Chapter 53

Zhao Yougong walked away with a gloomy face, and Zhu Min frowned, taking a few steps to follow him.

Puzzled, he could only lean in and ask, "Why is this, Your Highness? Su Guan has gone through great lengths to come here!"

"Hmph, what good can come from her coming? Once she arrives, she won't stop nagging, and I won't be able to stay in Suzhou anymore! I'm not happy, not happy at all..."

Zhao Yougong's figure slowly disappeared around the corner of the corridor, but Zhu Min burst into laughter. He thought it was because of something else, but it turned out to be this. Fool, fool, the only fool in the world. If there was anyone in the Chu王府 who still cared for Zhao Yougong, it was certainly Ying Ruo. But this fool still ignorantly pushed that woman away step by step.

The Tongle Garden was as beautiful as a fairyland, with the rippling lake under the sunset. Many people were intoxicated, but Ying Ruo felt nothing. No matter how beautiful the scenery, what did it have to do with her?

Her right leg ached terribly, but it couldn't compare to the pain in her heart. The heart that was still warm now felt as if it had been thrown into a cold ice cave. Looking at the sunset, Ying Ruo limped away from the corridor, dragging her right leg. She wanted to sleep, preferably to sleep and never wake up.

Facing the wall, she pondered the past. She had come from another world, but she couldn't resist the dilapidated Northern Song Dynasty. Everything was in chaos, long in chaos. This was no longer the history she knew, so she had no advantage. Everything had to rely on herself. She was afraid, afraid that one wrong step would turn everything into a distant memory. She hoped Ying Ruo could live, even if it was a lifeless existence. But seeing her like that, her heart always bled.

Some love can be shouted out loud, some love cannot even be spoken. Even a light kiss, even a brief hand-holding.

Damn scoundrel heaven, since it treats him like this, he will become a demon and break through this heartless sky!

The night was enchanting, and Zhao Yougong drank himself into a stupor. Only when drunk could he think of nothing, hear nothing.

On the third day of Ying Ruo's arrival, Liang Shicheng came to Suzhou, bringing greetings from Emperor Huizong, Zhao Ji.

Liang Shicheng had only been there for a couple of days when Zhao Yougong packed his bags and set off for the capital with the carriage. Looking at the scenery passing by, his mind was entirely on Ying Ruo, wondering how her injuries were. He wanted to go see her, but he didn't dare, because doing so would not be loving her but harming her.

Liang Shicheng led the people beside the carriage, smiling, "Your Highness's incident scared the Emperor. When he sent me, he said he would send a detachment of the Imperial Guard to protect the Wangfu!"

Send a detachment of the Imperial Guard? Ha, ha, probably not to protect, but to control the Chu Wangfu under the pretext. This royal uncle was not stupid, very good at taking advantage of the situation. The Imperial Guard was sent to protect the Yongning Prince, who could say anything?

Zhao Yougong's face showed delight, and he sighed, "That's great, the Emperor is smart. With the Imperial Guard around, who would dare to cause trouble for me?"

Zhao Yougong's reaction was expected, so it seemed he could be more at ease in the future.

In early May, Zhao Yougong returned to Bianliang, which he had been away from for over twenty days. For him, nothing had changed in the capital, only a coldness.

In the Chu Wangfu, Zhao Yougong enjoyed the massage from the sisters Mochun and Muxue, savoring the pastries. Then came a series of embarrassing laughter.

Ying Ruo returned to the side courtyard. The wound on her leg had started to fester, and she could only apply some medicine powder herself. Over the years, life had taught her many things. To save money and avoid being deceived by the servants, she learned how to haggle with vendors. Worried that the young prince would fall ill and no one would take care of him, she learned many medical skills. She was proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and her appearance was flawless. But because of her constant lecturing, the young prince increasingly disliked her, and today, he wouldn't even say half a word to her.

The sun rose and set, and the day passed quickly. Changing into a new outfit and putting on a purple-gold crown, she looked at the Jinshui Gate, which was so tall and magnificent. A few proud imperial guards stood on the city wall, their faces straight ahead, showing no respect for Zhao Yougong below.

Why should they respect a good-for-nothing? What benefit would it bring? Money, goods, or promotion? None of it was possible, so they ignored him.

Ha, ha, was he too much of a failure that even a few lowly imperial guards could ignore him? How wonderful, mock away. One day, he would stand at the Jinshui Gate and make everyone bow at his feet.

This was not just out of hatred, but also a man's dignity, like Murong Fu. Since he was born in this world with noble blood, he had no choice but to move forward bravely.

Perhaps that day would never come, perhaps he would die early. But for the sake of that glory and dignity, he would die a thousand deaths without regret!

In the Nuanxiang Pavilion, Emperor Huizong was listening to Concubine Liu play music. His hands kept beating the rhythm, his eyes squinting, enjoying it.

In the elegant environment, there was a series of annoying cries.

"Wah... Your Majesty... Your Majesty... I have come... I have come... Wah..."

The cries were earth-shattering, as if he had suffered a great injustice. Soon, Zhao Yougong, bent over and tears streaming down his face, ran in. Once inside, he knelt on the ground, hugging Emperor Huizong's legs and not letting go.

"Your Majesty... You don't know... That female bandit is so cruel... The bandits stabbed my buttocks... She even beat me, and in the end, she sold me for money..."

Zhao Yougong cried bitterly, and Emperor Huizong's heart leaped with joy, but he immediately put on a sad face, lifting Zhao Yougong and loudly saying, "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're back, Lingge, get up, let me see you!"

Zhao Yougong wiped his tears and stood up, and Emperor Huizong touched his face, looking relieved.

What a touching uncle and nephew. If someone saw this, they would surely be moved.

But was it really so? Emperor Huizong was smiling inside, amused by his nephew's incompetence. Greedy when there was nothing to fear, terrified when there was trouble, and only knew how to cry. What use was it for a man to cry?

A weak man, a useless Ah Dou, but wasn't this exactly what Emperor Huizong wanted? He hoped his nephew would be even more useless than Ah Dou. For this, he could give him more money to squander.

At noon, Zhao Yougong stayed in the palace for a meal. During the meal, the uncle and nephew exchanged toasts, a very warm scene. Concubine Liu was beautiful, and her presence made the two men drink even more happily.

Even the best banquet must end. After the meal, Zhao Yougong thanked the emperor and left, while Concubine Liu leaned in Emperor Huizong's arms, complaining softly, "Your Majesty, the prince was staring at me the whole time!"

"Oh, isn't that proof that you are the most beautiful?"

Emperor Huizong laughed, not taking it seriously. He wasn't afraid. If Zhao Yougong really dared to touch Concubine Liu, it would give him a reason to kill. He hoped so, but did his nephew have the courage? He was stupid, but not stupid enough to not know when to stop.

After the meal, Zhao Yougong went to rest outside the Suanzao Gate. Although it was already May, it was still dark by the end of the ninth hour. Zhao Yougong did not return to the Wangfu but went to the Xiefang Tower in a brocade robe.

He had won the bet, so he had to keep his promise, or Nian Nu would be taken by someone else.

Zhao Yougong had not even entered when Wu Mama came out with a smile. She had to, because she was afraid the young prince would bring up old grievances. At the time, she had planned to find Nian Nu a new man, but Nian Nu had persuaded her. Otherwise, the young prince would have brought a torch instead of a fan.

"Prince, you're finally back! I've been praying for you every day, and my efforts have not been in vain!"

Wu Mama's mouth was as sharp as a knife, but Zhao Yougong was not fooled. He closed his fan and pressed it against Wu Mama's white cleavage, grinning, "You've been praying for me? That's great, but I heard you were planning to find Nian Nu a new man?"

Hearing this, Wu Mama's almond eyes widened, and her chest trembled slightly, "Who's spreading such lies? Young Prince, you know me, I'm the most timid person, how could I do such a thing?"

"Really not?"

"Really, if you don't believe me, feel my heart!"

Wu Mama's face was calm, and she even leaned forward, making Zhao Yougong sweat. He had to pull back his hand and grin, "Alright, whether it's true or not, you've helped me keep Nian Nu, and that's good. Oh, and one more thing, I don't care about the other girls, but from now on, don't trouble Nian Nu. If I find out you've arranged a talented man for her, I'll burn this place down!"

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare, Your Highness, I wouldn't dare to deceive you!"

"Good to know, go and prepare, don't keep me waiting!"

With that, Zhao Yougong sat down in a chair, and Wu Mama bowed and hurried off to prepare.

The preparations, though a farce, were thorough. The red veil, the mandarin ducks pillow, the wedding dress, nothing was missing. As a top courtesan, Nian Nu's wedding was even more grand. The Xiefang Tower closed for the night, and the other girls became guests, of course, Zhao Yougong also gave out some red envelopes.

At the third hour of the dog, the noisy hall suddenly fell silent. Xiao Tan was dressed in red, holding a red silk ribbon, with a large peony flower in the middle, and at the other end was a woman with a red veil.

A thin purple gauze dress, a soft pink bodice, not particularly showy, but on Nian Nu, it was very fitting. Nian Nu was still her unique self, while other women wore red wedding dresses, she only added a red veil.

The wedding, though fake, still stirred a ripple in her heart. If the other end of the ribbon was held by Ying Ruo or Wan'er, how wonderful it would be?

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