Chapter 79 Who Knows When I’ll See Brother Again

Chapter 79: I Don’t Know When I’ll See Brother Again

Flowers bloom and wither; time flows by.

On this day, Su Zheng was unusually silent after the morning court session.

Luo Yunchen also remained surprisingly silent, saying nothing, quietly helping Su Zheng change out of his court robes.

Turning his back to Luo Yunchen, Su Zheng spoke: "You already know?"

Luo Yunchen’s hand, fastening Su Zheng’s belt, paused for a moment, then continued its work: "Did you want to hide it from me, brother?"

"Of course not. It's better to know early so you can prepare well. The journey is long and rough; if you prepare enough, you’ll avoid some hardship on the journey."

Luo Yunchen wrapped his arms around Su Zheng’s waist, embracing him from behind, buried his face in Su Zheng’s neck, kissed it, and said in a muffled voice: "Brother speaks so casually. Aren't you at all reluctant to leave me? This time, I’m returning to Beiyuan, away from the capital. I don’t know when I’ll see Brother again."

That’s right. In the morning court, a minister suggested that Heir Luo return to Beiyuan.

Emperor Yuanjing, recently been busy enjoying himself, had almost forgotten who Luo Yunchen was. He immediately waved his hand in approval, indicating that the matter wasn't worth further discussion and to move on to the next topic.

Su Zheng didn’t answer Luo Yunchen’s previous question, only said: "Didn’t we agree? I am to be the puppet in your hands, so I’ll naturally wait for you in the capital."

"But I can’t bear it! I don’t want to be separated from Brother for even a day!"

Luo Yunchen turned Su Zheng’s chin toward himself, lowered his head, and kissed him.

Knowing Luo Yunchen was unhappy, Su Zheng parted his lips to receive him reassuringly, and they kissed together.

In the following days, Luo Yunchen became busier, but no matter how busy, he would return every two days to see Su Zheng.

Sometimes he couldn’t stay even an hour, only having time for a meal under Su Zheng's watchful eye and take a short nap.

Other times, when he had more time, he would pull Su Zheng over and demand intimacy endlessly.

Knowing he would soon leave, Su Zheng didn’t refuse him, indulging him while also letting himself lose himself in the moment.

Su Zheng had little to contribute to Luo Yunchen’s preparations for returning, so he simply had the system monitor the Fifth Prince’s movements.

The Lin Faction had lost many officials in court, but the Lin family’s power remained. For the Shen family to completely eradicate the Lin family would not be easy.

However, for the Fifth Prince, his distance from the throne had grown even greater.

Successive setbacks and blows had made the Fifth Prince extremely irritable. He was now basically a rabid dog with some rationality left—might not be lethal, but you still had to watch out for bites.

In addition, Su Zheng prepared a brocade pouch for Luo Yunchen, telling him to open it only when he was near the Beiyuan border.

Luo Yunchen agreed and carefully put it away.

As time passed day by day, Su Zheng never asked Luo Yunchen on which day he would leave the capital, and Luo Yunchen seemed to have no intention of telling him.

Su Zheng even wondered if Luo Yunchen planned to leave without saying goodbye.

Or was he waiting until that day to say goodbye.

Whatever the case, since Luo Yunchen didn’t want to say, Su Zheng chose to wait quietly.

But as he waited, when that day finally came, Su Zheng was met with a stunning result.

Half-asleep and half-awake, Su Zheng vaguely heard the sounds of fighting, seemingly not far away.

In his dream, had the enemy army invaded the palace?

As his consciousness gradually cleared, the surrounding sounds grew more distinct.

Sensing something wrong, Su Zheng suddenly opened his eyes and tried to rise, but he was being held down and couldn’t get up.

"Brother, you're awake?"

Su Zheng blinked, scanned his surroundings. Familiar voice, familiar embrace, unfamiliar environment. "What's going on? Where is this? Wasn’t I in the Eastern Palace?"

Luo Yunchen didn’t answer Su Zheng’s question but said coaxingly: "Brother has been asleep for two days, you must be hungry. Have some pastries to tide you over; I’ll have someone bring food soon."

Su Zheng did feel hungry, but first he tried to figure out the current situation.

Judging by the surroundings and furnishings, he and Luo Yunchen should be in a carriage. The sounds of fighting outside were not a dream.

Connecting recent events, Su Zheng frowned and guessed: "You took me out of the capital? Where are you taking me? To Beiyuan?"

Luo Yunchen smiled and praised: "Brother is so smart, you guessed it in one try!"

Su Zheng was in no mood for banter and urgently asked: "What about the palace now that you've taken me away? The Crown Prince is missing—will this end well?"

Not to mention the chaos in the capital if the Crown Prince disappears, and the potential consequences for you.

Even my identity as the Crown Prince is the best stepping stone for you to ascend the throne.

Otherwise, it would inevitably provoke many internal conflicts, endangering even more innocent lives!

So I had to firmly occupy that position in the capital. How could I just give it up!

But Luo Yunchen remained unhurried: "Brother doesn’t need to worry. The Crown Prince is still in the capital; he hasn’t disappeared."

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I had someone pretend to be the Crown Prince and announce that when His Majesty was ill earlier, the Crown Prince made a vow: if His Majesty recovered, he would go into seclusion, eat vegetarian meals, and burn incense and pray to Buddha daily. Now that His Majesty is getting better, the Crown Prince has gone to the temple to fulfill his vow, locking himself in a meditation room and staying there, chanting sutras and praying for His Majesty day and night..."

Su Zheng was shocked, and it took him a while to come back to his senses: "This isn't something that could be arranged overnight. So you planned all along to swap me out and take me away? Then all the reluctance and sadness you showed me during this time were fake?"

"Hmm!" Luo Yunchen’s eyes flickered. He burrowed into Su Zheng’s chest, rubbed against him affectionately, and said in an aggrieved tone: "Not entirely fake! Whenever I thought of being separated from Brother, I couldn’t help feeling heartbroken and sad! And even though I had made thorough preparations, anything involving Brother always made me fear that something might go wrong. What if I failed? Then I would be separated from brother forever! How could I not worry and fear?"

"You!" Su Zheng was completely worn down and had no anger left.

Pushing away the little wolf who was still nuzzling him, Su Zheng sighed inwardly and confirmed: "Are you sure there won't be any issues in the capital?"

"Mm-hmm! Brother don’t worry, I’ve made preparations. Guard Xu is keeping an eye on things in the capital; nothing will go wrong."

Su Zheng let out a breath. His attention was drawn back to the sounds of fighting outside, which now seemed to be subsiding: "What’s happening outside?"

"A rabid dog showed up. Brother can rest assured that this time I won't let anyone harm you, brother."

Su Zheng's eyes flickered, and he asked the system: "System, is that the Fifth Prince’s people outside? Did he come himself?"

"Yes, host. The Fifth Prince came personally, but he’s about to be captured by Luo Yunchen's men."

Seeing that Su Zheng wasn’t speaking, Luo Yunchen called him again: "Brother, aren’t you hungry? I prepared these pastries especially for you. Why don’t you try some?"