AUBTN -Chapter 157 Two Big Dogs

Shen Jue and Lu Yan exchanged a glance, each seeing the same mixture of helplessness and killing intent in the other’s eyes.

Li Yunxi held the late emperor’s edict and special privileges in her hands. At a time when imperial power was unstable, neither Shen Jue nor Lu Yan could openly confront her.

But that didn’t mean they would let themselves be slaughtered either.

After the palace banquet ended, the ministers filed out.

The vast side hall was left with only Li Yunxi and the two most powerful men in all of Wei.

“Please, have a seat, gentlemen.”

Li Yunxi leaned lazily on the couch, waving a round fan in her hand, her eyes dripping with charm.

“The night is long; we have plenty of time to chat.”

Lu Yan stood nearby, his face cold, exuding a chill as if it were spilling out for free. “If Your Highness has something to say, you may speak directly. I still have urgent matters at my estate.”

“Urgent matters?” Li Yunxi raised an eyebrow.

“Lord Lu has yet to marry; aside from a few old servants, what urgent matters could there be? Could it be… a hidden beauty in the golden house?”

Lu Yan’s eyes flickered, but he remained silent.

Shen Jue, meanwhile, adjusted his sleeve deliberately, his tone icy: “If Your Highness merely wishes to reminisce, I’m afraid we must excuse ourselves. The Eastern Depot still has hundreds of heads waiting for me to claim—far more interesting than idle chatter.”

Li Yunxi’s expression darkened slightly.

She hadn’t expected these two men to be so impervious to charm!

“Shen Jue, Lu Yan!”

She suddenly sat up straight, her voice heavy with authority. “Do not forget, I am the Princess personally appointed by the late emperor! In my hand is the golden token personally granted by the late emperor…”

“The golden token granted by the late emperor can secure your lifetime of honor, Your Highness, but it cannot allow you to act as you please.”

Shen Jue interrupted her, a mocking smile curving his lips.

“You’ve been away from the capital for many years. You probably don’t understand the current rules here.”

“Rules?”

“The rules are…” Lu Yan stepped forward. “The sky over this capital has already changed.”

Li Yunxi was momentarily silenced, subdued by the sheer presence of the two men.

Just then, a palace maid burst in, flustered.

“Your Highness!”

“What’s all this fuss! Ungrateful wretch!” Li Yunxi snapped.

The maid knelt trembling, “I-it’s a message from the Empress Dowager… saying… that a banquet has been set up at Cining Palace and the Princess is invited!”

What is the Empress Dowager up to?

She didn’t attend the evening palace banquet but held a private one instead!

Shen Jue and Lu Yan exchanged a knowing glance.

The Empress Dowager had always been at odds with Princess Li Yunxi’s mother, Consort Yu. It seemed she wanted to reclaim her face through the Princess tonight!

“Since Mother invites me, I shall naturally go,” Li Yunxi said, realizing she couldn’t detain the two men tonight and thus decided to yield.

“Gentlemen, please see them off.”

Shen Jue and Lu Yan exhaled and walked out of Chang Le Palace one after the other.

But with all this back and forth, it was already past midnight.

By the time the two of them dragged their tired bodies back to Yuyuan Garden, it was deep into the night.

Yet neither of them expected that although everything had been fine when they left, now they couldn’t get back in!

In front of the main gate of Yuyuan, the two men stood dumbfounded, staring at the notice posted on the door:

“Dogs and men are not allowed inside!”

“This…”

Lu Yan turned to Shen Jue, hoping to find a hint of shared sympathy on his longtime rival’s face.

Shen Jue, however, fixed his gaze on the note, his eyes deep and unreadable.

“The handwriting… it’s Wanwan’s.”

He suddenly let out a low chuckle, a strange note of delight lacing his voice.

“She’s angry.”

Lu Yan’s lips twitched. “You’re happy she’s locked us out?”

“You don’t understand.”

Shen Jue shot him a glance, his eyes like he was looking at a fool. “She’s usually so rational and composed. If she’s this angry, it means… she cares a great deal.”

Having said that, the powerful Director of the Eastern Depot, right in front of the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, adjusted his robe—then—

He lifted the hem and squatted at the doorway without a care for dignity.

“What are you doing?” Lu Yan was stunned.

“Waiting.”

Shen Jue said matter-of-factly.

“The Madam locked the door, which means a punishment. And if it’s a punishment, you endure it.”

He looked up at the tightly shut door, his phoenix-like eyes narrowing slightly, his voice soft as if whispering sweet nothings: “Wait until she cools down, then go in to coax her. If you climb over the wall now, you’ll only make things worse.”

Lu Yan was dumbstruck for a long moment.

He looked at Shen Jue, squatting on the ground with none of the usual authority of a Depot Director, and suddenly realized…

This eunuch may be perverted, but when it comes to coaxing one’s wife, he seems more experienced than himself?

Thus, a rare spectacle unfolded in the pitch-black night.

Two of the most powerful figures in the entire Wei kingdom, one on each side, squatted at the Yuyuan gate like a pair of guardian gods, pitifully waiting for the door to open.

Inside, the royal family sighed in worry!

Meanwhile, inside the house…

Yu Qing pressed her face against the crack in the door, laughing so hard she slapped her thigh.

“Look, Wanwan! Look at Lu Yan—he’s really squatting out there! Oh my, I’m dying of laughter!”

Su Hewan stood behind her, peeking through the gap at the figure squatting outside yet keeping his back straight. The corners of her tightly pressed lips finally curved up slightly.

“Serves him right.”

She muttered softly, then turned to walk back inside.

“Leave them waiting for half an hour longer.”

“Understood!”

Yu Qing grinned mischievously, already plotting how, once the door opened, she would make Lu Yan kneel on the washboard a few times to vent this anger.

After all, no princess—long or short—was as fearsome as a family washboard.

The night wind howled, and the two “guardian gods” at the Yuyuan gate finally welcomed the dawn.

Creak—

The gate slowly opened.

Lu Yan’s legs were numb; just as he tried to stand, a sharp tingle shot through his knees. He swayed, nearly toppling over.

Shen Jue, by contrast, moved fluidly like flowing water, though the hand bracing the wall trembled slightly, betraying that he wasn’t in great shape either.

Inside, Yu Qing crossed her arms, looking down at the two men on the steps, a half-amused, half-sneering expression on her face.

Su Hewan stood behind her, holding a glass lantern. The warm yellow glow touched her serene profile, hiding her emotions.

“Oh, the two gentlemen are back?”

Yu Qing’s tone dripped with sarcasm. “At this hour, anyone unaware might think you’re still indulging in some… soft paradise!”

Lu Yan opened his mouth, the usual cold, iron-willed demeanor he displayed in the imperial prison completely gone. “Qingqing, let me explain—”

“I’m not listening! Not listening!” Yu Qing instantly became theatrical, covering her ears with both hands and twisting her body dramatically to the side. Her inner thoughts screamed like a flood of on-screen comments: 【Hurry up and coax me! Or this isn’t over!】

Lu Yan: …

Hearing her deafeningly clear inner voice, his lips twitched involuntarily.

This girl’s thoughts and words were completely different!

Shen Jue chuckled lightly, ignoring Lu Yan’s embarrassment, and strode straight toward Su Hewan.

His long, narrow phoenix eyes were now full of grievance. The usually ruthless and vicious Director of the Eastern Depot now looked like a drenched golden retriever.