Chapter 97 Dirty

He carried the bundle back to the palace without saying a word along the way.

Duan Ruwang followed behind her, thought about it, and still felt a little worried.

"Hedge."

Duan Lushu's eyes turned red: "Hmm?"

Duan Ruwang asked: "Do you really like him?"

Duan Lushu forced a smile: "No, I don't like it now."

She straightened her hair and said, "Go back quickly. It will be bad if our father finds out."

Before he finished speaking, a stern voice came from the side.

"What would be bad if I knew it?"

Duan Lushu was startled, and when he turned around, he saw the emperor was surrounded by a group of people and walking out of the Yu Garden. Behind him were several concubines in gorgeous clothes, and they seemed to be admiring the lights in the Yu Garden.

Duan Ruwang bowed calmly: "I wish you good health, father."

Duan Lu Shu also bowed and saluted, saying hesitantly, "Father."

The emperor did not look at Duan Ruwang, but waved to Duan Lushu.

Duan Lu Shu walked over with his eyes downcast.

"Why are you dressed like this today? Where have you been?"

Duan Lu Shu realized that he could no longer hide it, so he whispered, "Second brother took me to Tianshui Lane to see the lanterns."

The emperor frowned and looked at Duan Ruwang coldly.

Duan Lushu said hurriedly: "It has nothing to do with Second Brother. I was the one who kept asking him to take me there. If Father wants to punish me, then punish me."

The emperor didn't want to embarrass Duan Ruwang in front of so many people, so he said coldly, "Stand up."

Duan Ruwang then stood up, slightly leaning aside and standing aside with an unchanged expression.

The emperor ignored him and looked at Duan Lu Shu with some dissatisfaction, saying: "The princess of the dynasty actually ran to such a place of trouble. What if she encountered danger? If it happens again, I will not punish her lightly."

The implication is that the matter will not be pursued.

Duan Lu Shu smiled and said, "Thank you for your kindness, Father. Next time I go, I will bring thousands of troops with me and will never let you get close to me."

The emperor loved the little princess very much, and was not angry at first. He was amused by her words: "You, you don't act like a girl."

She held the bamboo basket and smiled with her lips pursed.

The emperor was about to say something else when he saw Duan Lushu's slightly red eyes. He frowned and said, "Why are your eyes red? Have you been bullied?"

Duan Lushu shook his head and said, "No, the wind probably blew into my eyes. It will be fine in a while."

The emperor seemed not to believe it, and when he asked Duan Lushu again, she just shook her head. The emperor thought she was lying to protect Duan Ruwang, so he did not ask any more questions. He just watched Duan Ruwang's eyes becoming increasingly cold.

The emperor gently patted the back of the hand holding the bamboo slip and said, "If you have nothing else to do, please accompany me to the Hall of Supreme Harmony for a while. The family dinner is not over yet, and I have asked someone to leave your favorite sweet-scented osmanthus cake."

Duan Lushu nodded obediently: "Okay, thank you, father."

The crowd walked towards the Hall of Supreme Harmony in a mighty procession. Duan Ruwang wanted to leave quietly, but Duan Liushu secretly gave him a look. He sighed helplessly and had to follow behind.

The Queen looked at Duan Lushu, who was unusually obedient and didn't chatter, and sighed softly, saying, "Lushu has really grown up. I was just discussing your marriage with His Majesty."

Duan Lushu's body froze for a moment, he raised his head and smiled, and whispered: "Lushu is still young, and doesn't want to leave his father and mother so early."

The concubines beside her all smiled with their hands covering their lips, praising the little princess for her filial piety.

The emperor said: "You are not a child anymore, it is time to think more about it."

The Queen also echoed, "Yes, I heard that Liu Shu seemed to have some feelings for Sui'an Hou, and I was thinking about asking His Majesty to fulfill your wish."

As soon as he finished speaking, Duan Lushu's face suddenly turned pale.

If she had heard this before today, she would have jumped for joy, but it was fate that played such a trick on her.

Duan Lushu pretended to be calm and said, "Mother... you are joking. I just think that Brother Wanggui is more interesting than ordinary people. If you really want me to marry him, I will not be willing."

The queen was a little hesitant: "This..."

Duan Lushu put her hand on the emperor's arm, shook it coquettishly, and said in a sweet voice: "Father, Lushu does not want to marry Sui Yan. I heard that he has a bad reputation in the capital and always likes to play tricks on people. I don't want to marry a man I don't like."

Ever since the empress started talking about Sui Yan, the emperor had been silent. He looked at Duan Lu Shu with deep eyes, as if he was trying to see something.

After being dragged down by the bundle and acting coquettishly, he chuckled and said, "Okay, my bundle will naturally marry the best man in the world. There is no rush for this matter. Let's talk about it later."

Duan Lu Shu was delighted: "Thank you, father!"

Duan Ruwang looked on coldly from the side.

The palace banquet was full of joy and finally ended at 15:30 after midnight.

Duan Lushu finally breathed a sigh of relief. She put on a cloak with a dark purple begonia pattern and just walked out of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. She saw Duan Ruwang who seemed to have been waiting for a long time.

Duan Lushu walked forward suspiciously and asked, "Second brother, why haven't you returned to the bedroom yet?"

Duan Ruwang leaned against the red wall with his arms folded. A lamp above his head cast a faint light, making his eyes look even deeper and more distant.

"Hedge." Duan Ruwang said softly, "You are going to kill Wang Gui."

Duan Lushu was shocked and said in astonishment: "What nonsense are you talking about? Why would I want to harm him?"

Duan Ruwang walked out from under the lamp, gently touched Duan Lushu's head, sighed, and said, "Do you really think that the Queen just casually mentioned your marriage with Wanggui today?"

Duan Lushu was a little confused, with panic in his eyes: "Could it be... not? Before, I loved Brother Wanggui, and everyone in the palace knew about it privately. It's understandable that my mother has this idea..."

Duan Ruwang felt even more distressed when he saw her naive appearance: "Your brother, the crown prince, is so close to Wang Gui, don't you think the emperor didn't notice anything?"

Duan Lushu was stunned for a long time before she suddenly reacted. She took a breath and looked at Duan Ruwang in shock.

"Father is just testing you." Duan Ru looked at her eyes filled with tears of fear and gently held her in his arms.

His posture was so gentle, but the words he said made the little princess feel like she was falling into an ice cellar.

"He is testing whether you have feelings for Wang Gui, and is also giving Wang Gui a chance to survive." He felt Duan Liushu trembling in his arms, "If you are interested in him, then Wang Gui is yours; if you don't want to marry him, then..."

Duan Lushu said with a trembling voice: "Father will not allow the prince to be with a man..."

The emperor was reluctant to touch the prince, so Sui Yan had no choice but to die.

Duan Lushu was silent for a long time before he pushed Duan Ruwang away and murmured, "I'm going to go and talk to my father..."

She staggered and was about to leave, but was grabbed by Duan Ruwang.

Duan Lushu's tears fell, and she seemed to have come to her senses. She murmured, "But... Wang Gui loves Brother Ming Chong. If he marries me, he..."

She squatted down, spread her clothes on the ground, and cried softly in the snow.

"How miserable it would be if he married me..."

Duan Ruwang lowered his eyes and looked at her without saying a word.

It’s not right to marry her, and it’s not right not to marry her.

Duan Lushu murmured, "I... have become a bad person."

Duan Ruwang had just said that she had killed Sui Yan. Seeing Duan Lushu blaming herself like this, she felt a little bit reluctant.

He gently advised: "You are not, they are wrong."

Duanluzhu shook his head desperately.

Duan Ruwang gently helped her up and said softly, "It's wrong for the two of them to be together. Even if you weren't there, the emperor would not let Sui Wanggui go."

Duan Lushu choked up and said, "I will go and ask my father for help. He...he will definitely show mercy."

Duan Ruwang asked, "He would have wanted to silence everyone who knew about this scandal, so how could you bring it up in the open and speak of it so openly?"

Duan Lushu looked at him with tears in her eyes: "But..."

Duan Ruwang said, "It's nothing to worry about. Just pretend that this never happened. This is what they had to go through. When they decided to be together, they had thought about the consequences. No one else can interfere."

Duan Lu Shu: "No..."

Duan Ruwang frowned: "Bundle!"

Duan Lushu murmured, "I'm going to find my brother the Crown Prince. He will definitely be able to protect my brother Wanggui."

As she said this, she was about to leave. Duan Ruwang was stunned and immediately followed her.

"Lie Shu, this will do you no good. The prince might even blame you for your slip of the tongue. It will be a loss instead of a gain."

Duan Lu Shu said: "I know."

Duan Ruwang said: "Then you still want to..."

Duan Lushu took a deep breath, wiped the tears from his face with the back of his hand, and said softly: "Whether I do it or not is one thing, whether he listens or not is another. If Sui Yan really dies because of this, I am afraid I will never be at peace for the rest of my life."

Duan Ruwang was stunned.

"I'm not doing this for them, I'm just seeking peace of mind for myself."

Duan Lushu didn't understand the disputes in the palace. She was simple and cried a lot, but she was surprisingly clear about right and wrong.

After she finished speaking, she didn't even look at Duan Ruwang and trotted towards the East Palace.

.

Southwestern suburbs.

Duan Mingchong helped Sui Yan down from the carriage, walked along a wooden plank road hung with lanterns, and arrived at a misty lake.

There are many hot springs in this place. Even in winter, green grass sprouts and there is a glimpse of spring in the ice and snow.

Sui Yan joyfully placed the lantern in the rippling lake and watched the light drift away with the waves. It seemed that his long-cherished wish had finally come true, and his eyes narrowed.

Duan Mingchong also followed his example and set off lanterns, but later he thought that only girls seemed to like setting off lanterns. He looked at Sui Yan who was talking and laughing, and after thinking for a while he decided not to spoil the mood, so he swallowed his words.

The two stood by the lake for a while, and Sui Yan suddenly exclaimed "Ah".

Duan Mingchong was looking at him and asked hurriedly, "What's wrong?"

Sui Yan pointed to the lantern in the middle of the lake and said, "It seems to have sunk."

Duan Mingchong squinted his eyes and saw that the light really had gone out, so he comforted him, "All lanterns are like this. They won't float for long before they sink."

Sui Yan said "Oh" and believed him.

The two of them then walked side by side towards the hot spring villa nearby.

It was too late, and after the two entered, they were taken to a private room in the backyard by someone who had been waiting for a long time.

Sui Yan had been in Beijing for so many years, but this was his first time to soak in a hot spring. He looked at the hot spring filled with white mist behind the room with great surprise.

Duan Mingchong took him to eat something first, so that he wouldn't pass out in the water later.

Sui Yan ate half full, sat comfortably on the couch beside the hot spring, undressed, and asked casually, "Does Your Highness come here often?"

Duan Mingchong sat aside, tied up Sui Yan's loose hair with a jade hairpin, and said lightly, "Very little."

Just as he put his hands down, he saw Sui Yan taking off his shirt, exposing his back. A strand of hair that was not tied up hung on his neck, making his back look even paler.

Duan Mingchong was stunned for a moment, then immediately looked away, not daring to look again.

Sui Yan didn't notice his gaze. After taking off his clothes, he walked naked to the slope beside the hot spring and sat down.

He first put his foot in the water to test it, and when he felt it wasn't too hot, he put his entire leg in.

Sui Yan kicked in the water for a while before he adjusted to the temperature. He sank half his body slowly and finally let out a sigh of satisfaction.

Sui Yan picked up the water and saw that Duan Mingchong had not come down yet, so he asked in confusion: "Your Highness, are you okay?"

Duan Mingchong was leaning sideways and untying his belt - he untied it and quickly tied it back again, going back and forth several times but failed to take off a single piece of clothing.

At this moment, when Sui Yan spoke, his hands trembled and he said hurriedly, "Okay, it will be done soon."

Sui Yan smiled and said, "If you still can't find any, throw a few of the lucky oranges on the table to me."

Duan Mingchong breathed a sigh of relief and picked up the lucky orange beside him: "Just throw it over?"

Sui Yan: “Yeah.”

Duan Mingchong threw it out without saying a word, hitting Sui Yan on the head.

Sui Yan was knocked off balance and nearly fell into the hot spring.

Duan Mingchong hurried over, bent down and touched his head: "Are you okay?"

Sui Yan shook his head: "It's okay, it doesn't hurt much."

He pushed Fukuju underwater and watched it float up again. He pressed it several times before whispering, "Your Highness, why are you taking so long to come out? Is it because you are shy?"

Duan Mingchong was stunned.

Sui Yan felt a little embarrassed, so he had to keep pressing Fuju and watching it float up from the bottom of the water to divert his attention.

He turned his head away and didn't look at Duan Mingchong. After a while, he felt the water waves move slightly, as if Duan Mingchong had gone into the water.

Sui Yan then turned his head and saw the hot spring was shrouded in a hazy white mist.

"Your Highness?"

A voice came from not far away: "Hmm."

Sui Yan: “…”

Sui Yan thought to himself, you’re so far away, are you afraid that I’ll eat you?

He threw the lucky orange back onto the shore, thought for a moment, and then moved towards a place not far away.

The hot spring is very large, with steaming white mist everywhere.

Sui Yan hadn't taken a few steps when Duan Mingchong said nervously, "You...just stay there, don't move."

Sui Yancai didn't listen to him and continued to move forward.

Soon, he saw Duan Mingchong with his head almost buried in the water.

Sui Yan thought to himself: "Oh, this is really annoying."

Thinking this, he walked over with a smile on his face.

Duan Mingchong was startled by him, but was afraid that he would drown in the water without support, so he reached out and supported him.

Their bodies were pressed against each other, and Duan Mingchong felt as if he was scalding hot. If he had not been rational, he would have almost thrown Sui Yan out.

Sui Yan gently pressed Duan Mingchong's chin, leaned forward and kissed him, then lowered his voice and said, "Your Highness, don't you know...what to do?"

Duan Mingchong was stunned for a moment, and then his whole face turned red as if blood was about to drip out.

He tried to pry Sui Yan's arm weakly and said with difficulty: "A Yan, you just recovered from your illness, don't... don't make trouble..."

Sui Yan leaned forward and pecked his lips again, saying nonchalantly, "Don't move, I'll teach you. Don't worry, I won't be tired."

Duan Mingchong: "..."

Although Duan Mingchong had never experienced this, he knew what to do in the palace. He took a deep breath, pretended to be calm, looked at Sui Yan, and said in a hoarse voice: "What are you teaching me?"

Sui Yan's hand gently moved down Duan Mingchong's back and landed on his thin waist.

"Teach you..." Sui Yan forced himself to show no stage fright, coughed dryly, and then said, "How..."

He leaned over to Duan Mingchong's ear and said something that seemed so embarrassing that Duan Mingchong's face turned even redder.

Sui Yan liked him more and more when he saw him like this. Just when he was about to take a step further, he noticed that Duan Mingchong had pulled his claws off.

Sui Yan was startled and looked at him in astonishment.

Duan Mingchong's face flushed, and there was a hint of mist in his eyes.

"Your Highness?"

Duan Mingchong gently put his arms around his waist and took him a few steps to the side. Then he pressed his shoulders and applied force. Sui Yan was caught off guard and was pressed directly onto the jade slope beside the hot spring.

Half of his body was lying on it, with only his legs out of the water.

The lying position was too passive, Sui Yan hurriedly tried to get up, but Duan Mingchong grabbed his left calf and pressed forward.

Sui Yan: “…”

Sui Yan's hair almost stood up. He realized something was wrong belatedly. He looked at Duan Mingchong in panic and said hesitantly, "I, I haven't soaked it well yet."

Duan Mingchong approached gently, lowering his eyelashes to hide the panic in his eyes. He whispered, "Be good, you will feel uncomfortable in the water."

Sui Yan: “…”

Sui Yan said hurriedly: "No, no, no, I feel very comfortable. It's especially comfortable to soak in the hot spring. I want to..."

Duan Mingchong interrupted him: "Don't you want to teach me?"

Sui Yan was speechless, wanting to cry but having no tears. This was not the way he wanted to teach.

"I...I just recovered from my illness..." Sui Yan said hurriedly, "I have to take medicine when I go back tomorrow. Yes, take medicine, cough cough..."

Duan Mingchong gently kissed the red halo at the corners of his eyes, and imitated Sui Yan's tone just now, saying softly: "Don't move."

Sui Yan: “…”

For the first time in his life, he experienced what it meant to shoot himself in the foot.