Chapter 77

"Hongrun, what are you planning to do?"

In the back hall of Wenzhao Pavilion, Princess Yulong, who had been forcibly dragged here by Zhao Hongrun, asked somewhat angrily.

Clearly, she had good intentions, hoping to mitigate the impact of the "princess's disappearance" on this royal brother, so that he would not be punished by their father, the emperor. However, she never expected Zhao Hongrun to be so ungrateful, pulling her to Wenzhao Pavilion and hurting her hand in the process.

"This question should be asked by me, Your Highness," Zhao Hongrun said calmly after instructing the guards to keep watch inside and outside the hall. "Just now, when Shen Yu and the others were here, I couldn't say it... Your Highness, don't you think you're being too impulsive?"

"I..." Princess Yulong, under Zhao Hongrun's serious gaze, felt guilty and turned her eyes away.

However, Zhao Hongrun did not let her off, and said firmly, "I know you came back to the palace to help me avoid the emperor's punishment. But have you thought about it? Isn't it too late to consider this now?!"

"How could it be..." Princess Yulong replied softly.

"How could it be?" Zhao Hongrun narrowed his eyes and said bluntly, "I asked you yesterday if you were planning to leave the palace. If you were, I would help you... At that time, did you consider whether I would be punished by our father for helping you escape from the palace?"

"I..." Princess Yulong shrank her neck in guilt and said softly, "You said you had a way..."

"Yes, I did say I had a way to exonerate myself... So, you don't need to pretend to be concerned for me."

Pretend...

Princess Yulong, hearing this, angrily raised her head and glared at Zhao Hongrun.

"Is that not the case?" Zhao Hongrun laughed coldly, "Is it because He Xinxian disappointed you, making you feel that you can't escape the fate of being married off to another country, so you gave up, and as a side effect, you don't want me to be punished, is that it?"

"That's not a side effect!" Princess Yulong angrily retorted, "I really am worried about you."

Zhao Hongrun narrowed his eyes, "If He Xinxian had come, you would have run away with him. Now that he didn't come, you start to consider your brother's situation... Ha, this concern is too cheap!"

"..." Princess Yulong trembled all over, opened her mouth, but was speechless, and lowered her head in guilt.

Then, she began to sob softly.

Seeing this, Zhao Hongrun sighed slightly and comforted her, "Don't cry so easily, I don't blame you. I don't regret helping you, I'm just frustrated that He Xinxian isn't as reliable as I thought."

"Really... really don't blame me?" Princess Yulong looked up pitifully, her face full of guilt.

Zhao Hongrun smiled slightly.

Indeed, he wasn't disheartened that Princess Yulong only thought of his situation now. After all, she was just a fifteen-year-old girl, not particularly intelligent, and as simple as a piece of paper. Why blame her?

He just didn't want her to give up the fight so easily.

It was laughable, he, Zhao Hongrun, who was helping her, hadn't given up, but Princess Yulong, who was about to be married off to Chu, had already given up. What a mess!

"Don't worry, I won't let you be married off to Chu." He gently stroked Princess Yulong's forehead, his calm voice filled with a promise that seemed credible.

"Hongrun, do you have a plan?"

Princess Yulong looked at Zhao Hongrun with eyes full of expectation.

Think about it, if there was a way, would she willingly leave the place where she was born and raised, and unwillingly marry into Chu, a thousand miles away?

Talking about being enlightened, it was just a lie to deceive herself and Zhao Hongrun.

"As long as you listen to me," Zhao Hongrun said seriously.

What a farce! In the end, it all comes back to the beginning...

He sighed inwardly.

Originally, seeing He Xinxian and Princess Yulong's relationship deepen, he had the idea of letting things take their natural course and entrusting Princess Yulong to He Xinxian. But He Xinxian wasn't as reliable as he thought, and in the end, he had to find a way to protect Princess Yulong himself.

Thinking about it, it was quite laughable.

Princess Yulong looked deeply at Zhao Hongrun's serious face and nodded vigorously, "Yes, I'll listen to you. Hongrun, tell me what to do."

"First, you need to hide," Zhao Hongrun said in a low voice, "As long as you're with me, I won't be at a disadvantage. If you're caught by Father, it will be over. If Father has me confined, you will have to marry."

Princess Yulong's face showed a hint of fear, and she said in a panic, "Then... did I ruin your plan? You were planning to hide me in the city... I..."

Because Zhao Hongrun gave her some hope, she regretted her childish decision at the time.

"You don't need to blame yourself. On the way back, I thought about it. Hiding outside the palace has its advantages, and hiding inside the palace also has its advantages."

"How... how so?"

"Hiding outside the palace makes it harder for Father to find you, as he won't publicize this matter. But on the other hand, this action will be seen as strong resistance, making Father even more determined to find you, and he won't stop until he succeeds."

"Then... what about hiding inside the palace?"

"Hiding inside the palace means hiding right under Father's nose. Since he knows where you are, he won't be too anxious... As a ruler, he wants to control everything. If we stay under his nose, there might be a chance for a different outcome."

Princess Yulong nodded, somewhat understanding, "Are you saying I don't need to hide?"

Zhao Hongrun rolled his eyes, clearly frustrated that Princess Yulong hadn't understood his long explanation.

"Not not hiding, hiding is necessary. Otherwise, Father will take you away, and I won't be able to stop him. Simply put, Father needs to know where you are, but he can't take you away."

"Sounds... so complicated..." Princess Yulong was confused.

At this moment, Zongwei Shen Yu rushed in, seeing Princess Yulong still standing in the back hall, he was shocked and said urgently, "Your Highness, why haven't you hidden the princess yet? The emperor is here!"

"Father is here?" Princess Yulong, clearly terrified of the emperor, turned pale and panicked, running around the back hall, hoping to find a place to hide.

Seeing her struggling to hide in a cabinet, Zhao Hongrun shook his head speechlessly and whispered a few words to Shen Yu.

"Understood!" Shen Yu nodded, "I will inform the brothers and cooperate with Your Highness."

Seeing this, Zhao Hongrun pulled Princess Yulong, who was already half in the cabinet, out and led her to his bedroom.

Although Princess Yulong had been to her brother Zhao Hongrun's bedroom before, she still blushed and dared not look around.

"Will Father not come in here?" Princess Yulong asked hopefully.

"You're overthinking it." Zhao Hongrun smirked, pulling Princess Yulong to the bed and gestured for her to get in, "Get in."

"Eh?!" Princess Yulong blushed and hesitated, "This... this is your bed..."

"Would you rather be caught by Father?" Zhao Hongrun glared at her, pushed her onto the bed, and took off her boots, throwing them under the bed, "Lie down and cover yourself."

"Okay..." Princess Yulong, blushing, hid in the bed, and to her surprise, Zhao Hongrun also took off his clothes and got into bed.

"Hongrun..." Princess Yulong, blushing, was about to speak when Zhao Hongrun pushed her head into the pillow, "Don't make a sound, Father is here."

Saying this, Zhao Hongrun pulled the bed curtains and lay down.

At the same time, Zongwei Shen Yu returned to Wenzhao Pavilion and bowed to the emperor, who was waiting for his son Zhao Hongrun to come out and greet him, and said, "Your Majesty, Your Highness is overjoyed to hear of your arrival at Wenzhao Pavilion. He wanted to come out to greet you, but unfortunately, he caught a cold last night and is bedridden, unable to greet you. Therefore, he sent me to greet you and apologize."

"Cold? Hmph!" The emperor, clearly knowing that his son Zhao Hongrun was energetic when he returned to the palace, was not convinced.

Obviously, this rascal was up to something!

The emperor did not expose him and said calmly, "If my son is ill, how can I blame him?"

Saying this, he walked into Wenzhao Pavilion, with Tong Xian following closely behind.

However, the emperor was not just accompanied by eunuchs but also by dozens of imperial guards.

Seeing these guards preparing to enter Wenzhao Pavilion, Shen Yu immediately signaled the other Zongwei to stop them.

"Imperial guards are not allowed to enter the pavilion. Gentlemen, please stop here!"

Not only were the guards surprised, but even the emperor, who was walking in front, stopped and asked in surprise, "These guards... are with me. You, are you going to stop them?"

At this moment, anyone who knew better would have bowed and apologized, but Shen Yu did not do so. He bowed and said to the emperor, "Your Majesty, I know these guards are with you, but according to palace rules, guards are not allowed to enter the pavilion. Moreover, if they enter Wenzhao Pavilion and damage anything, Your Highness might be angry afterward."

Clearly, Shen Yu knew that these guards were there to capture Princess Yulong.

"Are you afraid I will be angry?" The emperor narrowed his eyes and said in an unfathomable tone, "Aren't you afraid I will blame you?"

"Afraid!... But I still have to do this, because we are taught in the Zongfu to be loyal to the prince! Whatever Your Highness says, we will do, and this is the foundation of our existence."

The emperor looked at the righteous Shen Yu and his anger subsided slightly, "What is your name?"

"Your Majesty, I am the Zongwei leader of the Eighth Prince, Shen Yu."

"Shen Yu..." The emperor repeated the name and nodded in approval, "Good, the Zongfu has not taught you in vain. Maintain your loyalty to Hongrun, and there will be a reward."

"It is my duty, I do not expect a reward."

"Ha!" The emperor looked at Shen Yu appreciatively and turned to the guards outside, "Follow the rules, wait here."

"Yes!"

"Thank you, Your Majesty for your understanding." Shen Yu bowed and said.

"Let me see how sick Hongrun is..."

Leaving a sarcastic remark, the emperor stepped into Wenzhao Pavilion.

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