Chu Zhaoyou stopped her. “It’s getting late. Let me escort you back.”

Wei Shuangshuang shook her head. “I want to take a look at the ginkgo tree myself.”

“Miss Wei, the Empress Dowager intends to arrange a marriage, but I don’t want to deceive you. I’m a person who always seeks retribution for the slightest grievance, and I’m petty and easily angered. You should think twice.” Chu Zhaoyou walked to the door, attempting to blend into the crowd.

The guards from the Wei residence had all left the courtyard, but Chu Zhaoyou had listened carefully just now. When they left, they didn’t go in the same direction but dispersed in different directions, as if they were planning something.

Wei Shuangshuang became anxious. Her task today was to bring Chu Zhaoyou here and then leave after handing over the Seal of Authority.

However, Chu Zhaoyou clearly sensed something was amiss and hinted that he would hold her accountable if something went wrong.

The wrath of the Emperor was indeed terrifying, but only if it was a true Emperor. Wei Shuangshuang looked down on Chu Zhaoyou.

An Emperor who went out without any attendants, and even left Minister Xue at the Wei residence, did not impress her.

She smiled brightly at Chu Zhaoyou. “Cousin, I’m feeling a bit unwell in my stomach. As a young lady, please don’t follow me.”

She signaled to the guards to push Chu Zhaoyou inside, and the courtyard gate closed with a click.

“Open the gate! The Regent favors me! If something happens to me, Xiao Heng won’t let you off!” Chu Zhaoyou pushed the door and thought to himself, “This is bad,” as he resorted to baseless claims, invoking the Regent’s authority.

In the past, this tactic had worked well, but Wei Shuangshuang could see that he was desperate and his ploy only caused a momentary pause before she walked away.

Chu Zhaoyou fell silent. It was no use, not even when dealing with Xiao Heng.

Someone behind him let out a cold laugh.

Chu Zhaoyou turned around and was surprised to see Zhang Huiji, who had long left the state of Chu.

“Didn’t expect me to turn the tables, did you?” Zhang Huiji’s eyes were fierce. The plan he had discussed with the Empress Dowager had been thwarted by this young Emperor.

“Prince Zhang, sneaking back to my  Great Chu  Empire privately, aren’t you afraid you won’t make it out?”

“The Emperor ruined my marriage, so I’ve come to seek compensation from you. Isn’t that fair?” Zhang Huiji had been publicly humiliated in the court and couldn’t confront Xiao Heng, who had driven him out. He held a grudge against Chu Zhaoyou and immediately lured the young puppet Emperor out by falsely claiming that he would unconditionally send troops to assist the Empress Dowager in the rebellion.

For Wei Wanhong, striking a deal with Xie Chaoyue and Chu Zhaoyou was no different.

Chu Zhaoyou’s face changed slightly.

Zhang Huiji smiled. “Are you scared? I heard the Emperor is quite the singer. If you sing well, I might consider letting you off.”

“As the ruler of the Central Plains, how could I fear a mere vassal prince of a tiny state?” Chu Zhaoyou moved behind the lotus pond, pressed against the rock wall, gathered his strength, and shouted, “Help!”

This time, Zhang Huiji burst into laughter. After laughing, he remembered Chu Zhaoyou’s words and his expression turned ugly. “Have you been bedded by Xiao Heng?”

As Chu Zhaoyou called for help and criticized Zhang Huiji’s words, Zhang Huiji, who had some martial arts skills, leaped into the lotus pond like a fierce eagle, aiming for Chu Zhaoyou’s neck.

“Ah—”

A piercing scream echoed through the air.

Chu Zhaoyou pulled out a rusty dagger from the water of the lotus pond and thrust it as Zhang Huiji lunged at him.

Zhang Huiji fell to his knees in the lotus pond, and the water gradually turned red. No one had expected that a dagger buried in the lotus pond for who knows how many years. Chu Zhaoyou’s angle of attack was just right, and with this strike, the fifty concubines of the Moon Rejection Kingdom could be disbanded on the spot.

Chu Zhaoyou clicked his tongue. The rulers of two nations facing off with blades was truly contrary to his pursuit of peace.

He couldn’t leave through the front gate, so he immediately ran towards the back.

“Get him… catch him,” Zhang Huiji struggled to stand up in a rather undignified manner, his eyes bloodshot.

Several figures in black flashed in the backyard. Chu Zhaoyou exclaimed, “Who will come and save me!”

He had successfully provoked Zhang Huiji, and if he was caught, he would not escape unscathed.

Chu Zhaoyou felt a sense of despair. He had called for help so many times, but it seemed useless. It didn’t matter anymore.

Outside the Temple of the Matchmaker, chaos erupted. The two sides were entangled, and the people screamed. The Dragon Guards who had followed were outnumbered and unable to break free.

Qian Shicheng hurried over and finally caught the sound of the young Emperor’s voice amid the shouting. He rushed over with his knife in hand.

When Qian Shicheng saw the young Emperor unharmed, he almost shed tears.

Qian Shicheng swiftly rushed over, and with a swift movement of his arm, the gleam of the blade flashed, cutting through the air like lightning. He pulled Chu Zhaoyou out from the circle of black-clad individuals and then, with a single-handed stroke, held the blade against Zhang Huiji’s neck.

“If you move, I’ll kill him!”

The black-clad individuals retreated with fear in their faces, gradually dropping their weapons.

Chu Zhaoyou felt like he had been yanked out like a radish. Already a nervous wreck, the sudden leap almost made him vomit.

The Regent Prince’s well-trained subordinates all had similar martial arts skills.

As he got closer to Zhang Huiji, he could smell the scent of blood. Chu Zhaoyou quickly found a wall to lean on and couldn’t stop retching.

Qian Shicheng’s face turned pale. Zhang Huiji was injured, and the Emperor was feeling sick. Had he arrived a step too late?

For some reason, Qian Shicheng felt that this time the Regent Prince would not spare him.

He asked in a panic, “Did this bastard offend the Emperor just now?”

Chu Zhaoyou paused. This needed to be clarified: “No.”

“That’s good.” Qian Shicheng, feeling fearful, stabbed Zhang Huiji in the thigh. Screw this bastard.

Xie Chaoyun had just won a battle in the northwest, and the morale was high. The Great Chu Empire was fully capable of sending troops to attack the Yuexu Kingdom. After this incident, Zhang Huiji would be a prisoner of the Great Chu Empire. He shouldn’t even think about being a neighboring prince; it would be good enough if he could save face.

Upon hearing the urgent report from the secret guards in the Lianhua Village, Xiao Heng was furious and trembling with fear. He instantly forgot the purpose of his visit to the village and hurried back to the palace without stopping. By the time he arrived, it was already early morning the next day.

The autumn dew was as cold as frost. The Regent’s shoulders were covered in dew, and he stood in front of the Funing Hall, looking disheveled. For a moment, he hesitated to go in.

He should have gone to find the little guy first. Even if it was just to scare him, to make him cry, it would be better than being bullied by Zhang Huiji.

Chu Zhaoyou woke up early and leaned over the edge of the bed, vomiting more violently than the day before. His eyes were red, and he sniffed, longing to eat a big meal right away.

It was truly perplexing.

He had acted swiftly and decisively, defeating the enemy in one move. He actually felt quite pleased with himself and had praised himself countless times in his mind, even considering having the historian record this. But why did he keep retching at the smell of blood yesterday?

Outside the hall, Xiao Heng’s heart suddenly clenched, and he grabbed Qian Shicheng. “Is this what you meant by ‘no danger’?”

He almost shouted, “If Zhang Huiji even touched him with a finger, I’ll chop off his hand immediately!”

Qian Shicheng looked miserable. The Emperor clearly said that Zhang Huiji didn’t even touch him.

After Zhang Huiji was taken away, his confession matched what the Emperor had said.

Qian Shicheng said, “Your Highness, he didn’t even touch him.”

Xiao Heng couldn’t listen: “Then why did he have that reaction? Huh? Besides Zhang Huiji, has any other beast touched his finger?”

Yeah, why indeed.

Qian Shicheng, amidst his misery, also felt a sense of peace. This scene seemed like something he had foreseen since yesterday.

Author’s note: Qian Shicheng: I’m having a hard time.