Chapter 26 Chu Huaiyu's inexplicable irritation
"Ah Xue, what exactly happened?" Chu Siheng's voice was filled with undisguised heartache.
Lu Zhaoxue lowered her eyelashes and said in a hoarse voice, "It's nothing, I just accidentally bumped into someone, Siheng, please don't ask anymore."
Lu Zhaoxue didn't want him to know about the embarrassing situation in the Imperial Garden, and she was even more afraid that he would clash with Du Xianyue or even Chu Huaiyu again because of her.
Chu Siheng looked at Lu Zhaoxue's tightly pursed lips and knew that she was deliberately hiding it. He felt anxious and heartbroken, but in the end, he couldn't bear to press her any further.
He sighed heavily, gently brushed the stray hairs from her forehead, and said in a deep voice, "Alright, I won't ask you anymore."
"But Xue, remember, no matter what happens, I'll be by your side."
...
The next day, Lu Zhaoxue's cheeks were still severely swollen and showed no signs of abating.
Seeing her feigned calmness, Chu Siheng finally couldn't hold back any longer. Because of his past crimes, the emperor had already issued a decree forbidding outsiders from entering or leaving Jingyou Garden at will, but he couldn't care less about that now.
For Ah Xue's sake, he would gladly endure any hardship, even if it meant defying the ban.
Chu Siheng immediately sent someone to Cining Palace to repeatedly plead with Empress Dowager Yu to invite a doctor to the palace for treatment.
...
At the Jiuzhou Qingyan Hall, a melodious tune flowed gently, and the rich fragrance in the hall stirred the soul.
Several dancers dressed in red skirts swayed their hips and danced gracefully to the melody, their movements exquisite and captivating.
Chu Huaiyu leaned back on the dragon throne, his slender fingers resting on the armrests, gently tapping along with the melody.
His narrow eyes were closed, and his thick eyelashes cast a faint shadow beneath them. His usually cold and indifferent features softened slightly at this moment.
Recently, rumors have been circulating in the palace that Empress Du Xianyue has fallen out of favor. A dancer in the palace, whose appearance is particularly outstanding, was secretly delighted upon seeing this.
The dancer, mustering her courage, stealthily approached the dragon throne as the formation shifted. She gently clung to Chu Huaiyu's arm, her voice soft and seductive: "Your Majesty..."
Chu Huaiyu slowly opened his eyes, a hint of reckless laughter rippling in his narrow phoenix eyes.
He reached for the wine cup beside him, tilted his head back, and took a sip. The wine slid down his lips, adding a touch of wild allure.
Seeing this, the dancer became even bolder. She nestled into Chu Huaiyu's arms, her soft body pressed tightly against his chest.
Chu Huaiyu's fingertips accidentally brushed against the dancer's smooth back, and the image of Lu Zhaoxue flashed uncontrollably through his mind.
After Lu Zhaoxue was tortured years ago, crisscrossing scars covered her back. A subtle chill crept into Chu Huaiyu's eyes, and the warmth in his eyes gradually faded, leaving only a bottomless darkness.
The dancer was unaware of Chu Huaiyu's distraction, assuming that she had already bewitched the emperor. She was secretly pleased and tilted her head slightly, as if she wanted to say something.
"Your Majesty, there is an urgent matter to report!" Just then, a guard's hurried voice came from outside the hall, breaking the idyllic atmosphere inside.
Chu Huaiyu snapped back to his senses, a hint of displeasure flashing across his face. He then pushed away the dancer in his arms, raised his hand, and waved it away, saying in a deep voice, "You may all leave."
The dancer's face immediately showed disappointment. She had finally managed to get close to His Majesty today, but this sudden report interrupted her. She gritted her teeth inwardly, her heart filled with resentment.
The dancers bowed and withdrew, and the music in the hall ceased.
The guard strode into the hall, knelt on the cold gold bricks, and respectfully reported: "Your Majesty, Chu Siheng has allowed people to enter Jingyou Garden without authorization, defying your decree."
"What's the reason?" Chu Huaiyu lowered his eyes slightly, his tone flat, revealing no emotion.
The guard knelt below the emperor, unable to see his expression, and could only brace himself and say, "According to my investigation, this person is a doctor, specially invited by Chu Siheng to treat Lu's injuries."
Chu Huaiyu nodded without saying a word, and the hall fell into a brief silence.
He hadn't expected that Chu Siheng would dare to so blatantly defy the imperial decree for Lu Zhaoxue's sake. He was still so reckless with Lu Zhaoxue!
How utterly foolish! Chu Huaiyu sneered inwardly. He and Chu Siheng were fundamentally different.
The pinnacle of power was his lifelong pursuit! As for women, they were merely stepping stones on his path to the top.
Emperor Wu of Ming once personally warned him: "If you want to become an invincible monarch with no weaknesses, you must personally cut off your own weaknesses."
Emperor Mingwu's words were all implying to Chu Huaiyu that Lu Zhaoxue was his biggest hidden danger. If he did not get rid of her as soon as possible, it was hard to guarantee that she would remain a major threat in the future.
To prove he had no weaknesses, and to reassure Emperor Mingwu that he could entrust the position of crown prince to him.
After Chu Siheng was deposed, he immediately married Du Xianyue to show that he had no further connection with Lu Zhaoxue.
He put on a good show and acted out his role so that Emperor Mingwu finally believed him and made him the crown prince.
For so many years, he had always believed that he had truly succeeded, and that Lu Zhaoxue had long since become insignificant in his heart. However, when he heard news of her just now, the fleeting stirring in his heart made Chu Huaiyu inexplicably irritable.
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