Chapter 007: Homeward Bound!

“Miss, this…” Cheng Orange crawled over, picked up the umbrella, but hesitated, not daring to hold it over Wu Tan.

“Bring it here!” Wu Tan spoke calmly.

Although it was Xiao Yun who had sentenced her to kneel here, the one who gave her the umbrella was his royal uncle… If that prince dared to openly throw the umbrella here, could she not pick it up herself?

“Alright!” With her mistress’s reassurance, Cheng Orange hurried back and opened the umbrella.

After all, she was the daughter of the Marquis of Dingyuan and had not committed any grave offense; the guards turned a blind eye and did not trouble her.

Mistress and maid huddled under the umbrella. Though they were already soaked, in this chilly damp weather, shielding themselves from the cold wind eased much suffering.

“Miss, who exactly was that Prince Sheng just now?” Cheng Orange couldn’t help but ask, “Even Eunuch Tao treated him differently.”

Kneeling here was tedious, so Wu Tan patiently explained, “Most of the Emperor’s children died young. Among the princes, the Crown Prince is the eldest; the sixth and seventh princes are still young and haven’t been granted titles. The Emperor has a younger brother born of the same mother, who went to the northern frontier when he was a teenager and hasn’t returned to the capital for many years. That should be him.”

“The Emperor’s own brother? So he’s the Crown Prince’s uncle?” Cheng Orange, who had been holding the umbrella nervously, felt relieved, but then grew indignant for her mistress, “Miss, Third Miss has always been at odds with you. Why don’t you explain things to the Crown Prince and the Empress? In such cold weather, kneeling here for two hours will surely make you ill!”

“How would I explain? Should I bite back at Wu Qingqiong in front of the Empress like a squabbling dog? It’s one thing to quarrel at home, but to cause a scene in the palace—how could Father maintain his standing among colleagues?” Wu Tan truly had no time for anger with Wu Qingqiong. She cared about something else entirely, her expression growing more solemn. “Besides, today’s incident feels strange. This repeated targeting… I suspect the Crown Prince means to trouble me.”

He and Huo Yunhua exchanged glances, clearly harboring a secret affair. But why would the two of them join forces against her?

“But…” Cheng Orange couldn’t help but feel heartache.

“Enough! If kneeling is necessary, so be it. Fortunately, the Empress seems sensible. As long as she believes I haven’t committed violence in the palace, that’s enough.” Wu Tan’s mind was awash with questions. She didn’t want to talk further, only wished to finish her punishment quickly and then go home to seek answers.

To be struck by such an invisible blow without understanding the cause—if she didn’t unravel the truth, she might not even know how she died in the end.

After all, her opponent was the Crown Prince—the heir to the throne. Snuffing her out would be all too easy.

At that moment, under the long archway ahead, Lei Ming couldn’t help but glance back.

Xiao Yue had always treated others coldly and had a temper, yet today, for a girl he’d never met, he not only sent someone to investigate matters but even gave her his umbrella?

Lei Ming was deeply puzzled, but he was never one to speak much. At Xiao Yue’s command, he simply did his utmost to shield him from the rain.

“Did you find out?” Xiao Yue walked briskly, asking casually.

“Yes!” Lei Ming quickly composed himself. “The previous reports were accurate. The Emperor has indeed chosen the second daughter of the Marquis of Dingyuan as the Crown Prince’s bride. Today at Princess Linchuan’s coming-of-age ceremony, the Empress, under the pretext of attending, specially summoned her to the palace, likely uneasy and wanting to see her beforehand. On the way to Huayang Palace, Grand Tutor Huo Wenshan’s eldest daughter accidentally fell into the water, and afterwards accused the Wu family girl of assault. There was a commotion. The Empress refused to pursue the matter, but the Crown Prince continued to target her, probably for this reason.”

Xiao Yun was somewhat childish, but not without a sense of the big picture. He intensely disliked having his marriage used as a political tool, but he didn’t protest or refuse.

As for Huo Wenshan—

A learned scholar, a model for all scholars, yet living so calculatedly—Xiao Yue had no patience for him.

“Marrying Wu’s daughter to the Crown Prince is indeed to win over Wu Xun, but it’s also meant to guard against me, isn’t it?” Xiao Yue let out a cold laugh.

Lei Ming opened his mouth to respond, but Xiao Yue had already changed the topic, “Wu Xun is in Yinjing these days?”

“Yes,” Lei Ming replied. “He returned a few days before us. The Emperor claimed it was to have him attend next month’s longevity festival, but really it was to finalize this marriage.”

He lowered his voice further, “The Emperor’s health is deteriorating, and he may not have much time left. At this moment, he must pave the way for the Crown Prince.”

The Emperor’s health truly couldn’t last much longer. If nothing unexpected happened, his end would come next year.

Xiao Yue understood and didn’t dwell on the matter.

After leaving the long archway, a sedan awaited in front. With an injury, he took care, boarding the sedan to exit the palace. Before mounting the carriage, he turned to ask Lei Ming, “Is there still no news from Yanbei on what I had him investigate?”

“Not yet,” Lei Ming replied, still holding the umbrella for him. “But—may I ask, what is it you’re investigating that you had Yanbei go personally?”

“It’s a matter that puzzles me endlessly. I can’t trust anyone else with it!” Xiao Yue said, a profound light flickering in his eyes and fading instantly.

Then he looked up at Lei Ming, “As soon as you get word from him, bring it to me. When we return today, send him word—no matter what he finds, he must return to the Northern Army within half a month. I don’t feel comfortable with only Hong Jian’an guarding there alone.”

With that, he boarded the carriage.

Two hours later, night had fallen completely.

Before the palace gates were locked, a guard came to remind them. Cheng Orange helped Wu Tan to her feet.

After kneeling on the hard stone path all afternoon, Wu Tan had never suffered such hardship in her life. Her knees were numb, and it took a while for the pain to return as she moved.

By now, the rain had lessened to a fine mist, so Wu Tan put away the umbrella. Hugging it to her chest and leaning on Cheng Orange, she limped through the long archway and boarded the waiting palace sedan.

The attendants carried them out of the palace. Cheng Orange thanked them cautiously and slipped them some silver.

Wu Tan and Wu Qingqiong had arrived together in one carriage, but clearly, Wu Qingqiong wouldn’t wait for her. As Wu Tan stepped out of the sedan, troubled by this, she looked up—

And saw someone striding swiftly toward her.

“Successor!” Cheng Orange’s eyes filled with tears, feeling wronged for Wu Tan all afternoon, and she wept on the spot.

Wu Tan’s eyes sparkled instantly, as if stars had burst forth in her gaze.

She clutched the umbrella and ran toward Wu Qinglin, crashing into his arms like a puppy. Her damp hair soaked his chest. Then she looked up and grinned, “Big brother, why are you here?”

Wu Qinglin had evidently been waiting quite a while; his boots and robe were soaked.

Wu Tan smiled innocently, full of childishness.

Seeing her like this, his heart softened, yet he felt a surge of pain.

He reached out and patted his sister’s head, disregarding propriety, bent down, pulled her into his arms, and headed toward the carriage behind them.

“Let’s go home!” The words were firm and warm.

--- Extra Scene ---

[Little Theater]

The heroine: [boasting] Finally, I feel my protagonist aura! Big brother is so warm! So warm! So warm!

Future sister-in-law: Suddenly, I feel like I’m the true winner in life…

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