Chapter 077

Chapter 77: Should She Hide Her Skill

Du Zi Heng lifted the moon-white hem of his robe, sat beside Yu Zhi Yi, and smiled: “It’s fine. Even if you already figured it out, I can still tell you some details.”

He did not care whether she wanted to hear them and went on gently: “Do you remember the assassin your protective barrier blasted away that night? He is Cang Shan, a famous leader in the Martial World. He runs an assassin guild, but the job that night wasn’t done with his usual men. If it had been, there wouldn’t have been so few people hurt.”

“That assassin?” Yu Zhi Yi asked with mild interest.

Seeing her focus on that point, Du Zi Heng talked more about Cang Shan. Yu Zhi Yi listened on the surface, but her mind drifted far away.

In the last life, Cang Shan escaped. In this life, he was caught because his injuries were too serious, and he confessed who was behind it. But Prince Zhong? Prince Zhong was given the name “Zhong,” meaning loyalty. He was honest and timid.

The late emperor had few children, and the number of princes could be counted on one hand. That made each prince a possible contender for the throne, except for Prince Xiao Yao. He was the emperor’s younger brother, more than ten years younger. When the emperor took the throne, Prince Xiao Yao was still a child, so he had no chance to compete.

As for Prince Zhong, when the emperor ascended, he kept Prince Zhong in the Capital because he did not fight for power, and he gave him wealth and rank. Even after he was trusted, Prince Zhong did not become proud. He grew even more careful.

Most important of all, Yu Zhi Yi had seen Prince Zhong at the banquet last night. This Prince Zhong was not the one behind the attack.

At this point, the matter was huge and touchy. Yu Zhi Yi weighed whether she should get involved when Eunuch Hu arrived again with an imperial order: the emperor wanted her back at work early.

Yu Zhi Yi fell quiet: “…” [So where did my promised one month of rest go?]

Du Zi Heng frowned and tried to block it: “Eunuch Hu, Zhi Yi has not fully recovered…”

Eunuch Hu only smiled, polite to the point of warmth. His several adopted sons all showed shock. Their godfather served close to the emperor. He had no real power, but in terms of standing before the throne, he could rival a chancellor. Usually, when he came to deliver edicts, he was courteous on the surface yet still held himself high. Today, he was truly easy to talk to.

If Eunuch Hu had heard their thoughts, he would have scolded them for having no eyes. Young Madam Du was no ordinary person. She was like an immortal. The protective talisman she gave him had worked wonders in just a few days: his back stopped aching, his eyes stopped blurring, and even standing in front of the emperor all day did not tire him. That was an immortal-grade treasure.

Eunuch Hu explained to Du Zi Heng with a smile: “Your Majesty knows Young Madam Du has not fully recovered, but there is a case that has troubled him for a long time. It is very serious, so…”

He turned to Yu Zhi Yi and asked with care: “Young Madam Du, would you please make a trip? Do not worry. The carriage is ready. You won’t have to walk, so you won’t get tired. Your working room is stocked with fruit and pastries, and your lunch will be imperial dishes sent from the palace…”

“Enough. Stop drawing cakes in the air to tempt me. I’ll go,” Yu Zhi Yi said at once, almost choked by his promises. [Imperial dishes? What’s so great about those?] She thought of Red Luan’s verdict: they were basically pre-made dishes. Everything was prepared early, then warmed before serving. Even with the best ingredients, the taste suffered a lot. Sometimes the same dish tasted better from a cook outside the palace.

“I’ll go with you,” Du Zi Heng said, worried.

Yu Zhi Yi frowned: “No need.”

Du Zi Heng stayed firm: “You’re still hurt. If Father and Mother hear, they will want to go too. If you won’t let me follow, then I will have to tell Mother and let her go with you.”

Yu Zhi Yi went silent again: “…” [A grown man tattling like a child?]

She really did not want Madam Yao dragged along. First, she did not want Madam Yao to run around tired. Second, common people could not carry the pressure of secrets of the Imperial Family. Since Du Zi Heng wanted to test his own nerves, let him. She no longer refused.

Eunuch Hu added with a flattering smile: “Young Madam Du and Young Master Du have such a good relationship.”

Du Zi Heng’s expression shifted a little. He did not show joy or shyness, but he did not deny it either. Yu Zhi Yi, however, was full of question marks: [What is he talking about?]

Sensing he had praised the wrong thing, Eunuch Hu quickly changed the subject: “Your Majesty is thoughtful toward Young Madam Du. Do you want to bring anything? We may need to stay for quite a while today. You may bring a maid.”

“Many thanks to Your Majesty for the kindness,” Yu Zhi Yi said, not planning to bring Zi Yuan for the same reasons she had not wanted Madam Yao to come.

But Zi Yuan refused to accept that plan. She stepped out and said briskly: “Please wait a moment, Eunuch. This maid will get everything ready.”

Soon, Zi Yuan had packed what Yu Zhi Yi would need: a change of clothes, small snacks she liked and was allowed to eat, and herb packets for medicinal meals. As for Du Zi Heng, he had his own hands and his own servants; he could pack for himself.

They left Chancellor’s Manor. The carriage rumbled toward an extravagant residence. Eunuch Hu did not ride the carriage; he took a luxurious sedan chair waiting at the gate. Before boarding, he leaned close to whisper a few words in Yu Zhi Yi’s ear.

When they reached the mansion, Yu Zhi Yi’s carriage stopped in the alley across the street. Eunuch Hu stepped down from his sedan and called out in a clear, sharp voice at the gate: “The imperial edict is here. Everyone in Prince Shun’s Manor, come receive the decree.”

Looking at the gold-glinting plaque above the gate, Du Zi Heng’s face tensed with worry: “Being dragged into secrets like this isn’t a good thing.”

Prince Shun was one of the few princes of the Great Sheng Empire who bore a different surname. He had once been the emperor’s best childhood friend. But after the emperor took the throne, Prince Shun faded from sight. He did not attend court and skipped palace banquets. He was mysterious. Some said he was ill and too weak to appear. Some said he had made a mistake and felt too ashamed to face the emperor. Others whispered that the emperor feared the power in his hands and, after gaining the throne, cut down his old friend first.

Whatever the real reason for his vanishing from public view, today’s scene showed one thing clearly: the emperor suspected Prince Shun.

Du Zi Heng looked at Yu Zhi Yi, eyes full of worry, and asked in a low voice: “Do you want to hide your skill?”