Chu Yi rode in a carriage, traveling discreetly to Yulin Lane.

At this time, it had only been a little over half an hour since Yun Chu had returned from the palace.

She had just bathed and washed her long hair with the maidservants’ assistance when a servant came to report that Prince Pingxi had arrived.

Her hair was not yet dry and hadn’t been styled up, so it draped over her shoulders like this, the jet-black hair cascading smoothly to her waist like satin.

Chu Yi raised his eyes and saw the woman dressed in white clothing walking out.

The loose gown made her figure appear petite. Her jet-black hair and fair skin formed a striking contrast.

At this moment, it was already dusk, and the golden rays of the setting sun fell on her cheeks, the light illuminating even the fine down on her face.

He seemed to understand the phrase “peaceful, beautiful years.”

“Your Highness.”

Yun Chu walked before him and called out.

Chu Yi came back to his senses and lifted the box in his hands. “This is a crystal I happened upon. It should be nice for making hair ornaments.”

Yun Chu immediately took a step back. “Today in the palace, if not for Your Highness’s protection, I might already be a corpse right now. I should be the one giving Your Highness a thank-you gift. How could I accept such a precious thing from Your Highness…”

He not only protected her from injury.

He also covered her eyes, not letting her see those bloody scenes.

In truth, she even dared to kill people herself, so seeing others kill didn’t bother her at all.

But this man carefully protected that trace of fear suppressed in the deepest part of her heart.

“Between us, such talk is too distant.” Chu Yi forcibly pressed the item into her hands. “Consider it a thank-you gift for the future meals I’ll mooch from Miss Yun.”

Yun Chu: “…”

With the two courtyards connected, she seemed able to envision the future scene of this father and three children coming to mooch meals every day.

Fine, it was just a matter of one more set of chopsticks anyway.

She had Tingxue take the box inside to put away, then said, “The Empress Dowager’s left and right arms are both dead. This matter will likely not be easily overlooked. I have an idea—would Your Highness be willing to hear it?”

Chu Yi was certainly willing to listen.

Yun Chu spoke. “Your Highness only knows that my father went to the southern border. In truth, my father went by imperial decree to execute the Chariot-and-Cavalry General.”

Chu Yi nodded.

Although Father Emperor hadn’t spoken of it explicitly to him, he had vaguely guessed some of it.

“The Chariot-and-Cavalry General is a member of the Feng family, the Empress Dowager’s own nephew. Regardless of why the Emperor wants to execute the Chariot-and-Cavalry General, it shows that the Emperor and the Empress Dowager have long been incompatible like fire and water.” Yun Chu’s gaze was clear and cold. “Your Highness might as well start from this angle and transform the conflict between the Empress Dowager and the Yun family back into a conflict between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.”

The Empress Dowager acting against her was nothing more than wanting to incite conflict between the Yun family and the Emperor.

She wanted the Emperor to thoroughly destroy the Yun family.

If Chu Yi hadn’t acted, the Empress Dowager would indeed have achieved her goal.

But now…

Yun Chu looked at the man before her.

To protect her, he had killed so many people at the Empress Dowager’s side. She knew that between her and the Empress Dowager, he had chosen her.

This being the case, this matter would be even easier to handle.

Chu Yi’s gaze held appreciation as he looked at her.

He was somewhat astonished that she, a woman who lived deep within the inner quarters, could actually see the court situation so clearly.

He nodded. “Rest assured, I know how to proceed.”

Having reached this point in the conversation, Yun Chu thought it was about finished. She quietly instructed Tingxue to have her bring over the osmanthus cakes that had just come out of the pot.

She picked them up and handed them to Chu Yi. “This is osmanthus cake I made myself. Please, Your Highness, have a taste.”

Chu Yi immediately took a piece and put it in his mouth. He had never liked these sweet, soft things, but now as it rested on his tongue, the osmanthus fragrance spread, and the sweet aroma seeped from the tip of his tongue into his heart. His whole person felt indescribably comfortable.

After eating three pieces, he finally stopped and spoke. “Miss Yun, there’s one more matter I need to clarify with you. Five years ago, that night, the people who orchestrated that affair were Qin Mingheng and Xie Jingyu. Each of them had a trusted confidant who participated throughout. Now the trusted maidservant at Qin Mingheng’s side is being held in the prince’s manor, and my mother consort’s people have learned of it. Concerning this maidservant, there may be some untrue rumors circulating. When that time comes, please Miss Yun, don’t take them seriously.”

Yun Chu didn’t react immediately. “What rumors?”

Chu Yi’s hand covered his mouth as he coughed. “There may be people saying I’m keeping a beauty in a golden house and such.”

Yun Chu spoke. “I understand.”

She had an extremely indifferent appearance, like clouds stretching across the sky’s edge, as if nothing could stir ripples in her, except for the children.

Chu Yi felt a moment of defeat.

He pressed his lips together. “You don’t mind?”

Yun Chu glanced sideways.

Even if he really was keeping a beauty in a golden house, she wouldn’t mind.

Much less when it was just a ruse.

“Yun… Chu.” Chu Yi’s lips parted. “I think you should understand my heart.”

Yun Chu’s pale fingers paused.

She raised her hand to tuck back the long hair blown astray by the wind, concealing the ripples in her heart.

Though she wasn’t supremely intelligent, as a woman, she could more or less sense some of a man’s feelings toward her, especially at such close distance.

She could even guess that Consort Yin’s ability to learn of that maidservant’s existence was definitely his deliberate revelation.

He was using a maidservant to test Consort Yin and the Emperor’s bottom line regarding his marriage.

He was paving the way for some future day.

“Your Highness, it’s impossible between us.” Yun Chu’s expression was very calm. “The Emperor would never allow such a thing to happen.”

Chu Yi stared at her fixedly, about to speak.

Suddenly.

A voice came from far to near.

“Chu’er.”

It was Lin Shi’s voice.

Yun Chu’s face had still been indifferent just a moment ago.

Now she was somewhat flustered. She looked left and right, then grabbed Chu Yi’s arm. “Your Highness, please go inside and hide for a moment.”

Before Chu Yi could even react, Yun Chu pushed him into the room with one motion.

“Chu’er, why are you standing in the courtyard?” Lin Shi stepped over the threshold and entered. “Did you just bathe and wash your hair? You can’t be in the wind—be careful of headaches later. You’re also wearing too little. Winter is almost here, and you still don’t cherish your health…”

Yun Chu was pulled into the room.

Standing inside, Chu Yi understood Yun Chu’s concerns. With a turn, he entered the inner chamber and caught the scent unique to a woman’s boudoir.

“Mother, why did you come at this hour?”

Yun Chu adjusted her clothing, her peripheral vision glancing around. Not seeing Chu Yi’s figure, she immediately felt relieved.

She wasn’t deliberately hiding this from her mother. Rather, it was almost dark now, and she and Prince Pingxi, a single man and woman alone, were talking in the courtyard. If her mother saw this, there would inevitably be all sorts of wild thoughts… Since it was already something impossible, there was no need to add unnecessary worries for her mother.

“I came to tell you to accompany me somewhere tomorrow.” Lin Shi spoke with a smile. “Do you remember the Marchioness of Zhounan? When you were little, the Marchioness of Zhounan even held you.”

Yun Chu nodded. “I remember. She’s a kind-looking lady.”

“The Marchioness of Zhounan is most skilled at matchmaking.” Lin Shi’s smile was bright. “I’m taking you to see this lady and have her…”

Yun Chu’s expression immediately changed. “Mother, why are you troubling yourself with these things?”

Lin Shi’s tears fell all at once. “Back then, the divine physician said there was nothing wrong with your body, that you could have your own children, that you were delayed by Xie Jingyu… I want you to marry again, not because I think you lack a husband, but because I believe you should experience the joy and happiness of being a mother… Chu’er, Mother has always felt guilty, blaming myself for not being by your side the night you gave birth…”