Chapter 142 What Kind of Decorum Is This

The investigation into the remnants of the former dynasty had made no progress whatsoever. When Lie Chang'an reported this to the Crown Prince, His Highness showed not a shred of surprise. He had all along suspected that the rumors about the remnants of the former dynasty lurking in various places and operating near the capital recently were fabricated by those very remnants themselves, solely to make them panic and throw themselves into disorder.

Inside the study of the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince was lowering his head to review some memorials. Hearing Lie Chang'an's report, he waved a hand indifferently. "Then call off the search for now. Just keep a secret watch."

"Understood."

Lie Chang'an nodded, weighing matters in his mind, and finally spoke with careful deliberation, "Your Highness, Miss Yu is currently temporarily residing in my humble estate."

"What?"

The Crown Prince abruptly raised his head, almost thinking he had misheard. "You said whom?"

"Miss Yu."

Ever since the Crown Prince had gifted the rabbit red string to Yu Yang in Suoluo Town last time, Lie Chang'an had been well aware of the Crown Prince's feelings for her, which was why he felt it necessary to inform him.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, the Crown Prince was first shocked, then overjoyed, followed by a sense of disappointment and anger. He immediately demanded, "How is it that she came to stay at your estate?"

"When Deputy General Qi and I were patrolling the streets and conducting investigations, we happened to run into Miss Yu at the entrance of a tavern. She seemed to have come to the capital for leisure. Hearing that she had nowhere to go, I temporarily accommodated her in my residence."

"She is a lone, delicate woman, and you are yet unmarried. How could she possibly live in your manor? If word gets out, people will think she is a concubine you took in from outside! How can this be? Where is the propriety?"

Hearing this, the Crown Prince flew into a rage. Angered to the point of standing up, he paced back and forth, his fury difficult to appease.

Faced with the Crown Prince's soaring anger, Lie Chang'an's expression remained completely normal, exceptionally calm and detached. Since he dared to bring it up, he naturally anticipated how the Crown Prince would react. Besides, the very reason he could mention it was precisely because he knew that with both him and Yu Yang being unmarried and living under the same roof, their relationship was bound to be awkward. Yet, considering the bond of traveling together all the way from Lihuai County and her having saved his life on multiple occasions, he could not flatly refuse Yu Yang. Thus, he had no choice but to toss this troublesome burden to the Crown Prince to handle.

True enough, whenever the Crown Prince thought of this matter, his temples would throb with pain. Frowning, he waved his hand dismissively. "You may leave first. As for this matter, I will handle it."

"Understood, this subject takes his leave."

With his expression unchanged, Lie Chang'an bowed and withdrew. Deep within his ink-black eyes, however, a flash of knowing and helpless amusement swept past.

It seemed he only needed to return to his manor and wait.

After Lie Chang'an departed, the Crown Prince could no longer sit still and marched straight toward the Yunyan Palace.

Today was a rare, warm winter day. Guli had not seen the sun for a long time, so she was currently curled up in the courtyard basking in the sunlight, chatting and joking with Moli, who was standing behind her.

The Crown Prince looked thoroughly frantic. The way he strode into the gates of Yunyan Palace gave off the unmistakable vibe that his own backyard was on fire.

Guli was quite surprised and delighted to see her royal elder brother arrive. Knowing that he had been busy with state affairs lately, he hadn't come to the Yunyan Palace to see her for several days.

Yet, His Highness clearly had no mood for idle chatter today. He strode directly up to her, his complexion rather unsightly, and stated bluntly, "Did you know that Yu Yang is living in Lie Chang'an's manor?"

Sure enough, upon hearing this, Guli's beautiful eyes widened in shock, and she abruptly sprang to her feet. "What? Yu Yang is staying at Lie Chang'an's residence?"

"Yes."

The Crown Prince knew his younger sister all too well. Judging by the feelings she held for Lie Chang'an, she surely would not be able to stomach this.

Upon hearing the news, he had genuinely wanted to charge straight into the Lie estate and drag Yu Yang out. But then he reflected that he was, after all, a dignified Crown Prince—what would it look like for him to run into a subject's home and haul a woman out?