It wasn’t that Zhu Man had never suspected He Tianyun; after all, his previous two failed escape attempts were both because of him. He simply hadn’t figured out what He Tianyun’s motive for doing so could be. More importantly… He Tianyun truly showed no flaws.
“He Tianyun.” Zhu Man stared at the person in front of him. “Be honest—are you pretending to be a fool?”
He Tianyun blinked, looking at him with a face full of confusion.
Zhu Man’s brows furrowed. “Are you—”
Just as he was about to continue his questioning, the man who had been speaking to He Tianyun earlier leaned in, smiling as he called out, “Sister-in-law.”
Zhu Man looked over. The man had sharp, sword-like brows and eyes like bright stars, possessing a dignified and heroic aura. He didn’t recognize him.
Seeing that Zhu Man hadn’t spoken, the man took the initiative to introduce himself: “My name is Gu Songjin.”
Zhu Man did know that name. There were several great aristocratic families in the capital, and one of them was the household of Duke Rong, the Gu family.
The Gu family had followed the He family to conquer the world since the time of the Great Ancestor. Later, relying on the family’s power, they were able to call the shots in the imperial court, only seeing a slight decline during the reign of the late Emperor. Many people privately speculated that the Imperial Family was displeased with the Gu family’s growing strength and wanted to eradicate this great tree. It wasn’t until the current heir of Duke Rong went to the border to suppress a rebellion, achieved military distinction, and married the Emperor’s daughter that the Gu family regained its former glory, enjoying a period of unparalleled prestige.
And the person he married was Princess Huining, He Xiuxin, born to the Noble Consort. Calculation-wise, he was indeed his brother-in-law.
Zhu Man nodded slightly. “General Gu.”
Gu Songjin smiled and said, “Just now, the Prince was telling me that he wanted to vent some frustration on behalf of the Princess.”
Zhu Man turned his gaze toward He Tianyun, his eyes full of scrutiny, and did not speak. Although he hadn’t spent a long time with He Tianyun, he understood his speaking habits to some extent. He Tianyun’s daily communication mostly consisted of two or three words strung into a sentence. Occasionally, if there were more, it would be five or six words. Any longer than that and it became difficult for him to speak continuously, and his pace would become quite slow.
Speaking at a normal speed and tone, like he had just done, was something He Tianyun had never done before.
However, he didn’t explain this to Gu Songjin. He only said, “Is that so? Then I must properly thank the Prince.”
His tone was very flat, but He Tianyun’s sense of crisis was instantly maxed out. He reached out and pulled on Zhu Man’s sleeve, calling out pitifully, “Princess.”
Gu Songjin also realized that Zhu Man was truly displeased, so he quickly explained, “It’s not what Sister-in-law thinks.”
Zhu Man looked at him. “I haven’t even thought anything yet.”
Gu Songjin was momentarily choked for words.
Zhu Man looked back at He Tianyun and asked, “Are you finished chatting with your good friend?”
He Tianyun immediately leaned closer to him. He didn’t answer, still calling out piteously, “Princess.”
Zhu Man gave an “Mm” and said, “Since you’re finished, let’s go back.”
As he spoke, he looked at Gu Songjin. Gu Songjin nodded repeatedly. “Finished, finished. Where are you heading back to?”
Zhu Man didn’t answer. Instead, he pulled He Tianyun and walked away. He didn’t know where he was going either; he just pulled him along, wandering aimlessly through the back garden while his mind dwelled on the words he had just heard.
His silence made He Tianyun feel increasingly endangered. He followed behind, incessantly calling out to him, trying to gain Zhu Man’s attention by acting pitiful.
At first, Zhu Man didn’t want to pay him any mind, but eventually, he grew annoyed by the constant calling and looked back at him. “Speak.”
He Tianyun immediately came over and hugged him, rubbing against his shoulder like a child, saying aggrievedly, “Princess, don’t be angry.”
Zhu Man actually wasn’t that angry. After all, He Tianyun had just been trying to stand up for him. If not for this specific circumstance, he might have even been a bit moved. But hearing He Tianyun use this child-like, slow drawl to act spoiled now, he felt that he should be a little angry.
Just as he was hesitating on what to do, He Tianyun suddenly let go. He looked at him with a furrowed brow and a face full of grievance, his eyes even turning red.
Zhu Man: ?
“Princess is bad! I won’t talk to you anymore!” He Tianyun suddenly blurted out this sentence and turned to leave.
Zhu Man was startled into a laugh by the sheer gall. “Fine, you said it. If you ever say another word to me, you’re a dog!”
However, He Tianyun actually left without even looking back. It wasn’t until his figure had completely vanished from sight that Zhu Man frowned and began to hesitate.
So, was He Tianyun truly unable to understand, or was he faking it? After all, the idea that He Tianyun was playing dumb was only a suspicion. What if it were true?
Just as he was debating whether to chase after him, He Tianyun, who had just said he wouldn’t talk to him, suddenly returned. He was cradling a potted plant he had found from somewhere.
Zhu Man looked at him in confusion and didn’t speak.
He Tianyun ran over, shoved the pot directly into his hands, and said, “Pretty!”
Zhu Man looked at the flower in his hands, then at He Tianyun, and smiled. “Thought you weren’t going to talk to me?”
He Tianyun showed a look of bewilderment.
Zhu Man said, “You weren’t this forgetful before, He-Little-Dog.”
“Little dog.” He Tianyun laughed and pulled on Zhu Man’s hand, acting spoiled. “Princess, I want a little dog!”
Zhu Man: “…”
He stared at He Tianyun for a while longer, trying to detect something from his subtle expressions. But there was nothing. He Tianyun still had that same silly, dazed look, as if the voice he had heard earlier was merely an illusion.
After a moment, Zhu Man sighed softly and said, “He Tianyun, I’m not angry with you.” As he spoke, he reached out and pinched He Tianyun’s cheek. “But if you deceive me for too long, I really will be angry.”
While he spoke, his gaze remained fixed on He Tianyun. Yet He Tianyun’s expression—and even his eyes—did not change at all. He only showed a flash of confusion upon hearing that Zhu Man might be angry, before hugging him and saying, “Princess, don’t be angry.”
“Fine, I’m not angry.” Zhu Man smiled and patted his back. “Shall we go find Imperial Mother first?”
He Tianyun immediately became happy. He grabbed Zhu Man’s hand and led him toward the front courtyard, taking Zhu Man around in one circle, two circles, countless circles.
Zhu Man followed behind. He didn’t offer a reminder nor did he lead the way. Every time He Tianyun took a wrong turn, the suspicion in his heart lightened a little more. It wasn’t until He Tianyun got tired of running and plopped down on the ground to throw a tantrum that Zhu Man finally set those suspicions aside for the time being. He walked over and squatted in front of him, coaxing him softly, “How about I carry you back?”
He Tianyun kicked his legs a couple of times and said reluctantly, “Don’t want! Owies!”
“Where does it hurt?”
He Tianyun pointed to his own foot.
Feeling helpless, Zhu Man could only say, “Then I’ll carry you on my back.”
He Tianyun’s eyes lit up. He immediately scrambled up from the ground and pressed his entire weight onto Zhu Man’s back. He was taller than Zhu Man; rather than being carried, it was more like Zhu Man was lugging him along, dragging his feet across the ground and leaving two long tracks. By the time they reached Noble Consort Yu’s courtyard, Zhu Man was panting for breath.
But He Tianyun was well-rested. He let go of his hold and pulled Zhu Man into the room.
Noble Consort Yu was currently speaking with He Xiuxin. Seeing Zhu Man’s face flushed red and his hair ornaments in disarray, she was a bit surprised. “What happened here?”
Zhu Man pointed at He Tianyun and said, “The Prince refused to walk and insisted I carry him back.”
Noble Consort Yu gave He Tianyun a somewhat helpless look. “How can you bully your Princess like that?” She then turned to the maid beside her. “Take the Princess to bathe and change.”
Zhu Man originally wanted to refuse, but thinking of the sweat he had just worked up, he followed along.
Sitting in the bath barrel, he was still thinking about what had happened, pondering Noble Consort Yu and the siblings, He Xiuxin and He Tianyun. If He Tianyun were truly faking it, as his closest relatives, it would be impossible for them not to know, right? Would that mean everything they did in front of him was an act? Could so many people act so well together?
Zhu Man’s head was full of doubts until he finished washing up. After the maids helped him comb his hair and he returned to the room, he happened to see He Tianyun sitting beside Noble Consort Yu eating pastries. Crumbs were falling in a mess from his hands, and the honey filling inside was dripping onto her skirt.
Noble Consort Yu didn’t get angry. She just softly told him to eat slowly so he wouldn’t choke, a sight that made the corners of Zhu Man’s mouth twitch. Having this level of tolerance, she likely had truly accepted the fact that her son was a fool. If it were a normal person, they’d surely get a scolding.
Shaking the thoughts from his head, Zhu Man walked over.
Noble Consort Yu immediately had someone bring a portion of pastries for him as well, saying, “These were newly developed by the imperial chefs in the palace. Try them. If you like them, I’ll have them sent over next time.”
Zhu Man thanked her and began to eat. Aside from the servants, only the three of them were in the room; He Xiuxin was nowhere to be seen. He Tianyun wasn’t one to start a conversation, and Zhu Man wasn’t good at dealing with elders, so the entire time consisted of the Consort asking him domestic questions while he answered obediently. The atmosphere was somewhat awkward.
Noble Consort Yu also saw his discomfort and said after a while, “It’s boring staying here with me. Go and play.”
Hearing this, Zhu Man looked at He Tianyun, but He Tianyun had no intention of leaving. He remained leaning against Noble Consort Yu, eating.
Zhu Man had no choice but to go out alone. As he turned the corner out the door, he intentionally stopped to tidy his clothes.
Noble Consort Yu’s voice came from inside: “I heard from Songjin that you made the Princess angry?”
He Tianyun’s voice sounded after a few moments: “Princess not angry. There are bad people. Princess… Princess gets angry, I hit them. Then Princess… won’t be angry anymore.”
Noble Consort Yu chuckled softly. “Our Yun-er has grown up; he knows to protect his Princess now.”
He Tianyun laughed happily upon hearing this, repeating, “Protect. Princess. Sweet. Want more.”
“Eat less, or you’ll ruin your teeth,” Noble Consort Yu said helplessly, yet she still ordered someone to bring another portion of pastries.
A very normal conversation.
Zhu Man lowered his hands from his sleeves and walked away.
Although Noble Consort Yu told him to go play, he didn’t know where to go. He didn’t know a single person at this banquet, and he had no interest in making new friends. He could only wander aimlessly until he reached a small pond, where he simply sat on a rock by the water to zone out.
He sat there until someone called out to him.
Zhu Man looked over and discovered that there were people he knew here—for instance, Zhu Tianxi and Zhu Tianhui, who were walking toward him.
“Oh, it’s you two.” Lacking interest, Zhu Man withdrew his gaze and looked back at the surface of the pond.
Seeing him sitting alone by the pond, Zhu Tianhui couldn’t help but sneer, “What? Is the Prince of Zhao’s manor so stingy they can’t even give you a maid?”
For a moment, Zhu Man didn’t know what to say. He was out to have fun today and didn’t want people following him, so he hadn’t brought Jingxin and Chun Cao out. But there was no need to explain this to Zhu Tianhui. He countered, “What? Did the in-laws find out Zhu Tianxi is an idiot and break off the engagement? Is Pan Hong unable to find anyone to take you two, so she sent you here to try your luck?”
Zhu Tianxi’s face instantly darkened. He looked left and right to make sure no one was around before stepping closer. “Zhu Man, don’t think you can act smug just because you’re a Princess. The Prince of Zhao is nothing but a fool.”
Zhu Man rolled his eyes at him. “Zhu Tianxi, have you not been beaten in a while and your skin is feeling itchy?”
Zhu Tianxi choked and subconsciously took half a step back.
Seeing her brother lose face, Zhu Tianhui immediately stepped up to help. “Zhu Man, you’re only arrogant now. Just wait until the new Emperor ascends the throne; let’s see how smug you are then!”
Zhu Man looked at her speechlessly. “Do you realize that if someone heard those words right now, your head would be gone?” He then looked at Zhu Tianxi. “Your sister seems even more foolish than the Prince of Zhao. Instead of worrying about me, you should worry about yourself. After all, if something happens, I still have Her Highness the Noble Consort to speak for me. You can only go home and cry to your mother.”
Zhu Tianxi also knew that Zhu Tianhui’s words were treasonous and glared at her.
Zhu Tianhui remained defiant. “I’m not wrong!”