Chapter 930: with translation of chapter title

Husband, did you capture her in Liu Yan's army?

Yu Yan Chu repeated those words like a parrot, her expression shocked and somewhat bewildered.

Chen Wuji smiled and asked: "What's that expression? Yu Shu Mei and Yan Yan share a special connection; is it strange for her to appear in the army?"

"It's certainly strange, too strange!" Yu Yan Chu said, "She's so timid and hasn't properly learned anything; what could she possibly do running up to the front? Could she have sneaked out of the palace just like me?"

"They have that kind of relationship with Yan Yan; is there any need to sneak out?" Chen Wuji said.

Yu Yan Chu shook her head: "Very much so; for someone like Yan Yan, familial affection is optional—he cares only when it benefits him, and when it doesn't, he can even abandon his own son, let alone the eleventh princess; that little connection means nothing to him."

Chen Wuji stared for a moment.

Those words really broadened his horizons a bit.

Such words about the royal family lacking affection—he had just spoken them himself.

But having said that, when faced with concrete matters, that boundary is actually rather vague.

Chen Wuji shook his head, sighed, then said: "Your view of Yu Shu Mei and what I see differ quite a bit. I think you all have been deceived by her; perhaps she merely pretended to be that way inside the palace walls."

"How could that be?" Yu Yan Chu exclaimed, "Although I'm not extremely close to the eleventh princess, we're fairly acquainted; she's had a rough time in the palace these years, often receiving cold stares, and even the palace servants would bully her."

"When I have nothing to do, I'll go visit her, bring some tasty and fun things, and bolster the situation so that those clueless folks don't go bully the eleventh princess."

Chen Wuji curled the corner of his mouth into a wicked smile: "You've definitely been deceived by her; she knows martial arts, and very well at that—she's a half-step master-level expert, certainly not a timid person. As for what level half-step master is, I shouldn't need to explain that to you, should I?"

Yu Yan Chu's eyes widened in disbelief: "She? A half-step master? How is that possible?!"

Chen Wuji's news nearly caused Yu Yan Chu's worldview to collapse.

As she just said, although she isn't particularly close to Yu Shu Mei, she indeed often goes to see her.

Moreover, that frequency is fairly high; basically she goes about once a month.

Because Yu Yan Chu fears that if she goes too long without visiting, the eleventh princess might starve to death or be beaten to death in the cold palace.

That place is essentially a man-eating den that doesn't spit out bones!

"It's clear you really find it hard to believe, but this is the fact!" Chen Wuji lay on his side, placing his right hand where it belonged, still that endearing pair.

Yu Yan Chu stared, then murmured after a moment: "But where could she have learned martial arts? It's unlikely the palace would have experts willing to teach her; those people would avoid her if they could, so how could she have any master-disciple connection with them?"

"Yan Yan!" Chen Wuji said.

"If nothing unexpected happens, these matters behind the scenes are surely orchestrated by Yan Yan. You just said Yan Yan only considers whether something is beneficial or not when it comes to people, and Yu Shu Mei at least satisfies that condition. Even if her situation in the palace is dire, she is still a princess."

"A princess's identity still offers many exploitable angles. Perhaps your view of Yan Yan is biased, or maybe he simply treats some people differently while actually valuing familial bonds."

Chen Wuji now doubts Yu Yan Chu's judgment of people.

Given how frequently she interacts with Yu Shu Mei and still reaches that conclusion, her perception of Yan Yan being accurate would be strange.

Even more, Chen Wuji now wonders whether the Yu Yan Chu family has a hereditary defect in their ability to judge people.

Look at what the old emperor does: he favors villains and distances virtuous ministers; those he promotes are never good people.

Mr. Kongming is still too ahead of his time.

In just a few short words, the state of Da Yu's realm is summed up.

This news is too explosive; Yu Yan Chu crashed again.

Although her mind and perception might be flawed, her dazed, cute expression is very adorable.

Seeing that, Chen Wuji felt a sudden urge to act.

Thus, he left that beloved object and quietly moved downward…

Yu Yan Chu shuddered, quickly blocking Chen Wuji, and coquettishly said: "Husband, truly not possible—another round and I'll really die; tomorrow, tomorrow let me properly serve you, how about that?"

Chen Wuji, seeing this, could only regretfully relent.

This body is still somewhat ruined; after resting so long, it hasn't recovered at all.

Noticing Chen Wuji's hand withdrawing, Yu Yan Chu turned her head and quietly exhaled.

It's truly exhausting.

With the husband's stamina like this, she finds it hard to vie for favor.

One person simply cannot keep up.

"Husband, may I see the eleventh princess? I have some things I'd like to ask her in person." Yu Yan Chu asked softly.

"It's possible, but you must follow my arrangements!" Chen Wuji said solemnly, "Yu Shu Mei's martial arts are extremely high; easy contact could easily lead to him seizing her as a hostage, which we must guard against. When do you plan to see her?"

"Can it be now? Having heard her news, I can't wait much longer." Yu Yan Chu said.

"Sure, I'll arrange it for you."

Chen Wuji rose and left that tender place he was reluctant to depart from.

Still, there's business to attend to; we can't keep lying around.

Between the two of them, the proper business can't proceed given Yu Yan Chu's constitution; just lying there is pointless.

Yu Yan Chu called out Hua Yin, summoning her in to first attend to their bathing and changing.

Hua Yin bustled about while secretly pursing her lips, her little face full of resentment.

It left her anxious; the result was that these two, here, were entwined in clouds and rain.

If not for some words, she wouldn't even dare think it in her heart; she almost wanted to call them a "dog man and woman."

After washing up and changing, Chen Wuji brought Yu Yan Chu to the camp, ordering someone to bring Yu Shu Mei over.

In a room resembling a prison cell, Yu Shu Mei was inside, Yu Yan Chu outside, separated by a wooden fence.

By Yu Yan Chu's side stood the Lu family elder and third elder on left and right, while Chen Li guarded the rear entrance, the defensive force fully deployed.

Seeing Yu Yan Chu there, Yu Shu Mei was also extremely surprised: "Elder sister, how did you end up here?"

"Eleventh princess, do you know how it feels for me to hear you call me elder sister? It's quite ironic."

"Elder sister, you are the Elder Princess; I am nominally a princess but in reality a prisoner of the steps—I don't want to live like this my whole life." Yu Shu Mei shook her head.

Just a simple opening remark, and she understood what Yu Yan Chu meant.