Thinking of that person, Prince Yanjun felt a dull pain in his chest.
He knew he shouldn’t think about her, couldn’t afford to, for their relationship was a mistake from the very moment they met.
There could never be an outcome, so any further thought was a sin.
Chu Yu placed a chess piece down and saw that Prince Yanjun hadn’t moved for a long time. He didn’t urge him, but leisurely sipped on his wine, his mind preoccupied with thoughts of his sweetheart.
With such haste in pursuit, he thought that in a few days he might finally catch up to her.
Thinking of Yun Jinnian, Chu Yu was in an excellent mood.
In the Capital City, seeing each other was difficult, but now with his cousin as an excuse, he could see her every day.
"Little uncle, what are you laughing about?" Yuwen Ya asked, perplexed.
His laugh was eerily strange and lecherous.
"Ha!" Chu Yu sneered, "Do I need to report to you what I am laughing about?"
"Of course not, of course not!"
Yuwen Ya quickly backed down, not daring to question Chu Yu, his junior uncle.
When the group arrived at Hongchou City, it was already midnight. By all accounts, the city gates should have been closed by then. However, after securing the inn, Luoyi visited the Prefectural Governor’s Office, where the Magistrate almost fainted upon seeing the token from the Prince Rui Residence. Thinking of the day’s events on the street, his legs went weak.
He stuttered, unable to utter a complete sentence.
Luoyi didn’t think much of it, assuming that the Magistrate was just terrified because of his sordid dealings being exposed with the arrival of Chu Yu. He said, "Send someone to wait with me at the city gate!"
"May I accompany you?"
"There’s no need. His Highness is traveling incognito and does not wish to disturb the local officials. We’re only entering at night because we were delayed on the road. Just send someone to wait, and when His Highness arrives, open the city gates and do nothing more," Luoyi said coldly and indifferently.
The Magistrate didn’t know whether Luoyi’s words were true or false, but he didn’t dare speculate and promptly dispatched a personal guard to accompany them.
Therefore, when Chu Yu and his party arrived, the city gates were promptly opened for their entry and then immediately shut behind them.
The largest inn in Hongchou City was called Return Home Inn, where Luoyi had reserved the second-best courtyard since the first one had already been taken by Yun Jinnian and her party. Luoyi didn’t wish to cause any disturbance, so he accepted what was available, which was just next door.
Upon entering the inn, Chu Yu’s group found that hot water for baths and food had already been prepared.
As soon as he entered the courtyard, Chu Yu sensed skilled figures hidden in the shadows of the neighboring courtyard.
Chu Yu murmured softly.
Luoyi naturally felt the difference as well. "My lord?"
Chu Yu originally intended not to meddle, but suddenly remembering Yun Jinnian, he said, "Luoyi, go check if the person staying next door is Miss Yun, the fourth young lady of the Yun Residence from the Capital City."
Luoyi was startled for a moment but hurried off to check.
Prince Yanjun and Yuwen Ya both entered their rooms to bathe and change before eating and resting early.
Though the carriage ride was steady, it couldn’t compare to a proper bed.
Additionally, the party comprised three masters, besides Luoyi and Luo’er, and also included twenty Shadow Guards turned into conspicuous bodyguards from the Commandery Princess’s entourage.
Even though each was skilled in martial arts, they were not made of iron, especially after traveling under the scorching sun in the month of June, which left them all peeling.
To have a good meal and a good night’s rest was indeed splendid.
Meanwhile, Chu Yu stood in the courtyard waiting for news from Luoyi.
Luoyi took the direct approach, walking the main path and knocking on the courtyard door.
Han Zhong came to answer it, not recognizing Luoyi. "Who are you looking for?"
Luoyi bowed with his hands clasped, "May I ask if Miss Yun, the fourth young lady from the Yun Residence in the Capital City, resides in this courtyard?"
Han Zhong frowned, "And you are?"
"I am Luoyi, a guard in service to Prince Rui," he replied.