Chapter 39

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This was DuYan’s first time stepping into ChengYu’s courtyard in the palace.

As the eldest princess, he would not have to step into the place where ChengYu lived. The only time DuYan saw ChengYu's residence was when he was looking into the dream.

He didn't expect that in the past few years, ChengYu's residence would still be as empty as before. Except for the necessary bed, there was nothing else.

DuYan had someone support ChengYu to the bed and said, "These servants dared to insult you? Have the things that I gave you been sold privately by them?”

ChengYu looked normal at this time, as if the pain of a broken bone was not worth mentioning. He comforted DuYan with a warm voice, “I put all the things the princess gave me in the storehouse, so that I can cherish them."

DuYan asked again, "They’re just worthless things, why don't you put them in the room?"

ChengYu replied, "The gifts given by the princess are too luxurious. ChengYu is but a hostage in Yuan-guo. If I indulge in pleasure, I may forget my identity one day.

DuYan frowned slightly, not understanding what ChengYu wanted at this time.

Was he implying that he would return to Cheng-guo one day, or was there a deeper meaning, and this was his ambition to become Cheng-guo’s king?

ChengYu was a man with deep intentions. He had been dormant in Yuan-guo for so many years, no one could tell that the playboy, the loitering hostage from Cheng-guo, was actually so ambitious.

Now that he suddenly revealed his ambition in front of him, what exactly were his intentions?

This was not the time for him to delve into it. DuYan turned around and talked about what just happened, “Why did you protect me just now?"

ChengYu spoke, "I am the princess's loyal servant, of course I should protect you.”

DuYan didn't buy it, and sneered, "You obviously know that the Great King fears my grandfather. It’s called punishment, but it’s not actually a punishment. It’s also only 30 lashes. The executioners are all veterans. Although it would look bad on the surface, it wouldn’t actually be that serious.”

"Even if it's just a little bit of pain, I don't want you to bear it."

"..."

ChengYu looked over with scorching eyes, and in the somewhat dark house, it seemed as if his pair of eyes were growing deeper and deeper.

DuYan suddenly felt a little guilty. He always felt like something was going wrong.

In this case, would always automatically rationalise his thoughts, and this time was no exception. He reconsidered his thoughts. Now that LuYao was on stage, based on ChengYu’s preparations, he should be beginning to prepare to leave Yuan-guo.

If that was so, then today’s act of flattering him was understandable. If he couldn’t take this opportunity to make the eldest princess fully fall for him, then how else was he going to get Lieutenant Wu’s order to leave the capital.

Although DuYan didn't intend to sacrifice the Wu family in order to send ChengYu out of the city, it didn't hurt to cooperate one or two times.

"Take care of yourself. You don’t need to be by my side for these few days. If there is anything you need, then have someone inform Xiao Man. Since your injury is all because of me, I will definitely release this anger for you.”

After leaving this sentence, DuYan left ChengYu's residence. Before returning to his courtyard, DuYan was summoned by the queen.

As soon as he stepped into the queen's bedroom, the two entered the secret room to talk in detail.

DuYan knew that the queen was going to ask about today's affairs, so he spoke straightforwardly, “Mother, YuanJue’s actions are all within my calculations. You don’t need to worry.”

The queen glanced at him and said, "I know that you’ve always had a plan, but this time I really don't know your intentions."

DuYan did not conceal it from his mother and said frankly, “At the moment, the Great King is becoming more and more fearful of the Wu Family. With this kind of situation, on the Great King’s 40th birthday this year, he will definitely use this excuse to order grandfather to come back.”

The queen replied back, "If this is the case, then the Wu Family is in danger."

"Once the birds are gone, the fine bow is put away; the cunning rabbit will die, and the running dog will be boiled (1) (2).” DuYan continued, “If we want grandfather to stay right and proper, and not be called back, then there needs to be changes to the frontier.”

"Now that Jiang-guo is weak, he should not dare to move."

DuYan smiled faintly, "If Cheng-guo tears up our alliance and forms an alliance with Jiang-guo, then it will be war against my country. When the time comes, there will be no need for war. The Great King will also not dare to call back grandfather who is guarding at the frontier.”

The queen spoke again, "King Cheng, that person is someone who indulges in a life of pleasure and comfort, and is weak and incompetent. He would not act like this.”

"What if King Cheng’s seat is changed to someone else?” DuYan said.

The queen understood what DuYan meant, "But I heard that Cheng-guo’s prince has the same character as his father. Also weak and incompetent.”

"I never thought about letting that idiot ascend to the throne.”

The queen finally understood, "You want to send Prince Yu back to his country? He has been away from his homeland for so long, it will be a bit difficult for him to gain the upper hand in the struggle for the throne.”

"I will take care of this myself. Mother doesn’t need to worry so much.”

After hearing DuYan's assurance, the queen stopped asking more questions and started talking about the current situation.

"If you don’t handle the matter of sending Prince Yu away properly, the Great King will use this as an excuse to attack the Wu Family.” The queen sighed, “If you are accused of privately releasing the hostage, even if you ascend the throne, these two actions are inconsistent with each other.”

DuYan said, "I have already prepared a scapegoat.”

The queen was not a stupid person, and understood immediately, “You’re saying Concubine Hui and Prince Jue?”

"Of course." DuYan nodded, "As soon as something happened today, one of them will have more resentment in their hearts and the other will worry about how I will retaliate. It’s like a tight string. Just a little touch at the right timing will have them act according to my plan.”

"At the right time?"

"I still need mother’s help in this matter before it can be done."

"How?" The queen knew that her eldest son had always had lots of thoughts. Since the other party had already made plans long ago, it was necessary for her to cooperate.

"Every year you go to Qizi, the great master of yin yang, to pray for the country and ask for astrology and his divination.” DuYan said, “I remember that if the Queen can’t go, then the eldest daughter can go there on her behalf.”

He raised his eyebrows and smiled, "When Concubine Hui and YuanJue learn that I’ve left the capital, that is when they will take action. At that time, there will be changes within the chaos, and this will be when the hostage from Cheng-guo takes the opportunity to escape.”

The queen knew that this matter was very important and didn’t say much, “Find an opportunity to discuss this with your uncle a few times. Don’t bet your own life.”

"Yan understands."

***

There were rumors on the streets that the eldest princess was arrogant and domineering. That she had broken the right hand of the hostage from Cheng-guo because of the beauty, LuYao, who had become famous in the city recently.

Due to the eldest princess’s power, Prince Yu had to send away LuYao. Thus a good pair or lovers were torn apart by the eldest princess. Regardless of how ChengYu sent away LuYao, there were many versions of life and death love stories circulating in the capital.

DuYan felt relieved when he heard this. Of course it wasn’t because he had won in this fight due to jealousy, but because he was getting closer to removing the skirt and was thus pleased.

DuYan had not seen ChengYu for several days. He was in a restaurant in the capital when he heard these rumors.

He sat in a private room on the second floor and was listening with great interest. He even thought that ChengYu moved very fast. When this suitable attendant leaves, he might not get used to it.

YuanNing, who was to the side, flushed with anger. She couldn't help but say, "These fools, they hear the wind and say it’s rain (3). How dare they spread rumors about you, sister, not being as good as that female musician in Prince Yu’s heart!”

DuYan smiled and patted her hand, "How do you know that the rumors are not true? I have bullied and humiliated ChengYu for nearly ten years. It’s only natural that he would avoid me."

YuanNing was not convinced, and said, "Others don't know the inside story, but I know. Prince Yu is so obedient to sister, so why would he like that female musician."

"ChengYu is just afraid of my power and can only serve me.”

YuanNing spoke again, "Sister, even I can see it. Only when Prince Yu is facing you, will there be a slight smile in his eyes. The rest of the time, his eyes are indifferent…”

YuanNing's words made waves in DuYan's heart. He knew that his EQ was not high, and he might be a little slow in the emotional changes of others. If what YuanNing said was true, then ChengYu’s attitude was once again another accident.

When he thought of the things that happened in the last dream, DuYan felt a little anxious.

He picked up the cup of tea and drank it. His eyes fell on his dress. He felt a little relieved when he thought of the big secret that he still had concealed.

Even if ChengYu had an attachment to himself, he still thought of him (DY) as a woman. Once his true identity was exposed, he would become ChengYu’s biggest enemy on the road to world domination and their friendship was bound to disappear.

***

According to the timeline in the movie, not long after LuYao was sent to King Cheng's side, Queen Cheng started poisoning King Cheng. About three months later, the collapse of King Cheng would spread to Yuan-guo’s capital.

ChengYu's intelligence network was spread all over the world, and it was even faster than getting the news.

DuYan waited for ChengYu to come and beg him to send him (CY) out of the city. He had even planned what kind of words he would use to humiliate the other and make ChengYu feel resentful towards him.

And thus completely destroy the last beautiful image of himself in ChengYu’s heart. Once the plan was implemented, ChengYu would leave without nostalgia nor guilt.

DuYan planned carefully, took all the details into consideration. However, things once again derailed from the plans.

In August, King Cheng collapsed. In September, Cheng-guo’s envoy arrived at Yuan-guo with an obituary.

The news of King Cheng’s death had already spread throughout Yuan-guo’s capital, and DuYan could not wait for ChengYu to ask him for help.

King Cheng had died, but why wasn’t ChengYu coming to him to ask to be sent out of the city?

DuYan was suspicious and anxious, but ChengYu had his own plan on the other side.

King Cheng had died, and ChengYu already had the evidence of the Queen’s adultery and giving birth to her son. Now was the time to leave.

ChengYu knew that the eldest princess had the ability to send him out of the city, but he also knew what would happen if he took advantage of the Wu family's power to send him out of the city.

After leaving, King Yuan would definitely want to blame the Wu family. ChengYu didn’t want to harm the princess.

He had made other plans since long ago. Although it would take some time and effort, he would be able to leave smoothly.

Even if he wasted time and the fake brother took the throne, ChengYu still had other ways to seize power.

DuYan didn't know of ChengYu's thoughts, so he just focused on sending him away quickly, regardless of ChengYu's plan.

If the opportunity was missed and ChengYu cannot ascend to the throne, the plan to eat this dream would completely fail.

If ChengYu could dominate the world as the emperor, then his experience as a hostage would only be taken as a test of the heavens. His heart must feel pain and his muscles and bones must be tired (4). Only then would he be able to take on greater responsibility. When he looked back, he might even be grateful for having persevered through this suffering.

But if ChengYu failed to ascend the throne, his experience as a hostage would be a lingering shadow of his life.

When he thought up to this point, DuYan could only give up his plan to humiliate ChengYu and destroy his own image, and proceeded directly to the next step.

A few days later, with the cooperation of the queen feigning illness, DuYan took ChengYu and a group of imperial guards and set off for the mountains and forests where the great master of Yin Yang hermit lived.

(1) 鸟尽弓藏. Cast away the bow once the birds are gone. Cast someone aside once they've done their purpose.

(2) 兔死狗烹. When all the cunning rabbits die, then the dogs will be boiled. There are no more rabbits to catch, so cook the dogs since they're of no use anymore. It means killing the lackeys when they've lost their usefulness. The author separated the idiom into their own parts which is why it looks like that.

(3) 听风就是雨. Hear the wind and say it's rain. Speaking or acting on hearsay.

(4) 必先劳其筋骨. Heart must feel pain and the muscles and bones must be tired. Through tempering can one take on great responsibility and make new achievements.

Published 1/27/22-In the midst of COVID-19

X: Ayyy I'm back. I'm going to do weekly updates~~ I just haven't chosen which day though >.<

X: Also, hohohoho, I passed my finals. Sooooooo happy 😁