Chapter 219: Understand My Heart
Chu Yi discreetly arrived at Yulin Lane in a carriage.
At this time, Yun Chu had only returned from the palace less than half an hour ago.
She had just finished bathing and washing her long hair with the help of her maid when a servant came to report that Prince Pingxi had arrived.
Her hair wasn't completely dry yet, so she left it loose, letting the jet-black strands cascade smoothly down to her waist like silk.
Chu Yi looked up and saw the woman walking out in white garments.
The loose dress made her figure appear petite, with her dark hair creating a striking contrast against her fair skin.
It was already dusk, and the golden sunset glow fell upon her cheeks, even illuminating the fine hairs on her face.
He suddenly understood the meaning of the phrase "peaceful years."
"Your Highness."
Yun Chu approached him and addressed him.
Chu Yi snapped out of his reverie and raised the box in his hand: "This is a piece of crystal I happened to acquire. It should be suitable 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 by now. I should be the one presenting gifts to express my gratitude. How could I accept such a valuable item from Your Highness..."
Not only had he protected her from harm,
But he had also shielded her eyes, preventing her from witnessing the bloody scenes.
Actually, she wasn't even afraid to kill people herself, so seeing others kill meant nothing to her.
Yet this man had carefully guarded against the faint traces of fear buried deep within her heart.
"Speaking like this between us would be too formal." Chu Yi forcibly pressed the item into her hands. "Consider it as thanks for the meals I'll be having at your place in the future."
Yun Chu: "..."
With the two courtyards now connected, she could almost envision the scene of this father and his two sons coming over for meals every day.
Well, it was fine—just an extra pair of chopsticks anyway.
She handed the box to Ting Xue to take inside and store away before saying: "With both of the Empress Dowager's right-hand men dead, this matter probably won't be easily dismissed. I have an idea—would Your Highness be willing to hear it?"
Chu Yi was certainly willing to listen.
Yun Chu began: "Your Highness only knows that my father went to the Southern border region, but in truth, he was following imperial orders to execute the Chariot and Horse General."
Chu Yi nodded.
Although his father hadn't explicitly told him, he had vaguely guessed some of this.
"The Chariot and Horse General is from the Feng family—the Empress Dowager's own nephew. Regardless of why the Emperor wants him executed, this shows that the Emperor and Empress Dowager have long been irreconcilable." Yun Chu's gaze was clear and cold. "Your Highness might consider approaching this from this angle—transforming the conflict between the Empress Dowager and the Yun family back into a conflict between the Empress Dowager and the Emperor."
The Empress Dowager's move against her was merely meant to provoke conflict between the Yun family and the Emperor.
She wanted the Emperor to completely destroy the Yun family.
If Chu Yi hadn't intervened, 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 of the Empress Dowager's people. She knew that between her and the Empress Dowager, he had chosen her.
This actually made things easier to handle.
Chu Yi looked at her with admiration in his eyes.
He was somewhat surprised that a woman who spent most of her time in the inner quarters could understand court politics so clearly.
He nodded: "Don't worry, I know what to do."
With the conversation reaching this point, Yun Chu thought it was about concluded. She softly instructed Ting Xue to bring over the freshly steamed osmanthus cakes.She picked it up and handed it to Chu Yi. "These are osmanthus cakes I made myself. Please have a taste, Your Highness."
Chu Yi immediately took a piece and put it in his mouth. He had never been fond of such sweet, soft treats, but as the osmanthus fragrance spread across his tongue, the sweet aroma seeped from his taste buds into his heart, bringing him an indescribable comfort.
After eating three pieces in succession, he finally stopped and said, "Miss Yun, there's another matter I need to clarify with you. The incident five years ago was orchestrated by Qin Mingheng and Xie Jingyu. Each of them had a trusted subordinate who participated throughout. Currently, the maidservant who served Qin Mingheng is detained in my residence. My mother's people have learned of this, and there may soon be some untrue rumors circulating about this maidservant. I hope you won't take them seriously when they emerge."
Yun Chu was momentarily puzzled. "What kind of rumors?"
Chu Yi coughed lightly into his hand. "People might say things like I'm keeping a mistress hidden away."
"I understand," Yun Chu replied.
Her expression remained utterly calm, like clouds drifting peacefully across the sky, as if nothing could disturb her tranquility—except matters concerning her child.
For a moment, Chu Yi felt defeated.
Pressing his lips together, he asked, "Don't you care at all?"
Yun Chu glanced sideways at him.
Even if he were truly keeping a mistress, she wouldn't mind.
Much less when it was merely a pretense.
"Yun... Chu." Chu Yi's lips parted. "I think you should understand my feelings."
Yun Chu's slender fingers, pale as spring onions, stilled momentarily.
She raised her hand to tuck a stray strand of wind-blown hair behind her ear, masking the turmoil in her heart.
Though not exceptionally clever, as a woman she could somewhat perceive a man's feelings toward her, especially at such close proximity.
She could even guess that Yin Pin's knowledge of the maidservant's existence was deliberately leaked by him.
He was using a maidservant to test how far Yin Pin and the Emperor would tolerate regarding his marriage affairs.
He was paving the way for something in the future.
"Your Highness, it's impossible between us." Yun Chu's expression remained placid. "The Emperor would never allow such a thing."
Chu Yi gazed intently at her, about to speak.
Suddenly.
A voice approached from the distance.
"Chu'er."
It was Lin Shi's voice.
The calmness on Yun Chu's face instantly vanished.
Now flustered, she looked around before grabbing Chu Yi's arm. "Your Highness, please hide inside the house first."
Before Chu Yi could react, Yun Chu pushed him into the room.
"Chu'er, why are you standing in the courtyard?" Lin Shi stepped across the threshold. "You've just bathed and washed your hair, haven't you? You shouldn't be in the wind—you'll get headaches later. And you're not wearing enough clothing either. Winter is coming soon, yet you still don't take proper care of yourself..."
Yun Chu was pulled into the room.
Inside, Chu Yi understood Yun Chu's concerns and immediately slipped into the inner chamber, where he caught the distinctive fragrance of a lady's private quarters.
"Mother, why have you come at this hour?"
Yun Chu adjusted her clothing while glancing around surreptitiously. Not seeing any trace of Chu Yi, she felt relieved.
She wasn't intentionally hiding things from her mother, but with nightfall approaching and her being alone in the courtyard with Prince Pingxi, if her mother saw them, she would inevitably imagine all sorts of scenarios... Since nothing could possibly happen between them anyway, there was no need to cause her mother unnecessary worry."I came to tell you that you'll accompany me somewhere tomorrow." Lin Shi said with a smile. "Do you still remember Lady Zhou Nan? She held you when you were little."
Yun Chu nodded. "I remember, she's a kind-faced lady."
"Lady Zhou Nan excels at matchmaking." Lin Shi beamed. "I'm taking you to see her, so she can..."
Yun Chu's expression immediately changed. "Mother, why are you meddling in these matters?"
Tears instantly welled up in Lin Shi's eyes. "The miracle doctor said back then that there's nothing wrong with your health, you can have your own children - it was Xie Jingyu who held you back... I want you to remarry not because I think you need a husband, but because I believe you should experience the joy and happiness of motherhood... Chu'er, I've always blamed myself for not being by your side the night you gave birth..."
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