Chapter 329: No need for the original arrangements (2/2)

Unexpectedly, Emperor Tianhui simply wore a friendly smile and said, “How could I confine you two? Duke of Qin, Zhen thought that you two were still at the Sweet Nectar Palace. As it turned out, you’re planning to leave the premises instead.”

How could Emperor Tianhui send Chu Qingge lunch without his own motives in mind? He estimated that Han Yunxi would leave to eat her own lunch and rest. That would be the perfect chance for a private meeting between him and Chu Qingge. Last night, he’d invited Duanmu Baiye and Chu Tianyin for drinks and hinted at marrying Chu Qingge. Neither of his guests made any complaints. Duanmu Baiye was the representative of the Western Zhou imperial family, while Chu Tianyin stood for the Chu Clan. If they didn’t have any objections, then the matter was all but set. He didn’t know that the sedan chair servants would be audacious enough to delay Han Yunxi’s ride, but it was fine even with Han Yunxi and Long Feiye here. Weren’t they planning to leave right away?

“Mm,” Long Feiye replied an affirmative.

“Qin Wangfei, the deadline’s in three days. Don’t forget it,” Emperor Tianhui reminded her helpfully.

“Many thanks to Your Majesty for the reminder,” Han Yunxi said, before shooting Chu Qingge a meaningful look. “Then, we shan’t disturb you two.”

Chu Qingge finally realized something was off with Han Yunxi’s words. What does she mean? Emperor Tianhui knew what Han Yunxi was implying, but he didn’t mind. Chu Qingge would be his, sooner or later. Han Yunxi left in high spirits with Long Feiye, while Zhao mama departed gleefully to teach those sedan chair servants a lesson. Aside from the servants watching over the coffin in Noble Consort Yun’s palace, there was only Emperor Tianhui and Chu Qingge left.

“Does Miss Chu want to leave the palace as well?” Emperor Tianhui asked with a smile. He was already approaching 40. Despite his good health and looks, there were obvious wrinkles around his eyes. His kind and gentle smile reminded Chu Qingge of her father. But she was so busy with the case that she had no desire to leave.

“No, Qingge still has to investigate,” she replied simply, before moving towards the palace hall.

Emperor Tianhui followed her inside before signaling with his eyes for the servants to withdraw. Immediately, Chu Qingge sensed something wrong.

“Your Majesty, this is?” she asked him guardedly.

“Miss Chu, what have you discovered after investigating Consort Yun’s case? Come give Zhen a thorough explanation,” Emperor Tianhui smiled. When he wasn’t being stern, he had quite the scholarly air.

Chu Qingge didn’t lack in caution, but she’d never thought Emperor Tianhui would have other designs towards her. She simply assumed the man had different ideas regarding Consort Yun’s case. Emperor Tianhui sat down before indicating that she should do the same. But as soon as Chu Qingge settled into her seat, he grasped her hand.

Alarmed, Chu Qingge recoiled before leaping to her feet and pushing him aside. “Your Majesty, you!”

She suddenly realized what was going on! Emperor Tianhui, he actually…

No!

Even the thought of it terrified her! Emperor Tianhui was old enough to be her father!

Emperor Tianhui more or less expected her reaction. Since he was interested in her, he had looked into her every detail. This woman had a proud and aloof personality and no end of suitors, but none of them had ever entered her eye.

“The spring equinox draws near. On boughs warbles of blue birds move the heart. Wasted are arias all over in vain, giving way to the twilight that fades,”1 Emperor Tianhui recited to himself.

“Aria. Qingge…” Emperor Tianhui sighed with emotion as he rose and walked towards Chu Qingge. “Qingge, won’t you give the aria of your heart to Zhen?”

It was such a poetic confession, and yet Chu Qingge only felt repulsed by it all. She even reached for her bow before she remembered that weapons were prohibited in the palace. Her bow and arrows weren’t here! She backed away step by step, her entire body shaking. Chu Qingge had no idea how to answer Emperor Tianhui’s question.

She didn’t want this!

She backed into a chair before she sank into its seat, alarmed. “Your Majesty, where’s my big brother? Where’s Crown Prince Ye? I want to see them! I want to get out of the palace, I want to see them!” Chu Qingge was close to tears. She had no way to accept Emperor Tianhui’s sudden declaration of love.

Fortunately, Emperor Tianhui didn’t force the issue. Faced with a white-faced, frightened, and speechless Chu Qingge, he only took two steps forward before he stopped.

“It looks like Miss Chu needs more time to consider the issue. Zhen will give you two more days. After Noble Consort Yun’s case has been put to rest, Zhen will find you again.” Emperor Tianhui might be a lustful man, but he wasn’t the forceful type. After all, he was all too clear on Chu Qingge’s status and position. Still, he was confident that she wouldn’t escape from his clutches.

As soon as he left Noble Consort Yun’s palace, he instructed Eunuch Luo, “Summon Qinwang Rong into the palace. Zhen has matters to discuss.”

Leaving aside his personal desires, Emperor Tianhui was all too aware of the threat of Long Feiye. As soon as he finished discussing Northern Li with the man, he made another appointment with Qinwang Rong. He was still looking into the birth origins of the Duke of Qin. Meanwhile, he’d been exerting pressure on General Mu as well to make sure the infantry division was firmly under his thumb.

It was a long time later that Chu Qingge finally recovered from her initial shock and horror. When she recalled Han Yunxi’s parting words, the rage made her taste blood in her mouth. If she knew this was going to happen, she would have refused to investigate anything with Noble Consort Yun, much less come to Tianning!

What to do now?

She couldn’t help but wonder what Long Feiye and Han Yunxi were doing now. When she thought of them together, tears began to stream down her face.