Chapter 424 - Inner Demon (1/2)
A burst of hot summer wind blew towards them when they came out of the imperial study. There was still a moist feeling on her back, which had been drenched in cold sweat. As she stepped on the white marble platform, she looked back at the yellow glazed tiles on the roof of the palace hall and the golden dragon and multicolored paintings on the double-eaved roof.
Looking at the magnificent palace, Yu Xiaocao had personally experienced the horror of imperial authority! Perhaps, there was actually a moment earlier when the emperor really thought about taking the multicolored stone. However, he just suppressed it with his rationality. As for herself, she had just barely dodged death!
Stepping on the flat surface of the marble flooring, she walked forward silently. She didn’t have any energy to talk as if she had just exhausted all her courage in the imperial study earlier.
Zhu Junyang quietly accompanied her. Seeing that the little lass didn’t have any intention of speaking, he didn’t disrupt her confused feelings in hope that his silent company could help her calm down. He didn’t know what just happened in the imperial study, but he was certain that the little lass had been greatly frightened. Didn’t the emperor think highly of the little lass? Could it be that he intimidated her in order to make her obedient? Or…did the emperor find out about the lass’s secret and wanted to inquire about it?
He turned around and saw the young girl’s silky black hair, which was styled into a small flower bud on the top of her head and adorned with green hairpins. The top of the little lass’s head hadn’t even reached his shoulders, yet she seemed to be carrying a big secret on her thin shoulders. He wanted to tell her that he was the only person that she could trust, so she could rest assured and tell him about her worries. He would help her carry the burden. However, he was afraid of scaring her. He should forget about it for today and try again in the future.
Seeing that the lass had stopped next to the terrace in Qianqing Palace and her gaze was fixed on a metallic gold pavilion on the stone step, Zhu Junyang said, “This metallic gold pavilion is called ‘Magnificent Palace of the Country’, which symbolizes that the country is in the hands of the emperor.”
Yes, the country was in the hands of the emperor. She, on the other hand, was just a little ant that he could easily kill at any time. He had let her go today, but it wasn’t because she was someone very important. Instead, it was because she was still useful to him.
How astonishing would it be for a woman to become an official? How many officials would have objected? Yet the emperor still bestowed her the position of a sixth-ranked official. What did this mean? In addition to her cheat for farming, he had also displayed the supremacy of imperial authority. As imperial officials, they had the right to voice their opposition, but they couldn’t control the emperor’s decision.
Yu Xiaocao touched the multicolored stone on her wrist. Today’s conversation in the imperial study seemed like a casual chat but it was actually full of danger. Had it not been for the fact that the little divine stone had already recognized a master who couldn’t be easily replaced, perhaps…
“This prince doesn’t know what you and the emperor talked about before I arrived that made you so scared. You also know about this prince’s ability. When I stepped into the imperial study, I didn’t feel any killing intention from the emperor. Thus, he had no intention of harming you in any way! As long as the emperor isn’t planning on harming you, with this prince here, no one would dare to touch you!” Seeing that Xiaocao was staring at the ‘Magnificent Palace of the Country’ in a daze and didn’t appear as lively as usual, Zhu Junyang couldn’t help but comfort her. He hoped that she could break away from her perplexed feelings.
Yu Xiaocao still appeared somewhat listless, but she gave him face and replied, “Is it really okay for you to privately speculate the emperor’s intentions? This is the Imperial Palace… There are ears and eyes everywhere, so it’s better to be cautious with your words and actions!”
The little lass, who usually acted in a reckless and bold manner, had now become timid and overcautious. Seeing this, the darkness within the deepest part of Zhu Junyang’s heart started to become restless and a burst of violence escaped from within. At this time, he wanted to overturn everything in front of him, including the large and thick palace walls.
Su Ran, who was personally escorting Royal Prince Yang and Yu Xiaocao out of the palace, alertly sensed the change in Zhu Junyang. He had long known that the royal prince would sometimes lose control of himself due to a childhood trauma. There was once an episode that was so serious that even the emperor had been alarmed, and thus sent him to assist Head Steward Liu to suppress the royal prince, who had gone completely out of control.
At that time, he, Head Steward Liu and several martial arts experts, who served the royal prince, had exerted a lot of efforts to prevent Royal Prince Yang from hurting others. In the past two to three years, the royal prince seemed to have overcome his childhood trauma and had never gone out of control again. Why was the royal prince suddenly on the verge of going on a rampage? What caused his inner demon to come out and lead him to lose control?
Su Ran realized that this was a bad situation. They had just walked not too far from the imperial study. If Royal Prince Yang lost control in the palace and hurt the emperor, not only would it affect the royal prince, but the entire Imperial Prince Jing’s Household would also be doomed…
In a flash, Su Ran had quickly turned around and shortened the distance between himself and Royal Prince Yang. He was now two steps away from him, and he was secretly on guard.
Su Ran’s vigilance might have triggered Zhu Junyang. His charming phoenix eyes gradually turned crimson red and the veins around his eyes became apparent. His slender hands were like the strong talons of an eagle…