Chapter 1937: Chapter 965: Raising the Twins (Extra) Part 2
Master Lu and Mistress Nan also bid him farewell. He smiled and said, “The Duke Residence is Jiaojiao’s home. Both Master Lu and Madam are like family; we must keep in touch frequently. If you don’t mind, I’d like to pay a visit someday.”
Master Lu was flattered and overwhelmed, “Ah, this, this… Our humble abode is too modest.”
Grand Duke An took it as a yes and smiled, “Then it’s settled. I will visit in three days.”
This wasn’t just a courtesy; he genuinely wanted to befriend these two Jianghu individuals.
Master Lu was both delighted and moved. Without further refusal, he provided his address, “We await Grand Duke An’s visit anytime.”
…
Upon leaving the Duke Residence, Gu Jiao looked up at the crescent moon in the sky.
Eh?
Ahen said he would come to fetch her, so why hasn’t he arrived?
Did something happen?
Gu Jiao’s guessing was right, something indeed happened.
Today, they needed to perform surgery to remove the screws from Shangguan Yun. Gu Jiao and Xiao Hen both went to the National Master Hall, leaving the children in the Imperial Palace under the care of Wu Sixi and the nannies.
Long Yi was not there because Long Yi didn’t stay in Shengdu but instead accompanied Chang Kun and his son’s party to Dark Night Island.
The Dayan Imperial Palace is heavily guarded, and no evildoers could infiltrate. Before Gu Jiao and Xiao Hen arrived in Yan Country, the dragon-phoenix twins had always lived safely.
Thus, no one felt such an arrangement was inappropriate.
The problem lay with a beauty from the Imperial Harem.
This person was surnamed Zhao, a beauty gifted by the Dong Family, one of the top ten families. After Shangguan Yun ascended the throne, he reshuffled the power of each major family. The Nangong Family and Han Family were completely removed, and the rest of the nine families were severely crippled.
To consolidate power, the families also began to imitate the customs of Jin Country, sending beauties to the Imperial Palace.
Among them was one named Zhao Yu.
Zhao Yu, as his name suggests, was as delicately beautiful as jade, tall and slightly slender, fitting the image of a frail yet graceful young man.
At dusk, while strolling in the Imperial Garden, he happened to see the dragon-phoenix twins being brought out by the nannies for some fresh air.
Shangguan Yun had long announced publicly that they were imperial grandchildren, yet within the palace, there was a rumor that the twins were actually the Dragon Seed born of Shangguan Yun, using the secret techniques of the National Master Hall by the hands of National Master Ye.
To keep the secret, it was publicly claimed that they were the second prince’s offspring.
Ha, there was no second prince before, so how did the twins bring about the appearance of a second prince?
If they were the offspring of the second prince, why not bring the second prince into the palace together? Instead, the twins arrived for two months before the second prince and his wife leisurely showed up.
Don’t tell him the two children could come to the Imperial Palace on their own!
Surely, Shangguan Yun spent two months finding a “second prince” from among the common people!
The more Zhao Yu thought about it, the more he felt he was so clever that he saw through everything that others couldn’t.
The emperor gave all his affection to the twins, not even glancing at the beauties of the Imperial Harem.
Only if the twins were gone, would the emperor notice the beauties of the Imperial Harem.
Anger sparked within him, and malice grew bold.
Usually, Zhao Yu dared not speak loudly for fear of offending others. But at this moment, jealousy clouded his judgment, and he entered a trance.
He walked toward the dragon-phoenix twins.
He had good relations with people in the Harem, and the nannies knew him. He smiled and greeted the dragon-phoenix twins.
No one knew that he had some medical knowledge. Aware of the treachery in the Forbidden City, he always carried defensive poison on him for protection.
This poison was colorless and tasteless, and after ingestion or inhalation, nothing would occur within three days. It would only start to act on the fourth day.
Typically, when investigating poisoning, they only check what was eaten or touched on the day, never three days prior.
This method was very safe.
“The Little Prince and Little Princesses are truly adorable,” he said with a smile.
The two nannies had already placed the twins back in their cradle, and it was hard for them not to agree with Zhao the Beauty’s words.
The two little young masters were indeed the most beautiful infants they had ever seen.
“The weather is very hot.” Zhao Yu opened a folding fan, first fanning himself, then, while no one was attentive, sprinkled the poison powder onto the fan.
He turned to see the dragon-phoenix twins staring at him with wide open eyes.
His brow twitched!
Suddenly, he felt a guilty sense of being caught!
Quickly, he calmed down. No, no way, they’re just two babies, so what if they saw? Can they understand, or speak?
Zhao Yu held the fan as he walked step by step towards the cradle of the dragon-phoenix twins.
The dragon-phoenix twins looked at him for three seconds, and suddenly, in perfect harmony, clenched their fists and began to cry loudly!
“Oh dear, what’s wrong with the Little Princess and Little Prince?”