Chapter 235: Night Entry into the Chu County Dukes Residence

Holy Maiden, what should I do?

There is no need to force it. I have already cast the Thread-Binding Gu; you only need to let him see you.

Ah Ji understands~

Late Xu hour.

At the Prince Yinyang Estate, the banquet, which only consisted of Chen Yi and Heir Apparent, lasted less than an hour before ending in a rush.

Brother Wusheng, let us meet another day.

At the Estate gate, saying their farewells, Chen Yi seemed somewhat distracted.

Prince, please take care; let us meet another day.

Heir Apparent replied with a cupped-fist salute.

As Chen Yi rode away, his figure gradually fading into the distance, Heir Apparent gazed into the colorful night. On a sudden whim, he walked down the steps.

Heir Apparent, are you leaving the Estate?

Just taking a stroll.

Heir Apparent, please wait a moment; I will call for guards to accompany you.

No need~

Heir Apparent waved his hand and stepped onto the street, where light and shadow intertwined.

Seeing this, the guard followed closely behind.

Heir Apparent lived in Central Heaven from the age of eight to twelve. In his heart, this greatest capital of the world could not compare to Hongzhou, with its biting northern winds and smoke rising over the lonely desert.

Central Heaven was beautiful, yes, but it was too delicate and effeminate.

There was too much treachery and too many arrogant nobles, just like that Duke of Chu County today. His maternal aunt and cousin were right; like master, like servant. A female relative of a mere twelfth-rank noble could be so arrogant—was it not all because she relied on this new noble of the dynasty?

If this were in Hongzhou, Heir Apparent believed he would have already dealt with him according to military law.

The reason he did not flare up today was simply to give the Prince Face.

Unknowingly, without a specific destination, Heir Apparent walked into a deep, narrow alley.

A few barks of a dog echoed from afar.

A small door inside the alley opened quietly.

Under the moonlight, a woman was seen lifting her skirt, hurriedly squeezing out from the crack in the door, looking back cautiously from time to time.

Young Lady? Little Young Lady.

From within the courtyard, a few faint calls came.

Hearing the calls, the woman hurriedly darted into the alley. Perhaps she did not notice Heir Apparent, who had just arrived there. Constantly looking back, she accidentally bumped straight into Heir Apparent.

Ouch~

The woman let out a low cry, covering her bumped forehead, seemingly startled by him.

Their eyes met.

Heir Apparent could not help but be stunned, pinned to the spot by the stranger’s gaze. It felt as if something in his chest had cracked open with a bang.

Young Lady?

Behind the corner door, the calls rose again, getting closer.

The woman before him seemed to wake from a dream. She hurriedly curtsied slightly to apologize for bumping into him, then looked around, quickly stepped into a shadow to hide, and pressed her index finger to her red lips. Her voice was soft and carried a hint of pleading: ‘Young Master, please don’t make a sound!’

As soon as she finished speaking, the corner door opened again.

A young maidservant poked her head out with a lantern. Catching sight of Heir Apparent standing in the alley, she was surprised and hurriedly asked, ‘This Young Master? Have you seen my young mistress?’

I…

Heir Apparent just opened his mouth. The young mistress, hiding in the shadows and visible only to him due to the angle, hurriedly pressed her palms together and nodded at him repeatedly, like someone praying to Buddha.

That cute appearance made even the warm night breeze become gentle.

Heir Apparent looked straight ahead, smiled, and replied, ‘No, I haven’t.’

Oh~

The foolish maidservant heard his words and did not doubt him. She turned back into the courtyard, muttering, ‘Where did Ah Ji run off to? She hasn’t finished copying the thousand characters yet. If the Madam finds out, she will scold her again.’

About ten breaths later, the alley returned to silence.

The young mistress hiding in the dark finally came out, gently stroking her chest, looking relieved to have finally escaped.

She tilted her head, curiously examining Heir Apparent, ‘Thank you for just now, Young Master~’

Where is this?

Heir Apparent was not a person who loved gossip, but at this moment, for some reason, he was very interested in learning more about her.

This is my Paternal Aunt’s house.

Then why did you run out?

My Paternal Aunt told me to copy characters, but I’m tired and want to go to the West Market to have a bowl of iced drink.

Hmm.

Heir Apparent wanted to say a few more words to her, but he was not good at chatting.

Fortunately, the woman smiled slightly and took the initiative: ‘Just now, you helped me, so let me treat you to a cup of iced drink at the West Market?’

Heir Apparent laughed, ‘Hehe, okay.’

What is your name?

My name is… Wusheng.

Wusheng? What a strange name. My name is Ah Ji~

First quarter of the Hai hour.

Ziwei Ward, Princess Xingguos Residence.

‘…Paternal Aunt also knows that Jiang Wusheng is upright and easily misled by others. I originally thought to suppress it first and explain to him slowly later to ease the relationship between the Heir Apparent of Prince Yinyang and the Duke of Chu County, but who would have known…’

In Wangqiu Hall, Chen Yi recounted tonight’s events with a calm expression.

But the act of rushing to the Princesss Residence overnight to chat with Princess Xingguo showed that his heart was not calm.

People, when they feel wronged, always like to get close to those they consider closest.

And those closest to Chen Yi are, first, his Paternal Aunt, and second, those sworn brothers who have experienced life and death together.

This evening, his brothers ‘turned against him’ together, making him feel both wronged and that everyone was not considering his difficult situation.

The relationship between Heir Apparent and him, being close since childhood, is true, but the former’s maternal family, the Yu Clan, has always been very close to Prince Leyang, Prince of Linping, and others.

To put it bluntly, the Prince Yinyang family is also waiting for the best offer.

Under such circumstances, Chen Yi naturally has to carefully maintain his relationship with Heir Apparent.

‘Wusheng is upright, and is the Duke of Chu County not the same? Both are the type to break rather than bend.’

Princess Xingguo pointed out indifferently and then said, ‘This is not a big matter. In a few days, I will mediate, and it will pass.’

Yes.

Chen Yi was a little surprised. His Paternal Aunt’s words, ‘is the Duke of Chu County not the same,’ directly placed the two in equally important positions.

Lin Hansu, sitting below Princess Xingguo, although her eyes were lowered and her expression dignified, Princess Xingguo knew that since Chen Yi mentioned that tonight’s matter involved Ding Suian, she had already been unable to sit still.

‘Hansu, I am fine here; you may go down and rest.’

Princess Xingguo was quite understanding and, with one sentence, gave Lin Hansu her freedom.

After Lin Hansu bid farewell, she naturally did not rest at the Princesss Residence as usual, but instead took a carriage and left the Estate immediately.

Ziwei Ward is not close to Xingning Ward.

It was not until the hour of Hai that Lin Hansu returned to Suimian Street.

‘Knock knock~’

Who is it?

‘I am Wansu, the maidservant by the side of the Princess Consort of Lanyang~’

‘Creeak~’

The Estate gate opened a crack, and Make Do poked his head out, asking curiously, ‘Miss Wansu, is something the matter at such a late hour?’

‘Is the Duke of Chu County in the Estate?’

‘He is. He is in the back courtyard drinking with Young Master Li and the Heir Apparent of Prince Huanyang…’

‘…’

Wansu could not help but turn her head. Seeing Lin Hansu nod through the carriage window, she said, ‘The Princess Consort of Lanyang has an urgent matter to see the Duke of Chu County. Please, Steward Hu, relay the message.’

‘Okay, okay.’

During the time waiting for the message to be relayed, Lin Hansu got off the carriage, walked slowly to the gate, and stood quietly waiting.

Although it was already the hour of Hai, the summer night was hot and sleepless, and many neighbors were still shaking cattail-leaf fans, sitting in front of their doors chatting.

At this moment, seeing a woman in palace attire standing openly in front of the door of the number one bachelor of Suimian Street, Ding Suian, whispers arose.

‘If you ask me, I’m afraid the Lord’s Estate will soon have a mistress.’

‘Old Zhang, who is this? Is it that little peasant girl from a few days ago?’

‘Old Li, what kind of eyes do you have? Just look at her figure; it’s not the same person.’

The lights were dim. Mr. Zhang, the owner of the bookstore on Suimian Street, narrowed his eyes and tried hard to look at the gate of the Chu County Dukes Residence in the distance. The more he looked, the more wrong it felt, and the cattail-leaf fan in his hand gradually stopped. ‘Eh, this woman, why does she look so much like the third lady of Lord Lin’s family?’

‘Lord Lin’s third daughter? The Princess Consort of Lanyang?’

‘Hey! It seems to be the Princess Consort of Lanyang!’

Usually, Lin Hansu mostly stayed at the Princess Xingguos Residence, and when she occasionally returned home, she mostly took a carriage.

Even if the neighbors had seen her, it was only once or twice.

But after being reminded like this, the more they looked, the more she resembled her.

A young widow, visiting at midnight to find a Young Master who hasn’t married?

This matter is worth studying!

In front of the Estate gate, Wansu probably also noticed the gazes of the neighbors cooling off, so she could not help but whisper, ‘Third Young Lady, you should go wait in the carriage first.’

Lin Hansu looked straight ahead and said softly, ‘No need.’

The light of the lantern swayed gently on her beautiful Face, her chin slightly raised, her expression calm.

Wansu took a quiet look and felt that Her Highness seemed a bit different tonight. It seemed she had no intention of waiting until the first month of next year to make her secret affair with the Duke of Chu County public.

Or rather, she was using this kind of situation, where she could advance or retreat, to test the public’s reaction.

Lin Hansu indeed intended to do so.

When she went to the Estate to catch an affair last night, that feeling of not being able to reveal her identity was both awkward and stifling.

Zhao Ning was different from Zhao Yan and Ruan Ruan, whom she was familiar with. The former’s sensitive and noble status was urging her to do something quickly.

In the distance, the excited but whispered discussion continued.

‘By the way, have you heard? The Duke of Chu County previously worked at the Prince Lanyangs Estate.’

Some things cannot withstand speculation.

Someone mentioned this, and immediately someone else whispered, ‘Eh, that’s really a coincidence! The Duke of Chu County bought this house in Central Heaven, and it just happens to be adjacent to Lord Lin’s residence.’

‘Old Li, are you saying the Duke of Chu County and the Prince Lanyangs Estate…’

‘I didn’t say that! Don’t get me in trouble!’

In front of the Chu County Dukes Residence, Hu Couhe, who went to the back courtyard to relay the message, finally returned.

‘Creeak~’

He pushed open the two vermilion-lacquered gates with difficulty, which seemed particularly clear on the Suimian Street at night.

She is a first-rank Princess Consort, and our little Lord is only a fifth-rank noble; the main gate should be wide open.

‘Princess Consort, please come in~’

Hu Couhe raised his arm to lead the way.

Lin Hansu nodded and stepped forward, but suddenly turned slightly, facing the neighbors cooling off a few dozen steps away, with a dignified but distant smile, ‘Good evening, everyone.’

After saying this, she turned and entered the Estate.