Chapter 74: Reasonable and Justified – She Was Indeed Satisfied

Li Yunli entered the Empress Dowager’s palace, where she encountered the hostile-looking Marchioness of Yongcheng.

Early that morning, upon learning that the Marquis of Yongcheng had been taken into custody, the Empress Dowager immediately sent a message to the Marquis’s residence while also hosting a banquet and inviting Li Yunli over.

Her intention was clear—once Li Yunli arrived, she would use the principles of filial piety and righteousness to pressure her into releasing the marquis.

However, Li Yunli was not one to be easily swayed.

Moreover, the Marquis of Yongcheng had been exposed for maintaining private troops in Yongzhou and even attacking soldiers of the State of Chu—crimes punishable by death.

The Empress Dowager assumed that since Li Yunli had discreetly detained him rather than making a public spectacle of it, she must have had some reservations about taking direct action.

Yet, the banquet that was meant to force Li Yunli’s hand ended up humiliating the Empress Dowager instead.

The Marchioness of Yongcheng nearly burst into tears at the dining table due to Li Yunli’s sharp words.

Things only worsened when Song Tunan from the Ministry of Justice arrived. He and the Princess Royal worked in perfect tandem, leaving the Empress Dowager and her sister with no opportunity to intervene.

Seeing that she had achieved her goal, Li Yunli finished her meal, stood up, bid farewell, and left with Song Tunan.

It was rumored that as soon as the two of them stepped out of the palace gates, an imperial physician was summoned into the Empress Dowager’s palace.

But none of that concerned Li Yunli.

As she exited the palace gates, she felt light and refreshed, her breathing easy and unburdened.

The affair in Yongzhou had finally come to an end.

Judging from today’s confrontation, the Empress Dowager was visibly flustered, her strategies depleted.

As for Li Yunli, she had already planned her next moves carefully.

Stepping into her carriage, she intended to submit a memorial to the palace detailing the events in Yongzhou.

Once submitted, court protocol dictated that the emperor would have to bring up the matter in the morning court session.

She wanted to see the young emperor in court the next morning!

Although she had been transmigrated into this world through a novel and wasn’t Li Han’s real sister, she had come to believe that the young emperor—protected by the original host—was worth her effort.

As the carriage bearers steadied the vehicle, Li Yunli lifted her robes and was about to step in when Song Tunan, who had left the palace alongside her, called out.

“Your Highness, if you ever have another opportunity like this, remember to invite me again.”

Lost in thought, Li Yunli turned around and found him looking extremely pleased.

She casually responded, “Alright, I won’t forget you if there’s a next time.”

With that, she didn’t give it much thought and turned to board the carriage.

Song Tunan had already mounted his horse and ridden away. Li Yunli had barely settled in when she noticed the secret guard standing in front of the carriage wearing an expression that was difficult to describe.

She frowned. “What’s the matter?”

She remembered that this particular secret guard was usually with Yun Chu, so if he was here now, it likely meant that he had accompanied Yun Chu out in the morning and later escorted Song Tunan into the palace.

The secret guard hesitated, glanced at Song Tunan’s retreating figure, and then, after a pause, bowed respectfully before moving closer.

“Your Highness.”

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When Li Yunli returned to the Princess Royal’s residence, Yun Chu was having a meal in the side room of Hanmei Pavilion.

She entered quickly, the gust of wind from the door causing Yun Chu to look up mid-bite, his expression slightly stunned.

“Your Highness?”

“I heard Song Tunan took you on a tour of the Ministry of Justice’s prison? He didn’t do anything, did he?”

Yun Chu set down his spoon, a faint smile appearing on his lips as he placed his bowl aside.

“Not at all. As you said, Lord Song has unique interests—he simply invited me inside, introduced a few things, and that was it.”

Li Yunli strode over, sat across from him with the small table between them, and examined him carefully.

“Are you sure?”

“I’m fine, Your Highness. See? Perfectly well.”

That was true.

Li Yunli relaxed and casually took a spoon from the table, scooping a bite of Yun Chu’s red bean dumpling soup.

The overwhelming sweetness made her grimace, and she quickly gulped down two mouthfuls of shredded chicken and tofu soup.

“Why is this so sweet?”

She bared her teeth in mild frustration before continuing,

“His unique interests are well known. That he managed to land his position at the Ministry of Justice is nothing short of extraordinary. If he ever says or does anything inappropriate, just reject him outright. I wasn’t there with you, but the imperial secret guards were. Even if it were him, no one in the capital would dare lay a hand on you!”

These secret guards were assigned not only to protect the royal family but also as rewards to trusted ministers.

As a result, anyone accompanied by them was generally untouchable.

Yun Chu’s eyes curved slightly in amusement as he served Li Yunli a bowl of soup and placed it before her.

“With Your Highness protecting me, does that mean I can roam the capital unchecked?”

Li Yunli raised an eyebrow at his quick wit and decided to play along.

“You may be arrogant and domineering, but you may not exploit or oppress others.”

Yun Chu chuckled aloud.

Li Yunli feigned a stern expression but couldn’t help smiling. “If you do, I will punish you.”

“Alright, alright, I’ll be good.”

Yun Chu pressed a finger lightly against his lips, his laughter soft and genuine.

Li Yunli asked, “Why are you having lunch so late? Were you held up?”

Song Tunan and she had gone to the palace together and had already returned; Yun Chu should have been back much earlier.

Yun Chu lowered his gaze slightly. “I overate in the morning and had indigestion, so I didn’t have much appetite.”

He had originally planned to leave outside the Ministry of Justice, but after Song Tunan’s last remark, he had unexpectedly changed his mind and accepted the invitation to tour the prison.

The damp, putrid smell of the cells, the bloodstained instruments of torture, and the horrifying contraptions used for torment had all been vividly described to him by Song Tunan. Even with a strong stomach, it had made him feel queasy.

But there was no need to trouble Li Yunli with such details.

As someone of his current status, he had long grown used to enduring disdain and scorn. Since he had made his choice, he had to face the consequences with composure.

Though Li Yunli wasn’t the most perceptive, she could still tell something was off.

“As long as you can handle things well and still eat properly, it’s fine.”

Yun Chu had already brightened up. The servants had set out all the necessary utensils for Li Yunli.

“Was everything smooth in the palace?” Yun Chu asked.

“Everything went as expected,” Li Yunli replied, picking up her chopsticks but not eating, instead leaning them against the bowl while chatting with him. “The Marquis of Yongcheng’s actions weren’t very clever, and the Empress Dowager seems to have run out of strategies. It looks like they collaborated on a rather foolish scheme—unless…”

“Unless there is someone else behind the scenes.”

Yun Chu finished her sentence.

“From what I remember, this Empress Dowager has never been particularly smart. Last time, when she trapped you in Yongzhou, it was probably a similar scenario.”

“Mm.”

Li Yunli responded softly.

If there wasn’t another mastermind, then there was something she had yet to uncover.

One must always be vigilant, and her instincts told her to start considering all possibilities.

However, no matter how she analyzed it, she kept coming back to one particular person she saw in the palace today—Wu You of the Astronomical Bureau.

What was his true allegiance?

And more importantly, what did he mean when he said:

“An ambitious man slumbers beside your throne.”

But no matter how she thought about it, she couldn’t bring herself to suspect Yun Chu…