Her guards

Chapter 166 The Emperor Has Left

The hunt that day was very successful.

The emperor and several generals fought off a tiger, while the Prince of Donghai and Princess Heisei, brother and sister, hunted a wild boar together.

Even the young Prince Linhai, who had just learned to ride a horse, was drawing a bow and shooting arrows under the guidance of his archery instructor.

His children inherited his bravery, and the veterans who participated in the hunt did not lose their skills. Many young people even surpassed their predecessors. The emperor was overjoyed and led everyone in a sacrificial ceremony to pray for favorable weather and a bountiful harvest in the new year.

That evening, a grand banquet was held at the palace, where the emperor personally roasted the game and bestowed it upon the ten best hunters of the hunt.

Ten young men stepped forward to receive the emperor's gifts. The emperor inquired about their names and backgrounds, and they drank and laughed together.

Many young people were envious of this scene.

A young man looked at the person next to him with regret: "Yunxiao, you almost got selected."

Another young man looked unconvinced: "That's right, Yunxiao, how did you fail this time? That kid from the Marquis of Zhongqin's mansion is no match for you."

Another young man lamented, "Yunxiao should have won the capture-the-flag game, but unfortunately it was interrupted halfway through."

At this martial arts banquet, Zhu Yunxiao, the heir of the Marquis of Yongwu, gained nothing and failed to make an appearance before the emperor.

What a pity, what a pity.

His companions felt sorry for him, but Zhu Yunxiao was alright. He smiled as he looked at his disciples, who were standing before the emperor, their faces flushed with excitement.

“It doesn’t matter, the timing is just not right,” he said.

This was originally a great opportunity, not only to gain favor with the emperor and receive praise, but also to get to know Miss Yang better.

But there was one thing he overlooked...

Zhu Yunxiao's gaze swept across the lively banquet, where imperial relatives, military officers, nobles, men and women were gathered. The Empress was surrounded by her female relatives, Princess Heicheng and her companions, as well as the scholar Wang Zaitian and other scholars.

There was no Miss Wei Jiao, Miss Chai, or Miss Yang.

The three were injured and will not attend.

And no one mentioned the injury again.

The emperor did not pursue the matter regarding the empress's reaction at the time.

This suggests that Miss Yang did not hold a high position in the emperor's eyes.

Alas, what a blunder! When he sent the maid Asheng over, he specifically mentioned his own name to the emperor.

We must not let His Majesty remember us, lest we be implicated by that Miss Yang.

Therefore, in order to diminish the emperor's memory, he no longer competed to be the first in the subsequent hunts.

"These are all minor matters," Zhu Yunxiao said to his companions. "We're not here to compete for the title of hunting archery; we can compare our skills in military tactics in the future."

That's what they said, and before their companions could say anything, a chorus of praise came from behind them.

"well said."

The group turned around and saw several scholars wearing cloaks and square scarves, with the one in the center being the Grand Master of the Palace.

There weren't many civil officials present this time, but the Grand Master of the Palace was a relative of the emperor.

Dr. Li was renowned and always aloof, never paying any attention to these sons of noble families.

Several sons of noble families were flattered and hurriedly bowed and greeted him.

Doctor Li looked at Zhu Yunxiao and said, "Young Master Zhu has both the vigor of a young man and a calm mind. He truly deserves to be the descendant of the Marquis of Yongwu."

Zhu Yunxiao didn't believe that Doctor Li would treat him differently.

There must be an ulterior motive behind someone's unsolicited kindness.

He thanked him with a smile.

Doctor Li did not leave, but looked at him with a smile: "I heard that the young master's zither playing is also very good. I wonder if I could listen to a piece?"

Zhu Yunxiao laughed and said, "Then this junior will make a fool of himself."

After saying this, he walked to Doctor Li's side and left amidst the envious gazes of his companions.

……

……

After a night of revelry, the next day, the imperial empress's carriage and the procession of those who had participated in the martial arts banquet left the palace in a flurry of carriages and horses.

Except for two people.

Wei Jiao successfully removed the arrowhead, but was too badly injured to move. After the imperial physician reported this, the emperor allowed him to recuperate on the spot.

Miss Yang did not leave.

Wang Zaitian reported to the emperor that he had been frightened and was still not well. If he returned to the Duke of Ding'an's residence, he would inevitably be questioned and blamed, and his condition would worsen. He suggested that he stay here and rest for a few more days.

The emperor agreed after hearing this.

As everyone left, the palace gradually became quiet.

The eunuchs were busy sweeping and tidying up. Yang Luo was afraid that the food would be neglected, so he went out to check. As soon as he stepped out of the palace where he lived, he saw Zhu Yunxiao standing outside, giving instructions to the eunuchs.

"Miss Asheng has arrived." The eunuchs also saw her and hurriedly said, "The young master has brought a prescription..."

Yang Luo frowned and walked over: "Our young lady only uses medicine prescribed by the imperial physician."

"It was my oversight," Zhu Yunxiao said, taking back the prescription and thanking the eunuchs.

The eunuchs then withdrew.

Yang Luo stopped talking and walked past Zhu Yunxiao.

"Miss Asheng," Zhu Yunxiao called out, handing over a medicine box, "This..."

“I’ve already said, our young lady cannot use medicine from outsiders,” Yang Luo interrupted him.

Zhu Yunxiao smiled and said, "It's not for your young lady, it's for Miss Asheng to use to clean the wound on her hand."

Yang Luo was stunned for a moment, then looked down at his hand. A piece of skin on the side had been rubbed off, revealing red flesh.

"...You were grazed by the saddle when you dismounted yesterday," Zhu Yunxiao said, stuffing the medicine box into her hand. "I figured you couldn't take care of yourself."

Indeed, it was at that time that she had forgotten about it because there was no bleeding. Yang Luo came to her senses and put the medicine box back. "I don't use outside medicine; the imperial physicians are treating me," she said.

Zhu Yunxiao said calmly, "Then Miss Asheng should thank me, after all, I helped you and delivered you to your young lady in time."

Yang Luo frowned at him. This refined young man from a noble family was acting like a rogue, actually demanding thanks?

I never saw him like this in that previous life.

Indeed, in that life, Miss Yang didn't need him to pester her. He only had to stand there and glance at her before she fell for him and pounced on him.

Yang Luo gave a self-deprecating laugh.

"Just a thank you?" She feigned disbelief and shock. "Does the young master want more compensation?"

Zhu Yunxiao glanced at her and said, "You and your young lady have nothing to ask for. You poor thing."

After saying that, he turned around and strode away.

Yang Luo was annoyed, yet her expression turned serious.

What do you mean?
A pitiful person?

Was he just saying it offhand? Or did he know something?
This Zhu Yunxiao, since I met him, has a very different temperament and demeanor than in my previous life. In fact, I didn't understand his temperament in my previous life either.

Yang Luo's expression shifted, but he didn't follow to ask any questions.

Nothing to ask.

No matter what mysteries he's trying to pull, his goal is to harm her.

He even remembered such a small thing as a scratch. It's really kind of him to go to such lengths. Yang Luo glanced at the back of his hand again, then looked away and headed towards the kitchen.

……

.......
The maid did not chase after him to question him about his meaning.

Zhu Yunxiao led his horse out of the palace.

It's normal that this maid didn't take his kindness or his malice seriously.

Does she not take him seriously?
No.

They really don't take people seriously; that's not how they look at people.

The maid looked at him with an expression that said, "I know what you're going to do, so I'm not going to bother with you."

Actually, we shouldn't have gone to Miss Yang's place today. Although the emperor has left, the palace still belongs to the emperor's territory, and there are countless spies around.

He shouldn't get too close to Miss Yang at this time.

but.
Since he was a man who always finished what he started, he naturally had to say goodbye before leaving, having helped the maid earlier.

Moreover, as that person said last night, this Miss Yang was not ignored by the emperor.
So let's compromise and not get close to the young lady, but continue to get close to this maid.

"I refuse to believe that they can't even handle a maid," Zhu Yunxiao raised an eyebrow.

"Sir."

There were calls and laughter coming from ahead.

"Hurry up, where have you been? Miss Jiang is waiting for you."

Zhu Yunxiao looked ahead and saw a simple carriage parked by the roadside, with a woman wrapped in a cloak waiting in the freezing cold.

Zhu Yunxiao smiled.

The real way to not care about someone is to know that someone is waiting for you, but not care, and certainly not come over immediately. Only when you see that person do you greet them with a smile and concern.

"We're here," he said, waving to Jiang Rui. "It's cold, let's get in the car first."

Jiang Rui obediently got into the carriage, but still kept the curtain open, waiting for Zhu Yunxiao to urge the horse closer so they could head towards the capital together.

The imperial city, where the emperor had returned, remained quiet.

During the Lunar New Year, the emperor did not hold court in the morning. When the sun was high in the sky, Princess Heping came to the imperial study but was stopped outside by the eunuchs.

"Father hasn't gotten up yet?" Princess Heisei asked, somewhat surprised.

Even during his days off, the emperor would still handle state affairs.

The eunuch whispered, "His Majesty was tired from hunting the day before yesterday and traveling yesterday, so he's taking a break today."

That's right. There was no martial arts banquet during the New Year in the past. After all, Father Emperor is getting on in years, and a hunting trip is indeed tiring.

Princess Heicheng felt relieved and handed the stack of words she was holding to the eunuch: "When Father Emperor wakes up, let him take a look."

The eunuch looked at the article in his hand and exclaimed, "The princess is truly diligent in her studies."

Princess Heisei smiled and said, "Let Father sleep one more day. I will come again tomorrow to persuade Father to study hard."

The eunuch breathed a sigh of relief as he watched Princess Heisei leave, and hurriedly took the princess's writings inside.

"Eunuch Li, Eunuch Li." He stood in the quiet hall and called softly to the dragon bed behind the heavy curtains.

An old eunuch pulled back the curtain impatiently and hissed, "What are you shouting for? Don't make a scene..."

He didn't look inward, but outward.

"...others."

The eunuch hurried inside, lowered the curtain, and said nervously, "The princess came, but we stopped her and coaxed her away. But... we can't keep it a secret for long when His Majesty will return."

As he spoke, he looked at the dragon bed in front of him.

The dragon bed was empty.

The emperor rose in the middle of the night, disguised himself, and secretly left the capital—this was unprecedented.

Where has the emperor gone?

　I'm going out tomorrow and it won't be convenient to write while on the road. It's also a crucial part of the plot, so I'm taking a day off and will update again the day after tomorrow.

　　Also: Mu Fei, the female author on Qidian.com who wrote "Chen Gong" and "Dian Shang Huan", is back to writing. Her new novel "Yu Jie Xue" has already reached 7 words (she said it's only 60 words in total). It seems to be a dark story of love and hate. Those who are interested can check it out.

　　(End of this chapter)