Chapter 76

Chapter 75

There's no denying that Zhao Hongrun's bodyguards were indeed experienced with hangovers. When Princess Yulong, who had fallen into a drunken slumber, woke up again, she indeed felt the throbbing pain in her head.

It felt as if needles were deeply piercing her skull, accompanied by dizziness, nausea, and other discomforts, causing Princess Yulong to involuntarily pound her head with her small hands.

"I want to drink water... Cuier? Oh, Cuier isn't here... Hongrun? Hongrun? ...Where are you?"

Enduring the stabbing pain in her head, Princess Yulong looked around and found herself alone in the carriage.

So she got out of the carriage.

Upon getting out, she realized the carriage was still parked at the Ten Mile Pavilion.

She saw that Zhao Hongrun and his bodyguards were eating in the nearby pavilion.

How hateful...

Seeing Zhao Hongrun and his bodyguards laughing and drinking, Princess Yulong clenched her fists in anger.

She walked over sullenly.

"Big Sister is awake?"

Zhao Hongrun immediately noticed Princess Yulong, who was covering her forehead and slowly walking towards the pavilion.

At that moment, Shen Yu, who was sitting on a stone bench next to Zhao Hongrun, stood up and offered his seat to Princess Yulong.

Princess Yulong wanted to bow in gratitude, but the moment she lowered her head, the pain in her head intensified. So she managed to give Shen Yu a weak smile as a sign of thanks.

Seeing her state, the experienced bodyguards exchanged knowing glances and found it somewhat amusing.

"Hongrun, where did you get all this food? Oh? Even a stove..."

Princess Yulong looked at the dishes on the stone table and the stove filled with charcoal.

"They brought it back from the nearby post station last night..."

As he said this, Zhao Hongrun couldn't help but feel a bit moved.

There's no denying that the bodyguards were indeed the trusted confidants of the princes, always thinking of their masters. Even though he hadn't asked for anything, the bodyguards had considered the cold night and had carried the stove from a post station several miles away.

"Carried? Why not use the carriage..." she asked out of habit, but immediately realized it was because she had been sleeping in the carriage last night.

"It's really great to have such loyal guards..." Princess Yulong said enviously.

The bodyguards blushed and smiled modestly.

"Big Sister is mistaken, they are not just guards," Zhao Hongrun corrected her, putting his arm around the neck of his bodyguard, Mu Qing.

Princess Yulong was puzzled.

Since she was a princess, not a prince, she didn't know that the bodyguards of the princes were far more than just guards.

Just guards could walk around the palace?

Just guards could mobilize the imperial guards in emergencies?

Just guards would follow Zhao Hongrun so loyally, even if he decided to secretly take a princess out of the palace?

The bodyguards were confidants, trusted aides, and the princes' most loyal core.

However, seeing Princess Yulong's puzzled expression, Zhao Hongrun didn't explain further. He smiled and said, "Drink some water first. Shen Yu and the others have prepared some tea to help with the hangover. It will make you feel better."

Since she had just woken up from a hangover, Princess Yulong had no appetite. She took the teacup Shen Yu handed her and sipped it slowly. "You even brought the teapot and teacup. Did you move everything from the post station?"

While drinking, she noticed that three sides of the pavilion were surrounded by thick cloth, clearly to block the wind.

Block the wind?

Thinking about this, Princess Yulong was surprised and asked, "Hongrun, did you stay here all night?"

Zhao Hongrun smiled. In fact, the bodyguards had repeatedly asked him to rest in the carriage last night, but he had refused, thinking it was inappropriate.

Seeing this, Princess Yulong felt a warm feeling in her heart. She understood why Zhao Hongrun and his bodyguards were here rather than in the carriage—it was to avoid disturbing her rest.

But just as she was about to speak, she suddenly thought of something and asked, "He... hasn't come yet?"

The bodyguards exchanged glances but said nothing.

After a moment's hesitation, Zhao Hongrun nodded slightly.

"Is that so..." Princess Yulong sighed, unsure if she was disappointed.

Seeing this, Zhao Hongrun couldn't help but ask, "Are you okay, Big Sister?"

To his surprise, Princess Yulong smiled sweetly but with a hint of melancholy, "Not really, my head hurts a lot..."

Hmm?

Seeing her so composed, Zhao Hongrun was taken aback.

"Hongrun, your expression is strange."

"Oh, I thought... I thought Big Sister would be more disappointed," Zhao Hongrun probed.

"Is that so?" Princess Yulong tilted her head, then tapped her forehead and said with a bitter smile, "Maybe it's because my head hurts so much. I can't think about anything now, because thinking makes it hurt even more... It really hurts a lot..."

Hangovers can have this effect?

Zhao Hongrun was speechless.

After a while, as the bodyguards finished eating and started to pack up, Zhao Hongrun called Princess Yulong aside, "Big Sister, this is my plan. I'll temporarily arrange for you to stay in Daliang City..."

However, before he could finish, Princess Yulong interrupted him.

"Forget it, Hongrun. After last night, I've thought it through. As a princess born in the palace, I shouldn't have any more unrealistic expectations... If Father really wants to marry me to Chu, then I'll go to Chu. ...Maybe it will be better for me there?" She said calmly, hiding her disappointment.

"Big Sister..."

"Hongrun, don't say anything more. I've made up my mind. ...Even if you arrange for me to stay outside the palace, I'll return to the palace on my own," Princess Yulong said calmly.

Zhao Hongrun frowned, "Why?"

Because at this point, the only thing I can do is to prevent you from being punished by Father...

"Let's go back to the palace. We've been out for too long."

Looking at Zhao Hongrun, Princess Yulong got into the carriage first.

The bodyguards exchanged glances, as Princess Yulong's insistence on returning to the palace had completely ruined Zhao Hongrun's plans from last night.

"Your Highness, what should we do?" Shen Yu asked in surprise.

Zhao Hongrun thought for a moment, then said, "Let's go back to the palace first. ...Given Big Sister's personality, if we leave her outside the city, she might sneak back to the palace on her own... If Father catches her first, we'll be in a difficult position."

"But... where will we place Princess Yulong in the palace?" Gao Kuo, one of the bodyguards, asked in surprise.

"Let's go back to Wenzhao Pavilion first."

Isn't it risky to hide her in Wenzhao Pavilion? That's not a good idea.

The bodyguards exchanged glances, all thinking it wasn't a good idea.

But for now, they had no choice unless they could persuade Princess Yulong to change her mind.

Zhao Hongrun and a few bodyguards got into the carriage, which was driven by Shen Yu and Mu Qing, and they returned along the same route they had taken the previous day.

Upon returning to Daliang and getting off the carriage near the palace gate, Zhao Hongrun and his group re-entered the palace through the gate.

It was clear that the palace guard commander, Jin Ju, was unaware that Princess Yulong had been taken out of the palace by Zhao Hongrun the previous evening. He just curiously asked why Zhao Hongrun had left the palace at dusk and returned only now.

However, from Jin Ju's eyes, it was evident that he was more curious about why Zhao Hongrun was wearing dirty, smelly clothes.

In response to the commander's routine inquiry, Zhao Hongrun casually brushed it off, given their past relationship. As a prince, even if he had violated his agreement with Emperor Wei by staying out all night, it wasn't something Jin Ju could handle. The emperor or the imperial household would deal with it.

It seems the imperial guards haven't received news of Big Sister Yulong leaving the palace yesterday... Has Father suppressed the news?

Zhao Hongrun speculated.

In his view, when Princess Yulong "disappeared" yesterday, Emperor Wei must have known about it. But since the imperial guards were still unaware, it meant that his father had ordered the eunuch supervisor to suppress this "palace scandal."

This was good for Zhao Hongrun, as if the imperial guards had known, he would have been arrested when he entered the palace.

Clearly, Emperor Wei hadn't expected Zhao Hongrun to bring Princess Yulong back to the palace.

"Go to Wenzhao Pavilion."

Zhao Hongrun instructed the bodyguards.

Princess Yulong was surprised, "Why go to Wenzhao Pavilion? I've already made up my mind."

"Then think again."

Pulling Princess Yulong's arm, Zhao Hongrun dragged her to Wenzhao Pavilion.

On the way to Wenzhao Pavilion, Zhao Hongrun had the impression that there were more eunuchs in the palace today than usual.

Was it just an illusion?

Of course not.

Clearly, these were eunuchs from the eunuch supervisor, sent to monitor when Zhao Hongrun returned to the palace.

Seeing a few eunuchs turn and leave upon spotting him, Zhao Hongrun guessed they were reporting to the emperor.

They hurriedly returned to Wenzhao Pavilion.

To prevent the eunuchs in Wenzhao Pavilion from noticing and reporting to the emperor, Zhao Hongrun ordered the bodyguards to drive them away.

However, this "three hundred taels of silver" approach would likely raise more suspicion from the emperor.

As Zhao Hongrun had expected, the moment he returned to Wenzhao Pavilion, Emperor Wei received the news.

"Your Majesty, just now, the Eighth Prince returned from outside the palace, and it seems Princess Yulong was with him..."

The chief eunuch, Tong Xian, whispered in the emperor's ear.

Upon hearing this, Emperor Wei, who had been resting with his eyes closed on the dragon throne, suddenly opened his eyes and stood up, heading towards the hall.

Tong Xian followed closely behind.

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I just got back, sorry for the wait.

Also, to those readers who threaten to stop reading if Princess Yulong isn't paired with Zhao Hongrun, please don't leave your comments. I delete them anyway.

Note: Princess Yulong is an important supporting character, involved in two major events. Therefore, she must remain single, have enough freedom, and maintain a close relationship with Zhao Hongrun for a long time. Additionally, her freedom will be used to make Zhao Hongrun compromise with the emperor, forcing him to take over a government office and stop idling around. In short, the plot requires it.

As for her final setting, she won't marry anyone, and certainly not Zhao Hongrun. So if you want to see a romantic relationship between them, you'll have to imagine it. If you can't accept this, I can't do anything about it. I don't want the book to be banned by Qidian.

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