Chapter Forty-Eight: A Misunderstanding

A few days later, in the imperial palace of the capital.

Eunuch Hong, who had brought in the courtesan, had already been secretly executed the previous day. He was interrogated before his death as well.

As Zhu Yu had suspected, the plot was straightforward: first, drug him to make his mind hazy, then secretly bring Jiang Yufeng into the palace to dance before him, and finally administer the antidote. Logically, Zhu Yu would then fall hopelessly in love with Jiang Yufeng, accept her into the palace, and cherish her obediently.

But no one could have predicted that before the scheme even fully unfolded, Zhu Yu himself sensed something was amiss.

Nevertheless, Zhu Yu still issued the imperial edict to bring Jiang Yufeng into the palace. It wasn’t for any particular reason other than to keep the storyline undisturbed. Although Zhu Yu had no recollection of this plot, perhaps after a few days, he would suddenly remember it.

Besides, Jiang Yufeng was indeed beautiful, and her seductive dance had left a lingering impression on him. If nothing else, having her perform in the palace from time to time would be delightful.

At the same time, Zhu Yu couldn’t help but wonder about Jiang Biehe, that old man—how did he happen to have two such beautiful daughters?

This incident also reminded Zhu Yu of Jiang Yuyan, whom he had long since forgotten. After some thought, he decided that when he finally left the palace and entered the martial world, he would bring her back.

Just now, Eunuch Wu had informed him that Jiang Yufeng had arrived and was currently being cleansed in the palace of the court maidens; by evening, he could see her.

Initially, Zhu Yu had been looking forward to her arrival, but now that she was within the palace walls, he felt a trace of anxiety.

He was fairly certain now that the future episode of Jiang Yuyan assassinating the emperor would never come to pass. But if he truly lost control and accepted her elder sister, would Jiang Yuyan once more pick up the knife?

The chances seemed high.

In the end, between beauty and life, Zhu Yu made his choice. He decided that when he saw Jiang Yufeng that evening, he would simply chat with her, let her enjoy the palace for a few days, and then send her back.

It wasn’t that Zhu Yu was particularly afraid of Jiang Yuyan; it was a decision made after careful consideration. Firstly, if he chose Jiang Yuyan, there would be no future incidents beyond his control. Secondly, according to the plot, once Jiang Yuyan matured, she would surely reach the level of a grandmaster—a top-tier bodyguard, invaluable in every way.

And while Jiang Yufeng was beautiful, she was still a shade less than Jiang Yuyan; if one were to choose, one would naturally choose the best.

As for summoning both sisters into the palace? Jiang Yufeng might not mind, but Zhu Yu mainly feared that one night, Jiang Yuyan would come at him with a knife while he slept. Besides, Jiang Yuyan didn’t yet know his true identity, and he hadn’t figured out how to explain it to her.

...

Evening soon arrived, and Zhu Yu went to Jiang Yufeng’s temporary residence.

Pushing open the door, he found the room empty, but the mosquito net over the bed had been lowered. By the glow of the lantern, the graceful silhouette of the woman on the bed was clearly visible.

At that sight, Zhu Yu was momentarily stunned—were people in ancient times truly this bold?

But then he recollected himself; compared to that earlier seductive dance, this was hardly anything.

“Ahem, well, Miss Jiang, I summoned you here with no other intention. Perhaps you’ve misunderstood. It’s simply that you bear a striking resemblance to someone I once dreamed of, so I brought you into the palace to see for myself.

“Besides, I know your younger sister, Jiang Yuyan. Although she doesn’t yet know who I am, isn’t this kind of reception a bit inappropriate?”

Zhu Yu struggled to maintain his composure, stumbling through the opening he had carefully rehearsed.

“Is that so? Your Majesty knows Yuyan as well?” came the reply from within the netting.

Hearing that Zhu Yu still remembered her, Jiang Yuyan was overcome with emotion, tears welling in her eyes as she pressed a hand to her heart.

At that moment, if Zhu Yu were to ask her to die, she might not hesitate to do so.

Of course, a normal person wouldn’t be so extreme, but Jiang Yuyan’s mental state was far from ordinary; thus, anything was possible.

“Yes, yes, I’m quite familiar with Jiang Yuyan. If it’s convenient for you, perhaps we could chat for a while, and tomorrow you can explore the palace and the capital. After that, I’ll have someone escort you home.

“If now isn’t convenient, I can come another day,” Zhu Yu said, all the while thinking how familiar Jiang Yufeng’s voice sounded—so much like Jiang Yuyan’s. Truly, they were sisters.

“It’s certainly convenient for me. However, just now, the palace maids took away my clothes, so I’m not properly attired to receive you. Perhaps Your Majesty would join me on the bed instead?”

Hearing this coquettish invitation, Zhu Yu, already teetering on the edge, felt a rush of heat go straight to his head. “Does Miss Jiang not realize she’s playing with fire? Or do you think I’m not a man?”

His words were righteous and forthright, yet before he knew it, he was standing at the bedside.

He was at his limit, a voice screaming within: If you dare seduce me any further, and I don’t take you, I’ll change my surname!

And just as Zhu Yu was struggling to maintain his restraint, a hand reached out from the bed, yanking him onto it in an instant.

When Zhu Yu finally saw the face on the bed, he instantly sobered. “Jiang Yuyan? Why are you here?”

So it was that although Zhu Yu had always called Jiang Yuyan a beauty, his body knew the truth. At the sight of Jiang Yuyan clad only in a dudou, all his restlessness faded away.

“Master Zhu, I missed you so much. Why haven’t you come for me? You promised you would,” Jiang Yuyan said, flinging herself into his arms.

Zhu Yu suddenly didn’t know where to look, nor where to place his hands. He could only say, “Ah, Yuyan, it’s getting late. You should rest. I—I’ll come see you again tomorrow, all right?”

“No, now that I know you’re the emperor, I also know that emperors don’t sleep alone. Let me stay with you tonight, please?”

“Let’s wait a little longer. You’re still young, and besides, I don’t need company every night.”

Zhu Yu refused her resolutely. It wasn’t that Jiang Yuyan wasn’t beautiful, nor that Zhu Yu lacked desire.

It was just that he had a mental block—sleeping with Jiang Yuyan was, in his mind, like bungee jumping without a safety rope; who knew when his life might end?

“I’m not a child. I know everything,” Jiang Yuyan whispered as she nestled in his arms. Then, from that delicate body surged an impressive inner strength, pinning Zhu Yu beneath her in an instant.

Just as Zhu Yu was shocked by Jiang Yuyan’s martial prowess, she placed her hands on his clothes—and then, spring arrived.