Chapter 251 Illegitimate Child (Second Update)

After receiving Qin Chuyu, the Crown Princess did not immediately return to the palace, but instead took Qin Chuyu to the Xuanping Marquis's residence.

It was inconvenient for her to go to the Marquis's residence herself, but Qin Chuyu was the Marquis of Xuanping's nephew, so it was only natural for him to visit the Marquis of Xuanping.

Unfortunately, Marquis Xuanping is not at home today.

He went off to secretly plot something with the emperor and the old marquis again.

The Crown Princess missed her, but she was not discouraged. Steward Liu was at the mansion. He was a confidant of Marquis Xuanping and had been working for Marquis Xuanping for many years before being summoned back to his side last year.

If we were to ask who knows the most about the affairs of Marquis Xuanping, it would undoubtedly be Fei Changjing and Steward Liu.

Qin Chuyu was eating in the carriage, thoroughly enjoying his meal.

"I think I dropped my hairpin. I'll go downstairs and look for it."

"Do you want me to help you look for it?"

"No need," the Crown Princess smiled gently.

Qin Chuyu said "oh" and continued eating.

The Crown Princess alighted from her carriage and went to another carriage, where she met Steward Liu, who was waiting there.

She stopped beating around the bush with Steward Liu and asked directly, "Does the Marquis know a child named Jingkong?"

"Jingkong?" Manager Liu felt the name sounded familiar.

The Crown Princess continued, "He is a student in the Imperial Academy's prodigy class, four years old this year, and a friend of the Seventh Prince."

Steward Liu said, "Ah, I remember now." But it wasn't because of the Seventh Prince, but because of the student in the Imperial Academy's prodigy class. Wasn't that the young master's brother-in-law?

Steward Liu asked, "Is the Crown Princess here to inquire about that child?"

The Crown Princess stared intently at Steward Liu: "Are you aware that there is someone by his side who looks very much like the young marquis?"

"You saw him?" Steward Liu was surprised, but upon closer inspection, he wasn't too surprised. The young master was studying at the Imperial Academy, as was the Seventh Prince. The Crown Princess would pick up and drop off the Seventh Prince from time to time, so it was only natural that they would run into the young master.

"Who is he?" the Crown Princess asked.

After hesitating for a moment, Steward Liu told the truth: "He is the Marquis's illegitimate son."

A hint of surprise flashed across the Crown Princess's eyes: "An illegitimate child?"

Steward Liu sighed, "Yes, didn't the Marquis go to the south of the Yangtze River to control the floods one year? That year, the Marquis favored a woman in Song County, and the young master is their child."

The Crown Princess said thoughtfully, "I've never heard the Marquis mention this before."

Steward Liu sighed again: "The Marquis only found out recently. He summoned me back to the capital to find out the young master's whereabouts. However, the young master seems to have some misunderstandings about the Marquis. He thinks that the Marquis abandoned him and his mother, so he has refused to acknowledge the Marquis. You should just listen to this and not tell anyone else."

The Crown Princess paused for a moment, then nodded: "I understand, I will keep it a secret for the Marquis."

Ultimately, it's not something to be proud of.

The Crown Princess said nothing more and turned to get into the carriage.

Is it because they are brothers that they look so alike?

But why does it always feel like something's not right?

The Crown Princess brought Qin Chuyu back to the palace. Just as they arrived at the palace gate, they ran into the Crown Prince, who was returning from the Ministry of Rites.

The negotiations between Liang and Zhao were very successful. The emperor and his ministers believed that the Crown Prince and Crown Princess deserved much credit for their excellent hospitality towards the Liang envoys, preventing a repeat of the mistake of burning the painted boat. The emperor highly praised the couple and appointed the Crown Prince and the Ministry of Rites to jointly preside over the palace examination.

The Crown Prince put in his best effort, spending every spare moment studying at the Ministry of Rites these days. He was not autocratic, but humbly sought knowledge, earning him widespread praise within the Ministry of Rites.

I was in a good mood today because I had just been praised by the Minister of Rites. When I saw the Crown Princess and Qin Chuyu, I lifted the curtain of my carriage and said to them, "Linlang, have your seventh brother return to the East Palace. You come with me out of the palace."

"I want to go too!" Qin Chuyu suddenly felt that the snacks in his hand were no longer appealing.

The prince said, "Go back and do your homework!"

Qin Chuyu pouted.

The Crown Princess gently comforted her, "Do your homework first, and I'll bring you osmanthus cake tonight."

The palace also has osmanthus cake, but Qin Chuyu is tired of the palace's version and always feels that the ones outside are more fragrant.

Qin Chuyu said slowly, "Alright, remember to come back soon."

Qin Chuyu was taken back to the East Palace by palace servants, while the Crown Princess boarded the Crown Prince's carriage.

The Crown Prince now travels in a very low-key manner. His carriage does not look large and is drawn by only two fine horses, but the interior is extremely luxurious.

The Crown Prince grasped the Crown Princess's hand, unable to hide his smile, and said, "Linlang, have you forgotten what day it is today?"

"Ah..." The Crown Princess paused slightly, then lowered her head and smiled, "How could I forget such an important day? Ten years ago today, Your Highness and I met at Zuiyun Tower. I was eleven years old that year, and the Crown Prince was thirteen. Every year on this day since then, Your Highness has taken me to Zuiyun Tower."

The Crown Prince squeezed her hand: "The first time I saw you, I knew you would definitely be my Crown Princess!"

The Crown Princess smiled slightly, with a hint of shyness.

The crown prince's gaze was intense, and his voice was hoarse: "I suddenly regret bringing you out with me."

As dusk settled in the west, the sky was bathed in a bewitching orange-red hue.

The capital city in April is no longer so cold; there is even a hint of warmth in the evening breeze.

Xiao Jingkong was led by Xiao Liulang, skipping and hopping along the alley.

That's right, it's hopping and skipping.

He rarely showed such respect to Xiao Liulang, unless Xiao Liulang was willing to take him to the clinic to see Gu Jiao.

Xiao Jingkong has already taken a bath, changed into dry clothes, and smells wonderful! He can let Jiaojiao hug him!

"You're not three years old anymore, can't you be a little more composed?" Xiao Liulang's hand was being tugged by the little guy, almost to the point of falling off.

Little Jingkong spread his other little hand: "But four years old isn't that old! The princess says I'm still a baby!"

Xiao Liulang gave him a disdainful look: How dare you say such a thing when you, who cares about everything from the sky to the earth to the air, and even whether your brother-in-law gets first place in the exam?

Baby?

Xiao Liulang was quite shocked.

Little Jingkong, oblivious to his brother-in-law's subtle glance, was in high spirits and began to sing, skipping and jumping: "I'm the neighbor's Tarzan~ Grasping the vines of love~ Awooooo~ Don't be afraid, my Sixth Brother~"

Xiao Liulang's body trembled!

Shut up, you little monk!

"I want to eat that." Xiao Jingkong suddenly stopped her beautiful singing voice and pointed to an alley across the street that smelled of sesame.

Xiao Liulang chuckled and said, "That's an alley. If you want to eat, go ahead."

Xiao Jingkong: "..."

Little Jingkong bristled and jumped up: "Can't you smell the aroma? It's the aroma of sesame, Jiaojiao's favorite food!"

Gu Jiao loved eating the dried meat made by Xiao Liulang's classmate's family. The dried meat was sprinkled with sesame seeds, but Xiao Liulang couldn't smell it until he walked through the alley, at which point he could only vaguely smell a little bit of it.

He looked at Xiao Jingkong strangely: "Do you have a dog's nose? It's so sensitive?"

Little Jingkong grumbled, "It's clearly your nose that's not good!"

Xiao Liulang walked for most of the street before finally finding the sesame cake shop.

Xiao Liulang's lips twitched. This is what you call having a bad nose? Even a dog couldn't smell it!

This is a newly opened sesame cake shop. Today is its first day of official business, and business is pretty good. Xiao Liulang led Xiao Jingkong to queue for a while and bought two boxes of freshly baked sesame cakes.

Xiao Jingkong carefully counted the boxes, making sure everyone in the family had one, and Jiao Jiao had two, before he happily hugged the box and prepared to leave.

Just as I turned around, I bumped into Xu Zhouzhou, who was also there to buy sesame cakes.

"clearance!"

"Porridge!"

The two children were extremely excited. Standing by the shop, they turned into little megaphones and started chattering away.

I don't know what a seven-year-old could possibly have to talk about with a four-year-old.

Xiao Liulang watched the two little ones chatting away speechlessly, and for a moment he really regretted bringing them out.

Xu Zhouzhou grabbed Xiao Jingkong's hand and pointed to the restaurant diagonally opposite: "That's my cousin's restaurant, and he lives upstairs! I'll take you to meet him! He's been wanting to meet you for a long time!"

"Brother-in-law, can I go?" Little Jingkong looked at Xiao Liulang expectantly. When he needed something from him, he started to act cute and charming.

Xiao Liulang took a deep breath and said helplessly, "I'll wait for you here."

Xiao Jingkong handed the box to Xiao Liulang, and was then dragged by Xu Zhouzhou to Zuiyunlou, which was diagonally opposite.

Next to the sesame shop was a study. Xiao Liulang had nothing better to do, and since he had just run out of inksticks and was planning to buy some tomorrow, he figured he might as well buy them today.

Xiao Liulang entered the study and asked the shopkeeper for ink sticks.

The shopkeeper said, "The best inksticks are inside; you may choose one yourself, young master."

Xiao Liulang went in to select the ink silver.

The room was very narrow, with two rows of shelves, making it difficult for anyone to turn around once inside.

But the ink sticks here are indeed excellent, and Xiao Liulang is very satisfied. He picked out a few.

Just then, the Crown Princess passed by the door.

She had come to dine at Zuiyunlou with the Crown Prince. She smelled the aroma of sesame cakes upstairs and thought that Qin Chuyu might like them, so she came downstairs to pick out a box of sesame cakes for him. But as she passed the study, she saw a familiar figure.

She hurried inside.

"Madam, may I ask what you wish to purchase..."

Before the shopkeeper could finish speaking, the Crown Princess walked over on her own.

After Xiao Liulang finished selecting the ink sticks, he was about to turn around and leave when a figure walked in.

The moment the other person entered, the first row of shelves suddenly collapsed, slamming the door shut and blocking it completely.

(End of this chapter)