“Madam, Hongyu is a member of the Duke’s mansion, and Liu Yu will certainly protect her. Madam is injured, so you should go back to the mansion to rest and not trouble yourself with the affairs of the Duke’s mansion.”
After speaking, Liu Yu waved his hand, and two guards stepped forward to escort Chen Yu back to Cheng Garden.
Shen Yu understood that Liu Yu was about to go on a campaign against the Japanese pirates. Not to mention the Zuo family, even the Empress had to give him some face and release Hongyu.
Hongyu was innocently caught in this calamity, and Chenyu was unwilling to accept it, so she devised a plan to get rid of the guards and rush to the Prince Yan's mansion.
Lianxiang came out to greet her, and Chenyu asked anxiously, "Has Prince Yan woken up?"
Lianxiang nodded and pulled her into the hall. Only after closing the door did she dare to speak: "Sister Yu, there are many spies of the Empress in the Prince Yan's mansion. This time, Hongyu is probably doomed."
"Why does Consort Xiang say such a thing?"
Lianxiang glanced at the doorway again, then leaned close to Chenyu's ear and whispered, "The Emperor was very worried when he heard that Hongyu was missing, and even sent a team of guards to search for her. The Empress was naturally displeased and complained to the Emperor about Hongyu's crimes, even saying that Hongyu was shameless and had slept with Prince Yan in front of the nanny. The Emperor was furious and said... it was inappropriate to interfere in his children's affairs. The Empress took back the gold hairpin and accompanied the Emperor back to the palace."
After saying this, Lianxiang knelt down and tears instantly streamed down her face. "Sister Yu, Lianxiang knows that she cannot save Hongyu on her own. I hope that Sister Yu will lend a helping hand."
Shen Yu was surprised. Lian Xiang had taken away Hong Yu's identity, so she should be hoping that Hong Yu would suffer an accident. Why would she be thinking of rescuing Hong Yu now?
Lianxiang, being perceptive, naturally noticed Shenyu's doubts. To convince Shenyu, she had to reveal her own background: "Sister Yu, you only know that Lu Qing'er is the legitimate daughter of the Lu family, but did you know that Lu Qing'er also has a half-sister, Lu Xue'er? Lianxiang is Lu Xue'er's daughter. Sister Yu, you can send someone to Jiangnan to verify this. Now, Lianxiang only begs Sister Yu to save Hongyu..."
Shen Yu was secretly surprised. Although the spies sent to Jiangnan had not yet returned, Lianxiang's appearance was indeed extremely similar to that of a member of the Lu family. Moreover, given Lianxiang's methods, if she really wanted to harm Hongyu, Hongyu would have no chance of survival.
She quickly helped Lianxiang up, whispered something in her ear, and then they went together to the gate of the Yan Prince's Mansion to wait for Hongyu's return.
Liu Yu's carriage did not return until the sun had set.
Liu Yu jumped off the carriage and headed straight for Chen Yu, a smug smile playing on his lips. No further words were needed; he had clearly rescued Hong Yu.
He nodded to Chen Yu, and was about to speak when Chen Yu headed straight for the sedan chair at the back. Under the watchful eyes of the servants, he had no choice but to suppress his smile and enter the Prince Yan's residence.
Here, Shen Yu knew that Liu Yu wanted to greet her, but with many servants present, she deliberately ignored them and went straight to Hong Yu's sedan chair. When she lifted the curtain, she saw that Hong Yu and Fei Cui were sitting safely in the sedan chair.
The group remained silent until they entered Yu Run Xuan, at which point they dared to offer their greetings.
"Hongyu, sit down quickly."
"Hongyu has suffered."
Lianxiang and Chenyu helped Hongyu sit down.
With her two older sisters by her side, Hongyu burst into tears, recounting how she left the Zuo family: "Sister Yu, Consort Xiang, don't worry, Hongyu is fine. This time, the Empress wanted to kill Hongyu, but fortunately, Young Master Liu arrived in time. Perhaps the court urgently needs a military general, and the Zuo family dared not offend Young Master Liu, nor dared to release her easily, so they sent someone to the palace to request an imperial decree. The Empress issued an oral edict, saying that this matter arose because Hongyu had trespassed into the Crown Prince's residence, and out of respect for General Yu, Hongyu would be temporarily pardoned. Zuo Meier even warned Hongyu not to seduce the Crown Prince!"
Shen Yu, her face showing displeasure, sat down beside Hong Yu, then stood up and said in a low voice, "The Empress has many reasons for wanting to take lives, but we are all thorns in the side of the Crown Prince's faction!"
"Sister Yu, please don't be angry. If we want to save our lives from now on, we can only rely on the Emperor. Otherwise, Zuo Meier and Liu Yaoer will never let this go."
Upon hearing what Hongyu said, Chenyu and Lianxiang looked at each other in silence, presumably because Hongyu was unaware that the Emperor had changed his mind.
Lianxiang shook her head and sighed, "The Empress has taken back the two gold hairpins, and the Emperor will no longer concern himself with your affairs. We must find another patron."
Hongyu pressed her lips together, forcing a bitter smile as tears streamed down her face. "The Emperor has three thousand beauties in his harem, how could he possibly favor Hongyu? It's just a fleeting infatuation. The day the Emperor bestowed a golden hairpin upon Hongyu, he had ulterior motives... If it weren't for the urgent report from the southeast coast, I fear Hongyu would not have been able to escape this calamity."
Shen Yu quickly handed over a handkerchief and comforted her, saying, "Hongyu, don't be sad. Right now, we can only rely on Prince Yan."
At this moment, Yan Wang covered his head with a blanket and remained silent.
Liu Yu sat on the edge of the bed, still earnestly advising, "Prince Yan, the Crown Prince has already eliminated two princes, and now he has improper thoughts about Hongyu. If you don't pull yourself together, you may be bullied by others."
Yan Wang suddenly threw off the covers, glaring angrily at Liu Yu, "Yu Lang has already established his own unique style, why bother arguing with me?"
Ha! Liu Yu smiled helplessly. Yan Wang was just being stubborn with him. Although Yan Wang was his cousin, he had always treated Yan Wang with great courtesy since childhood, and he still did so now.
He helped Yan Wang up and comforted him gently, "Even if Yu Lang succeeds in his expedition, it will be Yan Wang's achievement. This is Yu Lang's first expedition, and his life or death is uncertain. It would be better if Yan Wang did not go."
"I am truly at ease. I suggest that Prince Hong assist Yu Lang."
"Your Highness, Consort Yu is in trouble! You must go and see..."
Upon hearing the maid's call, Prince Yan hurriedly went to Yu Run Xuan.
In the courtyard, Hongyu lay in Lianxiang's arms, her long hair disheveled and her clothes tattered, as if she had been molested.
King Yan, filled with grief and indignation, slowly approached and saw that Hongyu's wrist was bleeding profusely.
Shen Yu rushed over with a medicine box and hurriedly bandaged her wounds. "What are you doing, Consort Yu! General Yu has already saved you, and Prince Yan is also unharmed. Why would you want to take your own life?"
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