Chapter 78

Led by the chief eunuch Tong Xian and two other young eunuchs, the Emperor of the Great Wei Dynasty, guided by Shen Yu and other clan guards, made his way to his son Zhao Hongrun's residence.

During the journey, the Emperor's eyes frequently scanned the surroundings, hoping to spot some clues. After all, according to the report from the eunuchs of the Inner Chamber, when his son Zhao Hongrun and his group returned to the palace, the princess Yulong, who was disguised as a man, was clearly in the group.

Therefore, the Emperor suspected that Princess Yulong was hiding somewhere in the Wenzhao Pavilion, but he had not yet discovered where exactly.

"Your Majesty, please."

Shen Yu respectfully pushed open the door to the residence.

The Emperor nodded and stepped into the residence. He bypassed the screen facing him and walked toward the bed.

From the direction of the bed, he heard his son Zhao Hongrun's weak voice.

"Is it Father? Your son greets you, Father..."

As he spoke, a figure behind the bed curtains tried to sit up.

The Emperor inwardly sneered, deliberately not stopping him, as he knew his son was likely faking it, preparing to see how he would explain himself and greet him.

But unexpectedly, the figure behind the curtains struggled a few times and suddenly fell back onto the bed: "Father, please don't blame me, your son is really... really unable to move."

This rascal!

The Emperor was at a loss, but also pretended to be considerate: "Hongrun, if you are so ill, you don't need to get up. Your father won't blame you."

This scene made Shen Yu and the others feel very awkward: Indeed, they were father and son, both quite something.

Tong Xian brought a stool and placed it beside the bed. Seeing this, the Emperor sat down on the stool.

Since there were no outsiders in the room, the Emperor did not need to hide anything.

He lowered his voice and asked directly: "Hongrun, where is Yulong?"

Princess Yulong, hiding under the covers, was so frightened by her father's question that she dared not even breathe.

"Princess Yulong?" Zhao Hongrun feigned weakness: "Your son doesn't know."

"Don't know?" The Emperor narrowed his eyes, with a hint of anger: "Who else in the palace would dare to be so bold as to kidnap a princess and escape? Where is she?!"

"Since she has left the palace, how would your son know where Princess Yulong is? ... Perhaps she has fled to the State of Chu!" His words were filled with sarcasm.

Indeed, Hongrun has found out... Who sent him the message? According to the strict warning I gave, the eunuchs of the Inner Chamber would not dare to reveal anything. If so, how did this information reach this rascal's ears?

The Emperor ignored the sarcasm in his son's words and calmly stated the facts: "Is that so? But I heard that you just brought Yulong back to the palace... Where is she?"

"There is such a thing?" Zhao Hongrun's weak voice carried a hint of surprise: "Your son is unaware."

"Unaware?" The Emperor laughed coldly and said in a deep voice: "Dare you let me search your Wenzhao Pavilion?"

Zhao Hongrun's tone did not change: "Father, please search."

"Fine!" The Emperor immediately turned to the two young eunuchs behind Tong Xian: "Call the guards outside to thoroughly search the Wenzhao Pavilion!"

"Yes." The young eunuchs bowed and left.

This time, Shen Yu did not stop them, as it was a promise made by their prince.

From the sounds outside, it was clear that dozens of guards had entered the hall and began a thorough search of the entire Wenzhao Pavilion.

During the search, the Emperor closed his eyes and waited for the results, not engaging in any conversation with Zhao Hongrun on the bed.

There was nothing to talk about anyway; this boy was purely faking his illness.

But after waiting for a full half-hour, the results of the search surprised the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, we have thoroughly searched the Wenzhao Pavilion, but there is no sign of Princess Yulong," the guards reported truthfully.

What? Not found?

A flash of surprise crossed the Emperor's eyes.

How could she not be here? The eunuchs of the Inner Chamber were monitoring the Wenzhao Pavilion as soon as this rascal arrived. Yulong could not have slipped away secretly. How could she not be found?

"Have you searched everywhere?"

"Yes, we have searched the entire Wenzhao Pavilion, except for..." The guard's face showed difficulty, subtly pointing to the floor.

"Search!" The Emperor said firmly.

Immediately, a dozen guards entered and began a thorough search for Princess Yulong.

During the search, the Emperor could not help but pace back and forth, scrutinizing the surroundings with a suspicious eye.

How could she not be here? This rascal is so calm, clearly indicating that Yulong is within his control. Moreover, with the eunuchs of the Inner Chamber monitoring the Wenzhao Pavilion, this rascal could not have moved Yulong to another place in such a short time... Wait! Why is he faking his illness?

As if he had an epiphany, the Emperor took a few quick steps, approached the bed, and pulled back the curtains.

Yes, there is one more place to hide someone!

But to the Emperor's surprise, his son Zhao Hongrun was already sitting on the bed, and even more surprisingly, he was smiling at him, as if to say: Ah, you found me.

"Father, do you suspect that your son has hidden Princess Yulong under the bed?" Zhao Hongrun bluntly revealed the Emperor's suspicions, scaring Princess Yulong, who was hiding under the covers, to the point of trembling.

"Father, do you want to lift the covers and see if Princess Yulong is hiding under your son's bed?" Zhao Hongrun pretended to lift a corner of the cover, glancing at the guards in the room.

Good boy!

The Emperor was both shocked and impressed by his son's cunning.

At this moment, he was certain that Princess Yulong was hiding under the thick covers on his son's bed. But the question was, could he really lift the covers and drag her out?

A prince and a princess sharing a bed would be a shocking scandal if it were to get out.

Though the Emperor could order the guards to keep quiet, what if it still got out?

Would he have to silence the guards?

For what reason?

Unjustly killing innocent people?

The Emperor wanted to leave a good reputation and be remembered as a wise and just ruler, not a tyrant!

More importantly, since this son had resorted to such a self-destructive move, it meant that if he lifted the covers, it would be a lose-lose situation.

Was it worth sacrificing a prince who would surely become a pillar of the Great Wei Dynasty for a princess of no great importance?

"..." The Emperor suppressed his anger and glared at Zhao Hongrun.

The Emperor was not just angry that his son had used such a dirty trick to force him, but also that this rascal was willing to sacrifice his own reputation to protect Yulong.

"..." Zhao Hongrun calmly met the Emperor's gaze.

Indeed, he was betting that his father would not, at this moment, in front of so many people, push the situation to an irreparable point.

After a long moment of eye contact, the Emperor suddenly burst into laughter.

"Ha ha ha ha—"

Well, as long as Yulong is still in the Wenzhao Pavilion, it's enough. There's no need to make things so difficult and irreparable... As long as the eunuchs of the Inner Chamber keep a close watch on the Wenzhao Pavilion, Yulong will not be able to escape.

As Zhao Hongrun had predicted, the Emperor, as a ruler, after realizing that Princess Yulong was indeed in the Wenzhao Pavilion, rationally chose to compromise.

"Since we can't find Yulong, let it be. Perhaps, as your son said, she has fled somewhere... Your son has caught a cold, rest well. For the next few days, do not leave the palace." The Emperor was effectively placing Zhao Hongrun under house arrest.

After all, as long as Zhao Hongrun could not leave the palace, Yulong would not be able to escape.

Since Yulong could not escape, everything was still under the Emperor's control.

Therefore, there was no need to make things irreparable.

However, Zhao Hongrun was not one to be underestimated. Seeing the Emperor about to leave, he smiled and said: "Father, are you not going to search more thoroughly? Perhaps Princess Yulong is still in the Wenzhao Pavilion... Father, search more thoroughly, your son doesn't want to be searched by the guards every few days. Or, has Father already determined that Princess Yulong is not in the Wenzhao Pavilion?"

...

The Emperor frowned, realizing that if he gave up on dragging Princess Yulong out of Zhao Hongrun's bed today, he would likely never have another chance to search the Wenzhao Pavilion openly.

Of course, if Princess Yulong foolishly ran out of the Wenzhao Pavilion and was captured by the eunuchs of the Inner Chamber or the guards, that would be a different matter.

Otherwise, the Emperor's departure today would confirm that Yulong was not in the Wenzhao Pavilion, and no one would be able to use this as an excuse to search the Wenzhao Pavilion again.

Otherwise, wouldn't it be embarrassing for the Emperor?

"Ha ha ha!" The Emperor laughed, then bent down and whispered to his son: "You are cunning, but how long can you protect her? ... Keep her hidden in the Wenzhao Pavilion for the rest of her life?"

After saying this, the Emperor glanced at the bed covers, straightened his imperial robe, and left with his hands behind his back, as if nothing had happened.

As the Emperor left, the eunuchs and guards also departed.

"Phew—"

Princess Yulong emerged from the covers, her face flushed and sweaty, looking very alluring.

"Hongrun, you are really amazing, you made Father back down... When you said you would lift the covers, I was so scared..."

Zhao Hongrun had no time to appreciate Princess Yulong's beauty; there was no trace of victory on his face.

Indeed, the Emperor was right. Although this move could save Princess Yulong from being married to the State of Chu, the cost was too high.

First, he was under house arrest, meaning he could not leave the palace, and naturally, he could not take Princess Yulong out of the palace.

In other words, unless Princess Yulong stayed in the Wenzhao Pavilion for the rest of her life, the Emperor, who now harbored a grudge, would surely marry her off to another country if he had the chance.

This did not fundamentally change Princess Yulong's situation.

It seemed that the only option was to find an opportunity to have a sincere talk with his father and completely dispel the Emperor's intention to marry Princess Yulong to another country...

That night, Zhao Hongrun gave his residence to Princess Yulong and sat alone in the front hall, deep in thought.

"We need a suitable opportunity..."

He sighed deeply, tiredly rubbing his forehead.

"But, why did Father choose to sacrifice Yulong? It's strange..."

A hint of doubt appeared in Zhao Hongrun's eyes.

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