Chapter 24 Her methods were truly appalling; he had really underestimated her. ...
The courtyard of the meditation room was so quiet that even the words echoed.
Shock surged like a tidal wave, and a multitude of complex emotions welled up in her heart, leaving her stunned on the spot. She even forgot to break free from his embrace, staring only at the person in front of her.
A moment later, she abruptly pulled her hand back and knelt down with a thud. "This humble woman is guilty of offending Your Majesty. I mistook Your Majesty for the Prince of Yan, which is extremely disrespectful..."
Yuan Chaolu felt dizzy and his vision was blurry. He had to support himself with his hands on the ground to barely keep his balance.
What absurd and terrible mistake did she make during this period?
He had clearly hired many renowned teachers for himself, all of whom were important officials in the court, and no one dared to stop him from taking him to and from the martial arts review grounds.
Yuan Chaolu's back was gradually covered in cold sweat. How could she have imagined that, in this whole world, besides the Prince of Yan, there was another person who could do these things...
That day at Tianzhen Pavilion, the "Young Master Lu" spoke with absolute certainty that the Prince of Yan was always accompanied by a cheetah, which made Yuan Chaolu believe in the emperor's identity without a doubt.
Looking back now, she bit her lip tightly, and tasted a hint of sweet and metallic flavor on her tongue.
Not to mention just now... she actually took that supreme being's hand and placed it on her heart.
Yuan Chaolu was covered in cold sweat, feeling that gaze hovering above his head. He wished he could escape immediately, but the Prince of Yan was right outside the courtyard, leaving him in a dilemma.
But the emperor's accountability was still waiting for her.
“Straighten up,” he said.
As Yuan Chaolu slowly straightened up, her hands supporting her on her skirt, a corner of his blue robe came into view.
Even with her head bowed, one could sense a slight smile on the Emperor's face. "Second Miss Yuan, weren't you just clinging to me, refusing to let go? What, is my status so intimidating to you compared to that of the Prince of Yan?"
Yuan Chaolu naturally had reason to fear the Prince of Yan and the Emperor. One was a prince who received his title by virtue of the Emperor's grace, while the other was the supreme ruler who planned to establish the empire. She could tell who held the highest power.
Her flirting tactics, which transgressed the proper etiquette of a young lady, were all driven by the thought that the person she was trying to seduce was her future husband, which made her somewhat unscrupulous.
But who would have thought that the other party was actually the current emperor?
Yuan Chaolu felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her from head to toe, her mind a jumbled mess.
Her breath trembled slightly. What she could see was a pair of hands with distinct knuckles. The jade thumb ring on her thumb was covered with cold marks left by drawing a bow, a stark reminder that this emperor was used to the power of life and death, and could decide a person's life or death with just a few words.
Just moments before, that hand was placed in front of me, the warmth of the palm seeping through my clothes.
The jade thumb ring reflected the clear light on her chin as she asked, "When did Your Majesty realize that I had mistaken you for someone else?"
The emperor said, "When you were bathing the night before last..."
Yuan Chaolu was deeply moved by these words. She touched her forehead to the ground, draped her long sleeves in front of her, and knelt down, saying, "This humble woman knows her mistake. She was momentarily confused and made such an arrogant move. I hope Your Majesty will forgive this humble woman for her offense."
“But your crime seems to warrant execution according to the law.”
His words, spoken slowly from his thin lips, felt like a knife slowly and deliberately torturing her heart.
“I have forgiven you for your offense once, do you remember? Last time, it was also in this meditation room. I don’t need to help you recall what you did, but you have done it again today. Out of consideration for your late father and elder sister, I arranged your marriage to the Prince of Yan, yet you have behaved like this.”
"I hereby decide to cancel your marriage to the Prince of Yan."
"No!" Yuan Chaolu raised her head and met the Emperor's bright eyes.
He laughed and said, "Don't tell me you still want to marry the Prince of Yan?"
Yuan Chaolu's eyes reddened with shame, and she gritted her teeth, trying to speak several times, but couldn't utter a single word.
His hand rested lightly on her shoulder, without much pressure.
But it was heavy.
"Are you dissatisfied, feeling that I am too harsh? Do you feel that I am domineering, and blame me for knowing your identity but deliberately not saying it?"
Yuan Chaolu's thoughts were completely guessed. She knew she shouldn't argue, but she was still unwilling to give up. A very soft "hmm" escaped from her tightly clenched lips.
He laughed and said, "From the night before last when I accidentally stumbled upon your thoughts to this morning, only one night and one day have passed, and I have already summoned the Prince of Yan. I believe I have done nothing wrong. Did I deliberately delay you?"
Yuan Chaolu said, "No."
"Did I give you any hints before the night before last, prompting you to throw yourself into my arms here?"
Yuan Chaolu still said, "No."
But tears welled up in her eyes, and she was about to burst into tears. The emperor smiled gently and said, "Yuan Chaolu, it's no use hiding your tears in front of me."
The first time he addressed her by her full name, "Yuan Chaolu," his tone betrayed no emotion or feeling whatsoever.
"You shall return to the Yuan residence to reflect on your mistakes. As for your punishment, I will consider it further."
She was not allowed to leave the mansion until she received a pardon, which was a form of house arrest.
When Yuan Chaolu walked out of the meditation room, her eyes still held the shame and anger that had not yet faded. But when she saw the young man in the courtyard turn his head to look at her, Yuan Chaolu immediately raised her sleeve to cover her face and brushed past him without exchanging a word.
Xiao Luozhi took a step back and gave a slight bow, but the young woman ignored him and quickly went into her room, slamming the door shut.
That's really... rude.
His Highness the Prince of Yan, who was always fawned over by everyone, had never been treated so coldly before. Even though this person was his elder brother's woman, he still frowned slightly.
Zhong Changjun stood in front of the door, bowed and smiled, "Your Highness, the Prince of Yan, His Majesty summons you."
Xiao Luozhi straightened his clothes, entered and bowed. He saw the emperor standing by the table, wearing a green robe, jade ornaments, and incense, elegantly wiping his fingertips with a handkerchief.
He held his breath and said, "Brother Emperor."
The Emperor slightly raised his hand to signal the Prince of Yan to rise, and the Prince of Yan stepped forward with a smile: "The weather is excellent today. Would Your Majesty like to go down the mountain and hunt with me at the hunting grounds?"
The emperor asked, "Aren't you curious about who that woman is?"
"Your Majesty's private affairs are naturally not for me to comment on, but Your Majesty has been on the throne for three years and has not had a woman by your side. The ministers in the court are worried about the affairs of the harem. Now that there is a woman to accompany Your Majesty and relieve Your Majesty's worries, I am also happy for Your Majesty."
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw the emperor looking at him with a strange expression.
Xiao Luozhi was unaware of what he had asked the wrong question. This was the second time he had encountered a woman at the Zen temple. Xiao Luozhi was indeed curious about what kind of woman could make his usually celibate brother break his vows.
He dared not ask such a question, and respectfully asked with a smile, "Your Majesty sent Zhonggong to summon me today, saying that you have something important to discuss with me. What is it?"
The emperor, with a gentle expression, pulled him to his side and said, "Nothing much, I just wanted to ask if your archery skills have improved. If you have the time, I will personally instruct you."
Xiao Luozhi was stunned. "Royal brother?"
During this time, his elder brother had been indifferent and strict with him, always cold and austere in his official duties. Although he did not know why his elder brother had forgiven him today, he felt as if a stone had finally been removed from his back. He breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Thank you, elder brother."
The emperor raised his hand: "However, during this period of time, you must not send anyone to the Yuan family again."
Xiao Luozhi asked, puzzled, "Why do you say that, Your Majesty?"
The Emperor said, "The Yuan family has presented the Second Miss Yuan's coursework. I have reviewed it, and she is indeed lacking in poetry and literature. In my opinion, she may not be suitable to be the Princess Consort of Yan."
A look of surprise appeared in Xiao Luozhi's eyes: "Does Your Majesty mean that my marriage with the Second Miss is..."
The Emperor said, “Let’s put it aside for now, but that doesn’t mean it’s off the table. I promised her that her elder sister would take care of her younger sister, and I will keep my promise. However, we still need to see what kind of person she is. I need to think carefully about this marriage.”
"Go."
Xiao Luozhi was anxious and uneasy before he arrived, but his face relaxed when he left. Two pleasant inquiries in a row left him in a daze.
The marriage with Miss Yuan was finally put on hold. Although it was a contract left by the late emperor that stipulated that one of the sons of the Xiao family must marry a woman from the Yuan family, judging from his brother's intentions, he might not be the one chosen.
But his previous promise to her remains unchanged; even if the marriage doesn't happen in the future, he will do everything he can to make it up to her. He will do whatever she asks.
Yuan Chaolu waited for him on the path down the mountain that the Prince of Yan would inevitably take.
The curtain of light gauze fluttered, and sunlight filtered through the gaps in the veil, illuminating the beautiful face of the woman behind it. Her black hair was tied up high, and the light gauze added to her ethereal appearance. Coupled with her light green silk dress, she blended into the lush green mountains, making her look like a figure from a painting.
Just a moment after standing there, several young men going up and down the mountain turned around and looked back.
Just as the emperor summoned the Prince of Yan for a meeting, she had already composed herself.
Even now, she is filled with immense shame. She had used so many seductive methods, and she has no face to face the Emperor. Even without the Emperor's permission, she is determined to move out of Chanxu Temple.
But this marriage was something her elder sister had begged for for herself, risking offending the heavens and filled with fear. She couldn't let her elder sister's hard work go to waste.
She has always been extremely good at taking care of herself and would never blame everything on herself. If anyone is to blame, the Prince of Yan also bears some responsibility.
It's just that she mistook her fiancé for someone else. She should start over from where she made the mistake.
The emperor's temper was unpredictable, and his style was ruthless. Serving the emperor was like serving a tiger. If she had a choice, she would never choose a man with such a personality as her husband.
As the Prince of Yan drew closer, she seized the opportunity and gracefully emerged from the bamboo grove.
"Could it be Young Master Lu? I never expected to meet Young Master Lu here!"
A light, melodious voice, like that of a nightingale, entered Xiao Luozhi's ears. Upon hearing this, Xiao Luozhi looked up and saw a woman in a green dress standing by the mountain road. With a slight lift of her hand, the curtain was slowly lifted, revealing a beautiful face.
Xiao Luozhi was slightly taken aback: "Miss Zhou?"
"Miss Zhou, you've also come to Chanxu Temple to worship Buddha today?" His gaze fell on her face, noticing her slightly furrowed brow and pained expression. He quickly asked, "What's wrong?"
Sweat beaded on Yuan Chaolu's forehead. She clutched a handkerchief to her chest with her delicate hand and slowly sat down against the blue stone beside the mountain path. Her breath was slightly short as she said, "The summer heat is unbearable. I came up the mountain to pray for my family. But I twisted my ankle and have no maidservant with me. Now I can hardly go down the mountain."
Upon hearing this, Xiao Luozhi lifted his brocade robe, knelt on one knee in front of her, and said gently, "Miss Zhou, may I examine your injuries first?"
“No need to trouble you, young master. I will have a doctor examine me myself after we get down the mountain.” She looked troubled. “It’s just that we’re halfway down the mountain, neither going up nor down. I don’t know how to get down…”
She was truly distressed, her shoulders slumped low, only her eyes remained bright.
Xiao Luozhi was burned by that gaze and couldn't help but look away.
A gentle breeze blew by, causing the light veil covering her to flutter in the wind, its cool touch carrying her delicate fragrance. He remained silent for a while before finally speaking softly, "If you don't mind, may I take you down the mountain?"
Yuan Chaolu looked surprised and slightly parted his lips: "Wouldn't that be against etiquette? I'm afraid it would be too much trouble for you, young master, and delay your important business..."
Xiao Luozhi rested one hand on his knee and smiled, "I have nothing to do this evening. Since I have met Miss Zhou, I am very lucky. Thank you for the painting last time, Miss Zhou. Accompanying Miss Zhou is my priority."
She saw that the young man had a gentle smile, a bright and clear expression, and spoke softly and gently.
A gentle evening breeze blew, casting bamboo shadows on his face, and his eyes held a warm glow.
He was completely different from his cold-hearted brother.
Yuan Chaolu's fingertips, which were draped over the stone beside her, curled slightly as she lightly gripped the hem of her skirt. She gently tapped her chin and said, "Alright."
Just as Xiao Luo was about to help her up, he saw a familiar figure appear in the distance. It was none other than Zhong Changjun, the emperor's eunuch.
Yuan Chaolu's expression changed, and she subconsciously pulled the curtain over to cover her face, but she was too late. Zhong Changjun had already walked towards them and saw her.
Xiao Luozhi quickly stepped forward, signaling with his eyes not to reveal his identity. He took the dagger from Zhong Changjun's hand, wiped it with his sleeve, and said with a smile, "I actually forgot this. I'm sorry to trouble you, Zhong Gong, to bring me this dagger."
Zhong Changjun smiled and looked at Yuan Chaolu, whose heart skipped a beat.
"And who is this?" Zhong Changjun asked.
The Prince of Yan said, "This Miss Zhou is an old acquaintance of mine. I didn't expect to meet her at Chanxu Temple."
Zhong Changjun's gaze sharpened as he fixed it on Yuan Chaolu's face: "Miss Zhou, why is your face so pale? Are you feeling unwell?"
Yuan Chaolu forced a smile, but before she could answer, the Prince of Yan interrupted, "Miss Zhou has sprained her ankle, and I was just about to escort her down the mountain."
Zhong Changjun stepped forward, his eyes revealing genuine concern: "So that's how it is. Bone and tendon injuries cannot be delayed; we must see a doctor immediately."
He hesitated for a moment, then said, "Young master, why don't I arrange a bamboo sedan chair for the young lady? This mountain temple provides bamboo sedan chairs specifically for pilgrims with mobility issues, and it's nearby. This way, you won't have to trouble yourself."
The Prince of Yan turned to look at her and said, "That's good, it's safer that way."
Her carefully planned encounter was about to succeed when it was disrupted by this unexpected turn of events.
Yuan Chaolu forced a smile and said "okay," afraid that he would reveal his identity, and said, "Then I will trouble this Uncle Zhong."
Zhong Changjun said kindly, "Miss Zhou, you're too kind. No need to thank me."
Before long, the sedan chair bearers arrived at the foot of the mountain steps. Yuan Chaolu lightly lifted her skirt and stepped into the bamboo sedan chair, but she sensed a figure moving deep in the bamboo forest above. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of a man in a green robe, and her heart tightened. She wanted to take a closer look, but the sedan chair bearers urged her on repeatedly, so she had to hurriedly get out of the sedan chair.
Soon, the figure of the Prince of Yan disappeared at the end of the mountain path. Zhong Changjun turned around and then stepped onto the mountain path to go up the mountain.
On a secluded path hidden by bamboo groves, a figure in a green robe stood against the wind. Zhong Changjun bowed and respectfully said, "Your Majesty." The mountain wind lifted the figure's robes, revealing it to be the very figure Yuan Chaolu had glimpsed in the corner of his eye.
The emperor, who intended to visit Abbot Yinghui on the mountain and discuss Zen with him, happened to pass by and had obviously witnessed the scene just now.
Zhong Changjun recounted everything he had seen and heard to the king, “Miss Yuan’s maid was packing her things to leave. When I went to deliver something to the Prince of Yan, Miss Yuan was waiting for him halfway up the mountain. Her makeup was fresh, her lip color was extremely bright, and she had also changed her clothes, probably to prevent the Prince of Yan from noticing.”
"She wanted to use the excuse of spraining her ankle to get the Prince of Yan to personally escort the Second Miss down the mountain."
The emperor lifted his foot and slowly walked up the mountain, his expression serene, his blue robes fluttering in the breeze, as if he were unmoved by this matter.
He had truly underestimated her.
She could easily seduce her younger brother as soon as she realized she had seduced the wrong older brother.
Zhong Changjun followed cautiously behind, when he heard a cold voice coming from above.
"Send someone to the Yuan residence to convey a message to me."
-----------------------
The author's note: Morning dew: the indomitable morning dew, indeed.
There's a red envelope dropping in this chapter, mwah~
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
