4 Elegant Young Men

The changes in Princess Shanyin was so distinctive that it almost felt like she had changed into a different person entirely.

In a matter of days, all the servants and occupants in the Princess's Imperial Residence shared a similar perception.

Ever since that fateful morning she drove out the five male companions that served in her bedchamber, Princess Shanyin took on a sudden change. Even Rong Zhi, the one that she usually doted on and pampered the most, was not spared or allowed to stay.

She no longer spent her days indulging in pleasures and enjoying to her heart's content but would rather shut herself in her room. She had even gone so far as to pass her days without calling anyone to attend to her apart from letting You Lan, the maidservant, deliver her three daily meals and take care of her everyday life, yet she never agreed to meet or see any of the male companions that she used to be inseparable from. Nevertheless, a few male companions did step forth and requested for an audience with her, but they were all declined and warded off.

It has been that way for five days in a row.

Upon the sixth day, one of the male companions was unable to hold back any longer.

Liu Se was one of the male companions in Princess Shanyin's harem. He was only 17 this year, blessed with a smooth and delicate complexion and was fond of wearing clothes that were green. His features gleamed with a hint of unparalleled coquettishness. On the day that the change transpired in Chu Yu, it was not his turn to serve in the bedchamber, but he had been repeatedly requesting for an audience with her only to be denied. It was inevitable that his mind was filled with bewilderment and wild conjectures. He could no longer bear his emotions and went to seek out Rong Zhi's aid.

Within the Princess's Imperial Residence, there was the East Court and the West Court. Being a noble Princess, Chu Yu resided in the East Court which was opposite the West Court which was occupied by her Prince Consort and her male companions.

When Liu Se located Rong Zhi, he was sitting underneath a parasol tree 1in the middle of the courtyard while leaning against it. He was holding a roll of bamboo strips2 and was fully concentrated on his reading.

When Liu Se first came to the Princess's Imperial Residence, Rong Zhi was already there with Princess Shanyin. The extent of Princess Shanyin's affection and fondness towards Rong Zhi was beyond one's imagination. She did not only bestow upon him the best courtyard in the West Court but also catered to Rong Zhi's interest in reading. Solely for him, she had searched far and wide to collect rare and scarce books and literature that had been passed down throughout the centuries.

She had even granted Rong Zhi to be exempted from all etiquette and customary protocol which allowed him the liberty to need not salute to her.

Compared to other male companions, Rong Zhi was not the most charming or beautiful one. Moreover, his manner toward Princess Shanyin was not as respectful or careful enough either. Sadly, no matter how beautiful the male companions that came after him were, they could never change or diminish Princess Shanyin's favoritism towards Rong Zhi.

Among the crowd of male companions, Rong Zhi's origins and identity were regarded as somewhat of a mystery. They had no exact details about this young man and were merely aware that he held a very crucial and influential position in Princess Shanyin's heart. His words carried a lot of weight with her. One word from him could make up for hundreds that the other male companions said. On top of that, Rong Zhi could easily see through Princess Shanyin's feelings and intentions with one glance which made him understand her better than anyone else.

Following the recent massive changes to Princess Shanyin's temperament, the male companions in the Princess's Imperial Residence were filled with ceaseless speculations and guesses as they were clueless about what she was up to or what move she would make next. Liu Se came from a humble family but had relied on his sex appeal to become one of Princess Shanyin's male companions. Although this position aroused contempt, it also brought him hefty material benefits. Owing to his position, Liu Se's elder brother became a minor official and was living rather comfortably. Therefore, when Princess Shanyin no longer summoned them for enjoyment, it gave rise to Liu Se's concerns and worries about himself. He wondered whether he would thus fall into disfavor.

Chu Yu had arranged for servants to stand at the door to decline to receive any guest. They often turned them away with some excuse. He did not dare to rely on the little fondness that the Princess usually showered him with and insistently charged into her chambers. 

Upon arriving at the entrance of the Snow Garden, his senses were struck by the air of tranquility and serenity. Following the complicated path winding around the pavilions, Liu Se found Rong Zhi seated beneath the parasol tree.

Rong Zhi's head was lowered as he was absorbed in reading the bamboo scrolls. The contours and outline of his graceful profile glowed like the luster of fine jade. In the gaps amidst the luxuriant and well-spaced branches and leaves, he appeared to be very much carefree and leisurely. Apparently, Princess Shanyin's refusal to meet any male companions did not have the slightest degree of influence or effect on him.

Liu Se stepped on the small stones and pebbles of the patterned footpath which made a slight crunch that broke the tranquility of the garden. Rong Zhi lifted his head as his hand that was grasping the bamboo scrolls faintly paused before moving to deflect the sunlight above his head. He looked at Liu Se and smiled subtly. "Is something wrong?"

Seeking help from someone that he could not put up with since the first day he became one of Princess Shanyin's male companions, Liu Se's heart felt somewhat difficult and awkward. Nevertheless, he already felt comfortable being a male companion, so why should he mind this awkwardness? He hesitated a moment before letting go of his misgivings. "I wish to request you to have a look at the Princess. These few days, she never leaves the room and no longer summons us. Don't you find it strange?"

Rong Zhi slowly rose to his feet with one hand holding the bamboo scrolls. The wide sleeve of his snow-white garment gently dangled and lightly swayed along with the breeze. The garment was akin to being as light as the clouds and as gentle as the moon, and Liu Se looked upon it covetously. The fabric woven from this natural snow silk was extremely rare. There were only two bolts of the fabric in the entire residence, yet because the name of the garden where Rong Zhi resided in had a 'snow' character in it, thereby Princess Shanyin had given Rong Zhi all the fabric to tailor them into clothes.

This was not at all mere reason behind the name. Liu Se believed even if all of their names had the character 'Xue3' in it, Princess Shanyin would never have granted them even a single thread of the natural snow silk. 

For instance, if the West Court of the Princess's Imperial Residence was considered an Imperial harem, then the Princess's Prince Consort was akin to an Empress, but in reality, the one who held the rights and was the most favored concubine was actually Rong Zhi. No matter how countless the numbers of consorts could be, they were merely decorations to compliment the radiance that Rong Zhi exuded.

Rong Zhi set aside the bamboo scrolls and placed it within his wide sleeves as he smiled faintly. "Since the Princess has her own ideas, then why should we disturb her and add on to her troubles?"

Liu Se could no longer hold himself back and blurted out indignantly, "Of course, you have no cause for worry, but we..." His words suddenly trailed off.

Upon realizing he had unintentionally burst out his inner thoughts that contained the unfairness, discontent, and resentment he harbored deep in his heart, Liu Se immediately regretted his actions and words. Although he never liked Rong Zhi, he was aware of Rong Zhi's position in the Princess's Imperial Residence. One word from him could determine his fate. He should have never flared up and made such an outburst at this moment.

However, he could not suppress it any longer.

He hated Rong Zhi. His expression was always refined and elegant like the unscalable snowy ice atop a cold mountain, often making Liu Se involuntarily feel inferior.

They were all supposedly male companions, but why was he the only one who appeared so spotlessly white and pure?

Rong Zhi let out a light chuckle. It almost seemed like he totally did not take Liu Se's indignation to heart. At a moderate pace, he walked towards the entrance. "Alright, then in the light of your words, I shall go and have a look at the Princess."

Leaving the West Court and crossing through the center courtyard, the silhouette of Rong Zhi's strikingly elegant and graceful bearing appeared at the East Court where thereupon, he located Princess Shanyin's bedchamber. Since Rong Zhi possessed the privilege to roam around freely within the Princess's Imperial Residence, the guards in the courtyard did not stop him and he reflexively felt relieved.

Standing before the closed doors of the bedchamber, Rong Zhi slightly raised his clean and handsome jaw, yet his eyebrows knitted in contemplation. He was somewhat hesitating.

Without a doubt, he was indeed the one who understood the Princess best and was favored the most. However, after he heard the Princess's fearful scream, it appeared that something was terribly out of the ordinary for him to look past. He realized that ever since that fateful day, he could no longer read that beautiful lady's mind or even see through her feelings.

Rong Zhi frowned slightly as he desperately tried to recall back the circumstances of that day. The moment he was awoken by a scream, the first sight that greeted his eyes was a beautiful lady's panic-stricken, bewildered and even stunned expression.

Rong Zhi raised his face and took a very deep breath. The corners of his mouth turned up slightly into a wry smile.

He was not really willing to dwell on such recollections.