Untouchable Lovers-Chapter 184 - 166: Finally Coming Out
Chapter 184 -166: Finally Coming Out
At this time, Hua Cuo’s face had already become extremely unsightly, as if the moment Chu Yu said anything displeasing, his sword would flash out of its sheath like lightning.
To guard against Hua Cuo, Yue Jiefei tightened his grip on the sword hilt and quickly moved to stand in front of Chu Yu, separating the two of them.
Hua Cuo stared sharply at Yue Jiefei, a cold sneer emerging on his face. He had disliked Yue Jiefei for a long time, always ending up at a disadvantage in their previous encounters due to his old injuries which limited his ability to fight for long. This time he was eager to test his sword.
As tension mounted between the two, Yue Jiefei felt a tap on his shoulder and turned around to see Chu Yu smiling lightly, “What’s all this about?”
Her gaze quickly swept over Hua Cuo’s face, her lips curling slightly, “Eat and talk.”
Then the meal was served.
During the meal, Chu Yu went back to her room and changed into men’s clothing.
By now it was dark, with candles lit on several lamps, the flickering candlelight faintly illuminating the surroundings.
In the room, several square low tables were placed in front of everyone, new dishes arranged on the tables. Except for Chu Yu, no one else had touched the food.
They had no appetite.
After a busy day, Chu Yu was already hungry, she ate her fill before finally stopping, then looked smilingly at Hua Cuo and Yue Jiefei opposite her. Both held chopsticks in their left hands while their right hands rested on their sword hilts, their glances occasionally darting at each other, and they were not kneeling but squatting, ready to draw their swords at any moment.
Chu Yu smiled and then turned to look at Liu Sang beside her. The young boy had his head lowered, staring at the food with a troubled frown. She couldn’t help but reach out and stroke Liu Sang’s head, laughing, “Why aren’t you eating?”
Liu Sang’s voice was muffled, “I can’t eat. Princess, are you going to leave again soon?” When You Lan had ordered the meal earlier, he had heard Chu Yu instructing You Lan to prepare the carriage for travel, seemingly planning to go away for a substantial period of time.
Chu Yu took a slice of venison, chewing it finely, “Yes, I indeed need to go out for some matters. Would you be willing to stay obediently in the Princess Mansion and wait for me?”
After waiting a while, she heard Liu Sang’s muffled response, “No, I’ll find a way to follow you, wherever you go, I’ll follow.”
She knew it would be so.
Chu Yu sighed internally, but casually said, “Then you might as well come with me.” Leaving him at home would only worry her more; it might be better to bring him along from the start.
Actually, compared to Xiao Bie, Chu Yu would have preferred to send away Liu Sang, as this child was also attached to her because of his reliance on Shan Yin’s Princess, but she could not find any reason to send him away, and even if she did, Liu Sang would still stick by her side.
Pouting is a child’s prerogative.
“You’re going out? Where?” Hua Cuo, sensing something, didn’t bother with his staring match with Yue Jiefei and quickly turned to Chu Yu.
Chu Yu slowly ate some more food, grinding on Hua Cuo’s impatience, and then nodded, “Don’t you want to know what’s happened this past month? I’ll tell you.”
Holding a delicately crafted celadon teacup, Chu Yu drank a sip of hot tea, washing away the taste of the dishes, and then slowly began to recount the events from the moment Rong Zhi appeared in front of the carriage.
Time was limited, so she kept it brief, omitting many of the twists and thrilling moments, yet Hua Cuo could imagine how Rong Zhi had walked on the knife’s edge between life and death.
The more he listened, the uglier Hua Cuo’s expression became, until at last, Chu Yu gently said, “And so, I came back.” She only mentioned that Sun Li had released her, without elaborating on the journey itself.
Hua Cuo blurted out, “You just came back like this? Leaving Rong Zhi alone in that hellish place to suffer? How could you bear it?” He was very angry, very dissatisfied; why was it her and not Rong Zhi who had returned? Why was she here, comfortably enjoying the servitude of the servants, while Rong Zhi suffered, his life and death unknown, in that ghastly place?
A sharp pain seized Hua Cuo’s heart, without much thought, he directly vented his dissatisfaction at Chu Yu.
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Hearing his accusation, Chu Yu’s expression showed no change; even her eyebrows did not quiver. She looked at Hua Cuo with calm and steady eyes, and after a long while, she sipped her tea softly and said, “Then what would you have me do?”
With that softly spoken sentence, Hua Cuo was taken aback.
“What would you have me do?” Lowering her gaze to the clear azure tea in her cup, Chu Yu spoke slowly, “I cannot carry burdens, I cannot handle affairs, I am not able to bring peace with my knowledge or stabilize the country with my might. Staying there, how could I be of any use to Rong Zhi?” Originally, she thought it would be difficult to face Hua Cuo, but it turned out that she could respond so naturally when the moment arrived.
At a loss for words, it took Hua Cuo a long time to stammer out, “At least, you shouldn’t leave him there alone…”
Chu Yu could not help but laugh, looking at Hua Cuo as if amused, “I never knew you were such a naive person. Even if I stayed there, what could I do to assist Rong Zhi? Would I concoct poison? Or kill people with my martial skills?”
She put down her teacup and picked up a neatly folded white silk handkerchief to gently wipe her lips, “Hua Cuo, don’t think you’re the only one concerned about Rong Zhi’s safety. My worries are no less than yours, but if I stayed there, I would be nothing but a burden to him. I can only try to find a way to rescue him by coming back here.”
Hua Cuo looked at Chu Yu in astonishment; he could faintly feel that this woman was different. Although her words were still gently spoken, there seemed to be a very flexible yet extremely firm strength hidden in her slow voice,
In her eyes, there was something new that hadn’t been there before. They seemed to have been tempered by the long journey’s wind and sand, polishing away the dull flaws of the jade, instead revealing its original luster and solidity.
Just then, someone reported that the carriage was ready. Chu Yu casually threw aside the handkerchief, stood up, and pulled Liu Sang along, “Alright, go make your preparations. Decide what you want to take with you on the road early, but don’t bring too much. Once you’re ready, wait for me in the carriage at the entrance.”
With those words, Chu Yu dismissed Liu Sang and then turned to Hua Cuo. She walked up to him, standing while he squatted, one looking up and the other looking down.
The light of the candle illuminated the side of Chu Yu’s face, outlining her beautiful features. However, Hua Cuo saw that her eyes, gleaming with the light of the night, held meanings that he couldn’t fathom.
Chu Yu spoke softly, “This trip is to find someone who might be able to help Rong Zhi. I don’t know who that person is, or if there is any danger, or even if this will be of any use, but there are some things I must do. For safety, I want to bring you along, but I only ask you, will you come?”
Hua Cuo was about to nod when Chu Yu, preempting him, waved her hand to interrupt, “Don’t be hasty to agree. If you’re coming with me, we must establish three rules: first, you must not reveal my identity; second, unless someone attacks me, you must not strike preemptively; third, follow my commands throughout the journey.”
She looked at him expressionlessly. “If you agree, then come with me, otherwise we go our separate ways.”
Despite her need for him, she maintained a composed, confident demeanor, reversing their roles as if she knew he would agree for Rong Zhi’s sake. Hua Cuo clenched his teeth, “Three rules are three rules, but you must also keep your word and genuinely try to rescue Rong Zhi.”
Chu Yu nodded slightly and turned to walk outside, “Then come along.”
Hua Cuo was somewhat stunned as he watched her departing figure. She wore a light blue garment, and the night wind lifted her hem, revealing her steady, unhurried steps.
Recently, he knew what Rong Zhi had been doing, and he also knew this woman had been kept in the dark. Sometimes he would secretly laugh to himself, laughing at her for being unwittingly under Rong Zhi’s control.
Yet, the current Chu Yu seemed different from a month ago. From her return to the palace, back to the mansion, and now leaving, each of her actions, each decision was made without hesitation or lingering, abandoning any weak worries—now, Chu Yu resembled herself back when she had just dismissed the concubines, but even clearer, more definite, more open, and stronger.
Hua Cuo vaguely felt that in Chu Yu’s being, something unshakable had emergedsomething that he, nor Rong Zhi, nor anyone else, could influence.
Having experienced death and displacement, separation and togetherness, she was emerging from the boundless confusion and hardship…
Step by step, without hesitation.
Emerging.
