Chapter Twenty-Four: Coincidence

After hearing Chen Kan’s response, Zhu Yuelan looked at him with profound suspicion.

"Are you truly not some sort of notorious bandit?"

"Mhm!"

"Are you truly here just because you were hungry and looking for food?"

"Mhm!"

"Are you truly a student of Fang Xiaoru?"

"Mhm!"

"Ahhh! You lecher, you scoundrel! Who would have an affair with you? Who would ever want to have an affair with you..."

"You lecher, I'll show you for hitting me! Go to hell! Ahhh!"

Zhu Yuelan was furious. Once she had confirmed that Chen Kan was not some villain, her tiny fists began to rain down upon him. However, as she was a delicate and gentle young lady, her punches felt little more than a tickle to Chen Kan. Consequently, rather than resisting, he played along and began to howl dramatically. If a young lady wants to vent, one must be cooperative. Besides, the misunderstanding between them was primarily his own fault.

Chen Kan’s acting was superb; his wails grew increasingly shrill, reaching a level that would move onlookers to tears. In terms of performance alone, he felt he deserved a perfect score.

As his wailing grew louder, the force behind Zhu Yuelan’s blows began to wane. After a flurry of kicks and punches, whether due to fatigue or an inability to stand his caterwauling any longer, she finally ceased her assault.

Chen Kan had been curled up on the ground, shielding his head and performing with all his might. Suddenly feeling a release, he peeked out to see Zhu Yuelan standing with her hands on her hips, glaring at him while panting for breath. Given the way her cheeks were puffed up, he deduced that her anger had not yet fully subsided. He wisely chose to remain lying on the ground, continuing to play dead.

"You scoundrel!" Zhu Yuelan kicked him and shouted indignantly.

Chen Kan continued to play dead. Seeing no reaction, she grew angry again. "Scoundrel, get up!"

He remained as still as a stone.

At this point, anyone who moved was a fool. But then again, staying perfectly still was like being a tortoise. So, Chen Kan rolled over. Seeing him acting like a dead pig that didn't fear boiling water, Zhu Yuelan became even more incensed. She couldn't help but threaten, "I told you to get up! If you don't rise now, don't blame me for telling my father that you molested me and having him cut off your head!"

"Oh?"

Did this mean that if he stood up, she wouldn't tell Zhu Di what happened today? Well, he who understands the times is a hero—he would get up. What was there to fear?

Chen Kan obediently stood up, looking like a schoolboy who had done something wrong, standing sheepishly before her. Zhu Yuelan gave his calf a vengeful kick before asking, "You said you were summoned to the palace by my father's order. How can you prove it?"

Chen Kan took the kick stoically and replied in a muffled voice, "All the civil and military officials can testify for me. If the Princess does not believe me, you may ask any official, and you will know whether what I say is true or false."

Zhu Yuelan retorted, "All the officials are currently in the Great Hall for the morning assembly. Who am I supposed to ask?"

"The soldiers guarding the Hongwu Gate can also testify!" Chen Kan suggested.

"Really?"

"Mhm."

"Fine then. You will come with me right now to find the guards and prove your innocence. If you dare to lie to me, you are dead." Zhu Yuelan brandished her small fist in warning. Chen Kan had no choice but to nod in agreement. She then grabbed his sleeve.

*Oh? What is the Princess doing? Men and women must keep their distance, you know.*

Fearing he might bolt the moment they stepped outside, Zhu Yuelan gripped his sleeve tightly and led him toward the end of the Imperial Way.

"This official, Ru Chang, greets Princess Changning..."

"Eh? This young friend looks somewhat familiar."

A mass—no, a person—approached them. Seeing the Princess, he bowed immediately. It was none other than the Minister, Ru Chang.

"So it is Minister Ru. Rise."

Seeing Ru Chang, Chen Kan felt as if he had found a savior. He lunged forward, grabbed the Minister's sleeve, and exclaimed, "Minister Ru, it’s me, Chen Kan! Do you remember me? We went to the eastern suburbs together this morning!"

Ru Chang rubbed his head, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "This young friend... Sss—ouch! That hurts!"

"Minister!" Chen Kan said anxiously.

"Oh, it's you, young friend Chen. I remember now. Sss—" Ru Chang had an epiphany.

Zhu Yuelan asked suspiciously, "You know each other?"

Ru Chang replied, "Indeed. This young friend Chen was specially ordered by His Majesty to enter the palace as a commoner to participate in the eastern suburban rites."

Chen Kan said pitifully, "Princess, you believe me now, don't you? I really didn't lie to you."

With Ru Chang as his witness, Zhu Yuelan had to nod, albeit reluctantly. Observing their interaction, Ru Chang winced while clutching his head and asked, "Young friend Chen, what is going on between you and the Princess?"

At the mention of this, Zhu Yuelan flushed a deep crimson, and her eyes filled with murderous intent, threatening to ignite another outburst.

"It’s nothing, nothing at all!"

"Eh, Minister Ru, what happened to your head? There’s such a large bump. Were you stung by a bee?" Chen Kan sensed the danger and quickly changed the subject.

The moment he said this, however, Ru Chang’s chubby face was instantly filled with anger, grievance, and hatred. He lamented, "I don't know which cutthroat coward threw a hidden projectile at me while I was in the latrine! It was a rock this big—*thwack*—it just came flying in. It was so fast that I hadn't even reacted before it hit me right here on the head."

As he spoke, Ru Chang gestured with his plump hand. His comical appearance caused Zhu Yuelan to let out a sudden snort of laughter, a bubble of snot even forming from her nose.

Ru Chang continued to gesture, fuming, "Don't let me find out which despicable coward ambushed me, or I will surely have them torn to pieces!"

Having heard Minister Ru’s tragic encounter, Chen Kan expressed great sympathy and voiced strong condemnation for the person who had used such an underhanded tactic. With an expression of shared indignation, he said, "Using underhanded tricks is truly despicable. Rest assured, Minister, I will also help you investigate to see who was so base as to launch such a vicious attack on a man of your stature."

Deep down, however, he couldn't help but mutter to himself: *That despicable coward... it wouldn't happen to be me, would it?*

But then he reconsidered: he was a student of a great Confucian scholar, having read the classics and studied the ways of the sages. His actions had always been upright and honorable; how could he be a base coward who used hidden projectiles? It must be a coincidence—it had to be a coincidence.

Ru Chang sighed, "Alas, I appreciate your kindness, young friend Chen, but I suspect that those who would dare to strike me are few in number. And those people are all either wealthy or powerful. As a commoner, even if you found out who it was, you couldn't do anything to them, and you would only end up putting yourself in danger."