Chapter 59

The Chu Wang Mansion, not too big, not too small, yet it was extremely difficult to keep anything secret.

As night fell, Zhao Yougong lay on the bed, unable to sleep. He tossed and turned, his body trembling slightly.

Muchun and Musnow couldn't sleep either. They didn't understand why Chancellor Liang wanted to harm Manager Su. As two insignificant women, all they could do was comfort the person on the bed.

"Prince, don't overthink it. If you don't want to, just refuse Chancellor Liang tomorrow, and that's it, right?"

Looking at Muchun's rosy face, Zhao Yougong shook his head with a bitter smile. "Refuse? Muchun, aren't you putting me in harm's way? Who is Chancellor Liang? How can I afford to offend him?"

This time was different from the previous courtesan competition. Offending Li Shishi might displease Emperor Zhezong, but it was just a matter of rivalry in the streets, so there was no need to fear. But this time? This was a real confrontation. Either comply or offend, fundamentally, he had no choice.

Muchun sighed softly. The young prince was still so timid. It seemed Manager Su couldn't be saved after all!

After an unknown amount of time, the sisters fell into a deep sleep, but Zhao Yougong got up and left the room.

In the locust forest, Zhao Yougong held a pot of wine, drinking sip by sip. He didn't have to wait long before Dugu Qiubai slowly approached.

This time, Zhao Yougong didn't want to say a single extra word. He looked up with a heavy expression at Dugu Qiubai. "Brother Dugu, I have a favor to ask!"

"Speak!"

"If Tian Chou really takes Yanruo away tomorrow, intercept them halfway and take Yanruo to Suzhou, and hand her over to Wan'er!"

"And what about you?"

"Me? Haha... If I really lose, what's the point of leaving the capital?"

"As long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood. As long as you live, there is hope!"

After so long, this was the most Dugu Qiubai had ever said. Normally, Zhao Yougong would have teased him, but now, he could only laugh bitterly. "Live? Haha... Brother Dugu, you don't understand. We are fundamentally different. You can wander the world alone, caring for nothing and no one, but I can't. From the moment I was born, I carried the blood of the royal family. I am the son of Prince Chu Zhao Si, the only direct descendant of Emperor Zhezong. There are some things I must fight for, even if it means death!"

This world is destined to be so. Some people are born with too much responsibility. Zhao Yougong felt he was very much like Murong Fu. That noble bloodline and the expectations of his family meant they could never live like ordinary people, free and unburdened. Carrying the blood of the imperial family and a deep-seated grudge, he, Zhao, was destined to be bound by this chain.

Deep down, he couldn't bear to part with Yanruo. That woman had suffered for him for over a decade. Could she be given to a eunuch like a piece of merchandise?

No, he couldn't do it. Rather than that, he might as well take a gamble. If he won, he would continue to hide. If he lost, he would storm the palace, even if it meant death, to make Emperor Zhezong break out in a cold sweat.

A man born in this world, if he cannot stand tall and firm, at least he should not be a disrespectful descendant. The lineage of Emperor Zhezong could be severed, but even in death, he would show the world the bravery and fearlessness of the Prince of Chu.

Dugu Qiubai didn't show any reaction. He knew Zhao Yougong had made his decision. He reached out, took the wine pot, and drank a few mouthfuls, then said slowly, "I can accompany you!"

"Haha, why bother? Brother Dugu, I appreciate your kindness, but this is something I must face alone. Your presence would only increase the casualties!" Waving his hand, Zhao Yougong got up and staggered out of the forest. "If I die, don't forget to burn some paper money for me, Brother Dugu!"

"Of course!"

Watching the figure gradually disappear into the darkness, Dugu Qiubai felt a sense of confusion. Unconsciously, he had come to recognize Zhao Yougong. In this life, his only friend lived such a tragic life!

In the side courtyard, the candlelight still shone. Yanruo, wearing a green silk robe, knelt by the bed, sorting something. It was a pile of clothes, including robes, sashes, and a turban adorned with blue gems. The pile was quite high, with over a dozen pieces, but not a single one was for a woman. The clothes were neatly stacked and placed in a cabinet, which was already filled with fabrics. On top was a letter.

At the hour of Chou, a cool breeze blew through the window, but Yanruo had no intention of sleeping. She sat at the table, holding a small bronze mirror. Looking at her flawless face in the mirror, Yanruo smiled dreamily.

Twelve years ago, she entered the Chu Wang Mansion. From that day on, she knew she belonged to the young prince, and that would never change. For over a decade, she remained unchanged, faithfully guarding that handsome and extraordinary man. But the clever and lively little boy had changed, becoming reckless and ignorant, cold and indifferent.

Tomorrow, she would go to Liang Shicheng's residence, right? Haha, Liang Shicheng is a eunuch. How could the young prince bear it? Does he think so little of her now?

What others thought didn't matter; what mattered was her own heart. Serve that eunuch? No, never. When everything was beyond her control, death was the only option. Death was not scary; for her, it was a form of liberation.

Smiling, smiling, tears finally uncontrollably streamed down her face. She still couldn't let go of the young prince. That man tugged at her heart every moment.

If there were another life, she wouldn't want to be Yanruo again. She wished to be a butterfly, living a short but happy life. In this life, she had lived too hard, too unworthily.

At the door, Zhao Yougong watched intently. Seeing the beautiful face streaked with tears, his heart ached as if cut by a knife. At this point, should he still hide from her? No, never, because they were both going to die.

A sound startled Yanruo from her thoughts. She looked up, instinctively wanting to scream, for she saw a figure shrouded in darkness.

"Who are you...."

The dark figure moved swiftly, covering her mouth. Yanruo, with tear-filled eyes, stared at the unexpected visitor, feeling the trembling of the dark figure's arm, and it all seemed so unreal.

Was the dark figure afraid? What was he afraid of? What in this dilapidated house could scare him?

"...Su... Sister...."

The voice was firm, familiar, yet filled with panic. Hearing those three words, Yanruo's beautiful eyes widened in disbelief. How could it be? It was impossible. She must have heard wrong, must have been too nostalgic.

Removing the veil, a familiar face was revealed, now full of guilt, eyes misty with tears.

Yanruo felt as if she were in a dream. She had been thinking about the times when the young prince called her "Sister Su," and now it had become reality. Her hand trembled as it slowly reached out to touch that familiar face. Though close, it felt as if they were worlds apart. She feared that if she was too slow, the dream would vanish, and that face would disappear.

"Lingge... Am I dreaming...."

"This isn't a dream, Sister Su, do you hate me?" Feeling that familiar scent, Zhao Yougong used his right arm to tightly embrace this strong and gentle woman.

The voice was still in her ear, the face firm and warm, the warmth in her hand seemed so real. But... how could it be? Her Lingge had changed. Her mind was a blur, unable to think clearly, and she could only caress that face.

There were too many things she couldn't understand, but did they matter?

Yanruo felt the reality, the murmurs, the lingering gaze, just like that autumn twelve years ago.

Back then, the Chu Wang Mansion was still called the Cai Wang Mansion. In the courtyard stood a wutong tree that two people could barely encircle. On the first day she entered the mansion, Yanruo saw the ground covered in withered leaves, and a little boy constantly stepping on the yellow leaves. He had his hands behind his back, his face raised high, like a little adult.

"Hey, are you the little sister the concubine found?"

"No... The concubine said you would be with me forever...."

The innocent words of the two children made Prince Chu laugh heartily. The past was so sweet, but in the blink of an eye, over a decade had passed, and both had grown up, with more thoughts and fewer words.

"Why? Why...."

Yanruo kept asking. She wanted to know, and Zhao Yougong understood clearly. He closed the door, helped Yanruo sit on the bed. Zhao Yougong was ready to tell her everything. He felt that at this point, Yanruo had the right to know the truth.

Kneeling by the bed, Zhao Yougong gently rested his chin on Yanruo's knee. When they were young, he often did this, and Yanruo would always stroke his head and tell him interesting stories.

"Sister Su, do you know, these years, I have always been worried about you. I feared you would leave in a fit of anger, that you would abandon the Chu Wang Mansion and never look back...."

Zhao Yougong spoke softly, as if telling a distant story, but the tears in his eyes had already soaked through Yanruo's thin pants.

In the autumn of the fifth year of Chongning, Zhao Si paced back and forth in the room, his face filled with panic, as if the end of the world had come. As the Governor of Dingguo Army, he should have had nothing to fear, but Zhao Si was extremely worried. As the Governor of Dingguo Army, he was supposed to guard Jingnan. Was there anything more absurd?

Around the third hour of the end of the day, a eunuch in red robes arrived at the Chu Wang Mansion. He held a secret edict in his hand, followed by four guards and two small eunuchs, one of whom carried a tray with a beautiful wine pot.

Seeing the wine pot, Zhao Si smiled bitterly. He couldn't escape it. He just wanted to be a true Governor of Dingguo Army in Tongzhou. Could a mere thought make the current emperor so wary?

There was no need to read the secret edict. Zhao Si looked at the eunuch, saying with some pain, "Yang Jian, I blame no one for what has happened, but can you spare others?"

"Prince Cai, the Emperor has said that as long as Your Highness leaves quietly, he will ensure the young prince's lifelong wealth and safety!"

Lifelong safety, perhaps this was what Zhao Si most wanted to hear!

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