Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Rong Xiu glanced at her with a half-smile. “Second Master Yan, have a seat.”
Yan Ge’s legs turned to jelly, and he almost dropped to his knees as cold sweat gathered on his back. It was fine if others called him this. However, for this person to call him this… It was killing him!
“… This, it’s not appropriate…” Yan Ge forced a smile. “Your Highness is of noble status. I think I’ll…”
“Ms. Liuyue asked you to sit. Don’t stand on ceremony.” Rong Xiu retracted his gaze.
Yan Ge knew it would be strange for him to keep rejecting, so he sat down nervously. “O-okay!”
Chu Liuyue looked at him strangely. Something is strange about Yan Ge’s behavior today… Even if Rong Xiu is royalty, given Zhen Bao Pavilion’s standing in Imperial City, he doesn’t have to act like this.
The fuzzy thoughts flashed across her mind. However, just as she was about to look deeper into it, a hand suddenly reached over and took her cup of alcohol from her.
“Young ladies should just drink tea.” As Rong Xiu spoke, he switched her cup and poured her a cup of tea.
His actions were so natural that none of the people around them thought it was strange. Even Chu Ning looked at him with increased admiration.
Chu Liuyue raised her eyebrows as she looked at the hot tea before her eyes. Is this… tit for tat?
…
“Hey, why do you all think Prince Li is here today? All the invites previously sent to Prince Li Mansion were rejected. What does Chu Ning have to be able to get him here?”
“Who knows? Chu Ning’s position as the imperial guards’ Commander in Chief is not low, but it shouldn’t be good enough for Prince Li to attend, right?”
“However, I heard that Prince Li helped Chu Liuyue out when the Fourth Princess made things difficult for her at the Crown Prince’s birthday banquet… It can’t be that he has his eyes set on her, right?”
“How can that be? He just returned to Imperial City!”
“How else can we explain why he stood up for Chu Liuyue? Surely he must know that coming here is the same as offending the Crown Prince and the Chu family, right?”
“Ha, I think you’re onto something. I think Prince Li is taking the chance to taunt the Crown Prince. He was crowned a lord the moment he returned. How can the Crown Prince not have anything to say?”
“He’s so sickly, what is there to fight for…”
“Don’t you know? I heard that Prince Li’s mother was… by the empress…” At this point, the person grew wary and stopped talking.
It was quiet all around as the people stared at one another before deciding to change topics.
“No matter what, Chu Ning and Chu Liuyue will have a stable position in the Imperial City after today… The Chu family has lost their face today. I don’t think they’ll take it lying down!”
“Hmph, the Chu family has not produced a prodigy like this in years. Without Chu Ning and Chu Liuyue, their days are going to be tough…”
“The Chu family has occupied a position in the top four families for too long…”
…
Chu Liuyue had just taken a sip of her tea when she heard a commotion outside. She walked towards the window and looked downstairs.
Their room had the best view on the second floor. The open windows on one side revealed the restaurant’s lake, while the windows on the other side revealed the street.
Chu Liuyue saw a group of people approaching on horses.
A number of stalls were knocked over on the streets, causing much chaos. But the owners of the disrupted businesses dared not speak and just hurriedly packed up their items.
Chu Liuyue squinted her eyes before she saw that the group of people was dressed in armor. It was the imperial guards.
However… what has happened for them to be this anxious?
At this time, one of the guards broke away from the group and headed towards Phoenix Restaurant. “Can I ask if Commander in Chief Chu Ning is here?”
Su Hui was downstairs, and he knew that something was off, but he still promptly replied. “Lord Chu Ning is here indeed.”
“I’m the leader of the seventh bridge, Ji Qingfeng. I request an audience with Commander in Chief!” The person looked like he was in his late twenties, and anxiety was plastered all over his face.
“Please hold on, Officer Ji, I’ll report right away…”
“Please invite Officer Ji up directly,” said Chu Liuyue.
Ji Qingfeng looked up and saw a slender silhouette by the window on the second floor. He couldn’t be bothered with anything else and rushed upstairs.
Even though Chu Ning had not met this person, he had a working knowledge of the imperial guards’ situation, so he had heard of Ji Qingfeng.
“Greetings, Commander in Chief!”
Ji Qingfeng had a tense expression. He was about to bow, but Chu Ning stopped him.
“What happened?” Chu Ning asked with tightly knitted brows.
“Commander, the Fourth Princess went to the hunting ground this morning. News just came in that she has accidentally fallen off a cliff!”