Chapter 200 - Imperial Examinations And Royal Threats 2

Yu'an temple

"how long has she been missing?"

The abbot's face fell immediately, he initially did not know how to inform Zhu Fengyin of what happened but since the Princess already guessed their situation there was no need to hide it anymore. "She has been missing since the fire started, together with one of the guards!"

There was a few seconds of heavy silence as Zhu Fengyin tried to wrap her head around this bumbling mess they had gotten into. There was no possibility she had thought that they ended up in a good situation. She had a missing prisoner and guards, a human-sized recipe to deserter if she was being honest and she was. 

After spending a few months together Su Liya could read. Zhu Fengyin properly by now and understood what disastrous conversations were running through her mind. She needs to draw the attention away from the problem and towards a solution. Starting by clearing her strange suspicion.

Su Liya glanced at the Abbot and held his gaze looking to find out if he was a part of the escape plan. "Abbot, I saw the Crown Prince's carriage outside when we arrived. When did he arrive?"

"The Crown Prince was here?" Zhu Fengyin asked glaring at Su Liya.

"Yes, his carriage left just as we arrived" Su Liya replied.

"That is odd. The royal family don't normally frequent other temples except the Imperial temple. What brought him here and today of all days" she gazed expectantly at the abbot.

"I was about to get to that my lady, the crown Prince arrived a few minutes before the fire started. He didn't come with much crowd, it was only him and his two private guards, I just finished a session with Madam Yang when he arrived. A young monk informed me of his request to have a word with me. He sounded pretty short-timed so I went over as soon as I was done with the session which was a few minutes before the fire started."

Zhu Fengyin and Su Liya exchanged a look, Su Liya thought that the timing of the fire was too suspicious to be a coincidence but before airing, her thought out she thought to get a few things straight.

"What did his highness discuss with you. Did he have any questions about madam Lu and the Lu family?" 

"Yes he did, his highness asked about madam Lu and the temple. The fire started while he was asking his question but each question seemed like trick questions used to mask his real target. However, It was obvious that he was curious about the temple and her grace's involvement in the temple".

Su Liya glanced at Zhu Fengyin, they were both in agreement that the Crown Prince's visit was strange. "investigate how the fire started but before doing that, wrap everything up here. His highness will be back again but before that, I think it is time you went on an extended vacation. Chonglin will make the arrangement".

"Yes".

Zhu Fengyin and Su Liya left minutes later, there was no need to start long or it would raise suspension.

*************

The Emperor's palace hours later.

Emperor Zhong picked up the bowl of fish feed from the reserved sport in a small wooden compartment opposite the fish rank. He picked up the small spoon and scooped up a small portion of fish feed. He stretched out his hands and moving in sequence, threw the pieces of fish food into the ceramic fish tank set up at the centre of the small garden that separated his palace from the Empress's palace.

He watched as the beautiful koi fish swam to the fish feed. Fishing these fishes was calming and after the bomb Lu Yaozhu had thrown at him today, he needed to unwind. He watched the little fishes swim around, silently contemplating in his heart why Lu Yaozhu couldn't just stay put in the capital. He had just discovered that his son was still alive and wanted to get reunited with his son but that was proving difficult.

He needed to spend time with Lu Yaozhu and get back the years lost, he had given Lu Yaozhu a title to give him a better standing and also spend more time with Him. However, Lu Yaozhu was acting too stubborn. 

" Your majesty", Cuihong said distracting the Emperor from his Flow of thought. After a few hours of investigation, Cuihong had discovered the Lu families plans and was here to report them to the Emperor. He stood, while silently bowing to the ground.

Emperor Zhong glanced beside him, "you are back". Emperor Zhong returned the wooden spoon into the jar of fish feed and shut the lid. He glanced at the younger bunch standing at his other side and passed the fish feed to him. The Eunuch bowed and stepped back to return the fish feed to its usual spots. 

Cushing stepped closer as the younger eunuch stepped back and whispered to the Emperor, "I asked around and the Lu family hasn't made any major political moves. However_" he paused as he observed that the younger eunuch was attempting to blatantly listen to their conversation. 

Emperor Zhong noticed the pause in his words and followed his gaze to the eunuch. The eunuch shivered as he glanced up and met Emperor Zhong's narrowed gaze. It was like he had received a Zap, he blinked and looked away immediately. Emperor Zhong stared him down silently, the young eunuch began shaking at the heat from the Emperor's gaze. 

He felt like his death was imminent and suddenly felt like digging a hole to hide inside and get out of the Emperor's sight. Emperor Zhong was irritated by the eunuch's weak character, he rolled his eyes and said, "Everyone leave!?"

"Yes" the servants all chorus as they retreated. Emperor Zhong waited for the last servant to leave before he side-eyed Cuihong and asked 

"That nosy eunuch, find out who is behind him before the end of the day!"

"Yea, your majesty" Cuihong replied. All the emperor's servants were changed following the failed invasion attempt by the sixth prince. They had lost a few loyal servants during the attack and as such the loyalty of these servants were untested. It was pretty obvious that most of them were fixed in her to get information by staying close to him but their various masters were yet to be discovered. 

Emperor Zhong walked to the seat next to the flower bed at the side of the garden and sat. The seat put him directly opposite the entrance and kept his waiting entourage of servants and guards in sight. Cuihong stood a few steps away by his side.

"Did you find any angle that could work with Yaozhu?", Emperor Zhong asked locked his eyes on the young eunuch.

Chief Eunuch Cuihong followed the Emperor's gaze to the eunuch as he replied, "I discovered that the youngest son of the family is about to get married. Prince Wu and the Dowager Duchess met with the brides family today. Word on the street is the wedding will take place after the Imperial Examination since the groom is taking part in the examination".

"The third young master is still taking the Imperial examination?"

"Yes, your Majesty".

"He is the one that cane after Yaozhu right?" Emperor Zhong tapped his hands on the backrest of the bench after receiving his chief eunuch's nod. "Isn't he in his early twenties by now, I know that he is only a few years younger than Yaozhu. How come he is still taking the imperial Examination?"

Cuihong was silent for some seconds as he tried to think of the most appropriate answer to give Emperor Zhong. He more than most was aware of the ministration orchestrated by Emperor Zhong to keep the talented third young master Lu from placing in every Imperial examination he had taken so far.

Although he didn't understand the Emperor's newfound affection for Prince Wu, he was smart enough to know that the Emperor wouldn't respond well to the truth if said bluntly so she decided to play it down a little.

"Your majesty must no be aware but although third master Lu has such a promising future based on the praises he had been given by his teachers. Sadly third master Lu has been unlucky during the Imperial exams and is yet to place anywhere" he replied making sure to put on his most mellow expression. 

Emperor Zhong frowned as he remembered the third master's issue. He glanced at the older male and as usual, was greeted by a calm expression.

"If you want to scold me just scold me! No need to go through all that bend", Emperor Zhong spat our glaring at the eunuch's wrinkled face.

"I don't dare do that, your majesty!" Cuihong replied softly.

"It is not that you don't dare do that but you do not dare do that to my face! You already do that in your heart what is in bringing it out in the open?" 

Cuihong bowed lower, "your majesty is divine, this little one doesn't dare!"

Hmph, Emperor Zhong glared at Cuihong and sighed. "Call Prince Wu into the palace first thing tomorrow morning!"