Chapter Thirteen: Tang Yu Joins the Team!

“Greetings, Princess. I am Shi Gonghu, a general of the Nanzhao Kingdom.”

After rebuking Anu, the old man caught sight of Linger and immediately bowed respectfully to show his reverence.

Zhao Linger frowned slightly. Shi Gonghu—the adoptive father of Shi Jieren… Her master had specifically told her about him.

The tragedy that had befallen Nanzhao could ultimately be traced back to Shi Gonghu. The man who would become the Worship Moon Leader, Shi Jieren, had originally been a sensitive and brilliant scientist. With proper guidance, he could have benefited the common people and earned everlasting fame. Yet because Shi Gonghu had no idea how to educate a child, he had forcibly steered him toward becoming a soldier…

And look where that had led. The Worship Moon Leader had completely fallen into darkness, brainwashed the army, seized control of the Wu King, and embarked on a path of absolute self-worship.

Just think—if Shi Jieren had not been adopted by Shi Gonghu, what an extraordinary scientific talent an ancient man who could realize that the earth was round and that universal gravitation existed would have possessed!

Seeing that the princess remained silent, Shi Gonghu hurriedly reminded her in a low voice, “Princess? Your Highness?”

Lin Yueru could not bear to watch any longer. Linger, even if you dislike Shi Gonghu, you do not have to make it so obvious! She reached out and poked Linger’s fair arm.

“Wake up!”

“Oh… oh! Shi Gonghu, right? The adoptive father of the Worship Moon Leader, right? Don’t call me Princess. I cannot bear the title. Anu!”

To everyone’s surprise, Zhao Linger opened her mouth with a string of sharp retorts. At the end, she called for Anu, clearly intending to bypass Shi Gonghu and the others and leave.

“Bring your childhood sweetheart Tang Yu along. We need to hurry!”

“Yes, Princess!”

Anu answered excitedly. She made a face at Shi Gonghu, then openly called out to Tang Yu.

“Little Tang Yu, the princess says you’re coming with us!”

“Adoptive Father?”

Tang Yu had long since been tempted. Unable to restrain himself, he asked in a small voice, his eyes shining with excitement.

Shi Gonghu’s mouth twitched. What could he do? As the adoptive father of the Worship Moon Leader, he was already in an awkward position within Nanzhao. That was why he had been forced to come to the Central Plains in search of the princess… Yet now, even the princess did not welcome him.

The only connection between them was his adopted son Tang Yu, who had grown up alongside Anu. Surely he could not really tear the two apart?

Even if he wanted to, Tang Yu would have to listen to him first! It was not as though this had happened only once or twice!

“Go on, go on! Remember to protect the princess!”

“Yes, Adoptive Father. I will absolutely protect the princess and Anu, and ensure that not a hair on either of their heads is harmed!”

Tang Yu hurriedly performed a salute, then dashed away at full speed… completely forgetting that his adoptive father had told him to save the princess, not Anu.

Shi Gonghu helplessly shook his head and waved, signaling everyone to enter the city at once.

He had raised two children—one rebellious and the other an ungrateful wretch. What else could he do? All he could do was carry the heart of a weary old father and obediently go rest.

………

With his adoptive father’s permission, Tang Yu rushed to Anu’s side like a delighted husky, bouncing along as he fussed over her.

“Anu, are you hungry? I brought roast duck—the most authentic Beijing-style roast duck…”

“Wonderful, wonderful!”

“Anu, I also have some pastries. Would you like to try them?”

“Wonderful, wonderful!”

“Anu, I have two tickets to a play recently rehearsed in Suzhou. I hear it was written by someone with the pen name Shakespeare…”

“Wonderful, wonderful!”

The two older sisters walking ahead could no longer bear to watch. Tang Yu was practically feeding Anu with his own hands…

No, he was already feeding her!

And Anu acted as though she saw nothing, even proudly showing off to her two closest friends as if she were enjoying every moment of it.

What a heartless flirt! A textbook heartless flirt!

Linger truly could not take it anymore. Relying on the fact that she and Anu had been friends since childhood, she pulled Anu over to her side.

“Anu, tell me honestly. Do you like Tang Yu?”

“Princess, you mean Little Tang Yu?”

Anu touched her lips and pondered hard, her beautiful brows drawing together into a straight line. Linger exchanged a glance with Yueru. She was already calling him so affectionately—there had to be something there!

This pairing, this romance—they were absolutely going to enjoy it. And it was delicious!

“Little Tang Yu is very good to me. Whatever I want, he gives me, and he takes wonderful care of me… But his adoptive father is so fierce. He yells at me all the time and makes me practice my martial arts every day. It is so annoying!”

“Um… Forget about his adoptive father. Just tell me whether you like Little Tang Yu or not.”

Linger helplessly covered her head. What a father who sabotaged his own son! Still, for the sake of her friend’s happiness, she patiently tried to persuade Anu.

After all, Little Tang Yu’s affection was practically spilling out of his eyes. Surely no one else would dote on Anu so much?

“I like him, but I do not like Big Stone Drum!” Anu pouted. “As long as Tang Yu lives with Big Stone Drum, I will never marry him!”

“That is exactly right!” Lin Yueru wholeheartedly agreed. “Marrying a man means marrying into his family. If he cannot even manage his own family, why should our Anu marry him? No matter how wonderful the man is, it will not do!”

The corners of Zhao Linger’s mouth twitched.

“And what about you? Your cousin Jin Yuan treats you well, does he not? Your parents adore you, too. Why do you not marry him?”

“Tch! Jin Yuan and I are related by blood within three generations! Did you not hear the Imperial Preceptor? Marriage between blood relatives within three generations is forbidden, or else you may give birth to a deformed baby!”

Lin Yueru spoke with complete frankness, showing not the slightest hint of embarrassment while discussing marriage and childbirth.

Linger could not listen any longer. She gave Lin Yueru a sharp flick on the forehead.

With that personality of hers, it would be a miracle if she ever managed to marry!

No wonder Yueru was both talented and beautiful, and came from the household of a great power in Suzhou, yet no one at the academy pursued her. With that broad, brash temperament, marrying her would be less like taking home a wife and more like inviting in a household wrecker!

“Hee-hee, enough about me. What about you, Princess? Do you have someone in your heart? For instance, Brother Xiaoyao, who took you away all those years ago?”

Anu leaned over and hugged Zhao Linger’s arm, teasing her childhood companion. At the prospect of some juicy gossip—especially gossip about her beloved friend—Lin Yueru hurried over as well.

Zhao Linger glared irritably at the two of them. Brother Xiaoyao… When she was little, she had thought he was wonderful and had even wanted to marry him. But the older she grew and the more she came to understand, the more completely she forgot that childish wish.

Especially after secretly visiting Chang’an several times with her master, Hao Yun, and seeing Li Xiaoyao, she gradually lost interest in the ruffian-like Xiaoyao.

After all, the people she met at school and encountered in the government offices were all outstanding talents. Wu Zetian and Li Longji, worried that romantic entanglements might hinder her when she grew older, had even brought quite a number of fine young men into her circle.

By comparison, Xiaoyao looked less and less impressive.

“Brother Xiaoyao can only be my brother now, I suppose…”

The three girls laughed and chatted about their private affairs as they walked ahead. With his hands clasped behind his back, Tang Yu followed silently, keeping their conversation behind him.

Being able to see Anu again was wonderful.