AUBTN -Chapter 365 Knowing When to Stop

Yu Qing sat on the bed, trembling with rage. She pointed at the bowl of medicine and let out a cold laugh.

“A peace offering? With that lofty, superior attitude of yours, anyone who knows better would think you’re here to deliver medicine. Those who don’t might assume you’re here to serve poisoned hemlock!”

“What? A light little ‘it was thoughtless’ and you expect to brush off nearly scaring me to death? I’ll tell you this—I won’t drink it! Even if I die of illness and have to be carried out of the Yu Residence, I will never take a single drop of anything from you!”

Shen Jue frowned slightly, a violent storm of emotion churning beneath his eyes.

His patience was only ever reserved for Su Hewan. He would never indulge other women—and Yu Qing was no exception!

Moreover, as the dignified Regent, it was already unprecedented for him to lower himself and say the words “apology.” Yet this woman still dared to push her luck?

Just as Shen Jue’s patience reached its limit, Su Hewan on the side frantically signaled him with her eyes.

Her lips silently formed the words: “Atti—tude! Attitude! Do you understand service industry attitude? You’re the one in the wrong here—why are you acting like some domineering CEO?!”

At the same time, Su Hewan’s inner voice crashed into Shen Jue’s mind like a storm:

【My goodness, are you here to ask for forgiveness or declare war?!】

Shen Jue gritted his back teeth so hard they clicked.

He closed his eyes briefly, then lifted the bowl again and stepped forward, staring straight at Yu Qing.

He forced out each word with difficulty:

“Junior sister-in-law… drink the medicine. Recover well. Lu Yan… is still waiting for you.”

“Pfft—cough cough cough!”

At the words “junior sister-in-law,” Yu Qing looked as though she had been struck by lightning, utterly scorched and stunned.

Su Hewan, standing nearby, was also trying desperately not to laugh. Her stomach hurt from holding it in. She quickly took the bowl from Shen Jue and sat by the bedside to coax her.

“All right, my lady. The steps have been laid all the way to the sky for you—know when to stop. If you don’t take care of your health and Lu Yan comes out to see you reduced to skin and bones, the one who’ll be heartbroken is still him, isn’t it?”

That single “junior sister-in-law” had left Yu Qing completely dazed, her mind buzzing.

Under Su Hewan’s half-coaxing, half-forcing persuasion, she finally drank the bitter medicine in one gulp.

Seeing that she had taken it, Shen Jue finally let out a breath of relief.

“Since it’s for Wanwan’s sake, I’ll let it go this time. If there’s a next time, not even Wanwan can protect you!” Yu Qing huffed coldly.

Shen Jue let out a sharp, cold laugh, but still bowed slightly in a perfunctory gesture.

“Then thank you, Princess Consort of the Prince of Yan, for your magnanimity.”

“Hmph!” Yu Qing turned her head away proudly.

Seeing this, Su Hewan immediately said, “Alright, it’s settled now, right?”

“You, come out with me,” Shen Jue said abruptly, turning and striding out of the room.

Su Hewan comforted Yu Qing, tucked her in properly, then turned and followed him out.

Under the corridor eaves, the night wind carried the chill of early winter, rustling the paulownia trees in the courtyard.

Shen Jue stood with his hands behind his back, his usually languid, handsome face now replaced with solemnity.

“What is it?” Su Hewan immediately sensed the shift in atmosphere.

Shen Jue turned to her.

“A secret decree has just come from the palace. In three days, His Majesty will advance the schedule and proceed to the Circular Mound Altar for a prayer ceremony. All civil and military officials will accompany him, and security will be jointly handled by the Imperial Guard and temporarily mobilized troops from the City Defense Garrison.”

Su Hewan’s heart jolted violently.

“The Imperial Guard? So… the Emperor is planning to use Lu Yan’s absence to completely reshuffle the court?”

“More than that,” Shen Jue let out a cold laugh.

“This is the best possible opportunity for the mastermind to carry out an assassination. We must uncover who is behind all this before the prayer ceremony.”

He paused, his gaze growing deep as he looked toward the direction of the imperial prison.

“If, during the Blessing Ceremony, His Majesty is truly assassinated—or if we fail to uncover the truth… then by that time, even I, as the Prince, won’t be able to protect Lu Yan anymore.”

At the same time, inside the imperial prison.

Under the secret guidance of Zhao Zhou, Lu Zhixing stepped into the cell.

And immediately froze in place.

The prison cell was impeccably arranged. On a small redwood table even sat a delicate incense burner, inside which a fine pot of Daughter’s Red wine was being gently warmed.

Lu Yan, at this moment, was wearing a clean set of plain clothes, leaning back in a grand chair. He held a military treatise in his hands, reading intently by the bright candlelight.

“Xingzhi…” the voice of Lu Xiang trembled slightly. The heavy anxiety in his heart finally crashed down the moment he saw his son safe and unharmed.

Lu Yan looked up at the sound, immediately set the book aside, stood, and walked over to greet him respectfully with a bow.

“Father, the night is deep and the dew is heavy. Why have you come at this hour?”

“I came to see how you are.” Lu Xiang carefully examined him from head to toe. Only after confirming that not a single hair was out of place did he finally let out a long breath—before his brows immediately furrowed again.

“What exactly is going on? The outside world has gone mad saying that you were tortured by Shen Jue.”

Lu Yan did not answer directly.

Instead, he asked, “Father, I was going to ask you the same thing. Shen Jue said you were going to resign?”

Lu Xiang sighed. “Your father is old. It’s time to step down.”

Hearing this, Lu Yan’s expression darkened as he spoke firmly and forcefully:

“Father, my path—Lu Yan’s path—I will walk it myself.”

“You have worked your entire life for the Lu family and for Great Wei. Walking on thin ice in this treacherous court, you preserved our family’s innocence and reputation. You should not end things in such grievance, nor should you bow your head to those hidden, filthy schemers for my sake!”

Lu Yan released his hand, his sharpness fully revealed yet still restrained and steady.

“If His Majesty truly fears the military authority in my hands, if he truly wants to reclaim the command of the Jinyiwei, then I will give it up. I stand in Great Wei because of my loyalty—not because of this commander’s token. But I will absolutely not let you sacrifice your lifetime of honor and position just to pave my way.”

Lu Xiang quietly looked at his son.

Once upon a time, that boy who hated him so much he refused to return home had truly grown up.

Lu Xiang’s eyes reddened slightly. In them was no longer worry—only deep relief and pride.

“Good…!” He patted Lu Yan’s shoulder, his voice a little choked but full of satisfaction.

“As expected of my son, Lu Xiang’s son!”

The father and son quickly discussed the situation inside the prison. Afterward, Lu Xiang put on his hood and, under Zhao Zhou’s escort, secretly left the imperial prison.

However, just as Lu Xiang stepped out of the East Depot gate, he was met head-on by a dim yellow palace lantern.

In the misty night, the chief eunuch Eunuch Wang stood at the mouth of the alley with a whisk in hand, accompanied by several young eunuchs—silent as ghosts.

“Oh my, Minister Lu, where have you been so late at night?” Eunuch Wang greeted him with a half-smile, though his tone carried a knowing edge.

Lu Xiang’s heart sank violently, though his expression remained unchanged. He put on a look of exhaustion and grief, letting out a long sigh.

“Eunuch Wang… this old man went to see my poor, troubled son. That damned Shen Jue is simply bullying people too far!”

Eunuch Wang quickly stepped forward in a feigned gesture of support, dragging out his tone:

“Minister, please don’t be too upset. His Majesty knows your suffering. That’s why he sent this servant to invite you into the palace tonight. There are urgent matters His Majesty wishes to discuss with you.”

A late-night imperial summons?