Vol 4 Chapter 107

XH 107

"Liu Chu Chu had gifted the Emperor a small bottle filled with healing water."

In the barely lit study room, Long Zhu's face was unusually solemn, with an equally solemn Eunuch Lau Liu standing at the other side of the table.

"Father Emperor must be overjoyed upon receiving that gift."

The movement of Long Zhu's hands as he sorted out the piled-up documents on his table was a mesmerizing sight. It was gentle, seemingly putting on a show for the viewer, but none of his actions were a waste.

Such a contradiction was hard to achieve.

"The Emperor tested it on his old injury and it healed quickly."

"That's to be expected." After all, Xiao Hua had told him about the miraculous spring pool inside Liu Chu Chu's spatial dimensional ring.

"How is General Tang?"

"The general recovered quickly, but Madam Ping will need more time to recover. Tian Chi is tending to her injuries personally."

Long Zhu nodded. "They are getting bold, but we have to thank them for delivering General Tang to us."

Eunuch Lau Liu smiled slyly. "Indeed."

The reason why Liu Chu Chu would interrogate Ping Shui was that General Tang had lost their spy they had planted in South Guilin Village and even allowed the Third Prince's carriage to escape. Even if Long Shan trusted his long-time friend, he would not able to stop himself from doubting General Tang Jiang.

But Long Shan's fiancée, Liu Chu Chu, was one that does not trust people easily and preferred dangerous people with unknown loyalty to be discarded from her side. That was why she decided to capture the general's wife, who was known to be a member of the Third Prince's camp.

"I’m greatly indebted to Madam Ping for this incident," Long Zhu mused.

Long Zhu chuckled darkly, feeling a little self-disgust. Liu Chu Chu was someone he had thought to be full of talent, beautiful and intelligence in his first life. She was able to get out of trouble every time and even managed to put those that wished her harm into trouble instead.

He found her to be the perfect woman inside and out, but she helped Long Shan to kill him and his family.

In his second life, he saw the truth and the false clearly. He saw how cruel and unforgiving Liu Chu Chu was under her innocent appearance, and how easily Long Shan agreed to his fiancée's scheme.

They were a malicious couple that suited each other.

There might be a time where Long Zhu pitied Long Shan and Concubine He, but they decided to aim their swords at his innocent siblings just for their father Emperor's mistakes.

They thought him the lesson of 'Only the strong one will live'.

"How are the Tang family members?"

"They knew what happened and decided to hide in their house for now. The current head of Tang sent a letter to you my prince, if you manage to find them among the documents."

Long Zhu shot a dark look at his Imperial grandfather's previous eunuch. "Lau Liu, letter and official documents should be separated, as you had said previously."

Eunuch Lau Liu laughed softly. "Did I? This old man is getting old, unable to remember what I've said in the past."

As one that was used to Eunuch Lau Liu's antics, Long Zhu sighed in defeat and quickly sorted out the pile of documents that was rather too much for being absent for just a little more than a week.

This resembles the workload of half a year absence!

Finally spotting a scroll with a golden string around it underneath the pile of documents, he did not waste time to untie it and let it unfold on the table.

'I, Tang Qing Pao, the patriarch of Tang household, will stand behind General Tang Jiang and his choice.'

Eunuch Lau Liu smiled pleasantly at the good news, which he discovered after boldly reading the content of the scroll.

"General Tang Jiang seems to be angry with the Second Prince and his princess consort."

Long Zhu flicked a finger to roll up the scroll and smoothly tied it before passing it to Eunuch Lau Liu's waiting hands. "Treat General Tang and Madam Ping with great care. Assign a few guards to discreetly lookout for Tang household, with the general's permission of course."

Eunuch Lau Liu smiled like a fox. "This old servant understands."

"Did you inform Grand Tutor Ping about his granddaughter's condition?"

"I've sent a missive to the tutor but he had yet to reply. There is news of him hunting for rare herbs and the letter would only reach him when he returns from the trip."

Long Zhu stared at the carved dragon on the surface of the table, wondering if he should send another letter or wait for Grand Tutor Ping to come out himself.

"We will wait," Long Zhu finally decided after a minute. "Grand Tutor Ping has a filial and reliable grandson-in-law after all. Allow Madam Ping to visit her daughter as often as she wishes. The Ping members are allowed to stay in my residence as long as they wish to."

"Yes, my prince. Then this old man will retreat and leave you youngsters to bond."

Long Zhu raised an eyebrow, wondering if Eunuch Lau Liu was finally out of his mind when his senses thrum in joy upon detecting a certain someone approaching his study.

"You may leave," Long Zhu promptly ordered and the smug eunuch bowed before leaving.

Standing before the door to the study room, Xiao Hua wondered if the Third Prince was inside handling important matters.

Yang Ling was waiting for her at the Summer Courtyard and had announced he would not go back to his house until he got his bow back. Without much choice, Xiao Hua dragged her heavy legs to seek out the Third Prince, fully prepared to look as pitiful as she could while throwing all the blame on Yang Ling.

After all, he was the one that asked her to help in the first place. She was just an agent, representing her client, Yang Ling, to negotiate with the Third Prince. Any loss or damages will be bear by Yang Ling!

It was a bit different than how she should do in her original world, but then Xiao Hua has a relationship with the Third Prince, so she should not even be Yang Ling's agent due to conflict of interest.

But of course, no one needs to know the real reason why Xiao Hua agreed to talk to the Third Prince for Yang Ling was rather because she was scared that the distance between him and his bow would make him cheat - cough- the appropriate term would be 'seduced' by the heroine's charm.

Xiao Hua has no confidence in her client's wife- cough- bow to have Yang Ling remained loyal to it.

She nearly jumped out of her skin when without warning; Eunuch Lau Liu opened the door from inside and stepped out, giving Xiao Hua an inviting smile.

"Greetings to Eunuch Lau Liu," Xiao Hua greeted politely and curtsied.

"No need to be polite. Xiao Hua, the prince is waiting for you inside."

"W-Waiting for me?" No way, why would the Third Prince be waiting for her? Unless he found out that Yang Ling asked her to help him?

Eunuch Lau Liu stepped to the side, allowing her to enter. "Please."

"T-Thank you," Xiao Hua thanked him hastily. Gathering her scattered nerves, she stepped into the study, and right after she did, the door quickly shut behind her, earning a startled gasp from her.

"Come here, Xiao Hua."

Xiao Hua spotted the Third Prince on his seat behind his wide desk, his eyes warm and gentle as he waited for her to approach him. Obediently did as he wanted, she was pulled down on his lap when she was close enough, with her back to his front. Biting back her protest, she let her boyfriend hugs her as if she was his teddy bear.

"Not that I'm unhappy to see you, but you usually find me with a worried face when you need me for something," the Third Prince murmured, with half of his face buried at the back of her head.

Xiao Hua tried to turn so that she could look at him, but his arms refused to let her move. "That's not true." Mostly. "You are not only my master but also an important person to me. Would you please allow me to look at you?"

Hearing Xiao Hua's exasperated tone, the Third Prince was confused. "Won't you talk better if you are not looking at me?"

Xiao Hua vaguely remembered she had admitted that to him in the past. "I only prefer doing that when I'm confessing something! I'm actually here to talk about Lord Yang Ling's request."

"Yang Ling?"

After hanging around with the Third Prince for more than seven months, Xiao Hua was able to recognize the signs of his mood from his tone, and currently, she knew that he was not pleased that Yang Ling had talked to her.

Hurriedly saving Da Bei and Duan Xi Ying's ass, she offered another's instead. "Da Bei and Xi Ying had stopped him from talking to me without your permission, but Long Lian allowed Yang Ling to talk to me in exchange for knowing I would be adopted soon."

"I see."

That sounded indifferent and calm, but it spoke volumes to Xiao Hua.

He's not pleased at all!