Chapter 94: My Sincerity
When Chu Ying returned after seeing off the guest, he happened to run into Madam Chu returning from Prince Duan’s Mansion.
“Why did you even go there?” Chu Ying’s tone was icy cold. “That beast!”
Madam Chu hesitated, not daring to make a sound.
Regarding Chu Yan’s actions, the men of the Chu Family couldn’t figure it out, nor could the women in the inner quarters.
The Chu Family had raised Chu Yan to adulthood, even letting her marry into Prince Duan’s Mansion in glory, and after she was widowed, they still let her raise the child—where had they ever wronged her?
Even if there were some rumors about that child’s background, what harm did it do her? Raising a Chu Family child was surely better than raising one from another family, wasn’t it?
The Chu Family was a prestigious clan, always praised for its strict family rules, but now their face had been completely lost because of Chu Yan.
After the incident happened last night, Madam Chu had fainted on the spot.
She had only just woken up that morning when her mother-in-law summoned her and berated her in front of all the sisters-in-law, saying she was an unworthy wife, had failed to teach her daughter properly, and even dragging her maternal home into it.
Madam Chu was mortified and furious, and collapsed upon returning to her room.
She also heard that Chu Ying had been summoned to the Imperial Court for a father-daughter confrontation—not only was the family shame aired publicly, it was like tearing off the fig leaf and laying it all bare for everyone to see!
Considering the Chu Family’s man-eating family rules from top to bottom, for her husband, wasn’t Chu Yan’s action tantamount to stepping on his face underfoot?
Madam Chu was terrified and uneasy, not even daring to be ill anymore; she immediately dressed up and set off, and upon arriving at Prince Duan’s Mansion, she shut the door and unleashed a tirade at Chu Yan.
Unexpectedly, Chu Yan didn’t give her any face; without a word, she saw her off at the door, and along with it, drove out all the Chu Family servants who hadn’t been chased away from last night in one go.
Unexpectedly, upon returning home, she was met with another round of fury from her husband; Madam Chu’s face looked unpleasant, and she returned to her room first.
Chu Ying was still glaring at her retreating figure from behind.
A servant hurried over: “Master! Lord Hu from the Supreme Court has sent someone, saying there is an urgent matter and requests to see you!”
This was the Hu family that Chu Rui had greeted to keep watch on Yan Bei; Chu Ying turned around: “Let him in!”
A guard tremblingly entered with him; upon reaching him, he deeply clasped his fists: “This lowly one, this lowly one was ordered by the patriarch to deliver a message. The patriarch said that the Eldest Young Master has sent word: have Master Chu immediately open the most secret mechanism in his room and retrieve the things inside.”
Chu Ying frowned: “How did he find your family master?”
The guard quickly glanced up at him, swallowed, and said: “This lowly one doesn’t know, but our lord was quite urgent just now—perhaps the Eldest Young Master has his reasons.”
As his legitimate eldest son, Chu Xin had been involved in nearly all core events, so his room naturally had places to store secrets.
But the Chu Family had such extensive connections, with plenty of people to use, all specialists assigned to specific tasks—this Hu fellow was only responsible for watching Yan Bei, so why would he suddenly be delivering a message for Chu Xin?
Indeed, ever since Chu Xin was imprisoned, Yan Bei had been under strict guard, allowing no one to visit; even people from the Three Judicial Offices needed to go through him to interrogate. During this time, everyone in the Chu Family had been racking their brains to see him, so it was only natural that Chu Xin would find ways to pass messages out from prison.
But why find this Hu fellow?
And why didn’t this Hu fellow come personally?
Instead sending a guard?
At this thought, Chu Ying stroked his beard, first glanced at the servant beside him, then at the guard: “Come with me.”
The guard timidly followed.
Outside the mansion wall, Guo Yin watched as Dou Yun flipped into the Chu Family compound; he desperately wanted to chase after but couldn’t leave the guard left behind beside him, pacing anxiously in place.
At that moment, he heard faint footsteps from the quiet street; he quickly hid behind the wall and looked, seeing three people approaching, all clearly skilled martial artists at a glance.
After they arrived, they pointed at the Chu Family place.
Guo Yin, watching from the shadows, saw the belts revealed by the two in the back; the more he looked, the more they resembled guards from Prince Jingyang’s Mansion—he was startled and knocked out the person beside him, then stepped out: “Gentlemen!”
Huo Yun and the two guards drew their swords in unison and turned.
“Don’t misunderstand!” Guo Yin stepped back. “May I ask if you are from Prince Jingyang’s Mansion?”
Huo Yun frowned: “Who are you?!”
Guo Yin pulled down his face covering.
How could Huo Yun not recognize him? “Lord Guo!”
“Does this little brother recognize me?”
Huo Yun exchanged a glance with the two guards and said: “We are from the prince’s mansion. Why are you here alone? Where is Lord Dou?”
Guo Yin pointed at the Chu Family: “Don’t even mention it! He went in!…”
Chu Ying arrived at the main house; Chu Xin’s wife came out with red, swollen eyes to greet him, but Chu Ying waved her off and entered the study in the west wing.
Dou Yun had been in the Imperial City Department for many years, always having plenty of opportunities for infiltration and case-handling; avoiding the Chu Family’s defenses all around to sneak in was no problem.
Moreover, it wasn’t his first time at the Chu Family; back when Prince Duan was around, they had infiltrated the backyards of nearly every household.
After the lights came on, he crouched on the rafter and unconsciously clenched his fist.
Without Prince Duan, there would be no present for him and Guo Yin.
If the previous three years of lurking could be attributed to Prince Duan’s Mansion having no one to hold it up, now that Princess Yongjia—who had been permitted by the Former Emperor to marry a husband, give birth to a child, and inherit the prince’s mansion—had died and come back to life, they had no reason to endure any longer.
In fact, the bigger the shady dealings in Prince Duan and his daughter’s murders, the more it indicated the determination of those behind it to eliminate dissenters.
He and Guo Yin, as Prince Duan’s capable subordinates, might be pulled down at any moment.
Both publicly and privately, emotionally and rationally, he had to quickly find Princess Yongjia and pledge loyalty.
Chu Xin was Chu Ying’s eldest son; he must have important things hidden in his hands.
If there was a harvest tonight, at least he could use it to knock on Princess Yongjia’s door.
Dou Yun gripped his sword hilt tightly; he would not allow himself to fail, and could not fail.
Chu Ying entered the room, looked around both sides, then slowly walked to the base of the west wall and openly activated the mechanism on the wall.
The hidden cabinet’s door popped open, containing various objects large and small: documents and letters, as well as seals and passes.
Chu Ying took them out one by one and placed them in the unfolded bundle cloth on the table.
The last thing he took out was a small golden seal, square-shaped but the size of a copper coin.
Seeing this, Dou Yun’s heart pounded wildly.
The golden seal gleamed brilliantly under the light, clearly made of pure gold; only the Emperor or imperial clan members were qualified to use such a seal—the Chu Family had no right to possess or store one!
Dou Yun’s palms sweated; seeing Chu Ying slowly wrapping up the bundle, he seized the opportunity, threw a pebble to extinguish the light, and in the instant the flame went out, darted into the room like an arrow, grabbing the bundle!
But just as he picked up the bundle, a force tugged it back against him!
Immediately, the sound of swords being drawn rang out from all sides!
A dazzling light rose, and the pitch-black room, whose light he had just extinguished, suddenly lit up!
People at all doors and windows raised torches, and the arrivals were all Chu Family guards!
And in front of him, two people were already grabbing the other end of the bundle, with Chu Ying behind them, his face ashen, sternly ordering: “Seize him!”
He spoke so decisively, even with a hint of disgust, clearly acting as if the capture was a done deal.
The bundle was yanked back.
But since Dou Yun dared to come this time, how could he just give up?
His hand didn’t loosen at all; the bundle cloth couldn’t withstand the pulling from both sides and tore with a rip!
The things scattered all over the floor.
The golden seal rolled out amid the documents.
Without a word, he pounced, grabbed it in his hand, and shoved it into his mouth!
Chu Ying was shocked and furious: “Dig it out! Kill him!”
Assassins burst in from all sides.
Dou Yun’s shoulder was struck first by a sword.
He took down three, but took another cut to the leg while retreating outward.
Against so many people, he couldn’t break out alone no matter what.
When he retreated to the wall top, he reached into his bosom and pulled out a prepared fire bomb.
This was a weapon from the Imperial City Department yamen; one thrown would turn the room below into a sea of fire.
But just as he was about to hurl it, a hand gripped his wrist from behind!
“Don’t be impulsive, come with us!”
A black shadow whispered in his ear; when he surprisedly turned back, two people had already landed beside him and blocked the Chu Family guards’ killing moves without a word!
Dou Yun was shocked, but facing the burning eyes of the person before him, he nodded heavily, obeyed his guidance, and after the frontal assault was held off, quickly withdrew!
…
“Old Dou!”
After exiting the mansion wall, Guo Yin, waiting under the wall, immediately called out softly.
Dou Yun landed but couldn’t endure the leg wound and knelt weakly to the ground.
Guo Yin pulled him up, berating him: “I told you not to show off—now you’ve suffered for it! If not for this little brother from the prince’s mansion, you’d have lost your life today!”
Hearing “prince’s mansion,” Dou Yun realized who had saved him.
He pushed away Guo Yin’s hand and looked at Huo Yun: “This little brother is from Prince Jingyang’s Mansion?”
Huo Yun knew Yue Tang’s attitude toward the two and didn’t elaborate, merely nodding.
Dou Yun let out a long breath, dug out the golden seal from his mouth, and said: “You arrived just in time. I have business to see Prince Jingyang. I’ll return home to get something first—please lead the way and make an introduction later.”
Huo Yun inhaled slightly and nodded again.
Guo Yin supported Dou Yun, and the three hurried toward the Dou Family.
Upon entering the home, Madam Dou, who had been waiting for her husband, was startled but, having weathered many storms over the years, quickly sent for hot water after a glance.
Dou Yun had no mind for it at first, but thinking he was going to the prince’s mansion later, he wiped himself a bit, then had Madam Dou bring clean clothes to change into. He himself shut the room door and retrieved a box from under the bed’s floor tiles.
After changing clothes, he carefully washed the previous golden seal in water, then pocketed the box and went out.
“Let’s go.”
He called.
They took a carriage to Prince Jingyang’s Mansion, which took a quarter of an hour.
Upon reaching the mansion gate, they ran into the two rearguard guards from before; they nodded greetings and entered one after the other.
Yan Bei had returned and had just gone with Yue Tang to A Li’s room to check on him sleeping soundly.
In such a quiet night, he remembered Yue Tang had promised to drink with him. No time like the present.
Before he could speak, Huo Yun rushed in, first saluting her, then speaking to his master: “Princess! Lords Dou Yun and Guo Yin request an audience!”
Other matters could be brushed off, but these two—Yan Bei knew they were Yue Tang’s recent headaches and immediately realized the drinks were off.
He asked: “Why did you bring them here in the middle of the night?”
Huo Yun said: “It wasn’t this lowly one’s idea—they came on their own. And Lord Dou wants to see the prince!”
With that, he explained the whole story, pointing toward the hall: “They’re outside now, and injured.”
Yan Bei’s brows furrowed, and he headed out.
Yue Tang also stepped forward.
Outside the front hall screen, Yan Bei had already let Dou and Guo in.
She peered through the gap, sizing up the two, then sat on a chair nearby.
“Disturbing the prince late at night—please forgive us.”
“I heard you went to the Chu Family—what for?” Yan Bei eyed the blood seeping from Dou Yun’s leg.
Dou Yun’s chest heaved as he raised his head, eyes fixed on his face: “Reporting to the prince, this official came to request an audience with Princess Yongjia!”
Yan Bei’s gaze sharpened: “What did you say?”
Yue Tang behind the screen also glanced at Huo Yun beside her.
“This official wishes to see Princess Yongjia!” Dou Yun stepped forward, eyes blazing. “This official knows the prince must know where the princess is.
“Prince Duan gave this official a second life; now that the princess has safely returned, this official must see her! Please grant it, Your Highness!”
Yan Bei slightly straightened: “What do you want with her? She’s not here with me, and I haven’t seen her. What, is she still alive?”
“Your Highness!” Dou Yun presented the golden seal with both hands: “Please pass it to the princess to inspect, and relay to her that I, Dou Yun, will forever serve Prince Duan’s Mansion as my master!”
The hall was brightly lit, the golden seal shining even more dazzlingly.
Yan Bei stood up at the sight.
Yue Tang behind the screen focused her gaze!
From a distance of ten feet, how could she not recognize it?
This was her seal!
Besides the household registration file at the Imperial Clan Court, this was another proof of her identity!
Previously, Chu Yan had said Chu Xin was holding this seal; since she already had the file, Yue Tang wasn’t in a hurry to retrieve it, but she never expected Dou Yun to risk his life to get it for her!
She stepped out from behind the screen, took it from Yan Bei’s palm, examined every side carefully, then turned to face Dou Yun: “You went to the Chu Family for this?”
Dou Yun had known someone was behind the screen, but he was still startled when Yue Tang emerged!
The person before him wore no makeup, only a pair of jade bracelets on her wrists, yet her eyes held authority; one glance seemed to pierce everything—her bearing alone let anyone, even without seeing the adult Princess Yongjia, instantly guess her identity!
“Princess!”
Dou Yun knelt!
Guo Yin, who had been stunned behind him, also knelt: “Guo Yin pays respects to the princess!”
Yue Tang clenched the golden seal, eyed the blood on Dou Yun’s shoulder and leg, and turned: “Xiao Huo, quickly summon Hua Lin!”
Hugs to everyone, thanks for the encouragement—fixed 7 a.m. updates resuming soon
