Chapter 59: A Single Discarded Chess Piece

  Chu Youyang returned to her room, bathed and changed clothes. After tidying up, she came out and saw Qing Luan enter to report: "Young Mistress, the Sixth Princess of Mo Bei has come to visit you and is waiting for you in the flower hall next door."

  "Really?" Chu Youyang smiled and adjusted the silk belt around his waist before walking out on his own.

  Tuoba Yunji was sitting alone in the hall, sipping tea with a distracted expression. When she saw Chu Youyang enter, she immediately stood up to greet her: "Princess of Chuyu!"

  "I was delayed in changing clothes in the inner chamber just now, and kept you waiting." Chu Nanyang said, exchanging greetings with her.

  "It doesn't matter." Taobao Yunji smiled slightly, and although she looked spirited, she still asked with concern, "You didn't get hurt anywhere, did you?"

  "It's fine." Chu Nanyang said, as if he had already put that matter behind him.

  She turned her head to glance at the sky outside, and suddenly suggested: "I've never been to this temporary palace before, nor have I had a chance to stroll around. You're here just in time, why don't we take a walk in the garden?"

  Tuoba Yunji would have come specifically for this, definitely having something important to say to her in private, but Chu Nanyang suggests going outside instead?

  Tuoba Yunji was suspicious in her heart, but seeing her enthusiastic appearance, she did not refuse and nodded: "Good!"

  The two of them went out one after another and headed towards the big garden in front.

  It was late afternoon, and the sun was no longer as scorching as it had been at noon, warmly spreading out a large area.

  It was not yet time for dinner, and there were many guests coming and going in the garden, where beautifully dressed girls with flowers in their hair and handsome young men could be seen everywhere.

  Chu Youyang didn't deliberately avoid the crowd, but instead walked forward while appreciating the scenery with great interest.

  Tuoba Yunji pursed her lips, and seeing that there was no one around, she suddenly spoke in a serious tone, "Fifth Brother has already agreed to take me back to the north of the desert, so I can only temporarily remember the help from the county master in my heart for now."

  Chu Youyang smiled disbelievingly, "You can persuade him to change his mind, that's your skill, don't put this achievement on my account."

  Tuoba Yunji was taken aback in her heart and her footsteps stopped for a moment without realizing it.

  Chu Youyang didn't bother with her and continued walking forward at a steady pace.

  Tuoba Yunji gazed at her receding back, a complex and indistinguishable glow gradually spreading across the bottom of her eyes. Her lips moved several times, but each time seemed to be accompanied by concern, without making a sound.

  It wasn't until Zhu Mo Yang had walked a very far distance that she finally made up her mind and quickly ran two steps to catch up.

  "Master of Junyang!" Taotao Yunji said, raising her hand and grasping Zhu Junyang's wrist.

  She's a very cautious person, used to thinking before acting, but once she makes up her mind, she'll do it with determination and efficiency. So, no matter how hesitant she was just now, at this moment she looked straight into Chu Mo Yang's face and finally spoke out the doubts in her heart: "Actually, from the very beginning when I found you, you should have already realized that I had ulterior motives, knowing clearly that I was using you, why did you still want to help me?"

  Chu Nanyang raised his eyes and stared directly at her eyes, but instead asked: "What do you think?"

  The smile on her face remained unchanged, still with a hint of playfulness amidst its brilliance.

  Tuoba Yunji's calm and quiet demeanor carefully observed, but suddenly discovered that she was unable to grasp even a corner of the girl's thoughts, her heart racing afterwards, even her breathing slowed down significantly, cautious vigilance.

  Chu Nanyang saw her like this, and the smile at the bottom of his eyes became even more profound. He opened his mouth and said, "Taohua Huai's purpose for entering the capital this time is something that everyone understands without needing to be said. He wants to borrow the power of our imperial court to help him return to the grasslands and seize the throne. However, my Eastern Palace will never go along with such a chaotic situation. But the situation in the imperial court is complex, and there are many people hiding sinister intentions. How can I just sit back and wait for death, allowing him to form alliances with other powers and then come after our Eastern Palace? Now that you've found me and handed over something that can be used to control him, why would I refuse? You should know that Taohua Rongyao has already become a useless chess piece. Even if she rises to great heights in the future, as long as I say one word, she can be instantly crushed into dust."

  She actually doesn't need to be grateful to Tuoba Yunji, because in the face of life and death and power, people's hearts will change. She will cooperate with Tuoba Yunji to put on a show, only because she sees the reward that she can get immediately.

  The matter of Tuoba Rongyao poisoning Tuoba Yunji, after time has passed and circumstances have changed, even if it is dug up again, will not cause much impact. However, the matter between her and Tuoba Huan'an is different.

  Tuoba Yunji was also troubled by this problem for many days, and today she finally dispelled the clouds and fog. However, in her heart, a huge wave surged up, shocking her to the core.

  "You——" Taobao Yunji opened her mouth, but didn't lose her composure. However, under her sleeve, she pinched her fingers so hard that they turned white at the tips.

  After a while, she suddenly turned her head sharply to one side and said in a resolute tone, "I haven't told you anything!"

  "Yes, you never told me anything, I found out everything myself." Chu Jiu Yang said with a smile.

  Tuoba Yunji's mind was in turmoil, and she was struggling to respond when she saw Yanling Jun walking slowly towards her from the opposite path, dressed in a crisp white robe.

  The slanting sunlight stretched his shadow very long and cast it on the ground.

  He walked against the light, with a clear and handsome face. If it weren't for the smile at the corner of his eyes and eyebrows being too unruly, he would truly make people feel that he was a god descending to the world, bathed in golden warm sunlight.

  Chu Youyang stood still on the spot.

  Tuoba Yunji's mind flashed with a sudden realization - she had suddenly understood the real reason why Chu Ziyang suggested going for a walk.

  She often finds it inconvenient for King Yanling to come and go, saying that she is out for a stroll in the garden, but actually still trying to create opportunities to meet with King Yanling.

  "I still have something to attend to, I'll head back first and talk to you another day." With a forced calmness, Tuoba Yunji's smile was still slightly stiff.

  "Princess, slow down!" Chu Yan nodded and watched her leave.

  Yanling Jun walked up and stood one step behind her, saying, "Have you made things clear with her?"

  "It was originally me who wronged her, after all, I have to make it clear to her and let her plan ahead." Chu Jiu Yang said, withdrawing his gaze from afar, lowering his head to kick at the stone road beneath his feet. "However, in such a situation, she can still remain calm and composed - I quite like this temperament of hers."

  Tuoba Huai'an had already placed more than half of his chips on Tuoba Rongyao, and at this time, he was still unaware that his life's victory or defeat had unknowingly fallen into the hands of Chu Junyang, becoming a small matter that could be turned around in an instant.

  Yanling Jun looked at her childish movements, his mouth corners softened, and an arc rose unintentionally.

  The eunuch who was lost in thought suddenly came running over with a serious expression, saying, "Young Master, Lord Yanling, His Excellency Changsun has just sent someone to deliver a message saying that the matter of the assassin has been investigated clearly, and he requests that you both go there immediately."

  Digression

  I've been hitting the wall, these two days have been tough, I wanted to come up with a brilliant paragraph to prepare for launch, but I just can't think of anything suitable, my desk is almost worn out from all the scratching ~

  P.S: That... I'll ask again, does anyone want to collect the physical books of "The Queen" and "The Princess"?