Asking About Love Songs

Chapter 29

"Why do you look so sad? Is it because you saw me? Are you happy or unhappy?" His thoughts were so hard to grasp; he was so kind when he was gentle, and so lonely when he was silent!

"Jun'er...Jun'er...when did she leave?" Su Shaochu asked, suppressing his inner turmoil.

"Sister?" Feng Chuo'er was surprised by his question and asked in confusion, "Sister passed away more than a year ago. You even played the zither to see her off. Have you forgotten?"

"More than a year ago!" The sudden news brought a bittersweet smile to Su Shaochu's face. "Jun'er is dead, and he didn't even tell me. Was he afraid I'd be sad?"

"What are you talking about? Who didn't tell you anything?" Feng Chuo'er, though puzzled by his series of reactions, was still happy and hugged him tighter. "Were you worried about me in the Central Plains? Tell me! Is that right?"

Su Shaochu, who could never bear to go against or hurt his daughter's feelings, could only gently pat her hair first. He took off his mink fur coat and wrapped it around Feng Chuo'er, completely unaware that his action had already aroused the deep anger of a pair of sharp eyes in the distance.

"No worries, no sorrows." Zhu Yu reached out his hand. "Longbow, one arrow."

"Yes!" The two maids immediately handed over the things they were carrying on their backs.

Zhu Yu nocked an arrow, raised his bow, drew the string, and aimed at the woman dressed in a purple sable fur coat!

"No one is allowed to touch a single thing that belongs to Zhu Yu, whether male or female. Even the thing itself is not allowed to be in someone else's heart. You're just a young boy who loves your brother, so I'll teach you a lesson!"

"Chuo'er, listen to me first..." Gently pushing away the girl in his arms, Su Shaochu was trying to figure out how to explain when he suddenly heard a whooshing sound! "Chuo'er—"

Before the word "danger" could even be uttered, Feng Chuo'er flashed a sharp light, and with a turn of his head, a silver light flashed, instantly slicing the long arrow in two!

Su Shaochu, standing to the side, could only marvel. He had almost forgotten that the two sisters, Feng Jun'er and Feng Chuo'er, were skilled in the fusion of medicine and music, and the other was one of the top sword masters among the younger generation in Nanyuan!

"Assassins—assassins have broken into the palace—"

"Help! Someone is trying to assassinate the Third Prince!"

The carefree and sorrowful people on the Liaowang Pavilion immediately shouted loudly, alarming all the guards in the neighboring courtyards, who rushed to protect them!

"The assassin is over there—a woman in a sable fur coat!" Wuyou and Wuchou immediately pointed out the correct target under the row of pine trees ahead to the swarming guards!

"Damn it, it's Zhu Yu?!" Upon seeing the familiar figure at Liaowang Pavilion in the distance, Su Shaochu hurriedly pulled Feng Chuo'er over and ran away as fast as he could!

"Feng Yan!" Zhu Yu called out to his trusted and skilled men behind him from inside the Liaowang Pavilion.

"exist."

"Whoever dared to lay a finger on my possessions, go and bring me her head!"

"yes!"

At his master's command, Feng Yan leaped with lightning speed, instantly over the rows of trees and guards beneath his feet, chasing after the snow tracks.

"Remember to slash her a few more times, don't let her die a peaceful death!"

"Kick her a few more times! Who taught her to steal our Young Master Su!"

Worry-free and carefree, they waved their little fists and shouted!

"Your Majesty, we should order Feng Yan to be captured alive. We guarantee that we'll rot her eyeballs so she'll never be able to see Young Master Su's face again."

"We'll chop off her hands and make her crawl until she dies, so she can never hold onto Young Master Su again!"

Two pretty faces, always cheerful, uttering chilling words, yet still maintaining their innocent appearance—a discordant contrast that makes their laughter seem unsettling at this moment.

"Okay, okay, next time I'll remember to tell Feng Yan not to kill them too early, and bring them back alive for you to play with." These two little girls can be quite stubborn! Zhu Yu smiled and called them over. "Let's see who has the strongest hands. Give me a massage on my shoulders, they're a bit tight!"

"Me! Me! I have the strongest grip!"

The two maids immediately smiled and took turns massaging their master.

"I'll take my jade tassel to the Su residence to find my elder brother... no, that's too far. The closest one is the Lu family!"

Upon arriving outside the palace, Su Shaochu immediately handed the token to Feng Chuo'er and instructed, "Quickly head east, to the Lu family residence, about a kilometer away. Find the young mistress of the Lu family and tell her what happened. She will protect you!"

"Why run? I came to the palace on a mission. Besides, what's there to be afraid of those guards? No matter how many come, I can handle them." Feng Chuo'er asked, puzzled.

"In the Central Plains, in the capital, right under the emperor's nose, keep a low profile. If you're mistaken for an assassin, you'll be in big trouble!"

"The emperor of the Central Plains has hurt the hearts of the people of Nanyuan. What's there to be afraid of? I wouldn't care if he were killed!"

"Chuo'er!" Su Shaochu was a bit of a headache. How could he explain to this naive little girl, who, despite being an outstanding swordsman from Nanyuan, was still quite ignorant of the ways of the world, the pros and cons of the matter?

Feng Chuo'er should have had someone accompany her to the Central Plains, so why was she allowed to sneak into the palace alone today?

"Besides, who would be caught by that rabble!" she said, sounding displeased at being looked down upon.

"I believe in Che'er's abilities. As long as you are determined, no one can catch you. However, force is not always the best method. Doing things secretly can be more effective."

Is it necessary to "carry it out in secret!"

Just as Su Shaochu was about to speak again, he felt a powerful aura carried on the wind.

"A master is approaching us!" Feng Chuo'er sensed it immediately and was filled with curiosity.

"Oh no, it's a censorship embarrassment!"

"Feng Yan!" she shouted excitedly. "That's the man who left Nanyuan a long time ago to become the personal bodyguard of the Holy Maiden's son in the Central Plains!"

"What are you doing?" Su Shaochu grabbed Feng Chuo'er, who was about to leap onto the roof.

"Since I can see the legendary senior from Nanyuan, it would be polite to pay him a visit."

"Pay a visit to him!" Su Shaochu slapped his forehead. "He was sent by the Third Prince to deal with us, don't act rashly!"

"Third Prince!" Feng Chuo'er tilted her head, completely bewildered. "Isn't the Third Prince the son of the Holy Maiden? Why are you treating us like this!"

"It's too early to explain. Listen to me, use your fastest Lingxu lightness skill to get to the Lu residence without letting anyone find out, especially don't let Feng Yan catch up with you."

"I don't want to come if you don't come!" she muttered.

"I'll come find you in a bit, be a good girl." He decided to use emotional appeal. "As long as you behave, I'll accompany you on whatever you want to do in the capital."

Hearing this, Feng Chuo'er finally smiled, nodded obediently, took the jade tassel, hugged him again, and left.

"Fate has decreed that I, Su Shaochu, am having a run of bad luck today!" Having finally gotten the little girl away temporarily, Su Shaochu couldn't help but sigh. "Whether it's a man or a woman, I have to sell my smiles, my emotions, and my body just to get away."

Recalling the helplessness and frustration she felt when Zhu Yu hugged and kissed her earlier, the most troublesome thing now was how to tell Zhuo'er that Su Shaochu himself and the person she had chosen were different!

"I was told to avoid her and protect her, but now look what's happened. Man proposes, God disposes. I'm in a real bind."

Trouble is piling up. Feng Chuo'er is already in the capital. Nan Yuan may have some unfavorable actions against the Central Plains royal family. Zhu Yu is in a key position between the two sides, but he is the most treacherous person. How should we proceed with our actions among these three parties?

In addition to my current situation...

Su Shaochu looked at the faint blue aura emanating from his palm.

"Each time I unleash my power, I lose three-tenths of my internal energy... I must find a fundamental cure."

Zhu Yu! Lan Chishi! Recalling the shadows of his childhood, it would be an exaggeration to say that he was no longer afraid, but since things had come to this, he could no longer afford to hesitate!

end

When Zhu Yu returned to the Three Emperors' Mansion, it was already dusk.

As soon as he stepped into his usual residence, "Songlin Courtyard," his leisurely figure suddenly stopped, and his attendants, Wuyou and Wuchou, looked at him with puzzlement.

At this moment, the sound of the zither suddenly rose, as if announcing its location. The sound was rapid and vast, resonating throughout the "Songlin Academy," as if it were competing with the cold wind that pierced through the branches and howled, its timbre soaring through the deep winter moonlit night.

"Someone's in the study?!"

"Who dares to be so audacious as to act so presumptuously on the Emperor's territory!"

Worry-free and carefree were astonished. The Three Emperors' Mansion was heavily guarded, and the guards protecting the "Songlin Academy" were top-notch experts. Now, not only had someone sneaked into the mansion, but not a single person had noticed that someone was openly playing the zither for their own amusement in the study.

Zhu Yu reached out to stop Wuyou and Wuchou from rushing in to arrest him. A cruel smile, rarely seen in the eyes of the world, curled up on his lips. He waved Wuyou and Wuchou away and walked alone towards the study.

As the zither music turned into a peaceful and magnetic tone, a familiar and elegant voice slowly rose up: "The ancient melody on the zither is Youlan, and I listen to it again with great care. If you want to achieve peace of mind and body, it is better to listen to someone else play than to play it yourself."

The study door opened abruptly, and directly in front of it lay a couch covered with an expensive silk and fur coat. This was the main seat in the mansion, representing the master's status and a seat that no one dared to sit in without permission. At this moment, a languid and relaxed body was propped up on it, lying on its side.

With slender fingers, he plucked the strings, seemingly for his own amusement, testing the sound. He casually played the ancient zither, Minglan, which sat upright at his waist. To the visitor standing at the door, he smiled leisurely, "Does the Third Prince like the piece 'Listening to Youlan' that Shao Chu presented to you in return?"

"I never expected that my beloved younger brother, who would never dare to approach me, would actually come to my Third Prince's residence."

Looking at Su Shaochu, who was lying lazily with a smile on his lips and a sharp look in his eyes, the hand that was playing the zither was casually placed on his bent knee. He seemed to be in a lazy and decadent state, but his whole body was full of provocation!

"I have something I would like to ask the Third Prince, but I am afraid that I am too humble to trouble you to come here. So I have to come and visit you in person."

He slowly sat up, stretched, and spoke humbly, but his behavior was arrogant!

"Oh! What makes my beloved brother doubt this?"

"Does the Third Prince absolutely have to have your Kotokatsu Yuran?"

"As I have said, I will give my all, regardless of praise or blame, and using any means necessary!" Zhu Yu began to walk towards Su Shaochu.

"So, you're not going to refuse when I ask the Third Prince for a sample?" As he moved, the red beads hanging from his ears shone even brighter.

"My beloved brother rarely asks for anything. No matter how difficult it is, I, the prince, will grant his request."

As Zhu Yu drew closer, Su Shaochu maintained his composed and leisurely demeanor, only a glint of light appeared in his eyes.

"Even if you want what's on the Third Prince?"

Facing the person several steps away, Su Shaochu thought to himself: one step, two steps, three steps...

"Does this prince possess something my beloved younger brother desires?" Zhu Yu asked, intrigued. "What is it?"

He came within arm's reach of the bed, reached out, and wanted to touch this "younger brother" whom he longed for but could not control.

"Then, Shao Chu, borrow the Lan Chi Stone for a while—"

A red ribbon shot out instantly, flying towards Zhu Yu's neck. Su Shaochu's palm followed, but just as it was about to touch the hanging blue-red stone, a ring of force came from his wrist!

"I have already said that I will grant your request, brother. Why do you still not believe me?" Although Zhu Yu held the man's wrist, the red ribbon had already been wrapped around his neck!

"Young and naive, like a prince, he only cares about methods, not trust!"

With a sudden burst of energy, he forced open the wrist restraints, then with a backhand flick, he gathered the long satin and wrapped it around Zhu Yu's neck!

With layers of red satin binding his neck, Zhu Yu not only remained unmoved, but instead burst into loud laughter!

"They only care about the methods, not the trust! Since my beloved brother has presented us with this admirable saying, how could I, as a prince, possibly betray him!"