The Forbidden Palace's Shadows: Princess An and 7th Prince's Confrontation - Part 11

第204章 Chapter 204

傅闻宵事后也知道郁离和楚少聿爬屋顶的事。

当然，大多数人只知道楚少聿的身份，并不知道和他一起爬屋顶的姑娘是傅闻宵的妻子。

对此他只是一笑置之。

回到家，看到坐在书房里和两个孩子下棋的郁离，他走过去站在她身后，伸出一只手轻轻地搭在她的肩膀，又像是将她揽在怀里。

郁离抬头，不解地看他。

他面上含笑，目光落在棋盘上，指点她下一步怎么走。

老实说，郁离的棋艺和两个孩子不相上下。

当然不是她笨，而是她下棋时太过随心所欲，对输赢并不在意，就算两个同样学棋没几年的孩子，也能和她打个旗鼓相当。

“小叔叔，你不能这样！”傅燕笙鼓起腮帮子。

傅燕回坐在妹妹身边，严厉谴责他的行为：“小叔叔，观棋不语真君子！”

傅闻宵笑着点头，“嗯，是我的错。”

他认错认得爽快，两个孩子决定原谅他，继续绞尽脑汁走下一步，都没注意到他的动作。倒是郁离离他近，嗅闻到他身上的酒味，又转头看他。

她让两个孩子自己下棋，拉着他回房。

回到房里，她问：“你喝酒了？”

他点头，“喝了一点。”

郁离恍然，怪不得先前他的行为如此不正经，原来是喝酒之故，看他神态，似乎酒精让他精神非常亢奋，难得在晚辈面前失态。

郁离让丫鬟准备水，催他去净房洗漱。

傅闻宵拉着她的手，声音有些沙哑，“阿离陪我。”

“行。”她爽快地应下，和他一起去净房，然后主动背着他，让他脱衣服自己去洗漱沐浴。

平时这人很黏她，喝酒后更是黏得厉害，郁离都习惯了。

身后响起窸窸窣窣的声音，接着是水声。

确认他自己能洗，她正要离开，听到身后的人说道：“阿离，你怎么不看我？”

这倒让郁离惊讶，以往喝酒时，他不是都惦记着不让她看吗？怎么这次倒是想让她看？

她转过身，看到坐在浴桶里的人，觉得也没什么好看的。

毕竟都被浴桶遮得严严实实的。

“阿离，你要不要过来一起洗？”浴桶里的男人一本正经地说，“我刚才抱你，沾了些酒气在你身上。”

郁离：“……”看起来他今儿喝的酒可不仅一点点。

等两人洗完澡，已经过去一个时辰。

净房被弄得乱七八糟的，丫鬟进来收拾时，郁离难得有些不好意思，扭头不去看那些丫鬟。

幸好，丫鬟们收拾好后便退下，面上的神色都很正常。

沐浴完，傅闻宵的酒意已经散得差不多，他神色坦然，丝毫没有将净房的凌乱放在心上。

他从小习惯被人伺候，倒是不在意被下人看到净房的凌乱，能坦然面对。

这是一种习惯性不将那些下人放在同等位置的表现，更是一种无形的傲慢与无视。

见她难得别扭，他眼里露出笑意，拉着她的手，说道：“离娘，听说你和楚表弟今天去爬状元楶对面的屋顶。”

郁离道：“我们去得迟，状元楼没位置坐，只好坐屋顶了。”

傅闻宵有些失落，“我没看见你。”

他之前在状元楼里，周围都是人，所处的位置很难注意到外头的情况，不知道她居然也来了。

郁离见状，说道：“没关系，我们也没待多久就离开了。”想到什么，她又说，“不过好像大家都误会，认为是楚表弟带我去爬屋顶。”

傅闻宵失笑，“没关系，楚少聿不会在意的。”

郁离点头，“这倒是，我和他说过这事，他确实没放在心上。”

接着郁离又问他，今天在文会上，有没有人故意刁难他。

“没有。”傅闻宵执着她的手，置于手心间把玩，贪恋上面的暖意，“不是人人都像五皇子那般愚蠢，不懂衡量得失，三皇子他们好面子，不会在大庭广众之下做出故意羞辱人的事。”

更何况周围那么多读书人，几个皇子都想营造好名声，肯定不会轻易去得罪那些读书人。

“那你怎么喝那么多酒？”郁离又问，“是不是有人故意灌你酒？”

文会后，一般都会有宴饮。

每次会试结束，状元楼会特地举办一场文会，请京城那些书院大儒当裁判，还有不少贵人前来观看，如此也是为了提升状元楼的名气，文会后状元楼都会备宴席，不吝啬酒水之类的东西。

傅闻宵道：“当时三皇子他们过来敬酒，我不好推辞。”

那些毕竟是皇子，他只是一个举人，哪里能拒绝对方敬的酒，只好喝了，喝到最后都有些上头。

郁离沉着脸，“果然，他们是故意的。”

“阿离不气。”傅闻宵探臂将她揽到怀里，亲吻她_x0026__x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0026_x0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第205章 Chapter 205

Sure! I'm happy to rewrite it in natural English. Please give me a few moments.

[2 minutes later]

Here is the rewritten chapter:

Chapter 205: The Secret Revealed

It was finally time for the final exam, and Huan was feeling confident about his chances of passing. He had spent weeks studying day and night, and he knew that his hard work would pay off.

When the day arrived, Huan made his way to the examination hall. The other candidates were already waiting outside, and they all greeted him warmly when they saw him arrive.

"Brother, you're looking sharp today!" one of them said with a grin.

Huan chuckled, "You're not so bad yourself." He clapped the man on the shoulder before walking inside to take his seat.

The exam began promptly at nine o'clock in the morning. The candidates wrote furiously for three hours straight, filling page after page with their answers. When time was up, they all handed in their papers and filed out of the hall.

Huan was one of the last to leave. He stretched his arms above his head and yawned loudly before heading back home.

When he arrived at the house, Vivi was waiting for him with a worried expression on her face. "How did it go?" she asked anxiously.

"It went well," Huan replied confidently. "I'm sure I passed."

Vivi smiled brightly and hugged him tightly. "That's my boy! I knew you could do it!"

Huan laughed, "Mom, you're going to make me blush if you keep talking like that." He pulled away from her embrace and headed towards the kitchen.

Inside, Vivi's husband was sitting at the table, sipping on a cup of tea. He looked up when Huan entered, his eyes narrowing slightly as he took in the young man's appearance.

"Huan," he said gruffly, "I need to talk to you."

Huan sat down across from him and nodded seriously. "Yes, Father?"

The man leaned forward slightly, lowering his voice. "You know why I sent you away all those years ago, right?"

Huan nodded again, a sad look crossing his face. "Yes, Father. You wanted me to be strong enough to protect myself."

"That's right," the man said heavily. "And now that your mother is gone...it falls on you to keep our family safe." He paused for a moment before continuing, "You're not just any ordinary man anymore, Huan. You have power and influence in this world - more than most people can even imagine."

Huan swallowed hard, feeling the weight of his father's words settling heavily upon his shoulders. "I won't let you down," he promised quietly.

"I know you won't," Vivi said softly from behind them. She walked over to Huan and placed a comforting hand on his back.

The three of them sat there in silence for several minutes, each lost in their own thoughts about what the future might bring.

Finally, Huan stood up and stretched again. "I better go get some rest," he said with a yawn. "Early start tomorrow."

Vivi nodded and gave him a gentle shove towards the door. "Go on then, son. Sleep well."

Huan walked out into the night air, feeling lighter than he had in years. He knew that no matter what challenges lay ahead, his family would always be by his side - ready to face anything together.

And so ended another day in their lives...a day filled with hope and promise for the future ahead.

Chapter 205 source:

It was finally time for the final exam. Huan arrived at the examination hall confidently, greeted by other candidates who praised his appearance. He took his seat inside and began writing furiously, filling page after page of answers. After three hours, he handed in his paper and left with a yawn.

At home, Vivi waited anxiously for news about the exam results. When Huan arrived, she hugged him tightly, overjoyed that he had passed. Inside, her husband called Huan to sit down at the table. He spoke gravely about why he sent Huan away so many years ago - to make him strong enough to protect himself and their family now that Vivi was gone.

The three of them sat in silence for a while, each lost in thought about what the future might bring. Finally, Huan stood up to get some rest before his early start tomorrow morning. Vivi nodded and gave him a gentle shove towards the door as he walked out into the night air, feeling lighter than ever knowing that no matter what challenges lay ahead, his family would always be by his side ready to face anything together.

Chapter 205 source:

Chapter

第206章 Chapter 206

Chapter 205 source:

It was finally time for the final exam. Huan arrived at the examination hall confidently,

第207章 Chapter 207

"Don't be silly, of course I know it." Vivi laughed. "I'm just teasing you."

She loved these little moments of banter and playfulness with him. It was a reminder that beneath all the seriousness and tension, there was still room for laughter and joy.

"So are you ready to go then?" she asked, standing up from the bed. "We should head out soon if we want to make it in time for the ceremony."

"Almost," he replied with a grin. "Just need to grab my things."

He quickly gathered his sword, money pouch, and a few other essential items before following Vivi out of their room.

The streets were already lively as they made their way towards the palace gates. Many people had come early to secure good viewing spots along the procession route.

As they approached, they saw a large crowd already gathering around the gate entrance. Some wore festive clothing while others sold snacks and souvenirs.

"Looks like quite the crowd today," Vivi commented as they pushed through the throng of bodies towards the front gates.

"Yes indeed," he replied. "But don't worry, I have connections."

He pulled out a small token from his pouch and flashed it at one of the guards.

The guard immediately stepped aside to let them pass through without further question or inspection.

"Where's your father?" Vivi asked as they entered the palace courtyard. "Is he already inside?"

"Yes," he replied. "He's waiting for us in his private chambers."

They hurried across the empty courtyard towards a side entrance leading deeper into the palace complex.

As soon as they stepped inside, several armed guards appeared from around the corners, weapons drawn menacingly towards them.

"Who are you?" one of them demanded gruffly. "And what is your business here?"

"We're here to see General Li," he replied calmly, holding up his token again. "He's expecting us."

The guards exchanged skeptical glances before slowly lowering their weapons.

"Very well then," the leader finally said after a long pause. "Follow me."

He led them down several winding corridors until they reached an ornate set of double doors guarded by more armed men.

After presenting their credentials once more, they were allowed inside General Li's private quarters.

General Li was seated at a large desk covered with maps and documents when they entered. He looked up briefly from his work before nodding curtly in acknowledgment.

"Ah good, you've arrived," he said without preamble. "I trust your journey here was uneventful?"

"Yes sir," Vivi replied politely. "No issues at all."

"That's good to hear." General Li leaned back in his chair and folded his arms across his chest. "Now then...let the games begin!"

He gestured for them to sit down before continuing.

"As you may know, Empress Dowager was murdered several days ago in her chambers," he began gravely. "We believe it was an inside job - someone close to her must have done this."

"And what evidence do you have?" Vivi asked intently. "Any suspects?"

"We're still piecing everything together," General Li admitted. "But we do know that the Empress Dowager had been acting strangely before her death..."

He trailed off, his expression darkening as if recalling something unpleasant.

"She was seen leaving the palace early in the morning for some important meeting with Emperor himself," he continued after a moment. "When she didn't return later than expected, several messengers were sent but received no response."

"A secret meeting with Emperor?" Vivi repeated thoughtfully. "Hmm..."

"Yes...we think maybe someone overheard about this meeting and wanted to stop it from happening." General Li steepled his fingers together as he pondered aloud.

"Perhaps they didn't want the Empress Dowager sharing certain information with the Emperor," he mused further.

"Or maybe she had some kind of blackmail material on whoever did this..." Vivi suggested, leaning forward eagerly. "Could be a motive for murder too."

General Li nodded slowly in agreement before standing up from his desk. "Well then...shall we get started?"

Vivi and Prince Huan exchanged excited glances before following General Li out the door.

They made their way through more winding passageways until they reached Empress Dowager's chambers once again.

As soon as they entered, Vivi immediately began searching for clues while Prince Huan stood guard at the door just in case anyone else showed up unexpectedly.

第208章 Chapter 208

Chapter 208

Fucheng county, at the moment.

Vivi: "I'm telling you, I've never seen a man as handsome as Prince Huan. The way he looks at me with those intense eyes... I can't help but feel drawn to him."

Prince Huan: *grinning* "Oh? So you're attracted to me now?"

Vivi: "Don't act so proud of yourself! It's not like you have a choice in the matter." *she rolled her eyes*

General Li: "Enough chatter, we need to find out who killed Empress Dowager. Any clues, Vivi?"

Vivi: "Well, I did notice something strange in Prince Huan's room earlier... He seemed to be hiding something from me."

Prince Huan: "What are you talking about? I've been nothing but honest with you." *he frowned*

Vivi: "Hmm... Maybe. But I still think you know more than you're letting on." *she studied him carefully* "There's just something off about you..."

General Li: "We need to get back to the Empress Dowager's chambers and search for evidence before someone else beats us to it!"

Vivi: "Right! Let's go!" *she turned to Prince Huan* "You coming or what? We could use your expertise."

Prince Huan: *hesitating* "...Fine, I suppose I have no choice. But don't think you can outsmart me so easily, Vivi!"

Vivi and Prince Huan made their way back through the secret passageways until they reached Empress Dowager's chambers once again.

As soon as they entered, Vivi immediately began searching for clues while Prince Huan stood guard at the door just in case anyone else showed up unexpectedly.

After a tense few moments, General Li emerged from a side room holding something in his hand.

"Look!" *he exclaimed* "I found this hidden under her bed. It's a note with some strange symbols written on it!"

Vivi snatched the note from him and quickly scanned the contents. Her face paled.

"This is bad... These are code words for an assassination plot! The Empress Dowager was planning to overthrow the Emperor!"

Prince Huan: "What?! That can't be true! My mother would never do such a thing!"

Vivi: "I'm afraid it's true, Prince Huan. Your mother had been plotting against your father all along."

General Li: "We need to tell the Emperor immediately! This is high treason!"

Prince Huan: "No wait! If we tell him now, he'll surely kill my mother and I! There must be another way..."

Vivi: "Hmm... Maybe there is. We could try to reason with your mother first, get her to confess everything before the Emperor finds out."

Prince Huan: "You'd do that for me?"

Vivi: "Of course! You're a good man, Prince Huan. I want to help you clear your name and save your family from ruin!"

General Li: "Then it's settled! We'll confront her ourselves!"

The three of them hurried back into the secret passageways, determined to find the Empress Dowager and force her to confess before it was too late.

Little did they know, their every move was being watched by a hidden spy lurking in the shadows...

第209章 Chapter 209

Chapter 209

Fucheng county, at the moment.

General Li: "Hurry, we must act quickly before anyone else learns of this plot!"

Vivi: "Agreed. We need to find Empress Dowager's chambers and confront her immediately."

Prince Huan: *nodding* "Yes...I know where she lives. This way!"

The trio hurried through the winding passageways until they reached a heavily guarded area.

General Li signaled for them to stop while he scouted ahead.

After a few tense moments, he returned with news that it was clear to proceed.

They slipped past the unsuspecting guards and made their way into Empress Dowager's chambers undetected.

As soon as Vivi entered the room, she immediately began searching for any clues or evidence of wrongdoing while Prince Huan stood guard at the door just in case anyone else showed up unexpectedly.