Chapter 80 Trust

Sima Jun did not stay on Yuzhou Island for too long, and returned to Taiqing Temple at noon.

Although this trip achieved its purpose and he learned about Lu's movements, he was not satisfied.

——"...Mrs. Lu asked me to protect her. She said that she had offended Bo Ya in Jingkou earlier, and she knew that she would not be able to get past Bo Ya after returning to the capital, so she wanted me to intercede. I once asked Mrs. Lu why she didn't seek protection from you or the prince. Mrs. Lu said that she didn't want you to clash with Bo Ya. But in my opinion, this is just an empty promise. To put it bluntly, although Mrs. Lu is the concubine, she does not trust you, the prince. But since we are family, how can there be any reason not to trust you? I think that Mrs. Lu is a disaster if she stays, so it is better to find a way to drive her out."

Sima Jun frowned.

Before going to Yuzhou, he thought he might hear some outrageous things. But after hearing the answer from Princess Wanshou, he felt something indescribable.

Although it is true that there is calculation in this, it seems that it is not out of conspiracy, but simply for her self-protection.

Self-protection...

——But since we are a family, how can there be no reason to distrust each other?

Sima Jun couldn't help but smile bitterly.

She naturally didn't trust him, but how could he trust her?

"Sir," Deng Lian reported shortly after returning to Taiqing Temple, "the people who went to Cangwu have news. They say they've found the village where the princess is staying after landing. They'll be able to find out soon."

Sima Jun said "hmm" lightly.

"Your Highness, I have something to say, but I don't know whether I should say it or not." After a while, Deng Lian said again.

"What?"

Deng Lian pondered for a moment and said, "I think that Princess Wanshou's words are unfair. The princess doesn't distrust the prince, but she is indeed worried about him, so she sought the princess's help. Wang Pushe is a vindictive man, so her concern that Wang Pushe would harm the prince is reasonable."

Sima Jun looked up at him and said, "You seem to be speaking up for the princess lately."

Deng Lian replied, "I simply believe that seeing is believing. Princess Wanshou and the princess have only been together for less than an hour. How can we know their character? Please judge for yourself, Your Highness."

Sima Jun remained silent and said calmly, "I understand."

——

A few days later, the sacrifices and prayers were completed and everyone set off to return to the capital.

Sun Wei stood on the boat, looking in the direction of Yuzhou, puzzled.

She had originally thought that after a day or two, Princess Wanshou would figure things out and come find her. After all, she was probably the only one in the world who knew about Grand Tutor Zhou.

But Princess Wanshou has not appeared yet.

A'ru noticed her displeasure and said, "It seems that the princess and the princess are not destined to be together."

Sun Wei thought for a while and said, "That may not be the case. I shouldn't be wrong about her."

Aju asked in confusion: "What did you see wrong?"

He misjudged her intentions towards Master Zhou.

"Nothing. She'll come to me sooner or later."

On this return trip, Sima Jun arranged for her to travel with him on the warship, while Xie Xiao and the rest of the ceremonial guards and court officials boarded the boat prepared by the Grand Chamberlain.

Sun Wei had no objection. It was not until two days later, when the boat passed Jingkou and then Jiankang and headed upstream, that she noticed something was wrong.

She found Sima Jun and asked, "Where is your Highness taking me?"

Sima Jun was writing on his desk. Without even looking up, he said, "Jiangzhou Xunyang City."

Sun Wei was stunned.

"I don't know why you suddenly want to go to Xunyang?"

Sima Jun put down his pen and looked up at her: "Go find Master Zhou."

Sun Wei looked at Sima Jun, trying to maintain composure on the surface, but in fact he was extremely confused.

Sima Jun said frankly, "I went to see Princess Wanshou. I know everything the lady and the princess said."

Sun Wei hadn't expected Sima Jun to do this. She quickly recalled that Sima Jun always went out to sea under the pretext of patrolling the sea every day, and she thought it must be one of those times when he went to Yuzhou.

She said nothing, turned around, closed the door of the boathouse, and sat down across from Sima Jun across the table.

"Why is the prince interfering in this matter?"

"I wonder what the lady is doing."

Sun Wei showed a surprised expression.

Sima Jun said slowly, "Madam, you've only been in the mansion for a short time, but everyone around you remembers your kindness and trusts you. Even the Crown Prince has advised me not to be too harsh on you. Hearing this so often, I begin to wonder if I've wronged you. But every time I ask you, you always brush it off with divination, which doesn't convince me. So, since you've suddenly gone to visit Princess Wanshou, I've got to find out."

Sima Jun always spoke frankly.

But this time, Sun Wei felt like a cat being picked up by the scruff of the neck.

"Your Highness, are you trying to say that my doing things behind your back has made you even less trusting of me?"

"I've always had doubts about you, Madam, but this incident won't make me more or less convinced," Sima Jun said. "But I received this letter."

After he said that, he handed a letter to Sun Wei.

That was exactly what Sima Jun's men sent from Cangwu.

The letter stated that he had revisited the boatman who had originally discovered Lu, as well as the fishermen and villagers who had taken her in. Their accounts were identical to Lu's. He even offered them large sums of money to entice them to reveal the truth, but the villagers were terrified, unsure of the true nature of the situation. Finally, the men he sent produced Sun Wei's portrait, and the boatman and fishermen unequivocally confirmed that this was the woman who had escaped death that day.

Sun Wei didn't expect Sima Jun to have done so many things behind her back, and was speechless for a moment.

"Your Highness is truly meticulous," Sun Wei said sarcastically, placing the letter on the table. "Is there anything else I don't know?"

"That's all." Sima Jun said, "When leading troops, one must be wary of spies, especially those whose backgrounds are unknown. This has been my habit for many years, and I hope my lady will forgive me."

Sun Wei's face was expressionless: "Hearing what the prince said, I am really relieved."

Sima Jun put the letter away and said, "Let me ask you again, Madam, what exactly is it that you are seeking?"

Sun Wei said frankly: "No matter how many times the prince asks, I will still say the same thing. I hope to spend my remaining years in the Prince of Yuzhang's mansion, and I will do my best to ensure that the prince has a smooth life."

Sima Jun looked at her for a moment and said, "Although your family education still confuses me, I will trust you. I will grant your request."

That gaze was so deep that something seemed to touch Sun Wei's heart.

In her previous life, she told him that she liked him.

He looked at himself in the same way, frankly and without any doubt.

——"What if I agree to this?"

Sun Wei also looked at him, and after a moment, he smiled: "Thank you, Prince."

The windows of the boat house were blown by the wind, and her eyes seemed to float like gentle waves.

Sima Jun looked at the desk and continued writing: "I have said what I want to say. Madam, do you have anything to ask?"

"Yes." Sun Wei hurriedly asked, "Why did the prince go to find Tutor Zhou on behalf of Princess Wanshou?"