The Pearl on the Emperor’s Crown

Chapter 9 – Imperial Brother Will Take You Back, Alright?

Zhu Chuo’s eyes were slender and large, giving people a sense of flirtation and charm. There was a small joint on the bridge of her nose, her bright red lips were plump and full, and her facial features were not flawless. When combined, she had a unique and vivacious beauty.

Zhu Yi silently watched Zhu Chuo pat her hair and followed her to enter Han Yun Rong’s room. Zhu Chuo turned and stopped Zhu Yi. “If you go in with me, how can I talk with him?”
 

Zhu Yi thought for a while and said, “Then you can’t exceed the time of a cup of tea1.”
 

“Just a cup of tea?” Zhu Chuo’s eyes widened in indignation.
 

“Otherwise, how long do you want? I’ll go in if you don’t come out by then.” Han Yun Rong was already engaged, she only accompanied Zhu Chuo to make sure this fool completely gave up on this.
 

Zhu Chuo was speechless, and could only say, “Fine, fine, I’ll listen to you.”
 

Han Yun Rong came from a humble background. He didn’t place first in the imperial examinations2 because the essays he wrote were too sharp and blunt. He was later appointed as a scholar of the Imperial Academy, before serving as the Head of the Ministry of War. Following that, he became the magistrate of Huai’an and the senator of Jiangnan Grain Reserve. Afterwards, he was quickly recalled to the capital to serve as the Deputy Head of Dali Temple3. 
 

He was straightforward and ruthless, and everyone in the dynasty knew that this man was a good sword for the emperor.
 

After serving as Deputy Head of Dali Temple, Han Yun Rong encountered many assassinations, so when Zhu Chuo rushed into the room, her wrist was immediately grabbed and crushed.
 

“Ah! I-it’s me!” Zhu Chuo cried out in pain, and Han Yun Rong immediately let her go.
 

“It hurts.” Zhu Chuo deliberately shook her wrists and pouted coquettishly, trying to earn some pity. However, Han Yun Rong’s expression remained cold, and he stared at her silently.

He was a very handsome and quiet man, but he didn’t smile much, and his thin lips were always pressed into a cold straight line.
 

Zhu Chuo stretched out her hand towards him. “Look, it’s all red now.”
 

Han Yun Rong finally spoke. “Your Highness thinks it’s fun to tease this humble official?”
 

“I came out specifically to find you, why would I tease you?” Zhu Chuo protested. She didn’t have much time, so she said, “Han Yun Rong, would you like to cancel your betrothal?”
 

Han Yun Rong deliberately looked at Zhu Chuo’s attire, and sarcastically said, “Your Highness must think that all women in the world can be as arbitrary as a princess. Cancel? Is Your Highness trying to force this official’s fiancée to death?”
 

“What fiancée? You don’t like her at all!” Zhu Chuo was annoyed when she heard Han Yun Rong address other women intimately like this.

She knew who Han Yun Rong had appointed: Song Qian Qian, the youngest daughter of Marquis Ping Jiang borne by his principal wife. Her talents and good reputation were well-known. Zhu Chuo has occasionally seen her when she was invited to participate in the activities of the aristocratic circle in the capital and it was indeed a marriage that would make most men envious. There was no exaggeration to her fame. Even if he gave up the betrothal, many men would still rush to marry Song Qian Qian.
 

“Princess, you don’t need to worry about this official or my fiancée,” Han Yun Rong said.
 

Zhu Chuo was irritated. “What about me? What should I do? Do you remember the last time you kissed me when you were drunk? I’m the one you like!”
 

Although she took the initiative to kiss Han Yun Rong, he had pressed her behind the door panel in turn. Not only did he kiss her, but he also explored her body with the palms of his hands. She still clearly remembered how she had shivered when he caressed her body through her clothes.
 

It was an incident at Jade Fountain Palace in the winter of last year. He clearly said at the time that he wouldn’t forget it. How could he change so quickly?
 

Han Yun Rong’s expression finally changed. “That was this official’s sin. After drinking, this official regarded Princess Rong Yu as Qian Qian. This official has greatly offended the princess. If Your Highness feels humiliated, you can tell the emperor that this official is willing to accept the emperor’s punishment, but it is absolutely impossible for this official to withdraw from this marriage.”
 

The room was dead silent for a moment. 
 

“What are you talking about? You thought that I was Song Qian Qian?” The eagerness was gone from Zhu Chuo’s voice and her eyes filled with tears.
 

“Han Yun Rong, how dare you?!”
 

Zhu Chuo raised her trembling hand and slapped the left side of his face. A bruise immediately formed on his cheek, showing the strength she had used.
 

She opened the door and left. Han Yun Rong’s complexion was gloomy, and blue veins bulged out of his clenched fists.
 

When Zhu Yi saw Zhu Chuo’s expression, her eyebrows furrowed tightly. The three of them turned back in silence. After a while, Zhu Yi asked, “Ah Chuo, did you get your jade pendant back?”
 

Zhu Chuo shook her head dazedly.
 

“Ah Lu, send the princess back first, and come back to pick me up afterwards,” Zhu Yi ordered. She couldn’t let her end up in a dangerous situation. Zhu Chuo tried to pull Zhu Yi along with them, but Zhu Yi had already left.

Han Yun Rong heard someone knocking on the door and thought Zhu Chuo was back. When he saw Zhu Yi after opening the door, he was momentarily startled.
 

“Please hand over Princess Rong Yu’s jade pendant,” Zhu Yi requested expressionlessly.
 

“This official didn’t bring it with me. This official will return it to Her Highness next time,” Han Yun Rong said slowly.

“Very well, I’ll ask my chamberlain Chang Lin to retrieve it next time,” Zhu Yi said. “Since Master Han wants to get married, you should treat Miss Song well and stop thinking about anything else.”

“I understand, Your Highness,” Han Yun Rong’s voice came out through gritted teeth.
 

When Zhu Yi passed through Xi Hua Gate, the characteristic shrill voice of a eunuch called out to her. 
 

“You, what are you running from? Quickly come here and help! It’s a mess, a bunch of useless little rascals.”
 

“What are you doing in a daze? I’m talking about you!”
 

Zhu Yi checked, and sure enough he was calling out to her. In her heart, she started screaming.
 

It was already dark, and Zhu Yi was walking with her head pressed down again. The big eunuch saw that she was wearing oil green robes that denoted her as the lowest-ranked little eunuch, so he grabbed her and ordered her at will.
 

“Bring all the things in the cart over to Flower Heart Residence.” The big eunuch pointed to the cart on the side.
 

Flower Heart Residence was where the crown prince and his wife lived. Zhu Yi’s eyelids twitched, and she walked forward with a few little eunuchs. She happened to reach a huge black wooden box, which was full of tea divided into categories by porcelain cups. It was really heavy. She gritted her teeth and walked in the middle.

When she reached the door of Flower Heart’s residence, she heard the voice of the crown princess. Zhu Yi hastily lowered her head even more, eagerly looking forward to being relieved of her burden and leaving. She couldn’t let anyone who knew her find out.
 

The crown prince smiled when he heard the crown princess talk about Zhu Dai’s interesting stories that day. The crown prince was just over thirty years old. He was born outstanding, and he had a more mature and stable charm than a younger man. With such a gentle smile, the crown princess was slightly dazzled.
 

Hearing some movement, the crown prince casually glanced at the few eunuchs who were delivering things. After looking away, he suddenly glanced over again.
 

He gently pressed his lower lip with the tip of his tongue, revealing a smile which was much happier than when he had listened to Zhu Dai’s jokes earlier. He abruptly stood up. 
 

“The crown princess should rest early. I still have matters to attend to.”
 

A woman’s heart was the most sensitive, and she could detect small changes in her husband, not to mention that the crown prince’s soul seemed to have drifted away in an instant. As soon as the crown princess turned her gaze, she saw a slightly familiar figure walking outside, and the crown prince followed out after them quickly.
 

The crown princess thought for a while, then her expression changed drastically.
 

Zhu Yi was massaging her arms. She had never moved such a heavy thing before. What she didn’t know was that her small movements were being watched by a pair of deep eyes.
 

“Call over the little eunuchs in front of you, they will follow me out,” the crown prince ordered his Chief Eunuch Li Geng.  “I have some business to attend to.”
 

Li Geng immediately shouted to Zhu Yi and the others in the back. Zhu Yi scrunched her eyes shut for a moment before opening them and taking a deep breath. She was really unlucky today.
 

She was also a little conflicted. What should she do? Should she let the crown prince find out that it was her so that he could send her back? After thinking about it, Zhu Yi felt that it was best not to. After all, she was not close to this brother. She thought she was being assigned another task of moving things, but when she and a few little eunuchs were called into a carriage, she knew that she was wrong.
 

Were they…traveling out of the palace? Where was her imperial brother taking them?
 

But at this time, it was too late for her to look for the crown prince again. He had already gone to the carriage in front of her, and she couldn’t jump out of the carriage. It was already late, and Zhu Yi was anxious.
 

The reason why Jade Island was called as such was precisely because it was built on a lake. The beautiful building was brightly lit, and its reflection in the water sparkled. There was the melodious music of stringed and woodwind instruments, accompanied by the soft singing of beautiful women. It was indeed a seductive and pleasant atmosphere and no wonder that the nobility loved it.
 

Standing outside Jade Island, Zhu Yi was surprised that Sangyang City still has such a magnificent and luxurious place. So, this was the place Xie Ying went to before.

Zhu Yi was still in a daze when she was pulled aside by the crown prince. He blocked the sight of the little eunuchs, and said in a very surprised tone, “Xi Zhen? Why are you here and dressed like this?”
 

Seeing that she was still discovered by the prince, Zhu Yi’s face was burning. “I…Imperial Elder Brother, can you call a carriage to take me back?” She has no money on her person.
 

The crown prince thought for a while. “It’s too late, so I won’t be assured if I send you back by yourself. How about this, after my appointment, imperial brother will take you back together with me, alright?”
 

Zhu Yi had to nod. Naturally, she no longer had to do the tasks of a little eunuch. The crown prince asked her to follow him, and they slowly walked along the pier leading to Jade Island.
 

Everywhere on Jade Island was as bright as daytime. Zhu Yi didn’t need to lower her head at this time. Wherever she passed by, regardless of whether they were men or women, almost all of them turned their heads to look at her. Some of the gazes were poisonous. Anyone could tell with a glance that she was a woman dressed as a man.
 

The men all thought that Zhu Yi was a new dancer. In order to cater to the preferences of the guests, some dancers may disguise themselves as men, and there was already a worrying stir of excitement among the guests.
 

Wan Hai, the son of Sangyang’s richest man, was the first to step forward. He looked at Zhu Yi’s face intently, unable to look away. It was not easy to dress up as a eunuch. She was dressed in oil green clothes and yet was still so beautiful. If she put on a thin and delicate feather dress and danced, wouldn’t it kill people? He just felt ecstatic thinking about it.
 

Wan Hai stopped the crown prince. He pointed his finger at Zhu Yi, and asked the crown prince with clouded eyes, “This beauty belongs to me tonight. Tell me, how much money do you need to yield her?”
 

There was ice in the crown prince’s eyes.
 

The main building of Jade Island was a hollow octagonal shape, and the design of the third floor was a semi-enclosed pavilion, which allowed patrons to enjoy both the cool breeze from the lake and the excellent view.
 

By coincidence, two acquaintances of Zhu Yi also happened to be in an elegant room on the third floor at the moment.
 

After serving them drinks, two maids withdrew from the room.
 

Xie Ying leaned back slightly and said with a laugh, “Ah, what’s wrong with Master Han’s face?”
 

If it had been someone else facing this cold-faced, young and promising future Head of the Dali Temple, he would politely pretend that he hadn’t seen the mark of his face when he encountered this embarrassing situation. Only Xie Ying would dare to rub salt into his wounds. 
 

Han Yun Rong gave a quick wry smile. “Your Highness can go ahead and have a good laugh.”
 

He quickly changed the subject and said, “Your Highness wants to ask about the Emperor’s Village4 case?”
 

Before Xie Ying could answer, a commotion broke out in the lobby on the first floor, which was a rare occurrence for Jade Island.
 

Han Yun Rong was facing the direction of the commotion, and he looked down first. Xie Ying didn’t like watching such disturbances, but when he saw that Han Yun Rong was still fixedly watching below, he turned his head to look over.
 

He saw several people being beaten up and tumbling to the ground. The crown prince stood to the side, his demeanour elegant as he acted like a flower protector5, holding a little eunuch in his arms. Because of the chaos, the crown prince and the little eunuch moved closer. 
 

The little eunuch’s face was extremely familiar.