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Feeling Xiao Yao's movements, He Yu held Xiao Yao a little tighter, "Are you still a bit scared?"
"Yeah." Xiao Yao didn't hide it from him, "Is this how you live?"
"Not exactly; assassination isn't something that happens all the time. They don't have that many people to expend," He Yu scoffed. "After all, training a killer isn't easy."
"So there will still be some?"
"Of course, in the capital, it definitely won't be as peaceful as other places."
"But a prince died for no reason in the capital, and he was the emperor's most favored person. Won't anyone suspect anything?" Xiao Yao asked in confusion.
"It's too easy to fabricate a reason for sudden death, and you don't know what the emperor is thinking, right?" He Yu said casually, pinching Xiao Yao's nose.
Although his tone was relaxed, the words he spoke were chilling. Xiao Yao widened her eyes, "Are you implying that it could be the emperor...?"
He Yu paused but didn't deny it. He tidied up Xiao Yao's hair and said, "You are my wife, so I don't want to hide anything from you. The capital seems peaceful on the surface, but beneath that glamorous facade lies an undercurrent that no one can imagine. All we can do is try our best to protect ourselves."
The room fell into silence for a moment. Xiao Yao was surprised that He Yu understood these matters so thoroughly. But upon reflection, it made sense; otherwise, how could she cooperate with him in the future if she knew nothing?
As a princess, she naturally had to have the awareness of being one. The social interactions of a Madam, as it were, should be principles recognized across cultures and times. Only by understanding these various nuances could she effectively support him, right?
However, despite this realization, she still frowned and said, "I'm so tired."
"What?" He Yu was taken aback when he heard Xiao Yao say this.
"I mean, living is exhausting."
He Yu chuckled, "Then what would make it less tiring?"
"To live freely and joyfully in this world; to have pastoral songs and self-sufficiency; to traverse this beautiful land of ours. To move with one's heart and have a clear mind; to sing with wine in hand—that's what a happy life is!" Xiao Yao said enthusiastically.
"You really do have a bit of Wei Jin Style," He Yu said helplessly.
"Don't you think so?"
"Of course, that's fine, but in this world, one is not always in control of their own fate. There are always some things that cannot be decided by oneself," He Yu said helplessly as he looked at Xiao Yao. "Right now, I am indeed not in control, do you understand?"
"What you call being out of control is just that there are some things you are unwilling to let go of," Xiao Yao pouted and replied.
This was met with a moment of silence from He Yu. Seeing that He Yu had nothing to say, Xiao Yao thought to herself, could it be that he has too much on his mind? Just as she was about to say something, He Yu spoke up, "You're not wrong. Being out of control does indeed mean there are some things that cannot be set aside."
"Then you..." Xiao Yao looked at He Yu with bright eyes. "Should we...?"
"Not yet," He Yu interrupted Xiao Yao with a smile. "I truly have things I must complete right now. When the time comes, I will take you with me, and we will retreat to the mountains and forests, living freely. I will take you and our child to explore the beautiful landscapes of this country, how about that?"
"Really?!" Xiao Yao exclaimed in delight. "You can't be lying to me!"
"I would never lie to you," He Yu said as he patted Xiao Yao's back.
As the two were whispering softly, they heard someone outside say quietly, "My lord, we have captured the person, but he has already taken his own life... It is my incompetence; please punish me as you see fit!"
The person did not enter; it was a Shadow Guard who typically did not show themselves in front of anyone other than the lord. So he reported directly through the door, but Xiao Yao could see him kneeling through the flickering candlelight.
He Yu chuckled lightly, "If it were that easy to extract information, then he wouldn't be an assassin. Alright, you can't be blamed for this; you may leave now."
"Yes, thank you for your mercy, my lord." With that, he said no more and withdrew.
Xiao Yao widened her eyes as she watched the figure vanish instantly at the door. "So fast!" she exclaimed.
He Yu smiled and said, "That’s my Shadow Guard. The Crown Prince has Shadow Guards as well; they are trained specifically for speed."
"Oh," Xiao Yao nodded. She knew about Shadow Guards from various dramas and movies; these individuals had a very rigorous and often brutal training regimen, so she didn't ask further.
He Yu glanced outside at the lightening sky. "It's getting bright; are you going to sleep a little longer?"
"I'm not going to sleep anymore; once I'm awake, I can't fall back asleep," Xiao Yao shook her head. "Stay and talk with me for a while."
She understood that even if the assassin had been captured, it couldn't guarantee that there weren't other assassins lurking nearby. Therefore, He Yu wasn't comfortable leaving her alone in the room, so he simply stayed.
Sure enough, upon hearing Xiao Yao's request, He Yu readily agreed. "What do you want to talk about?"
"Well, what about the current Sovereign? What kind of person is he?" Xiao Yao asked curiously, as she would definitely have to meet the Emperor after marriage, so it wouldn't hurt to learn a bit in advance.
He Yu frowned and thought for a moment, then said, "Actually, I can't say much. He is a complex person, but he is a good Emperor for the people and the Nation. At least the common folk are living in peace and safety, right?"
"Yes, that's true," Xiao Yao agreed. She had heard from Xiao Father and Mrs. Xiao about the current era of peace. If it weren't for the Emperor opening several trade ports and reducing some taxes, their Xiao Family wouldn't have become prosperous so quickly.
"But as for the court officials, there is inevitably suspicion. The Emperor is suspicious; this seems to be a common issue among Emperors," He Yu smiled.
Xiao Yao nodded thoughtfully. After all, with such high power and status, many people covet the throne beneath him. A moment of carelessness could lead to losing it; being at the top can be lonely, so how could there not be suspicion?
"What about the Crown Prince? What kind of person is he?" Xiao Yao continued to ask.
"The Crown Prince..." He Yu smiled, "The Crown Prince is the current Second Prince. His mother was the late Empress Zhuang Hui. The Crown Prince is steady and composed, able to consider the bigger picture. A few years ago, I often accompanied him in disguise to visit the common people. I believe he will also be a good Emperor in the future."
"It seems you are quite loyal to the Crown Prince," Xiao Yao said with a smile.
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