lcionline Chapter 289 Something's not right, it's too strange...
Chapter 289 Something's not right, it's too strange...
The servant turned around and carried a package.
Prince Su reached out and took it, but he did not immediately return to his palace.
Instead, he turned around and headed towards Jing'an Residence.
Chu Ruohan was sitting under the lamp, holding a book in her hand, but her gaze was not on the pages, clearly preoccupied.
Rumors about the Crown Prince's true parentage were already rampant outside, and she knew this was just the beginning.
Consort Jing's counterattack, the Empress's response, the Crown Prince's struggle, and the Emperor's suspicion...
This game of chess has only just begun.
Yu Ling walked in quickly from outside, her expression somewhat solemn.
"Young Madam, His Highness Prince Su has arrived."
Chu Ruohan paused slightly in the hand holding the book, and raised her eyes.
King Su?
What is he doing here at this time?
Could it be because of Consort Jing?
They are here to hold her accountable for the trouble she caused today.
Or... is there another plan?
A look of vigilance instantly flashed in Chu Ruohan's eyes.
She put down the book and slowly stood up.
"It is late at night; men and women should be kept separate."
"As a married woman, it is really inconvenient for me to meet with men outside the marriage at this time."
"Tell His Highness Prince Su that if there is truly something important, he can come again tomorrow."
Yu Ling accepted the order and left in a hurry.
A moment later, Yu Ling returned, her expression somewhat strange.
"Young Madam, His Highness Prince Su is not angry."
"only……"
Yu Ling paused for a moment, then presented a paper package with both hands.
"His Highness instructed me to give this item to you."
Chu Ruohan took it, her fingertips touching the paper package, which was still slightly warm.
She slowly opened it, and a familiar sweet fragrance instantly filled the air.
Chestnut cake?
The golden pastries were small and delicate, just the kind of flavor she used to like.
How could Prince Su have known that she liked chestnut cake?
This realization sent a chill down Chu Ruohan's spine, and a strange sense of unease quietly rose within her.
This is no coincidence.
Prince Su's actions seemed to have a deliberate intent that was hard to understand.
She placed the chestnut cake on the table but didn't touch it.
The next day, the sky was bright.
Sure enough, someone stepped forward in the imperial court and presented a memorial regarding the rumors circulating in the streets.
They petitioned the Emperor to thoroughly investigate the Crown Prince's lineage in order to ensure the legitimacy of the imperial bloodline.
For a time, undercurrents were swirling in the imperial court.
The Duke of Wei argued forcefully, refuting the claim as baseless and a malicious attempt to slander the Crown Prince.
The crown prince stood in the hall, his face ashen, his hands clenched tightly in his sleeves.
His gaze unconsciously drifted toward Prince Su beside him.
Prince Su, however, seemed detached from the matter, his hands folded in front of him, his eyes lowered, standing quietly with a calm expression, not even glancing at anything else.
However, this calm was nothing short of adding fuel to the fire in the eyes of the crown prince.
He could practically grind his teeth to dust.
To get that position, they didn't hesitate to use such dirty and despicable means to slander his background!
After the court session, Prince Su did not return to his residence immediately, but instead appeared outside Jing'an Residence once again.
Chu Ruohan was quite surprised when she heard the news.
She never expected that after being so clearly turned away yesterday, he would come back today.
This time, Chu Ruohan did not avoid seeing him.
She wanted to see what this Prince Su was really up to.
Inside the hall, Chu Ruohan sat in the lower left seat, her expression indifferent.
Prince Su broke his silence from yesterday and, as soon as he sat down, spoke with a hint of apology.
"What happened yesterday was due to my mother's impulsiveness."
"I shouldn't have involved you, Madam. I hope you won't take offense."
He adopted a humble posture and spoke in a sincere tone.
Chu Ruohan, however, did not lower her guard because of this; on the contrary, she became even more puzzled.
Prince Su's attitude towards her was extremely abnormal.
If it was merely to win over her husband's "shadow guard" faction, then this prince was far too flexible and adaptable.
It even went so far as to condescend to such an extent.
This doesn't make sense.
"Your Highness is too kind."
Chu Ruohan's voice was calm and even, revealing no emotion.
"I am but a woman confined to a secluded household; Your Highness need not be so formal."
"As for the political intrigues and the struggle for imperial power, who wins and who loses makes no difference to me."
Her refusal was quite clear, implying that she had no intention of getting involved in any partisan struggles.
However, Prince Su seemed not to understand her implied meaning and continued to smile gently.
"Madam, this Jing'an Residence is a bit too quiet."
He looked around, his gaze finally settling on Chu Ruohan.
"If Your Majesty has the time, how about hunting a couple of rabbits for your wife to keep her company and help her pass the time?"
These words carried a familiarity that left no room for refusal.
Before Chu Ruohan could respond, he brought it up again, seemingly casually.
"By the way, did you like the chestnut cake that was sent yesterday, Madam?"
After asking the question, Prince Su seemed to realize that he had been a bit too hasty and quickly added something.
"It was my presumption that led to this."
"I've only heard that the lady and Prince Gu are a loving couple, and that Prince Gu used to often buy this chestnut cake for the lady."
"I thought that sending a chestnut cake would be a way to apologize to the lady on behalf of my mother. I had no other intentions. Please don't misunderstand, my lady."
His explanation was so thorough that it seemed perfectly reasonable.
Chu Ruohan picked up the teacup and gently stroked the warm cup with her fingertips.
"It depends on who sent the food."
She raised her eyes to meet Prince Su's gaze, her tone indifferent yet clear.
"A gift from a loved one, even if it's just a simple pastry, is always a good gift."
The implication is that even the most precious gift from someone else may not suit one's taste.
The smile on Prince Su's face froze almost imperceptibly for a moment.
Although he quickly regained his composure, the fleeting displeasure in his eyes was precisely caught by Chu Ruohan, who had been keeping a close eye on him.
Not right.
Something is very wrong.
The way Prince Su looked at her was definitely not just about trying to win her over.
Deep within those eyes, there seemed to be a kind of... inquiry, or even interest.
This realization sent alarm bells ringing in Chu Ruohan's mind, and a thin layer of sweat instantly seeped out from her back.
She subtly leaned back, creating some distance between herself and the group.
"If Your Highness has nothing else to do, I have some household matters to attend to, so I will not keep you any longer."
She made no attempt to hide it and began making excuses to send the guests away.
Prince Su gave her a deep look, his gaze complex and unfathomable.
In the end, he maintained his composure and slowly stood up.
"Since Madam has matters to attend to, then I will not disturb her any longer."
"I'll visit you another day, Madam."
After seeing Prince Su off, Chu Ruohan finally let out a soft sigh of relief, her tense nerves relaxing slightly.
Yu Ling stepped forward and, seeing her mistress's solemn expression, couldn't help but whisper.
"Young Madam, this is His Highness Prince Su..."
"This servant feels that His Highness Prince Su's gaze towards the young mistress is strange, unlike usual."
Chu Ruohan nodded slightly, walked to the window, and looked in the direction where Prince Su had left, her brows furrowed.
“I noticed it too. His words and actions were all strange.”
"Young Madam, why did he say he sent chestnut cake? And he even knew it was something you like."
Yu Ling asked cautiously, "Could it be that someone has leaked information about the household affairs?"