Chapter 116 A Shocking Secret (This chapter is a must-read)
[This chapter is a must-read! Without reading it, you won't understand the plot at all...]
Chu Siheng suddenly felt a warm gaze fixed on him.
He looked up and met Lu Zhaoxue's clear eyes, the corners of which still held a trace of sleepiness.
He absolutely adored it...
"Ah Xue, you're awake?" Chu Siheng chuckled softly, his voice gentle as water.
Lu Zhaoxue's heart skipped a beat when he suddenly looked at her and asked her a question.
Her cheeks flushed instantly, and she nodded gently, replying, "Yes, I'm awake."
Chu Siheng strode over and, before Lu Zhaoxue could react, reached out and pulled her tightly into his arms.
Chu Siheng's embrace was always so reassuring and warm, enveloping her completely as if it could shield her from all the storms of the world.
"I want to hold you like this forever and never let go." Chu Siheng rested his chin on the top of her head, his voice full of tenderness and reluctance.
After saying that, he carefully released Lu Zhaoxue and took out a white jade medicine bottle from his sleeve.
The jade bottle was carved with exquisite cloud patterns, and it was clear at a glance that it was very valuable.
Chu Siheng uncorked the bottle and poured out a perfectly round pill, its color a lustrous white with a faint pearly sheen.
"Ah Xue, eat this." He held the pill to Lu Zhaoxue's lips, his tone gentle.
Lu Zhaoxue blinked, her eyes full of doubt, and asked, "Siheng, what is this?"
"It's a miraculous medicine that can heal your body." Chu Siheng stared at her, his eyes filled with undeniable seriousness.
"There is only one of its kind in the world, which can eradicate your old ailment."
"Is it really that amazing?" Lu Zhaoxue's eyes widened in surprise, her tone full of disbelief.
Seeing her surprised expression, Chu Siheng smiled and nodded, then watched her take the pill.
The room fell silent for a moment, with only the sound of cicadas chirping outside.
After a moment, the blush on Lu Zhaoxue's face gradually faded, replaced by a faint sadness.
With her eyes lowered, her fingers unconsciously tugging at Chu Siheng's sleeve, she said softly, "In another hour, I will have to go back to the palace."
Chu Siheng's body stiffened abruptly, and he tightened his arms around her.
"I heard that Chu Huaiyu has been in a coma and even the imperial physicians cannot diagnose the cause."
Lu Zhaoxue raised her head, her eyes full of confusion: "What exactly is going on?"
Chu Siheng looked at the doubt in her eyes, remained silent for a moment, and then slowly spoke, his tone eerily calm: "I had someone drug him."
"What did you say?" Lu Zhaoxue's eyes widened suddenly as she looked at Chu Siheng in disbelief.
Her voice trembled slightly: "What if... what if he finds out?"
Chu Huaiyu has always been ruthless; if he were to learn the truth, the consequences would be unimaginable…
Chu Siheng gently patted Lu Zhaoxue's hand, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by gentleness.
"Ah Xue, don't worry. This medicine is colorless and odorless, and its properties are so unique that the imperial physicians can't detect it at all."
He paused again, his tone becoming heavy: "If it weren't for Chu Huaiyu's current control of a large army and the deep-rooted power in the court, I would never let you return to that den of dragons and tigers."
“But I can’t gamble now.” Chu Siheng stared intently at Lu Zhaoxue, his eyes filled with pain and struggle.
"If I impulsively take you away, and then lose to Chu Huaiyu... my life and death are a small matter, but I don't want you to suffer with me anymore."
After saying that, he reached out and gently stroked Lu Zhaoxue's face.
He gently stroked her delicate skin with his fingertips, his eyes almost overflowing with sorrow.
"Ah Xue, I'm sorry, it's Chu Siheng who's useless! I don't want you to suffer even a little bit because of our power struggle."
Lu Zhaoxue felt a warmth in her heart and quickly placed her hand on the back of his hand, patting it gently.
She gently comforted him, saying, "Siheng, I understand. We must not act rashly now."
This kind of thing has far-reaching consequences; if you're going to do it, you have to wait until the time is right and strike decisively.
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, Lu Zhaoxue's expression turned serious.
She leaned closer to Chu Siheng and whispered, "By the way, Siheng, there's something else I need to tell you. The late emperor... he actually didn't die at all!"
"What did you say?" Chu Siheng's pupils shrank, his face filled with disbelief.
"Father isn't dead? How is that possible?"
Overlapping images flashed through his mind: on the day the late emperor passed away, the sandalwood incense in the palace was unusually strong, almost drowning out all other scents.
Before sealing the coffin, he wanted to take one last look at his father, but Chu Huaiyu stopped him, saying, "Father has passed away, and I'm afraid it would frighten him."
These details, which he had once doubted, suddenly made Chu Siheng understand something.
Lu Zhaoxue nodded firmly, her tone extremely serious: "I saw it with my own eyes, it's absolutely true."
Chu Siheng thought to himself: Father Emperor is not dead?
Why did he fake his death back then?
Is it to avoid court intrigue, or... is there another motive?
Chu Huaiyu had known about this all along and had even conspired with his father, the emperor.
Countless questions overwhelmed Chu Siheng like a tidal wave, leaving him almost breathless.
"Siheng?" Lu Zhaoxue asked quickly when she saw that his expression was not right, her eyes full of worry.
Chu Siheng took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in his heart, and grasped Lu Zhaoxue's hand in return, his eyes becoming incredibly firm.
"I understand, Xue." His voice was hoarse, but it carried an undeniable determination.
"I promise, I will never let you suffer any more injustice. Even if it means fighting Chu Huaiyu's forces to the death, I will not hesitate!"
Just then, a very soft knock came from outside the window, a signal from the guards.
Chu Siheng's eyes sharpened, and he gestured for Lu Zhaoxue to be quiet, saying in a deep voice, "Wait outside."
Chu Siheng stepped out of the house. The guard in front of him, dressed in black, knelt on one knee and said, "Your Highness, I have discovered that there are unknown forces operating outside the capital recently. They are acting suspiciously and seem to be investigating something in secret."
Chu Siheng's eyes darkened. Sure enough, his father's faked death was no accident; there must be a huge conspiracy behind it.
He waved his hand, signaling the guards to leave.
Chu Siheng went back into the house, looked at Lu Zhaoxue, and said in a serious tone, "Axue, it seems I need to speed up my pace."
This game of chess is no longer just a contest between Chu Huaiyu and me.
Lu Zhaoxue nodded after hearing this, indicating that he understood everything.
Chu Siheng's gaze was as deep as the night, his eyes churning with turbulent waves.
His eyes held both incomprehension and heartache towards the late emperor, as well as unwavering determination and resolve to protect Lu Zhaoxue.
He must win this game of power struggle.
Not only for himself, but also for the woman in front of him, and for them to have a stable future.
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