Untouchable Lovers-Chapter 107 - 100 Born Shopaholic

Chapter 107: Chapter 100 Born Shopaholic

After Rong Zhi had finished saying what he wanted to say, Chu Yu asked what she was most concerned about, “Then, do you have a way to devise a plan to snatch the bracelet?” She spoke very slowly, her heart skipping a beat with each word uttered.

Rong Zhi tilted his head, staring at her with a smile, “Does the Princess think that I haven’t tried before?”

Chu Yu responded with a sudden “Oh,” realizing from his current state that he must have failed, otherwise he would not have ended up in such a condition. However, what surprised her was hearing Rong Zhi say, “I did try once, although it was difficult, I actually managed to deceive Tian Ruyue into handing me the bracelet, but…” he smiled helplessly, “I couldn’t utilize the bracelet to conjure the blue shield or any other functions like Tian Ruyue could. No sooner had I slipped the bracelet onto my wrist than a strange force invaded my body, feeling like needles pricking and fire burning, causing intense pain and numbness throughout my body, almost draining me of all strength.”

Rong Zhi described the situation in detail, and Chu Yu understood what had happened: what Rong Zhi experienced were symptoms of electrocution, and the bracelet likely had a protective mechanism that would shock anyone outside a certain range who tried to handle it.

It seemed, if one wanted to obtain the bracelet, insulated gloves were a necessity.

After a long conversation with Rong Zhi, although they still did not know exactly how to get the bracelet, at least some precautions were noted which could be considered gradually in the future. For example, the bracelet has usage restrictions, perhaps requiring fingerprint verification, and would emit an electrical current to paralyze anyone attempting to steal it.

...

It appeared that further understanding was needed to strategize gradually, without being overly hasty. Snatching the bracelet was just a last resort for her if she failed to win over Tian Rujing, and it would be best not to antagonize him if possible.

The two talked until late into the night, analyzing various possibilities. Chu Yu revealed a bit of her knowledge about the bracelet during their conversation, but Rong Zhi did not inquire further until they were parting, when Chu Yu remembered Rong Zhi once mentioned he saw three and a half people differently, and she casually asked, “Who is the remaining half person?”

During their discussion period, Chu Yu had Yue Jiefei fetch a set of clothes for Rong Zhi. By this time, Rong Zhi was dressed neatly, but because they needed to discuss the bracelet, it wasn’t until late at night that he left.

Rong Zhi, whose thoughts were still on Tian Ruyue and the bracelet, paused when Chu Yu suddenly brought up a different topic, and then he smiled, “That half a person is unknown to the Princess, speaking of whom serves no purpose.”

Chu Yu had asked the question on a whim, and hearing Rong Zhi reply like that, she thought no further. Watching Rong Zhi turn away, she too closed the door she was supporting, and returned to her room to sleep.

Rong Zhi, who had walked slowly out of the East Upper Pavilion, did not head directly to his place of residence. His white figure slowly ambled through the West Upper Pavilion, his face serene and his expression profound. Passing under a plaque that read “Three Thousand Flowers Sword,” moving past the courtyard plants that seemed ravaged by strong winds, he slowly entered Hua Cuo’s room.

Soon, cries and moans of pain issued from the room, “Your timing is perfect! Ah Zhi, what kind of medicine did you give me? It’s made my body completely numb and in pain, as if millions of ants are biting me, leaving me utterly weak. I can’t stand it any longer!”

In the dimly lit room, Hua Cuo lay on the bed swathed in thick bandages, underneath which a dark black ointment seeped out, emitting a strong and unpleasant odor.

Rong Zhi stood by the bed, speaking calmly, “This is the only way to cure you. Years ago, you did not heed my advice and attempted to assassinate Tian Ruyue, resulting in deep injuries to your muscles and bones. If we don’t use strong medicine, it will leave a lingering disease.”

Hua Cuo choked up slightly, somewhat reluctantly, “Who knew he was so peculiar?” After saying this, he continued to wail, “It’s so itchy, so painful, ahhh, when can I stop using this cursed medicine?!”

Rong Zhi replied helplessly, “You’ve been quiet all day, why do you have to start yelling the moment I arrive?”

Hua Cuo chuckled mischievously, “Of course, I’m yelling just for you to hear. If no one is listening, why bother yelling? It would just be a waste of effort.”

Rong Zhi turned and walked away, “Take your medicine internally and apply it externally. I can’t heal you with just the external ointment. Keep yelling if you wish. Tomorrow, I will ask the Medicine Department to add an extra two liang of goldthread to your decoction.”

Hua Cuo immediately cried out in anguish, “Wait, wait, wait! Ah Zhi! I was wrong, isn’t that enough?”

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Though plotting secretly to seize Tian Rujing’s bracelet, when Chu Yu saw Tian Rujing again, there was nothing unusual on her face. It wasn’t that she didn’t want it, but for now, it was unobtainable. Besides, the conflict between them had not escalated to a point of direct opposition, so there was no rush to deal with Tian Rujing.

Rong Zhi had said the previous night, if it really came to a life-or-death situation, Tian Rujing was not invincible; this young man was much rawer than Tian Ruyue.

Meeting Tian Rujing at the entrance of the Imperial Palace, Chu Yu nodded slightly to him and whispered as they passed, “Come to my house this afternoon.” It was time she fulfilled her obligation.

With a calm demeanor, Chu Yu met Liu Ziyue, who was sitting at a long table, dressed in solemn court attire. The documents on his desk had been swept to the floor, overtaken by the trinkets he had purchased from the market the day before. Liu Ziyue fiddled with one item after another, clearly delighted. Upon seeing Chu Yu, he dismissed those around him and grabbed her arm, saying, “Sister, Sister, yesterday was so much fun. Shall we go out incognito again sometime soon?”

Chu Yu glanced at the long table and felt extremely frustrated. Although she had not aimed to educate an unparalleled wise ruler, she certainly had not intended to cultivate a shopping addict. Judging by Liu Ziyue’s behavior, he was obviously addicted to the activity of shopping.

If she had known that taking him out would lead to this, she would have been better off keeping him confined to the palace and telling him stories.

After some thought, Chu Yu cautioned, “Your Majesty, it was not easy for us to leave the palace the last time. We may need to take these matters slowly.”

Liu Ziyue appeared deeply disappointed upon hearing this. But then his eyes brightened, and he suggested, “Sister, we don’t have to leave the palace to go incognito. Why don’t we set up a market inside the palace and have the palace maids and eunuchs act as vendors? Wouldn’t that work?”

Chu Yu nearly gasped at the proposal. The idea of Liu Ziyue playing incognito by setting up a market in the Imperial Palace was sheer genius — clearly, it practically spelled out “incompetent ruler” on his forehead, as if inviting a rebellion.

Suppressing the urge to strike him, Chu Yu patiently explained, “Your Majesty, incognito investigations involve more than just strolling through markets. Didn’t you forget? In the stories I’ve told you about Emperor Kangxi, he did much more; he eliminated bullies, helped the weak, and extended a hand to the oppressed.” Had she misdirected her educational efforts? Not only had she failed to inspire ambition in Liu Ziyue, but she had also ignited his potential passion as a shopping fanatic.

Reminded by Chu Yu, Liu Ziyue temporarily snapped out of his shopping frenzy. Wrinkling his brow, he said, “But, Sister, when we went incognito yesterday, we didn’t see any villainous acts or encounter horse thieves or robbers. How are we to fight evil then?”

Chu Yu thought to herself that security around the Imperial foot was somewhat assured. If this area had been rampant with horse thieves and robbers, the Emperor wouldn’t even need to consider reigning. The so-called evil here would be the debaucherous sons of powerful houses, and most of them had powerful backers. Even if Chu Yu encountered such evildoers, she would need to carefully consider whether it was wise to confront them recklessly, despite having the greatest support behind her; offending powerful forces did not seem worth it.

Lost in thought, Chu Yu’s expression changed several times before she finally made up her mind and firmly told Liu Ziyue, “Your Majesty, let’s go incognito again in a few days. The place we visited yesterday was too peaceful, leading to no evil acts. Next time, we will choose a different location, and then we can conduct our secret inspections!”

Having placated Liu Ziyue with another hastily told story, Chu Yu left the palace early and returned to her residence just around noon. Upon her return, she immediately summoned Rong Zhi, Huan Yuan, Liu Se and Mo Xiang, as well as the recuperating Hua Cuo, excluding Liu Sang who was still too young, for the second concubine conference.

The group sat in a circle, with the exception of Hua Cuo, who was laying outside the circle, wrapped up like a mummy with only his face exposed. He was brought in, lying on a soft couch laden with a strong scent of medicine, and placed at a distance to listen without getting too close to everyone else.

“Hua Cuo, trained in martial arts, has much better hearing than the average person. The Princess need not worry, he can hear us well,” Rong Zhi casually remarked.

Chu Yu smiled faintly, her gaze sweeping over the faces around her, each unique yet equally stunningly beautiful, and said, “I’ve called you here to assign a task to you.”

Raising her finger, Chu Yu posed a topic, “My own intellect is limited; I hope everyone can contribute ideas collectively to help me think — how do we benevolently deceive the ruler?”

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Description:

She was a ruler, a ruler at the end of her tether.

Surrounded by formidable enemies and internal strife, she left her country, wielding the chess piece of power and authority, prepared to turn the tables!

In a collision of rulers, a game of wisdom and beauty, who can capture both love and the world?

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Thanks to a reader for pointing out mistakes in the text; they have been corrected.

Gone to eat, withdrawing.