Chen Chong had been waiting by Lihu Lake for a long time. When he saw Tian Yu appear, a long-lost smile appeared on his lips. After boarding the merchant ship that had been rented in advance, Tian Yu looked at Chen Chong sitting opposite her in the cabin. This was the first time in days that she dared to look Chen Chong in the eye properly. Tian Yu smiled and said, "Brother Chen, you have changed a lot. No, I should call you Crown Prince now."

"Just call me Chen Chong. How are you doing?" Chen Chong was also very excited, finally able to talk to Tian Yu alone.

"It's great! You've seen it all, the Marquis treats me very well," Tian Yu said with a smile.

"You are the Lady of the Marquis, so why do you still live in Qinyuan in the suburbs?" Chen Chong asked directly.

"Where can I find peace and quiet? You know I'm a very lazy person."

"I regret it so much, I should have taken you with me back then."

“You know I won’t go with you,” Tian Yu said, handing Chen Chong a cup of tea.

"Tian Yu, I don't want to let go, come with me, okay?" Chen Chong suddenly grabbed Tian Yu's hand and said.

“Brother Chen, it’s all in the past between us. You will meet someone better.”

"I don't want anyone else, I only want you. I came here to take you away."

“But I don’t want to leave here. Brother Chen, we all have our own paths to walk. Let bygones be bygones, don’t force it, okay?” Tian Yu said, pulling her hand away.

“I can tell you’re unhappy. Has Zhao Moyan been bullying you? I also heard today that the Emperor bestowed two concubines upon him.”

"Yes! But this was not his choice. He was even caned for it and is still in bed."

"Would you still be willing to do this?"

"willing!"

You've changed!

"Maybe! Brother Chen, you've changed too. We all change after going through so much."

“I haven’t changed, and my feelings for you have never changed. So why did you cry when you saw me that day?” Chen Chong pressed on.

Tian Yu could only smile when she heard his words. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Seeing you suddenly reminded me of the days we spent in Lao Zhao Village. There weren't so many calculations back then. We were happy and only thought about what to eat each day. You are like family to me. You are the closest relative I have here besides Tangyuan. As the saying goes, when fellow villagers meet, their eyes well up with tears."

"Really?"

"Of course it's true. You've seen that I'm doing very well. Zhao Moyan hasn't bullied me. You're the Crown Prince now, so you can't be sentimental anymore. You need to protect your people and be a good emperor in the future. I'll be happy for you then."

"If I were to marry you, would it be alright if I only married you?"

"No, I've already told you you're the Crown Prince. General Pei is still waiting outside." After saying that, Tian Yu got up and tried to leave the cabin.

"Tian Yu! Don't go! Stay a little longer, just a little longer." Chen Chong stood up, grabbed Tian Yu, and hugged her from behind. Tian Yu stood quietly, not daring to move.

“Brother Chen, although we can’t be husband and wife, we are still family. In my heart, you will always be my elder brother and my family here.”

"Can it only be family members!?"

"Yes! My eternal family!"

"Tian Yu!" Chen Chong was somewhat desperate. He and Tian Yu had no chance anymore, and his hand slowly slipped down.

Tian Yu turned around and said, "By the way, Brother Chen, I'd like to meet Mr. Wen alone sometime. Could you help me arrange a meeting?"

"Remove 'Chen'!"

Tian Yu was puzzled for a moment, then smiled and called out, "Big Brother!"

"Okay! Wait for my news!"

A light rain began to fall on the street. Tian Yu walked alone on the street. After parting ways with Chen Chong, Tian Yu didn't know where to go. Thinking about him and Zhao Moyan, her mind was in turmoil. Suddenly, a group of soldiers surrounded her and took her away without explaining why. Tian Yu saw that their uniforms were those of the palace guards and stopped resisting.

Upon entering the palace, Tian Yu was led to kneel before the palace gate. Tian Yu didn't understand what was happening, and the guards and eunuchs ignored her. Tian Yu was forced to kneel in front of the hall as punishment. At first, it was just a light rain, but soon it started to pour. Tian Yu felt really wronged. What had happened? Why was she being forced to kneel without being told anything? But one has to bow one's head when under someone's roof. Although she was dissatisfied, she dared not act recklessly in the palace.

After kneeling for an unknown amount of time, Tian Yu felt like he was about to faint when suddenly an umbrella appeared above his head. Tian Yu looked up in confusion, thinking it was Zhao Moyan, but the person he saw was Prince Wu. He smiled sadly and said, "Is this how your royal family punishes whoever you want without distinguishing right from wrong?"

"Bear with it a little longer, I'll think of something," said Prince Wu.

"Don't let Zhao Moyan know. He's still injured and can't get wet," Tian Yu said nonchalantly, thinking that as long as Zhao Moyan was alright, that was all that mattered.

"It's too late. He's probably already at the palace gate by now."

"Could you please tell me what mistake I made?"

"Crown Prince..."

Before Prince Wu could finish speaking, the eunuch came to call her into the hall. With Prince Wu's help, Tian Yu got up and followed the eunuch into the main hall. Li Linfeng and several ministers and princes were all in the hall. Judging from the situation, this was no small matter!

Soaked to the bone, Tian Yu knelt down tremblingly to pay her respects. Since the Emperor did not speak, Tian Yu could only lie on the ground, not daring to get up or raise her head.

"Tian Yu, where did you go today?" the Emperor asked.

Tian Yu's mind raced. Prince Wu had just mentioned the Crown Prince; could he be referring to Chen Chong? Without hesitation, she quickly replied, "Your Majesty, Lihu."

"Where did you go? What were you doing? Who did you meet?"

"Your Majesty, I have met with the Crown Prince of Chen."

Before Tian Yu could finish speaking, a minister stepped forward and said, "You, Tian Yu, have confessed without being asked. So you really have an affair with the Crown Prince of Chen. Your Majesty, Tian Yu's affair with the Prince of Chen is a heinous crime."

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