Chapter 77: Words of Candor

This man is at it again, taking every opportunity he can…

Li Yunli entered the Changling Prince’s residence with a composed demeanor.

As expected, Prince Changling had arranged a banquet at his estate. The guests coming and going all greeted her with respect—it was clear that she was indeed the focal point of this gathering.

She walked into the courtyard. This banquet, composed mainly of officials who had just left the morning court session, was not particularly grand—just a simple luncheon meant as a welcome gesture.

A stage had been set up in the courtyard, with a renowned opera singer from the capital performing. Many guests gathered to watch, and the banquet was fully visible from all angles.

But Yun Chu was nowhere to be seen.

Li Yunli scanned the area, a vague unease creeping into her heart.

When it was time to be seated, a large table of guests took their places. Prince Changling invited her to take the seat of honor. Out of courtesy, she attempted to decline and defer to her uncle, but in the end, she sat down.

At that moment, Shiliu entered.

Li Yunli was in the midst of a drinking exchange with an official but only cast a brief glance at him.

Shiliu understood her meaning, approached, and leaned down to whisper in a voice only she could hear:

“Your Highness, I returned to the estate to check. Yun Shijun has indeed left. The gatekeeper said it was Mr. Sikong, from Prince Changling’s side, who invited him.”

“I see.”

Li Yunli responded calmly.

Since her arrival, Mr. Sikong, who always stayed close to Prince Changling, had yet to make an appearance.

It seemed like this was a classic case of luring the tiger away from the mountain.

She had been invited to this banquet simply as a distraction, so that Sikong Nan could meet Yun Chu in secret.

But to be this blatant about it?

The meal was tasteless to her. Li Yunli remained absent-minded, declining most of the toasts and small talk at the table.

Prince Changling raised his glass multiple times, unusually eager to praise her in front of everyone.

At last, he poured a full cup of wine and offered a toast to her.

“Nian’an, in the past, I was in the wrong. I offer you my apologies.”

By now, he was clearly drunk, and his heartfelt words, spoken in front of everyone, seemed particularly sincere.

“Nian’an, don’t hold it against your uncle. We old folks only wish to see you young ones rise to greatness.”

At this point, she had no choice but to drink.

Li Yunli stood up, smiled politely, lowered her cup slightly, and clinked it with his before drinking.

“You overstate it, Uncle. In the past, it was simply my youthful arrogance that wasted two years. But now, that fire within me has not diminished. What comes next still depends on you, Uncle.”

She did not respond directly to his words. Instead, she drained her cup and rose to take her leave.

“I have drunk the wine and eaten the food. I hope the rest of you will enjoy a few more drinks on Uncle’s behalf.”

With that, her expression turned cold, and she left.

Prince Changling had not expected her to be so blunt. His face went through several changes in expression—quite the sight to behold.

Li Yunli had no intention of embarrassing him for the sake of it. But when it came to banquets, the worth of the meal depended on what it could offer her.

If she was being used as part of someone’s scheme, she would not waste another second there.

As she walked out, not a single person in the courtyard stopped her.

She let out a cold laugh.

It seemed they were very confident in their plan.

Stepping past the gates of the Prince’s residence, she exhaled deeply.

Shiliu followed at her side.

“Did Yun Shijun return before you left?” she asked.

Shiliu clasped his hands. “No. I moved quickly, but I checked both Hanmei Residence and Yun Shijun’s courtyard.”

Li Yunli’s gaze darkened. “But Zhuxue is gone.”

The horse that had been tied at the entrance earlier was no longer there. In just the time it took to have half a meal, it had vanished.

Shiliu hesitated. “Maybe… it’s just a coincidence?”

How convenient. Had Yun Shijun already returned home?

Li Yunli’s mood was complicated. She simply said, “Let’s go back.”

Shiliu nodded, knowing she was eager to return. He urged the coachman to speed up, and they soon arrived at the Grand Princess’s residence.

Coincidentally, as they entered, they saw Yun Chu stepping through the gates just ahead of them.

He handed Zhuxue’s reins to a servant and instructed them to take it to the stable. Upon hearing the carriage wheels, he turned and saw Li Yunli stepping down in two swift strides.

He raised an eyebrow slightly. “Your Highness?”

Li Yunli lifted her gaze and met his.

Yun Chu’s tone was steady, with no sign of guilt. He looked at her calmly.

At the same time, he noticed the subtle expression on Shiliu’s face.

He paused before asking, “Your Highness, what’s the matter—”

“Come inside. We need to talk.”

Li Yunli moved quickly, grabbing his wrist and pulling him in without hesitation.

“Hey—” Yun Chu started to protest, but before he could finish, she was already leading him inside.

“Slow down, Your Highness. I also have something to tell you.”

An unspoken frustration was trapped in Li Yunli’s chest, and she had no way to release it.

She should have felt victorious after her meeting with the young emperor today. But then Prince Changling had appeared, drawing her into this calculated banquet and making her feel like she had walked straight into a trap.

If Prince Changling hadn’t mentioned Yun Chu after court, she might never have realized she was being played.

Yet she hadn’t seen him at the Prince’s estate—only to run into him now, here.

Suppressing her emotions, she asked, “Why did you go to Prince Changling’s residence?”

Yun Chu blinked. “Me? I didn’t go to Prince Changling’s residence today.”

Li Yunli pressed her lips together. “Then where were you?”

She wasn’t suspicious of Yun Chu himself, but she needed to understand why Prince Changling had used him as an excuse, even going so far as to make sure she saw Zhuxue tied outside his estate. What was the real purpose of this setup?

Seeing her tense expression, Yun Chu reached out and gently patted the hand gripping his wrist, his voice soothing.

“Your Highness, I was just about to tell you—Prince Changling may have something planned against you. Let’s discuss this inside.”

By now, they had reached Hanmei Residence.

Li Yunli took a deep breath.

For some reason, in that moment, she had a desperate urge to hold onto something—anything. She refused to let go.

And yet, because of that, she feared—what if Yun Chu truly betrayed her? What would she do then?

She looked at him.

Yun Chu, noticing her mood, softened his voice further. “I won’t keep anything from you, Your Highness. I’ll tell you everything that happened today. But why are you only back now? Did something hold you up in court, or did you see something outside?”

His voice was so gentle that her tension suddenly dissipated.

Still gripping his arm, she tightened her hold.

Yun Chu was caught off guard. He staggered slightly forward and found himself being firmly embraced.

He froze.

Luckily, Li Yunli’s voice remained steady. Though her words carried a hint of a threat:

“Tell me everything. No hiding anything!”

Yun Chu, unseen, smiled.

It seemed she had seen him somewhere earlier.

Even if she had doubts, she still came to him for an explanation.

“I appreciate Your Highness giving me the chance to explain.” He chuckled warmly. “Rest assured, I’ll tell you everything.”

Li Yunli pressed her lips together.

She suddenly despised this feeling of uncertainty within herself.

“Come inside.”

She released him and turned to walk in.

Yun Chu followed with a soft “Alright.”