CHAPTER 33: CHAPTER 32: MAYFLIES

Zhu Yu’s doubts deepened.

Outside, people either said that Lu Qing was a prince deemed lucky by the Emperor, indulging in pleasure every day, an aristocrat who was both offensive and untouchable, making connections with him useless, much like a wealthy idler.

Or they said he was feared by the Emperor, so he was only given the title of "Two-Character King," limited in everything, constrained at every turn, and that even the marriage was just randomly arranged with a daughter from the Zhu Family from Shuo Country, the most insignificant among several vassal states.

However, having been Princess Xiaoyao for just a few days, Zhu Yu felt that things were not so simple. Both of these entirely different rumors had their valid points but were also incorrect.

Lu Qing’s situation and his relationship with the current Holy Emperor were far more complex than outsiders could imagine.

When Lu Qing withdrew his attention from the documents and looked at Zhu Yu, he saw her staring blankly at the golden mask on the table, frowning and lost in thought.

Before he could speak, a loud growl from Zhu Yu’s stomach broke the silence, bringing her back to her senses. She instinctively looked over at Lu Qing, and when their eyes met, seeing the mischief in Lu Qing’s eyes, Zhu Yu’s face flushed red.

"Hungry..." she smiled a bit sheepishly, touching her stomach.

Lu Qing looked outside. Even through the window paper, he could see that it was getting dark outside.

"It’s already this hour; no wonder you’re hungry." He opened a few boxes of pastries on the table and pushed them toward Zhu Yu. "For now, you’ll have to make do with some snacks and pastries to stave off hunger.

I expect that by nightfall, the considerate Chief Clerk will arrange a meal for us."

Zhu Yu looked at the pastries in the box: some were flaky, some were glutinous, some were drizzled with stone honey, and some were filled with stuffing. There were quite a variety, and they looked appetizing.

But as she reached out to pick one, Zhu Yu hesitated again: "Are these pastries safe?"

Lu Qing looked up at her, seeing her seriousness, and shook his head with a smile: "They wouldn’t dare.

Don’t forget, Mr. Li considers himself a protégé of Lu Zhang. Poisoning an Imperial Censor is something they wouldn’t dare to do.

After all, there’s a saying that pulling on a single strand can affect the entire body, but do you know what pulling that strand would result in?"

Zhu Yu nodded.

The saying "pulling on a single strand can affect the entire body" sounds like a small gnat can cause a storm. In reality, if only hair is pulled, then the first to be cut off is also this bit of "hair."

Sometimes, as an insignificant character, your accomplices might wish for your death more than your enemies when troubles arise.

Thinking back to the banquet that day, even someone as powerful as Duke Yan had some fear of Lu Qing. In this light, her earlier worry that Li Wencai’s few followers would dare to silence her and Lu Qing seemed quite unfounded.

These pastries, paired with hot tea, were quite satisfying to Zhu Yu, who was never one to let herself go hungry. No matter the situation, being well-fed and rested is essential for maintaining health to the fullest extent.

She had tasted the bitter fruit of overwork once, and that experience was costly enough to make her take caution and heed.

After eating, Zhu Yu went to the shelf to get another book and read, while Lu Qing continued perusing the accounts.

They passed the time until dusk when sounds began to stir outside.

Zhu Yu heard the sound of a rune inquiring, and soon he entered from outside, carrying two large food boxes filled with rich dishes, and even a small flask of wine.

Things that can’t be bought outside are still in stock at the county government.

Lu Qing poured a cup, and the wine inside appeared very light, with a fragrance that seemed to just float on the surface.

Compared to the wine they got at the tavern that day, this fell terribly short.

If these two types of wine were placed together and people were allowed to choose, the outcome would be obvious.

It seems Lu’s, having taken control of the entire Qingshui County’s wine business, has truly become audacious.

After dinner, the night had fully settled outside.

The rune lit a lamp for Lu Qing on the desk, then sat on a chair near the door.

"If you’re tired, get some rest early. You don’t have to stay up with me," Lu Qing advised Zhu Yu, then immersed himself in reading the documents again.

Zhu Yu walked a few laps around the room to aid digestion. Most of the books on Li Wencai’s shelves were casually placed to create an appearance, with neither sage classics nor fascinating stories, mostly dull and uninteresting, so she lay down on the couch without changing, and fell asleep early.

She had no idea how much time had passed before she suddenly woke up, only to see Lu Qing still sitting by the desk, his head tilted towards the window. When she wanted to get up, he gestured to her first and then extinguished the light on the desk.

The room plunged into darkness all at once.

Zhu Yu didn’t dare move recklessly, staying still, ears perked up, listening to the surroundings.

But apart from the silence, she heard nothing.

After a while, she finally heard something, a rustling sound outside, like someone sneaking into the courtyard and quietly approaching the door.

She glanced at Lu Qing, marveling at his acute hearing.

By now, the moon had probably risen high, for soon a shadow was cast on the window paper of the door, sneaking stealthily to the window.

The shadow approached the window, seemingly listening to the commotion inside, paused for a moment, and seeing the room was silent, made a move again.

The shadow carefully inserted a dagger through the window crevice, gently working it, seemingly aiming to unhook the latch.

Zhu Yu’s heart raced a few paces faster, glancing sideways at Lu Qing, who was still calmly sitting there, unmoved.

Since Lu Qing hadn’t moved, it meant the time wasn’t yet right.

The window crevice in this room was tightly sealed, and the shadow dared not make any big movements; it took a while of effort to pry open the window.

And the shadow didn’t seem intent on breaking in, rather cautiously pushing the window open a crack, throwing something inside through it.

Just as that thing hit the ground with a thud, the rune, who had been silently standing by the door, flashed and disappeared.

The move was so quick and light, that Zhu Yu didn’t even catch when he opened the door.

The sound of chaotic footsteps outside was apparent, likely the outsiders discovering someone had come out, and hastily trying to flee, but the footsteps were abruptly cut off, restoring silence without a single human voice from start to end.