436 Ambush (2/2)

”I didn't mean to, but…” Lu Tianbi picked up some straw from the ground and plucked at it, hoping to distract her from fidgeting.

”He kept on saying he'd marry me off.”

Yu Zhen's brows crinkled. The Prime Minister had always used that as a threat, at least once a day. He had already lost count of how many times these threats were uttered.

��But this time, he meant it, Your Highness,” Lu Tianbi muttered. ”He brought in the man that I was forced to drink tea and go on an outing with before.”

Lu Tianbi pressed her lips together. She still recalled that man's face, gentle and filled with understanding. Everyone could see she was not in love with him, but with the little orphan boy who used to follow her around. Almost everyone in this palace knew of her close relationship with the advisor.

”I refused, and well, the next thing I knew, Father threw a teacup at me. So I tossed the teapot.”

Yu Zhen did not need to know what else happened. He had personally witnessed the chaos of Lu Family arguments. It was as if they had a superstition in the family, that during disputes, if there was not one porcelain item smashed, then the family was doomed to an eternity of shame.

”And well, I might've…knocked the suitor unconscious because it smacked him right on the head.”

Yu Zhen dully nodded his head in doubt. She could fool anyone but him.

He knew of her excellent aim, for her hobby during training and in the battlefield was tossing small daggers. And it'd land on the target with perfect precision. Who was she kidding? Lu Tianbi had meant to injure that man, hoping he would be scared away.

”But I did not realize. I continued my rampage, yanking the bookshelves to the ground, flipping over tables, as Father screamed he would just marry me off to the farmer's son.”

Lu Tianbi let out a sigh. He always said those kinds of things to her. The Prime Minister would consider the farmer's son as a choice, but not Hu Dengxiao, who had enough prestige to overlook his less than ideal childhood.

”Eventually, the man dropped to the ground, blood trickling down his face. And well, Father had his men drag me here.”

”You knew how to fend them off,” Yu Zhen deadpanned. He had witnessed her single handedly fighting her way out of a circle of enemy soldiers that ganged up on her.

”I do.”

”Yet you let them capture you.”

”I did.”

”Why?”

Lu Tianbi plucked at the straw. ”Because Father threatened to hurt Hu Dengxiao if I did not willingly come here and take my punishment.”

”You did what?!” Hu Dengxiao hollered. And here he was, hoping, praying that she had killed a man. At least, that way, the punishment might've been worthwhile.

”It is far too early in the morning for this,” Yu Zhen shook his head. ”Get up.”

Lu Tianbi did so with heavy reluctance. The door was unlocked for her and all she had to do was step outside. But this would be another act of disobedience towards a father who loved her with all of his heart. His intentions were in the right place, but his mind was not.

”Both of you,” Yu Zhen coldly said. ”Go and speak to the Prime Minister again. Present the ring if you must. Threaten with elopement if it fancies you. Just don't pull this kind of foolish stunt in front of my face again.”

Yu Zhen glanced at Hu Dengxiao and for a split second, his heart faltered. What was he going to tell Yu Lingluo now, his precious little sister whose eyes followed no one but this man?

”Now go.”

Yu Zhen shooed them off, knowing this approach would be the only one that would lead to somewhere. The Prime Minister had always privately discussed their relationship with just one of them, and never with both of them together. This time, their ambush should yield something.