Untouchable Lovers-Chapter 228 - 208 Bamboo Hall Shoots the Ghost

Chapter 228: Chapter 208 Bamboo Hall Shoots the Ghost

Chapter 228 -208 Bamboo Hall Shoots the Ghost

As Chu Yu watched, all around the Bamboo Hall, banners for exorcism were drawn, covered in ghost talismans that Chu Yu couldn’t understand. Soon, the eunuch Hua Yuan’er came to report that the wizards had all assembled and were waiting outside with Tian Rujing.

Tian Rujing was there too?!

Chu Yu’s expression grew darker. Upon reflection, the issue of timing wasn’t the primary concern—it was merely a matter of a numerical discrepancy. More importantly, the usual guards responsible for Liu Ziyue’s safety were absent, leaving only ordinary attendants. The defenses were exceptionally weak, and Tian Rujing was actually among the wizards. Could it be that he orchestrated this whole affair?

As Chu Yu exited the Bamboo Hall with Liu Ziyue, night had already fallen. The bamboo outside the Bamboo Hall was pitch black. Although lanterns hung at the edge of the forest, they could not illuminate far. The flickering light fell on bamboo branches and leaves, casting crisscrossing shadows on the ground, resembling myriad lurking phantom figures, which only added to the eeriness.

Chu Yu spotted Tian Rujing among the group of wizards at a glance. In contrast to those wizards dressed in extremely splendid and colorful garments, Tian Rujing, dressed in a simple purple outfit, looked exceptionally modest.

Having informed Liu Ziyue that she’d temporarily be excusing herself, Chu Yu headed straight for Tian Rujing and yanked his sleeve, pulling him aside to ask, “Did you put this all together?”

Tian Rujing looked at her steadily without a word. His face was somewhat pale and gaunt, but his eyes, which appeared larger due to his thinness, were like clear pools of autumn water. Each shimmer in his gaze seemed like words unspoken.

Seeing Tian Rujing’s delayed response, Chu Yu grew irritated and grit her teeth, saying, “Today is the 27th. Historical records indicate it should be the 29th. Aren’t you afraid of violating your ‘Heavenly Book’ by advancing the date like this?”

This time, Tian Rujing finally spoke, “I also don’t know why the date is off by two days; it wasn’t solely my arrangement.” When he arrived, he too was puzzled. Perhaps—

It was just the will of Heaven.

Chu Yu was taken aback and couldn’t help but ask further, “Really?” It really wasn’t his doing?

Tian Rujing replied indifferently, “At this point, why would I lie to you?”

The two kept their distance from the crowd, whispering in the bamboo forest. The cold, hard earth near the bamboo roots still held patches of leftover snow, which, reflecting the crescent moon’s faint glow, appeared exceptionally serene and beautiful under the bamboo trees’ moonlight, casting a dreamlike haze over Tian Rujing’s pale face.

After a moment of silence, Chu Yu suddenly said, “If I inform the Emperor now, he might not die.” If Liu Ziyue bolstered his defenses immediately, went to a safe place, executed the three princes, and so on… The opportunity to change history was right before her eyes, the chance to turn the tide was at hand.

Liu Ziyue’s awkward attempts to flatter her, by offering his own clothes to her earlier, stirred a touch of warmth in Chu Yu’s heart. She couldn’t bear to see Liu Ziyue perish, despite his myriad flaws. He was still the brother of her current body and had treated her with extraordinary kindness. Chu Yu had intended to walk away from it all, but at the last moment, she couldn’t help but feel reluctant to let harm befall him.

Tian Rujing remained expressionless, somewhat woodenly saying, “As you wish.” He no longer dared to examine how much the current situation deviated from what was recorded in the Heavenly Book. Ever since he betrayed his convictions and saved Rong Zhi, he had been in constant mental turmoil, to the point that even after much time spent recovering, he had become even thinner than when he left the Princess Mansion after going without food for three days.

Chu Yu sighed, turned around, and went straight to Liu Ziyue. The Emperor, clad in black robes with ornate patterns discreetly embroidered on his attire, looked solemn and possessed a certain dignified air. Standing on either side of him were Hua Yuan’er and Xuan An, two eunuchs; one held a peach wood bow, the other a bag of thorny branch arrows. Both the peach bow and the thorny arrows were rumored to ward off misfortune and protect against evil. Shooting a spirit with thorny branch arrows from the peach wood bow was the highlight of the exorcism ritual.

Chu Yu, who had once scared Liu Ziyue with ghost stories, naturally wouldn’t contradict herself by saying there were no such things as ghosts. Instead, she stepped forward and inquired, “Why would Your Majesty consider performing an exorcism?” She still didn’t quite believe Tian Rujing’s words and sought to find out from Liu Ziyue whether the ritual had been Tian Rujing’s doing.

Liu Ziyue hesitated for a moment, realizing that even if he did not speak now, Chu Yu would find out later anyway, he slowly began, “Although Liu Ziyue is of violent disposition, he is afraid of ghosts. These past few days, he has been troubled by nightmares, seemingly seeing Fendai, whom he killed, as well as a palace maid resembling Fendai, coming back to claim his life, scaring him out of his wits, so he only thought to hold a ritual to exorcise the ghosts.”

He had not really cared about killing a person or two, gradually becoming careless in mentioning it, but he did not notice Chu Yu’s expression suddenly becoming strange, along with her eyes turning instantly cold.

That’s right.

Chu Yu looked at Liu Ziyue coldly, silently thinking to herself, That’s right, how could she forget? Although in front of her, Liu Ziyue was a considerate younger brother, to others, this teenager was a cruel Emperor.

He killed those four innocent children, killed Moxiang, caused Fendai’s death, and also indirectly caused the death of over a hundred of her subordinates.

How could all that blood ever be washed away?

He was just a bit nicer to her, how could she forget those innocently slain people?

Chu Yu looked at him quietly, her heart that had just started to warm up suddenly turned cold again.

Liu Ziyue commanded the wizards to start the ritual, and Tian Rujing also returned, standing beside Liu Ziyue. Chu Yu opened her mouth several times, but in the end, she could not make a sound, and bid farewell to Liu Ziyue, “Your Majesty, I am feeling somewhat unwell and would like to return to the Princess Mansion to rest in advance.”

As soon as he heard Chu Yu was uncomfortable, Liu Ziyue didn’t care about the exorcism anymore. He was about to order someone to summon the Imperial Physician when Chu Yu quickly stopped him and repeatedly assured him that she just felt a bit cold and would be fine after sleeping it off.

Having only taken a few steps, Chu Yu was called back by Liu Ziyue, “Sister.”

She turned around, the young Emperor’s eyes red with obvious worry, “Sister, from now on, would you please not leave me alone anymore?”

Chu Yu was stunned and then replied absentmindedly, “Okay, I won’t leave, I won’t ever leave again.”

“You’re not lying to me?”

“Mhm, I’m not lying to you.” Her tone sounded very sure.

Reassured by Chu Yu’s promise, Liu Ziyue relaxed and sat down to watch the exorcism with peace of mind. Chu Yu did not let Liu Ziyue send anyone to accompany her and walked alone in the Imperial Palace, still draped in the fur cloak she had taken from Liu Ziyue. As she walked, slender flakes of snow began to float down sparsely from the heavens above.

She soon reached the area near the palace gate. Before turning a corner, Chu Yu heard He Ji’s shout, “Who goes there?” She startled, subconsciously stopping her steps, but as she listened carefully, she realized He Ji’s words were not directed at her.

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