half a day, I imagine it won’t be a problem.”
Lu Lingcong was momentarily stunned and somewhat surprised. He asked cautiously, “Is it alright? To be apart from him for a while…”
“It doesn’t matter.” Xie Jing glanced at him, stood up, and pushed Lu Lingzhen by the shoulders toward the backyard. “Come, let’s choose a kite.”
The maidservants of Prince Zhao’s Mansion had made many paper kites painted with various patterns and tied into the shapes of birds. Last spring, Lu Lingcong had wanted to take Xie Jing out to fly them, but soon after, Xie Jing became pregnant, grew increasingly listless, and found it difficult to go out. Although one could fly them in the mansion garden, there was a terrace every five steps and a pavilion every ten; the space was not open enough. One thing led to another, and once the summer heat rolled in like a tide, the idea was dropped.
Lu Lingzhen slipped into the storehouse and picked through carefully before selecting a lifelike swan goose. Xie Jing took a common purple swallow kite from nearby and also grabbed an eagle for Lu Lingcong; its eyes were particularly sharp, though it was unknown whose skillful hands had painted them.
In the outer courtyard, Lu Lingcong summoned the coachman and the wet nurse, instructing them to see Lu Shuqing safely delivered to Wuyi Lane, then had someone bring around his horse.
No one in this family disliked Yi Yun, and Lu Lingzhen was naturally no exception. However, she did not dare mention to the emperor that she wanted it. Lu Lingcong had privately promised her that once she came of age and underwent her hair-pinning ceremony, he would take her to the West Camp to pick out a mount of her own. Lu Lingzhen hooked fingers with him to seal the deal, saying happily, “In any case, I won’t take yours for nothing. When I grow up, I’ll give Qing’er a little horse as beautiful as Yi Yun. Whenever he sees the horse, he’ll think of his aunt, and whenever he sees his aunt, he’ll think of the horse…”
Thus, Lu Lingzhen rode Yi Yun alone, while Lu Lingcong and Xie Jing shared a single mount. Changing into light traveling clothes and carrying the paper kites on their backs, the three headed toward Bailu Isle west of the city.
Lu Lingzhen had long arms and legs, but her height had not yet begun to shoot up. Lu Lingcong could not be entirely at ease with her, so he followed closely behind. This was Xie Jing’s first time leaving the city since the start of spring; he breathed in the warm air almost greedily while narrowing his eyes and leaning his body forward, gently resting his face against Lu Lingcong’s back.
Lu Lingcong sensed Xie Jing wrapping his arms around his waist. He glanced back at him without saying a word, simply freeing one hand to cover Xie Jing’s interlaced fingers.
Xie Jing then pressed his thumb against the other party’s palm as a simple response. The wind was indeed strong; sheltered behind Lu Lingcong’s back, he felt the dark clouds that had loomed over him for months, tangled and oppressive, being blown thinner and gradually dispersing. The invisible shackles on his body seemed to have been discarded along with his heavy winter clothes, allowing him a moment to breathe.
Bailu Isle divided the Yangtze River into two currents. It was a pity it was not autumn, so they could not witness the famed scene of reed catkins like snow and flocks of egrets in flight. They did not take a boat to the isle but instead tied their horses along the riverbank. Seeing that there were no outsiders around, Lu Lingzhen let loose completely. She flew her swan goose as high and far as possible until the kite string was taut and trembling, then she bolted toward the sandbar at full speed.
Xie Jing watched on, clicking his tongue in amazement, and called out to warn her, “Take it easy! Be careful or you’ll fall into the water!”
“I’m not afraid!” Lu Lingzhen’s reply drifted back, rising and falling with the wind. “If I fall in, I’ll just swim while flying it!”
Having been challenged by her to see who could fly their kite better, Lu Lingcong had no choice but to chase after her the whole way, allowing the energetic little princess to run him ragged. Their kite strings nearly tangled together, and the competition only ended when her older brother collapsed on the ground in defeat.
“Terrifying,” Lu Lingcong said while loosening his collar and wiping the sweat from his forehead as he returned to Xie Jing’s side. “I can’t wait on her anymore; she’ll have to find someone more capable!”
Xie Jing had tied his kite to the saddle after launching it while sitting peacefully to enjoy the scenery from the start. He tossed a handkerchief to Lu Lingcong, “You’ve let your training fall behind after staying at home these past few months, taking care of the child and cooking. I see your stamina isn’t what it used to be.”
Lu Lingcong raised an eyebrow and squinted at him. “What stamina? Make yourself clear.”
Xie Jing suppressed a smile and averted his gaze. “You know perfectly well what stamina you have.”
Lu Lingcong would not let him off, whispering unhurriedly, “Don’t you know perfectly well what I’m capable of? Stop pretending. In this whole world, you’re the one who knows me best, better than anyone else. Even if I didn’t understand myself, there’s no way you wouldn’t…”
The warm breath brushed against Xie Jing’s earlobe left half his body feeling weak and tingling. Lu Lingcong made a move as if to tickle him, and Xie Jing could only keep shrinking back to hide. Annoyed by these shameless words, he intentionally refused to give in and soften. After a bout of playful scuffling, the two finally fell back half-embracing, panting for breath.
Lu Lingcong noticed that Xie Jing’s eyes were faintly glistening with laughter-induced tears, his pupil’s bright and his cheeks flushed like evening clouds. It was as though he had shaken off an entire winter’s worth of suppressed gloom, once again regaining the vivid, radiant vitality he had when they first met. At that moment, Xie Jing’s vitality seemed to defy the passage of time, easily freezing the present and making one instinctively want to offer him promises of longevity—towards someone who possessed such brilliance for a lifetime, “forever” did not seem like a fool’s dream.
He watched Xie Jing silently for a moment, then said in a measured tone, “Flying Light… since it was gifted to you, I think it is better that you keep it.”
“Rest easy, I won’t use it to stab you to death.” Xie Jing gave a light huff, saying jokingly, “How could I ever bear to stab you to death?”
Lu Lingcong also smiled, turning his face and raising his hand to block the dazzling sun, gazing at the clear, blue expanse of the sky. “When Qing’er is a bit older and can run and jump, we’ll bring him here too.”
Xie Jing neither agreed nor disagreed, merely following his gaze and saying, “I wonder if those two wild geese we released at Yanzi Ji last year ever made it back to their northern homeland.”
“Whether they returned or not, they flew away in the end, and they are now free,” Lu Lingcong sighed. “Better off than the kite in the Eldest Princess’s hand; no matter how far or high it flies, it is tied to a string until the day it dies.”
Xie Jing couldn’t help but laugh again. “In someone else’s hands, perhaps; but in the Eldest Princess’s hands, it’s hard to say. If she’s pleased, she might simply snap the string for you, and there’d be nothing you could do about it.”
However, just as they say one shouldn’t speak of others behind their backs, Lu Lingcong and Lu Lingzhen, those two with their bold skills, suffered no mishaps. It was Xie Jing’s kite instead; perhaps its plain design already hinted at inferior workmanship. As he was reeling in the line, his fingernail accidentally snagged it, and the string snapped. The swallow-shaped kite, which had been circling no higher than the eaves, was caught by the wind and carried away until it became nothing more than a lonely speck in the distant sky. There was no telling which prefecture or mansion it would land in by the time it finally fell.
Lu Lingcong cut in, saying, “People say a snapped kite string means warding off illness and disasters, and flying high means a limitless future and a rapid rise in status. It’s clear the Princess Consort is destined for great wealth and honor. Quick, let us curry favor with you so that in the future we may ride your coattails to heaven.”
The brother and sister huddled around him with giggles and laughter while walking back in a messy, crowded heap. Xie Jing could not help but look back at the kite that had nearly vanished from sight once more, thinking to himself for no particular reason: But my string wasn’t cut by my own hand.
It was already late by the time they returned, and the three split into two groups. Xie Jing went straight home, while Lu Lingcong escorted Lu Lingzhen back to Mingluan Hall. When Lady Wu asked about their whereabouts, she remarked with surprise, “Zhiwu was actually willing to part from Qing’er for a while?”
Lu Lingcong nodded. “He was in high spirits today and laughed often; one could tell he was truly happy.”
Lady Wu then said, “Then that is a great blessing. Didn’t I tell you long ago, where in this world is there ice that cannot be melted? Besides, he was originally just a handful of water[mfn]Meaning his coldness is just a frozen surface and his true nature is actually soft, fluid, and easily moved by warmth.[/mfn] to begin with. If you couldn’t melt it before, it was only because you weren’t attentive enough. Now that you’ve found the way, you must take the utmost care of him. I have lived through this; I know better than anyone how difficult it is.”
Inside the hall, Lu Lingzhen was washing up while humming a little tune. Hearing this, she chimed in: “The best way! Is to let me go often! Saosao—likes—me—the—most!”
Lady Wu scolded her, “You’d better restrain yourself, or you’ll turn into a wild monkey!”
After a few more words of idle chatter between the mother and son, Lu Lingcong took his leave from the palace and headed home. As he neared the outer wall of Prince Zhao’s Mansion facing the street, he saw a carriage from Xie’s Mansion parked outside. Assuming it was the one that had brought Lu Shuqing back, he did not pay it much attention. However, once he stepped through the main gate, he found a number of unfamiliar servants from Xie’s Mansion waiting in the courtyard. The mansion’s own servants and maids stood in solemn silence, and the atmosphere was strangely heavy. Looking up, he saw Madam Xie and Lady Yao standing in the hall, both with their brows deeply furrowed.
Seeing no sign of Xie Jing anywhere, Lu Lingcong was about to ask when he heard a strained announcement from outside: “His Highness has returned,” followed immediately by a maid’s startled cry: “Princess Consort! Princess Consort, slow down!”
His heart jolted. He bolted out of the hall only to see Xie Jing running toward him with his hair disheveled, wearing nothing but his inner robes and barefoot. While still half a corridor away, Xie Jing cried out “Lu Zifeng” in a wretched voice that was already breaking with a sob.
Lu Lingcong was thrown into immediate disarray, instinctively reaching out to support him, unable to comprehend how Xie Jing had ended up in such a condition, they had only been separated for less than half an hour.
However, Xie Jing’s condition was even worse than he had anticipated; before he could even reach him, his knees buckled as if his legs were shaking too violently to support him, and he lost his balance, pitching forward precariously.
Lu Lingcong caught him immediately, gripping his elbows to give him support. “What happened? I’m here don’t be afraid. Tell me, what on earth happened?”
When Xie Jing spoke, his voice was hoarse from screaming, but it struck Lu Lingcong’s ears like a thunderclap, “Qing’er is gone! He’s missing! He didn’t come back! He didn’t come back!”
He instinctively pulled Xie Jing tighter into his arms, about to press for details, but Xie Jing had clearly collapsed entirely. He babbled incoherently while grasping Lu Lingcong’s arm like a drowning man clutching a straw, “Whether you want me to stay or you want me to give up this position, I’ll do whatever you want. As long as you find Qing’er and bring him back to me safe and sound, I’ll do anything you want!”
Lu Lingcong had no choice but to lift Xie Jing up completely, forcing his eyes to meet his own: “Be good, look at me first. Look at me.”
Unexpectedly, as his vision was drawn back and he finally managed to focus on the man before him, Xie Jing gave a sudden, violent shudder. Like someone waking from a dream, he seemed to only recognize Lu Lingcong’s face while murmuring under his breath, “Zifeng… You are Lu Zifeng?”
Lu Lingcong was already frantic with worry, but he forced himself to remain calm to soothe him, saying firmly, “I am. It’s Lu Zifeng, it’s your Zifeng Gege. Tell me what exactly happened to Qing’er? How was he lost? I swear I will find him and bring him back to you. I swear, alright?”
But Xie Jing seemed to be triggered by his certainty. He suddenly began to struggle desperately against Lu Lingcong’s embrace, trying with all his might to break free from his arms while screaming shrilly, “Don’t touch me! You are Lu Zifeng, Lu Zifeng said with his own mouth that he didn’t want our child! He said with his own mouth he didn’t want Qing’er! Let me go! I’ll find him myself. I’ll find Qing’er and take him far away, and we’ll never cross your eyes again for the rest of our lives!”
Lu Lingcong was instantly stunned by his roar, his arms subconsciously losing their strength. In that moment, Xie Jing broke violently from his hold and stumbled back into the hall, though he was fortunately intercepted by his mother and Lady Yao before he could wander out in his delirious state.
Only then did Uncle Zhou find a gap to step forward and briefly recount the events to Lu Lingcong: After dinner, Yin Chou had returned to the mansion, and hearing that Lu Shuqing was at the Xie’s Mansion, she went to fetch him. Xie Jing arrived home shortly after, and everything seemed normal at first as he changed and freshened up for bed. However, when the curtain of the carriage returning from Wuyi Lane was lifted, it was completely empty—neither Yin Chou nor Lu Shuqing were inside. The accompanying servants were thrown into immediate panic; they had clearly seen the woman and the child get into the carriage with their own eyes. With such a large escort and the short distance between Prince Zhao’s Mansion and Wuyi Lane, passing straight through the most bustling and crowded streets of the city, no one could understand how two living people could have simply vanished without a trace.
Word reached Wuyi Lane quickly. Fearing for Xie Jing’s well-being, Madam Xie and Lady Yao rushed over. Xie Yi separately notified the capital governor, the Four Great Camps, and the Court of Judicial Review. The city gates were locked, and Xie Yan had already taken men to search various locations, though they were currently keeping the matter quiet to avoid alarming the palace.
Lu Lingcong felt like an outsider looking in. Across the lamplight, he gazed from a distance at Xie Jing, who stood nestled between his mother and Lady Yao in a posture that was both guarded and fragile. In his mind, the words “never cross paths again for the rest of our lives” and “he said it himself that he didn’t want Qing’er” kept echoing back and forth.
At that moment, he was speechless and helpless. A sense of dejection even overwhelmed the massive panic brought by Lu Shuqing’s disappearance. Lu Lingcong realized, with a desperate and self-abandoning clarity, that in such a crisis, Xie Jing had unhesitatingly chosen to seek help from his own maternal family rather than ultimately trusting his husband’s promise. Was it the lingering attachment of a fledgling to its nest that made Xie Jing follow his instincts? Or had he truly lost Xie Jing’s trust, no longer able to provide the sense of security he required?
Was everything he had done these past few days in vain? Were his comforts and reassurances merely treating the symptoms rather than the root cause, unable to shake the deep-seated, constant dread in Xie Jing’s heart? If care and love akin to that for one’s own flesh and blood were still not enough, then what exactly would suffice? What could he possibly give Xie Jing? What did Xie Jing actually need from him?
The timing was not right to linger any further. Lu Lingcong cast one last glance at Xie Jing’s back, then turned to leave the main hall, and in a low voice ordered Uncle Zhou, who had followed behind him, “Detain every coachman, wet nurse, servant, and maid who went to Wuyi Lane today. Question them one by one. Then inspect all carriages and horses thoroughly; any unusual stains, marks, or damage must be checked against the mansion’s repair records. Report any discrepancies to Lord Xie immediately. Also, strictly order everyone in the mansion to keep their mouths shut. We are usually a harmonious household, but if word of today’s matter leaks out, there will be no end of trouble for anyone involved!”
Uncle Zhou acknowledged each order, “And what does Your Highness plan to do now…?”
“Prepare a horse,” he said as he stroked toward the study to retrieve his sword. “I’m going to find Xiao Yao to borrow the Xuanshi.”
Lu Lingcong walked with the speed of the wind. Just as he passed the corridor where he had encountered Xie Jing earlier, his peripheral vision caught a flash of cold brightness in the dim night. Looking closer, he saw it was the silver filigree scent locket pendant that Xie Jing wore around his neck every day. It must have been torn loose and fallen during the running and struggling; the clasp had snapped open, and it lay quietly on the bluestone slabs, waiting to be found.
Lu Lingcong let out a long, silent breath. He stepped forward and bent down to pick it up but unexpectedly brushed against an unusual texture with his fingertips. He discovered that there seemed to be something else inside: something abrupt, ill-timed, and absolutely out of place within a scented locket.
Lu Lingcong’s pupils contracted sharply, and his entire body went rigid from head to toe, frozen in place and unable to move. Until this very moment, he had not even known that such a thing could exist—
It was a lock of slightly curled black hair, soft and yielding, bound at the middle with a fine scarlet thread, the strands so tightly entwined they could not be separated.
