Chu Yu escorted Consort Wang Zhi to a small house she had prepared in the city. She had hot water prepared, and both she and Wang Zhi quickly bathed separately. Afterward, Chu Yu went to the main hall, waiting for Wang Zhi to emerge.
When Wang Zhi stepped out, her expression was still dazed. Chu Yu poured her a cup of tea and said calmly, "Your Highness, have some tea to warm yourself."
"How... how are you here?" Wang Zhi looked up at Chu Yu, her face filled with shock and suspicion. Chu Yu smiled faintly. "I heard Your Highness was in trouble, so I lent a hand."
"Why... why would he want to kill me?!" Wang Zhi slowly regained her composure, her voice laced with disbelief. Chu Yu took a sip of tea and replied evenly, "Do you truly not know why His Majesty would want to kill you?"
Wang Zhi froze. After a moment, her expression darkened, and she raised her voice. "For that bastard?!"
"His Majesty has declared," Chu Yu met her gaze solemnly, "that he is the Crown Prince."
Wang Zhi's face twisted with fury. "Has he gone mad?! What does that deposed princess have now?! My Wang Family has supported him all the way to this day—we are his maternal clan! And he would kill me for such a bastard?!"
She shook her head and stood up. "No... no, I must return to the palace. I need to ask him myself—"
"Your Highness," Chu Yu interjected coolly, "the Palace Gates are already under strict lockdown. Assassins now surround the Wang Family's residence. If you wander recklessly, I cannot guarantee your life."
"Nonsense!" Wang Zhi snapped. "I don’t believe you! You’ve abducted me—return me to the palace at once!"
At this, Chu Yu chuckled. "Very well." She gestured toward the door. "The gate is open. Your Highness may leave and go wherever you wish. I have only one condition." She looked at her steadily. "When you face death, do not say I helped you."
Chu Yu’s certainty was absolute. In Wang Zhi’s mind flashed the image of Zhao Yue striding toward Sunset Glow Palace with a sword in hand.
Chu Yu wasn’t lying.
Words could deceive, but what of Zhao Yue himself?
She had never seen him so ruthless before. Yet even from a distance, she had known—Zhao Yue had truly intended to kill her.
But why?
Had Zhao Yue lost his mind?
He had always weighed pros and cons. Her father had once told her that Zhao Yue’s nature would eventually bend to power, advising her not to take The Eldest Princess too seriously. So how could this happen today?
How could he humiliate the Wang Family like this? Did he not fear their retaliation? Without the Wang Family’s support, who among his followers would remain truly loyal?
Yao Yong obeyed him only out of expediency. The Xie Family backed him merely as the most suitable candidate after deliberation. Others were even less reliable. Only the Wang Family was his foundation!
Wang Zhi’s face was blank with shock. Chu Yu spoke calmly, "Your Highness, have you decided where to go?"
The sound snapped Wang Zhi back to reality. She turned and glared coldly at Chu Yu. "Why are you helping me?"
Chu Yu remained silent, sipping her tea. Wang Zhi pressed urgently, "Aren’t you one of The Eldest Princess’s people? If you save me, aren’t you afraid she’ll blame you?"
"Why would The Eldest Princess blame me?" Chu Yu smiled faintly. "Haven’t you realized yet why you’re here?"
Wang Zhi looked puzzled. Chu Yu tilted her head, resting her chin on her hand. "You’ve always been quite clear about distinguishing Ten-Day Fragrance from Zi Si, haven’t you?"Hearing this, Wang Zhi suddenly realized: "You set me up?!"
"You made me harm The Eldest Princess's child, knowing Zhao Yue would act against me, but..." Wang Zhi seemed puzzled. "Why would you want to harm The Eldest Princess's child?"
She muttered to herself, analyzing the situation: "No... that's not it. You did this on purpose. All of you planned this..."
Wang Zhi looked up, her expression turning strange: "The Eldest Princess wanted to use this child to eliminate me..."
"Consort Song is delicate, Yao Guifei is foolish. Once I'm gone, she'll dominate the harem..."
Wang Zhi clenched her teeth: "Ruthless. Absolutely ruthless. I'm no match for her."
"She wants to eliminate me, but what about you?"
"Me?"
Chu Yu looked at her frankly. "I have a favor to ask."
Hearing this, Wang Zhi felt slightly reassured. "What do you want me to do?"
"Your Majesty wants to recall my marquis. I'd like Noble Consort Yao to help by having the Wang Family delay His Majesty's decision."
Wang Zhi frowned. "This concerns state affairs. His Majesty's decisions are beyond our family's control."
"It doesn't matter," Chu Yu said calmly. "At least try to delay it, won't you?"
After a moment of silence, Wang Zhi finally nodded. "Fine. Take me back to the Wang Family, and I'll speak to my father for you."
Chu Yu replied evenly, "You can't return to the Wang Family now. I've already sent someone to inform your father. We'll wait here."
Hearing this, Wang Zhi felt somewhat relieved. Chu Yu had sent word to Wang He, the head of the Wang Family, before leaving the palace. By now, he should already be on his way.
Before long, the sound of the courtyard gate opening came from outside. Wang Zhi immediately stood up and hurried toward the door, where she saw an elderly man approaching. With tears in her eyes, she bowed to him. The old man's expression was stern as he said, "Let's talk inside first. Explain everything clearly."
Wang Zhi and Wang He went inside, where she tearfully recounted the events. Chu Yu sat to the side, idly catching moths. When Wang Zhi finished, Wang He was both furious and anxious. "Why didn't you discuss such a serious matter with me?!"
"You told me to handle harem affairs on my own..."
Wang Zhi wept as Wang He paced, thinking of a solution.
"Before leaving, I sent someone to the palace to gather information. If His Majesty is truly determined to kill you..."
Wang He stopped walking, pressed his lips together, and looked up at Wang Zhi. She froze for a moment before understanding the meaning in his eyes. Panicked, she crawled over and knelt before him, crying, "Father, if he kills me over this, how will he ever tolerate the Wang Family afterward?! Zhao Yue is so suspicious—if he kills me, do you really think he'll still trust you? Trust a minister whose daughter he killed? Is that something Zhao Yue would do?!"
"But what can I do?!"
Wang He raised his voice. "Zhi'er, he is the emperor now. Unless absolutely necessary, our family can't act against him. Do you understand?! This time, you went too far. His Majesty's anger is justified..."
"So you're just going to let me die?!"
Wang Zhi sobbed. Wang He's eyes welled with tears as Chu Yu watched the father and daughter argue, chuckling softly.
Wang He glared at Chu Yu. "What are you laughing at?""Lord Wang," Chu Yu looked at him, "Do you really have no idea whether Her Ladyship is right or not? If the Imperial Consort dies today, do you think Zhao Yue will ever trust you again?"
Wang He remained silent, his gaze fixed on Chu Yu. Chu Yu stood up and said, "Perhaps I can show you a way out."
Wang He's expression turned solemn as he cupped his hands and replied, "I humbly ask for your guidance, Madam."
"Before dawn, we will escort Her Ladyship out of the city, never to return to the capital. You, my lord, will return to apologize to His Majesty. Since the Sunset Glow Palace has already burned down, you can claim that Her Ladyship perished in the fire. Without finding her, Zhao Yue can do nothing to you. Moreover, since Her Ladyship isn’t dead, you won’t have truly made an enemy of him. In the future, Zhao Yue won’t be constantly wary of you and will even pride himself on his magnanimity for sparing your daughter’s life. What do you think?"
Wang He stayed silent, while Wang Zhi knelt on the ground, her eyes filled with hope as she watched him. After a long pause, Wang He gritted his teeth and said, "Fine."
With that, he turned around and immediately declared, "No matter how reckless Zhao Yue becomes, he wouldn’t dare kill me. I’ll escort you out of the city."
Chu Yu nodded and quickly arranged for people to protect Wang Zhi and Wang He as they left the city.
With Wang He’s escort, the group exited the city smoothly. Chu Yu led Wang Zhi to the moat, planning to board a boat and leave by water.
Tears welled in Wang He’s eyes as he looked at his daughter, knowing she might never return to the capital again. His voice choked with emotion, he grasped Wang Zhi’s hand and said, "Don’t ever do anything foolish again."
Wang Zhi nodded repeatedly. Chu Yu urged, "Hurry, get on the boat—"
Before she could finish, an arrow suddenly shot from the darkness, aimed straight at Wang He. Chu Yu swiftly caught the arrow mid-air and pulled Wang He behind her, raising her voice to command, "Go, now!"
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