After Marrying the Disabled, I Became the Prime Minister’s Wife

Chapter 363

Zhuque Avenue was packed with a sea of people.

Today was the fifteenth again, market day, and the bustle was simply incredible!

Princess Jiahui had originally been riding in her carriage, but the crowd was too dense, making progress difficult, so she simply alighted and proceeded on foot.

The palace attendants were on high alert, serving with utmost care, while Yan Zhao scanned the surroundings and soon spotted the person arranged by his third sister-in-law.

"Stinky tofu for sale! Delicious stinky tofu, no charge if it's not good!"

Jiahui's eyes lit up: "Is that... is that the thing I ate last time that smells awful but tastes wonderful?"

Yan Zhao nodded, and she immediately declared: "Step aside, let him give this young lady two pieces to try!"

The attendants promptly made way, and the vendor deftly packed two portions: "Noble lady, please try it, no charge if it's not good!"

An elderly maidservant beside her was about to test for poison, but Yan Zhao said: "I'm afraid this is something you might not be accustomed to. Let me do it instead."

Seeing him test the food for her, Jiahui felt sweetness flood her heart as if she had eaten honey. Watching him eat without any adverse reaction, she immediately picked up a piece and popped it into her mouth.

"Blergh..."

She promptly spat it out, pointing at the vendor and shouting angrily: "How dare you! You dare to attempt harm upon this princess!"

The vendor widened his eyes and yelled back: "What nonsense are you talking? The young man beside you ate it and was fine, how come only you have a problem?"

Jiahui was taken aback and looked at Yan Zhao: "Liulang, isn't this thing slimy and disgusting, practically like filth?"

Yan Zhao wore a puzzled expression: "Is it? But I didn't taste that at all..."

Before he finished, the vendor grabbed Jiahui's hand: "Aha! You ate it and don't want to pay, and now you're trying to frame me, is that it?" Then he shouted loudly, "Everyone, come and see! This woman ate my stinky tofu, doesn't want to pay, and is trying to frame me because she has more people! Come and look!"

The area was already crowded, and this shout drew everyone over.

Furious, Jiahui slapped the vendor across the face, which only incited public anger, plunging the scene into chaos.

That night, in the imperial palace.

The Emperor had just finished discussing matters with Prince Yu and Gu Sun when a young eunuch rushed in anxiously: "Your Majesty! Something terrible has happened! Princess Jiahui went out of the palace today and somehow got into a conflict with commoners on the street. Dozens were injured, and she herself was hurt..."

The Emperor was shocked: "How could she get into a conflict with commoners for no reason? Summon the imperial physician at once!"

After saying this, he immediately went over, and Prince Yu followed.

In Jiahui's palace quarters, she was covering her face, weeping pitifully.

Hearing her father's voice, she threw herself into his arms: "Father! You must uphold justice for your daughter, execute all those lowly commoners!"

The Emperor hurriedly held her, offering much comfort before asking: "What exactly happened? Weren't you going to the Duke of Chu's residence with Yan Liulang? How did you end up in a conflict on the street?"

Jiahui tearfully recounted the situation. Considering his daughter's willful temperament, the Emperor didn't suspect the stinky tofu vendor of foul play.

"Just for that? But you still shouldn't have exposed your identity on the street and injured so many people!"

Who in the royal family didn't care about reputation? Once this spread, wouldn't it become known as a princess bullying others with her power?

Jiahui hadn't expected her father not to side with her either and cried even more bitterly. After the Emperor comforted her for a while, he turned and asked: "Where is Yan Liulang? Have him summoned before me! I entrusted the princess to his care, and this is how he looks after her?"

A young eunuch quickly knelt and said: "Your Majesty, forgive this offense. After the incident this afternoon, Guard Yan went to apprehend the troublemakers and has not returned yet."

The Emperor uttered an "Oh," then realized something was amiss: "He's still not back at this hour? Apprehending people is the responsibility of the Shuntian Prefecture. What business does an imperial guard have meddling in that!"

Prince Yu suddenly remembered something and narrowed his eyes: "Brother Emperor, what if he took advantage of the chaos to flee? This subject received news this morning that the Yan family lad who followed the Imperial College out of the city yesterday also seems not to have returned!"

The Emperor was shaken. He could no longer attend to Jiahui and said sternly: "Prince Yu, go to the Yan residence at once and secure the people for me... No, going there now might already be too late. Go to the Duke of Chu's residence. No matter what, you must keep Chu Changle for me!"

Yan Zheng was leading troops outside. If all the Yan family members escaped, he would have no leverage left to control him!

Prince Yu accepted the order and left. Just then, Yin Shun came running in again: "Your Majesty! Yan Lin of the Yan family's second branch requests an audience. He says he has a matter of utmost urgency to report to Your Majesty, and it seems to be related to the main branch!"

The Emperor raised an eyebrow: "Admit him!"

Yan Lin scrambled in on his hands and knees, kneeling on the floor: "Your Majesty! This subject received news half an hour ago that my nephew's wife intends to take the main branch family members and leave the capital! Though incompetent, this subject knows the rule of 'keeping family members in the capital when the general is abroad,' so I came specially to report to Your Majesty!"

The Emperor closed his eyes and let out a cold laugh: "Good, very good! What a fine Chief Counselor's wife!"

He had originally feared alerting the prey and wanted to act covertly to gain control step by step.

He never expected this Chu Changle to have such a keen sense of smell, guessing his intentions so quickly and even taking people to flee!

But though the monk can run away, the temple remains. He refused to believe she could take the entire Duke of Chu's estate with her!

"Someone! Relay my command: henceforth, all four city gates are to be sealed. No one is to be let through without my handwritten decree!"

The night was cool as water, outside the Duke of Chu's residence.

Chu Huaishan stood blankly at the main gate. Lady Jiang the Younger sighed mournfully: "Who knows when we'll be able to return after leaving this time..."

Chu Ruolan linked her arm through her mother's: "Oh, Mother, we'll come back once the matter is resolved, won't we? Let's go quickly, the carriages are all loaded!"

Lady Jiang the Younger looked at Chu Huaishan, who waved his hand: "You go first."

She had no choice but to take her daughter onto the carriage first. Moments later, Chu Ruoyan approached: "Father, it's time to go."

Chu Huaishan grunted in acknowledgment, then turned to cast a deep glance in the direction of the imperial palace: "Let's go."

Half an hour later, Prince Yu arrived with a troop of soldiers.

The Duke of Chu's residence was already empty, its people gone.

After interrogating a nearby night watchman on patrol, he shouted: "Quick! To the West City Gate! We must intercept them no matter what!"

At the West City Gate.

Thanks to Yun Lang having smoothed the way, they encountered no obstacles on the road out of the city.

Lady Jiang the Younger, Chu Ruolan, and the disguised Yan Zhao all passed through the city gate smoothly.

When it was the turn for the carriage carrying Chu Huaishan and Chu Ruoyan, an officer from the Patrol and Defense Division galloped up on horseback: "By the Emperor's order! Henceforth, all four gates are sealed. No one is to be let through without the Emperor's handwritten decree!"

As soon as the words fell, the official inspecting the documents stood up: "My apologies. The imperial decree has been issued. Please postpone your departure until tomorrow!"

Chu Ruoyan's heart gave a violent lurch. Forcing a sorrowful tone, she said: "Sir Officer, my husband and his brothers all died in battle in the southern barbarian lands. My elderly father and I are rushing to arrange their funerals. I beg you, sir, to make an exception..." She signaled Yulu to slip over two ingots of silver.

The official hesitated for a moment but pushed them back: "Madam, it's not that this official won't make an exception, but the imperial will is difficult to defy. Perhaps it's better to wait until tomorrow..."

Before he could finish, a cold, firm voice came through: "Let them go."

The official turned his head in shock: "Chief Commander?!"

The newcomer was none other than the Chief Commander of the Five City Military and Horse Command, Yue Qianzhong!

His sharp gaze swept over the faces of the Chu father and daughter, then he said to Chu Ruoyan in a deep voice: "The road ahead is difficult. I wish you, madam, to take good care. However, if there is a next time, do not blame this official for strictly enforcing the rules!"

Chu Ruoyan knew this was him repaying the favor for saving his sister; after this, he would show no more mercy.

Yet she still curtsied gracefully: "This humble one will remember Your Lordship's great kindness!"

Yue Qianzhong nodded gravely and ordered his subordinates to delay closing the city gates.

Just then, Prince Yu's voice came from behind: "Close the gates! Do not let a single person escape!"

Yue Qianzhong's expression changed: "Go now, quickly!"

Chu Ruoyan immediately helped her elderly father onto the carriage. As it had just passed through the city gate, Chu Huaishan suddenly smiled: "Yan'er, the greatest pride of my life is having a daughter like you. But I can only accompany you this far. Take care."

A sudden, sharp panic seized Chu Ruoyan's heart. She instinctively reached out, but saw him lift the carriage curtain and jump down.

"Father!!"