436 Ambush (1/2)

Yu Zhen could not help but wonder if he had chosen the wrong subordinates. They were both his most trusted people, the wisest and strongest of his squadron, but at this moment, they were the dumbest people he had laid eyes on.

Where should he even begin on the wrongdoings of this situation? Was it the grimy grounds that the Prime Minister's daughter was seated on, or the orphan who was reaching for someone beyond his ranks?

Perhaps, it was how a marriage proposal took place in a place where people were sent to die a gruesome death. Restless spirits crept through these hallways at the dead of the night, where echoes of their haunting lingered into the morning.

”Hah,” he sighed, pinching a spot in between his brows, not believing both of them had failed him at the same time.

”We can run away,” Hu Dengxiao urgently said as he stared down at her with pure earnestness. He continued to blame himself for accepting and carrying out the mission alone. He knew it would've been better if she was dragged along, even if his heart would be dragged through the fire, and his sanity tested.

”Oh my goodness, when you woke up this morning, you must've forgotten to bring your brain out the doors!” Lu Tianbi cried out in disbelief.

”Zhenzhen is someone that I consider my closest friend, and this betrayal will ruin us both. But he will understand. For us, I do not mind kneeling before the palace grounds for weeks just to receive his forgiveness.”

”Well, I'm glad you're already kneeling then.”

Hu Dengxiao could've sworn he saw his entire life dance by. From the days in the slums, dipping moldy bread hard as rocks in dirty water to soften it, to the mornings he trained his life away, to the nights where he saw glimpses of Lu Tianbi's sleeping face in the tent.

The Crown Prince's aggravating voice was that terrifying. He could not for the life of him bring his gaze to the man he had nearly betrayed. The man who placed him in his shiny new position, with an income more than anyone of his rank could've asked.

”Both of you are worse than the town fools,” Yu Zhen snapped.

Hu Dengxiao bowed his head in shame, the ring still in his hand. Despite the reprimand, Hu Dengxiao heard empathy in his tone, an emotion that no one thought the Crown Prince was capable of.

”Get up, you lovesick puppy,” Yu Zhen demanded of his advisor.

”And you,” he angrily turned to Lu Tianbi. ”Who the hell gave you permission to sit here pitifully?”

Lu Tianbi rapidly blinked her eyes. She glanced away, unable to voice the petty crime that got her in the situation in the first place. She didn't mean to flip the furniture, shatter the teacups, and yank bookshelves to the ground, but that was how the Lu Family talked—with violence and insults.

Seeing as Lu Tianbi did not plan to respond, Yu Zhen turned towards the person who would. He nudged Hu Dengxiao with his foot. A disapproving scowl was on his face, his lips thinned.

”Explain,” he commanded the puppy.

Hu Dengxiao nearly pouted. He clenched the ring, wrapping it between his fingers. What was he supposed to even say? That he had threatened the soldiers to let him pass, that he planned to elope with the Prime Minister's daughter, that he planned on ruining two decades of friendship for one week of bliss?

”I'm sorry,” were the only words that came out.

”You're not a child anymore. Get up,” Yu Zhen growled.

Hu Dengxiao slowly rose to his feet, his eyes trained to the ground. If he had a tail, it would droop, like his lips, and if he had floppy ears, it would be tucked in like a neglected little pet.

”I don't even know what to do with you two,” Yu Zhen sighed. When had the situation escalated to this extent? He could've sworn Hu Dengxiao was sent off on an important mission yesterday. Who would've thought he had sidetracked and wandered into a jewelry store?

”Firstly,” Yu Zhen said and waved his hand towards the jail doors. ”Open it.”

The closest soldier to the cell quickly rushed forward, the keys jangling off his belt. He didn't even question the command, even when the Prime Minister said to keep her there until the first sunrise of the next week.

”I threw a tantrum.”

Yu Zhen threw Lu Tianbi a distasteful look. She did what?