Chapter 23: Entering the Palace
"Who sent the assassins last night?" In the quiet carriage, Yu Qingyan suddenly asked.
"My clever wife, can you not guess?" Chu Yuchuan did not open his eyes, responding only with a lazy tone.
"Was it him?"
Chu Yuchuan’s amber eyes turned toward Yu Qingyan. "Does my wife have nothing else to say?"
"What is there to say?"
"He personally delivered you to me, yet now he goes to such great lengths to test us. Does my wife have an explanation for this?"
Yu Qingyan met his gaze. "Then you should ask him. Why ask me?"
Chu Yuchuan studied her for a moment before closing his eyes and sitting back. "The imperial palace is not the Prince’s manor; my wife must be cautious in her words and actions."
"Thank you for the reminder, Your Highness."
Upon entering the palace, Chu Yuchuan and Yu Qingyan headed straight for the Empress Dowager’s chambers. As luck would have it, they encountered Imperial Concubine Jing before they could arrive.
"Imperial Concubine Jing."
"I wondered who it was. So, it is the Prince of Leisure and his consort."
Yu Qingyan stared at her coldly, saying nothing.
"My consort and I are on our way to pay our respects to the Empress Dowager. We shall take our leave."
Imperial Concubine Jing smiled. "The Prince of Leisure and his consort truly are a perfect match."
"His Majesty arrives!" Just as Yu Qingyan was about to leave, a shrill, duck-like voice rang out.
"I offer my greetings to His Majesty."
"I pay my respects to the Emperor, brother."
Yu Qingyan followed the Prince of Leisure’s lead, bowing. "Greetings, Your Majesty."
"Rise," Chu Yuchuan said with a smile. "I was just on my way to the Empress Dowager’s, I did not expect to run into my seventh younger brother."
"I am merely taking Qingyan to pay my respects to the Empress Dowager as well."
Yu Qingyan looked at Chu Yuheng with an indifferent expression. It was he who had sent the people to the Bamboo Garden last night. If the real Yu Qingyan had no martial arts training, was he intending to silence her? Or had he sensed her skills and sent them only to test her?
"You are newlyweds; it seems my arrangement for this marriage was not a mistake."
"My thanks to Your Majesty." Chu Yuchuan took Yu Qingyan’s hand. "I am very fond of Qingyan."
*Damn it!* Yu Qingyan screamed internally. Are these two brothers insane? One gifts his own woman to his brother, and the other thanks him with such gratitude.
Despite her internal turmoil, she kept her expression blank. Suddenly, her right hand stung. She glanced at the culprit; Chu Yuchuan wore a look of tenderness. "My dear, why are you distracted in the Emperor's presence?"
Yu Qingyan raised an eyebrow, gave him a playful, reproachful look, and whispered, "If you would stop tormenting me so much at night, I wouldn’t be so exhausted."
Chu Yuheng looked at them with an enigmatic smile. "Seeing how affectionate you two are, I am reassured."
He stepped forward and patted Chu Yuchuan’s arm. "Let’s go. It is time to pay our respects to the Empress Dowager."
Yu Qingyan saw it clearly: Chu Yuheng had patted the exact spot where Chu Yuchuan had been wounded the previous night.
Chu Yuchuan’s injury had occurred in the Bamboo Garden, and the assassin had been killed on the spot. How could he know? Was it Xique? Regardless of who it was, Chu Yuheng wanted Chu Yuchuan to know that his every move was under his control.
"Sister, you are truly blessed. It seems the Prince of Leisure treats you well," the Imperial Concubine remarked. As the two men walked ahead, the women trailed behind.
"I dare not accept such a title from you, Imperial Concubine. As for how I fare, there is no need for you to trouble yourself with my affairs."
Imperial Concubine Jing smiled apologetically. "I was so used to calling you 'sister' before that I couldn't change it immediately. I hope the Princess Consort will not take offense."
The Emperor turned back. "What are you two whispering about?"
Yu Qingyan stepped forward without a trace, placing herself between the Emperor and the Prince of Leisure.