Masquerade in Bridal Attire and Marry the Prince

146. A Honey Trap

Translator: yimin

Chang Guangqing remained wordless for a while as he couldn’t find the word to describe his feelings; instead, he replied in agreement with Commissioner Chang by slightly lowering his head.

“Father, time is running out. Today is the last day but Prince Yuxing Wei isn’t even close to the truth. Should we really leave this to those low-rank swordsmen and swordswomen?”

Commissioner Chang sighed after pondering for a while, “We have come to a dead end. If we can’t find a scapegoat, I am afraid this will soon go public. ”

If so, then the Han Emperor would not only admonish them for inefficiency, but for engaging with swordsmen and swordswomen from Sect Luo. None of them would come out of this looking good.

With this thought in mind, Commissioner Chang immediately suggested,  “I will pay Prince Yuxing Wei a visit today for the result. I assume he won’t sit there and let this happen. “Chang Guangqing remained silent on hearing this as he was considering the possibility of Luo Xuan and Luo Tianrui getting away with this.

Meanwhile, there was a massive gathering around the gate of Xiangyang City. A nosy passer-by managed to get in front to find out why, “What’s happening here? Why are there so many people?”

“Aren’t you the most well-informed? How come you didn’t hear the news? Listen, the Emperor is having a round of imperial consort selection. Candidates include those from high-ranks and plebian ranks as well. A successful candidate will assume the position of an imperial consort instead of an imperial officer.

The person who asked questions earlier was surprised by the answer. “No way, His Majesty already had a grown-up crown prince. Why should he want new consorts?” No wonder people couldn’t believe the news as the Emperor had kept his harem empty for years. It would take time for people to accept the news.

Du Chuxuan and Yuxing Tianrui happened to walk here and saw the announcement on billboard. Du Chuxuan couldn’t help shaking his head when he heard the news, “Now I wonder, since His Majesty didn’t actually dismiss the harem, how many consorts does he keep in secret for years?”

Yuxing Tianrui didn’t answer but snorted then turned around to look at the announcement on the billboard. “Well, he sent some outside the palace after they gave birth to a kid. My third brother Yuxing Wei is a convincing example of this secret system.”

“True, but once there are too many princes outside the palace, it will be impossible to hide them. I am afraid people will be stunned to know how many illegitimate children His Majesty has.”

Du Chuxuan once again shook his head when thinking about the number of bastard princes. His Majesty would be the only person wealthy enough to raise love children in secret; simultaneously, however, he also wondered if the bastards found out their identities someday, would they fight for legitimacy?

“Can you hear me?” Yuxing Tianrui slapped on Du Chuxuan’s head to get his attention. “Now that we knew the murderer was hired by my third brother to search for you, what you are planning to do with him? Hiding from him?”

According to their analysis, the murderer was about to commit another crime within these two days, but Du Chuxuan seemed not bothered at all. Yuxing Tianrui was worried if they didn’t act quick, more innocent people would suffer.

Yet Du Chuxuan remained calm. He bought one stick of candied hawthorns and enjoyed it. His voice sounded unclear because of the hawthorns, “Why rush? Your brother should be worried as he might lose his royal title.” Revenge was a dish best served cold and now that they had set up a honey trap, they should wait until those people walked right into it.

They then returned to their safe house only to find out Luo Yi holding two letters with a strange look on his face.

“What’s going on?”

“Master, I found these two letters on the table when I came back. One seemed to be sent by Master Jiu Dengdan and the other was sent anonymously. ”

Du Chuxuan felt very strange about the anonymous letter as their safe house remained secret to many members of Sect Luo, not to mention people outside. Prince Yuxing Wei had been searching for them for days yet in vein.

Du Chuxuan grabbed both letters and opened the first one. “Well, well. Just as I expect, my master abandons me once he gets what he wants. ”

Du Chuxuan quickly finished reading the letter then headed it to Yuxing Tianrui. He suddenly realized something and sprung up, “That old stager won’t leave so soon unless he…” Du Chuxuan quickly jumped onto the bed and searched under his pillow, then burst out of a moan.

“I knew it! I knew it! He was penniless when he reached me. He won’t leave here without my money! That despicable codger!”

Yuxing Tianrui stood there with no idea of Du Chuxuan sudden cry. He looked at the bed and found somehow there was a rosewood box with fine patterns on it.

“What’s that —”

“That’s where I keep my money! We will need money later on. If I don’t save some, where else should we get money? But that old dog sniffed my money and stole it!” Du Chuxuan said with his grinding teeth when he gazed at the letter in Yuxing Tianrui’s hands — there were a few words at the back of the letter that he missed reading.

“My dear Du Chuxuan, I know you are the kindest. I should thank you for saving money for me, you old sweet master, and I should repay you anytime when you need me. But now I need one last favor from you: would you mind taking good care of that kid you planned to leave to me? Be nice to him!”

Du Chuxuan once again ground his teeth out of anger. That sounded like something his wrench master would do: steeling his money, boasting about it in more words than bidding him a proper farewell. Du Chuxuan called Luo Er in: “Luo Er!”

Luo Er showed up at Du Chuxuan’s service with the kid at his arms, “My master, believe me, I do want Master Jiu Dengdan to take the kid with him. But he disappeared before I could ask him to do so.”

Du Chuxuan bristled with rage when he heard of this. Yuxing Tianrui, on the other hand, felt rather fun to see Du Chuxuan boiling with anger.

“There is another letter. Read it first.” Yuxing Tianrui handed the other letter to Du Chuxuan as he was more interested in it and tried to distract Du Chuxuan with it.

Although Du Chuxuan was also curious about the other letter, he was too depressed to read it as he was still heartbroken for his lost money and his new parenting responsibility; besides, he somehow figured out the contents, yet he wished not to say them out loud.

Yuxing Tianrui who held the letter, on the other hand, felt very differently about it from Du Chuxuan.