LGHTNOVELBOOK Chapter 727 - 727: Unfortunately, She Is a Daughter
Chapter 727: Chapter 727: Unfortunately, She Is a Daughter
As he saw the exit of the secret tunnel approaching, Zhao Yuanlang waved his hand.
“The exit is just ahead. You can go back first. Remember to take good care of Ruyu. If anything happens to her, don’t blame me for disregarding sentiment and punishing you severely!”
Instead of turning back, Di Yelei chuckled and chatted lightly.
“Your Majesty, please rest assured. Sisi is my life! Even if I sacrifice my own life, I won’t let anyone hurt her. Please don’t worry!”
His words made Zhao Yuanlang look back involuntarily.
Di Yelei’s skin was of a bronze color, shining healthily in the radiance of the torchlight. His prominent features were sharp and chiseled, with broad, furrowed eyebrows slanting upwards. His nose was tall, and the corners of his mouth were curved slightly upward, revealing a bright white set of teeth.
“Well said! Although I have three princesses in my imperial harem, Ruyu alone is an exception. My feelings for Xin’er are beyond ordinary comprehension. I hope you can love Ruyu like I love Xin’er. Cherish her forever, treasure her…” Zhao Yuanlang’s voice grew lower and lower.
“Your Majesty, you are overthinking it!”
Di Yelei shook his head with a light smile: “Ye Lei and Sisi are husband and wife. What Yelei values in her is not her identity as Prefecture Princess Ruyu but the real Liu Sisi. I will try to accommodate her strengths and weaknesses because she is Ye Lei’s wife, our children’s mother, and the person I genuinely love!”
“Well said! I’ve indeed not misjudged you. Entrusting Ruyu to you, I feel at ease!”
Zhao Yuanlang sincerely praised Di Yelei, as he could easily feel the determination in his heart!
“The tunnel exit is up ahead? You should go back, lest Ruyu be worried.”
“Your Majesty, don’t worry about me. Sisi repeatedly instructed me to make sure Your Majesty safely exits the tunnel. If Ye Lei gives up halfway, I’d have to kneel on a washboard and break a couple of pieces again when I get back.”
Di Yelei’s joking remark made everyone laugh heartily.
As they crawled out of the tunnel exit, they were greeted with a refreshing coolness. Looking around, the exit was located on the hillside of the back mountain, north of Macheng County. The stars in the sky were shining brilliantly.
“I must say, having the exit here is indeed excellent, and it directly saves us the trouble of leaving the city. Very good! Very good!” Zhao Yuanlang praised continuously.
What Zhao Yuanlang didn’t know was that this was the first time Liu Sisi had used the tunnel since its completion.
If one were to inquire about the reason, it was because the tunnel was only meant to be used in emergencies and not to be used lightly. Today, Zhao Yuanlang specifically asked about it, so Liu Sisi decided to use it.
“Your Majesty, you’re right. Prefecture Princess Ruyu’s arrangements are indeed good, saving us the trouble of leaving the city. Brilliant! Truly brilliant!”
“When I was initially wronged and imprisoned, Sisi designed these tunnels and had Li Sect’s people construct them. They’ve never been used since completion.”
Di Yelei pointed to the surrounding mountains: “This is the north mountain outside Macheng County. You can reach the official road by walking to the left or right. However, the terrain in this area is very complicated. I rarely come here and know little about the surrounding terrain…”
Di Yelei told Zhao Yuanlang everything he knew about the terrain, including where to find water sources, where to stop for a meal, and where the dangerous spots were, describing them in detail.
“Hmm, this is good. With this understanding, we won’t have to worry.”
What Zhao Yuanlang didn’t say was that he was very familiar with the area. Di Yelei’s mention of the dangerous places was what he didn’t know, so he hastily ordered someone to note it down.
“In that case, I shall take my leave! Lord Father-in-law, please take care!”
It was not until this moment that Zhao Yuanlang realized that Di Yelei had always treated him with the courtesy of a son-in-law. Once he understood this, his affection for Di Yelei increased by several points.
“Go! Think about the proposal I mentioned earlier, both you and Sisi!”
“Certainly!”
As he watched Di Yelei’s receding figure, Zhao Yuanlang couldn’t help but voice his confusion.
“Tell me, why won’t Ruyu follow me into the capital? No matter what she wants, I can give it to her!”
Eunuch Xiao followed closely behind Zhao Yuanlang with bowed head, burying it even lower when he heard the question.
“The servant does not know Prefecture Princess Ruyu’s plan. Regardless, allowing the servant to boldly speculate, perhaps Prefecture Princess Ruyu is unwilling to enter the capital for fear of leaving her family and children behind.”
“It seems you are right, women are different once they marry, hence the saying of a woman marrying outwards.”
Zhao Yuanlang paused for a moment, then quickened his pace, “Xiao, what do you think? Will Xin’er blame me for treating Ruyu this way? Think of the concubines and empress in the palace, how none of them resemble my Xin’er…”
For a moment, the surroundings were utterly silent, save for the sound of footsteps on the ground, the rustling of air and wild grass as it was stirred.
“Your Majesty, may I be pardoned for my impudence, but there are a few things I’m not sure if I should say.”
“Speak! I pardon you in advance.”
“For years, this old servant has followed Your Majesty’s side, witnessing the diligent and devoted management of the nation’s affairs, often staying awake at night worrying about Lin Master. The servant dares to say a few things that should not be said.”
Eunuch Xiao bowed deeply, “The Empress is the mistress of the palace; although she has known Your Majesty since childhood, she still needs to be cherished, and not neglected. As for Honored Princess Consort Yang, although her family is an imperial relative, both inside and outside the court, they hold great power; I beg Your Majesty to be cautious. Virtuous Princess Consort Luo is both astute and intelligent, and the power behind her, Prince Luo, should not be underestimated. As for the other concubines and nobles, Your Majesty should also be impartial and generous.”
“At present, facing internal strife and external threats, Your Majesty might consider borrowing some power from them… and as for Lin Master, please heed the words of this old servant – that person has passed, and Your Majesty only needs to keep them in mind. As for Prefecture Princess Ruyu… she is, after all, a woman…”
Eunuch Xiao prattled on for a long time, just to say that last sentence.
“Yes! She is, after all, just a woman. Otherwise… Hmph!” Having said that, Zhao Yuanlang strode forward.
If Ruyu was not a woman, what would be wrong with entrusting the world to her?
Years ago, he had failed Xin’er’s entrusted responsibilities, and now, he would do everything in his power to protect their only bloodline, the continuation of their lives!
Eunuch Xiao was soaked in cold sweat!
If Prefecture Princess Ruyu were not a woman, would she still be alive today? Those who want to take her life would be enough to circle the Great Wall.
“Did someone else teach you to say those words? This time, I already gave my word, so I won’t punish you. But if there’s a next time, Hmph! Don’t blame me for not cherishing old memories!”
Did they all think that he, Zhao Yuanlang, was a fool?
“Your Majesty is wise!”
Eunuch Xiao was frightened nearly out of his wits, hurriedly flattering and catching up with Zhao Yuanlang’s rapid steps.