That night, Yun Zhao happened to be resting in the Ascending Tower inside the palace when he saw Yun Shuyu’s carriage leave the palace and then enter again, but at first he did not pay it any mind.
His imperial sister loved sweets the most, so maybe she had asked Mingzhe to go find that old-established walnut pastry shop in the city.
Now that Du Heng had come looking for him, he recalled that Du Heng had been in the palace so early that morning… could that carriage have been sent for him?
At that moment, Du Heng, who had been scolded for no reason, had a dark expression.
Du, you scoundrel?
This little emperor was really losing his temper… Did he have to curse me like that?
Fortunately, Du Heng was not a cultivator filled with deep hostility. If it had been someone else who had long been seeking dominance and fighting fiercely outside, Yun Zhao’s move would surely have been repelled by his protective spiritual power.
Du Heng always remembered that this was the Great Luo Dynasty, so he did not suddenly unleash a Ruo Xian Pavilion-style reception on little Emperor Yun Zhao for refusing to let people finish speaking.
“No… I didn’t do anything.”
“You’re still dodging the question. You must be full of sweet talk, taking advantage of how good-looking you are to do something to imperial sister… to imperial sister…”
Yun Zhao suddenly choked up and could no longer speak. His expression changed, and even his steps became unsteady.
At the same time, Du Heng was still explaining to him in exasperation and did not notice Yun Zhao’s abnormal reaction.
“…Your Majesty, please do not speak recklessly. This is outside the palace. If walls have ears, then Her Highness the Eldest Princess’s reputation would truly be ruined.”
He grabbed Yun Zhao’s wrist and pulled him away.
By then, he could not be bothered that this was the reigning emperor; clearly, this person was already too agitated to listen to reason.
Du Heng pressed him back into his chair and began explaining.
“I have not done anything out of line to Her Highness the Eldest Princess. As for the Eldest Princess’s reputation, I was referring to the rumors that have been spreading wildly in Luodu these past few days.”
Yes, he had not done anything to Yun Shuyu…
It was Yun Shuyu who had done something to him.
Yun Zhao nodded, finally suppressing his restless and indignant thoughts.
“I understand… Tell me exactly what is going on.”
Seeing that he had calmed down, Du Heng sat across from the desk and began telling him about the matter he needed help with.
Yun Zhao seemed to have become a different person. He did not immediately start berating Du Heng again. Du Heng selectively explained what had happened that day, leaving out what he could not say.
“The rumors about me on the streets of Luodu also involve Her Highness the Eldest Princess. I am worried that malicious people not only want to slander me, but also want to drag Your Highness into this.”
“So I hope His Majesty can cooperate with me on one thing.”
Half an hour later, Yun Zhao’s expression returned to normal, and there was even a hint of delight in it, as though he had been given some kind of reassurance.
Du Heng had successfully convinced reigning Emperor Yun Zhao to help him with the matter, and then he left Sage Su’s pavilion.
He walked along with an easy air. Today’s plan had been completed very smoothly, and when he returned, he could still slack off for a while longer.
He was in a good mood, but at the corner of the stairs, a fair jade hand suddenly caught the hem of his robe and tugged him backward, while his left hand was also gripped tightly.
Du Heng was startled, but sensing no killing intent from the other side, he turned his head and cried out in surprise.
“Your Highness?”
Seeing him react so strongly, yet not with a pleased expression, Yun Shuyu bit her lower lip in mild displeasure and said slowly, “Young Lord seems rather unhappy to see this princess?”
Du Heng smiled warmly.
“How could that be?”
Du Heng had already suspected earlier that Yun Shuyu might be at the academy.
Before he played the unfinished game with Sage Su, he had already guessed that the game might have been laid out by Yun Shuyu.
Du Heng did not know many people in Luodu. Who else could be so mischievous as to leave him an unfinished Go game?
Obviously, it had to be that bad woman!
“Your Highness, shouldn’t you let go of me? It would not be very good if someone saw us here.”
“And besides, men and women should keep their distance. It really goes against etiquette…”
Yun Shuyu did not like hearing him say such things. It sounded as if she had no appeal to him at all.
“So what if someone sees us? You and I have a marriage pact. If you are worried that it would not be proper, then this princess can go ask my younger brother to issue an edict for us right now.”
“Don’t…” Du Heng hurriedly tried to stop her.
What a joke. If they got married now, what would happen to his future carefree slack-off days?
The two stood at the corner of the stairs. Du Heng was on the lower step, while Yun Shuyu leaned forward from above to hold him. Suddenly, Du Heng saw a flash of panic on Yun Shuyu’s face, as if she were about to fall down the stairs.
Instinctively, he sidestepped and wrapped an arm around her rounded shoulder, while his other free hand tightly held her slender waist.
“Your Highness, are you all right?”
Just now, Yun Shuyu had leaned forward and stumbled a step, so Du Heng could only see her back.
He thought she had been frightened, forgetting for a moment that Yun Shuyu was not some frail mortal woman.
Yun Shuyu mischievously tightened her grip on Du Heng’s hand, turned around, leaned against his shoulder, and gave a sly smile.
“Hm? Is this what Young Lord means by men and women should keep their distance?”
Hearing that, Du Heng’s face grew hot. He turned his head away, not wanting to look at her, and only then realized he had once again fallen for this bad woman’s scheme.
“I… this was an emergency. I had no choice.”
Seeing how naive he looked and how easy he was to tease, Yun Shuyu once again pressed her body weight against him as she had that morning, whispering softly in his ear.
“It’s fine… Lord Consort is this princess’s Lord Consort. Whatever you want… is fine.”
“No need to mind keeping a proper distance between men and women?… Right?”
Du Heng’s ears turned red from her teasing. Without saying a word, he gently set her back on the ground.
He went down the stairs first and changed the subject as he walked.
“Why is Your Highness here?”
“Mm… I just came to see my younger brother’s studies.”
Yun Shuyu pinched the black hair that hung over her chest with a delicate hand, telling the lie quite naturally.
Was she supposed to say that she had received word from the Phoenix Shadow Guards, learned that Du Heng had come to the Yingtian Prefecture Academy to carve characters on the Stele of the Heart, and so had specifically come looking for him?
Then all her reserve would be completely gone…
Du Heng would probably be so pleased with himself he would reach the sky, thinking she cared about him that much.
Although that was the truth, teasing was one thing, but Yun Shuyu absolutely did not want to show weakness in front of Du Heng and end up at a disadvantage.
Du Heng walked ahead and said lightly, “Oh… I thought Your Highness had specially come looking for me.”
He even pretended to sigh.
“Alas, I was happy for nothing.”
Yun Shuyu did not believe he really thought that. She snorted softly.
“Hmph, Young Lord is rather bold now. Why did you not dare talk back to me like that just now?”
“I…”
Talk back…
If I really had feelings for you, I would have sealed your mouth shut. How would I ever give you the chance to talk back to me again?
Of course, Du Heng only dared say such ruthless things in his heart. On the surface, he remained very obedient.
Du Heng was not as bad-tempered as Yun Shuyu. When they first met, she had dared to get physical with him right away.
He had very little contact with women and truly found Yun Shuyu’s offensive hard to handle.
“Your Highness, how about I escort you back to the palace first?”
Yun Shuyu did not answer. She simply took tiny steps forward and grabbed Du Heng’s hand again.
Du Heng’s heart stirred.
That delicate, smooth little hand had proactively entered his palm again, and he was reluctant to let go.
Yun Shuyu’s hand was very small, and Du Heng’s large hand could completely wrap around it.
Not getting an answer, Du Heng turned to look at Yun Shuyu. She was watching him with great interest, clearly enjoying the sight of him being flustered because of her.
A moment ago, everything had been in chaos. Du Heng knew Yun Shuyu had come, but he had not expected her to block him at the stair corner.
Now that his panic had settled somewhat, Du Heng could finally calm down and take a clear look at what Yun Shuyu was wearing today.
She was wearing a light yellow chest-high ruqun, with several osmanthus flowers embroidered on the skirt hem and sleeves.
Her exquisite, flawless face had only a flower-yellow adornment at the center of her brow. She wore no makeup, yet she was still stunningly beautiful.
Her hair had been carefully arranged into two buns, with two long, smooth strands of black hair hanging behind her. They were tied with two simple light yellow phoenix-pattern ribbons. Compared with her previous outfits, which had been either dignified and luxurious or calm and plain, she looked much more lively and playful today.
Just one glance was already enough for Du Heng to find it hard to look away.
Seeing him like this, the corner of her lips lifted in a charming smile.
“Is this princess beautiful today? Am I worthy of Young Lord’s attention?”
“Beautiful…”
“Mm, you are also very beautiful today.”
Yun Shuyu raised her hand to Du Heng’s neck, removed the hooded cloak he had been wearing since he left the room, and unceremoniously cupped his face to take a look.
He was fair-skinned, but not too thin, exactly the sort of look she liked.
After Du Heng answered softly, his gaze kept lingering on Yun Shuyu’s light yellow ribbon. Suddenly, as if he had thought of something, his brows furrowed slightly.
Did she come to the academy like this, straight from the palace? He had not seen any maidservants, and there had been so many people along the way inside the academy…
As though she had guessed what Du Heng was thinking, Yun Shuyu leaned close to his ear and whispered, “This princess was wearing a gauze hat from the moment I left the palace until I finished speaking with Sage Su just now.”
Yun Shuyu’s delicate hand took a pure white gauze hat from her storage space and shook it in front of Du Heng.
“Mm… actually, even my younger brother still has not seen me yet…”
Yun Shuyu’s warm breath, carrying a clean fragrance like mint, brushed over Du Heng’s neck and drifted to the tip of his nose.
Du Heng could not help but hold Yun Shuyu’s hand even tighter.
She meant that Du Heng was the first person to see her new hairstyle and makeup today.
While admiring how thoughtful she was, Du Heng also felt a bit of contempt for how deeply he had fallen…
But she… was indeed very beautiful.
So beautiful that he could not deny his own selfish thoughts and did not want any other man to see Yun Shuyu’s carefully prepared makeup.