Since the Emperor of Chu had fallen into the water and lost consciousness, everyone had lost the mood for entertainment.
After Chu Heye escorted the Emperor away, the atmosphere remained cold and tense for a long time.
Apparently, Yan Zhao's act of killing three people with a staff in the snow had shocked everyone and triggered countless fears.
Some of the timid ones even urinated in their pants on the spot.
"It's getting late. Go back now," Yan Zhao said impatiently, fed up with this farce.
"Brother Yan, is Father Emperor alright?" Chu Nian'an had always been in awe of Yan Zhao. Only when Ning Yuwan was around would she dare to oppose him a bit.
Now that Ning Yuwan was not here, she really didn't dare to joke with Yan Zhao as she did when they came.
Just now, Chu Heye didn't let Chu Nian'an see the Emperor. She had appeared obedient only because there were many people around and she didn't want to cause panic.
After the crowd had dispersed, her real concern showed.
There were flickering candle flames in Yan Zhao's eyes, hiding his deep and complex thoughts. "His Majesty is blessed with great fortune. Naturally, he'll be fine."
Ning Yuwan had said long ago that this was not the Emperor's time to die.
Of course, he would be okay.
Chu Nian'an didn't detect the sarcasm in his tone. She calmed down from her panic and showed a smile again. "That's good. Nian'an hopes Father Emperor will be safe and sound and live a long and carefree life."
"The princess is really filial! I wonder if the Emperor is worthy of such a wish!"
"Brother Yan?"
Chu Nian'an was confused by his sudden change of attitude. "Don't you wish Father Emperor a long life?"
"Of course I do! How could I not?"
Yan Zhao sneered. Once he had avenged his great hatred, he would surely imprison the Emperor and torture him day and night, making him suffer all kinds of punishments in the world.
Death was too good for the Emperor.
When he killed He Fulin with the staff, some twisted and perverse thoughts seemed to emerge in his heart. It seemed that only by torturing and humiliating his enemies could he feel truly satisfied!
Yan Zhao's tone was a bit strange. Chu Nian'an only felt a slight sense of confusion.
But her personality was different from her elder brother Chu Heye's.
Instead, she was more like Chu Heyao, overly simple and straightforward.
Soon, her attention was no longer on Yan Zhao. Instead, she excitedly planned tomorrow's itinerary.
The night was thick. The snow stained with blood had been cleared away, revealing the dark ground.
It was clean, as if the tragic incident had never happened.
Because she had been embarrassed by Yan Zhao and Gu Xiao during the day, Princess Yong'an, Chu Yuanyuan, stayed in her room and refused to come out.
Her room was different from the others'.
Everyone liked the sunny south-facing rooms, but she alone preferred the north-facing ones where the sun couldn't reach.
There were also tall trees planted outside the courtyard, making it look even more strange and gloomy in the night.
Moreover, since Chu Yuanyuan was always domineering, she was the only one who chose to stay in this courtyard.
Because it was remote and no one in the capital was on good terms with her, she didn't know about the Emperor's accident.
Nor did she know that Yan Zhao had been angry and killed three people with a staff.
If she had really seen it, maybe she would have hidden her thoughts a little and postponed her plan.
She would only carry it out after she was completely away from Yan Zhao.
But unfortunately, she knew nothing.
So her malicious thoughts were fully revealed.
"Have you found out where Pei Yunlu is staying?"
Inside the room, Chu Yuanyuan was putting on makeup in front of a mirror inlaid with jewels. She even carefully applied a layer of dark red lipstick.
She stroked the mirror surface contentedly and admired her appearance through the shiny mirror.
Behind her, the guard Chu Dong didn't dare to look at her face. He lowered his head and reported, "Your subordinate bribed the princess's maid in charge. She told me that Pei Yunlu likes chrysanthemums, so she chose a courtyard with chrysanthemums."
After searching all the rooms on Fang Mountain, there was only one courtyard with chrysanthemums planted in it.
"Tomorrow morning, I want to hear the news of Pei Yunlu and that scholar's deaths."
Chu Yuanyuan lifted her foot and touched Chu Dong's chin. Her small round face looked even more charming. "Dong, can you handle this?"
Chu Dong's body trembled slightly. Forced to look into her coquettish round eyes, he said, "Your subordinate will surely relieve the princess of her worries."
"Hehe!"
Chu Yuanyuan raised her long eyebrows. Her foot was like a hand, patting Chu Dong's cheek as if she were slapping him. "If you succeed, I'll reward you handsomely."
Cold sweat dripped from Chu Dong's forehead and almost fell on Chu Yuanyuan's embroidered shoes.
He quickly wiped the sweat from his forehead as he stepped back. "Yes!"
"Is the princess still angry with Chu Dong?"
Seeing him in a hurry, the charm in Chu Yuanyuan's eyes grew stronger.
On her body, a pair of rough hands gently rubbed her shoulders. Seeing that she didn't resist, the hands picked up a wooden comb and combed her long hair.
"He dared to stop me. How bold of him."
Chu Dong was the guard who had covered her mouth to prevent her from confronting Yan Zhao.
He had always been thinking about Chu Yuanyuan.
But Chu Yuanyuan was angry at his insubordination. So she had given him this task tonight.
You know, although she was usually vicious and cruel, she never gave the task of killing to Chu Dong.
She always gave it to Chu Bei behind her.
"Chu Dong did it for the princess's own good," Chu Bei said on the surface for Chu Dong, but secretly he wished that Chu Yuanyuan would dislike Chu Dong. "That's why he has been overstepping his bounds lately."
Chu Yuanyuan seemed to see through his thoughts. She covered Chu Bei's hand with her delicate one. "Oh? Then I won't spoil him anymore. How about spoiling you instead?"
Chu Bei's joy was clearly visible. He slowly leaned in to test Chu Yuanyuan's attitude.
But Chu Yuanyuan didn't back down at all. Her eyes became even more seductive.
"Please have mercy on me, princess," Chu Bei said excitedly. He picked her up and walked towards the big bed in the room.
It seemed that a very fast shadow flashed by, bringing a small gust of cold wind.
For a moment, the candle flames flickered violently.
But on the big bed, the two people who had already been indulging in passion seemed not to notice.
Chu Yuanyuan's jade feet were arched, as if she was extremely satisfied.
Her fingers unconsciously grabbed the bedsheet. When they moved, they seemed to grab a soft and slippery object.
"What's this?"
Her voice was soft and charming. Chu Yuanyuan opened her closed eyes and looked at her right hand that was holding the object.
"Ah!"
It was actually a fire snake spitting out its red tongue. It seemed to have been in hibernation.
But the temperature in the room was very high, and the fire snake gradually woke up.
When Chu Yuanyuan picked it up, it was about to attack.
Chu Yuanyuan stared wide-eyed and quickly threw the fire snake away.
Coincidentally, it landed on Chu Bei, who was still moving vigorously on her.
The fire snake immediately bit Chu Bei hard on the waist.
"It hurts so much!"
Chu Bei cried out in pain. He didn't know the reason for Chu Yuanyuan's scream. He thought he wasn't brave enough.
But the sudden pain in his waist made him feel a creepy fear.
His fingers trembled as they touched his waist. When he saw the unique pattern on the fire snake, his face turned extremely dark.
It wasn't because of his mood, but because he had completely been poisoned.
"Princess, it's poisonous!"
Chu Bei grabbed the poisonous snake and fell on Chu Yuanyuan. Fortunately, he strangled the fire snake to death before he died.
Chu Yuanyuan had always been indulged in male-female pleasures, but this was the first time she had encountered such a situation.
The man died on her.
Moreover, she was so frightened by the poisonous snake that her body went limp. It took her a long time to push Chu Bei away.
Just as she was about to get out of bed, she saw the ground and screamed even louder!
"Help!"