Masquerade in Bridal Attire and Marry the Prince

69. Make a Trap

Translator: Antonia

They spent five entire days in the outer palace and didn’t pack and hurry back until there was news that the Turkic envoy was arriving in the capital and the Emperor ordered them back.

As a rule, during the Falling Flower Festival, a banquet should be hosted by the three major families in turn. This year, however, in order to entertain the Turkic envoy, it would be held in the palace by the Empress by the way to settle down affairs concerning the political marriage.

To Shenglan people, the Turks were seeking to restore the relation between the two countries by means of the marriage. After all, in the previous war, their Crown Prince had gained a huge success. They didn’t want any of the princesses to be involved in the marriage.

Du Chuxuan sat in the thermal pavilion and read the news he just got. Because he was now in charge of Sect Luo, he became the direct report of Luo Yi, Luo Er and Luo San, the branch leaders of Light, Dark and Bloom respectively.

“Tut-tut, what a good calculation of the Turks!” Flicking through the message, Du Chuxuan almost laughed from anger. He hadn’t known much of his stupid sect-brother before and certainly had no idea that the one who had been learning martial arts with him from the cheap shifu was a prince.

Now he knew everything, including the tragic life path of his stupid sect-brother. Pretending to wipe the nonexistent tears at the corners of his eyes, Du Chuxuan took away the playful look, “I’ve handed over Shan Zhongli’s case to the Judiciary. How is it now?”

Luo Yi was certainly quite well-informed and slightly surprised that His Highness hadn’t told Her Highness about it yet, but he didn’t want to be long-tongued, “His Majesty hit the ceiling, but anyhow Shan Zhongli is the son of Duke Ningyuan, so now he is grounded in the Mansion of Duke Ningyuan and waiting for the result of further investigation.”

Du Chuxuan stroked his chin, a flicker of understanding crossed his eyes. Of course the Emperor was clear about the situation at court. Duke Ningyuan was in charge of the Capital Cavalry. If his legal eldest son was killed right away, even if he wouldn’t say anything, he would hold grudges, which would be a scrape in the future.

However, even though there were things that the Emperor mustn’t do, it didn’t mean Du Chuxuan mustn’t either. He took out a jade from his pocket and handed to Luo Yi, “Go to any jade shop and tell them I need some money. Then, take out a hundred thousand taels of silver and paste a Hunt Order in Manluo.”

Luo Yi was stunned for a second. He couldn’t help but remind Du Chuxuan that Sect Luo had its own hitmen and it was unnecessary to turn to Manluo. Yet, he held his tongue in check and waited for Du Chuxuan to finish.

Seeing his ability to read the air, Du Chuxuan nodded with satisfaction. He was worthy of the fame as a follower of his little prince and really clever, “The aim is no other person but Her Highness the Imperial Concubine Xiao. Remember to write her complete title down.”

Luo Yi understood immediately. They all knew that there was a force behind Imperial Concubine Xiao and the third prince, but it hid too deep and the mother and son had never used it, so now even Sect Luo couldn’t figure out what exactly the hidden force was.

However, if Manlou’s hitmen took the hunt mission, then the Mansion of Duke Ningyuan, directly related to Manlou, would be put into a perilous position. After all, in the eye of the Emperor, it was the last thing the imperial member should do. Whatever the reason was, Shan Zhongli wouldn’t survive it, and even the whole Mansion would be dragged down.

“However, Your Highness, Shan Zhongli isn’t really a son of Duke Ningyuan. If the news is spread out, I don’t suppose Duke Ningyuan will help Shan Zhongli out of it.” Dongxiang asked with confusion after Luo Yi left.

Du Chuxuan cracked a smile and gave Dongxiang a glance, “The dukedom was granted, but the Duke isn’t a fool. How can he not know the true identity of Shan Zhongli? Even so, he was still willing to help Shan Zhongli. It only means that either the Duke is coerced by Manluo due to some unspeakable reason or there is certain trade between them.

To spread the news out in this time will not help achieve their purpose but will instead alert the rat. By then, it’s no big deal that Shan Zhongli has to die, but His Highness the Crown Prince will truly be pushed into the teeth of the storm.”

Having said so much, Du Chuxuan was thirsty. He motioned Dongxiang to leave and went directly to take a bath. Comfortably taking off all his clothes, he dived into water and began to enjoy the moment of coolness.

At this moment, on one of the official roads in the capital, a ragged man fiercely wiped the sweat on his face, “You bastard ran really fast. My legs are nearly broken from running. When I catch you, I’d disgrace my name of being your shifu if I don’t take away your drumstick!”

Having said that, he raised his head high and swaggered toward the city gate, in a manner as though the whole city was his own house. However, even the guards didn’t want to check a person dressed like him and quickly waved to let him pass.

In a flash, the Falling Flower Festival came. Because of the flamboyant gaudy clothes that Du Chuxuan had worn when he returned to the capital, the fashion trend in the city also changed.

To those ladies who worshipped Yuxing Tianrui blindly, even the Prince’s fart would smell nice. Therefore, what Du Chuxuan wore must be to the likings of their Crown Prince.

Although the Emperor had only one wife, for the sake of the descendants of the imperial family, before the Crown Princess had children, the ladies all had a chance, as they believed, to become His Highness’s concubine and bear him some kids.

Hence, for a time, all the clothing stores in the capital began to sell clothes in this style and design. When Du Chuxuan learned it, he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Even if the trend in the capital changed, he didn’t plan to dress up like that to attend the Falling Flower Festival. No matter what, he also represented the image of Shenglan’s Crown Prince, and if he dressed in that style, he would become an all-time laughing stock.

But over these days, he also discovered that only when Yuxing Tianrui the reserved tsundere little prince was irritated by his teasing would he demand Du Chuxuan wear clothes in strange colors. For the rest of the time, he had a normal taste.

“Your Highness, I find this dress is really stunning.” Dongxiang pointed at a tight-sleeved white dress with open front, “I saw the noble ladies all wearing this.” It took Dongxiang an appreciably long time to accept the truth that Du Chuxuan was a man, and now he was quite at easy in front of him.

Taking a look at the dress that Dongxiang picked, Du Chuxuan chilled. It would look great on a woman, but why should he, a man without breasts, go out wearing that?