Chapter 282: Chapter 259: No Longer Relevant Chapter 282: Chapter 259: No Longer Relevant Chu Yu understood that if she could discern those details, it was because Rong Zhi had deliberately left them there to help her follow the trail back to him. With Rong Zhi’s cunning, it was impossible for such a significant flaw to be exposed otherwise. Otherwise, Liu Chang wouldn’t have sent someone to bring her directly to Rong Zhi’s location without even meeting her first, and Rong Zhi wouldn’t have been waiting here quietly beforehand.

What exactly did he want to do?

This courtyard was similar to the Muxue Garden at Princess Jiankang’s Mansion, with the same layout, bamboo at first sight, a young man in white sitting alone deep within the grove. On the green stone platform, his smile was gentle like water, and his gaze was unfathomable. Although the objects were alike, the person was vastly different from before.

Upon seeing Chu Yu, Rong Zhi did not inquire about the matters after their separation; he offered no explanations for his actions, merely smiling casually as if he were addressing an ordinary person about an ordinary matter, “I have a deal I’d like to make with you. Would you be interested?”

Chu Yu smiled somewhat mockingly, “Can I even refuse?” Her tone was not only mocking but carried a slight weariness.

He always laid a huge net silently, waiting for her to walk into it unknowingly–the same happened in Luoyang, and now in Ping City.

She feared that her dwelling was already under his control, and the attentive servants and attendants were likely his confidants and spies. In the residence where she now lived, besides the original entourage she brought from Luoyang, even a seemingly insignificant mosquito probably belonged to the surname Rong.

Very well, he had full control, and she didn’t; he held a high position and had the power, but she did not. Under such unequal circumstances, she didn’t know what else she possessed that he might covet.

Sun Wukong could by no means escape from The Buddha’s Five Finger Mountain.

From south to north, she had never completely escaped his shadow.

Hey, isn’t that impressive?

The moment she saw Rong Zhi just now, Chu Yu was prepared to compromise. Facing such a person, she could neither run away nor fight against him, and what made it worse was that he remained amiable and smiling, sapping her of the energy even to be angry.

Now, Chu Yu had come to a realization– if she couldn’t shake him off, then why try? She admitted defeat, she was convinced, and when her value for use expired, Rong Zhi surely wouldn’t spare her another glance.

From the past year’s situation, Rong Zhi seemed not to want to hurt her; he even protected her, which was also why she was fearless now.

As they spoke, Chu Yu noticed something.

From Jiankang to Luoyang, and then from Luoyang to Ping City, after thousands of miles of trouble and travel, she had grown quite resilient to Rong Zhi’s antics. Now, even if Rong Zhi suddenly transformed into a Saiyan, she probably wouldn’t be surprised.

But she was slightly startled by this discovery for she only now realized that Rong Zhi was not alone in the bamboo grove; there was someone else beside him. It was just that the other person was so small, and her attention being wholly on Rong Zhi initially, she hadn’t noticed him at first.

It was a round, plump baby, wrapped in luxurious brocade and silk, cushioned with several layers of brocade quilts, lying next to Rong Zhi. The baby’s skin was finely white and delicate, the small face exquisitely featured, particularly the soft, moist lips, and the two chubby hands were holding Rong Zhi’s palm while he occasionally stretched his fingers to tease the baby.

In stark contrast to Rong Zhi’s deep and impenetrable eyes, were the baby’s innocent ones, though both sets were ink-black. While Rong Zhi’s eyes seemed as if they could swallow time itself, the baby’s clear and bright eyes reflected the sparse green shadows of the bamboo grove perfectly.

Chu Yu examined the child closely, trying to find traces of Rong Zhi in the child’s beautiful features, but though the child was cute, he didn’t resemble Rong Zhi much. After a while, unable to suppress her curiosity, she directly asked, “Your illegitimate child?”

Rong Zhi smiled mysteriously, “My grandnephew.”

The moment he clarified the relationship, Chu Yu immediately knew the infant’s identity: The Empress Dowager Feng Ting was the nominal mother of Tuoba Hong, Emperor of Northern Wei. That is to say, Rong Zhi was Tuoba Hong’s nominal uncle, which meant this early mature, early married, and early fathered son of Tuoba Hong was Rong Zhi’s grandnephew.

This infant, so young and frail, was very likely to be the future heir of Northern Wei, currently in the hands of Rong Zhi.

Chu Yu resisted the urge to look further at the baby, turning back to their earlier conversation. “Back to our main topic, what’s the deal?” She felt she could glimpse a corner of Rong Zhi’s ambition–even being the brother of the Empress Dowager, it seemed he was not satisfied with just that. He might continue to reach out, treating Jiangshan Ru Hua as his grand chessboard, this baby perhaps just another one of his pawns… but, after all, it was none of her concern.

Chu Yu thought calmly.

Whether he was a king or a bandit, it was irrelevant to her. She didn’t mind temporarily being his pawn, planning to leave this place once everything was settled and to rid herself of him completely.

Rong Zhi smiled slightly and said, “This transaction concerns Tian Rujing. Currently, Tian Rujing is with Tuoba Hong, so it’s inconvenient for me to confront him directly. I suspect you know much more about that bracelet than I do. Tell me what you know, and when the power in Northern Wei finally stabilizes, that will mark the completion of this transaction.”

At his request, Chu Yu was slightly surprised, then quickly understood. This was probably the only thing Rong Zhi could seek from her, but she still found it odd that what Rong Zhi asked for was not difficult. Why didn’t he speak directly the last time they were in Luoyang? Thinking further back when he was “Guan Canghai,” she was almost unguarded against him. He could have easily coaxed information from her then. Why hadn’t he?

For some reason, Chu Yu felt it wasn’t quite appropriate to ask these questions, so she suppressed her doubts and directly discussed terms, “Very well, then if I tell you those things, what can you give me?”

Rong Zhi smiled, his dark pupils reflecting Chu Yu’s image, so deep and focused, “What do you want?”

Chu Yu quickly weighed her options then looked at Rong Zhi again, tentatively saying, “I don’t want too much, first, the right to live freely in Northern Wei. That’s not too much, is it?”

“Not too much.”

“Second, once everything is accomplished, I hope you will no longer appear before me, nor send anyone to disturb me.” This condition was for her own sake. If she kept seeing Rong Zhi, it would be difficult for her to control herself, just like now, having been in the same space with him for a while, she again felt an indescribable taste spreading in her heart.

This feeling, although still within the range she could control and suppress, was something Chu Yu was unwilling to tolerate. Only by completely severing ties with him could she possibly forget him entirely.

Seeing Rong Zhi silent but not responding, Chu Yu continued calmly, “Is my request too much? After all, you only need information about Tian Rujing, and once your mission is accomplished, you have nothing to do with me. It would mean all debts are settled and we no longer relate to each other. Wouldn’t that be good?”

She wasn’t throwing a tantrum, but rather assessing the situation. It was for the best.

“…Very good,” Rong Zhi said with a slight smile, slowly speaking.

What an indifference.

Could one really be so indifferent?

Rong Zhi watched Chu Yu, observing her eyes filled with a resolute intensity, and for the first time, he felt this coldness. Although summer was nearly upon them, the chill emanating from the depths of his soul enveloped him completely. It was inconspicuous, intangible, silent, and traceless, omnipresent.

His spirit had always been strong and steadfast, unshakeable. As long as it was beneficial to his goals, he could endure any pain, even if it meant breaking bones or facing a life-threatening situation. It wasn’t enduring pain; it was indifference under strong control.

He had never thought there would come such a day.

The person who fell in love first was her, the one who was initially heartless was him. But why, now, was it her stepping back completely, leaving him at a loss?

He was only cruel to his own body, but she was cruel to her heart.

If you remain heartless, I shall leave.

Any fondness can be forsaken, disregarded completely, cut off with one stroke.

Never looking back.