Ping Zhao Lu

Chapter 140 Duplicity

The next morning, as soon as dawn broke, Chu Heyuan couldn't wait to come to Fengluan Palace to say goodbye.

When he stepped into the palace, he was surprised to find that his father, the emperor and his father were already waiting there.

I saw that my father was wearing a thick cloak, while my father was wearing relatively thin clothes. He stood closely next to my father, quietly in the middle of the yard, as if he knew that he would definitely come today.

Not only that, my father also carefully prepared a lot of winter clothes and sufficient dry food, and placed them neatly aside.

Xu Zhouye walked forward and handed these items to Chu Heyuan personally, and reminded him over and over again of the things he needed to pay attention to on the way, and reminded him to remember to write letters frequently to report his safety.

Chu Heyuan was deeply moved, and a warm feeling surged in his heart.

He took the items that were full of care and nodded heavily, indicating that he would definitely keep his father's instructions in mind.

During the long journey to Lianzhou, Chu Heyuan could not calm down.

Along the way, he kept telling Shi'an about all the good qualities of his father, praising his thoughtfulness and care.

Shi'an listened silently, his ears almost getting calluses from Chu Heyuan's nagging.

He couldn't help but laugh and jokingly said, "Your Highness, His Majesty actually cares deeply about you. Why don't you mention His Majesty?"

Hearing this, Chu Heyuan was stunned at first, then silent for a moment. He slowly raised his head and looked at Shi'an, saying speechlessly, "Father always likes to intimidate me, but that happens more often than when he cares about me!"

After saying this, he himself found it a little funny.

After hearing this, Shi'an couldn't help but burst out laughing, thinking that this was indeed the truth and it was irrefutable.

In this way, the two of them continued their journey to Lianzhou, chatting and laughing.

*

"The Queen Mother has set off to Ningfo Temple to pray for the people?" After hearing the news, Xu Zhouye couldn't help but frown slightly, and the action of picking up the bow and arrow to prepare to shoot also paused.

He secretly wondered the purpose of the Queen Mother's visit and the possible impact it might bring.

Qing He, standing by, quickly responded, "Yes, Your Highness. While you were resting, the Empress Dowager had already quietly departed. Before leaving, she specifically instructed us to keep a low profile and there was no need to see her off."

After hearing this, Xu Zhouye nodded thoughtfully, then tightened the bowstring again and aimed the arrow at the bull's eye in the distance.

With a whoosh, the arrow flew out like lightning and hit the bull's eye accurately.

Seeing that his shot hit the target, Xu Zhouye's face did not show much joy, but he immediately pulled out another arrowhead from the quiver.

"Did Your Majesty go to see him off?" Xu Zhouye asked casually while putting an arrow on the string.

"Of course he went," Qing He replied briskly, "and His Majesty even exchanged a few pleasantries with the Empress Dowager. When the Empress Dowager mentioned you, His Majesty excused you from attending, claiming you were a little unwell."

Hearing this, Xu Zhouye's lips curled up slightly, revealing a barely perceptible smile. He murmured to himself, "In that case, should I go back to the palace and pretend to be sick?"

At this moment, a clear and steady voice came from not far away: "That's not necessary."

Xu Zhouye was startled when he heard the sound, and his hands stopped moving instantly.

His hand holding the bow and arrow slowly dropped, and when he turned around, he saw Chu Yunxiao walking towards him slowly with steady steps.

In the sunlight, Chu Yunxiao was dressed in a white gold-woven dragon robe. He had an upright posture and an imposing demeanor, with a hint of gentleness in his majesty.

Xu Zhouye stared at Chu Yunxiao who was gradually approaching, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

He watched quietly as Chu Yunxiao walked up to him.

Chu Yunxiao stepped forward, reached out and held Xu Zhouye's right hand holding the bow and arrow, helped him adjust his posture, and together they aimed the arrow at the bull's eye again.

As the two men exerted their arms, the arrow flew out instantly, flying straight to the center of the target with a sharp sound of wind, another perfect hit.

Chu Yunxiao lowered his head slightly, resting his chin gently on Xu Zhouye's shoulder. A hint of playful smile played on the corner of his mouth, and he said softly, "How is it? Does the Queen approve of my skills?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Zhouye rolled his eyes at him, then exerted a little force to break free from his warm embrace.

A barely perceptible cunning glint flashed across his clear eyes, and he sneered pointedly, "Well... it's okay, but... it's still not good enough."

Facing Xu Zhouye's slightly provocative words, Chu Yunxiao not only did not show any anger, but instead raised the corners of his lips and said slowly: "You say one thing and mean another."

After saying that, Chu Yunxiao stretched out his arms again, hugged Xu Zhouye into his arms again, and then asked: "Will the Queen accompany you on this autumn hunt?"

Xu Zhouye shook his head slightly and said slowly, "Your Majesty, just go ahead. I won't join in the fun."

Chu Yunxiao raised the corners of his mouth slightly, and replied with a hint of ridicule: "I thought that the Queen picked up the bow and arrow at this moment, preparing to show off her brilliance in the autumn hunt."

Xu Zhouye chuckled, "I am the Queen. I cannot enter the hunting grounds like before. If I go, I can only stay in the temporary palace. It is better to stay in the palace."

Chu Yunxiao didn't care: "If the Queen really wants to go into the enclosure to test her skills, I will agree. What's wrong with that?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Zhouye turned around, raised his head, and looked straight at Chu Yunxiao with eyes as clear as water. He said softly, "Your Majesty has done enough for me. You must not make exceptions for me again and again, or you will give people something to talk about."

*

Yuewangfu

Inside the screen, mist is rising and heat fills the entire space, as if you are in a fairyland shrouded in clouds and mist.

The warm water gently flows across the man's well-defined, strong and powerful skin.

His long, inky black hair was scattered casually on the steaming water, swaying with the waves.

Chu Yunyi closed his eyes and quietly immersed himself in this comfortable medicinal bath.

Suddenly, a pair of soft, slender hands stretched out from behind him like a snake and gently circled his broad neck.

The hands' movements were intimate and ambiguous, slowly stroking down his skin, bringing a tingling sensation.

Chu Yunyi was startled and suddenly opened his eyes, with a cold light flashing in his eyes.

He raised his right hand without hesitation, quickly pressed down the little hand that was making trouble, then exerted force with his arm and suddenly pulled the person behind him into the pool.

As the woman screamed, the calmness of the pool water was instantly broken, and splashes of water rose up and splashed everywhere.

The woman fell into the pool unexpectedly and struggled desperately in the water to get to the surface.

She choked on the water several times in succession, and her originally delicate makeup became blurred due to the immersion in the pool water, and she looked very disheveled.

"Your Highness..." Ke Xin tried her best to steady herself and slowly moved towards where Chu Yunyi was. Her voice was soft and gentle, filled with endless grievance and resentment.

Chu Yunyi stared expressionlessly at the woman who was sitting in the pool in front of him, without a trace of pity in his eyes.

His expression was still as cold as ice, and he said in a chilling tone, "If you dare to come closer again, don't blame me for being ruthless."

Hearing Chu Yunyi's heartless words, Ke Xin's body trembled slightly, and an expression of disbelief appeared on her face.

Her eyes were slightly red, tears welling up in them. She looked at Chu Yunyi pitifully and murmured, "Prince, you were not like this before..."

Chu Yunyi frowned, her face, once calm as water, now seemed to be covered by a layer of dark clouds. She tried her best to hide the turmoil in her heart. "Shut up! From now on, you just need to do your duty as a concubine honestly. If you dare to have other thoughts again..."

Upon hearing this, Ke Xin's heart suddenly tightened, and she hurriedly began to defend herself, "Your Highness, you...you can't do this to me...I am His Majesty..."

Before she could finish her words, Chu Yunyi interrupted her coldly, "Threatening me? That won't do you any good!"

Hearing this, Ke Xin was struck by lightning. Her body trembled and her face was full of astonishment.

She stared blankly at the man in front of her, her previous impression of the King of Yue flashing through her mind - the modest gentleman who was always known for his gentleness and elegance, exuding a unique elegant temperament in his every move.

But why did the person standing in front of him become so cold and heartless?

Thinking back to when she was in the Cining Palace, the King of Yue treated her with great care and protection.

She naively believed that being able to enter the Prince of Yue's Palace and become his concubine would be a happy and perfect match.

Unexpectedly, everything turned out to be completely different from what I imagined...

"What are you daydreaming about?" Chu Yunyi's narrow eyes stared at her coldly like stars, his tone becoming increasingly impatient, "Get out of here right now!"

"Yes...I obey your command. I will take my leave now."

Ke Xin was frightened by his murderous gaze that was as real as a substance. She no longer dared to hesitate and hurriedly turned around and fled from the hot spring.