The Sickly Beauty Substitute Called It Quits

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The person whom the Hidden Dragon Guard had been searching for all over the capital suddenly appeared before them, which seemed quite unbelievable.

Shen Yu looked at Shang Junlin, and he could see the same confusion in the man's eyes.

Of course, since the person had come on his own accord, they had no reason to turn him away.

The carriage door opened, and Shang Junlin was the first to step out, followed by Shen Yu.

The self-proclaimed "Mr. Zhu" stood not far from them, and the guards stared at this unexpected person as if facing a formidable enemy. Shen Yu and Shang Junlin walked a few steps closer.

It was the first time Shen Yu had seen "Mr. Zhu." The man was dressed in a black robe, with long hair neatly tied up behind his head. He appeared younger than Shen Yu had imagined, and his unremarkable facial features seemed to create a strange impression. However, what stood out the most were his eyes, deep and bottomless, as if they held everything and nothing at the same time.

Mr. Zhu also observed Shang Junlin and Shen Yu, and the moment he saw their appearances, a flicker of astonishment crossed his face. Although he quickly regained his composure, Shen Yu, who had been observing him closely, caught that momentary lapse.

Shen Yu was certain that he had never seen this person before, and it seemed that the feeling was mutual. He lowered his gaze, concealing the thoughts swirling in his eyes.

"Your Majesty and Your Excellency are truly enviable," Mr. Zhu said, observing them for a moment before speaking.

Shang Junlin's expression softened slightly. "What business do you have with me?"

He stood slightly in front of Shen Yu, his body tense, clearly on guard against the enigmatic Mr. Zhu.

"I came to see Your Majesty, just to confirm one thing. And now that it has been confirmed, the celestial patterns have shifted, and the course of destiny has changed. Indeed, I shouldn't have interfered too much," Mr. Zhu replied.

"What exactly do you want to do?"

"Your Majesty had someone bring me to the capital. Isn't it for the purpose of meeting me? It would be impolite to come in chains, so I came alone."

Mr. Zhu's words and actions were calm, perhaps too calm. He seemed oblivious to the numerous armed guards surrounding him as if he couldn't sense their presence.

Shen Yu had been closely observing this person. Besides his air of mystery, there was an inexplicable feeling of dissonance. Based on what the King of Yue had said, this person should be aligned with the King of Yue and have hostility towards them. However, Mr. Zhu appeared too calm, and Shen Yu couldn't determine if he was truly mysterious or just putting on a show.

"Mr. Zhu has come from afar. Perhaps it would be better for him to have an audience in the palace. The previous invitation was not appropriate, and Mr. Zhu should give us a chance to make amends," Shen Yu suggested while looking at Mr. Zhu.

Mr. Zhu's gaze once again fell upon Shen Yu. "I do not enjoy being bound. I will not go to the palace."

Shen Yu tugged at Shang Junlin's sleeve. He felt a hint of resentment emanating from this person, even though it disappeared in an instant. But he was sure he hadn't misinterpreted it. There was no hostility towards Shang Junlin, only towards him. So it wasn't directed at Shang Junlin but at him...

Shang Junlin reached out and held Shen Yu's hand. When he looked at Mr. Zhu, there was a trace of displeasure in his eyes. "Your Excellency extended an invitation, yet Mr. Zhu refuses to show any courtesy?"

Mr. Zhu paused for a moment, seemingly surprised at how things had developed. He sighed, "That was not my intention."

"Why are you refusing then? Keep in mind that many people would desire my invitation but fail to receive it. If you don't show me respect, it means you are disrespecting His Majesty, which is a serious crime." Shen Yu assumed an arrogant posture, relying on his favoritism.

"You are right, Your Excellency." Shang Junlin nodded in agreement, and his gaze toward Mr. Zhu became even more unkind, resembling a powerful monarch being challenged. It seemed as if he were saying, "Whether you want to go or not, you will go."

In the end, Mr. Zhu accompanied them to the palace.

"Why did Ah Yu insist on inviting Mr. Zhu to the palace?" After returning to the Yu Zhang Palace, Shang Junlin sat on the bed, embracing Shen Yu.

Mr. Zhu was arranged to stay in a separate palace, and the Hidden Dragon Guard closely monitored his every move.

"This person gives me an uneasy feeling. I sensed his hatred toward me, even though I have had no interaction with him," Shen Yu said, while paying close attention to the person.

Hatred doesn't arise without a reason. There must be a trigger, but Shen Yu hadn't even met this Mr. Zhu before. So where could the trigger be?

"If he had harbored resentment toward me from the beginning, it wouldn't be surprising for him to speak those words. To raise me up to the heavens with one sentence, and to cast me down into hell at my proudest moment with another."

"I don't believe his words," Shang Junlin said, holding Shen Yu tightly. "I have never believed in the existence of gods and spirits. If they truly exist, why don't they appear when people are suffering and in distress? And that proverb is laughable. Since when has this world become one where obtaining someone will change a ruler's existence?"

With the Hidden Dragon Guard keeping a close watch, Mr. Zhu couldn't easily escape from the palace.

Since they had discovered something was amiss with him, Shang Junlin certainly wouldn't let him go easily.

Mr. Zhu paced anxiously in the room. He had expected that Shang Junlin, at the very least, would be wary of mysterious powers. After revealing his own mystique, even if he didn't elevate him to the level of the King of Yue, he should have shown him great respect. But what was the result?

He had acted hastily and underestimated this monarch who had risen from the battlefield. He should have realized it earlier. How could Shang Junlin and Shang Junyue be the same?

Unfortunately, he had realized it too late.

Mr. Zhu came to this realization on the second day. Shen Yu had promised to make amends, but since Mr. Zhu entered the palace, neither Shen Yu nor Shang Junlin had appeared. On the first day, they said he should rest, and on the second day, he noticed many hidden auras around him. Even the palace attendants gave him a strange feeling.

He had no evidence to support this feeling, but he trusted his instincts. This feeling peaked when he tried to leave the palace but was intercepted.

In hindsight, he seemed to have willingly walked into a trap.

"Your Majesty said that Mr. Zhu has realized something is amiss?" Shen Yu sat under the shade of a tree. Although it was a question, his tone held little doubt.

"He realized it too late. With the Hidden Dragon Guard stationed there, I don't believe he can escape," Shang Junlin replied.

"How is everything in Subei? Will Official Fang be able to return in time for the autumn hunt?"

The position in the Cabinet had remained vacant. After several unsuccessful attempts to test the waters, the courtiers began to suspect that the Emperor had already chosen someone. However, the person was currently not in the capital, so the position couldn't be filled.

"It should be soon. He Chengyu and Jiang Huaiqing have gained their trust over there. We're just waiting for the right moment."

Whether it was He Chengyu and Jiang Huaiqing or Official Fang, they were all waiting.

After considering it, He Chengyu agreed to do business with Boss Sun.

"I know you have concerns, which is normal. After all, some goods are not allowed for trade. But rest assured, I have been doing business with them for many years and have invited others to join as well, and we have never encountered any problems." Upon hearing the reply, Boss Sun's smile deepened.

Having concerns was normal. If He Chengyu had agreed without any reservations, Boss Sun would have been worried. Everyone who collaborated with him initially had similar concerns, but in the end, the temptation of what lay behind the trade was too strong to resist.

Boss Sun was confident that no one could resist such temptation. Once the trade was successful, both parties would be bound together on the same ship, and there would be fewer concerns as they became true "partners."

Both sides had their own thoughts, but on the surface, everything seemed harmonious. Since He Chengyu had agreed, they began discussing the details of the location.

Sitting beside He Chengyu, Jiang Huaiqing seemed uninterested but was actually quickly analyzing Boss Sun's words. To make a precise strike, they needed to be better prepared.

In the end, they reached a satisfactory agreement, at least on the surface. Boss Sun smiled and drank his tea. "Before we set off this time, I will introduce you to some other business partners. We have worked together for many years, so there will be many opportunities for interaction in the future."

"Thank you for the introduction, Boss Sun. I am grateful to have met you in Subei."

"I dare not accept such praise. It is my great fortune to have met Boss Gu," Boss Sun replied with a smile.

A pleasant conversation ensued, with both the host and the guests enjoying themselves.

He Chengyu relayed the information to Fang Daren.

Coincidentally, on Official Fang's side, they had also found quite a few clues through their investigation of other people. According to their findings, these individuals would be involved in a transaction during this period. However, they had yet to determine the exact time and location. He Chengyu's timely information filled in the missing part that they hadn't been able to find.

"Chengyu-xiong, what expression do you think Boss Sun will have on that day?" Jiang Huaiqing poured a cup of tea for He Chengyu and carried his own teacup to sit on the other side.

Thinking that everything was under control, little did they know that they had fallen into a carefully woven trap from the beginning.

"We'll find out when the time comes. I imagine his expression will be quite interesting. Unfortunately, we still haven't found any clues about those women's whereabouts."

"If we capture the person, do you think we'll have trouble getting the truth out of them? Under Official Fang's command, there's nothing we can't uncover."

"You're right."

Time flew by.

Early in the morning, Boss Sun sent a carriage to pick them up and take them to the location of the transaction.

The sound of horse hooves resonated neither lightly nor heavily. Jiang Huaiqing and He Chengyu sat inside the carriage, driven by someone sent by Boss Sun. This time, they would first discuss business, and the actual transaction would take place after the negotiations.

The carriage curtain was lifted slightly, and Jiang Huaiqing took a glance outside, realizing that they were on a completely unfamiliar road.

Putting down the curtain, the two of them remained silent.

The carriage came to a stop.

They alighted from the carriage, and a maid came forward to escort them to the main hall.

The carriage was parked directly in the courtyard. Jiang Huaiqing and He Chengyu had no idea what the exterior of this courtyard looked like, but the interior decor was enough to astonish them.

It was hard to imagine finding such a picturesque garden in Subei. Every corner was exquisitely designed, giving off an air of prosperity reminiscent of the capital. Without much time to observe, a large door appeared before them.

Pushing open the door, Boss Sun warmly welcomed them, "Finally, you're here. The people sitting here are the partners you will frequently cooperate with in the future. Allow me to introduce you."

Jiang Huaiqing stood by He Chengyu's side, calmly assessing the people sitting together. These individuals happened to match the description given by Official Fang.