His smile was bright, seemingly unbothered. Chu Yu frowned slightly, finally saying, “I need to go to the palace. Please inform the carriage driver.”
Gu Chusheng paused, then quickly understood and nodded, “Alright.”
He instructed the driver and turned his horse to follow the carriage towards the palace. Chu Yu listened to the mix of hoofbeats and rain outside the curtain, her thoughts settling.
Over these years, Gu Chusheng had become much more restrained. He no longer spoke those disrespectful words to her, and their interactions were very polite. He spent about as much time dealing with other members of the Wei family as he did with her, yet everyone intentionally or unintentionally pushed Gu Chusheng towards her.
Gu Chusheng maintained a perfectly appropriate line, making it impossible for her to openly refuse, yet she felt immense pressure.
She was now nineteen, and both Liu Xueyang and Jiang Chun had begun to worry about her marriage prospects. Jiang Chun’s child was in the Wei household, and she had deep feelings for Wei Shu, clearly stating she would stay in the Wei household. So Liu Xueyang didn’t pressure her, instead focusing all attention on Chu Yu—after all, everyone knew Chu Yu had only met Wei Jun once and was still unmarried. Being young, she had a wider range of choices.
Liu Xueyang had set her sights on Gu Chusheng, the new noble in Huajing.
Everyone knew about Chu Yu’s plan to elope with Gu Chusheng years ago. Although they seemed to have parted on unhappy terms later, everyone tacitly acknowledged one thing: at least Chu Yu had liked Gu Chusheng back then. The story of Gu Chusheng going alone to Fengling City for Chu Yu, passing through thousands of troops to stand beneath the city wall and say, “If I can seek to die together, that would be good,” had spread like a legend from the survivors of Fengling City.
Although the two maintained proper etiquette, in everyone’s speculation, they felt that the two probably had deep feelings for each other, and Chu Yu was just bound by propriety.
However, Great Chu’s customs weren’t particularly rigid, and widows remarrying was common. So wherever Chu Yu went, there were always some people encouraging her. Even when meeting the Princess Royal, she would occasionally be teased with, “Gu Chusheng is quite good, why don’t you just marry him?”
But…
Chu Yu lowered her eyes, touching the cloud pattern in her sleeve, feeling a sense of calm in her heart.
She couldn’t be considered someone who deeply understood love. In her previous life, she loved Gu Chusheng until death, with no one else after. Yet even with such meager experience, she knew that liking someone certainly wouldn’t feel like this.
Although she no longer hated Gu Chusheng, she absolutely wouldn’t love him either. Gu Chusheng was like a dish she had eaten to the point of nausea; she could never love it again.
In this life, she might remarry, but it definitely wouldn’t be to Gu Chusheng.
Chu Yu sighed, resting her hand on the carriage window, watching the autumn rain drip from the eaves through the undulating curtain.
Another autumn had come. When would Wei Yun return?
Chu Yu’s thoughts became somewhat hazy.
Lost in thought, she arrived at the palace gate. Chang Yue held an umbrella for her by the carriage. Chu Yu lifted her skirt and dismounted, nodding to Gu Chusheng on horseback, casually saying, “Thank you, Lord Gu,” before turning and walking away without any lingering attachment.
Gu Chusheng watched Chu Yu’s retreating figure, laughing softly. Only after the city gate had completely closed did he leave.
After Gu Chusheng left, Chang Yue and Wan Yue followed Chu Yu to the Princess Royal’s palace. The Princess Royal was friendly with her, so Zhao Yue had specially granted her a token allowing free movement within the palace, enabling her to come and go without announcement.
She went directly to Qifeng Palace where the Princess Royal resided. The Princess Royal was inside playing with a parrot, teaching it to speak phrase by phrase. The parrot kept repeating, “Fool, fool.”
Chu Yu was led in and waited silently behind the Princess Royal. After playing for a while, the Princess Royal glanced over, saying slowly, “The weather isn’t good today, yet you still came here. I suppose you have some business?”
“Is His Majesty not here today?”
Usually, at this time, Zhao Yue would return to talk with the Princess Royal.
The Princess Royal handed the bamboo stick she had been using to play with the parrot to a nearby palace maid and straightened up. Chu Yu quickly went forward to support her, walking with her to the inner chamber, saying slowly, “Didn’t he just bring in a girl from the Song family? She’s currently in high favor.”
Hearing this, Chu Yu knew that this new entrant to the palace was probably Song Shinan’s sister, Song Yun.
Chu Yu smiled lightly, “Taking in one a year, he’s quite consistent.”
“Isn’t he?” The Princess Royal’s expression was languid. “Three in three years, the daughter of Yao Yong, the eldest daughter of the Wang family, the eldest daughter of the Song family. Whichever family he wants to please, he brings their daughter in, selling himself. Look at how cheap he is,” Princess Royal showed a look of disgust, “The male companions in my mansion are all cleaner than him.”
Hearing this, Chu Yu couldn’t help but laugh softly. The Princess Royal lay down on the couch, showing some fatigue on her face. “If you have something to say, say it quickly. I’ve been easily drowsy lately, and I’m sleepy now.”
“Have you had the imperial physician take a look?”
“Getting sleepy and seeing a doctor? Am I that delicate?” The Princess Royal raised her eyes and glared at her lightly, her phoenix eyes shimmering like a young girl’s. Chu Yu didn’t pay attention to her attitude and sent for an imperial physician. Then she sat down beside the Princess Royal, gently massaging her legs, and said, “I’ve received news that Zhao Yue plans to recall my lord back.”
The Princess Royal paused slightly, frowning, “Hasn’t the war not ended yet?”
“His Majesty intends to negotiate peace, to stop fighting.”
Chu Yu spoke calmly. The Princess Royal’s expression didn’t change, as if she had already anticipated this. She responded lightly, raising her head to look at Chu Yu, “So what do you plan to do?”
“He wants to recall the Marquis, mainly because Huajing has now stabilized. If Huajing were in chaos, he certainly wouldn’t dare to let the Marquis return.”
The Princess Royal nodded, “You’ve collected evidence of many of his dirty deeds over these years. Now is the time to use them.”
Chu Yu listened, shaking her head, “These things won’t cause him much trouble.”
The Princess Royal frowned, “Then what do you mean?”
“I heard that Noble Consort Wang in Luoxia Palace has loved His Majesty since she was young?”
Chu Yu suddenly turned the topic to Noble Consort Wang, and the Princess Royal was somewhat puzzled, “Why are you bringing this up?”
“Sometimes I think Zhao Yue is quite pitiful. In such a large harem, your feelings for him need not be mentioned, but there aren’t many others who are truly sincere. Only the Wang family seems to be genuinely sincere.”
The Princess Royal responded lightly, gesturing for Chu Yu to continue. Chu Yu continued massaging her legs, saying, “Because of true love, there’s jealousy, and the mind isn’t very clear. Now that the Song family has come in, not only is Noble Consort Wang unhappy, but the Wang family is also unhappy. What if Zhao Yue were to move against Noble Consort Wang, and we stirred things up a bit? Wouldn’t the Wang family have a change of heart towards Zhao Yue?”
The Princess Royal pondered this, and Chu Yu continued, “Whether it’s to stand up for their daughter or family face, the Wang family would have to intervene, giving Zhao Yue a lesson. With the Wang family unstable, to prevent the young Marquis from taking advantage of the situation, the matter of returning to the capital would likely be delayed. What do you think?”
“So you hope for me to instigate Noble Consort Wang against Noble Consort Song?”
The Princess Royal digested this for a moment, understanding Chu Yu’s intention. Chu Yu nodded, “Actually, it’s not necessarily about stirring up conflict between Wang and Song. The key is, how to make Zhao Yue punish Noble Consort Wang?”
The Princess Royal lowered her eyes, thinking quietly. After a moment, she raised her head and said, “Leave this matter to me. You just wait for news.”
Chu Yu smiled, “If you need anything, feel free to instruct me.”
The Princess Royal was about to speak when a servant came forward, announcing that the imperial physician had arrived. The Princess Royal nodded, allowing the physician to enter. Chu Yu stood up, waiting on the side, quietly watching as the physician examined the Princess Royal.
The physician took the Princess Royal’s pulse, pondering seriously. After a moment, he switched to the other hand. The Princess Royal yawned, “Imperial Physician, how is this Princess?”
The physician carefully took her pulse for a while, then looked up, saying happily, “Congratulations, Your Highness! Felicitations, Your Highness! Your Highness is with child!”
Hearing this, both the Princess Royal and Chu Yu were stunned. After a moment, the Princess Royal reacted first, her face darkening as she said, “Check again!”
The physician was confused, not understanding. In the imperial palace, which lady wouldn’t be happy to be with a child?
However, thinking for a moment, the physician felt that the Princess Royal might just be too nervous. He smiled and said, “Your Highness, don’t worry. This old one has never made a mistake in diagnosing pregnancy. You are indeed pregnant.”
“Call all the on-duty physicians from the Imperial Medical Academy!” The Princess Royal no longer paid attention to him, shouting directly towards the outside.
Chu Yu stood quietly on the side, watching, her thoughts tumultuous.
For three years, no one in the harem had conceived, and everyone thought there was a problem with Zhao Yue. But Chu Yu’s spies in the palace had told her that in the entire harem, only the Princess Royal’s meals and incense were not contraceptive. Zhao Yue was not incapable; he only wanted the Princess Royal to bear his first child.
Unfortunately, the Princess Royal was also the only one in the entire harem who consistently took contraceptive medicine. Chu Yu came every month to bring medicine from outside the palace. But… how did this child come to be conceived?
This matter puzzled not only Chu Yu but also the Princess Royal greatly.
She absolutely could not bear Zhao Yue’s child…
The Princess Royal pressed her lips tightly, her hands clenched under her sleeves.
Chu Yu had dismissed all the servants nearby. She crouched beside the Princess Royal, placing her hand over the Princess Royal’s.
The Princess Royal’s tense muscles were trembling slightly. Chu Yu sighed softly, “Your Highness, don’t be afraid.”
While the Princess Royal and Chu Yu felt they were experiencing a great shock, Wei Yun sat in White City, looking at the map in his hand.
“After this person fled along this route, there was no further news. The spies in Northern Di said that this person was personally sent by Su Cha to find a noble in Huajing.”
Shen Wushuang beside him drew out a route, asserting, “This person must be going to find Zhao Yue.”
Wei Yun didn’t speak.
Among the Huajing nobles who had contact with Northern Di, to their knowledge, the only one worthy of Su Cha sending someone to find was indeed Zhao Yue. And now, at this crucial moment of the war, whether to negotiate peace or not almost determined the fate of Northern Di. Su Cha would certainly try every means to force Zhao Yue to negotiate peace.
But what could he use to force Zhao Yue?
It could only be the events of White Emperor Valley from years ago.
“He must have evidence on him.”
Shen Wushuang spoke with certainty. Wei Yun nodded, standing up and calmly saying, “I’ll lead people to find him myself.”
With that, he went behind a nearby screen to change clothes. When he came out, he drew another line on the long pillar in the room that was carved full of the character for “correct.”
Shen Wushuang glanced at it casually, somewhat curious, “How many days have you marked?”
“One thousand one hundred and thirty-two days.”
Shen Wushuang was momentarily speechless, “Is there any meaning in keeping track of this?”
“There is.”
Wei Yun tidied up the things on the table while instructing Wei Xia to help him pack. He lowered his head, speaking calmly, “Every line I draw is telling myself.”
“Today, I still miss her very much.”