Chapter 42: Too Embarrassed to Speak

Yu Shu’s eyes were red-rimmed. "Second Master, I really cannot fall asleep. His Highness the Crown Prince is probably in grave danger, yet there is nothing I can do!"

"The Crown Prince is in no danger. Her Highness need not worry."

"What did the Second Master find out?" Yu Shu looked slightly surprised. "And yet... the Second Master has not even stepped outside."

Yang Zhan gave a cough. "I have my ways of gathering information, so the Crown Prince is quite safe right now."

"That is a relief!" Yu Shu let out a breath.

With that, Yu Shu simply sat down nearby and set her lantern aside.

Goodness gracious, this woman—why on earth was she still not leaving in the middle of the night?

There was not a single guard outside, and he was, after all, a man of hot blood, while the Crown Princess was as beautiful as a flower. This was truly... being far too bold and carefree!

Yu Shu looked at Yang Zhan with a bitter smile. "Second Master, to be honest with you, I often feel that the Crown Prince should retire while he is still ahead. That way, he could live more freely and peacefully. Look at him—he has only been acting as regent for two or three days, and things have already come to this."

"You cannot put it that way. In this wide world, there is no one more deserving of inheriting the imperial throne than the Crown Prince, and it is rightfully his."

Yu Shu shook her head, seeming entirely pessimistic.

Yang Zhan frowned. "Could it be that the Crown Princess thinks this incident will have a lasting impact? You are overthinking it. This matter will not deal a heavy blow to the Crown Prince."

Yu Shu shook her head again. "I am not referring to that. Even if I used just my toes to think, I would know the Crown Prince could not possibly have sent assassins against the Empress. With His Majesty's wisdom, it is naturally not hard for him to see this as well. Therefore, it is the person behind the scenes who ought to be worried."

Yang Zhan was somewhat puzzled. "Then what are you worried about?"

"Second Master, why do you think His Majesty suddenly entertained the thought of deposing the Crown Prince?"

Yang Zhan frowned. "It must be the Empress and the Third Prince colluding with certain court officials to stir up trouble, no?"

Yu Shu shook her head once more. "Given His Majesty's wisdom, how could he fail to see through that?"

This left Yang Zhan even more bewildered. "Then what is the reason?"

"Six months ago, His Highness was placed under house arrest. Do you know the cause?"

"Previously, I had no interest in court and imperial affairs and never inquired about them. It was only when you told me earlier that I learned of this."

Yu Shu nodded, then let out a sigh. "Because of the Crown Prince's illness, His Majesty's original intention in placing him under house arrest was for him to recuperate."

"Then surely that is a good thing; it proves the old Emperor still cares deeply for the Crown Prince."

Yu Shu glanced at Yang Zhan, her complexion flushing slightly as she wore a hesitant expression, words trembling on the verge of her lips.

Yang Zhan paused, feeling that the conversation was taking a rather strange turn.

Finally, summoning her courage, Yu Shu blurted out, "The Second Master knows that the Crown Prince was wounded in Northern Ji."

"I know. Could it be that the root of his illness was left from back then?"

Suddenly, memories of the past rushed back to Yang Zhan. Back then, the Crown Prince's trousers had been soaked in blood.

In an instant, shock rippled through Yang Zhan's heart.

Had he truly been crippled at the root?

Yu Shu's face grew even redder, as if she were too embarrassed to speak of it.

However, she finally lowered her voice and murmured, "This also led to the fact that, although I entered the Eastern Palace as his bride, I have remained childless."

Yang Zhan drew in a deep breath.

For a fleeting second, he desperately wanted to ask: is the Crown Prince unable, or simply incapable?

Ultimately, Yang Zhan held his tongue. How could one possibly ask such a question?

Yet Yang Zhan now understood. What the old Emperor cared about most was that the Crown Prince lacked drive and vigor.

If there were no heirs, to whom would the throne be passed in the future?

Inevitably, it would result in another chaotic mess.

Still, Yang Zhan had never expected that Yu Shu would share such a personal matter with him.

Yu Shu lifted her flushed, pretty face slightly, her red lips parting gently.

She whispered, "Second Master, if only I could conceive and give birth to an imperial grandson, that would truly secure the Crown Prince's position. If I cannot, then the imperial power will ultimately fall into other hands, and no matter how much the Crown Prince and I struggle, it will all end in an empty dream like scooping water with a bamboo basket."

Yang Zhan frowned. "That is indeed a problem. What do the physicians say?"

"Alas, the physicians only say he needs convalescence. But after so many years of recuperation, there has been no improvement. Previously, His Majesty secretly invited a miraculous doctor to diagnose the Crown Prince in private, and the prescribed solution was for the Crown Prince to rest quietly for half a year or more. Perhaps there might be a turning point."

So that was the real reason behind the house arrest.

Yang Zhan frowned. "Do others not know? Does the Third Prince not know either?"

"He likely does not. Otherwise, the Third Prince would have long since made a huge fuss over this matter. His Majesty probably has not mentioned it to anyone."

Yang Zhan could not help asking, "Is there any turning point?"

Yu Shu lowered her gaze, her ears and neck flushed with crimson.

"There is still no turning point. However, His Highness told His Majesty that there are signs of change."

As soon as she finished speaking, Yu Shu abruptly shifted her tone, her flushed face and autumn-water eyes gazing fixedly at Yang Zhan.

"His Highness holds the Second Master in the highest regard, and the Second Master is furthermore our savior. By now, our entire family and the Second Master share a common destiny. His Highness often says that the Second Master also shares the surname Yang, and perhaps bears a deep connection to the imperial lineage."

Hearing these baffling words, Yang Zhan froze for a moment.

As Yu Shu looked at him, she suddenly stood up and walked toward him.

Yang Zhan's heart leaped violently. Was this going to turn out the way he suspected?

Right at that moment!

A voice echoed from outside, "There is a light in here! Go in and search! Sister-in-law wants to hide from me? No way!"

Yang Zhan was stunned.

Yu Shu panicked instantly. "Why has the Fifth Princess come here?!"

"She's searching this place! You handle her, I'll take my leave!"

In the blink of an eye, Yang Zhan dashed through the window and vanished without a sound.

Yu Shu stamped her foot in frustration, feeling utterly deflated.

Biting her red lip, she turned around and glared at the guards who burst in. "Get out! Have you no sense of propriety?"

The guards were startled and hastily backed out.

At that moment, the Fifth Princess, Yang Fu, stormed in aggressively.

"Sister-in-law, did you commit a guilty deed and now you dare not face me?"

"Fifth Sister, what is the meaning of this? Storming into the Eastern Palace in the dead of night—do you still know any courtesy at all?"

Yang Fu put her hands on her hips, striking a willful and overbearing posture.

"Sister-in-law, what are you doing in this secluded room?"

"Impudent! What this palace does within the Eastern Palace requires your approval, Fifth Sister?"

In an instant, the majestic aura of the Crown Princess flared to life.

That single reprimand left even the Fifth Princess momentarily stunned.

Recovering, Yang Fu raged, "You dare scold me? You and the Elder Brother conspired to harm my mother the Empress; the two of you ought to be arrested and locked away! Coming to such a secluded place in the middle of the night—you must be plotting something! Guards, search the place! There must be someone else here!"

"Yes!"

Several guards charged straight in.

Yu Shu said coldly and sternly, "Chen Shu, has he arrived?"

"This subordinate is here!"

Instantly, Chen Shu strode into the room.

A powerful surge of vital energy radiated from him, directly subduing Yang Fu's guards.

Yang Fu grew even more furious. "How dare you! Search the place! Let's see what they can do to you!"

The guards resumed their search.

Chen Shu looked toward the Crown Princess.

Without an order from her, he did not know how to act.

The Crown Princess furrowed her brow slightly. "Your elder brother has been framed, and your mother has been assassinated, yet you run to the Eastern Palace to throw a tantrum? Do you truly believe the Eastern Palace is devoid of defenders now?"

With that, Yu Shu gave an order: "Chen Shu, throw these pests out!"

"Yes!"

Chen Shu immediately went into action.

The guards were sent flying one after another through the doorway.

Seeing this, Yang Fu flew into a rage out of humiliation and lunged directly at Yu Shu.

Yu Shu did not coddle her. As the daughter of a military general, how could Yang Fu ever be her match? Within a few moves, Yu Shu had driven Yang Fu out of the room.

Immediately afterward, Yang Fu shrieked at the top of her lungs, "Uncle! If you don't come right now, your niece is going to be bullied to death!"