As long as he didn’t make Wu Ciyun Duke Protector of the State, the court would keep opposing his claim as Regent.
He, a dignified prince, was being held hostage by such a lowly person—it was humiliating!
“Your Highness, please calm down. It’s not worth getting angry over this.”
His advisor ventured, “Actually, Li Daren’s suggestion this morning was good. Why not try to catch Wu Ciyun’s mistakes, if only to silence the others for a while?”
“You think I haven’t tried?”
Prince Rui slammed the table in anger.
“Wu Ciyun is cunning beyond measure. Why would he leave any evidence against himself?”
He had wanted to try this approach, but Wu Ciyun had only just returned to the Capital, and there was nothing to find.
He ordered people to investigate in Lingzhou and Yunzhou, hoping for evidence of corruption, but they found nothing. In fact, the court owed Wu Ciyun twenty taels of silver.
Just then, a guard rushed in, presenting a letter.
“Your Highness, the letter has been intercepted.”
“What letter? I never told you to intercept letters.”
The guard was taken aback, glanced at the advisor, and stammered, “Mr. Lin Ce told us to intercept letters from the Wu residence…”
“Your Highness, forgive me, I was the one who ordered it,” the advisor apologized.
“I thought if Wu Ciyun was colluding with someone, there would be traces in correspondence.”
“That makes sense,” Prince Rui said, not blaming him.
He opened the letter.
After reading it, his expression went from shock to a sudden burst of laughter.
The advisor was startled by his laughter and asked, “Is there good news, Your Highness?”
“Great news! Truly great!”
Prince Rui laughed, and the advisor read the letter—it was from the Liang Dynasty. It clearly stated that the Liang Dynasty Envoys were coming to the Capital and wished to take a prince back to the Liang Capital, and for the prince’s safety, Grand Tutor Wen Guanyu proposed that Wu Ciyun accompany him to serve as an official in the Liang Dynasty.
This was an unreasonable request, but it solved Prince Rui’s biggest headache.
No wonder they say “the cart will find its way around the hill”—just as he’d been troubled by Ci Yun, she was being sent away.
So what if she became Duke Protector of the State?
If she left for the Liang Dynasty, no matter how far his reach, he couldn’t do anything about her.
The advisor’s expression grew complicated.
He suggested, “Your Highness, you might as well agree to the Duke Protector of the State appointment tomorrow in court. Otherwise, when Ci Yun is gone, Grand Preceptor Zhao may push for someone new.”
“Agreed, that makes sense.”
Prince Rui found the idea agreeable. He had to secure his regency first.
If he’d known Ci Yun would be chosen by the Liang Dynasty, he wouldn’t have wasted so much effort dealing with the old ministers.
Prince Rui even carefully considered whether the letter could be fake, but news from the Liang Dynasty Envoys, arriving by urgent courier, confirmed Wen Guanyu’s presence.
Seeing the name, he finally relaxed.
If it was genuine, his greatest threat would be gone.
If fake, it would only mean more trouble later—but faced with the choice, he’d rather gamble now.
***
At the next morning’s court, Prince Rui was glowing with delight.
Grand Preceptor Zhao brought up the matter of clearing the Wu family’s name and publicizing it, and mentioned making Wu Ciyun Duke Protector of the State.
Unexpectedly, Prince Rui agreed with a smile.
“Since everyone insists, I can hardly refuse.”
“Then let Master Wu be Duke Protector of the State, to purify the court and instruct His Majesty, fulfilling his duties as a minister.”
After a month of suspense, the matter was suddenly settled.
The court was abuzz with discussion, and Grand Preceptor Zhao’s face was black as charcoal—he hadn’t expected Prince Rui to agree so easily.
As previously stated, with Wu Ciyun as a nominal Duke Protector of the State, Prince Rui could now become Regent and hold the power of regency.
The abrupt turn was unexpected, but Ci Yun remained composed, calmly accepting the decree as if it were nothing to her.
Prince Rui glanced at Wu Ciyun’s serene face and sneered inwardly, though he kept it off his face, and brought up the incoming Liang Dynasty Envoys.
On the surface, he spoke of harmony between the Liang and Sheng Dynasties, but everyone knew this was the Liang Dynasty coming to claim their reward.
The System always thought the world’s setting was odd. The founding emperors of Sheng and Liang were brothers—one ruled the south, one the north. That’s why, during the initial chaos, the Sheng Emperor could ask the Liang Dynasty for help as kin.
But the System was still puzzled: [Why didn’t the Liang Dynasty invade Sheng during its internal strife?]
[Didn’t you say you’re an omniscient System? Why are you asking me?]
[Because the Liang Dynasty is the later plot. I haven’t received it yet.]
The System muttered, [All I have is a general outline.]
Wu Ciyun, surprisingly patient, explained, [Three years ago, Rong Tan’s elder brother—the previous Liang Emperor—died suddenly, and the princes fought over the throne. The Liang Dynasty was greatly weakened, and the northern barbarians were restless. If they attacked the Sheng Dynasty now, they’d be caught between enemies.]
[The Liang Dynasty offered help, but with one condition: Sheng must enthrone an emperor under five years old. On the surface, it gave power to the ministers and Prince Rui, but it led to the current situation.]
The young emperor was too young, Prince Rui wasn’t strong enough, and power in the court was divided among factions, destined for trouble.
But Wu Ciyun didn’t care. She’d already learned from the System that she would be sent to the Liang Dynasty, so she was prepared.
Once she left as a nominal Duke Protector of the State, Prince Rui and Grand Preceptor Zhao would fight, and she could sit back and reap the rewards on her return.
***
“Master Wu, I heard you worked with Chu Mingyi in Ning Prefecture?”
Prince Rui, seeing Wu Ciyun’s impassive face, was unexpectedly friendly. “Since you’re old acquaintances, you’ll surely attend when the Envoys arrive.”
Wu Ciyun accepted Prince Rui’s ill-intentioned words respectfully, maintaining composure throughout court and graciously accepting colleagues’ congratulations afterward.
“You’ve finally gotten what you wanted.”
Su Wuke didn’t quite agree with Wu Ciyun stepping into the limelight. Prince Rui’s sudden change made him wary.
He warned, “Prince Rui was far too agreeable today. You must be on guard against tricks.”
Wu Ciyun shook her head, helpless.
“If Prince Rui had any sense, he’d know his true enemy isn’t me.”
“And that Chu Mingyi…”
Su Wuke, remembering Chu Mingyi’s actions in Ning Prefecture, frowned.
“You’d best avoid him. Pretend to be sick if needed.”
Wu Ciyun replied lazily, “I’m afraid it won’t be so simple.”
Chu Mingyi wasn’t a big issue, but Wen Guanyu was another story—she had to be cautious.
The System wanted to ask about her grudge with Wen Guanyu, but Wu Ciyun refused to say.
It scoured the entire book and found no record.
Wu Ciyun’s early experiences were barely mentioned in the plot, so if it wanted to know, it could only ask her directly.
But knowing Wu Ciyun, she was likely to give nothing but evasive lies.
The System was scratching its head in frustration.
Finally, when the Liang Dynasty Envoys entered the Capital five days later, it eagerly searched for Wen Guanyu.
Chu Mingyi had specifically requested to come and even wrote Wu Ciyun a letter beforehand to show his sincerity in recruiting her.
Among the ministers, he spotted Ci Yun at a glance.
She wore a purple robe and gold belt, still calm and self-possessed, a breath of youthful spirit amid the old crowd.
He’d heard Wu Ciyun had been promoted to Duke Protector of the State without military merit or years of service—seemingly a joke, and wondered what tricks she’d pulled.
Wu Ciyun’s eyes weren’t on Chu Mingyi.
She gazed past him to the black-robed young man beside him, her expression unruffled.
The System had expected Wu Ciyun’s old flame to be the handsome, gentle type like Rong Tan, but Wen Guanyu was very different.
His features were sharp, his long phoenix eyes slightly raised, and when he lowered them, the tear mole under his left eye hid in shadow.
His expression barely changed, like a distant jade statue.
The System clicked its tongue.
He was good-looking, but didn’t seem like someone who could partner with Wu Ciyun.
Wen Guanyu’s gaze settled on Wu Ciyun and, after a long pause, he curved his lips slightly.
“Master Wu.”
He pronounced her title heavily, with layered meaning: “It’s been years, and you’re as striking as ever.”
Wu Ciyun’s face didn’t change.
“So is the Grand Tutor. Your bearing is as impressive as before.”
The atmosphere between them was so strange that even Prince Rui was surprised they knew each other.
Thinking of the intercepted secret letter, he grew tense.
If Wu Ciyun was working with Wen Guanyu against him, wouldn’t he be tricked again?
Prince Rui was furious, but Wu Ciyun ignored him, not expecting Wen Guanyu to show mercy, and excused herself with ill health.
Wu Ciyun was known as a chronic invalid.
Standing outside in the cold wind left her pale as paper.
Prince Rui despised her, but before others, he had to feign concern and call for the Imperial Doctor.
“Master Wu, are you still unwell?”
Chu Mingyi asked with concern, recalling what the doctor had once said.
“You mustn’t avoid treatment for fear of embarrassment.”
For men, these things were awkward, but couldn’t be left untreated.
Otherwise, what about his brother?
Wu Ciyun wasn’t sure how Chu Mingyi guessed she was avoiding treatment, but thanked him gently.
Wen Guanyu’s gaze shifted from one to the other, lingering on Wu Ciyun’s pale face.
In the end, he said nothing and watched her leave.
[Why didn’t you follow?]
The System was puzzled.
[Aren’t you afraid they’ll plot against you?]
[If I went, I’d just be asking for humiliation. I’m not going.]
She’d just been made Duke Protector of the State, and now had to leave for the Liang Capital—it was obvious Prince Rui would be gloating.
Being laughed at by a fool would make her feel like a fool herself.
[But aren’t you close with Wen Guanyu? “A day as a couple, a hundred days of grace.” Won’t he cut you some slack?]
[Who said we were ever a couple?]
Wu Ciyun frowned. [We were just classmates.]
System: [?]
System: [Didn’t you share a bed many times?]
Wu Ciyun said righteously, [Can’t classmates share a bed?]
System: [……]
It really didn’t get it, and was thoroughly shocked.
Even though Wu Ciyun was absent, she still knew what was discussed between the two countries.
According to the situation, even if she didn’t inquire, Prince Rui would send someone to tell her.
The contents were mostly as Chu Mingyi had told her. Wen Guanyu wanted to take the tenth prince and Wu Ciyun to the Liang Capital—ostensibly to “teach,” but in fact, as hostages.
In addition, the previously promised Four Cities in the northwest were all ceded to the Liang Dynasty.
This news made Prince Rui ecstatic, Grand Preceptor Zhao furious, and shattered the court’s fragile balance. Wen Guanyu’s goals were fully achieved.
***
That day, Rong Tan dressed as a servant to accompany Wu Ciyun to the palace banquet.
Even in plain clothes, he couldn’t hide his striking looks.
Wu Ciyun lay on the table, watching him, and suddenly said, “In a few days, I have to go to the Liang Capital.”
“…What?”
Rong Tan’s hand paused, and he looked at her, panic flickering in his expression.
“Why do you have to go all of a sudden?”
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