You Yuji had no idea how long the carriage had been traveling. She drifted in and out of consciousness, her ears filled with the constant sound of horse hooves and the occasional call of the driver urging the horses onward. She struggled to turn her head towards the window, where the shadows of several figures on horseback flickered against the swaying curtain.
It was fortunate that You Yuji had a strong constitution; beside her, Zhenxu lay on the bench in a coma and had not woken up at all.
When she first realized she had been kidnapped, You Yuji had been afraid, especially upon discovering she had been poisoned. However, this fear quickly dissipated.
Everything happens for a reason. She didn’t know what the kidnappers intended to do, so she considered who might have the motive to kidnap her.
Today, she had gone out in the Jinnan Prince’s Residence’s carriage, which bore a recognizable emblem. Bandits wouldn’t dare rob the Jinnan Prince’s daughter-in-law for money or lust. If it wasn’t for money or lust, could it be for revenge? After thinking it over, You Yuji could think of a few minor grudges, but none seemed significant enough to warrant such a grand scheme.
Having reached this conclusion, You Yuji felt less fearful. If none of these reasons applied, the kidnappers were likely using her as a hostage.
Although she couldn’t understand their exact purpose, as long as she was a hostage, her life was temporarily safe.
When You Yuji woke up again, Zhenxu had also woken up. Zhenxu clung to her side, her face pale and showing fear, but she remained calm and not overly panicked.
“Get out of the carriage!” The door was pushed open from the outside.
It was pitch dark outside, indicating it was the middle of the night. You Yuji had to squint to see clearly. The man standing outside the carriage was dressed in black, his features obscured by a black cloth. Behind him were several other black-clad riders. You Yuji quickly scanned the area outside the carriage. It was a deserted path with no identifiable landmarks.
You Yuji leaned over and whispered to Zhenxu, “Stay close to me.”
Zhenxu nodded vigorously.
You Yuji got up and stepped out of the carriage, holding onto the door for support. As soon as her feet touched the ground, she felt weak and unsteady, a sign that the poison in her body had not yet worn off.
Zhenxu followed You Yuji out of the carriage. Her constitution was weaker than You Yuji’s, and she fell to the ground as soon as she landed. You Yuji reached out to help her up.
“Hurry up, get moving!” urged the man in black.
Next to the Jinnan Prince’s Residence’s carriage was an ordinary carriage, the kind commonly seen in the capital.
“Hurry!” the man in black urged again.
You Yuji and Zhenxu supported each other as they climbed into the ordinary carriage. You Yuji glanced back and saw that the black-clad men who had escorted her were all following them, except for one who remained with the Jinnan Prince’s carriage. She guessed that person intended to dispose of the carriage to erase any traces and mislead any pursuers.
You Yuji looked again at the Jinnan Prince’s carriage as the man in black shut the door and the carriage set off once more.
Zhenxu leaned against You Yuji and muttered, “Why is no one around…”
Zhuo Wen was missing, as were the guards who had been with him.
You Yuji frowned slightly, worried about Zhuo Wen’s safety. The kidnappers’ target was clearly her, and they were meticulously covering their tracks. To avoid pursuit, her guards might have…
You Yuji pondered over it and concluded that the tangyuan they bought at the market was the likely source of the poison. On her way back to the Jinnan Prince’s Residence from Zhao’s Mansion, she had bought some tangyuan for Si Que when she saw the steaming treats by the roadside. It was cold, and eating some warm tangyuan could both warm them up and fill their stomachs. She ordered her guards to buy some.
She and Zhenxu stayed in the carriage while the guards brought the tangyuan to them. They ate a little in the carriage, while the guards ate hungrily by the stall.
You Yuji vaguely remembered a short, thin guard claiming he had a stomachache and didn’t eat. She didn’t suspect that guard, as she had trusted these people who had served her for a long time. She hoped that the guard who hadn’t eaten the tangyuan would be clever enough to avoid the danger and go back to report.
You Yuji sighed.
“Madam?” Zhenxu looked over worriedly. Madam was her pillar of support; if Madam was troubled, she would immediately panic, especially since she was already very scared.
You Yuji turned her face towards her, smiled gently, and patted her hand that was nervously resting on her knee. “Don’t be afraid,” she said softly.
Zhenxu nodded with teary eyes.
The carriage hadn’t traveled far before the men in black stopped and made You Yuji get out to change carriages again.
Before dawn, they had changed carriages three times.
Even Zhenxu couldn’t help but whisper, “They are really cautious…”
Zhenxu didn’t dare show her fear, worried it would affect Madam. But inside, she was anxious, and each change of carriage made her more and more worried about whether they could be found and rescued.
By the fourth carriage change, daylight had already broken.
The carriage stopped in an inconspicuous alley, a long and narrow, very ordinary alley. Before getting into the carriage, a cool breeze blew across You Yuji’s cheek. She turned to look back, her heart sinking.
Although the men in black had deliberately chosen such an inconspicuous alley, You Yuji suddenly realized where they were.
The cool breeze, carrying the damp scent of the river, told her they were near the Lian River.
Before getting into the carriage, You Yuji glanced at the alley again, remembering the day by the Lian River when she and Si Que had embraced and kissed here.
You Yuji pressed her lips together. She hadn’t returned all night; was he worried? Hopefully, he wouldn’t harm himself out of concern…
Wait… After circling around all night, they were back in the capital?
This was You Yuji’s last carriage change. When the carriage stopped this time, and she got out, they were in a courtyard.
“Get inside!” ordered the man in black behind them.
You Yuji and Zhenxu walked into the house, and the door was immediately closed behind them.
Still feeling the effects of the poison, You Yuji immediately sat down in a chair and looked around the room.
On the redwood table in the middle of the room, a meal had already been laid out.
You Yuji stood up with effort, moved to the table, took the chopsticks, and began to eat.
“Madam, can we eat this?” Zhenxu asked worriedly.
“You can.” You Yuji glanced at her slightly trembling hand as she struggled to pick up some rice with her chopsticks.
Hearing You Yuji’s reassurance, Zhenxu finally sat down and picked up her chopsticks, though she had no appetite. “Madam, who are these people? And why is this courtyard so… so…”
Zhenxu wracked her brain for the right word. “So luxurious? Where exactly are we?”
You Yuji, suppressing the weakness in her hand, managed to eat another bite of rice before responding, “The Imperial Palace.”
Zhenxu was so startled that she dropped her chopsticks with a clatter.
This small courtyard was indeed unremarkable, but the house inside, though small, had all the necessary furnishings. After eating, You Yuji felt slightly better, but the effects of the poison still lingered, making her feel drowsy. She and Zhenxu went to the inner room and lay down on the bed, falling asleep almost immediately.
You Yuji had many questions, but the poison left her unable to stay awake. She woke several times, hearing footsteps outside. The footsteps stayed in the outer room and never entered the inner room. The light, careful steps sounded like those of palace maids.
When You Yuji woke again, it was already evening. The palace maids had prepared another meal and had also provided bathing and grooming supplies, along with clean clothes for both her and Zhenxu.
Thus, You Yuji and Zhenxu were confined to this room for three days. Apart from the palace maids who delivered meals and water, You Yuji never saw the person who had kidnapped her.
The effects of the poison persisted, leaving her weak and exhausted. Even dressing herself required significant effort, and she often had to rest after putting on her clothes.
Sitting by the window, You Yuji looked at the magnolia pot on the windowsill, frowning and sighing. The constant feeling of weakness was incredibly frustrating.
“Bring me a book,” You Yuji said, her voice heavy with weariness.
There was a small bookshelf nailed to one side of the wall, holding a few historical records.
Zhenxu complied, handing a book to You Yuji. You Yuji had already moved the lamp closer to the table to read and pass the time.
When Chen Lu entered the room, he saw You Yuji lazily sitting under the lamp, reading a book. The soft light cast a gentle glow on her fair face, highlighting her delicate features.
Chen Lu toyed with the jade thumb ring on his finger, contemplating this woman who would one day be his crown princess and empress.
“Do you enjoy reading history?” Chen Lu asked slowly.
The low, masculine voice that suddenly sounded behind her pulled You Yuji from her book. She turned her head in surprise, her gaze falling on Chen Lu standing at the door.
Chen Lu had one hand behind his back, dressed in a long, dark robe adorned with gold dragons.
You Yuji looked at him calmly, while Zhenxu, already wide-eyed with shock, couldn’t believe that the one who had kidnapped her mistress was the crown prince! Her mind raced with panic—this was a disaster.
You Yuji tightened her grip on the book, but the weakness quickly forced her to loosen it. She put the book down, propped herself up on the table, and stood up, her voice gentle. “May I ask why the Crown Prince has brought his nephew’s wife here?”
The faint smile on Chen Lu’s face disappeared when he heard the words “nephew’s wife.” He remained silent for a moment before asking, “Are you comfortable here? Is the food to your liking?”
As he spoke, he walked towards You Yuji, step by step, until he stopped in front of her, his face once again adorned with a gentle smile.
Suppressing her many questions and possible retorts, You Yuji pressed her lips together, took a deep breath, and said, “It’s acceptable.”
Chen Lu chuckled softly and nodded. “Rest assured, Yuji, stay here peacefully. I will arrange everything properly.”
His hand, adorned with a jade thumb ring, rested on You Yuji’s shoulder, applying slight pressure to make her sit back down. He withdrew his hand, looking at You Yuji with a meaningful gaze. “Prepare yourself for a great surprise from me.”
Before leaving, Chen Lu instructed, “If you need anything, just tell Baifu.”
Even long after Chen Lu had left, You Yuji remained motionless in her chair. She had considered many possibilities but had never imagined that the person who had kidnapped her was the crown prince.
Initially, she had hoped that her people, Zhao Sheng, or the prince’s residence might trace her whereabouts. But now, knowing that the crown prince was behind her kidnapping, what hope did those searching for her have of rescuing her, even if they discovered her location?
A sense of powerlessness overwhelmed her, whether from the lingering effects of the poison or from the emotion welling up in her heart.
For the first time in her life, You Yuji felt an intense helplessness. With her father gone, she wondered if there was anyone left in the world who could save her.
“Madam…” Zhenxu wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, struggling to control her sobs. “Is the Crown Prince interested in you?”
You Yuji suppressed all her feelings of helplessness. She lifted her hand and wiped away the tears at the corners of Zhenxu’s eyes. She forced a gentle smile and said, “It’s okay.”
If her father knew that she was in a desperate situation, waiting helplessly for someone to rescue her, he would surely scold her for being useless. It’s okay, she reassured herself. She could save herself. Even if the odds were against her, she would rather die fighting.
—
“Almost ready.”
Si Lang fed the carrier pigeon on his shoulder and let it fly away. He stood up and left. Half an hour later, he walked into a private room on the second floor of a restaurant.
Si Que stood by the window, looking distantly towards the Imperial Palace.
With a smile, Si Lang approached Si Que.
“Brother, you really don’t want to help me? Does the Chen family have a divine right to rule?” He placed a hand on Si Que’s shoulder. “Together, we are unbeatable.”
