Chapter 257: Care

“Prince of Chu requests His Majesty to bestow a marriage?”

At the same time that Li Yu, the Prince of Chu, rushed out of the Imperial City, Zhang Ze received the news.

“Yes, he said it’s a maid who has been with him since childhood.” The attendant said, “They even have a child, so he wants to marry her as his wife and not consider any other proposals.”

Zhang Ze, who was originally a little puzzled, instantly understood when he heard the word “child” and couldn’t help but smile.

“Good, good, that’s how it should be.” He muttered to himself, “Her Ladyship moves really fast.”

The attendant was stunned for a moment, Her Ladyship?

“It was Consort Bai who persuaded His Majesty to see him.” The attendant hurriedly whispered, “She was also by His Majesty’s side the whole time, which shows that Her Ladyship agrees.”

Zhang Ze gave a soft “oh” and smiled again: “Of course she agrees. A maid, you see. Prince of Chu without a marriage to a powerful family is like having an arm cut off.”

This is something Consort Bai would be happy to see.

Li Yu obviously knew this too, which is why he specifically asked Consort Bai for help.

Consort Bai really fell for it.

She doesn’t know the true identity of that maid, and she doesn’t know that the so-called maid’s child is her daughter, the real little princess.

Zhang Ze lowered his eyes. Only petty cleverness. She doesn’t know that when it comes to the person you want to suppress, you shouldn’t focus on their status and support, but on not letting them get what they want.

Even if it benefits you, as long as it’s something that makes the other party happy, you have to stop it.

There really is only one Empress Jiang in this world. Others are not worthy.

“Inspector?” The attendant looked at his expression. The Inspector smiled twice, but the second smile was a bit strange. “Do you want to see Consort Bai?”

After all, this is a big matter, the two should meet and discuss it.

Zhang Ze gave a soft “oh”: “No need. Her Ladyship can take care of the matters in the palace.”

The attendant acknowledged and retreated without saying anything more.

Zhang Ze, however, couldn’t sit still. This is a great joyous event for Empress Jiang. He should go and offer his congratulations. This way, he could further enhance the Empress Jiang qualities in that Bai Li.

“Someone, prepare the horse!” He shouted and strode out.

But after going out, he didn’t actually go to the Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence. The intelligence report said that the Prince of Chu had gone to the Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence.

Then it wouldn’t be convenient for him to show up, lest Li Yu become suspicious.

Zhang Ze reined in his horse and stopped. At this time, the setting sun had already fallen, and the sky was filled with clouds. He looked at where the Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence was located, a smile appearing on his face once again. Her Ladyship is one step closer to entering the Imperial City.

The Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence was already preparing to light the lamps.

“The Prince of Chu is here again?” Madam of Dongyang asked, adjusting the lamp wick.

Mama Xu nodded: “He went straight to Master’s courtyard.”

“He came in the morning, and now he’s here again in the evening.” Madam of Dongyang curled her lips. “Our marquis’s residence is becoming like his pleasure boat.”

Mama Xu chided: “Madam, don’t speak carelessly.”

Madam of Dongyang’s expression changed slightly. Ah Li still hadn’t come to pay her respects today. This child was actually a very polite person, so logically, she shouldn’t have missed it. And the Prince of Chu kept coming to the house.

Could something really be going on?

“Mama Xu.” Madam of Dongyang sat up straight. “Go over there and keep an eye on things. See what’s going on inside.”

Although Master didn’t allow family members to approach, they were in the same house after all. They could still hear things as they passed by. Women talking, children’s voices, nothing else out of the ordinary.

But since Madam had given the order, Mama Xu acknowledged and retreated, heading towards Master’s courtyard.

In Master’s courtyard, Li Yu entered the room. This time, he didn’t ask Zhou Jingyun to leave.

“Ah Li!” He looked at the woman sitting on the Arhat bed reading a book, his eyes sparkling. “His Majesty has agreed!”

Agreed? Zhou Jingyun reacted. Was it the matter he had mentioned earlier?

The woman sat up straight, raised her eyebrows slightly, and gave a soft “oh”: “He really agreed?” Then she looked at him, seemingly sympathetic. “He can even agree to such an absurd thing. It seems he’s only the emperor, not your uncle.”

Li Yu’s eyes dimmed slightly as he looked at the woman before him, his hands clenching at his sides. “Ah Li.”

He murmured.

Was Ah Li feeling sorry for him at this moment?

Then a smile appeared on his face again.

“Those things are not important.” He said, “What’s important is that he agreed, and he will personally talk to Princess Jinyu. The emperor’s words are golden, no one can stop it!”

She smiled and nodded: “Yes, the emperor’s word, once spoken, will not be taken back.”

Zhou Jingyun couldn’t help but ask at this point: “What is it exactly?”

She looked at him and said slowly: “I’m going to marry Li Yu.”

Zhou Jingyun was stunned. What did she mean?

“I asked Ah Li for help.” Li Yu said with a smile, then sighed. “Princess Jinyu has always wanted to use my marriage for her own benefit. I really have no choice, and it even led to Ah Li and Nannan being pursued. I thought, why not just let Ah Li become my wife and Nannan my daughter? This way, no one will force me to marry again, and Ah Li and Nannan will be able to live openly.”

He smiled at Zhou Jingyun as he said this.

“So I came to discuss it with Ah Li first, and Ah Li also thought this was a good idea.”

He looked at the woman again and smiled.

“So I went to the emperor and begged him.”

As he spoke, he sat down on the Arhat bed with a beaming face.

“Do you know how I did it? I knew that if I went directly to see His Majesty, not only would Consort Bai stop me, but His Majesty wouldn’t see me either. So I went directly to see Consort Bai and asked for her help.”

She listened and added: “She must have been very happy to hear that you were going to marry a maid.”

“Yes!” Li Yu said with a smile. “She persuaded the emperor to see me. I met His Majesty and brought up the story of the deep love between the Empress and the Emperor. The Emperor was also persuaded by me.”

She nodded with a smile: “Well done.”

Li Yu looked at her: “Princess Jinyu will definitely be angry and make a scene, but at most, she’ll just give me a beating. With the emperor stepping in, this matter cannot be changed.”

He then looked at Zhou Jingyun and stood up, bowing deeply.

“Master, I will announce to everyone that my wife and daughter have always been under your care. This way, the rumors between us can be cleared up. However, Princess Jinyu might come looking for trouble with you, so please bear with it.”

Zhou Jingyun was still in shock, his voice a murmur: “Under my care, trouble?”

Taking care of Ah Li and the little princess, how could that be trouble? And how did they become his wife and daughter?

Li Yu didn’t pay attention to his daze, nor did he explain further.

“I’ll go back first.” He took a deep breath, suppressing the many things he seemed to want to say. “I still have a lot to do. Ah Li, you wait here. I will resolve the other troubles as soon as possible, set the wedding date, invite a matchmaker, and announce it to the world.”

As he spoke, he rubbed his hands together, his expression a little flustered.

“I have no idea what to do for a wedding. There are so many things to do. I need to ask around.”

After saying that, he turned and ran out.

“I’m leaving—”

He stopped again at the door. At this time, the glow of the sunset had faded, and the view was a little dim. He turned his head and looked at the figure of the woman sitting on the bed, a smile spreading across his face.

“Ah Li, wait for me to marry you.”

In the dimness, the woman nodded with a smile: “Okay.”

Li Yu smiled again, with a hint of shyness, and rushed out.

✿✿✿

Looking at the young man who had disappeared from sight, the woman on the Arhat bed said: “This child is much smarter than his father.”

Zhou Jingyun looked at her in the dimness.

“Marry? You marry him!” He said, taking a step forward. “Why are you doing this?”

She looked at him: “Why can’t I do this?” She smiled. “It’s only natural for me to do this.”

Stepping out of the gate of the Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence under the cover of night, Li Yu stopped and looked back.

He knew she would say yes.

She occupied Ah Li’s body, wasn’t it just to return to the Imperial Palace?

He presented himself, who had recovered his identity and was not content with just being a member of the imperial family, in front of her. How could she not be tempted?

This “Empress Jiang” ghost, Consort Bai, the Emperor, he gave them all what they wanted, and they all took it.

A sarcastic smile appeared on Li Yu’s face. Let them take it, let them take it greedily and ruthlessly. He only wanted to get what he wanted, to save Ah Li.

The smile on his face faded, and the image of the woman sitting in the night, smiling and saying “Okay,” appeared before his eyes.

If only it were really Ah Li.

The thought flashed through his mind, and he felt a little nervous. If it were really Ah Li, would she be willing to marry him?

She probably would.

Li Yu looked away and stepped into the carriage.

“Master, what is it exactly?” Cai Songnian followed him into the carriage and asked. “You’ve been running around all day.”

Li Yu looked at him and smiled: “I’m getting married.”

Cai Songnian was stunned. “Married? To… whom?”

He almost blurted out Zhou Jingyun’s name. After all, after running around the Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence and the Imperial Palace, he suddenly wanted to get married.

“To Ah Li, of course.” Li Yu said with a smile, then took a deep breath. “There are a lot of things to do next. Listen to me carefully.”

Cai Songnian subconsciously replied yes, but his mind was in turmoil. Countless thoughts surged in an instant, eventually settling on the very beginning.

At the beginning, when Master started interacting with the Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence.

At that time, he mistakenly thought that Master had taken a fancy to the young Madam of the Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence, and the two were having a secret affair. He was worried every day.

A year had passed in the blink of an eye.

But in the blink of an eye, it seemed like everything had come full circle.

Master was actually going to marry this young Madam of the Marquis of Dongyang’s Residence!!

The candles were lit, and the room brightened.

Zhou Jingyun’s stiff figure was cast on the ground.

“If I don’t marry him, should I marry Prince Changyang?”

She was still talking, with a thoughtful look on her face.

“That’s not impossible, but it would take time.”

“It’s faster to marry Li Yu.”

“Although it might take a while for him to become emperor, it doesn’t matter. I can wait.”

“This time, I’ll accompany someone from being a prince to ascending the throne as emperor. I, the empress, will have worked hard and made great contributions.”

She looked at Zhou Jingyun, her beautiful eyes curving into a smile.

“Zhou Jingyun, this way, you won’t scold me for using my beauty to seduce people, right?”

Zhou Jingyun looked at her: “I’ve never scolded you for using your beauty to seduce people!” He took a step forward. “But you can’t just do whatever you want anymore. You’re gone. Now it’s Bai Li. The one who’s alive is Bai Li. Bai Li—”

He didn’t finish his words, interrupted by her.

“How do you know Bai Li doesn’t think the same way?” She said, standing up and walking towards Zhou Jingyun. “Don’t forget, it was she who wanted to be with Li Yu, and she even went to tell Shen Qing that she wanted to support Li Yu to become emperor.”

“What she said to Shen Qing doesn’t count.” Zhou Jingyun looked at her. “What she said to Shen Qing was retaliation, to give him a taste of his own medicine.”

He said, taking out a dagger from his waist.

“I’ll only listen to what she says about what she thinks.”

She glanced at the dagger in his hand and curled her lips: “I’ve already said, don’t cut me with the knife. She doesn’t care, it’s useless.”

Zhou Jingyun reached out and held her hand, looking at her: “How do you know it’s useless if you don’t try?”

She was a little helpless, about to say something, but Zhou Jingyun held her hand tightly. However, he didn’t cut her arm. Instead, he held her hand, gripped the dagger, and with a sudden pull, stabbed it towards his chest.

Her eyes widened instantly.

Not her chest, but Zhou Jingyun’s chest.

Her hand hit Zhou Jingyun’s chest, and the thin dagger pierced through his robe silently, blood instantly spreading.

“Zhou Jingyun!” She shouted.

Zhou Jingyun!

The shout rang in her ears, and Bai Li subconsciously turned her head. What was wrong with Zhou Jingyun?

Through the dim light, she saw her own hand holding the dagger, piercing Zhou Jingyun’s chest.

Blood spread, staining the dim vision.

“Zhou Jingyun!”

She shouted, and the running generals, the crying girl, the roaring female voice instantly vanished.

She abruptly turned and lunged forward.

“Zhou Jingyun! Are you crazy!”

Bai Li watched as blood seeped out from between her fingers. She wanted to let go, but her hand was tightly gripped by Zhou Jingyun’s.

“Zhou Jingyun, what are you doing!”

Tears instantly welled up in her eyes.

Zhou Jingyun looked at her: “Ah Li?”

She looked at him and nodded forcefully.

Zhou Jingyun smiled: “As I guessed, you do care about me.”

After saying that, he collapsed backward as if relieved of a heavy burden.

“Zhou Jingyun—”