The heroine Jiangshan

Chapter 172 Chu Zhen
"Alas, what a miserable loss!"

Chu Zhen's mourning round face was wrinkled into a ball, looking like a meat bun, which was very pleasing.

"Hahaha……"

The few students who watched the battle by the side—in fact, they were secretly selected and had inextricable connections with the Chu family. They were all witty people who were very good at joking around, and all burst into laughter.

Seeing Chu Zhen's pitiful look, Yun Ruochen couldn't help laughing: "Okay, okay, I don't want your fan anymore, lest I go back and say that I bullied you."

Only then did Ji Jianing realize that there was a folding fan beside the chessboard, probably an ancient fan with some history?The style is slightly different from the popular Confucian fans nowadays, but it is very elegant.

Especially the white jade fan pendant, made into a drop shape, simple and natural, warm and glowing, it can be seen that it is a favorite thing that is played and cultivated in the hands every day.

It turns out that this young master Chu and the princess even placed a bet on the chess game?I don't know if I took it out by myself or the princess mentioned it, probably the former.

"No, a gentleman's promise is worth a thousand dollars, and Chu Zhen can't keep his word."

Chu Zhen solemnly handed the fan to Yun Ruochen with both hands, and said, "This fan belonged to the princess who won against Chu Zhen in a dignified manner. Please accept it. It is because Chu Zhen is not good at chess!"

"Well?"

Yun Ruochen looked at Chu Zhen and then at Chu Qingbo with great interest, and a smile penetrated into his eyes.

"Okay, Xia Hong, take Young Master Chu's fan for me."

Even if she travels casually, she is still the princess of Daqing, so she has no reason to pick up gifts by herself.Being able to accept Chu Zhen's fan is already giving Chu Qingbo face.

Gu Che also entered the hall at some point. Seeing this scene, he thought disdainfully, probably Chu Qingbo heard that the princess likes to collect ancient fans recently, so he deliberately let this kid "lose" to the princess.

He is a straight person, and it is already the limit to think of this step.

But Ji Jianing glanced at Chu Zhen, who had recovered her smile, from the corner of her eye, and the feeling of something wrong in her heart became more obvious.

"Princess, that Young Master Chu..."

On the carriage back to the city, Ji Jianing couldn't help but speak.

"What happened to Chu Zhen?"

Yun Ruochen replied casually, she was just opening the ancient fan to play with, and nodded to praise the excellent artistry on the fan.

Xia Hong looked over in confusion.

"The slave feels that the young master's behavior just now was too frivolous."

"Well. He did it on purpose."

Yun Ruochen closed the fan with a "snap", casually threw it on the chair cushion, and rested on the soft pillow.

"That kid... It's hard for him. I think he was taught by Chu Qingbo for a long time at home, right?"

She whispered, the smile in her eyes faded little by little.

When Chu Qingbo brought the child to her, he said that this was a little cousin from the Chu family who had been sent to study at the Taixue in the capital, and he followed him to see the world today.

The students of Taixue are the children of officials above the fifth rank in the capital and the noble families, and the local wealthy families also have a certain number of admission places.

However, the rich people in the southeast tend to trust the local Confucianism teaching more, and rarely send their children to the capital to study.

Chu Zhen looked like a spoiled young man, and he couldn't see that he was dedicated to learning.

But he is very cheerful and can speak, even if he knows that Yun Ruochen is a princess, he seems very relaxed when chatting and playing chess with her.In contrast, the others were much more cautious in front of her... Maybe it was because of Chu Zhen's liveliness that they were more cautious?
"You also see something is wrong?"

Yun Ruochen yawned, and looked at Ji Jianing and Xia Hong with a half-smile.

Ji Jianing nodded, she just had this feeling in her heart, and she couldn't tell the reason.

It seems... Mr. Chu took the trouble to open this essay meeting and invited the princess again, just to let the princess win Chu Zhen on the chessboard and accept the fan!
"Chu Zhen is the candidate for the son-in-law sent by the Chu family."

what?
Yun Ruochen's indifferent words stunned Ji Jianing and Xia Hong instantly.

"You... are you weird? Hehe. It's too obvious. He's not afraid of me getting angry..."

She didn't think of this level at first, but later the Chu brothers' attitude was too obvious, so she realized it.

As expected of Chu Qingbo, he directly led the man to him, and almost said clearly: "Princess, what do you think of my younger brother? Does he look good? He has a soft temper and is easy to get along with? He has a wide range of interests and can play with you." Is it better than the other candidates?"

Although no "other candidates" have come into her sight yet, Yun Ruochen can be sure that if analyzed objectively - this young man from the Chu family has good conditions.

Two or three years older than her, he is a direct descendant of the Chu family, but he is not the eldest son in the family, so it is difficult for him to inherit the family business.

Reading is average, loves to play, is knowledgeable and interesting, and looks good.

And...the family arranged for him to accept Yun Ruochen's "selection", and he came here lively, without any shame or reluctance, which shows that he can also score high in the "obedient" category.

Hmm, thinking about it this way, I feel that it would be a shame not to "marry" him.

What a good candidate for a consort!

Compared with other people secretly planning how to benefit from their own marriage, Chu Qingbo's approach is much more straightforward.

Our southeast family wants to curry favor with you, the princess, and let you work for us in front of the emperor, do you think you want to "laugh" at our kindness?

"Oh, I'm so troubled..."

Thinking about these things, Yun Ruochen complained half-truthfully.

Ji Jianing and Xia Hong were quite sensible, and they didn't ask the princess, "Then you really plan to consider making that Chu Zhen a son-in-law?"Is this what they can ask?
The princess has always been a very assertive person. Now that she understands what the Chu family means, she will weigh it herself.

It's just... Ji Jia stared at the wall of the carriage, and seemed to see the graceful figure riding a brown-haired horse galloping outside the carriage.

If Mr. Gu knew about this, how would he react?
Thinking of this, she hurriedly pushed these distracting thoughts out of her mind.Don't think about it, I... don't even have the right to worry about him!
The Chu family in the capital.

Chu Zhen stood in front of her clan brother with her hands down, her head half down, not daring to say a word.

His brother, who is too beautiful, is very easy-going in front of outsiders, but at home, he still looks cold and serious.What a waste of that pretty face!
When they were young, they didn't think highly of this clan brother.

Everyone knows that he is a bastard born to a singer. His biological mother was from a humble background, so his son is not that noble.

Who knew that my uncle never gave birth to another son and a half daughter, so that this concubine, who was not even considered a concubine, became the heir of the suzerain of the Chu family?

It's not that no one has opposed it openly or secretly, it's just that over the years, the voice of opposition has become smaller and smaller, and gradually disappeared.

There is no other way, the number one talent in the southeast is already famous enough, and now he has made many contacts in the capital, and has a good relationship with Zhao Xuan, the new prince of the Song Dynasty, as if he is wearing a pair of trousers.

After returning to Chunwei this time, he will be awarded a Jinshi and appointed as an official. Who would dare to make irresponsible remarks about his background?In the genealogy, he is a legitimate descendant, and it is recorded under the name of his original wife!

Speaking of which, Chu Zhen still admires Chu Qingbo very much.

Young people are always more interested in the stories of success at a young age. Chu Qingbo gained a firm foothold in the clan by relying on his talent and ability, and Chu Zhen, a group of children a few years younger than him, privately regarded him as an idol.

So... When Chu Qingbo called him to the capital, he ran up without asking why.

He seldom pays attention to his clan brother, but he actually said that he has something urgent to do!Even his parents were happy for him, saying that since his elder brother was going to support him, he would be promising.The eldest brother and the second brother were actually very jealous of his "good luck", and said a lot of acid words before leaving.

It's just that Chu Zhen didn't expect that Chu Qingbo's way of "supporting" him was to let him win the heart of Princess Huarong Yun Ruochen, and finally become Princess Huarong's son-in-law!

"Xiao Zhen, I feel more relaxed now. I performed well today."

Chu Qingbo tried to speak to his clan brother in a gentle tone.After all, there may be many places that will depend on him in the future.

"Yes, the princess is very kind."

Chu Zhen didn't dare to say anything more, but felt that the clan brother just sat there, and the sense of coercion on his face restrained his hands and feet.

Chu Qingbo nodded in satisfaction.

He picked and picked among the children of the right age in the Chu family, and finally picked Chu Zhen, and sent him to Princess Huarong. He did not choose randomly.

Chu Zhen is not handsome, not smart enough, not even very tall, and knowledge is even more ordinary, but all these combined are "just right".

He is too outstanding, and he will not be willing to be a son-in-law who is attached to his wife and cannot be an official for life.It's too bad, how can Princess Huarong like it?
Moreover, a person who is too assertive, even if he succeeds in marrying Princess Huarong, will not be used by him, Chu Qingbo, and will have all kinds of ambitions that he shouldn't have.

Chu Zhen is fine.

"Xiaozhen, I know that you were still reluctant in the first place. You think that marrying a princess will make you unhappy in the future, don't you?" Chu Qingbo showed his rare patience to do ideological work for his younger brother: "I told you earlier, Princess Huarong, and Other princesses are different."

"In the capital these days, you have heard a lot of rumors about Princess Huarong. Don't worry about other messes, but it is absolutely right for the emperor to favor the princess."

"In the future, when the princess gets married and starts a mansion, the feudal land will definitely be the best, and the inner mansion will naturally have a lot of support. Although you can't be an official, Xiao Zhen, my brother doesn't look down on you... Do you think you can pass the exam?"

"Instead of working hard for ten or twenty years, it's better to marry a princess and reach the sky in one step."

"Besides, how many women in the world can compare with the princess's appearance and bearing?"

Every time Chu Qingbo said something, Chu Zhen nodded, looking very teachable.

In fact, he also felt that his clan brother didn't mean to cheat him.

Although he stayed in his hometown, he could inherit part of the family business and become a rich man, but how can he be happy in the capital?He never wanted to leave this colorful world.

And... the princess is really beautiful and cute!
He has already begun to fantasize about the happy life of drawing eyebrows and guessing pieces and throwing pots together in the gorgeous princess mansion every day after getting married to the princess.There's nothing wrong with that!

Seeing that Chu Zhen had been completely brainwashed by himself, Chu Qingbo stopped speaking, and only picked up the tea cup and sipped it slowly.

But...he was still a little worried.princess over there...

(End of this chapter)