His plan was still incomplete, and he had no idea whether it would succeed. Naturally, he could not reveal everything, so he merely said, "Just wait and see, Your Highness!"
Li Chengze chuckled at that, gave Fan Xian two measured pats on the shoulder, and stood up.
He and Fan Xian simply had nothing to say to each other. With Zhou Cheng here, threats and inducements were inconvenient, too. He had lost interest in continuing the conversation.
Li Chengze returned barefoot to the pavilion, slipped on his shoes, and picked up the copy of Red Chamber from the low table beside him.
Xie Bi'an followed close behind.
After walking some distance, Li Chengze turned around again.
"Fan Xian, then I'll wait and see how you stir up the Capital!" With that, he left without so much as looking at Zhou Cheng.
Once Li Chengze had gone, Fan Xian turned to Zhou Cheng, his eyes intent.
"It seems His Second Highness doesn't believe in me. I wonder whether Your Third Highness does?"
Zhou Cheng had finished his grapes. He took the silk handkerchief Sang Wen offered and carefully wiped his fingertips. "I believe you have the will, but I doubt you have the ability."
"Why do you say that, Your Highness?"
"Because you know nothing about my father. Breaking off this engagement is by no means a matter between you and Wan'er alone. Its implications reach far beyond anything you imagine. You must understand that to begin a game of chess, arranging the pieces isn't enough. First, you must define the board."
Fan Xian's heart tightened.
He could hear the deeper meaning in those words.
His marriage to Lin Wan'er merely defined the board. Someone intended to use their marriage to play a game.
Looking at the composed Zhou Cheng, Fan Xian felt that the man before him was far more formidable than he had imagined.
At the very least, his perspective on people and affairs was anything but ordinary.
Fan Xian knitted his brows and asked tentatively, "Why are you telling me this, Your Highness?"
Zhou Cheng smiled faintly. "Because I admire you, of course. In you, I see a genuine streak of... rebellion. Or perhaps resistance."
"Huh?" Fan Xian froze, then gave an awkward laugh. "Is that a compliment, Your Highness?"
"Of course!" Zhou Cheng nodded and looked in the direction Li Chengze had left.
"The courage to fight back is something precious indeed. That spirit of yours is precisely what my second brother lacks most.
"He knows perfectly well that he's the whetstone Father uses to hone the Crown Prince. Yet he calmly accepts every arrangement while loudly protesting that he has no choice.
"His greatest acts of 'rebellion' and 'resistance' amount to going barefoot in public. Some express their aspirations through objects, others through poetry. He does it by taking off his shoes-and he doesn't even dare take them off in front of Father."
Zhou Cheng spoke without the slightest restraint. The sheer amount his words revealed made cold sweat begin to bead at Fan Xian's temples.
Seeing Fan Xian's expression, Sang Wen wanted to laugh. This was simply how her prince spoke.
She, too, had initially been terrified. It had taken her quite some time to grow accustomed to it.
Fan Xian wiped his face, trying to make his expression look natural.
Of course, he would not believe everything Zhou Cheng said.
Everyone knew it was a grave mistake to speak too deeply with a shallow acquaintance. This was only their second meeting; Zhou Cheng had no reason to tell him secrets like these.
The Second Prince was merely the Crown Prince's whetstone... That was terrifying!
Now Fan Xian truly felt a little afraid. He feared what other shocking revelation might emerge from Zhou Cheng's mouth.
Talking with Zhou Cheng now felt far more dangerous than having the Second Prince hold a sword to his throat.
At that thought, he abruptly stood. "Your Highness, I've suffered from an ear ailment since childhood. Sometimes I can hear, and sometimes I can't. I sense an attack coming on, so please allow me to take my leave!"
"It's only an ear ailment. I can summon an imperial physician to examine you. Why leave in such a hurry, Young Master Fan? I feel we get along splendidly. Why not talk a little longer?"
"What was that, Your Highness? I can't hear you! Forgive me, Your Highness. Guo Baokun still owes me a few resounding kowtows over at the poetry gathering. I'd better get back and keep an eye on him, or he might slip away!"
Zhou Cheng smiled without stopping him.
Fan Xian secretly sighed in relief. He had just turned and taken two steps when Zhou Cheng's voice sounded behind him again.
"What a pity your ear ailment has returned, Young Master Fan. I was going to tell you who Drumstick Girl is."
At the words "Drumstick Girl," Fan Xian's raised foot froze in midair. He spun around, a smile instantly spreading across his face.
"Your Highness, you know who Drumstick Girl is? Why didn't you say so sooner?"
Zhou Cheng chuckled. "Your ear ailment cleared up that quickly, Young Master Fan?"
Fan Xian shamelessly drew closer. "Thanks to Your Highness's blessings, it's cured! Completely cured, just like that! Your Highness, you said you knew who that young lady was. May I ask who she is? What distinguishing features does she have? We mustn't mistake her for someone else!"
Zhou Cheng ignored him and merely said, "These grapes are too sweet. My mouth feels a little dry. Would someone pour me a cup of tea?"
Before Sang Wen could move, Fan Xian dashed into the pavilion, picked up the teapot from the tea table, and deftly filled a cup. Then he returned and respectfully presented it with both hands.
Zhou Cheng accepted the cup and took a sip. "It's cold."
Just as Fan Xian's face fell, thinking he wanted hot tea, Zhou Cheng drained the cup and handed it to Sang Wen.
"When you said earlier that you met her at the Temple of Qing, I already had a fairly good idea who she was."
Zhou Cheng briefly described Lin Wan'er's appearance. Fan Xian nodded repeatedly, delight lighting up his face. Still unsatisfied, he pressed further. "Your Highness, do you know any other distinguishing features?"
When recounting his encounter with Drumstick Girl earlier, Fan Xian had deliberately left out several details.
Zhou Cheng knew exactly what he was doing and said plainly, "She has consumption. Exposure to wind makes her cough, and she often coughs up blood. Am I right?"
Fan Xian was so excited he nearly jumped. He seized Zhou Cheng's arm. "Yes! Your Highness, you're right! It's her! That's her!"
He gripped Zhou Cheng's hand tightly. "Your Highness, who exactly is she? Tell me! I want to see her!"
"Calm down first." Zhou Cheng pried his hand loose. Only once Fan Xian had settled a little did he say leisurely, "Now you understand that I wasn't lying about knowing Drumstick Girl.
"But I can tell you this much: right now, you're determined to break off your engagement to Wan'er. Once you actually find that young lady, however, you may well change your mind!"
Unless Drumstick Girl is Lin Wan'er, that's absolutely impossible! Fan Xian thought.
And could Drumstick Girl be Lin Wan'er? Of course not!
Zhou Cheng probably said he would change his mind because the young lady was of very low birth.
But why would he look down on her over something like that?
Fan Xian drew a deep breath and forced himself to calm down. His expression grew solemn as he addressed Zhou Cheng. "Whatever her status, whether she's a maid or a slave, my heart belongs to her alone. I beg Your Highness to tell me and help fulfill my wish!"
Zhou Cheng chuckled again. "I've always put little faith in words. I look at actions."
Fan Xian immediately understood and asked, "Then what would Your Highness have me do?"
Zhou Cheng said, "Actually, Wan'er is equally unwilling to enter this marriage. Like you, she already has someone in her heart. But Father arranged the engagement, and she doesn't dare refuse.
"Since your heart is devoted to Drumstick Girl alone, write an Engagement Cancellation Letter. That will resolve Wan'er's dilemma. I'll pass it on to her and fulfill my duty as her elder brother."
"All right! I'll write it!"
Fan Xian agreed decisively, without the slightest hesitation.
"Splendid!" Zhou Cheng laughed in approval.
Then he signaled Sang Wen to summon an attendant and have writing materials prepared.
Before long, brush, ink, paper, and inkstone were ready.
Fan Xian spread a sheet of rice paper across the pavilion's tea table and began writing.
Soon, he was finished.
He read over the Engagement Cancellation Letter, felt that its wording was sincere and appealed to both reason and sentiment, and even nodded in satisfaction.
"Your Highness, should I add my handprint?"
Zhou Cheng waved a hand. "No need. Your handwriting is more distinctive than any handprint or signature, Young Master Fan."
Fan Xian chuckled, not embarrassed in the slightest.
"Here's the Engagement Cancellation Letter. Can Your Highness tell me who she is now?"
"No hurry, no hurry."
Fan Xian frowned, his fists tightening beneath his sleeves. "How could I not be in a hurry?"
Zhou Cheng glanced at him. "You didn't even exchange names when you fell in love at first sight. Why the rush now? Surely I should go back and ask the young lady herself what she thinks? Only if she agrees can I tell you! Three days. Whether it works out or not, I'll give you an answer!"
Three days?
That sounded far too long to Fan Xian.
A single day without seeing her already felt like three years. Now that he finally had a lead, waiting another three days would be torture!
Besides, who knew what might happen in three days?
Zhou Cheng saw his concerns. Before he could speak, Zhou Cheng said to Sang Wen, "Sang Wen, tell Young Master Fan about my principles."
Sang Wen dipped in a bow and smiled faintly, her voice clear. "My prince never lies. Once he agrees to something, he will do it. If a matter is inconvenient to answer, he either gives no promise or remains silent. You may rest assured, Young Master Fan."
While Fan Xian was still wavering between belief and doubt, Zhou Cheng gave Sang Wen a mock scolding. "Just the first sentence would have done. You could have left out the rest."
Smiling, Sang Wen obediently answered, "Yes."
Watching their teasing exchange and the affection in their eyes, Fan Xian suddenly realized that although he had fallen for Drumstick Girl at first sight, she might not feel as strongly about him.
If the young lady shyly declined, wouldn't all his joy have been for nothing?
No! I have to find out who Drumstick Girl is. Even if she isn't interested, I'll go to her and court her.
With that thought, Fan Xian tried a roundabout question.
"Your Highness, may I ask... what is your relationship with that young lady?"
Zhou Cheng considered briefly. "Actually, I don't know Drumstick Girl very well. Her mother and I, however, know each other inside and out. With me handling this, you can simply wait for news with an easy mind!"
Inside and out?
Fan Xian felt there might be a deeper meaning to that phrase, but he had no time to investigate it now.
He bowed deeply. "Then I shall await your good news, Your Highness!"
Fan Xian straightened, feeling that he finally had something to look forward to. He glanced at the nearly dry Engagement Cancellation Letter and took his leave.
He did not particularly care about the letter, nor did he worry that someone might use it against him.
After learning that Lin Wan'er also had someone she loved, he put himself in her position and preferred to be the one to break off the engagement.
Even if Emperor Qing punished him for taking the initiative, he believed he could bear it.
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