Proud Feather

Chapter 78 Joining the gang
Chu Ling remained silent all the way back to Nanming Palace.

"Princess, would you like to have dinner?" Zheng Qiu asked.

"Okay." Chu Ling was absent-minded.

After lunch was served and she ate two bites in silence, she suddenly asked, "Qiuniang, do you think this is normal?"

Zheng Qiu quickly signaled the attendants to leave, then asked in a low voice, "What are you suspicious of, Princess?"

"I still feel something is wrong." Chu Ling frowned. She couldn't talk about her past life, so she could only infer based on common sense. "Look at the attitude of the emperor. If he was just sympathetic to Concubine Shu's injury, shouldn't his first reaction be surprise? After all, it's been twenty years. Concubine Shu has lived a life of luxury. It's not surprising that she's recovered, right?"

Zheng Qiu fell into deep thought.

"And Concubine Shu, why do I feel like she's afraid of being blamed by the Emperor? This isn't her fault!"

Chu Ling asked, "Qiu Niang, do you still remember what happened back then? Was it really like what Father said?"

Zheng Qiu shook her head. "Princess, I was only twelve or thirteen years old at the time. Although I was lucky enough to follow the Queen, I was not old enough to know those secrets."

Yes, Qiu Niang is much younger than Shu Fei, and she took over the position after she passed away.

Chu Ling sighed: "If only I had paid more attention at that time."

At this time in her previous life, she was still immersed in the grief of her eldest brother's death and hadn't noticed what was happening in the palace. A child couldn't appear out of thin air, nor could it disappear without a reason. Either the concubine in her previous life didn't keep the child, or this life was fake.

Unable to find the answer for a moment, she could only say, "Qiu Niang, please pay more attention to Yongchun Palace. Of course, we should not get involved in what's happening there. Concubine Shu is currently in poor health, and who knows if she can stay. Please don't frame us."

"I understand." Zheng Qiu thought for a moment, "I'll go to the Imperial Hospital and say hello. There will always be clues whether it's true or not."

Chu Ling nodded and picked up the chopsticks again.

No matter what, you can't starve yourself.
-
Imperial College.

Yang Yu was reading when someone outside called out, "Young Master Yang, someone's looking for you!"

"I'm busy!" Yang Yu was feeling dizzy because there were too many sample essays to read. When he heard the shouting, he shouted to the outside in a bad mood.

The next moment, someone came in with a smile: "Who offended our Young Master Yang to make him so angry?"

Yang Yu took a closer look and was surprised: "Young Master Jiu? How did you get in?"

The Imperial College is not a casual place and has access control.

Chu Xiaojiu chuckled and picked up the two large food boxes in his hands: "I'm here to deliver some snacks!"

After he finished speaking, he called out to the people around him, "Come on, come on, brothers, the refreshments from Tianxianglou have arrived, freshly baked!"

Yang Yu saw the Tianxianglou logo on the food box and remembered that they had said they would send someone to Tianxianglou to buy snacks. It turned out that Chu Xiaojiu came under the guise of delivering snacks.

As a young master of a royal family, he really doesn't care about his face.

After Chu Xiaojiu distributed the snacks, he brought over the specially wrapped Guanghan cake and said, "Have some! I know memorizing is tiring, and your stomach will be empty soon."

"Do you think I am you?" Yang Yu retorted, but in the end, grateful for his kindness, she picked up the pastry and ate while walking away.

When they reached the corner and there was no one around, he asked, "You knew I had a monthly exam, but you still came here? What's going on?"

Chu Xiaojiu scratched his head, feeling a little embarrassed: "I didn't want to bother you, but I really can't think of a solution, so I can only ask you for advice."

"You said."

Chu Xiaojiu then told Zhu Xingshou about his affairs and finally asked, "I want to tell the princess, but I'm not sure."

"What are you afraid of?" Yang Yu asked curiously, "Even if it has nothing to do with the cause of the prince's death, the princess won't blame you."

"You got it wrong." Chu Xiaojiu whispered, "I hesitated because I was afraid it might have a big impact."

Yang Yu didn't understand: "What do you mean?" "It means that I don't want to give the credit to others. Is there any way to let the princess take me with her?"

Yang Yu stared at him for a long while, then suddenly laughed: "Chu Xiaojiu, Chu Xiaojiu, are you here to trick me into joining your gang?"

Chu Xiaojiu chuckled, "Young Master Yang is extremely talented. It's just a monthly exam, so there's no need to cram at the last minute, right?"

"You underestimate the Imperial College..." Yang Yu was halfway through his words when he realized there was nothing more to explain. He simply threw the book aside and said, "Alright, I'll go with you to report to the princess."

He agreed so readily that Chu Xiaojiu hesitated: "Then your monthly exam..."

Yang Yu snorted, "Didn't you say it? It's just a monthly exam. With my talent, why would I need to cram at the last minute?"

"Uh……"

"The princess is the golden thigh that I should cling to. My family already has a title, so whether I pass the exam or not is irrelevant. Having the princess's favor is what we call a meteoric rise to fame!"

After saying that, the roles of the two were completely reversed. Yang Yu went back and said a few words to his classmates, then asked for leave from the dormitory supervisor, and then led Chu Xiaojiu out of the Imperial College.

"Young Master Yang," Chu Xiaojiu said anxiously, "Will Duke Ningguo be angry when he hears about this? Will he complain to my father? Then I'll be punished by the family discipline and finally grounded?"

"You're afraid, yet you still dare to come to me!" Yang Yu was amused by him, "Okay, let's go find Mr. Jiang first!"

Both families had ways to get their message to the palace, but going through their elders was clearly inappropriate. Going through Mr. Jiang was the most convenient, and there was no need to worry about the news leaking out.

After hearing what they said, Jiang Shijun immediately went into the palace.

The two waited for only half an hour before Jiang Shijun came to call for help.

"The princess is waiting for you two outside."

"The princess came in person?" Chu Xiaojiu was shocked.

Jiang Shijun nodded affirmatively.

Chu Xiaojiu became panicked. He was a little worried that his guess was wrong and he had let the princess down.

Yang Yu pulled him and said, "Let's go!"

There was an unmarked car parked at the corner. When they approached, Qingcha lifted the curtain and gestured for them to come in.

Chu Xiaojiu climbed up nervously and saw Chu Ling eating ice cream.

He couldn't help but add, "Princess, did you buy it at Yongkang Bridge? It's obviously from Qiong Yu Zhai."

Chu Ling glanced at him and said, "Eating, drinking and having fun, Young Master Jiu is really good at it!"

After saying this, Qingcha gestured and took out two bowls of drinks from the food basket. "The iced cheese will melt, so I brought some basil drink for the two gentlemen. I wonder if it suits your taste."

Qiong Yu Zhai's drinks are so varied, and who among the young wouldn't like to drink them? Not to mention that they were given by the princess.

"Thank you princess."

The car became quiet, with only the occasional sound of a spoon gently hitting a porcelain bowl.

After finishing a bowl of ice cream, Chu Ling shuddered.

Qingcha took out a cloak and put it on her, saying, "Winter is almost here. If Aunt Qiu knew that the princess had eaten iced cheese, she would definitely scold me."

Chu Ling smiled and said, "That's why I eat while she's not around!"

Yang Yu and Chu Xiaojiu looked at each other and smiled in tacit understanding.

They don't dare to eat it at home.

Chu Ling rubbed his hands, feeling a little warmer, and looked at them: "I know what happened. Let's go to Xianle Tower tonight. Do you want to come with us?"