Asking About Love Songs

Chapter 16

With his power and status, and his thorough understanding of people's hearts and weaknesses, how could he not control or obtain them!

"If you don't let go now, you will lose her; if you ruin Chu'er, you will lose her forever. You should also learn about the giving and interaction in relationships. You can't just get what you want. Forcible possession and taking will not last. Only those who are willing to accept you and interact with you will be with you for a lifetime."

"Shut up! I will not let go. Su Shaochu is mine, she is mine—her body and soul belong to me—" he roared, gripping tightly.

Cold sweat streamed down Su Shaochu's face, and painful moans gradually escaped her lips. Su Xuechu, who was behind her, felt her sister's pain and wrapped her arms around her even tighter.

"If you want interaction and mutual affection from Chu'er, then let go! Let her understand with your heart, let her be willing to accept your emotional interaction. Yu'er, this is the first time you've encountered the persistence you've been looking for, the first time you've found someone you truly want. Do you really want it to end like this?"

Zhu Yu's eyes flashed fiercely as he stared at Su Shaochu's trembling, pale lips. Despite being in extreme pain, Su Shaochu's eyes stubbornly met his gaze, clearly telling him that he had gained nothing!

"Would you choose to let go temporarily or lose forever?" Mingzong asked earnestly. He said kindly, "Yu'er, giving Chu'er a way out is also giving yourself a chance to live!"

When Zhu Yu finally let go, Su Shaochu fainted in Xue Chu's arms.

"Shao Chu..." Zhu Yu wanted to check on her, but darkness had already enveloped her.

Chapter Ten

Winter has passed and spring has arrived. The ice and snow are gradually melting, new buds are sprouting from the branches, and the silvery frost has faded, giving the earth a vibrant and prosperous scene.

"After the Third Prince was assassinated and recuperated at Yunfeng, he remained silent for a period of time. With the master's recovery, the Third Prince's mansion has recently begun to revel in the nights again. Every night, the lights are on, and there are lavish banquets, fine wines, and songs and dances. A constant stream of royal nobles and officials come to the mansion to offer their congratulations."

Besides Zhu Yu's recovery from his injuries, the most important thing was that he officially adopted his personal maids Wuyou and Wuchou as his adopted daughters. Some sycophants also took the opportunity to come to the mansion to offer their congratulations.

The Emperor and Empress were critical of his decision to adopt a commoner confidante as his daughter, and even the Crown Prince remained neutral, refusing to comment. In the end, Zhu Yu had a private conversation with the Empress, and within a day, the Empress's attitude of opposition changed completely. She urged the Emperor to grant the two girls a formal status and position with proper palace etiquette. With the Empress's insistence and support, the status of Princess Wuyou and Princess Wuchou was thus settled, and from then on, the Third Prince Zhu Yu had two daughters.

"Third Prince, why haven't I seen your swordsman for quite some time?"

For several days in a row, Zhu Yu attended banquets but did not see Feng Yan, who had been protecting Zhu Yu.

"I have other important tasks for him."

Zhu Yu, reclining on his couch, wore a royal crown adorned with gold beads and jewels on his fingers. His splendor remained unchanged, except that the red beads on his ears seemed a little shorter. Nevertheless, he continued to enjoy his leisurely and carefree lifestyle, drinking and having fun.

"For someone close to the Third Prince to personally intervene, the matter must be serious!"

Zhu Yu smiled languidly and did not reply.

"Third Prince, I have recently found a beautiful and talented dancer. I will send her to your residence immediately to comfort you during your recovery period," Minister Yu flattered the handsome prince sitting at the head of the table.

"Lord Yu is truly thoughtful!" Zhu Yu said with a smile as he accepted the wine poured by the maid. "Since Lord Yu has given his assurance, it would be a shame for me not to taste it myself."

"I hope Your Highness will accept this invitation. I guarantee this dancer will serve you with utmost comfort," Minister Yu said with a veiled sarcasm, hoping the beauty he recommended would stay in the Third Prince's residence.

"I'd really like to see that," Zhu Yu instructed the person beside him. "Pingfei, you're in charge of making arrangements."

"Yes, Third Prince." Yan Pingfei nodded beside him.

Every time there's a banquet, there are countless instances of people flattering and fawning over the Third Prince with beautiful women, handsome young men, or rare treasures. Rare treasures can be preserved, but the "beauties" depend on the Third Prince's mood. Those who haven't been favored by him within a month are mostly given money to appease him. Even those who have been favored by him can't last more than a month before they are either given a large sum of money or transferred to a position of singing and dancing.

Although the Third Prince was known for his fondness for "beautiful women," he had a unique principle: any beautiful women or young men were placed in other residences. Even the troupe of dancers who were exclusively for the Third Prince's residence were located elsewhere. The Third Prince's residence did not keep any beautiful concubines or handsome young men, a rule that had never changed.

"Speaking of singing and dancing, Yu Ziyan, a famous courtesan of 'Yuqionglou,' was truly exceptional in both. Alas, she became a thief! Such a beautiful woman met a tragic end."

The story of Yu Ziyan, a famous courtesan who stole the Purple Flying Twin Moons at night, and her tragic death, has always been a topic of endless discussion in the capital.

"It's pitiful that Fourth Young Master Su is so deeply in love with this famous courtesan, but he never expected her to be a thief. This news has made him look like a broken man."

"Yes! I heard that after he fell seriously ill because of Yu Ziyan, he looked much thinner and more haggard when he appeared in the palace."

"It's because he's sometimes strong and sometimes thin! The palace maid said that when she saw him the other day, he was taller than usual, and his mood was quite unpredictable! The Fourth Young Master is usually so kind and gentle, and he always has a smile on his face when he talks to people! I never expected him to be so cold and indifferent last time, and that's when the eldest son of the Su family said that his younger brother was sick."

"It seems he is truly ill. After Lady Dong went to see him the other day, news spread that the Fourth Young Master Su had been sent out of the Central Plains by the Su family to recuperate."

"That's serious!"

The Su family has always been benevolent to the court. Although Su Shaochu was assisting the Crown Prince and many officials fawned over him, his main advantage was his gentle and refined demeanor, which made people want to get close to him.

As the crowd chattered animatedly, some people occasionally stole glances at the person in the main seat. Rumors had been circulating in the palace that the Third Prince and the Fourth Young Master Su had an extraordinary "relationship," and that a group of palace maids and guards who witnessed the scene of the two embracing and kissing in the Imperial Garden had spread the story far and wide.

But the person in the main seat remained unchanged, his expression unchanging, a faint smile on his face as he listened intently, his head propped up by his hand.

It seems the rumors were false. The crowd, who loved watching the drama unfold, had no choice but to continue their heated discussion and exchange the firsthand information they had heard.

"In fact, Young Master Su has already returned to the Central Plains," said an official who had recently visited the Su residence.

"Really? Did you see it with your own eyes?" This winter, Su Shaochu had practically disappeared.

"I didn't see him in person, but Su Dongling said that in a few days, the Fourth Young Master Su will first visit the Crown Prince to apologize for his recent depression, and then visit the Eldest Princess. I heard that he accompanied the Eldest Princess to worship Buddha and study scriptures at Qianruo Temple during the winter. The Eldest Princess appreciates the Fourth Young Master Su's insights and wants to invite him to study scriptures and discuss Buddhist principles again!"

"This handsome young master of the Fourth Prince is so charming that he's loved by everyone wherever he goes."

The group, bubbling with excitement from their drinks, chatted animatedly, each expressing their envy of Su Shaochu's popularity.

"Third Prince." At this moment, Yan Pingfei took the note handed to him by the maid and stepped forward to whisper in his ear.

"Feng Yan has brought back what this prince wanted!"

Zhu Yu, who was reclining with his chin resting on his hand, smiled, a smile that was unfathomable.

"Young Master, you wish that nothing ever existed, but I, the prince, want every single one of them to be a fact. I will even make the extinct Ice Cicada reborn because of you."

***Exclusively produced by Fengmingxuan*** ***

A flute melody lingered beneath the pear tree. A wise and dignified man, dressed in a yellow robe with a light-colored outer garment, his hair tied back with an elegant white ribbon, possessed a handsome face. Though slightly thin, his refined and elegant demeanor remained unchanged. He seemed to be immersed in the flute music, and only after a moment did he put down his long flute.

"Though my body is in the Southern Lands, my heart is with the Eastern Regions." The voice actor sighed helplessly, taking out his long flute. "One day, you will surely meet him, and please give this flute to him on my behalf."

Looking at the long flute and recalling the past, Su Shaochu sighed softly.

"Jun'er, this entrustment of yours is difficult for me to fulfill, and difficult for me to fail."

Playing with her long flute, she thought about how she had gone back to Xiushan in Nanyuan to recuperate. She really had to thank her dear little brother. His words, "Brother Shaochu, you will give me an answer," made Feng Chuo'er pester her all day long.

When pressed on whether he would stay with her for life, Su Shaochu, who was extremely reluctant to hurt the young girl's feelings, had no choice but to tell her in a heavy tone that she was a woman and not her true love!

Seeing that Feng Chuo'er only tilted her head and frowned, Su Shaochu felt slightly relieved. She was afraid that the truth would make her burst into tears. She was most afraid of seeing a girl cry. She didn't expect that the next sentence would make her almost collapse!

"Why can't a girl be with someone for life?!"

"Well!"

Why?

"Because... they're all girls."

"But the person who's with Second Senior Brother for life is a man!"

Damn it, I forgot that her second senior brother had homosexual tendencies.

"That requires being with someone you like."

"You don't like Zhuo'er?" Feng Zhuo'er asked, her eyes red and on the verge of tears.

"Uh...this...this..." The little girl's tearful, helpless question made her extremely flustered. "Ahem, do you like Xue Chu?"

Su Shaochu could only stand by and drink his tea, acting like a complete detached fellow, even though he was the one who started it all.

"I like it." Feng Chuo'er nodded.

"So, do you also want to be with him for life?"

"think."

"No, there can only be one." Su Shaochu shook his head at her.

"But I like them both! I can't give up either of them." She liked both the gentle Shao Chu and the aloof Xue Chu, and now she was on the verge of tears. "Why can't I have both?"

"Because it requires two people, people will say we're not content with our marriages," she exaggeratedly added. "They'll also call us sluts and whores."

"I'll kill anyone who dares to say that!" Hmph! She's very strong when it comes to swordsmanship.

"If the Ming Sect swordsman said so, would you still kill him?"

Feng Chuo'er looked troubled. "Chuo'er can't beat him, but how could the swordsman say such a thing?!"

"You can go ask him!"

"I...I dare not." The swordsman was kind, but sometimes very serious.

"So," Su Shaochu patted her head reassuringly. "Think it through, choose one, and see which one you want to spend your life with. This is a very serious matter, and you need to think about it very carefully. Answer me in three years, okay?" Three years later, she will be eighteen years old, and she will probably have someone she likes.

"Oh!" Thinking about it for three years, that's really serious. She nodded earnestly.

"Chuo'er is indeed well-behaved and obedient." Su Shaochu smiled with satisfaction.

"Brother Shaochu, do you like Zhuo'er?"

"I like you very much now. Three years from now, if you don't choose me for the rest of your life, I will like you even more."

"Don't choose you, it will make you like me more. Why?"

"Because fate tests those destined to be together, deliberately separating them to see if they can withstand the test, and if their hearts remain connected even when they're not together." She used her silver tongue, employing another of her strengths, to coax the little girl. "Can you withstand the test?"

"I can, I can." But she didn't understand. "If hearts are together, when will people be together?"

"In the next life." Pinching her adorable cheeks, Su Shaochu said, "Heaven was moved, so they'll let us be together in the next life."

"Next life...that's so far away!"

"Shh." He immediately held up his index finger to silence her, telling her not to speak out of turn. "If you question God's test, something terrible will happen."

"Really?" She immediately covered her mouth in alarm, not daring to say anything.

"Sweetie, it will take a while, but there's a set time. Just wait patiently and it will be there."

"Mmm." She nodded repeatedly.

A beautiful, toothy smile bloomed brightly on Su Shaochu's face. Fortunately, Zhuo'er was innocent and naive, and Su Shaochu had practiced her skills in coaxing little girls quite well, adapting to the needs of the environment.

Su Xuechu, who was observing everything from the sidelines, picked up her teacup, turned around, and sometimes felt a sense of injustice when she saw the conversation between her sixth brother and Zhuo'er.

"Next life, sigh!" Su Shaochu smiled bitterly. "I haven't even finished this life, and I can't settle all the karmic debts, so I'll definitely be with that little girl in the next life."

"You've gotten yourself into all sorts of romantic entanglements; you're only reaping what you sowed!" These were the words Yan Shanshan said to her after she returned to the Central Plains.

She was especially warned not to assume that Zhu Yu would let the matter rest, and that she should be careful.