Chapter 380: Weren’t You Planning to Save Me?
Seeing the genuine excitement and sincerity in A’Bai’s eyes, Yu Luo paused for a moment. However, in just that instant, the joy in A’Bai’s gaze faded, and his once-happy expression turned cold.
“Did those people never deliver it to you?!”
His voice carried a barely contained fury.
Yu Luo hesitated for a moment before nodding.
Considering that A’Bai was the only one who came to see her off when she was exiled, she knew he wasn’t lying.
Given the friendship between A’Bai and the original Yu Luo, he definitely wouldn’t have just let her go without sending people to check on her.
If she denied the truth just to comfort him, then the people working for him might continue deceiving him in other matters.
The moment Yu Luo nodded, A’Bai’s expression turned completely icy!
“Hah… so they really lied to me.” His voice was chilling. “I should’ve known… I had no real power back then. And now, my mother is gone, and there’s no one left I can truly trust.”
His fists clenched, his nails digging into his palms.
“But now that I see you safe and sound, at least I can breathe a little easier. Still… why did you suddenly return?” He frowned. “With your current status, if anyone recognizes you, it won’t just be exile this time—it’ll be execution.”
Yes. Yu Luo knew that all too well.
If she were recognized, she would be arrested immediately—and there would be no way out.
“It’s fine.” Yu Luo shrugged nonchalantly. “Besides you, I didn’t have any friends in the capital to begin with. Even my own aunt didn’t recognize me today—this disguise of mine is good enough to fool everyone.”
She made it sound so lighthearted, but A’Bai didn’t buy it at all.
He knew Yu Luo too well—she wouldn’t have risked coming back unless it was for something extremely important.
Besides, the Yu Luo standing before him now… felt different.
“So tell me,” he asked, voice low. “You came back for something, didn’t you? I may not have much power yet, but if you need help, I’ll do everything I can.”
“It’s nothing serious.” Yu Luo waved a hand dismissively. “I was just bored after staying in the frontier for too long. I wanted to see how things were back here.”
A’Bai narrowed his eyes.
He didn’t believe her.
But he could tell that she didn’t want to drag him into it.
After all, he was only recently recognized as a prince. He had no powerful maternal family to support him, and the Emperor was gravely ill.
Despite what it looked like today, the palace wasn’t as harmonious as it seemed—A’Bai was surely walking on thin ice.
He had enough to worry about for his own survival.
A deep frown settled on his face.
“Xiao Luo,” he said, his voice quiet. “How have you been this past year? You’re so delicate—I can’t imagine how you endured life in the frontier. Your main branch relatives… have they been bullying you even more?”
His grip on his sleeves tightened.
“You don’t have to worry,” he continued. “I’ll send people to protect you. And don’t think for a second that I’ll let you stay exiled forever. I’ll find a way to bring you back.”
Yu Luo felt a strange tug in her heart.
She didn’t know if it was her own emotions or if she was absorbing the original Yu Luo’s feelings.
But seeing A’Bai like this… it made her heart ache.
“A’Bai, we’re actually doing well out there,” she admitted. “My uncle sent people to help us. The main branch doesn’t dare bully us anymore.”
She gave him a small smile.
“We even built a beautiful house—blue tiles, black bricks. We have servants too. Do you think I’d dare walk into Golden Moon Pavilion today if I were still struggling?”
A’Bai studied her carefully, searching for any sign of deception.
After a long pause, he exhaled in relief.
“I never heard you mention an uncle before,” he murmured. “But if he’s really supporting you, then I feel better.”
Still, his brows remained furrowed.
“But the frontier… it’s still harsh. You shouldn’t stay there long-term. Medicine is scarce, and if you fall ill, there aren’t even proper doctors. When you go back, I’ll send some medical supplies with you.”
His expression hardened with determination.
“But more importantly, I will get you out of there.”
Yu Luo sighed.
“You don’t need to send medicine,” she said. “And you don’t need to ‘rescue’ me either. Honestly, we’re doing much better there than we ever did in the Marquis’ residence.”
She looked him straight in the eyes.
“I’m more worried about you,” she admitted.
“The Emperor is seriously ill, and you’re new to the palace—you have no allies, no maternal family to support you. If anything happens to the Emperor, you’re the one in danger.”
A’Bai stiffened.
Yu Luo gave him a small smile.
“But don’t worry,” she said lightly. “If things get bad, come find me.”
A’Bai’s eyes widened slightly.
“In the frontier?” he asked.
“In Luo City,” Yu Luo corrected.
“Luo City?” He blinked.
“How many cities are there out there?” he muttered. “I only heard about Feng City near the border. Since when was there a ‘Luo City’?”
His gaze sharpened.
“You actually live inside a city?” he asked. “How different is it from ours? Is it just wilderness? Do you even have fresh vegetables? I’ve heard the beasts out there are terrifying—packs of them, and some we’ve never even seen before.”
His questions came in rapid succession, making Yu Luo laugh out loud.
“Where did you hear all that nonsense?” she teased.
They ended up chatting for over an hour.
When Yu Luo saw the sky darkening, she stood up to leave.
Before departing, she took out a stack of gold banknotes—30,000 taels worth—and pressed them into A’Bai’s hands.
A’Bai jumped back in alarm.
“You’re living in the frontier, and you’re giving me money?!”
“Yes,” Yu Luo said seriously.
“In the palace, you need money more than anyone. You have no supporters—sooner or later, you’ll need funds. Today, I was actually at Golden Moon Pavilion looking for a gift for you, but I didn’t find anything I liked. So take this instead.”
A’Bai’s eyes turned red at the corners.
“I can’t accept this,” he said hoarsely. “I don’t fight for power. I get a monthly allowance. My mother even left me some savings before she passed, and Father has given me plenty of rewards.”
He gently pushed the gold notes back toward her.
“You need this more than I do.”
Yu Luo shook her head firmly.
“A’Bai,” she said softly. “You gave me money when I was exiled—I didn’t refuse it then, did I?”
She folded the gold back into his hands.
“This isn’t a gift,” she said. “It’s for emergencies. With this, you can hire your own people. Build your own support. Weren’t you planning to save me?”
