Chapter 272: [Emperor's Story 24] Exposed
After Yun Wan decided to befriend Jing Chen, she began to pay closer attention to him and the people around him.
Normally, she followed the Fifth Princess around, so she pulled out one of the palace maids working as a mole under Marquis Weiyuan and ordered her to keep a close eye on the Sixth Prince's movements. However, she didn't think that this strategic surveillance would bring out an important piece of information to light.
That mole had just been assigned to the Autumn Dusk Palace, and as a sweeping palace maid, she was usually responsible for handling miscellaneous chores around the Autumn Dusk Palace's halls.
One morning, while she was cleaning the side hall where the Sixth Prince resided, she heard the faint muffles of moans by chance. Mustering up her courage to see where it came from, she walked a little closer and hid behind a large tree, soon seeing the Sixth Prince and his personal eunuch come out in slightly dishevelled clothing.
"I didn't expect that the Sixth Prince would have such tastes..."
Pure disgust showed up on the palace maid's face, but Yun Wan's expression didn't change upon hearing this.
"What else can't take place in this palace?" It was merely some fun with a eunuch. Having already heard several tainted palace stories from her paternal aunt Consort Hui, Yun Wan didn't think too much of it. "The Sixth Prince is already at an age where he admires pretty girls, and Consort Rong hasn't even given him a bedfellow yet. In all likelihood, the eunuch must've tempted him by some means..."
Yun Wan grew up living in a rear court full of sly women in Marquis Weiyuan's house, so she naturally knew about men's conducts. Besides, both the Third and Fourth Princes were keeping a number of beauties in their respective harems, so if she had to place a bet on someone, it was still the best to place it onto the Sixth Prince, who merely played around with a little eunuch.
Moreover, she was only aiming for the highest position in the world, not for a silly infatuated man.
"That's enough. You must keep this matter to yourself."
Yun Wan waved her hand with authority, signalling for the maid to retreat. She then sank into deep contemplation as she walked towards the main hall. Consort Rong had invited her to dine with the Fifth Princess today, so she couldn't help but think it was a good opportunity.
Originally, she didn't understand why Jing Chen would take revenge against the princes and princess from the shadows, risking himself to be exposed just for the sake of a little eunuch getting hurt. But now that she had heard the palace maid's report, Yun Wan had finally been enlightened regarding their relationship.
Yet, this couldn't go on. People who were destined to accomplish great things naturally shouldn't cling to simple feelings of affection as they grew. If the Sixth Prince were to always be affected by this little eunuch when he handled matters and executed decisions, how could he go far?
As such, Yun Wan made a resolve. Since he hadn't fully grown up yet, she was going to give him a little push, feeling absolutely certain that he was going to be grateful to her in the future.
*
Jing Chen was called to go to the main hall alone by Concubine Rong.
Chu Jiao was left all alone in the side hall, tidying up her master's room when suddenly, the door was rammed open and in came two large burly eunuchs, rushing towards her.
Even though Chu Jiao didn't know any martial arts in this world at the beginning, after being passive in the world of the ROC, she began to consciously pick up the basic self-defense techniques and had been recently taking up martial arts along with Jing Chen.
She stooped down to avoid the two's attack and quickly picked up the vase at the side, smashing it on one of their heads with heavy force.
As she was dodging them, she couldn't help but ponder over the reason for the appearances of these two people.
Jing Chen was now going to school sincerely and even kept a low profile, not involving himself into any sort of trouble. She, on the other hand, was just an insignificant little eunuch, never displaying herself into the eyes of nobles at all. Unless...
Unless the matter of their affair had been exposed.
The person hit by the vase lost consciousness, while the other eunuch fiercely grabbed her wrist with a ruthless look on his face. Chu Jiao, in turn, picked up a broken piece of porcelain on the ground and slashed his hand with it, blood immediately spilling onto the ground. The person let go of her from the sharp pain, and Chu Jiao immediately tore off the bed curtains, wrapping the person's face with it before smashing a block of porcelain on him.
Seeing the both of them lose consciousness for the time being, Chu Jiao finally let out a breath of relief.
Looking at the messy inner room, Chu Jiao panted heavily, her mind working tirelessly.
Since Concubine Rong had sent for Jing Chen alone, it meant that she had made up her mind to punish the little eunuch. Jing Chen probably wasn't going to come back unless the two eunuchs had successfully followed orders and captured her. Without their report, Chu Jiao was certain that Consort Rong was definitely going to send more people over to capture her.
If the secret matter between her and Jing Chen had truly gotten out, it would leave a great stain on Jing Chen's reputation. This was probably why Consort Rong was unwilling to make it public and secretly ordered people to take her away...
However, if she was really taken away right now, she may not live long enough to see the sun rise tomorrow.
What was the only thing she could do now...
Hearing the footsteps coming in thick and fast from outside the room, Chu Jiao didn't have time to leave a message for Jing Chen and swiftly opened the window to flee.
[Completed]