Chapter 101 Finale [VIP]

"What a coincidence! My mother just made some." Hearing that she was here to ask about osmanthus cake, Meng Ying'er turned around woodenly, as if deep in thought, as she walked towards the kitchen in a daze. "I... I'll take it to the princess."

The maid suddenly turned around and gestured for her to go into the hall and wait. "It's windy outside, Princess...you can go inside and wait."

Obediently entering the main hall to wait, Chu Qingluo sat aside and drank tea, then looked around the mansion comfortably, thinking about how to explain Chen Wang in detail to the maid later.

However, she waited and waited, but the girl never showed up.

It's just a pastry, why haven't you seen him for a quarter of an hour...

She became suspicious and when she walked out of the mansion, she saw Yu Lan in a hurry and hurriedly called him to stop.

The confusion in her heart seemed to deepen. Chu Qingluo frowned slightly and asked the maid from the Meng Mansion, "Why hasn't your master returned from getting some pastries?"

"Princess, please forgive me. My master..." Yu Lan's face was filled with sorrow when she heard this question. She raised her sleeve and pointed in the direction of the kitchen, saying helplessly, "My master went to the kitchen to make cakes herself, and she even set the kitchen on fire. She's trying to put out the fire now..."

"What?!"

She looked in the direction the maid pointed, and saw thick smoke billowing from the kitchen in the corner of the yard. The smoke swirled up as if to cover the sky and the sun. The maids coming and going were anxiously carrying wooden buckets, trying to put out the fire.

If there were no ready-made pastries, she should have just told her directly. Why did this girl have to hide it from her and make it herself...

Fortunately, the fire was not big and the flames dissipated soon.

A pretty figure ran out from the smoke, her face covered in black and gray, and she kept coughing. She didn't look like the daughter of a wealthy family at all.

The girl's face was completely black, with only a pair of clear and bright eyes. She couldn't help laughing out loud.

Chu Qingluo wanted to hide her smile, but the more she tried to do so, the louder she laughed. In the end, she had to hold her stomach and couldn't straighten her back for a long time.

Seeing this scene, she was stunned for a moment. After taking the bronze mirror handed to her by Yu Lan, Meng Yatou took a look at it and immediately looked sad, feeling angry and amused.

Throwing the bronze mirror away in shame and anger, Meng Ying'er stamped her feet in grievance, not caring about her manners at all. She curled her lips and said, "Qingluo, you...you're making fun of me!"

The girl lowered her head and looked at her extremely dirty clothes. She shook her sleeves and was choked by the ashes that came out.

"I...I became like this because I was making cakes for you. How could you...how could you laugh at me!"

"Ying'er, move aside. Let me try." She waved away the few remaining wisps of black smoke with her sleeves and slowly walked into the kitchen. After a moment of contemplation, she set to work. "I've made soup for Mr. before, so maybe I can cook it a little better than you."

"Will it really work..." Meng Ying'er tilted her head and looked at it, feeling really worried. With a sullen face, she hesitated and said, "I think it's difficult to make a fire. How about I do it?"

Chu Qingluo glanced at him casually and almost laughed, so she quickly advised him kindly, "Go wash your face first and change your clothes, then we can do it together later."

After wiping it with her sleeve a few times, Meng Yatou nodded in understanding and ran away in a flash: "Qingluo, what you said makes sense. I'll be back soon!"

Afterwards, the girl still didn't ask about the past, just like before, not asking about the past, only talking about the current friendship. However, this friendship was so precious that she was unwilling to give it up easily.

Inside the Meng Mansion, smoke rose from the kitchen and there was a commotion inside. The servants in the mansion all knew that it was their master and Princess Long playing around, so they didn't bother them.

"The fire is too big, it's going to burn!" Chu Qingluo looked at the pastries in the cage that were in a shapeless state and complained very rudely.

Squatting and fanning herself non-stop, the fire on the stove grew even bigger. Meng Ying'er blinked slightly and asked, "Squatting is too tiring. How about Qingluo and I switch?"

She imitated her master's serious tone and flatly refused, "Ying'er wanted to light the fire herself. How can you regret it now?"

It seemed as if she had always been bullied by this woman, because she was the princess of the current dynasty... Meng girl puffed out her cheeks and continued to fan the flames in a pretended angry manner, but she was even happier in her heart.

Qingluo...is back.

A few months later, new students joined the Music Bureau in the capital. Upon hearing of Mr. Qu's extraordinary talent, they all wanted to come and see him.

The piano hall, which had been silent for a while, was once again filled with the sound of piano, like the gurgling flow of a mountain stream, or like the drizzle of early spring, which was continuous.

The teacher stood in the hall, dressed in a pure white brocade robe, exuding a cold and pure aura. Some students would whisper among themselves, but they were unintentionally drawn to this solemn figure.

One day, Mr. Qu unexpectedly ended the class early for the first time. He was solemn and asked the students in the main hall to study their music on their own.

His eyes occasionally glanced at the figures waiting outside the hall. After finishing his books, Qu Hanjin dismissed the class with a serious expression: "Today's class ends here. You all need to practice more piano music. I will come to check in a few days."

Seeing this, everyone glanced towards the hall door and saw a bright color coming into their eyes.

A woman leaned leisurely against the corridor pillar, looking directly at the gentleman without avoiding the gaze, her red lips slightly raised, her eyebrows slightly raised, as if she was waiting for him to leave the hall.

As for who this person was, the students in the hall knew it well. Those who didn't know would know it easily after being reminded by the students at the next table.

Someone was confused and asked, "Could it be the master's wife waiting outside the hall?"

"The princess of the current dynasty was surprised. She lowered her voice and replied, "Sir, as the prince consort, the princess must have come to see you."

"This is my first time seeing you, so I don't recognize you. You are so beautiful!" The student couldn't help but sigh, feeling that the princess was really charming and graceful. "But then again, my master's wife is so beautiful, no wonder she is so beautiful.

Qin Ji, who was standing nearby, became interested and whispered, "It's said that the princess, like us, was once a student at this academy. She developed a secret crush on the teacher while studying qin."

The questioner was even more puzzled. He flipped open the official regulations and read them carefully, then pointed to a sentence on the page: "But doesn't it say in the official regulations that men and women are not allowed to have romantic relationships during the period of study?"

"Shh..."

The students beside him raised their fingers and kept silent, fearing that their words would reach the teacher's ears. "Don't ask any more questions about this matter. You can't afford to offend either the teacher or the princess."

"I don't ask, I don't ask, don't tell me." The student looked around and saw that the teacher had slowly walked out of the piano hall. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

Outside the hall, the grass is bright and green, the willows are as thin as silk, the warm wind is like wine, and spring is in full swing.

Seeing Mr. Qu approaching leisurely, a hint of tenderness appeared in his solemn eyes. The woman beside the pillar followed quietly beside him, and the Mr. Qu took up her drooping jade fingers.

The students who had just entered the Music Bureau had not yet dispersed, and they were not afraid of being laughed at...

Chu Qingluo coughed lightly, her rosy face suddenly flushed with red, and she smiled brightly, "I got a Ferghana horse that was presented as tribute by the envoys from the Western Regions. Can I take you for a ride?"

The pace suddenly slowed down. The young master was silent for a moment, his expression hard to tell whether he was happy or sad. He replied calmly, "But I can't ride a horse."

"I can teach you!" She took the teacher's sleeve with great interest, not caring about the students who kept looking back at her. "You taught me to play the zither in the past, and today it's my turn to teach you how to ride a horse."

Qu Hanjin frowned in thought, glanced at her helplessly, and asked meaningfully, "Have you finished reviewing the memorial?"

The mention of the mountain of memorials gave her a splitting headache. She tried to avoid the question: "I just flipped through them casually. Reading too much of that stuff gives me a headache."

"If this country is handed over to you, I'm afraid it won't last long..." He lowered his eyes in deep thought, glancing at her sideways with great worry.

Chu Qingluo was extremely disdainful of this. She took his arm, quickened her pace, boarded the carriage, and headed straight for the horse farm. "Sir, why are you worried? Those ministers in the court are talented and wise generals that I carefully selected. They will help me take care of everything."

All the loyal officials in the court were hers, and since the Imperial City Office had been replaced by Fu Zhao, she was still worried that some treacherous officials would raise an army to force the emperor to abdicate...

The horse farm on the outskirts of the city is vast and boundless, with horses galloping and neighing happily, raising dust wherever they pass.

Not far away, several soldiers were training their fine horses, galloping across the lush green grass. Seeing the princess approaching, they led a golden horse to her.

This horse is relatively docile, and if you ride it, there shouldn't be any problem... Chu Qingluo looked at it carefully for a long time, then smiled and stepped back, letting the gentleman get on the horse.

But...but the young man next to him seemed to be hesitant to speak, his eyes cold and serious, looking silently at the palace guards around him.

Qu Han looked away, feeling that this was a disgrace. He murmured softly, as if pondering, "Do I need so many people watching me when I learn horseback riding?"

"They are the stable guards. Sir, just pretend they don't exist." She glanced back nonchalantly, still smiling sweetly, and helped the gentleman onto the horse's back. "I'll lead this horse. Sir, please step into the stirrup and mount quickly."

In front of her, his dignity had long been lost. He sighed softly, followed her wishes, and staggered onto the horse.

Seeing Mr. Chu Qingluo Wang so obedient, her eyes narrowed slightly, and she suddenly felt like teasing him: "Sir, sit tight, keep a firm grip on the reins, and don't lose your balance."

The horse walked very slowly. When he sat up straight, she quietly let go and slapped the horse's buttocks: "Sir, you learn very quickly. I have to let go!"

The golden horse seemed to be frightened and suddenly galloped away, causing the gentleman on the horse to break out in a cold sweat.

She stayed behind and laughed softly, her eyes full of teasing, just like a fox teasing a lamb.

"Qingluo, don't..." Qu Hanjin was frightened and pulled the reins hurriedly. The horse was as fast as lightning, neighing loudly and crying in an instant.

Watching the graceful figure fall from the horse, her expression changed. She knew she was in trouble and rushed forward to catch him.

She rolled several times on the grass, and before she could come to her senses, the gentleman suddenly stood up, held her hands down, and looked down at her with a calm expression.

The sunlight fell on the new grass, making the young man in front of her eyes look even more elegant and pure. She looked at him quietly for a few seconds, and her cheeks turned red for some reason.

The commotion just now didn't seem to scare the gentleman... No, now is not the time to worry about this.

She was in a trance, watching him move closer, his thin lips just inches away from hers.

"Sir... sir, many people are looking at us..." Chu Qingluo's face flushed, her eyes drifted towards the guards stationed around, and a few words came out of her lips.

Unexpectedly, his response was to repeat her exact words: "They are the guards of the stables. Qingluo can just pretend they don't exist."

"Sir, you are shameless. You are imitating my speech. Ugh..."

Before she could finish her words, her soft lips were already tightly covered by Qingxue's breath. Her hands were tied, so she had no choice but to obey him.

Thinking that the gentleman had never learned martial arts, she was afraid that he might hurt the prince consort by using too much force, so she let him do whatever he wanted.

The gentle kiss continued, and she responded shyly, kissing him while mumbling: "Sir is so despicable, do the students of the Music Bureau know..."

Qu Hanjin smiled softly, leaned over to her ear, and answered clearly: "Master's meanness has always been directed only at Qingluo."

The palace guards on both sides remained silent and motionless. She wanted to give some instructions, but her cherry lips were blocked by the gentleman again.

"Aren't you all coming to protect the emperor?" Chu Qingluo blushed and took advantage of the momentary silence to shout softly, "The prince consort...he bullied me!"

"Mr. bullied me, um..."

She didn't say anything more after that, and she didn't know what angry words she was going to say.

After several passionate entanglements, her hands were freed, and she returned the embrace as if possessed by a demon, and fell into a romantic affair with her husband again.

Glancing at this scene, the palace guards looked at each other, then quietly looked away, determined not to disturb them.

Wouldn't it be asking for trouble to disturb the princess and Mr. Qu's affectionate relationship?

-over-