Chu Yu led Imperial Consort Wang Zhi to a small house she had prepared in the city. After having hot water prepared, they quickly bathed separately. Chu Yu then went to the main hall to wait for Wang Zhi.
When Wang Zhi emerged, she still looked somewhat dazed. Chu Yu poured her a cup of tea and calmly said, “My Lady, please drink some tea to warm yourself.”
“How did you end up here?” Wang Zhi looked up at Chu Yu, her expression uncertain and surprised.
Chu Yu smiled softly. “When I heard My Lady was in trouble, I simply lent a hand.”
“He… why did he want to kill me?!” Wang Zhi’s voice was filled with disbelief as she slowly came to her senses.
Chu Yu took a sip of tea and replied calmly, “Don’t you know why His Majesty wanted to kill you?”
Wang Zhi was stunned for a moment. Then her expression changed, and she raised her voice, “For that bastard child?!”
“His Majesty said,” Chu Yu looked at her seriously, “this is the Crown Prince.”
Wang Zhi’s expression instantly turned to rage. “Has he gone mad?! What does that useless princess have now?! My Wang family supported him to reach where he is today. We are his maternal family. He wants to kill me for such a bastard?!”
Wang Zhi shook her head and stood up. “No… no, I’m going back to the palace. I need to ask him in person. I…”
“My Lady,” Chu Yu spoke softly, “the palace gates are already under strict guard. The entrance of the Wang family residence is also surrounded by assassins. If you move around carelessly, I won’t be able to protect your life.”
“You’re talking nonsense!” Wang Zhi shouted harshly. “I don’t believe you. You’ve abducted me. Take me back immediately!”
Hearing this, Chu Chu Yuckled lightly. “Alright.” She pointed towards the door. “The main door is open. My Lady, you can leave if you want, go wherever you please. I only have one condition.” She looked up at Wang Zhi. “Before you die, don’t say I helped you.”
Chu Yu’s expression was too certain. Wang Zhi’s mind flashed to the image of Zhao Yue heading to Luoxia Palace with a sword.
Chu Yu wasn’t lying to her…
Words could be lies, but what about Zhao Yue himself?
She had never seen Zhao Yue so violent before, but even from a distance, she knew that at that moment, Zhao Yue truly wanted to kill her.
But why?
Had Zhao Yue gone mad?
He had always been one to weigh the pros and cons. Her father had told her that Zhao Yue’s nature would eventually succumb to power, so she needn’t worry too much about the Long Princess. But today, how could he…
Slapping the Wang family’s face like this, wasn’t he afraid of them turning against him? If the Wang family didn’t support him, who else in his court was truly loyal?
Yao Yong’s submission was merely a calculation of benefits. The Xie family’s support was just a choice of the most suitable ruler after weighing their options. There was no need to mention others. Only the Wang family was his true foundation!
Wang Zhi’s expression was blank. Chu Yu calmly asked, “My Lady, have you decided where to go?”
Wang Zhi was brought back to her senses by this voice. She turned her head and coldly looked at Chu Yu.
“Why are you helping me?”
Chu Yu didn’t speak. She took a sip of tea. Wang Zhi quickly said, “Aren’t you one of the Long Princess’s people? By saving me, aren’t you afraid of offending the Long Princess?”
“What is there for the Long Princess to be offended about?” Chu Yu smiled lightly. “Can’t you see by now why you’re here?”
Wang Zhi looked confused. Chu Yu looked at her, resting her chin on her hand. “You distinguished very clearly between Shi Xiang and Zisi.”
Hearing this, Wang Zhi suddenly realized, “You set me up?!”
“You made me harm the Long Princess’s child. You knew Zhao Yue would move against me, but…” Wang Zhi was somewhat confused. “Why did you want to harm the Long Princess’s child?”
She murmured to herself, analyzing, “No… no, you did it on purpose. You all did it on purpose…”
Wang Zhi raised her head, a strange expression on her face. “It was the Long Princess. She wanted to use this child to get rid of me…”
“Song Consort is delicate, Yao Imperial Consort is brainless. After I’m gone, she’ll dominate the harem…” Wang Zhi gritted her teeth. “Ruthless, ruthless enough. I’m no match for her.”
“She wants to get rid of me, but what about you?”
“Me?” Chu Yu looked at her openly. “I have a favor to ask.”
Hearing this, Wang Zhi felt more confident. “What do you want me to do?”
“His Majesty wants to recall my family’s Marquis. I want Imperial Consort to help by having the Wang family delay His Majesty a bit.”
Wang Zhi frowned. “This concerns state affairs. My Wang family might not be able to decide on His Majesty’s decision.”
“That’s fine,” Chu Yu said lightly. “Just try to delay it, can’t you?”
Wang Zhi was silent for a moment, then finally nodded. “Alright. Take me back to the Wang family, and I’ll help you speak to my father.”
Chu Yu calmly said, “You probably can’t return to the Wang family now. I’ve sent someone to notify your father. Let’s wait here.”
Hearing this, Wang Zhi felt slightly more at ease. Not long after, the sound of the courtyard gate opening was heard. Wang Zhi immediately stood up and hurriedly walked towards the door. Soon, an elderly man walked in. Wang Zhi tearfully bowed to the old man, who spoke sternly, “Let’s go inside and talk. Tell me exactly what happened.”
Wang Zhi went inside with Wang He, sobbing as she explained everything. Chu Yu sat to the side, idly catching moths. After Wang Zhi finished, Wang He was both anxious and angry. “Why didn’t you consult me about such a big matter!”
“You told me to handle the harem affairs on my own…” Wang Zhi cried. Wang He paced back and forth, thinking of a solution.
“I’ve already sent people to gather information from the palace. If His Majesty is truly determined to kill you…” Wang He stopped in his tracks, pursed his lips, and looked up at Wang Zhi. Wang Zhi was slightly stunned, then understood his meaning from his eyes. She scrambled over, kneeling before Wang He, crying, “Father, if he truly wants to kill your daughter over this, how can he tolerate the Wang family in the future?! Zhao Yue is so suspicious. If he kills me, do you expect him to trust you? Would Zhao Yue trust a subject who has a grudge over his daughter’s death?”
“But what can I do?!” Wang He raised his voice. “Zhi’er, he is the Emperor now. Unless it’s necessary, our Wang family can’t do anything, do you understand?! This time, you went too far. Understandably, His Majesty is angry…”
“So you want me to die?!” Wang Zhi cried out. Wang He’s eyes filled with tears. Chu Yu watched the father and daughter argue, and she smiled lightly.
Wang He looked up at Chu Yu and coldly said, “What are you smiling at?”
“Lord Wang,” Chu Yu looked at him. “Isn’t the Imperial Consort right? Don’t you have any idea in your heart? If the Imperial Consort dies today, do you think Zhao Yue will still trust you?”
Wang He didn’t speak. He stared at Chu Yu. Chu Yu stood up. “Why don’t I give you a clear path, my lord?”
Wang He’s expression became solemn. He cupped his hands and said, “Please, enlighten me, Madam.”
“Before dawn, we’ll send the Imperial Consort out of the city, never to return to the capital. You go back and apologize to His Majesty. Luoxia Palace has already burned down, so you can announce to the public that the Imperial Consort died in the fire. Zhao Yue won’t be able to find the Imperial Consort, and he won’t be able to do anything to you. Moreover, since the Imperial Consort isn’t dead, you won’t be considered enemies. Zhao Yue won’t be wary of you in the future and might even think himself magnanimous for sparing your daughter’s life. What do you think?”
Wang He didn’t speak. Wang Zhi knelt on the ground, looking at Wang He with hopeful eyes. After a long while, Wang He gritted his teeth. “Alright.”
He turned around and immediately said, “No matter how reckless Zhao Yue is, he won’t go so far as to kill me. I’ll escort you out of the city.”
Chu Yu nodded and immediately gave orders. They escorted Wang Zhi and Wang He out of the city.
With Wang He’s escort, the group left the city smoothly. Chu Yu led Wang Zhi to the city moat, planning to take her on a boat to leave by water.
Wang He looked at Wang Zhi with tears in his eyes, knowing that his daughter might never be able to return to the capital in her lifetime. He choked up, holding Wang Zhi’s hand, “Don’t do anything foolish in the future.”
Wang Zhi nodded repeatedly. Chu Yu urged, “Hurry, get on the boat…”
Before she could finish speaking, an arrow suddenly shot out from the darkness, flying straight towards Wang He. Chu Yu raised her hand to catch the arrow while pulling Wang He behind her. She raised her voice, “Quick, go!”