Chapter 59: Gifts of Gratitude

Chapter 59: Gifts of Gratitude

After his victory over the Crown Prince in the court debate, all of Prince Yus worries over Consort Yues restored position vanished. In his excitement, this prince who was known for his great generosity naturally had to hand out gifts and rewards to his hardworking subordinates, especially Mei Changsu, who had worked quietly in the background without any recognition, and who had generated all of this success with only a single letter to the imperial Yu residence.

At first, Prince Yu sent some of his men over with boxes of gold and silver and bolts of silk and brocade, but these gifts did not even make it past the door of the Su residence before they were politely refused, the given expanation stating that there was no place to put them.

Prince Yu knew he had been foolish, this was a noble and virtuous scholar, so of course he would not accept such gaudy, tasteless gifts, so the next day, he personally selected a variety of pearls and treasures made by famous jewelers, each piece a unique and priceless work of art. But not long after he sent them over, these too were returned, the Su servants claiming once again that there was no place to put them.

Seeing that jewelry was not this mans cup of tea, he decided that scholars must favour the elegant, and immediately chose several of his most treasured ancient scrolls of painting from his extensive collection, and though he felt a pang of regret in parting with them, he ordered his men to deliver them over for a third time. To his dismay, the speed with which these were returned was no less than that of the two previous rounds of gifts, and he was told that, this time, the polite decline had claimed that there was no place to hang them.

When Prince Yu was told about the refusal of the third set of gifts, Qin Banruo happened to be by his side, and she covered her face with her sleeve and laughed quietly. Prince Yu glanced at her out of the corner of his eye and immediately asked, Why are you laughing?

Qin Banruos eyes were shining as she sighed, Your Highness is truly not as talented as the Princess Consort when it comes to choosing gifts. You have tried so many times, but the gifts have still not gotten past the front doors. Does Your Highness not know that gifts must be adapted to their recipients?

But this person is unfathomably deep, how am I suppose to know what he likes? Its not as if I have boxes and boxes of Li Chongs manuscripts lying around my manorwhat, by your expression, do you know what he likes?

Qin Banruo smiled sweetly and said, Even for the most unfathomable of persons, one only has to analyze carefully their speech and manner in order to find some things they will like. Let me prepare the gifts, and I guarantee that they will get past the door this time.

Prince Yu knew that Qin Banruo was perceptive and wise, and so gave the matter over to her. The next day, Qin Banruo prepared a box of new and curious toys, including a duck that could walk, a cat that could spin and other such novelties, all interesting in design and well-crafted, as well as impossible to find in the public markets, and had it sent over.

Sure enough, this time, the gifts passed through the front doors, the box was opened, and the toys were given to Fei Liu. The youth began playing with them delightedly in the back courtyard while Mei Changsu personally wrote a reply, and though it was not long, it was still a formal letter of thanks.

After Prince Yu received it, he was amazed, and couldnt help heaping words of praise onto Banruo.

Qin Banruo only smiled modestly and said, This is only another way to please a person. If you truly do not know what he likes, then you only have to pay attention to the person most important to him. This youth by Su Zhes side may be a bodyguard in name, but is in reality treated more like a beloved younger brother, and pleasing this child is naturally much simpler than trying to discern the thoughts of Su Zhes heart.

Prince Yu smiled. Leave it to women to handle matters of the heart. No one else in this manor would have been able to come up with an idea like yours.

Qin Banruo sighed, But about Su Zhe himself, we truly know too little. If we cannot understand what he is really trying to do, how can Your Highness harness him in the future?

That is precisely what I am worried about. This Su Zhe is such a talent, I am finding him more and more valuable every day, but his thoughts are truly too deep to discern, and gives me a feeling thatalthough he is aiding me with his strategies at the moment, I do not think he is truly loyal to me.

But if he was the type of person to come as soon as he is called, and strive for glory and riches under Your Highness favour, then he would not be the qilin prodigy. Qin Banruo smiled sweetly. Acquiring and using people is Your Highness specialty, Banruo will not comment further.

But obtaining intelligence and information for my reference is your specialty. Prince Yu leaned slightly into the fragrance, and said lowly into her ear, Pay close attention to everything about Mei Changsu, no matter how distant or insignificant, I want to know about it.

Yes, Your Highness. Qin Banruo bowed, and seeing Prince Yu rise and put on his cloak, asked hurriedly, Is His Highness going out?

I am going to the Su residence.

Qin Banruo was taken aback, and sat in silence for a moment.

Although your gift was very good, Prince Yu looked closely at this talented lady and smiled, it is still not enough. It may bring a smile to his face, but it will not be remembered in his heart.

Understanding dawned in Qin Banruos gaze, and she bowed, saying, Your Highness is indeed thoughtful, Banruo is ashamed of her unworthiness.

Mei Changsu smiled and did not reply, his gaze drifting over to the window. Prince Yu followed his gaze to where Fei Liu was leaping about in the snow of the empty courtyard, once in a while extending a foot to nudge a wooden toy duck, which was waddling around aimlessly. In the corridor behind him, the other servants of the manor were bustling about busily. Prince Yu thought back to the renovated courtyard he had seen when he entered. People had been walking around hanging up lanterns and decorations, and in one corner, a cart was delivering vegetables and fish and other products to the manor, and he felt a slight sense of bafflement arising in his heart.

Was this Su residence really looking as if it meant to stay in the capital for some time?

He was just about to speak when Fei Lius figure suddenly flashed by, and in the next moment, he was pinning a manservant, who looked to be about twenty years old, down onto the ground in the snow.

Fei Liu, let him go, that person has come looking for His Highness Prince Yu. A middle-aged man shouted, hurrying over from one side.

It was then that Prince Yu recognized the servant from his own manor, and he raised an eyebrow, a sense of foreboding welling up in his heart.

What urgent matter had arisen that he had come to this place looking for him?

In the next instant, the person was scrambling up from the snow and running towards him, plunging to the floor in a bow as he tried to catch his breath.

Steady yourself, why are you in such a panic? Prince Yu eyed Mei Changsu, feeling as if he had lost some face before him, and said, Who sent you here?

The PrincessPrincess Consort.

The Princess Consort? Prince Yu knew very well that his wife had always paid much attention to propriety and etiquette, and did not easily overreact, and so immediately stood up and asked, What has happened in the palace?

The Princess Consort sent this one to find my lord, the servant swallowed hard. She begs my lord to enter the palace immediately, the lady Empressthe lady Empress has fallen ill!

Prince Yu shuddered, terror rising up within him, and he swayed for a moment before grabbing the servant, meaning to ask him more questions, but realized that he would not get much information out of him and so threw him aside before hurriedly turning to Mei Changsu to say quickly, Please take care, I must first take my leave! He did not even wait for a reply before rushing out into the courtyard, his servant following behind him, hastily settling his heavy cloak around his shoulders as they walked.

The Empress is ill? At a time like this. Mei Changsus brows furrowed gently, looking a bit surprised, and he sank into deep thought for a long while before calling out loudly, Is Li dage outside?

Chief, the middle-aged guard appeared at the door. Do you have orders for me?

Has that Tong Lu from Mister Shisans place arrived?

He arrived with the vegetable cart and has been here awhile, but because Prince Yu came, he has been waiting in the outer courtyard.

Please bring him in.

Yes, sir.

Mei Changsu leaned back against the soft pillows and closed his eyes, his thoughts troubled.

The news Tong Lu was bringing should not be anything unexpected, but as for the palacehe had not expected more trouble to arise. He wondered whether the Empress was truly ill, or whether she had some hidden plans in mind. If she was truly sick, could she recover within five days? And if the Empress could not recover in time, then who would replace her in the sacrificial rites?

He did not have enough information, and Mei Changsu only felt his head ache and his cheeks burn, and he raised a hand to feel his forehead, but found that it was not very hot. He was only a little dizzy, and his thoughts a little blurry.

His own bout of illness had arrived at an inconvenient time as well.