Not Your Typical Villianess - Chapter 225

Lu Yaozhu’s study, the main courtyard of Prince Wu’s mansion

Su Liya raised her gazed and looked him straight in the eye as she asked “what will happen to us when his Majesty dies?”

He leaned back and tilted his head to the side, eyes locked on her stubborn expression. His lips tugged up, “Yaya, isn’t it funny how our thoughts are always in synch. I also find myself thinking of the what if’s, do you know that one never quite enjoys life as much as a person who had just survived a near-death. His Majesty’s little accident has got me thinking and honestly with his majesty gone. We won’t have to stay back in the capital, I can retire and travel the world with you. No one would stop us and I dare say Brother Ling would appreciate that”

Su Liya nodded, “you have thought of the future? Honestly, I am glad that you did some thinking. Getting away from all these political struggles would be the best. I think his highness would feel more comfortable with us out of the way, after what happened with his majesty and your father. I believe a distant friend is a million times better than a close enemy”

A knock at the door made them pause and looked at the closed door. Lu Yaozhu see down the brush and replied, “come in”.

“Yes”, Yu Tao pushed the door aside and walked in holding a paper envelope in a serving dish. He handed the envelope over to Lu Yaozhu, “your highness, there are two letters.” He raised a blain paper envelope, “this is from Yu ke”, then holding up a red silk envelope with the Imperial Emperor’s official stamp, “while this was delivered by a Eunuch. It is from his Majesty”.

“His Majesty? Guess his condition isn’t so serious. I will go through this Majesty’s letter first”, he took the red envelope from Yu Tao, untied the do-over it and pulled out an invitation. “Looks like the kitchen staff will be working a half day’s shift tomorrow” he turned the invitation over to show her what was written. “We are joining his majesty for dinner”, he glanced up at Yu Tao, “we cannot go empty-handed, make the necessary arrangements”

“Yes, I will get to it now”, Yu Tao bowed and quickly retreated.

Lu Yaozhu watched him leave silently before picking up the envelope from the table. He tore off the seal and pulled out the letter inside, frowning as he read through the letter. Su Liya stiffened at the change in his expression, “what is it?” She asked in a shaky voice. Lu Yaozhu rumbled up the letter and threw it into the fire, “looks like things are not looking good for his Majesty”.

Su Liya was quiet for some minutes as his words sunk in, “what is wrong with him… His Majesty… I mean”

“He is sick, he is keeping it under the wraps. My spies can’t find any official health records on his majesty’s health condition so he must not want the news to spread. Which is more worrying….. I guess that explains his recent odd behaviour.”

He looked at her and then out the window, “it is getting late, you should be in bed. Get some sleep we have a long day ahead of us tomorrow. I will join you once I am done reading these reports”.

Su Liya gazed at him with narrowed eyes silently, searching for a tell. She searched for something that would betray his thought, she could tell that whatever he read about the Emperor’s health got him worried. She also observed that took the Emperor’s news a little personal, he wasn’t acting like a general who just discovered his master was sick. Given the strained relationship between his majesty and the Lu family, such a reaction was strange.

She wasn’t one to dwell on fruitless endeavours, she stood and walked to his side. She bent low, placed her hands n his cheeks and held him as she kissed him lightly on the lips. “Don’t stay late”.

“I won’t”, he replied smiling gently as he watched her leave. His expression changed as she walked out of his study and shut the door behind him. He looked at the time he had thrown the letter into and sighed rubbing his face gently. The head of his intelligence unit, Yu Ke jumped into the room through the open window.

“Yaya is suspicious of my reaction”, chuckling he continued, “she is so smart, nothing escapes her notice. Telling her about my true identity might not be a bad thing, then there will be one more person that knows my true identity”

“Her highness is trustworthy she won’t betray you but are you not scared the Madam Lu and her Majesty would find out that you are aware of your true identity?”

“Since her highness has already come clean to the Emperor, It is only a matter of time before becomes publicly known. His Majesty’s invitation could tip-off even a blind fool, I guess being as close to death’s door as he is has made him emotional”.

“Your highness, how do you plan to answer his Majesty?”

Lu Yaozhu stood and walked to the window, he look down at the flower bed beside the pavilion. “I plan on not letting him discover that I am aware of my identity just yet. Brother Ling has met with a lot of problems these past months if he suddenly discovers that I am aware of the big secret. I hear that he might attempt to reinstate me as the Crown Prince, judging from the big moves he pulled recently. He certainly has thought of replacing Brother Ling. Even if brother Long and I are not on good terms, I don’t want to rob him of his position. It is not like I want to be Emperor?”

Yu ke nodded, “your highness is wise in your decision, I will make arrangements to smitten things our for the crown prince among the ministers from the labour council”.

“Good and the Ning family? Have you been able to get to the bottom of that mess?”

“Yes, your Highness. I have arranged for the Ning family to adopt from a scholarly branch family. The young man is the only child in his household so there won’t be any difficulties”.

“You did well, once the Ning family is settled the malicious rumours about his highness wound reduce considerably”