Chapter 51: Beyond Expectations

Yun Chu’s pupils contracted, and cold sweat broke out all over his body…

Yun Chu’s brows furrowed, his expression darkened, and his voice turned cold and clear:
“I should have told you before, with the temperament of the Eldest Princess, if she discovers you eavesdropping on the roof, I won’t be able to protect you.”

“My skills are sufficient; I won’t be discovered.”

Yun Chu glanced at him with a sidelong look. “You went to find A Si? Is he in Yongzhou?”

“Yes, I follow his orders.” Lin Feng’s gaze held some doubt as he spoke in a low voice, “Young Master, you haven’t answered my question.”

Why did he care so much about the Eldest Princess of Chu, even going so far as to prevent her from taking risks?

Yun Chu let out a cold laugh, turned to look at him, and said, “Since you take orders from him, why are you following me?”

Lin Feng looked at him as they walked toward the guest room.

Yun Chu’s expression clearly carried a hint of displeasure. “I thought you all understood that, as I travel under the guise of a servant to the prince, I have little choice in my actions. What, are you here to question me on his behalf?”

Lin Feng cupped his fists, his momentum immediately deflating at those words. “I wouldn’t dare!”

How could he dare respond to that? No matter how downcast Yun Chu was, he was still the last surviving prince of the Wei royal bloodline.

The people of Wei valued bloodline highly. When the royal family perished on the day the nation fell, it was seen as severing their lineage and entrusting the fate of their people to the conquerors, hoping the new rulers would govern them well.

If the people of Wei wished to restore their country, they had to rely on the Yun royal bloodline.

Even if Yun Chu had no power, he remained a symbol of the royal family in the hearts of Wei’s people.

As long as he lived, the Northern Wei royal bloodline was not truly extinct.

For a mere soldier to question a prince—that was a crime.

“You wouldn’t dare? Ha.” Yun Chu withdrew his smile. “Dare or not, you’ve already done it.”

Lin Feng was drenched in cold sweat. “Young Master, I am but a simple man. I was only following General Shen’s orders, so I had no choice but to ask. I have been by your side and know of your difficulties. I had no intention of doubting you! Please do not hold it against me!”

“If you do not doubt me, then why did you not explain my difficulties to Shen Huan?” Yun Chu pondered this as he turned to look at him, his phoenix eyes carrying a scrutinizing gaze. “Or did you explain it, yet he still refuses to believe me? What, does he distrust me that much? That he had to send you to interrogate me?”

This turned the question back onto A Si. Lin Feng had served under A Si for a long time, and even if he were foolish, he knew this was not the time to push the blame onto A Si and risk driving a wedge between Yun Chu and him.

He lowered his head further. “General Shen does not distrust you, Young Master. He is merely concerned and acting rashly. Seeing that you haven’t sent out any messages recently, he feared for your safety. Moreover, you used to be strongly opposed to the Eldest Princess of Chu, but now…”

“But now what?” Yun Chu cast a sidelong glance at him, his lashes lowered, brushing lightly against the corner of his eyes. “Now I follow her every word and cater to her every whim?”

He let out a short laugh.

Shen Huan’s desire to restore the nation was indeed strong. As a general of Wei, when the kingdom fell, its army collapsed like a landslide, and his father and brothers all perished on the battlefield—only he escaped.

In his past life, he had taken the name A Si and allied himself with Yun Chu, who was just as eager for revenge, helping each other until they finally succeeded in their vengeance.

They were the same type of people—living on the edge of a blade, surviving through sheer will, their eyes clouded by a sea of blood and deep hatred.

A Si had disguised himself as a cheerful youth, but in reality, he was truly difficult to get along with.

Seeing Yun Chu’s ambiguous smile, Lin Feng wished he could slap himself and crawl away through a crack in the floor.

Yun Chu let out another cold laugh. “Should I praise you for being so meticulous in reporting my every move to A Si, or should I call you a fool for only seeing the surface and not understanding the deeper meaning?”

His tone was indifferent, hinting both at Lin Feng’s misplaced loyalties—serving as a spy for A Si while staying by Yun Chu’s side—and at his own predicament.

Unfortunately, Lin Feng was too nervous to grasp the deeper implication. He only thought Yun Chu was angry that he had been reporting to A Si and stammered, “But… But General Shen is loyal to our country. I couldn’t just—”

Yun Chu shot him a glance. He understood.

With smart people, he could speak plainly. With fools, he had to spell things out.

Lin Feng, though skilled in martial arts, was not an insightful man.

His thoughts were shallow. While he followed A Si’s orders, he was not A Si’s confidant. He was merely being used to probe Yun Chu’s stance.

Yet he was so rigid that, even while technically under Yun Chu’s command, he had blindly followed A Si’s orders and confronted Yun Chu directly.

Did this man have no sense at all?

Yun Chu silently gave him a once-over.

For now, as long as he could be of use, that was enough.

Taking a deep breath, Yun Chu asked, “Has Shen Huan arrived in Yongzhou yet?”

Lin Feng replied, “General Shen is not coming to Yongzhou. He said he fears alerting the Eldest Princess and making her suspicious.”

Yun Chu made a faint sound of acknowledgment and continued, “Yongzhou is a treacherous place. He’s not coming, not just because he failed to infiltrate the princess’s residence and stay by my side. Do you know that the Eldest Princess has already discovered your identities and confronted me about it?”

Lin Feng was visibly stunned. “W-What?”

He quickly pieced things together. “The Eldest Princess found out? Was that why you were imprisoned a few days ago? Or… did she know back in the capital?”

His slow-thinking mind struggled to process everything, his voice faltering as he saw Yun Chu’s indifferent expression.

“In the capital.”

Yun Chu gazed at him. “She is a princess who rose from the Chu military. If you truly think the people at her side are ordinary, you are gravely mistaken. Just the Jin Prince’s army alone is full of elites, not to mention the hidden guards under her direct command.

“You are confident in your skills, but the Eldest Princess has numerous guards. They don’t need to match your strength—just one pair of eyes or ears catching you slipping out once, overhearing a single improper word, would be enough to raise suspicion. Do you think you would still be alive then?”

Lin Feng stammered, “B-But…”

“But why haven’t she and I been dealt with? Do you think I changed my attitude toward her on a whim?” Yun Chu let out a soft chuckle. “She values my appearance. That is our opportunity. The Eldest Princess likes me gentle, so I can set aside useless pride. In doing so, I can also protect you.”

Lin Feng was speechless, overwhelmed by the realization of everything Yun Chu had been enduring.

“Now, I need your help with something,” Yun Chu’s gaze sharpened as he asked, “Do you know what Shen Huan is plotting in the northwest?”

Lin Feng hesitated. “General Shen… he…”

“Is it the Urong?” Yun Chu’s gaze locked onto him. “Is he the one forming an alliance with them?”

“No! It’s not him!” Lin Feng quickly said. “It’s… Prime Minister Zheng…”

Zheng Siyen?!

Yun Chu’s pupils contracted, and cold sweat immediately drenched his entire body.