The Second Prince’s poetry is indeed not bad. If he weren’t lame, he’d be a formidable rival to the Fifth Prince. But in the barbaric lands of Liang Yue, fists do the talking, and they don’t like those pretentious types!

Wei Zhao suddenly smiled, but the smile didn’t reach his eyes. He delivered a bombshell of a news.

"Half a year ago, Emperor Liang Yue was diagnosed with tuberculosis."

Gu Fuju abruptly looked at him.

Tuberculosis is contagious, and one cannot live many years with it.

This is a significant issue, at least he hadn’t caught even a whisper of it. It was evident that the royal family of Liang Yue kept this matter well hidden, not leaking even a shred.

Wei Zhao’s big hand wrapped around the girl’s hand, warming it.

"Emperor Liang Yue wants to appoint a Crown Prince. Among the princes, Liang Rui stands out, yet at such a crucial time, instead of staying there and showing off to avoid allowing other brothers to take opportunities, he runs to Shangjing. Grand Tutor, care to guess why?"

Gu Fuju had visited the Wei Family before.

But the last time was for Wei Fengxing’s funeral, which was years ago.

Today, he intended to see where Yu Tingwan usually lived.

Upon entering Lan Garden, he saw a small pond. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

The sound of rain dripped, playing a melodious tune in the pond, with ripples spreading circle after circle on the water.

But Gu Fuju was not in the mood to look around.

The two were speaking without any attempt to avoid Yu Tingwan.

Gu Fuju stopped in his tracks, not moving forward.

"He’s no longer in the Emperor of Liang Yue’s mind as a candidate to inherit the throne."

He was ousted.

Thus, he must hastily find opportunities to make some moves.

No, that’s not right.

Gu Fuju: "I’ve heard of Liang Rui too. He’s accomplished quite a lot, so why..."

Wei Zhao said coolly, "He’s kept many women in his harem."

It’s not necessarily a fault for men to be somewhat lecherous.

Gu Fuju: "That’s not enough of a reason."

Wei Zhao: "And he’s kept quite a few men too."

Gu Fuju: ???

Yu Tingwan slowly raised her eyes.

She seemed to have heard something remarkable.

Wei Zhao: "Although his concubines have given him many children, so he’s not without heirs, he was once caught in the act by Emperor Liang Yue himself."

Yu Tingwan: !

Just how much trouble can a person stir up?

Gu Fuju struggled to digest this fact, listening to Wei Zhao’s melancholy question.

"Who do you think is more handsome, the Second Prince or the Fifth Prince?"

The Second Prince, of course!

Gu Fuju: ...

Wei Zhao: "The Holy Emperor knows about his preference for men."

Gu Fuju: ...

Alright.

Everything calculated so tightly!

Wei Zhao: "At that time, Liang Rui was unwilling to feign cooperation with Ying Zhi, thinking I was insulting him. But when I showed him a portrait of the Second Prince, he agreed in one go."

The portrait was drawn by Ying Fuyan.

He deliberately exaggerated Ying Zhi’s handsomeness in the painting.

Of course, Liang Rui was slightly disappointed when he saw the real person. But he expressed that he could accept it.

Yu Tingwan suddenly felt a wave of fear.

"He had come to see my husband before."

"Then weren’t you in great danger as well?"

Wei Zhao: "Ha."

He: "I’m glad you’re aware of this."

Not thinking he’s ugly anymore, even worried he might be taken by someone else.

Yu Tingwan, realizing Wei Zhao had known Liang Rui for a long time, tightened her fists and asked solemnly, "Did he ever harbor any inappropriate thoughts about you before?"

Wei Zhao: "He did."

Wei Zhao had beaten him up once, which made him behave. He’d be on guard whenever he saw him.

Wei Zhao told her, "So it’s not easy for you to have me. Understand?"

Gu Fuju: !?

Really, who says such shameless things?

He thought perhaps he didn’t know Wei Zhao well enough yet.

But in the next moment.

Yaoyao nodded her head emphatically.

Yu Tingwan, feeling comforted, didn’t hesitate to praise him, "You’ve protected yourself well enough."

Alright.

Gu Fuju chuckled wryly.

He didn’t actually know Yaoyao well either.

"Rong Di."

Wei Zhao: "Invite the Grand Tutor to the study and prepare some refreshments."

He shared an umbrella with Yu Tingwan and said to Gu Fuju, "I’ll take her back to the room first."

Gu Fuju didn’t object.

He was pleased to see Wei Zhao attentive towards Yaoyao.

Gu Fuju advised, "The wind is strong today, and even though it hasn’t rained much, it’s easy to catch a cold. Prepare some ginger tea for her to drink."

Wei Zhao nodded.

Rong Di made a gesture of invitation to Gu Fuju.

Gu Fuju lifted his steps and left.

Instead of learning to be a housekeeper, Wei Zhao sent Tan Jiang to tell Ning Suxuan that he wouldn’t be going over in the afternoon.

Yu Tingwan saw him giving instructions and made no comment.

She had walked a long distance today, her embroidered shoes didn’t chafe, nor were sore.

But in truth, she was quite tired.

Mentally more so than physically.

After a few steps, Wei Zhao handed her the umbrella, knelt on one knee before the bluestone steps, his clothes brushing against the dusty ground.

"Get on."

He was going to carry her.

Yu Tingwan pursed her lips.

"Your arm is injured."

Wei Zhao: "It’s no trouble."

Oh, he can use one hand.

"Can’t my husband carry me?"

"It’s raining, so it’s hard to hold an umbrella and easy to get wet."

Yu Tingwan found that reasonable.

His back was broad and sturdy. At the moment she lay on it, even the sound of the wind seemed to settle down.

Wei Zhao’s palm pressed against her leg, using strength with his uninjured arm, walking briskly forward without strain.

"Hold on tight."

Yu Tingwan clutched his neck tightly, listening to his heartbeat knocking against her ear.

She spoke softly.

"The Holy Emperor saw me."

Wei Zhao: "I know."

Yu Tingwan: "I observed."

She told Wei Zhao in detail what she knew: "In the hall, there were a dozen palace slaves serving, but only three attended closely, fed and gave him medicine."

These three were surely the Black Shadows.

"Among the guards outside the hall, I confirmed that one was a Black Shadow. I’m sure Shunzi and Tan Jiang have noticed too."

"Able to disguise as a guard, surely they can also take on other disguises."

"There were many Imperial Army soldiers patrolling. Whether there’s any among them, and if so, how many, is unknown. Surely, some are hidden, not showing themselves."

But it’s certain there was a team specifically to protect the emperor, valuing quality over quantity.

"My husband has nothing to ask?"

She originally thought, no matter what, Wei Zhao would at least reprimand her. Knowing that perhaps the Dog Emperor’s people were watching, she shouldn’t have been too forward in the Empress Dowager’s palace. It gave the Dog Emperor the idea to call for her.

After all, it was dangerous, and thinking back on it, she was also afraid.

Wei Zhao remained silent.

Yu Tingwan poked him.

Wei Zhao didn’t react, just continued walking forward.

"I didn’t hold you back."

She spoke gently, "I know my limits. And you know that I’m quite skilled at playing dumb."

"If you don’t go out, and mother won’t go out, then that person will eventually try to make a move on me. Today’s conversation was just earlier than expected."

Wei Zhao still said nothing.

Yu Tingwan pressed her lips together and also shut her mouth.

She watched the drops falling from the umbrella and then looked at the potted plants by the road, finally burying her head on his shoulder.

Once indoors.

Wei Zhao pressed Yu Tingwan onto the golden rocking chair she loved to lounge in.

The umbrella she held firmly was casually tossed aside by him.

Wei Zhao knelt halfway, leaning to be level with her.

His voice was somewhat hoarse.

"No outsiders now."

Wei Zhao affectionately brushed against her face: "Have you been wronged?"

Yu Tingwan looked at him, and upon hearing these two words, she could no longer hold back.

Indeed, she had been suppressing for a long time. Now, large tears finally began to fall.

The girl puckered her lips in grievance, a whimper escaping her throat.

She hugged Wei Zhao and burst into tears.

Her voice was nasal.

"Sniff!"