Chapter 854: Chapter 852 Half an Hour and Another Half an Hour
The Empress Dowager was a shrewd person. Her whitening brows furrowed slightly, “Why does the Emperor suddenly want to see these people? I’ll take good care of Zhao Hua’s foster parents myself. Has something happened?” “Nothing of the sort. It’s just that I intend to arrange a marriage and should at least inform Zhao Hua’s foster parents. Moreover, the Court Astronomers need to calculate the wedding date, and I will have to question them closely, which will take some effort,” he responded.
Although Qin Rulie was bold and unrestrained, he was still a man with a keen attention to detail and did not arouse the Empress Dowager’s suspicion.
Furthermore, Qin Muyan unexpectedly came to his aid, “Imperial Grandmother, as Cousin Zhao Hua has a distinguished status and is to marry Your Highness’s grandson, naturally everything must be well-prepared. Please leave this matter to Imperial Brother, who has also brought the Court Astronomers.”
“Is that so?” The Empress Dowager’s eyes narrowed slightly. She would have let it pass if only Qin Rulie had said it, but now that the stubborn Qin Muyan had spoken, she was convinced.
She gestured to the servant by her side to call for the people.
Qin Rulie brought them back to the imperial study and sat with Qin Muyan in the upper seats.
Shen Yu’s parents, originally humble fishmongers, had thought themselves lucky for having such a beautiful daughter as Shen Yu, never imagining she would become a princess of the Great Wei Dynasty.
Although Shen Yu had instructed them that no matter who questioned them and under what circumstances, they must insist she was found by them and not their biological child,
in the absence of Shen Yu, when they were seen alone by Qin Rulie and Qin Muyan, they were still trembling with fear.
Shen Yu’s parents, dressed in luxurious silk, knelt before Qin Rulie, “We pay our respects to the emperor! And to… the Scarlet Flame King!”
“Rise, there’s no need for such formalities,” Qin Rulie said courteously to them.
But Shen Yu’s parents were still trembling, especially when Qin Rulie started to inquire about Shen Yu’s origins and some detailed information.
Chu Yihan received a report from an agent of the Great Wei Dynasty, “Your Highness, Zhao Hua’s foster parents have given themselves away, including the Empress Dowager’s confidant, Lou Tai—all are now gathered at Funing Palace.”
Chu Yihan nodded indifferently, “Understood.”
He turned and went back to the inner chamber, lifted a corner of the bed curtains, and the sunlight shone upon the person in bed. Her flawless skin was marked with red spots, like blooming red plum blossoms, irresistibly tempting.
Chu Yihan lifted the corner of his mouth, bent down to kiss her, “Get up, it’s time to go to the palace and meet your grandmother and relatives.”
Su Yingxue let out a soft moan, shooting Chu Yihan a resentful glance.
Was it her fault for staying in bed?
Did she not wish to get up?
It was all Chu Yihan’s fault for being too intense!
He had tricked her last night, and what he called half an hour ended up being half an hour followed by another half hour. She had cried until her voice was hoarse, yet he was still full of vigor.
Now she felt as if her whole body had been crushed, unable to straighten her back.
“Hmph! It’s all your fault!”
Su Yingxue bit him resentfully, biting down hard on his lip, not stopping until it was broken.
A trace of blood oozed from the corner of Chu Yihan’s mouth, his otherworldly handsome face now carrying an added allure. With his collar slightly open, the blood trailed down his neck to his collarbone. The seductive image was nearly enough to cause a nosebleed.
“Ah! This isn’t fair, Chu Yihan you’re cheating!!”
Su Yingxue covered her head with the bedsheet, crying out in frustration.
How could he be so incredibly alluring!
“Your Highness doesn’t mind continuing to ‘cheat’ with you, but if you don’t get up now, you’ll miss a great drama, and your chance to recognize your kin. That would mean failing the task entrusted by Your Highness’s mother-in- law,” said Chu Yihan, his voice tinged with a hint of regret.