Chapter 200: Seamless Cooperation

Chapter Two Hundred: Seamless Cooperation

He needed to protect himself!

"Did you know Gu Huai is leaving the capital for Changhe after the spring?" Prince Duan blurted out, perhaps just to see Lu Mingchao's reaction.

Lu Mingchao widened her eyes in feigned surprise. "To enjoy the flowers and take a spring trip to Changhe?"

Prince Duan studied Lu Mingchao carefully, satisfied yet annoyed by her genuine surprise. She dealt with his threats and temptations effortlessly, but at the mention of Gu Huai, she lost her composure, her emotions clearly displayed.

It somewhat undermined his authority!

"Enjoy the flowers and take a spring trip?" Prince Duan said mockingly. "You could say so."

It was clear Gu Huai's efforts were to appreciate Lu Mingchao, the delicate flower, and trample Xie Yan, the wild grass.

Lu Mingchao, ignoring Prince Duan's teasing, said seriously, "Then Heir Gu is in the wrong place."

"Changhe is desolate, not like the vibrant spring in the capital."

Prince Duan said indifferently, "Different flowers appeal to different people. What if someone prefers one standout flower over many?"

"Enough with the jokes. If all goes well, Gu Huai will become the magistrate of Changhe County."

"Are you serious?" Lu Mingchao asked in surprise.

"I don’t joke," Prince Duan said solemnly.

Lu Mingchao clicked her tongue. "Heir Gu isn’t thinking clearly."

"Does Your Highness have any further instructions? Without explanation, my family is worried."

Prince Duan showed a thoughtful expression. "Brothers?"

"I’ve heard of Lu Yao’s talent."

"Lu Mingchao, fortune and misfortune are unpredictable. Who knows if leaving the Yongning Marquis’s residence and returning home isn’t a blessing?"

"I’ve prepared a banquet, but it’s up to you."

Lu Mingchao bowed slightly. "Let’s save the banquet for later."

"Only when the Chaofu Medical Center thrives in Lingnan will I attend the banquet."

Night had already fallen, like a heavy black silk covering the heads of all things in the world.

Two lanterns hung high in front of the carriage. The cold wind blew fiercely, and the lanterns swayed gently in the wind, the candlelight flickering in the night breeze. Inside the carriage, only the sounds of breathing and heartbeat could be heard.

In the courtyard.

Prince Duan asked coldly, "Can you confirm?"

"Your Highness, the servant boy who attended Xie Sui's bath saw it clearly."

"Xie Sui is a whole man, definitely not a eunuch," the personal attendant knelt on the ground and respectfully said.

Prince Duan muttered under his breath, "How could he not be?"

It felt so familiar.

He was torn between hoping Xie Sui was Shu Yuan and hoping he wasn’t.

That palace coup altered the fates of too many.

The late Emperor Jingxiang died suddenly, and Shu Yuan died for his master.

His father usurped the throne, wiped out the entire Xie family, imprisoned Empress Dowager Xie, divorced Xie's eldest sister who then died pleading for justice, and publicly beheaded the Duke of Cheng'en while exiling the Chu Clan’s direct line to Lingnan.

After the palace coup, those close to him either perished or fled.

He witnessed with his own eyes how the blood of Xie's eldest sister, who treated him like a sister and mother, turned the green brick wall behind the grievance drum crimson.

He witnessed with his own eyes how the head of Xie's second brother, who once carefully taught him archery and riding, was brutally hung on a flagpole for crows to feast on.

He witnessed with his own eyes how sweet and affectionate Ah Heng, who called him 'little uncle,' died tragically in the fire, reduced to a charred skeleton.

The once-glorious Xinguo Duke's Mansion is now surrounded by crows, overgrown with weeds, desolate and crumbling, like a ghostly ruin.

As a young man, he couldn’t save anyone.

It seemed his father was the sole victor of that coup.

From Prince Kang, he became the new emperor of Daqian.

No, there was also the Qin family.

The Qin family rose to power by backing the dragon.

In court, the Qin family’s influence ran deep and their power grew.

In the harem, the Qin women basked in unending favor, unmatched in their glory.

The Qin family saw him, the eldest prince his father promoted, as a thorn in their side.

Everyone said his father prized him, granting him unmatched honor and respect.

Ha!

Prince Duan laughed bitterly, his tone filled with despair.

"Your Highness?"

Hearing the laughter, the attendant felt a chill down his spine.

Prince Duan stopped laughing, and his expression showed no trace of abnormality.

"Have you found out who is behind the pressure on Magistrate Xu?"

The attendant replied, "Your Highness, it is Heir Gu from the Duke's family."

Suddenly, Prince Duan blinked, looking somewhat dazed.

Gu Huai?

Is Gu Huai crazy?

On one hand, he can't forget Lu Mingchao, and on the other hand, he's protecting Lu Mingchao's enemy.

He remembers Gu Huai wasn’t this messed up.

"Your Highness, maybe we should do Heir Gu a favor?" the attendant cautiously suggested.

Prince Duan’s eyebrow twitched, a faint smile playing on his lips. "Why?"

The attendant swallowed hard. "The Duke’s family holds significant influence. With Heir Gu's help, your situation will definitely improve."

"Not exactly," Prince Duan murmured.

His father might overlook his reputation for kindness and virtue, but if he secretly formed cliques and cultivated cronies, his father would no longer tolerate him!

So, he had to play this straight.

Offending Gu Huai would please his father.

His father, a ruthless man, had fooled both Emperor Wencheng and Emperor Jingxiang with his acting.

"Put the word out first thing tomorrow. I’ll personally investigate the case of my brother's murder. Tell the schemers to back off, and if they don’t, don’t blame me for being merciless and cutting them down."

"Also, write a report on Gu Huai’s interference and send it urgently to the capital for my father to handle."

The attendant hesitated. "Your Highness, won’t this piss Heir Gu off?"

Prince Duan chuckled. "My father will slap his wrist, not tarnish the Duke’s family."

"Go on, stop rambling."

The attendant silently muttered to himself.

Will this really not piss Heir Gu off?

Heir Gu’s in the middle of calling off the engagement. The smallest ripple could stir up a storm, and Heir Gu’s plans might fall apart.

The attendant wanted to speak up, but seeing Prince Duan had closed his eyes, he bowed and slipped out.

Is His Highness really not blocking Heir Gu from breaking the engagement?

When the room went quiet, Prince Duan’s eyes flicked open.

Even though Lu Mingchao refused to work with him, he still thought they could team up.

He just hoped Lu Mingchao wouldn’t wait too long.

Changxi Village.

"Who the hell is blocking the road!" Prince Duan’s guards yelled, yanking the reins, and the carriage stopped.

Lu Mingchao peeked out and saw Yunniang and Lu Lei waiting by the village gate with a lantern.

"Mother, elder brother."

Then she turned to the driver. "You can drop us here. We’ll walk from here."

The guards of Prince Duan's residence stepped down from the carriage and saluted with cupped hands, "Madam Lu, Eldest Young Master Lu."

Xie Yan and Shu Yuan got off the carriage first, helping the children down one by one, and finally, Lu Mingchao descended the carriage with Xie Yan's arm for support.

Yunniang held the lantern up to Lu Mingchao's face, studying her face closely before letting out a sigh of relief.

"I’ve caused you worry again, Mother," Lu Mingchao's voice was filled with remorse.

"Night talk"