Li Yu understood the principles and rules. "If Yunfang hadn't appeared, life or death wouldn't have mattered. But now that I've married her, I'm bound to her. I want to be with her and give her happiness. That's why I dare to beg Fourth Master to show mercy!"
As he spoke, Li Yu knelt down, begging the Fourth Prince to spare his life. Hongli's brow twitched slightly, and he resolutely turned around, hands behind his back, and said coldly:
“It’s not that I want to harm you, but these are the palace rules of all dynasties. Palace rules cannot be broken, and no one is exempt. You have spent so many years in the palace, so you should know what the consequences are for breaking the palace rules.”
Hongli refused without hesitation, his refusal swift and decisive. Seeing his master's attitude, it seemed there was no room for negotiation. Li Yu's last glimmer of hope was shattered; he dared not utter another word, his head bowed in dejection.
"Your Excellency is absolutely right. It was this servant who was too selfish and had unrealistic ideas. This servant knows his mistake."
Although he had guessed this would be the outcome, he still unconsciously held onto a sliver of hope. Now, hearing the Fourth Master's stern refusal with his own ears, Li Yu felt utterly hopeless and could only take his leave.
Su Yushan, who was in the courtyard, watched Li Yu leave, and was quite surprised.
Li Yu was a man who always valued etiquette. In the past, when he came out of the house and passed by the courtyard, he would have stopped to pay his respects if he saw her and the young prince. But today, he said nothing, as if the people around him did not exist, and left Huatang Pavilion in a daze.
This was the first time Su Yushan had ever seen Li Yu in such a state, and her intuition told her that something must have happened to him. But he had just married Yunfang; he should be very happy. Why was he so desperate?
Su Yushan became increasingly uneasy, so she handed the child over to the nanny.
When she entered the room, she found Hongli sitting at the table, his face grim and his expression troubled. Judging from this, the master and servant must have had a disagreement.
"What happened? What did Li Yu say to you?"
After a moment's hesitation, Hongli smiled and said, "It's a small matter, not important."
"How could this be a small matter? You two both look unwell; something serious must have happened. Could it be related to Yunfang?"
She was worried that something had happened to Yunfang, and asked him what had happened.
The reason Hongli was unwilling to reveal this was because he knew Yushan's personality all too well. If she knew, she would definitely plead for Li Yu, so he simply chose not to mention it.
"This has nothing to do with Yunfang. It's Li Yu's private matter. It's alright, I'll handle it. You don't need to worry."
Hongli insisted that he was fine, but Su Yushan felt that things were not so simple. "You're not telling the truth, are you? Then I'll go find Yunfang now and ask her clearly."
He thought Yu Shan wouldn't pursue the matter any further, but to his surprise, she persisted and pressed for details. Hong Li quickly reminded her, "Yun Fang is already married, and Li Yu's family lives outside the mansion. You cannot leave the mansion to look for her."
"Why not? Is someone trying to assassinate me? I'll take the dagger Jia Feng gave me." She actually went to find the dagger, but Hongli, seeing this, stood up and grabbed her.
"Yushan, stop fooling around."
Hongli's expression was solemn, and he refused to speak openly. Su Yushan found it increasingly strange. "If it's really a small matter, why won't you let me go? What are you afraid I'll find out? Didn't you say we should be honest with each other and that you wouldn't hide anything from me? Why won't you tell me the truth?"
"This matter has nothing to do with you. I can't tell you everything about everyone," Hongli said, no matter how Yushan tried to provoke him.
"I will not let you leave the manor. Don't even think about it anymore. I have something to do. I'll go to my study first."
After saying this, he turned and left, unwilling to say another word to her.
He had never done this before; he would share everything with her, big or small. This was the first time she had ever encountered a situation like this.
Su Yushan became increasingly curious about what Li Yu was up to.
Unfortunately, Yunfang had just gotten married and was unable to go out. She could only move around freely after returning to her parents' home three days later. Since she couldn't see Yunfang now, Yushan was unable to find out the truth and became increasingly anxious.
She had planned to sweet-talk Hongli when he came over that evening and ask him for the reason, but to her surprise, Hongli didn't come to Huatang Pavilion that night!
This was the first time she had encountered such a situation since returning to the manor. Apart from the first and fifteenth of the month when he went to Lanzhao Courtyard, and the few days he spent recuperating in the palace, Hongli had stayed at Huatang Pavilion almost every night. Tonight, he actually didn't come over!
Is he deliberately avoiding her? Has her questioning become a burden for Hongli?
Hongli remained tight-lipped, which only fueled Su Yushan's suspicions. He kept saying it was a small matter, but he actually avoided coming to Huatang Pavilion to avoid being questioned. How could she believe it was a small matter?
That night, Su Yushan tossed and turned, unable to sleep. She thought of many ways to help, but rejected them one by one.
Hongli not only forbade her from leaving the mansion, but also prevented the other people in her courtyard from leaving, so she had no chance to find someone to ask for information.
Hongli stayed outside all day, only returning to the residence in the evening.
Upon returning to his study, having heard no reports from the servants, Hongli grew curious and asked Wang Jinbao, "What's the situation at Huatang Pavilion?"
Wang Jinbao truthfully replied, "Fourth Master, there's been no movement from over there. Su Gege hasn't left the house all day."
He thought Yu Shan would come looking for him, which is why he hadn't returned to the manor for a long time, but she didn't come.
This little cat of hers is usually so easily agitated, why is she so calm this time? That doesn't make sense! The more Hongli thought about it, the more something seemed off…
Su Yushan didn't go because today was Yunfang's homecoming day. According to the previous agreement, Yunfang would come over after the homecoming banquet.
As soon as Yunfang arrived, she could ask Yunfang without having to ask Hongli. However, Yushan waited at home all afternoon but did not see Yunfang.
Yu Shan was restless, so she ordered Chang Yue to go and check at the gate of the mansion.
Chang Yue asked and learned that Yun Fang had come an hour earlier, but was stopped at the door by the guards and not allowed to enter. Yun Fang had no choice but to leave.
Hongli actually forbade Yunfang from entering the mansion? This matter seemed more serious than Su Yushan had imagined. Changyue was also worried about Yunfang and her husband, and whispered to them:
"I just inquired and found out that the Fourth Master has just returned to his study. Princess, are you going to see him?"
After thinking for a long time, Su Yushan finally shook her head. "I can't go. He's obviously avoiding me, which is enough to prove that he doesn't want to talk. Going there won't get me anywhere; it will only annoy him."
Chang Yue comforted her, "Your Highness is joking. Fourth Master wouldn't bother you no matter who he is! Perhaps he has other reasons?"
Su Yushan is no longer as naive as before. Relying on Hongli's favor, she willfully expresses her joys and sorrows. At first, he might indulge her, but after a while, he might become too lazy to coax her anymore.
Nothing lasts forever in this world. No matter how sincere his promises are, she must remain rational. Only rationality can sustain a lasting relationship.
"Even the closest two people can't recklessly test each other's bottom line, otherwise love will slowly turn into mutual loathing. I have to wait, until he can't sit still anymore."
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