Chapter 426: Chapter 426: Who Made You So Unlikable?

Lu Shunfu murmured in agreement, "Holy Emperor, why lower yourself to the level of those troublemakers? They must have been paid off by the Prince Qing Mansion to stir up support for them! When it comes down to it, it’s only because they fear you, Holy Emperor!"

How could Zhou Yang be fooled by such placating words?

His eyes were bloodshot with rage as he gasped, "Summon Prince Xuan Heng!"

—

For the next two days, the gates of the Prince Qing Mansion remained wide open. The imperial guard was still posted there on orders, but they were no longer on high alert as they had been at first. Not only had they grown familiar with the people of the Prince Mansion, but they would even exchange occasional greetings with the common folk passing by.

"Still at it, Brother Li?"

"Yeah. Off to buy some groceries, Brother Wang?"

"I’m stewing a big goose tonight. I’ll bring some over for you to have with your drinks!"

"Oh, thanks a million!"

"Don’t mention it."

Yan Huan had completely given up. He rested against a stone block, eating the pastries Shuang Ye had brought him.

When a Shadow Guard came out, he saw Yan Huan and teased, "Well, well, Vice Commander Yan. Enjoying a little snack?"

Yan Huan merely shot him a sideways glance and snapped, "Get lost. Go do whatever you’re supposed to do! Don’t get in my way while I’m trying to enjoy the sun!"

But the Shadow Guard wasn’t one to back down. He just shamelessly sidled closer after being told off. "Tell me, what do you think the Holy Emperor sent you here to do? You’re supposed to take the sovereign’s pay and be loyal to the sovereign’s cause!"

Yan Huan glared at him. "And what good would my loyalty do? Haven’t you seen what those commoners are carrying? Daikon radishes that big! Getting hit with one of those could kill a man. Do I look like I have a death wish, risking my life for a Commander’s position? It’s just for a measly five hundred more coins! It’s not worth it! Not worth it at all!"

With that, he went back to enjoying the sun and contentedly eating his pastries.

"You know," he added, "I have to say, your Miss Shuang Ye’s pastry-making skills are easily on par with the chefs at Zhen Building!"

The Shadow Guard shook his head again and again at his utter lack of ambition.

’He’s a prime example,’ the Shadow Guard thought. ’Most of Da Cheng’s officials are probably just like him. Their greatest strength is knowing how to adapt to the situation.’

Despite the apparent harmony inside and outside the mansion, Zhou Yang had made no move, and a sense of unease grew stronger in Song Lianhe’s heart.

’Something’s wrong. Something is very wrong!’

She stood in the doorway of the Medical Clinic, arms crossed, gazing up at the sky.

Suddenly, she heard a loud SCREECH.

Chun Hua was chasing pigeons for fun.

The pigeons belonged to their neighbor, Uncle Chen, who had already come over to complain several times in the past two days. Although Chun Hua had never seriously hurt them, it had terrified his pigeons so much that they refused to eat once they got home.

Song Lianhe frowned, planted her hands on her hips, and yelled at the sky, "Chun Hua! Get down here this instant!"

"SCREECH—"

Chun Hua wasn’t very willing, but it still flew down lazily.

Seeing the pigeon feather in its beak, Song Lianhe hastily plucked it out, afraid that if Uncle Chen saw it, she’d never hear the end of it.

She grabbed Chun Hua by the wing and dragged it to the backyard for an inspection.

Chun Hua was restless, hopping back and forth.

"Keep jumping around and I’ll pluck you bare!"

"CHIRP~"

Chun Hua was trying to act cute.

Song Lianhe looked at it with disgust. "Can you try to be a falcon with a shred of dignity?"

"Heh. Getting worked up over a falcon. That’s so you."

The back door had opened at some point, and Zhou Junlin was standing there, bold as brass.

Song Lianhe looked at him, her expression showing no surprise whatsoever.

"Were you followed?"

He gave a short laugh and stepped inside.

The moment it saw him, Chun Hua’s feathers bristled. Its wings flared and its gaze sharpened.

Zhou Junlin merely spared it an indifferent glance before commenting nonchalantly, "Just like its master."

"It’d be weirder if it started hopping around to welcome you."

Chun Hua’s injuries had healed. There was nothing seriously wrong with it, so it was more than capable of continuing to chase pigeons.

"Go on, go play."

She released Chun Hua.

A faint smile touched Song Lianhe’s lips as she watched Chun Hua happily resume its pigeon chase.

When she glanced back, her eyes met Zhou Junlin’s deep, meaningful gaze.

"What?"

"You can be so gentle with an animal, yet you’re always so cold and wary with me. Song Lianhe, you’re not being fair."

Song Lianhe scoffed. Staring at the man’s refined and handsome face, she said flatly, "Whose fault is it that you’re so unlikable? And another thing, its name is Chun Hua."

As if it had heard its name, or perhaps because it knew she was sticking up for it, Chun Hua let out a loud SCREECH from high above.

Zhou Junlin continued to stare at her. "You know, the person you hate... that wasn’t the real me."

"So? Does that mean you can just disavow what’s been done?"

Song Lianhe was in no mood to psychoanalyze him. The front hall was still busy.

"So, what did you come here to find me for?" She stared at Zhou Junlin, adding as if she already knew what he was about to say, "And I mean *actual* business."

He looked at her, sighed in resignation, and finally took a letter from within his robes, pushing it toward her. "Get this letter to the Imperial Uncle."

"Alright."

She took the letter without another word and turned to go inside.

Zhou Junlin quickly stopped her. "In a few days, chaos will erupt in Ling’an. Have him get you out of the city as soon as possible."

Song Lianhe stood frozen, a vague premonition dawning on her. She didn’t move.

After a long moment, she finally turned her head to look at him.

"Zhou Junlin, you always say that your life was arranged for you. But the moment you started to question that world, you took back control. In other words, the path may have been paved by others, but how you walk it is still up to you."

He stared at her intently, then lowered his gaze with a small smile.

"Why did it take me so long to realize that?"

’Song Lianhe said no more. He seemed quite sentimental right now, and she was afraid that if she said anything else, she might talk him into becoming completely lovesick. After all, who could blame him when she was so exceptional!’

「That afternoon, Su Huaqing and Yan Wen also arrived.」

Song Lianhe had given Yan Wen the past few days off. He was, after all, a court official, and with both the Prince Qing Mansion and the Medical Clinic being hotbeds of trouble, it was better for him to keep his distance.

As for Su Huaqing, ever since she’d learned he was one of Zhou Cangyan’s men, she let him do as he pleased. ’Double agents are never simple people,’ she figured. ’He can handle any major crisis on his own.’

"Why are you back?"

Song Lianhe chided Yan Wen the moment she saw him. "Things are too messy here. You shouldn’t get involved. You don’t even know how to swim—be careful you don’t drown in all this!"

The clean-cut, handsome man instinctively avoided her gaze, but his voice was exceptionally firm. "My life was given to me by Second Miss Song. It doesn’t matter what’s happening now; even if the Princess Consort were in even greater trouble, I vow never to leave Second Miss Song’s side!"

’What a thing to say... Gee, thanks!’

Song Lianhe turned to Su Huaqing. "And you? Why didn’t you try to stop him?"

Su Huaqing chuckled. "Princess Consort, aren’t you playing favorites a bit? When Yan Rongbai comes, you’re afraid of getting him into trouble, but you don’t even bother to ask about me!"

"Mr. Su, you’re as sly as they come. Who could possibly cause you any trouble?"

Song Lianhe ignored him and turned back to Yan Wen. "Actually, King Qing and I... we..."

"Second Miss Song, there’s no need to say more. I already know."

Song Lianhe was taken aback. "Everything?"

"Yes, everything."

She turned her head to look at Su Huaqing.

’Are all double agents this loose-lipped?’

Su Huaqing didn’t have to ask to know she was cursing him in her head.

He laughed in exasperation. "That bracelet of yours is densely carved with countless ancient characters from the Huigu Tribe. Did you really think I’m some kind of god? Rongbai is an expert in this. This matter can’t be resolved without him."