Chapter 35: Awakening from a Dream (4)
About an hour later, the morning court session ended. Zhou Yan returned to the Imperial Study as usual. Zhou Yan was already waiting...
“You’re here—”
Zhou Cheng was not at all surprised by Zhou Yan's arrival. Even though he was seriously injured and had not yet recovered, Zhou Cheng walked to his dragon throne and sat down.
"Is your injury better?"
If it were someone else who was so seriously injured, they would have to stay in bed for a month or two and not be able to go out. But Zhou Yan was different. When he was out of danger and woke up from his coma, he got out of bed and walked around decisively. Now, less than a month later, he is already on the move again...
"What is his purpose here?"
Zhou Yan was too lazy to beat around the bush with Zhou Cheng and went straight to the point.
"You mean the King of Zhao?"
"Who else but him—"
Apart from his pale face, Zhou Yan did not look injured and his voice was still as loud.
"I should be the one asking you this question. Was he there when you found Yin Yin earlier?"
Zhou Cheng is not simple either. He knows that there must be some relationship between Zhao Ziheng and Yin Yin that he doesn't know about, especially after he fell off the cliff with Yin Yin, and then Zhou Yan found Yin Yin, and inexplicably killed all the people on the island. Although he knows that Zhou Yan has always been unreasonable and indiscriminate in doing things, this matter is full of mysteries. If it was just for Yin Yin, he shouldn't kill all the people on the island. Those were Yin Yin's saviors. If he had a special affection for Yin Yin, he shouldn't do such a thing that goes against common sense. So there must be a reason. Yin Yin fell off the cliff with Zhao Ziheng at that time. Although he had asked before, Zhou Yan always didn't answer. Now he finally has to face it. Zhou Cheng feels that this matter should also be closely related to Zhao Ziheng.
"…Are you here for Yin Yin's matter?"
Zhou Cheng only said a simple sentence, and Zhou Yan guessed Zhao Ziheng's intention. In fact, he should have thought of it a long time ago. Apart from Yin Yin's words, he could not think of any other reason for Zhao Ziheng to come to Zhou Kingdom in person. He was indeed worthy of being the person Yin Yin had chosen.
"Do you know something?"
Of course, he could only guess it because he knew it, but Zhou Yan just didn't want Zhou Cheng to know it. After all, they were rivals in love in this matter. There was no reason to tell another rival about Zhao Ziheng, and it would do him no good at all.
"What are you still trying to hide now? Do you know that he came here to propose to Yin Yin?"
"What?"
The word "propose marriage" reminded Zhou Yan of what Yin Yin had said when she defended Zhao Ziheng on Diaoyu Island. They should have already been married, so why bother with this this time?
"In the final analysis, it was all your fault. If you hadn't suddenly taken Yin Yin away, the Grey Valley incident wouldn't have happened, and you wouldn't have been assassinated by others. Now King Zhao is using this incident as an excuse. He wants to marry Yin Yin to consolidate the friendship between the two countries—"
After hearing Zhou Cheng's words, Zhou Yan looked like he couldn't believe it. When they were on the Diaoyu Island, Zhao Ziheng could have taken Yin Yin back to Zhao State, but he didn't do so. It can also be seen that they have adapted to the life of civilians. It can be seen that Zhao Ziheng should not want to involve Yin Yin in the complicated court struggle. But judging from this point of view, Zhao Ziheng should be a person who cares about Yin Yin very much. How could he use Yin Yin as a political tool now?
"Yan?"
Seeing that Zhou Yan looked a little abnormal, Zhou Cheng called out worriedly.
"No, I don't believe it. He would never use Yin Yin as a political tool. He would never--"
Because they both loved the same woman, after two encounters, Zhou Yan was very sure that Zhao Ziheng loved Yin Yin deeply, so how could he think of using Yin Yin? Especially when Yin Yin was still awake...
"What's going on? Tell me--"
Just looking at what Zhou Yan was thinking about, Zhou Cheng was very anxious. This matter was difficult to resolve. Zhao Ziheng actually asked Zhou Cheng, as the king, to agree in order to maintain the relationship between the two countries. However, if he did not want to give Yin Yin to anyone else, the situation would become complicated.
"This matter has nothing to do with you, my brother..."
"you--"
Zhou Yan's words made Zhou Cheng furious. If it weren't for the fact that Zhou Yan was injured and was his own brother, Zhou Cheng would definitely have gone up and beaten him up. He thought, could it be that Zhou Yan still didn't know that this seemingly ordinary thing might very likely lead to the breakdown of the alliance between the two countries?
On the contrary, Zhou Yan was very clear about Zhou Cheng's upright and caring character. If he knew the relationship between Yin Yin and Zhao Ziheng, and knew that Yin Yin had already been Zhao Ziheng's person, based on his personality, he would definitely return Yin Yin to Zhao Ziheng. Zhao Ziheng alone was difficult to deal with, and Zhou Cheng had developed feelings for Yin Yin. Once Zhou Cheng helped Zhao Ziheng, Zhou Yan would have no chance of winning. He would never do a stupid thing to tell Zhou Cheng about the relationship between Yin Yin and Zhao Ziheng. He had no way out.
"I have asked all the questions I want to ask. I am leaving now—"
"Yan! I, as the Emperor, order you to stop—"
Zhou Yan's attitude of coming and going as he pleases, and his attempt to keep Zhou Cheng in the dark, completely angered Zhou Cheng, forcing him to act like an emperor. Otherwise, how could Zhou Yan stop? However , Zhou Yan seemed to completely ignore Zhou Cheng and continued to walk out...
"Someone, stop Prince Jing for me—"
Zhou Cheng had no choice but to order the guards to block Zhou Yan's way. Zhou Yan stopped after being stopped by the guards...
"What does your Majesty mean?"
"Patience and tolerance are limited. It seems that I have indulged you too much in the past, so that you don't even take me seriously. This time you openly ignored me. I have no choice but to deal with it impartially. Come, put Prince Jing in the sky prison. No one is allowed to see him without my order-"
"Yes! Prince Jing, please—"
As expected of Zhou Cheng's personal guard, he did not look confused even when facing Zhou Yan.
"Humph, you guys think you can stop me?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhou Yan started to attack the guards who came to stop him. This shows that he really did not take Zhou Cheng seriously at all.
