Chapter 27 That must have been crawling

The Chu family opened a small grocery store in the south of the city, with a small courtyard at the back and three rooms. It was just right for the store in the front and the living quarters in the back.

It was late at night, and an oil lamp was still lit in the yard.

Chu's mother Bai and Chu Yuxin were sitting in the yard pulling threads. They couldn't sleep because they were worried about Chu Shangming's safety.

Thinking that the oil lamp was already lit, I decided to do some work.

"Bang, bang, bang!" The locked courtyard door was suddenly knocked.

It was really scary in the middle of the night, and both of them were startled.

Bai picked up the shoulder pole at her feet and suddenly heard a familiar voice calling out from outside, "I saw a light on in the yard. Mother, little sister, it's me. Don't be afraid."

"It's Big Brother!" Chu Yu stood up excitedly, ran to open the door, and shouted happily, "Mother, it's Big Brother who's back."

Mrs. Bai threw away the carrying pole and walked over quickly. Seeing her son was intact, with only his clothes a little dirty and his hair a little messy, her eyes suddenly felt hot and tears rolled down uncontrollably.

"Mother, don't cry." Chu Shangming turned around in front of Bai. "Look, I wasn't injured or suffered any hardship. I even had a good sleep in prison. I'm back safe and sound now. Don't cry, or you'll hurt your eyes."

Bai raised her sleeve to wipe away her tears, then smiled and said, "Mother didn't want to cry, but when she saw you were fine, she couldn't help herself."

"You must be hungry after spending a whole day in jail. Mom will make you a bowl of noodles."

As she spoke, she walked towards the kitchen, and her happiness could be seen from her brisk steps.

"Brother!" Chu Yuxin put her hands on her hips and puffed up her round face in dissatisfaction.

Chu Shangming reached out and pinched her face, "What's wrong? Are you unhappy to see big brother back?"

"Happy." Chu Yuxin slapped his hand away, and with a pair of almond-shaped eyes very similar to Chu Liuzheng's, she rolled her eyes at her elder brother, "Could you please not be so careless? You actually slept in the imperial prison. My mother and I were so worried that we couldn't sleep."

"Okay, okay, it's my fault. I won't sleep next time." Chu Shangming apologized very skillfully.

Chu Yuxin suddenly became even angrier. There would actually be a next time!

"Go in!" She stomped her feet angrily, pushed her eldest brother in, then closed the yard door again, locked it with the chain, and propped it up with a wooden stick at an angle.

Looking at this situation, Chu Shangming couldn't help but smack his lips, "Xin'er, I'm back now, there's no need to lock it so tightly, right?"

"Big brother is not my father." Chu Yuxin muttered softly, "My father can beat three people alone, but big brother can only be beaten."

Chu Shangming: “…”

He's not that weak.

Chu Yuxin ran into the kitchen and brought her brother a bowl of hot water. "Sister said that drinking tea at night will keep you awake, big brother, just drink water. Mother is kneading the noodles, so you have to wait a while before you can eat them."

"No hurry." Chu Shangming drank some hot water and saw his little sister supporting her face with her hands, blinking her big eyes at him.

"Just ask whatever you want to ask. How can I not tell you, big brother?"

"Wait until big brother finishes drinking the water before asking." Little Chu Yuxin felt that she still had some patience.

Chu Shangming drank half a bowl of hot water before placing it on the stone table. Immediately, the clear voice of the little girl rang in his ears, "Brother, brother, how did you get out of the imperial prison?"

"The Jinyiwei who released me said that someone from higher up was protecting me."

"Is there someone up there?" Chu Yuxin looked up at the sky, puzzled, "Who up there?"

Chu Shangming shook his head, "I don't know."

Chu Yuxin blinked and guessed, "Brother, do you know any high-ranking officials?"

Chu Shangming continued to shake his head.

"That's strange." Chu Yuxin wrinkled her nose, "Then why did you come out, big brother?"

Chu Shangming was still confused himself, so naturally he couldn't give her an answer.

Chu Yuxin changed the question: "Brother, why were you arrested and thrown into the Imperial Prison by the Jinyiwei?"

"Because of Brother Chai."

Chu Yuxin tilted her head: "Brother Chai?"

"Yes." Chu Shangming said, "The Jinyiwei who released me said that Brother Chai was a remnant of the Fifth Prince, and that I was imprisoned because of him."

Chu Yuxin frowned and asked in confusion: "What are the remnants of the Fifth Prince?"

"He's the bad guy, the one the emperor wants to arrest."

Chu Yuxin understood, "The person the emperor wants to arrest must be a good person or a bad person."

My sister said in the letter that the current emperor is a good emperor who cares about the people.

Chu Shangming nodded in agreement. Just as he was about to pick up the bowl to drink some more hot water, he suddenly heard a "Ah" in his ears, which scared him so much that he almost dropped the bowl.

He quickly held the bowl and looked at his little sister helplessly: "What's wrong?"

"Brother, I know who's in charge." Chu Yuxin pointed to the sky excitedly, "It's my sister!"

"Ah?" Chu Shangming's voice rose a little in surprise. "Did you send a message to the palace?"

"Shhhhhhhhh, brother, keep your voice down."

Chu Yuxin turned her head to look at the kitchen, and was relieved to see that Bai didn't hear it. She turned around and glared at her brother.

"Mother won't let me write to tell my sister. If Mother knew I secretly sent a letter to the palace, would you take the beating for me, brother?"

My own mother used a carrying pole to beat people, so when she beat my little sister, she might just scream loudly so that the pole wouldn't hit her. But when she beat him, she used the real pole.

Chu Shangming quickly shook his head and said without any brotherly love, "Whoever asked for the beating will take it. Your brother's body can't bear two carrying poles."

Chu Yuxin pouted, "Sister even took the beating for me."

"She's just talking." Chu Shangming ruthlessly exposed her, "She's in the palace. Do you think you'll let my mother carry a shoulder pole into the palace and beat her?"

"I won't tell you anymore." Chu Yuxin stamped her feet. "Anyway, sister is the best."

"Yes, yes, your sister is the best." Chu Shangming said perfunctorily, but he was thinking about it in his heart.

You Miao was just a palace maid serving tea in front of the emperor, and it was impossible for her to control the Jinyiwei.

The imperial prison has a bad reputation. Anyone who goes there may lose their skin at best, or even their life at worst.

Those who were arrested with him were either whipped or severely tortured. Only he was not hurt except for a few beatings in the initial chaos. It was obvious that he was being treated specially.

He has a relationship with You Miao, and he was able to get the Jinyiwei to release him without even a trial. This person can only be the emperor!

According to common sense, the emperor is busy with all kinds of affairs, so how could he care about the trivial matters of a commoner like him?

But now that the emperor is in charge... he must have benefited from You Miao.

What benefits can a little palace maid like Youmiao bring to the emperor?

A guess suddenly popped into my mind, could it be... You Miao went to curry favor with the emperor in order to save him?

Chu Shangming shuddered.

Not out of excitement, but out of fear.

The palace is a cannibalistic place, and I can't give You Miao any help. If I really try to fight for that damn emperor's favor, I will be eaten to pieces without leaving even a bone!

Chu Shangming's heart instantly rose to his feet.

You Miao said that she would leave the palace and reunite with them when she turned 25. Could it be that she was really willing to risk her life to save him?

Chu Shangming glanced around the courtyard and his face grew paler and paler.

Now that he has been rescued, he must have crawled!

Woo woo woo, his poor elder sister!

Woo woo woo, he hurt You Miao, he is not a good brother!

Woohoo, he can go back to the Imperial Prison to be punished and beg for a re-start!!

(End of this chapter)