After the Crybaby Married the Disabled Villain - Chapter 29

Lu Shiyan departed silently, taking the two foxes with him.

Lu Mufeng couldn’t shake the feeling that the man had given him a meaningful look before leaving. Clearly, I should be the one who’s angry here, right?

Shen Heng looked at the tiger’s corpse on the ground, his expression grave. “This white tiger isn’t wearing a token, and it looks exactly like the one the Second Prince requested from the Emperor yesterday.”

This immediately caught Lu Mufeng’s attention. He hurried over and crouched down to inspect the beast. The tiger was quite different from an ordinary white tiger; its build was larger, its markings were perfectly symmetrical and exquisite, and its bloodline appeared exceptionally pure.

“It is indeed Second Brother’s. I visited his quarters out of curiosity last night to see it. Why would it be here today?”

An Yu raised an eyebrow. Lu Youqi really was impatient, using his newly acquired tiger to commit a crime he wasn’t even afraid people would connect the dots.

“The darkest place is under the candle,” Shen Heng muttered.

If Lu Youqi insisted that someone else had used his tiger to carry out the attack, wouldn’t he turn himself into a victim who had lost his beloved pet?

An Yu shrugged helplessly. “We’ll see what he has to say later.”

“I’m sorry.” Lu Mufeng lowered his head, staring despondently at the ground. “I know Second Brother did this. I apologize on his behalf.”

An Yu flipped back onto his horse with a clean, swift motion. “Fourth Prince, this matter has nothing to do with you. Even if my Highness and your Second Brother truly become irreconcilable in the future, it still won’t have anything to do with you.”

With that, An Yu turned his horse and galloped away.

Lu Mufeng stood frozen in place for a long time, his heart heavy. He murmured, “Shen Heng, I just want all my brothers to be well. Why is that not possible?”

“Since ancient times, there has never been true brotherly harmony within the Imperial family.” Shen Heng paused, then added: “Mufeng, the Crown Prince’s leg injury was no accident.”

“I know. We have always owed Imperial Brother.”

“If…”

“If that day truly comes, I will return what is owed to him.”

“The second day has ended. The general results can now be made public.”

“Indeed. Though, I truly want to see how much the Crown Princess managed to hunt.”

“Hmph. The Crown Prince claimed his illness flared up and went back to rest early. If you ask me, he probably fled early to avoid the embarrassment of seeing the Crown Princess’s results.”

As the Empress listened to the idle gossip of the two ministers beside her, a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. Moments later, the sound of a wheelchair echoed from the side of the viewing platform.

“Why has the Crown Prince returned?”

“Could he have come to pick up the Crown Princess? Look at that face—it’s terrifyingly pale.”

The Empress looked toward Lu Shiyan. “Has Shiyan finished resting? Why have you come back?”

“Cough, cough—I thought I would come to see. It is Xiao Yu’s first time participating.” The man’s face was deathly pale; anyone seeing him would think he was at death’s door.

“You two truly have a good relationship. It is good that your health is fine. You must all take careful care.”

“Look! The Crown Princess is coming out.”

The youth in black martial attire galloped out of the hunting grounds, riding straight to the viewing platform. He brought the horse to a sharp halt and waved two or three tokens triumphantly toward the pale man, shouting boldly:

“Highness! I caught two rabbits!”

“Pfft—”

“Rabbits?!”

“Only two?”

“The Crown Prince probably regrets coming back now.”

The viewing platform erupted in a wave of discussion—sarcasm, ridicule, bystanders’ mockery, and echoing jeers.

“Mhm. Xiao Yu is amazing.”

A faint smile appeared on the man’s pale face. As the youth walked up step by step, he considerately handed over a cup of warm tea. “Soothe your throat.”

No one noticed that Lu Youqi, who had emerged from behind the crowd, looked grim with his brow furrowed. He’s truly lucky to be alive.

The guards finished tallying the second day’s scores as usual. Meng Hai held the list, looking somewhat incredulous.

“Fourth Prince: seventy-eight tokens, totaling one hundred and eighty-four points. Second Prince: fifty-three tokens, totaling ninety-two points…”

“What! The Fourth Prince actually surpassed the Second Prince by so much today.”

“Perhaps he heard something yesterday.”

Emperor Hongchang, acting like a kind father praising a son for a small achievement, said: “Old Fourth, you performed well today.”

Lu Mufeng’s smile was forced. The image of the youth tossing dozens of his own tokens behind him in the hunting grounds flashed through his mind.

“Mufeng, Mufeng.”

Feeling a nudge, Lu Mufeng snapped back to reality. The Empress said with dissatisfaction: “Feng’er, your Imperial Father asked if there is anything you want. Why haven’t you answered?”

Under Emperor Hongchang’s smiling gaze, Lu Mufeng said solemnly:

“Imperial Father! Today, while hunting, this son happened to encounter the Third Sister-in-law. At that time, she was being chased by a mad white tiger. Lord Shen and I joined forces to shoot the tiger and save the Crown Princess.”

“Such an error should never occur during an Imperial hunt. This son does not ask for a reward; I only hope Imperial Father will conduct a thorough investigation! So that we may all participate in the final day of the hunt tomorrow with peace of mind.”

“Such a thing happened!”

Emperor Hongchang’s expression darkened. He immediately ordered the guards to search the hunting grounds and bring out the tiger’s carcass.

“Is the Crown Princess injured?”

“This child is unharmed, thanks to the rescue by the Fourth Prince and Lord Shen.”

The viewing platform fell into a dead silence as everyone waited for the results of the search. Having sat there all day, many were exhausted. Since they couldn’t leave yet, several ministers began quietly snacking on fruit.

An Yu also reached out for the fruit on the table. However, instead of fruit, he was handed two warm steamed buns.

“Highness?”

An Yu looked up and saw that Lu Shiyan’s face was incredibly pale. He said worriedly: “Highness, your complexion is very poor.”

The man lowered his eyes and whispered into An Yu’s ear: “It’s fake.”

An Yu stared with wide, round eyes and even reached out to touch his face. It was indeed fake; although the skin looked pale, his cheeks and body were warm. Ancient medical skills are truly miraculous.

“Eat.”

An Yu took a bite. The savory juice of the meat bun instantly exploded in his mouth. With the thin dough and generous filling, he could tell with one bite that this was the work of their manor’s chef. He hadn’t expected the Prince to bring the chef along.

An Yu tore off a piece of the bun and quietly touched it to the man’s lips. The man looked around before opening his mouth to eat it. They finished the two buns bite for bite. An Yu’s hunger was satisfied, and he contentedly went back to eating fruit.

The two were completely unaware that every single movement of their bun-eating was seen clearly by Lu Mufeng across from them.

Sister-in-law was just being intimate with a man in the hunting grounds this afternoon, and now she’s being this affectionate with Imperial Brother! I have to tell him… but I promised Sister-in-law!

Lu Mufeng’s troubled expression led the Fifth Prince beside him to think he was worried about the white tiger incident. He couldn’t help but offer comfort:

“Fourth Brother, there is no need to be too worried. The Imperial Guard is efficient. It certainly won’t delay tomorrow’s hunt.”

Lu Mufeng turned his head with a conflicted look: “That’s not what I’m worried about. Sigh, you wouldn’t understand.”

The Fifth Prince was left completely bewildered.

A short while later.

Meng Hai whispered into Emperor Hongchang’s ear: “Your Majesty, they have returned.”

Everyone followed the Emperor’s gaze. A group of guards was carrying the massive white tiger toward the viewing platform. As they drew closer, the full appearance of the tiger was revealed to the crowd.

“Old Shen, look quickly. Isn’t that the one the Emperor granted the Second Prince yesterday!”

“Now that you mention it, it really does look like it.”

In an instant, countless eyes swept toward Lu Youqi on the stand.

“This—this is the white tiger Imperial Father granted me yesterday!” Lu Youqi stared at the tiger and stood up abruptly, shouting with a look of utter disbelief.

“The Second Prince must have been framed.”

“It seems the Second Prince is also a victim.”

An Yu clicked his tongue. These ministers would be the equivalent of fickle internet netizens in the modern world. Total “hype squad.”

“Investigate!”

At Emperor Hongchang’s command, Shen Heng stepped down from the platform and began investigating alongside the guards. Shen Heng lifted the tiger’s eyelid; the crimson pupils had not yet faded, staring straight ahead in a terrifying manner. Several guards instinctively took half a step back.

Shen Heng reached a conclusion. He put his hand into the tiger’s mouth, then pulled it out and sniffed his fingertips. As expected.

“Your Majesty, this tiger was drugged. This drug is quite famous in the beast-taming world. Once placed in a beast’s mouth, within moments, the beast will become completely obedient.”

Emperor Hongchang let out a cold laugh. “To think such a miraculous drug exists; this is the first I’ve heard of it.”

“Replying to Your Majesty, this drug indeed does not originate from our dynasty. It comes from the Northern Abyss. It was created decades ago by a member of the Northern Abyss royalty to tame fierce beasts.”

“Northern Abyss!”

“It’s the Northern Abyss again!”

The crowd of officials instantly erupted in fury.

“During our dynasty’s autumn hunt, we must never allow people from the Northern Abyss to infiltrate. Unless”

Unless someone had conspired with the Northern Abyss!

“This official requests Your Majesty to investigate clearly!”

“This son requests Imperial Father to investigate clearly!”

The pleas echoed across the clearing of the hunting grounds. Emperor Hongchang said in a deep voice:

“This matter will be handled by the Chief of the Court of State Ceremonies, Shen Heng. Until the truth comes to light, no one is permitted to leave the mountain!”

“Yes!”

Finally back in the sleeping quarters, An Yu immediately called for Xiao Zhi to help him out of the martial attire. It was stylish, but truly uncomfortable.

“Phew, finally I can breathe normally.”

Lu Shiyan watched the boy’s every move with a smile, his gaze full of tenderness. Having changed into normal clothes, An Yu shooed Xiao Zhi out and ran over to close the door personally.

He turned around and said: “Highness, stand up quickly so I can see.”

Lu Shiyan was helpless but set down his teacup and stood up nonetheless. It felt different from seeing him in the hunting grounds this morning. In his black night-traveler suit, Lu Shiyan was cold and tall, like a supermodel on a runway. But now, in his white-gold formal robes, he looked more like a secluded immortal from Mount Penglai—his features exquisite and ethereal.

An Yu circled him in wonder and finally stood in front of the man with a beaming smile.

The “Penglai Immortal” asked: “Is the Young Master satisfied?”

An Yu nodded solemnly, his voice bubbling with laughter: “Extremely satisfied.”

Just as he was about to take a closer look, Lu Mufeng’s voice came from outside.

“Crown Prince Brother! Crown Prince Brother!”

The voice drew closer, and the door was about to be pushed open.

An Yu hurriedly pressed Lu Shiyan back into the wheelchair. In his haste to turn around, his legs tangled together and he fell straight backward, landing firmly in Lu Shiyan’s lap.

“Highness!”

An Yu’s eyes went wide. In his panic to get up, he somehow slipped and fell back down. Not only was he sitting on the man’s lap, but his back was also pressed against the man’s chest.

The door was pushed open.

“Crown Prince Bro”

The words Lu Mufeng had rehearsed countless times vanished instantly. He stood frozen at the door, his hands still holding the pushed-open door. All he could see was his Imperial Brother holding his Sister-in-law on his lap, while Sister-in-law had a face full of “shyness.”

And his Imperial Brother was looking at him with a look of pure displeasure.

If I tell Imperial Brother now that Sister-in-law has a secret lover outside, will he even believe me?