After I traveled through the book, I fought back in the Hou Mansion

Chapter 489

Who doesn't like to hear nice words? Even the prince is no exception. The Sixth Prince quietly suppressed the corners of his slightly raised mouth, cleared his throat, and tried to straighten his expression. He then asked, "Since you are waiting for someone, who on earth has the audacity to place you in Fengzhao Palace?"

Seeing Luo Shuiyao's puzzled expression, he compassionately explained, "This is the late Queen's residence. Father never lets anyone near. To avoid angering Father, you'd better not stay here."

The Sixth Prince had good intentions, but Luo Shuiyao did not say that she was invited here by the father he mentioned. She just nodded slightly and replied "yes".

The Sixth Prince was very pleased with her obedient attitude and said, "Then you wait here. I am leaving now."

After saying that, he turned around and was about to leave the same way he came.

Luo Shuiyao bowed and saw him off respectfully, but she didn't expect that he would stop after taking a few steps and turn to look at her.

Luo Shuiyao looked puzzled, guessing that he might have something else to say, so she didn't ask, but just waited quietly.

The Sixth Prince looked rather uneasy. He blinked, then forced himself to remain calm. "This prince suddenly remembered that my lessons are finished for the day and I have nothing else to do. Since you're waiting for someone here, you must be bored. So, let me keep you company for a while—don't thank me."

Ah! This...

Luo Shuiyao secretly complained in her heart: I'm afraid the one who is really bored is you.

Her face didn't show any emotion, and her tone remained respectful: "Thank you for your consideration, Sixth Prince. I've been waiting here for a long time, and it's really been a great honor for me to have Your Highness accompany me."

After hearing this, the Sixth Prince couldn't hide the satisfaction on his face. He immediately waved his hand and motioned Luo Shuiyao to go to the pavilion next to him.

Luo Shuiyao followed obediently - the pavilion was right in front of Fengzhao Palace, not far away. She thought that when Emperor Yuanzhen came, he would be able to see it easily, so she followed him with confidence.

When they arrived at the pavilion, the Sixth Prince first motioned for her to sit down. Then, with his hands behind his back, he spoke in a loud and poised voice, "What should I call you?"

"Oh, by the way, I am the Sixth Prince." At the end, he added a self-introduction.

"Your Highness, the Sixth Prince, my name is Luo Shuiyao. I am just a merchant girl. Your Highness, please just call me by my name."

The Sixth Prince didn't agree with her. Instead, he asked, "Miss Luo, is there anything interesting happening outside the palace? Since you're bored, why don't you tell me about it? It'll help you kill some time."

Luo Shuiyao seemed unaware of the eager curiosity in his eyes. After a moment's thought, she began to talk about the fun places in Beijing - like the acrobatic troupe in the East Market and Taohuawu on the banks of the West River. She also mentioned the sugar-steamed cheese in the shop at the end of the alley and the jerky at the street corner. Her description was detailed and vivid.

The Sixth Prince became increasingly fascinated by what he heard, and the longing in his eyes almost overflowed.

Although he was a prince, his fate was not good: his mother was originally a talented woman, but because she was not favored, she was only promoted to the rank of Zhaorong after giving birth to him, and died early before he grew up. Since then, he has been alone in this deep palace.

He wasn't as favored by his father as his third brother, nor as brave and skilled in battle as his eldest brother, nor was he granted a fiefdom at an early age like his second brother. Remembering only his mother's dying words to "keep yourself hidden," he feigned indifference and rarely interacted with others—for fear that his third brother, the one with the most power, would notice him and mistakenly believe he was vying for the throne, costing him his life.

He was young, but not foolish. His father had many concubines in his youth, but only a handful of princes and princesses survived to adulthood. Most of them, like him, came from families of humble origin and low status. Back then, Imperial Concubine Cheng (the mother of his third brother) was at the height of her power. Was her influence in the premature deaths of those children? He could only hide his incompetence and withdraw from the world to survive any longer in this palace.

But no matter how sensible he was, he was only a ten-year-old child. His curiosity could not be suppressed, and he yearned for the world outside the palace. Now that he had finally met Luo Shuiyao, an "outsider", those long-buried desires finally emerged under the pretext of listening to her stories.

"I heard from the palace guards that the juggler can breathe fire and walk barefoot on blades. Is this true?"

The more the Sixth Prince listened, the more interested he became. He even threw away the airs he had been pretending to be. He unconsciously moved forward, his eyes shining like falling stars, and asked eagerly.

At this moment, he had shed the restraint and disguise of the palace, and was no different from the children outside the palace who loved to ask questions about new things.

Looking at his sparkling eyes, Luo Shuiyao couldn't help but chuckle, then nodded and said, "Indeed, it is. Your Highness can see it with your own eyes when there is a chance in the future."

Upon hearing this, the light in the Sixth Prince's eyes gradually dimmed. A prince could only leave the palace when he reached adulthood and was crowned king, or when accompanying his father on tours. Only then could he see the sights beyond the palace. But he had never been valued by his father, and in his entire life, he had never set foot outside the palace. He wondered how long it would take for him to witness those acrobatics in person.

Thinking of this, there was a hint of lingering sadness in his eyes.

Luo Shuiyao saw his expression suddenly wither, his head drooping, devoid of his previous liveliness. After a moment's thought, she guessed the reason and sighed softly. After all, she was only a woman from outside the palace, her status was far superior to hers. How could she be qualified to comfort the prince? She could only pretend she hadn't noticed the loss and silently looked away.

At the same time, Emperor Yuanzhen had already summoned his ministers and was about to go to Fengzhao Palace, but was stopped by Ye Yunzhou and stopped in his tracks.

He looked at the man kneeling in the hall with a gloomy face. His handsome eyes were deep and unfathomable, and no emotion could be seen at all.

Ye Yunzhou knelt on the ground with his hands hanging by his sides. He looked respectful and submissive, but his back was straight without any bend.

"You mean to say that your fiancée was kidnapped and disappeared, and now you want me to send someone to find her for you?"

Emperor Yuanzhen's voice was not loud, but it carried the unique pressure of an emperor. Every word was like cold jade falling in the hall, making the air a little heavier. His eyes fell directly on Ye Yunzhou, as if he wanted to see through his thoughts.

Ye Yunzhou bowed again, his voice calm but anxious, "My fiancée and I have a deep bond. Now she has been abducted for no reason. I am filled with anxiety and am restless. I hope Your Majesty will consider my love for my wife and allow someone to search for her."

Seeing Ye Yunzhou acting like he was in a state of panic, as if his wife had been abducted, Emperor Yuanzhen almost laughed out loud. He hadn't intended to hide Luo Shuiyao from anyone by bringing her into the palace, so it was only natural that Ye Yunzhou knew the news.

What truly infuriated him was the minister's wishful thinking—he was actually trying to put him on a pedestal! Under the pretext of "exchanging tokens and secretly committing to a lifetime," he had declared Luo Shuiyao his fiancée. If he tried to keep the girl in the palace, wouldn't he be seen by the world as a monarch who had forcibly seized a minister's wife?