Chapter 33

"You've been in Yidu for ten years, right? Doesn't that mean you left your hometown at the age of twelve?" Yi Luoyue couldn't help but feel sorry for him.

"Have you seen your father, the king, and your mother, the queen, since then?"

"I've seen my mother twice. Once before you left for the palace, and again when she passed away. I said your mother and my mother were close friends, so she came to Yidu twice alone. The Western Yi are wolves waiting for an opportunity, and my father won't leave easily."

"I've heard some rumors about Gong Yuxian recently. Would you like to hear them?"

"oh?"

"Some of his entourage on this trip to Yidu went to the border between Yidu and Nanyi. You should be careful with this person. His purpose this time is not simple."

"Are you worried about me?"

"What nonsense are you talking about! I'm worried about what Xiaoyue will do if something happens to you." Two red clouds appeared on her cheeks involuntarily.

"Did Li Fei tell you the news?" Gong Yuchen said bluntly.

"Yes, I knew that His Royal Highness the Crown Prince was no ordinary person."

"Similarly, I also know that Her Royal Highness the Princess is no ordinary person."

He looked at her, his eyes conveying a message that only the two of them understood.

"Your Highness, are you trying to make a deal with me?" he asked directly.

"I think I prefer to call it cooperation rather than a transaction. What do you think?" How can such a good thing be kept privately by only a few people? She just hopes that he can share a little bit of the benefits with her!

"I can agree to this, but I have a question for you first."

"you say."

"What do you think of King Xian and King Cheng?"

"Which aspect?"

"The battle for the crown prince." He said without any hesitation.

"You know my father asked me to secretly observe my two brothers, right?"

"I guessed it. It's not just me and King Cheng who guessed it. I think King Xian also knows it."

"I know your intentions, but it's not the time to say it yet."

"My intentions?" he asked in surprise.

"Your intentions are so obvious, it's hard for me to pretend I don't know!"

"In fact, many people in the court can't see it, but I don't believe you haven't noticed. My father's preferred heir is actually my second brother. However, my second brother's mother's family has no influence. If we insist on making him the crown prince, it will probably cause unrest in the court. And my eldest brother should have also seen this. So if he intends to enter the East Palace, he will definitely find more forces to support him."

"As for the qualifications to become the crown prince, both the virtuous king and the successful king are qualified. However, they both have their own strengths, and the difference in strength is not that big. Either one has the potential to become the crown prince. At the same time, they both know that if they want to win, they must join forces."

"That's right. It's because you sided with the Second Brother that the First Brother asked Gong Yuxian to restrain you. This way, you two are evenly matched again."

"You mean to say that there is basically no room for us to make plans openly now?"

"But I do! I have the favor of my father, the king, and the power of my mother's clan. My uncle, as the Minister of War, commands a hundred thousand border troops and fifty thousand royal city guards. As long as he has my support, he will be very close to becoming the crown prince, if not a sure thing. That's why my eldest brother tolerates me in every way, just so that I can support him."

"You..." Gong Yuchen looked at her cleverly.

"Why would I understand?"

"Don't underestimate me." Yi Luoyue's pretty face raised with pride.

"After all, I am the legitimate princess of Yi Country. If I want to know something, it's just a matter of snapping my fingers."

She couldn't help but burst out laughing. There was nothing special about Yi Luoyue, she was just very brave and had a very smart brain!

"Father asked me to participate simply to ensure my future is safe. I've been away from Yidu for six years, and my relationship with my two brothers wasn't very close. So, since I've returned this time, you'll naturally come to see me more often. At least for now, no one will think I'm biased."

"Can you?"

She was stunned for a moment.

"Sorry, I overstepped my bounds."

After thinking for a while, Yi Luoyue held up his chin, stared out the window, and said to himself

"That depends on who did it three years ago."

"Three years ago?"

Did something major happen three years ago? Her words plunged Gong Yuchen into deep thought, as he carefully recalled what major events had occurred back then. If he remembered correctly, three years ago was the time when the Empress Dowager and the Empress both died. At the time, they were said to have contracted a serious illness and died in vain. Could there be another hidden story? Yi Luoyue's uneasy expression somehow made Gong Yuchen suddenly understand. If it weren't for what happened three years ago, Yi Luoyue would never have intervened in the battle for the throne between King Xian and King Cheng, and he probably wouldn't even have returned.

"King Cheng and I are like brothers. I won't hide it from you. If something really happened three years ago, I, Gong Yuchen, guarantee with my life that it was not King Cheng."

"Are you so sure?"

"If I say that I know everything King Cheng has done, I don't know if you will believe me." There was a test in his eyes.

She believed that, because beneath his cold and ruthless face, he had an upright and warm gentleman's heart.

"There's something I hope you can help me with." She suddenly grabbed his sleeve tightly, with pleading eyes.

"What's the matter?" Gong Yuchen's gaze shifted to her fair wrist that was tightly grasping his sleeve. An inexplicable emotion spread from his heart. It seemed that something in the corner of his usually cold heart was melting little by little.

She is really a very special woman, without any pretense. He is fed up with those flattering and vain women. What he dreams of is a woman who can stand shoulder to shoulder with him, a woman who knows him and understands him and can spend his life with him. No matter what his purpose is at the beginning, he will never let go of "her".

"Help me find someone, a woman."

He knew Yi Luoyue's character well, and knew she wasn't the usual weak woman. She knew how to assess the situation and protect herself. She just wanted him to find a woman? That could only be one reason.

"Can't find your people?"

Yi Luoyue shook her head.

"I've used a lot of power, but there's been no news of this person. I don't believe she's dead, so I hope you can help me look for her in Xiyi."

"Okay." Gong Yuchen agreed immediately

"You don't ask me why?"

"Since you said you wanted to cooperate, I'll give you what you need, and you'll give me what I need."

"Okay, a gentleman's word is as good as a whip. You help me find the person, and I'll help you keep an eye on Gong Yuxian. As for the situation with that woman, don't you have an appointment with cousin Li Fei tomorrow? You can ask him."

"He seems to know too much about you!" His tone was filled with sourness.

"Your dear cousin Mingxue, don't you know a lot?" Her smile was soft and sweet, sweet enough to drown people.

Gong Yuchen laughed out loud. His originally depressed mood was driven away by her sour look. A pair of big hands wrapped her soft hands, enjoying the touch of her white jade satin.

"Do you mind?" he teased her.

"Humph, what right do I have to mind?"

"Princess, it's time for you to take your medicine."

Seeing the maid coming in with the medicine bowl, Yi Luoyue frowned and looked disgusted.

"Put it here and go down first."

"Yes." After putting down the medicine bowl, the maid retreated.

"It's strange. How could I drink such bitter medicine?" Yi Luoyue looked at the medicine bowl helplessly.

Want to know? Gong Yuchen looked at her with ill intent.

"Huh? What?"

He pulled her up from the stool with force and made her sit on his lap. He put one arm around her slender waist and picked up the medicine bowl on the table with the other hand, pouring all the medicine in the bowl into his mouth. Before Yi Luoyue could react, a pair of warm lips were already on hers, pinching her cheeks to force her to open her mouth. The extremely bitter medicine juice poured into her throat with the sucking of his lips, and she drank it all before she could resist.

"That's it." A pair of dark eyes looked intently at her with a look of astonishment.

"Ah...you...!" She covered her mouth in shock.

"Have you remembered?" A faint smile always hung on the corner of his mouth.

Oh my god! She actually remembered it. It was so embarrassing that her face immediately turned red.

"Don't look." She reached out to cover his eyes.

"Okay, I won't look." But even if she didn't look, his lips found hers accurately, and he boldly explored her cherry lips that had no time to react, entwining his lips and tongue with hers. A tingling heat immediately spread throughout her body. Her cheeks flushed with shyness, and she could only endure the enthusiasm he gave her. When his masculine scent had almost made her unable to breathe, he stopped and moved his lips away.

Yi Luoyue was trembling all over from his kiss. So this is what a kiss is like! She didn't dare look him in the eye. She frantically put her hands around his waist. When she touched his firm muscles, her cheeks flushed bright red and she hid in his arms.

The night breeze came in gently from the window, and the starry sky reflected the candlelight in the room. Yi Luoyue sat on the edge of the bed and watched Xiaoyue playing cat and tassel with Baishuang. She couldn't help but chuckle. Her concentration reminded her of Gong Yuchen.

"Princess, Princess..." A series of low calls brought Yi Luoyue's mind back from Gong Yuchen.

"What's up?"

It turned out that Bai Die, who was sorting Xiao Yue'er's clothes, was holding something in front of her.

"Princess, this!"

Yi Luoyue took a closer look with a look of astonishment, what is this!

"Where did this come from?" She took it in her hand, stroking it carefully, and her eyes became moist.

"It was found inside the clothes that His Highness Gongyu gave to Miss Yue'er."

Yi Luoyue looked at the slightly old purse in her hand. It was an old item of hers, and it was embroidered for her by her mother herself when she was still alive. But she didn't know where it was lost and she could never find it again. She didn't expect to see it again today!

"Xiao Yue'er? Is this purse yours?"

"This one? It's not mine." She shook her head.

"Then how did this purse come to be in your clothes? Can you tell me where you got it?"

"This belongs to Daddy. I saw it under his pillow the day before yesterday and started playing with it. Then I think I just casually put it in the closet."

"Your father's?" She remembered that the purse was lost after the palace banquet. She had argued with Gong Yuchen that day. Could it be that he had picked it up? But he should have known it was hers, so why didn't he return it to her? Could it be him! Damn it, I really don't know what he's thinking!