Chapter 35
Sheng Qianheng twisted his head, feigning indifference, then turned and coughed a few times. “I have no such intention. I just rarely see you dressed like this.”
Chu Yi pondered the “marriage alliance” he seemed to have heard just now. Could Sheng Qianheng be planning to marry someone else?
He reached out and pinched the pad of Sheng Qianheng’s thumb, asking, “What were you and Head Eunuch Liu talking about just now?”
Sheng Qianheng shook his head, took Chu Yi’s hand back, and led him to sit on the dragon throne together.
After a moment of silence, he finally spoke, “A-Yi, what did you come for?”
Chu Yi roughly understood that Sheng Qianheng was unwilling to discuss it with him, so he could only pretend not to know.
He wrapped his arms around Sheng Qianheng’s and said softly, “Do you still remember you promised me I could go and investigate Lu Wenhan?”
Sheng Qianheng naturally remembered, but he hadn’t been able to get away these past few days… He was worried that if he let Chu Yi investigate alone, someone would inevitably make things difficult for him.
“Why, is our A-Yi unwilling to stay in this palace for even a day?”
Chu Yi smiled at Sheng Qianheng with ill intent. Seeing that Liu Deshan was still in the room, he had to restrain himself a little, merely leaning against Sheng Qianheng’s shoulder and asking, “Then is Your Majesty willing to go out and investigate with this concubine?”
“For this trip out of the palace, Zhen will send a few hidden guards and deathsworn to accompany you. You must be careful on your own.” Sheng Qianheng looked up and signaled for Liu Deshan to withdraw. “Zhen still has many state affairs to deal with these past few days…”
Chu Yi had never thought that Sheng Qianheng would be willing to let him investigate the case alone. Wasn’t he afraid he would run away?
Seeing Liu Deshan withdraw from the hall and close the door, he asked, “You’re not coming with me?”
Sheng Qianheng wrapped his arms around Chu Yi’s waist and replied faintly, “With your usual swift and decisive methods, you alone are enough to investigate. It’s just that you have to investigate under the identity of Consort Wan…”
Chu Yi was quite surprised that Sheng Qianheng had such trust in him. Could this be another test?
“You mean I have to pretend to be a woman all the time to go out of the palace and investigate Lu Wenhan?”
Sheng Qianheng nodded. “After all, the common people might not be able to accept the identity of Prince Regent Chu Yi… If others find out you’re still alive, I’m afraid it will cause trouble again. It’s better to disguise yourself as Consort Wan.”
Chu Yi pondered for a moment, weighing the pros and cons. Although wearing women’s clothes was a bit inconvenient, it wasn’t a big deal. But if he was recognized for wearing men’s clothes and became a public enemy, it wouldn’t be worth it.
He gazed at Sheng Qianheng’s profile and asked softly, “But we have rarely been separated for a long time since our wedding. I’m not used to it… Are you really not lying to me? You’re really not coming with me?”
Sheng Qianheng pinched the flesh of Chu Yi’s cheeks and reprimanded, “I still have state affairs to deal with. I really can’t get away. But there are many things I’m not willing to hold against you. A-Yi, you should know… There are some things I don’t say, but it doesn’t mean I don’t know. A-Yi, do you understand what I mean?”
Chu Yi had wanted to pull away the hand pinching him, but hearing Sheng Qianheng’s words, he gave up, feeling extremely guilty. “A-Heng, this time I really am just trying to find out the truth about Lu Wenhan and help you clear out the remnants in the court. Believe me…”
Fearing that Sheng Qianheng wouldn’t believe him, he raised his right hand in an oath gesture and continued, “If I have half a false word, may I not have a good… d…”
Sheng Qianheng immediately grabbed Chu Yi’s right hand, interrupting him, and pulled him into his embrace. “Don’t say such things. As long as you say it, I’ll believe you. Don’t let me down again…”
Chu Yi recalled the several times he had been caught escaping in the past two months. If it had been any other tyrant, he would have been beheaded several times over. But Sheng Qianheng not only didn’t punish him, but even repeatedly indulged him…
The most punishment he had received was being tormented in various positions on the bed…
He had never been one to deceive others, but he had already deceived Sheng Qianheng several times in order to survive. This time, he really had no selfish motives. He was just tired of staying in Jingyang Palace and wanted to go out for a walk to pass the time.
He closed his eyes, smelling the incense on Sheng Qianheng, and raised a hand to pat his back. “Relax…”
Sheng Qianheng lightly kissed the permanent mark on the back of Chu Yi’s neck. “This time, take my most capable hidden guard, Suifeng, with you. If there’s any danger, he will immediately send a message.”
Chu Yi felt a slight itch on the back of his neck but didn’t dodge. “Alright! Thank you, A-Heng!”
The next day, Chu Yi left the palace with Lianfang and Moshu.
Sheng Qianheng had specifically kept Lu Wenhan in the palace today to discuss matters. After leaving the palace, Chu Yi headed straight for the Lu residence.
The moment he got out of the carriage, he was shocked by the grandeur of the Lu residence.
The gate was much larger than his Prince Regent’s residence…
The stone steps in front of the gate seemed to be no ordinary stone steps, but rather white marble, several zhang wide, with cloud patterns carved on them.
Chu Yi suppressed the surprise in his eyes and walked straight forward, only to be stopped by the gatekeeper as expected. “Who goes there?”
Chu Yi took out the token Sheng Qianheng had given him in advance, held it up to his chest, and said coldly, “This Palace is Consort Wan, here on His Majesty’s orders to inspect.”
The gatekeeper immediately allowed Chu Yi to enter.
The moment Chu Yi stepped into the residence, he was shocked by the magnificent decoration in the courtyard. The potted plants in the courtyard seemed to be priceless…
After walking to the main hall and sitting down, he asked a maid from the Lu residence, “Lord Lu is still in the palace. Why is Lady Lu nowhere to be seen?”
The maid was very flustered and stammered, “Madam has recently caught a cold and is not in a position to get up and greet you…”
Chu Yi was about to get up but was drawn by the sight of a man who had suddenly entered the main hall.
After the man had paid his respects to him, he slowly spoke, “This servant greets Consort Wan. I did not know of Your Ladyship’s sudden arrival. The residence was not prepared in time. It is truly a discourtesy…”
Chu Yi didn’t understand who this man was. Moshu, who was beside him, said, “This is Lord Lu’s beloved concubine, Lin Qian.”
Chu Yi roughly scanned Lin Qian’s attire. He was dressed in brocade, and his jewelry was all made of gold. If he hadn’t known he was a concubine, Chu Yi would have thought he was Lu Wenhan’s main wife.
He fiddled with his sleeve and said coldly, “So the rule in the Lu residence is for a concubine to greet this Palace…? It seems my face is not enough~”
Lin Qian smiled back. He stroked his sideburns, whispered a few words to the maid beside him, and then replied, “Your Ladyship is overthinking it. Madam is truly unwell and has been bedridden for more than half a month… Even my lord has been avoiding her, for fear of catching the illness… This servant has already sent someone to invite her. Your Ladyship, please wait a moment.”
Chu Yi stood up and wandered around the Lu residence. Lin Qian followed closely behind.
If he hadn’t asked Sheng Qianheng and learned that Lu Wenhan’s salary was only thirty thousand a month, he would never have believed that the Lu residence was so grand.
By the time he had roughly walked around the Lu residence, Lady Lu had arrived.
Lady Lu knelt on the ground and said tremblingly, “This subject’s wife did not know of Consort Wan’s arrival and failed to greet you from afar. I hope Your Ladyship will forgive me…”
Chu Yi saw that Lady Lu’s complexion was not good. She must be really ill. But just as Lady Lu was getting up, her collar moved slightly, and he caught a glimpse of a faint love bite.
According to Lin Qian, wasn’t Lu Wenhan avoiding Lady Lu for fear of catching her illness?
But this love bite looked as if it had been left in the last two days.
Seeing that Chu Yi seemed to have the intention of helping Lady Lu up, Lin Qian immediately stepped forward to help her up first. “Your Ladyship, since you have already seen madam, why don’t this servant show you around some more?”
Chu Yi didn’t intend to make things difficult for Lin Qian, but he still understood the principle that a concubine should not stand in front of the main wife. It seemed that Lu Wenhan’s doting on his concubine and neglecting his wife was a fact.
“Lady Lu will accompany this Palace…”
Lin Qian shot a fierce glare at Lady Lu before withdrawing.
Seeing Lady Lu’s entire body trembling unconsciously, Chu Yi couldn’t help but feel suspicious. He asked in a low voice, “Is Lady Lu’s illness any better?”
Lady Lu’s eyes darted around. She grabbed her collar, her breathing rapid. “This subject’s wife’s illness… is much better… Your Ladyship… would Your Ladyship like to go for a walk in the backyard?”
Chu Yi found it strange. Why did Lady Lu give him the feeling that she was afraid of others?
Even if Lu Wenhan didn’t like his main wife, it shouldn’t be like this.
As far as he knew, the main wife Lu Wenhan had married was the legitimate daughter of the Xu family. Although no one from the Xu family was an official in the court, they were at least one of the top merchant families. As the legitimate daughter of the Xu family, she shouldn’t be like this.
The moment Chu Yi drew near, he could smell the scent on Lady Lu. It seemed to be a mixture of several incenses, slightly pungent.
He held his breath, placed a hand on Lady Lu’s shoulder, and said, “Lady Lu need not be afraid of this Palace. This Palace finds you quite congenial. May I invite Lady Lu to the teahouse in the east of the city for some tea?”
Hearing the word “teahouse,” Lady Lu instantly became flustered. She squatted down, hugged her knees, and muttered, “Don’t hit me… I won’t run… I won’t run anymore… As long as you don’t make me pregnant… I’ll do anything… Don’t hit me… Don’t hit me… Don’t hit me…”
When Chu Yi squatted down to comfort Lady Lu, he was shocked by her words. Did Lu Wenhan abuse his own main wife? If he didn’t love her, why did he have to marry her!
“Lady Lu, no one is going to hit you!”
Lady Lu hugged her head and collapsed to the ground, as if she couldn’t hear anything, only begging for mercy, “Don’t hit me… Don’t hit me! I beg you!”
He immediately had Lianfang call for the accompanying imperial physician. After applying needles to calm her down, Lady Lu lay on the bed and no longer struggled.
Seeing the bruises on Lady Lu’s arms, Chu Yi couldn’t help but feel a pang in his heart. He felt that there was something strange about this Lu residence everywhere.
Just as he sat on the edge of the bed, intending to check if Lady Lu had any other injuries, Lu Wenhan had already returned to the residence.
Lu Wenhan rushed into the room, paid his respects to Chu Yi, and asked, “I wonder if my wife has offended Consort Wan?”
Chu Yi had no choice but to withdraw his hand. He looked at Lu Wenhan with an unconscious look of disdain. “It’s nothing. Lady Lu seems to have been frightened a lot lately. Why is that, Lord Lu?”
Perhaps because he had run all the way, Lu Wenhan raised his sleeve to wipe the sweat from his face and replied, “She has always been timid…”
Chu Yi: “Oh? Is that so?”
Lu Wenhan: “Your Ladyship, you may not know, but my wife was bitten by a wild dog when she was a child, and thus developed a heart condition…”
Chu Yi was about to continue questioning when Suifeng, the hidden guard Sheng Qianheng had sent to protect him, reminded him, “Your Ladyship, we have been out of the palace for a long time. His Majesty must be missing you…”
Chu Yi understood Suifeng’s hint, stood up, and said, “This Palace will visit Lady Lu again in the future…”
Lu Wenhan: “This humble subject respectfully sees Consort Wan off.”
The moment Chu Yi stepped out of the Lu residence gate and was about to get into the carriage, Suifeng said, “Your Ladyship, there are also many deathsworn in this Lu residence! This subject saw that Lord Lu just now seemed to be…”
Chu Yi looked back at the Lu residence and felt that there were too many questions. He would have to investigate carefully.
It was the xū hour by the time he returned to the palace.
He stepped into the bedchamber, walked straight to the bed, and lay down.
Chu Yi had never expected that he wouldn’t be lying on the bedding, but on a soft chest. He let out a yelp of pain.
Sheng Qianheng turned over in a flash and pressed Chu Yi under him, rubbing his forehead. “Did it hurt?”
Chu Yi shook his head and took a deep breath of the incense on Sheng Qianheng. The scent on Lady Lu had given him a headache and made him slightly nauseous.
The scent on Sheng Qianheng was still refreshing.
“A-Heng, hold me!”
