Chapter 90: Hidden Away

The Zeng family was sentenced to execution by beheading, while the Chen and Yue families were sentenced to exile.

When Yue Zhaorong came to Yilan Hall to find Lan Wu again, her face showed a visible sense of relief.

“Although it’s exile, Anzhou isn’t a harsh or bitterly cold place. His Majesty is reasonable—at least he spared the lives of our entire family.”

She took a sip of tea and smiled at Lan Wu. “I still have to thank you for this.”

Lan Wu shook her head again, telling her not to mention it. “I didn’t really do anything.”

It was already past mid-August. In a few days, that rain would fall, but recently Lan Wu felt that something was off with Chu Mingheng.

He always wanted her to accompany him to the Imperial Study. Once or twice was fine, but after so many times, she herself didn’t dare to go, refusing to take a single step outside, as if he were afraid she would disappear. Sometimes, in the middle of the night, Lan Wu would wake up groggily, only to find Chu Mingheng awake, watching her.

That scene was truly a bit frightening.

Two days ago, she was so startled that she jolted fully awake, immediately sitting up and pushing Chu Mingheng away.

“Your Majesty, why are you watching me in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?”

“Are you trying to scare me on purpose?”

Chu Mingheng, however, didn’t seem to take it to heart. He merely softened the coldness on his face and, upon seeing Lan Wu’s reaction, pulled her into his arms to comfort her.

“I’ve been having trouble sleeping these past few days. Did I frighten A’Wu?” he said, placing a hand on Lan Wu’s head and stroking it gently. “I didn’t mean to. A’Wu, go back to sleep.”

In truth, even without Chu Mingheng saying so, Lan Wu knew he hadn’t been sleeping well lately. She had asked Court Physician Lin for some calming herbs, intending to put them in his sachet, but the sachet wasn’t finished yet.

She was clumsy—even embroidering a single sachet took great effort, and she still hadn’t finished it for Chu Mingheng.

Fortunately, Chu Mingheng didn’t rush her.

Lan Wu’s slight annoyance was completely dispelled by his words. Her soft body nestled closer into his embrace as she wrapped her arms around his waist, nuzzling her cheek against his neck. She looked up and asked him, “Did Your Majesty have another nightmare?”

Chu Mingheng gently pinched her earlobe, treating the plump, delicate flesh as a plaything, even seeming to enjoy it.

He casually said no and instead asked Lan Wu, “Why do you ask? Did A’Wu have another bad dream?”

Lan Wu, of course, shook her head.

But after a moment, she reluctantly lifted her head again, planting soft kisses on Chu Mingheng’s chin while shrinking into his embrace, trying to seek an answer:

“Your Majesty, what if—I mean, just what if… if I were accidentally killed by someone—”

“Would Your Majesty avenge me?”

She looked up with innocent eyes, stubbornly seeking an answer, unaware that such words were enough to drive Chu Mingheng mad.

Yet Chu Mingheng showed no sign of abnormality—at least when facing Lan Wu. He merely froze for a moment until Lan Wu gently pushed him, dissatisfied, urging him to speak.

“Why are you spacing out? I’m asking you, aren’t I?”

Chu Mingheng’s voice was gentle. He hummed in acknowledgment, then turned to lay Lan Wu down on the bed. By the moonlight filtering through the bright window, one could faintly see the slightly ruthless expression on his face.

“A’Wu, who would kill you?”

He asked Lan Wu.

Lan Wu shook her head, somewhat hesitant. “I said what if… it’s not real.”

But Chu Mingheng clearly couldn’t let her brush it off.

His hand gently encircled Lan Wu’s waist, his forehead resting against hers as he spoke softly to her, “If A’Wu is afraid, I will hide A’Wu away. No one but me will ever find A’Wu, alright?”

He asked if it was alright, but his words clearly weren’t meant to seek Lan Wu’s opinion.

Lan Wu trembled, suddenly recalling that small chamber from before—a place one could enter but never leave. If Chu Mingheng locked her inside, no matter how much she screamed, no one would hear her. She wouldn’t be able to escape, forced to wait on that bed for Chu Mingheng to come.

The thought alone made her heart tremble with fear.

She quickly shook her head, and for some reason, as soon as she opened her mouth, she sobbed out a refusal.

Her tears made Chu Mingheng soften considerably.

His voice was gentle, yet to Lan Wu, it still carried a hint of menace.

“A’Wu, you must tell me who exactly wants to harm you.”

“If A’Wu is afraid, I will personally stay with you. I will watch over you at all times, alright?”

His meaning still revolved around that so-called hiding place.

Lan Wu sniffled twice, still insisting she didn’t want to.

“I… I don’t want to go…”

Chu Mingheng fell silent for a moment. Just as Lan Wu was about to break, she heard him sigh softly and say, “Alright.”

“Then we won’t go.”

“If we’re not going, why are you still crying so sadly?” He wiped away her tears and, as usual, coaxed her to sleep.

“Lady?” Yue Zhaorong’s voice interrupted her thoughts.

Lan Wu turned to look at her, rubbing her temples wearily.

“Is something troubling you, Lady?” Yue Zhaorong asked, noticing her furrowed brow and clear signs of unease or worry.

“It’s nothing…” Lan Wu had just finished speaking when she saw Lian Qiao hurrying over.

Lian Qiao bowed to them before anxiously saying, “Lady, just now, Mu Xiurong’s palace maid came to report that Lady Xiurong accidentally bumped into Lady Lifei on the way to the Imperial Garden. Lady Lifei is now punishing the maid with slaps.”

Lan Wu glanced at Yue Zhaorong, thinking that she was probably here seeking advice. However, since Yue Zhaorong was present, it was more likely she had come to ask Yue Zhaorong to intervene.

But with Lady Lifei currently riding high on favor, Yue Zhaorong would likely gain little by getting involved.

Lan Wu had no desire to involve herself in this commotion.

Seeing Yue Zhaorong’s anxious expression, Lan Wu smiled and urged her to go ahead.

“I will come another day to speak with you, Lady. Please forgive my rudeness.”

Listening to these words, Lan Wu felt somewhat awkward.

Yue Zhaorong held a higher rank than her, yet she addressed Lan Wu as “Lady” repeatedly, showing her excessive respect—so much so that others might gossip if they overheard.

Although she had no intention of joining the fray, Lan Wu still sent Lian Qiao to observe the situation, just in case things escalated into a fight.

It wasn’t until over half an hour later that Lian Qiao hurried back.

Lian Qiao didn’t even have time to take a sip of water, her face brimming with excitement she struggled to contain. Eager to share the spectacle she had witnessed, she said with a smile:

“Lady, you wouldn’t believe it. Lady Lifei ordered that Mu Xiurong had overstepped her bounds and commanded the maid to slap her, but Mu Xiurong refused to submit and struck back instead.”

Lan Wu widened her eyes in shock, urging her to continue.

“Mu Xiurong knocked the maid to the ground, and Lady Lifei pointed straight at her, exclaiming how bold she was.”

“When Yue Zhaorong arrived, Consort Li had already ordered her people to restrain Mu Xiurong, saying she would take her to Jinghua Palace to teach her palace rules.”

Lan Wu raised an eyebrow, thinking to herself that Consort Li’s intentions were all too obvious. If Mu Xiurong were taken away by her, who knew what injuries she might return with?

With Mu Xiurong’s temperament—having embarrassed Consort Li in public—once she fell into Consort Li’s hands, she was in for a rough time.