Chapter 601: You Can ‘t Escape

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Two days passed in a flash.

On the day of the Empress Dowager’s birthday, Yu Niaoniao specially woke up early.

Huan’er helped her wash up and dress up. Then, she followed Shen Zhuo out.

Before leaving, Yu Niaoniao secretly stuffed a small note into her sleeve.

She had to find an opportunity to send the note out later so that Xiao Juan would know her current situation.

Although she had already told Lo Pingsha to follow Xiao Juan to Liaodong

County and repeatedly reminded him not to return to the Imperial Capital, However, she knew very well that Xiao Juan would not do as she said obediently. Once he knew that she was in danger, even if he knew that there was a mountain of blades and a sea of flames ahead, he would still jump in without hesitation.

Therefore, she guessed that he would definitely return to the Imperial Capital.

She had to be prepared in advance, in case Xiao Juan really believed that she was dead after returning to the capital.

After boarding the carriage, Shen Zhuo took out a small porcelain bottle from his sleeve.

He took a small pill from the porcelain bottle and handed it to Yu Niaoniao.

“Eat it.”

Yu Niaoniao did not move. “What is this?”

Shen Zhuo had no intention of hiding anything and said directly, “This is the Bone Softening Pill. After you take it, you’ll feel weak all over. This is to prevent you from causing trouble during the birthday banquet. After the birthday banquet ends and you leave the palace, I’ll give you the antidote.”

The reason he did this was partly to be safe and partly to test Yu Niaoniao and see if she was really up to no good.

If she really had ill intentions, she would definitely not be willing to take the Bone Softening Pill.

Under Shen Zhuo’s gaze, Yu Niaoniao took the pill and threw it into her mouth without hesitation.

Seeing her being so straightforward, not only did Shen Zhuo not relax, but he also became even more puzzled.

What was the woman thinking?

Yu Niaoniao appeared to be amenable. “What other requests do you have? Tell me everything.”

Shen Zhuo took off the veiled hat hanging on the wall of the carriage and instructed solemnly.

“Put this on. Don’t take it off before you leave the palace. If anyone sees your appearance, the news that you’re still alive will leak. At that time, Father will definitely want to kill you again.”

Yu Niaoniao took the veiled hat and put it on her head.

Long white gauze draped down, covering her face tightly.

Yu Niaoniao said, “Is that okay?”

Shen Zhuo said, “I’ll send someone to follow you. After entering the palace, you have to be obedient. Don’t think about running. You can’t escape.”

Yu Niaoniao chuckled. “Heh.”

Her voice was filled with mockery.

Shen Zhuo was not angry. His expression was still gentle. “Although I don’t know why you insist on entering the palace today, as long as it’s what you want, I’ll try my best to satisfy you. I hope you won’t let me down.”

Yu Niaoniao ignored him.

She turned her head and reached out to push open the car window. The cold wind blew in with snow.

The gauze curtain under the veiled hat fluttered in the wind.

Shen Zhuo reached out and closed the carriage window with a force that allowed no resistance.

“You’ve just recovered. You can’t stand the cold wind anymore.”

Vil Niaoniao chuckled again-

The carriage moved slowly, swaying slightly.

Shen Zhuo looked at her and asked.

“I’m concerned about you. What’s so funny?”

Yu Niaoniao said, “You’re always like this. In order not to let me be killed by the emperor, you put me under house arrest. In order not to let me fall sick from the cold, you didn’t allow me to open the window. You think you did everything for my own good, but you never asked me what I really wanted.”

Shen Zhuoshun questioned, “Then what do you really want?”

“Freedom.”

Shen Zhuo looked helpless. “I’m sorry.”

Yu Niaoniao said, “Didn’t you ask me before why I chose Xiao Juan? How are you worse than Xiao Juan? Now I can tell you that Xiao Juan will respect my wishes. Even if what I do might make him unhappy, he will still choose to endure for me. This is because he cares more about my feelings than his own emotions.”

Shen Zhuo said, “That’s because he already has you. He knows that your heart is firmly tied to him. Even if he lets go, you won’t leave. But I’m different. Once I let go, I might lose you forever.”

Yu Niaoniao shook her head. “You’re wrong. If it were Xiao Juan, he would be sad if he knew that the person I loved was someone else, but he would never force me, let alone put me under house arrest and force me to take any Body Softening Pills.”

Back then, when Xiao Juan found out that she had a motive for deliberately approaching him, he mistakenly thought that she had no feelings for him. He was very disappointed and angry, but he did not take any extreme measures against her.

He even took the initiative to retreat, keeping a distance from her at all times and never crossing the line.

This was the greatest difference between Xiao Juan and Shen Zhuo.

No matter what Xiao Juan thought, he would never force Yu Niaoniao.

It was not the case with Shen Zhuo.

Compared to Niaoniao’s feelings, he was more concerned about his gains and losses.

Shen Zhuo did not know the past between Niaoniao and Xiao Juan. He felt that the reason Niaoniao said this was because she liked Xiao Juan, so in her heart, Xiao Juan was good no matter what.

And whatever he did, it was bad in her eyes.

Shen Zhuo said slowly, “If you can treat me like you treated Xiao Juan, I’ll naturally let you go. At that time, you can go wherever you want. I’ll never restrain you.”

Yu Niaoniao said, “It’s not that I didn’t like you at first…’ Shen Zhuo’s gaze changed at this moment.

His thin lips moved slightly as if he wanted to say something.

However, he was interrupted by Yu Niaoniao’s next words.

“But that good impression was personally destroyed by you. You used me first, but now you want me to be loyal to you.”

“Your Highness, don’t you think you’ve gone too far?”

Every word stabbed accurately into Shen Zhuo’s heart like a knife.

Shen Zhuo’s thin lips pursed into a straight line and he could no longer speak.

A long silence hovered in the carriage.

The carriage drove for a long time before finally stopping in front of the palace gate.

At this moment, many officials had already gathered in front of the palace gate.

It had snowed all night last night. Although the snow on the ground had been swept clean in advance, it was still a little wet and slippery when stepped on.

Shen Zhuo entered the palace first, and Yu Niaoniao was left in the carriage.

After the officials in front of the palace gate left, the carriage carried Yu Niaoniao along the palace wall and entered the palace through another side door.

When she got out of the carriage, she found herself being sent backstage to the opera troupe.

Behind her was a eunuch and a palace maid.

Shen Zhuo had specially arranged these two people. They were both hidden experts. Not only did they have to protect Niaoniao’s safety, but they also had to monitor her every move and not let her cause trouble.

Today was Empress Dowager Deng’s birthday. The palace had specially invited a famous opera troupe, planning to perform at noon.

There were many people in the theater, and they were all unfamiliar faces. Shen Zhuo arranged for Yu Niaoniao to be among them, so it was very difficult for anyone to notice anything unusual..