Chapter 404
**Chapter 402: It is said that Empress Dowager Shen is exceptionally beautiful**
Just a glimpse of her profile was enough to guess that she was an extraordinarily beautiful woman.
The King of Wu quickly pulled out some coins to settle the bill and dashed out of the tavern, eager to follow that carriage.
The carriage moved slowly, weaving through the bustling streets before turning onto a relatively quiet, spacious road. It came to a halt, the golden bells adorning its edge jingling softly.
The King of Wu straightened his clothes, ready to step forward. Suddenly, a flash of cold light sliced through the air in front of him, causing the hairs on his neck to stand on end, a lock of his brown curls fluttering down to the ground.
By the time he realized what was happening, a sharp blade was pressed against his vulnerable neck.
The blade was chillingly cold.
It grazed his throat, and with just a little more pressure, he could meet his end right there.
The King of Wu could almost feel the icy touch of the blade; fear made him swallow hard. Indeed, Da Qing was a place where masters abounded.
His eyes slowly shifted to the tall warrior who had intercepted him. The warrior was imposing, with long brows and cold eyes, his face as frosty as his demeanor, suggesting he was a man of the military.
The King of Wu clasped his hands together and awkwardly said, “General, there’s been a misunderstanding. I am merely a prince from Donglin, escorting tribute, not a villain! I just wanted to meet the young lady in the carriage—”
Before he could finish, he felt the blade press closer against his neck.
It hurt a little.
He must have drawn blood.
The carriage curtain was lifted, and Le You, the princess inside, said, “Liang Huai Chuan, there’s no need to waste time with him. Let’s hurry to the palace.”
Le You was eager to see her younger brother in the palace, hoping to gather news about their mother. Liang Huai Chuan sheathed his sword, replying, “Understood.”
The carriage rolled away.
The King of Wu stood frozen in place, finally noticing the emblem of the princess’s residence on the luxurious carriage. The beautiful girl inside was none other than the renowned Princess Le You of Da Qing.
It was said that Princess Le You was greatly favored, residing in a lavish palace, enjoying the highest salary, and possessing unparalleled beauty.
“Could it be that this Princess Le You is destined to be my bride?” the King of Wu murmured to himself.
But thinking of the formidable man beside the princess, he instinctively touched his neck. A small cut had opened, oozing blood.
As a man himself, the King of Wu could sense the raw power emanating from that warrior.
If he dared to approach Princess Le You, Liang Huai Chuan would likely sever his handsome head from his shoulders on the spot.
Touching the fresh wound on his neck, the King of Wu shook his head, “Forget it. If I can’t marry the princess, I’ll just find another beauty.”
He turned to walk down the street, intent on continuing his search for a lovely lady. Just a few steps in, two men who looked like stewards blocked his path.
The King of Wu shrank back, “Is the princess’s residence here to kill me? I haven’t done anything!”
The steward bowed respectfully, smiling, “Your Highness, please don’t worry. I am the steward of the Yan residence. The lady has learned of your presence in Yan Jing and has sent me to escort you back for a reunion.”
The King of Wu sighed in relief; it was just his elder sister looking for him. He tidied himself up and followed the steward back to the Yan residence.
The siblings reunited, embracing and weeping.
The King of Wu took in the opulence of the Yan residence, the luxurious silks adorning his sister, the lavish feast laid out before him, and the brand-new clothes prepared just for him.
He was dumbfounded. He knew his sister had established herself in Da Qing, but he hadn’t expected her to be so well-settled!
Under his sister’s eager gaze, the King of Wu changed into the splendid new attire. The outfit was made of Shu brocade, embroidered with auspicious clouds and mythical beasts, both warm and beautiful. He had never worn anything so fine before. Standing before the bronze mirror, he twirled a few times, feeling that his already handsome face was elevated to a new level of charm by the new clothes.
Such exquisite garments—Princess Le You had prepared an entire trunk of them for him.
The King of Wu was moved to tears, “Sister, how about I give up being a prince and let you support me instead?”
Princess Le You felt a pang of sorrow.
Seeing her brother’s worn-out clothes, she understood the hardships he had faced over the years. With tears in her eyes, she playfully smacked his head, “You’re still as useless as ever. A man’s ambition lies beyond the home; how can you expect your sister to support you?”
The King of Wu cradled his head, grinning with a simple, happy smile.
After a hearty meal, the King of Wu began to inquire about the most beautiful woman in Da Qing.
Princess Le You informed him that the girl currently gaining fame in Yan Jing was the daughter of a certain minister. However, she urged him to give up on that idea, explaining that daughters from high-ranking families would naturally be sent to the palace to become consorts.
With the new emperor on the throne and the harem empty, all the ministers were scheming to send their daughters into the palace.
As a prince of a small nation, the King of Wu was even less qualified than a fifth-rank official from Da Qing to marry a powerful minister’s daughter.
Princess Le You further warned him, “Don’t even think about pursuing Princess Le You; she and the young master of the Liang family are deeply in love, and in a couple of years, the emperor will arrange their marriage.”
The King of Wu shivered at the thought of the cold-faced bodyguard beside Princess Le You.
Princess Le You reassured him, “Aside from Princess Le You and the daughters of high-ranking families, if you have your eye on any girl in Yan Jing, just let me know. I’ll help you make the connections.”
Now that Princess Le You had firmly established herself in Da Qing, she was living a comfortable life, supported by the Empress Dowager.
But the King of Wu only wanted to follow the prophecy of the former state master of Yue and marry the most beautiful woman in Da Qing.
Yan Jing was filled with flowers and beauties, yet none captured his heart or lingered in his memory.
Scratching his head in thought, the King of Wu suddenly asked with curiosity, “Sister, I’ve heard that Empress Dowager Shen is exceptionally beautiful. I want to—”
Before he could finish, Princess Le You’s fist came crashing down, her face flushed with anger, “You reckless fool! How dare you covet the Empress Dowager! Are you looking to throw your life away and drag Donglin down with you?”
As a child, the King of Wu had often been on the receiving end of his sister’s punches. Now that he was grown, when her familiar fist came flying at him, he covered his head and cried out, “Sister! That’s not what I meant! Ah! Please don’t hit me! I was wrong! I was wrong!”
The Yan residence echoed with his cries, which continued for quite some time.
...
...
In the palace of Nan Chu,
Shen Wei had a deep sleep and woke up at dawn to have her meal and take her medicine to recuperate.
The morning sun shone brightly, and Shen Wei had the maid bring her some local chronicles of Nan Chu. She lay under the eaves, leisurely reading the books about Nan Chu.
Time passed quietly, and the sunlight in the courtyard gradually warmed up as Shen Wei immersed herself in the sea of books.
Cai Zhu hurried in, moving too quickly and tripping over her own feet, falling to the ground.
Seeing her pale face, Shen Wei felt as if she had seen something extremely terrifying.
She set her book down and asked gently, “Why are you in such a rush? What happened?”
Cai Zhu stumbled to her feet, her slender body still trembling, and stammered, “Miss, the Concubine Qin has sent someone to ask you to come to Hanzhang Palace.”
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