Chu Yun schooled his features into a mask of neutrality and nodded towards an empty chair that Hua Nanyi pulled towards Ru Yumei.
"Please sit, your Highness," he said, "we appreciate you telling us this, but I'm not sure I understand why her Highness would have that impression of her mother."
Xiao Zai nodded, but added, "not that we don't believe Her Highness."
It was hard to make sense of her expression through the veil, which hid half of her face, but the tremble of her eyelids and the flutter of her breath seemed genuine.
"This pains me to admit, but my mother's relationship with my father has always been strained."
Chu Yun exchanged a brief glance with Xiao Zai. He could imagine why. Having secret children with an alpha from a neighbouring kingdom, would do that to any relationship.
"Matters related to the harem perhaps?" Chu Yun suggested, smiling in sympathy.
Ru Yumei shook her head. "No, my mother never paid the harem any mind, and truthfully, neither did my father. I have a few siblings born from my father's concubines, but they are either young children or married off. My brother, the Prince Consort, and I, are my mother's only children."
Chu Yun hummed in understanding.
So the Third Princess had no idea about her brother's true parentage. The Queen might, however, if what she was saying was anything to go by. She had to know he wasn't her child at the very least -- and if the King hadn't tried to pass him off as some concubine's child, then she must have agreed to raise him as her own.
Did that mean she was in league with Ru Long? Was her hatred for the King an entirely separate matter?
"So, her Highness believes the Queen Consort might have something to do with the King's prolonged illness," Xiao Zai said, affecting deep thoughtfulness. "This is very troubling, has her Highness shared her suspicions with anyone else in the court? Perhaps one of her siblings?"
Chu Yun was proud of him for such a convincing performance.
That the invitation was made with second intentions to begin with didn't concern her.
"Well, Ru Long doesn't tell me much, but he did mention that I shouldn't worry myself, that everything would be resolved by the summer solstice."
Xiao Zai went very still, and even Hua Nanyi who had been leaning against a wall without showing any interest in the conversation up to that point stood up straighter.
The summer solstice was in two days.
"What exactly would be resolved?" Xiao Zai asked, in his best diplomatic tone.
"Well, he didn't elaborate, but I kept that in mind, and when the invitation came, I just knew it was the perfect opportunity to keep mother out of the palace until then." She lowered her head demurely, gaze fixed on her hands.
"I apologise for not confiding my motives sooner, but his Majesty and his Highness have been a tremendous help and most gracious hosts, I'm sure my brother will be amenable to a marriage alliance, and will intercede with my father in that sense, as soon as he wakes up."
"It has been our pleasure," Xiao Zai said, shooting up from his chair. "Nanyi, please escort her Highness back to her quarters, it's late and I'm sure she'd like to rest."
No sooner were the two of them gone than Xiao Zai turned towards Chu Yun with a troubled expression.
"What the fuck is going to happen on the summer solstice?"
Things were much worse than Chu Yun expected. Not only was the Third Princess on her brother's side, it was very likely that the Queen Consort was as well -- if only to get back at her husband.
"Well, the two of them are here now, that is something, perhaps a bargaining chip" Chu Yun reasoned, "but for that we need to get Ru Long here, and away from whatever he's planning for the summer solstice."
Xiao Zai cursed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Too bad we only have two days to do that."