The peerless and dark princess

Chu Lianyue remained silent for a long time after listening to Mu Wange's description of His Majesty Chen Yan. He couldn't help but admire Mu Wange's insight. With such a small amount of information, he could actually see through Chen Yan. Even he, because of Chu Moxuan's marriage, only realized that Emperor Chen Yan was wary of their entire Yan Palace.

Chu Lianyue had long known about the soldiers and generals that his elder brother Chu Lianyao had sent on this expedition, and he was even more aware of the arrangements made by Emperor Chen Yan. How could he not understand this when he was in the court?

However, the Chu family of the Prince of Yan's Mansion had been loyal ministers for generations, so they could only secretly take care of themselves and their families and be worthy of the people of the world, without giving much thought to anything else. However, after listening to Chu Lixiao's retelling of Mu Wange's words, he felt a hint of something. Could Wange also be participating in the struggle for the throne between the princes? Didn't she ignore the Second Prince Chen Yunfeng, and there was no contact between her and the Crown Prince Chen Yunjie?

"Father, Wange actually...she is connected to Prince Heng, Zuo Ci!!"

Boom—Chu Lianyue felt the blood rushing to his head. For a moment, he couldn't recall anything else. The only thing left in his mind was, "Wangge is related to Prince Heng's Zuo Ci." She... When did she meet Zuo Ci? When did she become connected with him... Did she even know what she was doing? That was Prince Heng's mansion. His Majesty was wary of Zuo Ci. Why was Wangge involved in this?!

Chu Lianyue broke out in a cold sweat. Fortunately, this was in his own study, and the guards of Prince Yan's Mansion would not let anyone in. Otherwise, if such words were to get out, their Prince Yan's Mansion would be in trouble, and so would Prince Heng's Mansion...

"Li Xiao, did Wange say these words? How could she, a girl, understand the court more clearly than you and Li Xiu..."

"Of course, my aunt's child is smart. But, what do you think about this matter, Dad?"

"Go and call Elegy to the study."

"Okay, I'll go right away."

During the time when Chu Lixiao went out to find Mu Wange, Chu Lianyue thought about Chen Yan's recent behavior in the court. Indeed, he was becoming less and less like an emperor. He would exile or demote the heroes who had made great contributions in the past.

Jiang Hong, the Taifu who taught Chen Yan back then, was forced by Chen Yan to retire and return home... No one knows when it might be the Chu family's turn. The Chu family has always held great power. Since Emperor Taizu, Chen Yan's grandfather, their family has inherited the title of Prince of Yan's Mansion from generation to generation to guard the border for their Chen family.

"Second uncle, you're looking for me."

"Well, I want to talk to you. Let's sit down and talk."

Chu Lianyue took the pot of tea he had just brewed and placed it on the coffee table on the side of the study. "Li Xiao, come over here too."

Chu Lianyue and his son, along with Mu Wange, sat down at the coffee table and began to chat. Chu Lianyue said cryptically, "Wange, Li Xiao just said that you... you have a connection with Prince Heng, Zuo Ci..."

"Brother Li Xiao is right. It's not that they have a connection, but, they have already formed an alliance with Zuo Ci. Brother Li Xiao, he definitely didn't tell you about this."

Mu Wange's words made Chu Lianyue's hand holding the teacup tremble for a moment, and then he put the teacup down and said, "Zuo Ci? He is indeed a talented person, but if he wants to be an emperor, is there something missing? If he really has that intention, then all these years he..."

"Second uncle, how can someone in the entire Dali Dynasty still keep a low profile despite such a blow? You may not know that Prince Heng is not the playboy he appears to be. Has Your Majesty found out anything about his secret plotting over the past five years? And second uncle, you probably haven't found out anything either..."

Chu Lianyue listened to Mu Wange's description of Zuo Ci and realized that his impression of Zuo Ci still remained stuck on the image from five years ago, the one who didn't know how to restrain himself. It wasn't that long ago that everyone who mentioned Zuo Ci now had something bad to say about him, saying that he felt guilty towards his deceased relatives. So he...

"If it's really as you said, then he's too terrifying. If you form an alliance with him, you'll be plotted against..."

"Second uncle, you said Prince Heng is scary, but is he as scary as being schemed against? I, Mu Wange, have even been through the schemes in the Shangshu Mansion, so what else should I be afraid of? Besides, I'm not a soft persimmon that will be bullied. Of course, the cooperation between Prince Heng and I will not involve the Chu family..."

"Wange, what are you talking about? We are all family members. We wish you could rely more on our Chu family. If Zuo Ci is really as you said, this is not an option. However, this matter still needs to be discussed with your grandfather and your uncle who is far away in the border. Wange, we still don't want you to get too close to Zuo Ci..."

Mu Wange understood that after all, Chu Lianyao was still the head of the Prince of Yan's Mansion. Even though Chu Lianyue and Chu Lianyao had a good relationship, some important matters still had to be discussed by Grandpa Chu and Chu Lianyao before a decision could be made.

Of course, Mu Wange didn't know that Zuo Ci had truly decided to rebel because of her words, and she was just trying to force Zuo Ci to make this decision. Because Zuo Ci hated the entire royal family, but he was very principled... This was why Mu Wange decided to choose him.

At night, when Mu Wange finally had a break after a busy day, she suddenly felt something was wrong. Mu Wange felt helpless and said, "Zuo Ci, come out now. I know you are here."

"Oh, that's so boring. I thought I could scare you."

Mu Wange glanced at Zuo Ci and said, "Mr. Zuo visits my boudoir almost every time. Even the most fearful person has been trained by you to be fearless."

"Um~~~"

Zuo Ci pretended to be romantic and waved the fan in his hand, "Indeed, this is my fault. It's all because of Miss Mu that people are so obsessed with her..."

"Tell me, what do you want from me this time?"

"Can't I find you if I have nothing to do?"

Mu Wange glanced at him and said nothing, "..."

"Ah, I thought you would be sad today, so I sneaked into Prince Yan's mansion under the moonlight to comfort you. You are so ungrateful."

"Okay, thank you. I'm not sad," Mu Wange said calmly, "It's been more than three years. People always have to move on. I'm not a child anymore. I don't need anyone's comfort."

"Okay, it seems you're really fine. But why didn't you bring Xiaojiu with you this time?"

"Let her do some work in the mansion. By the way, how is Qiao Yan doing?"

"What's going on with her, um~"

Zuo Ci remembered that he had arranged someone to be next to Qiao Yan. "The new-looking maid next to Qiao Yan was arranged by me. She can handle anything. You can also contact her in the mansion if you have any problems..."

Mu Wange thought to herself that they were really quick to place someone next to Qiao Yan. She didn't know that they were sending them to Qiao Yan in her name. "Tell me, who else are your people?"

"That's all. You really think I have a lot of people to support. Training these people is very expensive. Oh, right, which ones did you ask me to help train? It will be ready in three to five days. Ask Zuo Jiu to go..."