AUBTN -Chapter 125 The Green Tea Third Prince

“Supervisor, do you mean… to lure the snake out of its hole?”

“Rather than wasting time here with someone as tight-lipped as a sawed-off gourd, we might as well go meet the truly clever one.”

Su Hewan’s eyes lit up. She immediately grasped the deeper meaning behind the suggestion.

“That’s a good idea!” she replied quickly, her logical thinking switching on in an instant.

“The Second Prince confessed only to cover up the truth. That means the real culprit must be watching everything from the shadows right now. If we pretend to completely believe the Second Prince’s testimony—maybe even act like we’ve given up the investigation and decided to go sightseeing instead…”

“Then the real murderer will lower his guard,” Lu Yan finished in a deep voice.

“He might even make another move to further cement the Second Prince’s guilt.”

“Exactly.” Shen Jue chuckled softly.

“Besides, since Tuoba Yun is skilled in pharmacology and even presented the Western Fan Compendium of Herbs, I’d like to see whether he can still hide his poisonous techniques in Fenglin Garden, a place filled with rare flowers and plants.”

The three exchanged glances and instantly reached a silent understanding.

Only Yu Qing stood there, staring blankly at these three workaholics who had suddenly switched into full work mode.

She had only wanted to slack off and go have some fun!

How had it turned into part of the investigation again?

“No way…”

Yu Qing let out a despairing wail and collapsed into the chair, looking completely drained of the will to live.

“You people are way too intense! Even a spring outing has to turn into some kind of scheming plot! Can’t you give a salted fish like me a chance to survive?”

She pointed at Su Hewan and the two men, accusing them with heartfelt grief.

“Workaholics! Even the beauty of nature can’t soften your hearts that only care about your careers!”

【This is terrifying! This isn’t a romance novel world at all—this is basically a workplace survival story! I want to go home! I want to quit the entertainment industry! I’m not acting in this show anymore!】

Seeing her baring her claws yet still looking timid, Lu Yan felt the tension in his chest loosen for some reason.

He walked over and looked down at Yu Qing. His voice remained cool, but there was a faint trace of indulgence in it.

“Don’t want to go?” he raised an eyebrow.

“Fenglin Garden has pastries from the best Baiwei Pavilion in the capital.”

Yu Qing’s wailing stopped instantly.

She shot upright, her eyes shining like two bright light bulbs. All her previous gloom vanished.

“Go! Who said I’m not going? For the sake of the country, for uncovering the truth, I, Yu Qing, cannot shirk my duty!”

After saying that, she even patted her chest solemnly, looking as if she were filled with righteous determination.

Watching this scene, Su Hewan couldn’t help but rub her forehead and laugh.

She turned to look at Shen Jue and happened to meet his unfathomably deep gaze.

“Then it’s settled,” Shen Jue said softly, his voice carrying a lazy, casual tone.

“Send an invitation to the Third Prince. Say that… Commander Lu and I know he is troubled by his elder brother’s death, so we specially invite him to enjoy the spring scenery with us.”

“Yes.”

The imperial guard outside accepted the order and left.

Inside Fenglin Garden, the scenery was beautiful.

However, the atmosphere among the group of four was strangely tense.

No matter how Shen Jue subtly probed about the poisonous plants recorded in the Western Fan Compendium of Herbs, or how Lu Yan deliberately mentioned the gruesome state of the First Prince’s corpse, Tuoba Yun softly deflected every attempt.

He always maintained the appearance of a gentle, harmless gentleman. With just a few words, he would smoothly change the topic—and then turn to look at Yu Qing.

“Miss Yu, do you know that in our Xifan, we do not have such towering courtyard walls, nor all these complicated rules and formalities?”

Tuoba Yun broke off a branch with a red leaf and handed it to Yu Qing. His voice was low and magnetic.

“Over there, there are endless grasslands where the wind bends the grass and reveals herds of cattle and sheep. At night, the river of stars hangs low in the sky, as if you could reach out and touch it. If a young lady were to mount the fastest steed, she could chase the sunset itself—free and unrestrained.”

Yu Qing’s eyes lit up instantly. She was still holding half a piece of Baiweizhai’s osmanthus cake, her cheeks puffed out as she chewed, yet that didn’t stop the look of longing on her face.

“Really? I wouldn’t have to wake up early every day to pay respects? I wouldn’t have to learn all those annoying etiquette rules? And I could ride horses whenever I want?”

“Of course.” Tuoba Yun’s smile grew even gentler.

“In Xifan, if a young lady wishes to laugh, she laughs; if she wishes to cry, she cries. No one will accuse you of improper conduct.”

“Wow—!”

Yu Qing let out a completely unsophisticated gasp of amazement. She turned to Su Hewan, her big eyes blinking rapidly.

“Wanwan, did you hear that? Chasing the sunset! That sounds so cool! I want to go!”

【That sounds amazing! Isn’t this exactly the kind of travel paradise I’ve always dreamed of? No palace scheming, no investigating cases, just galloping freely on horseback! What kind of heavenly life is that!】

Walking beside them, Lu Yan’s face was as dark as if he had just crawled out of a coal pit.

His fingers tightened around the hilt of his Xiuchun blade, the joints turning white as they cracked audibly.

This barbarian from Xifan—trying to steal his person right in front of him?

“Ahem.”

Lu Yan coughed heavily and said coldly,

“Xifan is a bitterly cold land, filled with sandstorms. How could it compare to the prosperity and comfort of the capital?”

Tuoba Yun merely smiled faintly at those words. He didn’t argue, but continued speaking to Yu Qing.

“Though there are sandstorms, that too is part of the vastness of heaven and earth. And besides, if one has a beloved companion by their side, even the sandstorms become scenery. Miss Yu’s temperament is free and unrestrained—like the gesang flower blooming on the grasslands. I fear the four walls of this capital have trapped your spirit.”

That direct shot made Yu Qing practically bloom with delight.

Lu Yan felt like his lungs were about to explode with anger.

Watching Lu Yan, who was already on the verge of losing control, Su Hewan sighed helplessly. Using the motion of adjusting her cloak as cover, she leaned closer and whispered in his ear.

“Lord Lu, calm yourself.”

“She’s already had her soul hooked away by him!” Lu Yan gritted out through clenched teeth.

“That’s just Qingqing’s personality—carefree and curious about new things.” Su Hewan glanced at Yu Qing, who was listening with great interest.

“She may look careless and thoughtless, but she actually has her own sense of measure. Try to be more patient. Don’t lose your composure.”

Lu Yan snorted coldly, his gaze fixed on the back of Tuoba Yun’s head as if he wished he could burn two holes through it.

The group soon arrived at Tingyu Pavilion to rest.

Looking at Yu Qing, Tuoba Yun suddenly spoke.

“Miss Yu, rather than longing for it in dreams, why not return to Xifan with this prince? I would gladly serve as your guide and show you all the beautiful sights of Xifan.”

The air instantly froze.

Even Shen Jue raised an eyebrow, watching the scene with great interest.

Before Yu Qing could even react, a strong, slender hand suddenly reached out, wrapping around her slim waist and pulling her straight into an embrace.

“Ah!”

Yu Qing cried out as she crashed into a firm chest.

With one hand pressing on the hilt of his blade and the other possessively holding her, Lu Yan’s gaze shot toward Tuoba Yun like a blade drawn from its sheath.

“The Third Prince hasn’t even had a drink yet—why is he already talking nonsense?”

Lu Yan’s voice was icy and piercing.

“Yu Qing is a citizen of Great Wei—and more importantly, she belongs to this official. If the Third Prince wishes to take her away, have you asked the blade in my hand first?”

【Holy crap! Lu Yan, what are you doing? You’re strangling me! But… this domineering-CEO vibe is kind of thrilling…】

Yu Qing struggled a little in Lu Yan’s arms. When she couldn’t break free, she simply stayed nestled there without moving.

Facing Lu Yan’s murderous aura, Tuoba Yun remained completely calm, his expression unchanged.