Dritte Ehe

Kapitel 32

"A weakling?!" She couldn't help but laugh and ask, "How could someone who managed to escape from the Third Prince's clutches and then make you so deeply entangled be a weakling who needs Qi Zhen's help?"

The person in the main seat burst into laughter again, the sound echoing through the hall after the turmoil of the night.

"Well said. Someone who can escape from my grasp and then make me so deeply entangled, how could such a person be weak... Someone who can make me suffer such heart-wrenching pain, how could such a person be weak..."

Zhu Yulian narrowed his eyes, a long-suppressed emotion that had been under control was about to collapse. In the past three months, Su Shaochu had almost completely cut off any possible contact between them. Not only was she rarely seen in the palace, but she was also rarely seen at major celebrations. When she did appear, he could only look at her from afar. He could not actually see her!

Young Master Ai, you've played me for fools, do you still think you can get away with it?

If my desire for you overwhelms me, I will drag you down with me!

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As night fell, the streets of the capital were shrouded in a misty haze from the drizzle, which eased some of the oppressive heat of late summer. The deserted streets were devoid of people.

Facing the gentle breeze, the young man in white, holding an umbrella, strolled along the rainy night street, seemingly enjoying the drizzle under the moonlight and leisurely appreciating the tranquility of the night.

Hair and clothes, like the aura emanating from their owner, flowed lightly and gracefully. Passing under a row of lush trees, the brows under the umbrella furrowed slightly. The wind was gentle, yet fallen leaves were seen fluttering down, and a few bright red spots were mixed in with the drizzle. When a sudden gust of wind came from above, a sharp blade was already aimed at the person under the umbrella!

In the blink of an eye, the moment the knife touched the pattern on the oil-paper umbrella, both the umbrella and the white-clad youth vanished, and the broadsword pierced straight to the ground.

Faced with the vanished target, the masked man in black on the tree was startled and raised his sword again. The wounds he had already sustained were so severe that he staggered, blood gushing from his throat. He wiped the blood from his mouth and forced himself to stand up. The person from before didn't seem to be a pursuer. He couldn't see clearly that the person was holding an umbrella, but how could the person have suddenly disappeared!

"Your Excellency is seriously injured."

Suddenly, a sound came from behind. The masked man in black was horrified and tried to turn around with his knife, but a force as strong as if it were being poured into his shoulder and back came through him. A wave of numbness seemed to paralyze his entire body, and he couldn't help but drop the knife. His strong body collapsed to the ground in the rain!

The white-clad youth standing to the side watched the person who had fallen after he struck the ancestral path, and saw familiar sword marks on the person's body.

"Feng Yan's sword technique!"

At this moment, a commotion and fireworks came from the direction of the Three Emperors' Palace not far away. The boy's keen ears and eyes had already heard the heavy footsteps gathering, and then the people who had gathered dispersed into groups. Based on past experience, it should be the Imperial Guards starting to search for the intruders.

"An assassin?" The white-robed youth couldn't help but raise the corners of his lips with amusement. "To be injured by Feng Yan, he must have been trying to assassinate the Third Prince."

The young man in white squatted down and pulled back the black cloth covering the other person's face, revealing a very young face. There seemed to be a black mole next to the tightly closed eyes, but what caught the young man's attention even more was a long-lost pattern on the other person's cheek near the ear - a curved line with clouds embroidered on it.

"Ran Liu Xuan Hong." There was not a trace of surprise in his voice. "An assassin from a foreign race." The white-robed youth sighed and shook his head.

It seems that the Third Prince, who is so lawless and loves to control everything, has committed so many evil deeds that he is intolerable to heaven and earth. Among the royal family, probably no one dares to challenge him for the most assassination attempts.

At this moment, the distant fireworks and footsteps were approaching, clearly indicating that the guards were about to arrive.

"Young man, considering the target you're trying to assassinate, although I can't help you, I have no choice but to stand up for what's right."

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Under the bright sun and blue sky, the fiery red lintels of the imperial city gates stood guard, with imposing guards arrayed in strict formation, protecting the various halls, important entrances and exits, and the steps and squares.

Deep within the imperial city, amidst countless palaces, three palace maids led a handsome young man in white and blue robes through the corridors and pillars to a serene and elegant side hall, flanked by a line of maids and attendants along the steps.

On the white jade steps gilded with gold, the Empress sat gracefully on a long couch, dressed in an elaborate imperial robe. Although her temples were slightly frosted, the dignified and serene demeanor adorned with pearls and jade pendants exuded an elegance that time could not wash away.

"Su Shaochu, the sixth son of the Su family, greets Your Majesty the Empress." Su Shaochu performed the courtly etiquette of the four great families, kneeling and bowing.

The four great families have supported the Tiandu Dynasty for generations. Their ceremonies are different from those of the imperial court and their status is unique. Therefore, although Su Shaochu does not hold an official position, he does not refer to himself as a commoner.

"Child, come forward a little more, let me take a good look at you."

Su Shaochu nodded and stepped forward, only raising his head when he reached the white jade steps beneath the Empress's couch, where he heard praise coming from above.

"Every member of the Su family is handsome; no wonder the princes are all captivated by your Su family."

The calm tone of his voice made Su Shaochu pause in surprise, and he quickly knelt on one knee again.

"Your Majesty is too kind. The Su family would never dare to offend the royal family."

"Don't panic, I meant no harm. Get up!" The Empress smiled and extended her hand, saying, "Help me to take a walk in the Imperial Garden."

Su Shaochu rose and stepped forward to help the noble woman who was the mother of the nation, with more than a dozen palace maids attending to her closely.

No matter how many beauties and concubines the current emperor has, he still respects the empress who is older than him. Therefore, Su Shaochu, who rarely interacts with the empress, is also cautious.

A group of palace maids surrounded her from behind, while three others held brocade hats with gold and purple patterns to shield the empress from the sun.

"Shao Chu," the empress suddenly called his name as she entered the garden.

"I have just become a favorite of the young emperor." It was an honor to be addressed by the emperor or empress by their given names.

"In retrospect, I have only met you a handful of times, all when you were different ages. I heard that you often lived outside the Great Wall in your childhood. Although you did return to the Central Plains for some years, you did not truly return to the Central Plains until you were sixteen."

"Just as Her Majesty the Empress said."

"My impression of you has always been that you are a beautiful child, and you are quite adept at handling different situations at such a young age."

"The Empress praised it."

"Looking at you now, you've grown into a handsome young man. You do bear a resemblance to your mother back then." The Empress sighed as she said this. "Before I entered the palace, I was like sisters with your mother and the old lady of the Lu family. After entering the palace, we became estranged."

"No, Mother is very concerned about the Empress's health and everything else, but due to the complicated palace rules, she dares not disturb her."

Arriving at a place where the sun is blazing, even the shade overhead seems to be shining through, a truly radiant sight.

"Your Majesty, the moon peach and azalea flowers over there are even more beautiful, and the various aquatic flowers on the algae pond are also quite delicate. Let Shao Chu accompany you for a walk there."

Su Shaochu skillfully stepped aside, blocking the blazing sun from shining directly on the Empress, and smiled as he helped the old woman toward a row of stone steps shaded by large trees.

The empress suddenly stopped and looked at him, staring intently.

"Did Shao Chu say something wrong?" This stare was strange.

"Whether inside or outside the palace, I have heard a lot about you, especially your personality. You are extremely delicate and patient with women. Because of this gentleness, it has been said that Su Si Shao is a very affectionate person from the past to the present."

"This... I'm sorry to have made you laugh, Your Majesty."

"The more I look at your face and your demeanor, the more I feel that the charm in your brows is so refined that it seems to possess a spirit that should not belong to a man." The Empress's kind eyes narrowed slightly. "If you were a woman, as the sixth son of the Su family, you would belong to my Heavenly Family."

The four great families have five sons. The sixth son depends on fate. If the son is a girl, he will belong to the Heavenly Family.

This saying is familiar to all ordinary people. It means that if the sixth son of the Gao, Duan, Lu and Su families, who have assisted the court throughout the ages, has a daughter, she will become a member of the royal family. Not only will the emperor adopt her and bestow upon her the title of princess, but her demeanor will also be as noble as that of a royal relative. However, such honors are a kind of political bargaining chip!

When foreign tribes sought peace and marriage alliances, or even offered generous rewards to victorious generals and ministers, the imperial family would bestow a marriage upon a princess, which would be the greatest honor. In this case, the "Imperial Princess" who was granted the title of princess would have to bear the responsibility of this political marriage. This was the imperial family's own choice, as they were unwilling to sacrifice their own flesh and blood!

In view of this, unless one is eager to climb the social ladder, no one is willing to send their children into the palace to be manipulated by others. Therefore, to avoid separation of family members, most of the four great families do not have more than five sons.

"As a dignified young man, I am at a loss for words in response to the Empress's words!"

Even though he was shocked inside, Su Shaochu's face showed the anger that a "man" would feel when he was called a woman.

"With such talent, it would indeed be a pity if he were born a woman." The Empress smiled at his reaction.

The group then arrived at an arched bridge, where the empress waved away a group of palace maids who were following closely behind.

"Stop right there, all of you. I need to speak with the sixth young master of the Su family."

"Yes." All the palace maids bowed.

Su Shaochu helped the Empress across the arched bridge to the opposite bank, where green willows and poplars swayed. The green water rippled, and the dense willows concealed any impending passion. This small bank was a perfect place to whisper secrets.

"Does Shao Chu know why I summoned you here today?" The Empress asked, standing under the shade of a willow tree and looking at the lakeside.

"What reprimands does Your Majesty have? I will listen attentively."

"The rumors about you and the Third Prince have already spread throughout the entire imperial city and capital. Shao Chu must be aware of this, right?"

"These are just rumors spread by busybodies; I hope they will not disturb Her Majesty the Empress's peace and quiet."

"The Crown Prince has already told me about you."

"Crown Prince!"

Su Shaochu's expression changed. The Crown Prince had revealed it?! He had revealed the secret that she, the sixth son of the Su family, was a woman!

Even though the emperor, on the advice of the crown prince, had abolished the outdated rule that if the sixth son of one of the four great families was a daughter, it was still a fact that the Su family had concealed the fact that their sixth son was a daughter. This was a crime of deceiving the emperor, and if someone with ulterior motives were to cause trouble...

"The Crown Prince greatly admires you! He says you are skilled in both literature and martial arts, quick-witted and intelligent, with eloquent and witty remarks that can stun people. Although you are naturally passionate, you are a magnanimous and steady young man."

juvenile?!

"Your Highness is too kind," Su Shaochu thought with a sigh of relief, and then carefully responded.

"The Crown Prince is always cautious in judging people. If Shao Chu can win his praise, I believe that he is indeed exceptionally talented."

The Empress strolled along the small bank, and Shao Chu hurriedly stepped forward to help her.

“I am not entirely unaware of Yu’er’s unrestrained and dissolute lifestyle. The Emperor and I owe him too much, so we always try our best to satisfy his desires. However, we cannot allow him to continue in this way if he becomes too outrageous.”

"Shao Chu understands." It is precisely because of this that Zhu Yu, this devilish prince, has been spoiled and pampered; he is simply a monster of the imperial family.

"If it weren't for the recent flower festival, where the Third Prince displayed such an abnormal and stubborn attitude, I wouldn't have believed the rumors that he would actually fall in love with a man!"

The Empress stopped and patted the hand that was supporting her.

"I do not mean to belittle Shao Chu, but Yu'er, as a prince, has fallen in love with a man who cannot carry on the family line. Does Shao Chu understand my position on this matter?"

A perfect smile graced Su Shaochu's lips. With the Empress's power, the threat posed by Zhu Yu would be the best shield against any counterattack.

If Zhu Yuzhen were to retaliate by revealing that the sixth son of the Su family was a girl, then her twin brother, Su Xuechu, would step in. She could verify his identity, as the seventh son, Su Xuechu, was a genuine boy. The Su family had concealed the existence of the seventh son from the beginning because they were deeply afraid of something going wrong in the future. This move would give her the option to advance or retreat as needed.

"Your Majesty, please do not worry. The matter between Shao Chu and the Third Prince is merely a misunderstanding, not as the rumors suggest..."

"Is Shao Chu now telling me that this rumor, which has spread like wildfire, and the abnormality of the prince's celebration, were all caused by my third prince himself... burning his head?"

The Empress's eyes suddenly turned into a sharp gaze fixed on Su Shaochu.

"Of all the princes, Yu'er is the one I care about the most. I always believe that the person Yu'er likes must also have reciprocated his feelings. Otherwise, someone must have deceived your son's feelings. No matter who it is, I will not let them off easily."

Su Shaochu looked into the Empress's eyes. Hidden beneath her kind and gentle expression was a subtle, unassuming glint of light. It was the gaze of someone with deep cunning and wisdom. From beginning to end, the Empress had been probing her. Slowly, a faint smile appeared on her lips.

"It was Shao Chu who misspoke; I hope Your Majesty will enlighten me."

“I usually practice Buddhism and chant scriptures, hoping that the merits will protect my sons and keep them safe and sound. I also do not want to see them in pain or unhappiness. After all, a child’s suffering makes a mother sad. My son Yu’er is not my own child, but he has been raised by me. His every move touches my heart. As long as he is happy, I am happy.”

The Empress's barely perceptible "kind smile" met her again. "If I were to ask you to show my son the tenderness you are expected to have, do you think that would be too much of an abuse of power?"

What a pair of powerful mother and son who abuse their influence! She sighed inwardly at her predicament.

"Thank you for your guidance, Your Majesty. I, Shao Chu, have always treated people with compassion. Buddhism teaches that all life and all things should be treated with equal compassion. From now on, I will not make any distinctions and will treat everyone with kindness and gentleness." Su Shao Chu responded with neither servility nor arrogance, her words gentle yet firm. "Your Majesty has condescended to enlighten me; how could you speak of using power to oppress others? You have flattered me greatly."

Using Buddhist teachings to stop the empress who was practicing Buddhism, he seemed to agree, but it also indicated that he would not treat her differently. The empress's eyes showed both admiration and cold narrowing.

"Shao Chu truly possesses a charm that drives my Third Prince mad." The voice shifted from soft to stern. "The Buddhist concepts of compassion and equality for all things are a good state of mind. In reality, people are of different levels, and matters are of varying importance. You must remember that the Third Prince is a member of the imperial family. When necessary, Shao Chu's impartiality should also be tempered with distinctions of rank."

"I will always remember Your Majesty's profound teachings. Please forgive my rashness." Su Shaochu took a step back and respectfully knelt on one knee again.

Sigh! She gradually realized who Zhu Yu learned that sharp yet gentle, royal face from.

"Although my third son is a bit eccentric, he is still innocent and sensitive at heart. I am a bit nervous about him."