Chapter 125: Then Will You Change?
Chu Mingheng had always been helpless against Lan Wu’s tears.
Although it now seemed that Lan Wu had cried while alone in the side chamber, her sullen demeanor and reluctance to let him notice likely still had something to do with what she had heard Huifan say in the elegant hall.
“Why believe everything? Aren’t I perfectly fine?” Chu Mingheng stroked her face, his fingers brushing past the corner of her eye, his tone softening.
Lan Wu hummed in agreement and said slowly, “That’s why I only cried for a moment.”
It was precisely because Chu Mingheng was still perfectly fine now that her tears had only been shed when she thought of her previous life, of Chu Mingheng’s hardships, and of herself.
Seeing him fall somewhat silent, Lan Wu wrapped her arms around his and asked what he and Master Huifan had discussed inside.
Chu Mingheng turned his head to look at her, couldn’t help but gently pinch her cheek, and said, “He told you not to overthink things.”
“Then did you let him take your pulse?” Lan Wu still refused to believe it. “He seemed very skilled in medicine. Did he say what medicine he wanted to give you, and will it work?”
“He did, and he didn’t say I needed to take any medicine,” Chu Mingheng lied to humor her.
“Ah… how can you not take medicine? Let the Imperial Physician check you again when we return. Maybe the Imperial Physician will be willing to give you medicine.” Lan Wu spoke with utmost seriousness, her face clouded with worry again.
But these words didn’t sound pleasant to Chu Mingheng’s ears.
What did she mean by “the Imperial Physician will be willing to give you medicine”?
“I’d like to see what goes through your mind all day. You’ve been dishonest since the first time you saw me.”
As he spoke, he looked thoughtfully into Lan Wu’s eyes, leaning closer until he caught a flicker of guilt in her gaze, and then he smiled.
“During the Longevity Festival, after you finished dancing, when I asked you to express your gratitude, you didn’t respond.”
“I had thought at the time, since you went to such lengths to prepare a dance for two months, there was no reason for you to avoid seeing me afterward.”
“It was because you remembered your past life after finishing the dance, so you didn’t want to pay attention to me.”
Lan Wu, having been seen through so clearly, didn’t bother hiding it. She snorted lightly and said, “If I had remembered earlier, I might not even have danced that dance. I might be in Wanshu Pavilion now, waiting to leave the palace in a couple of years.”
If she hadn’t danced, she wouldn’t have seen Chu Mingheng and the other imperial concubines. As long as she kept to herself, she wouldn’t have been noticed again.
“It’s my fault,” Chu Mingheng said softly, not seeming angered.
Back then, before he saw Lan Wu at the Longevity Festival, he had already dreamed of her. Even if Lan Wu hadn’t danced or caught his eye, he would likely have searched for her anyway, even if it meant turning the entire palace upside down.
But these were things he knew in his heart and didn’t need to tell Lan Wu.
“What did you do wrong?” Lan Wu hummed, turning the question back on him.
They were too close, and with her voice so soft, the questioning sounded no different from coquetry.
Chu Mingheng lowered his head and kissed her. “I was too harsh, always frightening you, forcing you, and not listening to you.”
Lan Wu’s ears grew warm at his words, surprised that Chu Mingheng had such self-awareness.
“Then… then will you change?” she asked fiercely.
Chu Mingheng kissed her again and said, “If A’Wu says so, I will change.”
Lan Wu felt particularly delighted.
Suppressing her joy, she pretended to be serious and began laying down “rules” for him one by one, counting on her fingers.
“Then, from now on, you mustn’t stop me from going out.”
“Even if I do something wrong, you’re not allowed to scold me to my face. We can talk it over privately.”
“And also, you mustn’t trick me into going to those strange places anymore.”
“The most important point…” Lan Wu’s face flushed slightly. Seeing Chu Mingheng’s serious expression, she lowered her voice and whispered in his ear, “You mustn’t hit me…”
Chu Mingheng raised an eyebrow slightly, lowering his gaze as he gently folded her fingers back one by one.
“First, I stopped you from going out because you haven’t fully recovered. I listened to the Imperial Physician’s advice, so I had to be strict with you. You’ve always been unrestrained in your play, so this was the only way.”
“The second point is my fault. I shouldn’t have scolded you, but I only did it that once at Jinghua Palace, embarrassing you in front of others. It won’t happen again.”
“As for those strange places you mentioned, if you don’t want to go, then we won’t. If you don’t say the wrong things, I won’t take you there either.”
When it came to the last point, Chu Mingheng pressed her palm, seeming somewhat puzzled. “How can that be called hitting? Didn’t you find it quite pleasurable?”
You cried out like a cat in spring night, yet claim it wasn’t pleasurable.
Chu Mingheng didn’t believe it.
“You… what nonsense are you spouting!” Lan Wu flushed even redder with anger, lowering her voice to scold him. “If you want pleasure, go hit yourself! You scoundrel!”
Chu Mingheng held her hand steadily, not letting her move about recklessly.
“Gently now, or you’ll fall in a moment.”
The carriage reached a fork in the road, and Chen Kangan asked from outside which path to take.
Lan Wu, held in Chu Mingheng’s embrace, looked up to see him lift the carriage curtain slightly.
“Take the shortcut.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
There was more than one way down the mountain, but gradually Lan Wu noticed this path was different from the one they took up. This shortcut was much bumpier.
Protected in Chu Mingheng’s arms, Lan Wu jolted occasionally with the carriage’s movements, but it was manageable—she didn’t bump or knock into anything.
“Why take the shortcut?” she asked curiously.
Chu Mingheng only said it was getting late and they needed to return to the palace before nightfall.
By the time they returned to the palace, the sky had indeed darkened. Lan Wu entered the hall first to tidy up, while Chu Mingheng followed a step behind.
Watching Lan Wu enter the Inner Palace, Chu Mingheng then stepped out of the hall.
Chen Kangan hurried forward and reported in a low voice, “Your Majesty, a group of people ambushed the road to Huguang Temple. Commander Zhang led men to capture them. Most were killed, five took poison and died, leaving seven survivors.”
“The remaining survivors have all been sent to the Imperial Prison, under the custody and investigation of the Ministry of Justice.”
Chu Mingheng’s face darkened, his sharp, cold gaze lightly falling on Chen Kangan as he issued a calm order. “I give them one day. If they can’t uncover the mastermind, they will present their heads to me.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
Chen Kangan received the decree and quickly departed, thinking to himself: Who are these reckless fools daring to send assassins to ambush the mountain road in an attempt to assassinate? Fortunately, His Majesty was foresighted. Earlier, when Master Huifan entered the imperial city, word spread that he would be staying at Huguang Temple. Although Huguang Temple is mostly for seeking marriage and offspring, His Majesty has been on the throne for a long time with few heirs, so this reasoning made perfect sense.
As soon as His Majesty left the palace with Her Ladyship, an identical carriage set off toward Huguang Temple with others inside.
Sure enough, trouble occurred on the road.
Thinking of this, Chen Kangan couldn’t help but recall His Majesty’s chilling gaze moments earlier, shivering all over.
It has only been a few years, yet some have already forgotten the iron-blooded methods by which Your Majesty ascended the throne. Since they are so unafraid of death, they must have staked the lives of their entire families on the gambling table.
However…
When has Your Majesty ever lost?