Translator – Xiao He Lian
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Chapter 130 Extra 3
Prince Teng and Lu Yan stared at each other, neither backing down.
The secret within this golden tower must never be discovered. The existence of a hidden passage in Chang’an—unknown even to the Emperor—was tantamount to inviting disaster.
Prince Teng understood why Lu Yan had come, but this time, he truly was innocent.
To be honest, someone like Prince Teng, who had carved out his own power base in the treacherous world of court politics, was certainly not so foolish as to misunderstand the Emperor’s veiled warnings.
After the incident during the Lantern Festival, he had clearly sensed the Emperor’s displeasure. As a gesture of remorse, he had even abstained from alcohol for months.
Who would have expected—One day, Xu Wei staggered into the golden tower in a daze.
The Xu family had fallen. Those who had once called Xu Wei “brother” scattered like the wind. At that point, the only person he could turn to was likely Prince Teng.
Leaning on the prince’s shoulder, Xu Wei said, “Your Highness, you won’t throw me out too, will you?”
Prince Teng’s mouth twitched.
Despite everything, Xu Wei had once been a close associate. As long as this secret passage existed, Prince Teng could never sever ties completely.
So he brought Xu Wei into a private room, serving him fine food and wine.
Xu Wei drank cup after cup, then suddenly raised his goblet and said with a slight sway, “Your Highness, I’ve killed two girls.”
Prince Teng felt a jolt in his chest.
At first, he assumed they were servant girls or brothel women, but when he pressed further, he learned they were daughters of respectable families.
One was the daughter of a Hu merchant, the other of a mid-ranking official.
Blood surged to Prince Teng’s head.
Even a man like him—who had consorted with countless women, frequently spending nights in the red-light districts and felt no sympathy for delicate beauties—had never laid a hand on girls from decent families.
He said gravely, “Where are they buried? Did you clean it up?”
Xu Wei curled his lips and said, “One I dumped by the riverbank. The other, on the street.”
Grabbing his collar, Prince Teng growled, “Are you insane? Xu Wei, have you lost your mind?! Are you trying to drag me down with you?”
Xu Wei whispered, “I wouldn’t dare. I just hoped Your Highness could help me.”
At that point—how could he not help?
Gritting his teeth, Prince Teng agreed.
When Xu Wei got dead drunk again, he made another request: to keep staying at the golden tower. Helpless, Prince Teng reluctantly nodded.
By then, he already had a vague feeling something was wrong—Xu Wei seemed deranged.
What he didn’t expect was that Xu Wei would use the hidden passage to keep killing, venting his fury through murder…
By the time Prince Teng fully realized what was happening, eight lives had already been taken.
Eight entire lives—something was bound to happen.
Looking at Lu Yan, Prince Teng said solemnly, “LuYan, I’ve always had a good relationship with the Princess. You don’t need to go this far, do you?”
“If Your Highness won’t let me pass, I’ll have to force my way in.” With that, Lu Yan turned to Yang Zong and ordered, “Search the place.”
Prince Teng clenched his fists and roared, “Don’t you dare!”
But Lu Yan dared indeed.
A fight broke out. Yang Zong stormed inside.
The truth couldn’t be hidden: there was a secret passage in Chang’an—and there was silver hidden within. That very night, word reached Emperor Chengyuan.
Enraged, the Emperor immediately summoned and interrogated both Lord Suning and Xu Wei. Under brutal torture, the two confessed everything.
Yao Bin emerged from the Tiansheng Hall, shaking his head and sighing, muttering, “The Xie and Xu families… their fate is sealed.”
Even Prince Teng would be banished from Chang’an.
—
Time passed slowly, yet quickly. Two months flew by.
One evening, Lu Yan stepped down from his carriage. Rubbing the bridge of his nose, he walked into the Suning Hall. Reaching the doorway, he saw it was slightly ajar.
Looking up, he caught sight of Lu Heng and Shen Zhen chatting and laughing. Her eyes curved like a crescent moon, and a dimple appeared at the corner of her lips.
The man’s steps faltered.
She seemed so happy when she was with others.
He hadn’t meant to eavesdrop on two young women’s conversation, but then Lu Heng sighed and said, “Sister-in-law, I feel very nervous when I think about getting engaged.”
Shen Zhen asked, “Have you met the Tenth Son of the Lu family[mfn](It’s a different surname with a different character from Lu Yan’s fam. Lu Yan’s surname is 陆, Lu, while this Lu family surname is 卢,Lu)[/mfn]?”
Lu Heng replied, “Twice. But… I don’t really like him. My mother though—she thinks he’s perfect from head to toe.”
Shen Zhen asked, “Why don’t you like him?”
Lu Heng pouted. “His voice is icy. It was summer last time I saw him—sun blazing in the sky—but when he opened his mouth, it felt like the depths of winter.”
Just thinking of him made Lu Heng uncomfortable. She added, “He’s… kind of like my third brother, in some odd way.”
Shen Zhen burst out laughing.
Lu Heng had badmouthed Lu Yan more than a few times behind his back.
Grabbing Shen Zhen’s hand, Lu Heng said in a low voice, “Don’t laugh! I mean it! If he had my third brother’s face, maybe I could endure it. But he’s big and burly—when he gets angry, he’s really just… indescribable.”
In her eyes, Lu Yan had plenty of flaws, but his appearance and bearing were beyond reproach.
Shen Zhen said gently, “If you really don’t like him, you should tell your mother. Once you’re engaged, you won’t be able to say these things anymore.”
“I know, I know… I just need to figure out how to bring it up…” Lu Heng muttered. “Honestly, it’s just human nature. Who doesn’t like a gentle and handsome man? You do too, right?”
Shen Zhen thought seriously, then nodded. “Yes.”
Just then—creak—the door made a sound.
Lu Yan stood at the doorway, looking at Lu Heng. “What are you doing here?”
The two girls turned back together, startled.
From his tone, Lu Heng figured he had just arrived.
She laughed awkwardly, stood up quickly, and pointed to the table. “I came to bring my Sister-in-law some pastries.”
Lu Yan gave her a look that said “leave.”
The door slowly closed.
He walked over, sat beside Shen Zhen, and said softly, “I didn’t come home last night because of official business. I sent someone to let you know. Did you get the message?”
“Tang Yue told me,” Shen Zhen replied, glancing toward the bed. “Do you want to rest a bit?”
“No rush.” He suddenly took her hand, gently rubbing her palm. “Did you sleep well alone last night? Were you scared?”
She gave him a puzzled look, nodded, then shook her head.
Lu Yan touched her face, voice low: “You’ve gotten too thin. You should eat more.”
Shen Zhen frowned instinctively.
What kind of weird tone was that?
Dark clouds drifted in from afar. Tree shadows swayed. The wind whispered through the windows. As she stood to shut them, Lu Yan pulled her back onto his lap.
He leaned in suddenly, their eyes met. With a half-smile, he murmured, “I heard my wife likes gentle, handsome men. Now—tell me—what counts as ‘good’?”
Her heart dropped. Glancing at the door, she asked, “When did you get back?”
Lu Yan didn’t answer. He slid a hand around her slender waist like caressing fine porcelain. In no time, her body responded. Pressing close, he slowly guided her toward the bed.
Shen Zhen pushed him, whispering, “What are you doing? Mother just said she wanted to play chess with me…”
Outside, the rain suddenly began to fall, soft and steady. As rain mingled with breath, Lu Yan leaned down to nibble her ear, murmuring sweet words one after another, making her ears flush red.
When she melted in his arms, he chuckled. “So… you like this? But didn’t you say you liked that?”
Shen Zhen’s face turned crimson.
Just as his hand slid up her back, she frowned. “Wait!”
Her tone was wrong, Lu Yan looked down at her, “What’s wrong?”
She suddenly covered her mouth—and retched.
