Chapter 55 (1/2)
Chapter 55
Translator: Nyoi-Bo StudioEditor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
Yan Xun was also stunned. It had been seven years, but the Emperor had never summoned him until today. Was this a blessing or a curse?
”What now?” Chu Qiao said, looking very serious.
Yan Xun thought for a long time, and said, ”Don't panic. I doubt it's anything serious. I'll go and take a look.”
”Yan Xun.”
Yan Xun turned around and was about to leave. Just then, Chu Qiao grabbed him. Her small hands were sweaty and cold. She pulled him tightly and said with an anxious expression, ”Be careful, and come back early.”
”Don't worry,” Yan Xun replied while tightly grabbing her hand to reassure her. ”I will come back soon.”
Lu Liu came up to Yan Xun and put a large fur coat on him. Yan Xun took a few people with him and left Ying Ge Court.
Throughout the entire afternoon, Chu Qiao was restless and could not sit down. She couldn't stop thinking that something bad had happened to Yan Xun. In the evening, AhJing returned suddenly. Chu Qiao was delighted as she rushed out front and said, ”Where is the prince? What happened? Why has he not returned?”
Looking awkward, AhJing replied, ”The prince is alright. He is now attending a banquet.”
Chu Qiao let out a relieved sigh and said, ”Okay, that's good. Why did the emperor call for him?”
AhJing looked left and right. After seeing a few servants around, he looked at Chu Qiao with hesitation. Sensing that something was amiss, Chu Qiao furrowed her eyebrows and asked again, ”What happened?”
”The emperor…” AhJing stammered, ”The emperor summoned the prince to…to marry him off to Princess Chun who just had just turned fifteen.”
Chu Qiao was surprised. She opened her mouth to say something but nothing came out. She glanced around as she asked in a low voice, ”Marriage?”
”Miss Chu…” AhJing called out worriedly.
Chu Qiao nodded and whispered, ”Marriage.”
”Miss Chu, the prince was scared that you were worried so he told me to come tell you that…”
”I'm fine.” Chu Qiao shook her head while saying, ”It is not just a royal banquet. There must be some hidden intentions behind it. You should go back quickly and protect him. I'm just a little worried that the emperor is scheming against him. But as for the marriage, alright, I understand.”
AhJing was worried and whispered softly, ”Miss Chu…”
”I will go back to my room for now. You should go.” Chu Qiao turned away with her back straightened and murmured expressionlessly, ”I still have things to do. Lu Liu, bring all the letters to my room. I need to reply to them.”
It was snowing heavily. The wind blew against a woman wearing a yellow dress and a cloak of the same color. The snow hit the back of the cloak while the woman herself emitted a very cold aura. In the distance, the sun was setting slowly. The sky was a fiery red, but was also very colorful. Eventually, the sun set. The candles were lit. Red wax dripped off of them.
It had been a very long time but Yan Xun had not returned. The servant watching over the fireplace carefully opened the door and saw that the room was dimly lit, along with Chu Qiao's thin and slender figure. She did not lift her head when she heard the noise but merely frowned, seemingly thinking hard about something.
”Miss Chu,” the servant said. Although she was only twelve years old, she was mature enough to understand the situation. She carefully continued, ”It is late, you should sleep soon.”
Chu Qiao did not say a word and raised her hand to signal for her to leave the room.
Lu Liu, who was carrying a new brazier, came to the door and suddenly turned back to tell Chu Qiao, ”If the prince comes back, I will immediately call you.”
Chu Qiao slowly lifted her head and looked at Lu Liu. She said slowly, ”Are you so free as to do that?”
The servant was surprised and immediately knelt on the ground. She quickly replied, ”I should not have overstepped my boundaries. I deserve to be punished.”