Extra four
Extra four
When they were young, Junling liked Jiang Ling very much. She had a good temper, was good-looking, and was his sister-in-law. He always treated her like an older sister.
It was only after his elder brother disappeared and he was thrust into the struggle for the crown prince position that he realized that Jiang Ling's so-called kindness to him was based on the premise that his brother would inherit the throne in the future.
If it weren't for this so-called position, Jiang Ling probably wouldn't even give him a second glance. Of course, this is an experience he later learned from experience.
At that time, he was like a spoiled brat who was suddenly pulled into becoming the so-called chosen one of heaven, the supreme prince in the eyes of everyone.
He knew he couldn't do it.
Indeed, no one around him believed him.
Except for Jiang Ling.
She carefully encouraged herself and helped herself plan.
Soon, with her help, Junling gained a foothold in the imperial court.
He was not devoted to the court or the people, but once he was put in a high position, he had no freedom to go down. He could only keep fighting and struggling.
He couldn't remember when Jiang Ling left.
Rumors began to circulate in the capital at some point, discussing his engagement to Jiang Ling, saying that he was a toad trying to eat swan meat and had married above his station to the Jiang family.
At the time, rumors about his engagement with Jiang Ling circulated throughout the capital, reaching almost every corner of the city. Naturally, these rumors also reached his ears, but Junling didn't want to get involved. He had thought it over carefully; it was just a word from his father, the Emperor. If Jiang Ling truly didn't like it, he would break off the engagement and give Jiang Ling her freedom.
Until he heard it with his own ears.
Rumors circulating in the capital are all orchestrated by Jiang Ling.
The goal is simply to get rid of this useless person.
Only then did he realize that no matter how hard he tried, in everyone's eyes he was just a person with connections but no real background. Once he was stripped of his status as the crown prince, no one would mention him anymore.
He left dejectedly, not remembering how he felt when he returned to his residence. Then, seeing Jiang Ling warmly offering him pastries to inquire about his studies, Jun Ling picked up a pastry and looked at her. "Jiang Ling," he said, "if I weren't the Crown Prince, would you still treat me this well?"
He didn't know what he was expecting.
He regretted it the moment he said it.
Some things are best left unsaid and unspoken.
Why bother to expose it directly?
"Your Highness, how did you do in your studies today?"
She pretended not to hear the question, "Did you hear some bad news? Your Highness doesn't look too well."
"I'm fine."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Ling breathed a sigh of relief and said incessantly, "That's good. The ceremony for the investiture of the Crown Prince is imminent, so you can't afford to make any mistakes."
Everyone hoped that he could become the older brother.
But Junling knew he was never that kind of person.
He has absolutely nothing to do with self-discipline and propriety.
He did the boldest thing ever: he ran away on the eve of the investiture ceremony. He fled the place he had lived in since birth, not knowing where to go, until an old man gave him a direction.
Jiangning.
This is a remote yet prosperous place.
Perhaps he never imagined, as he listened to the old man's story, that he would do so many things he never dared to dream of before.
The crown prince's appointment came two years late when he was eighteen.
Junling never felt it was too late; in his heart, twenty years old was the best age for him.
He invited many friends to the investiture ceremony, including Yu Tao'er.
But the person didn't come; instead, they lazily sent a letter with only one word: busy.
As the investiture ceremony began, Zhou Yulin stood below the stage, watching the usually unreliable young man gradually mature, and even felt a little emotional. It was Chen Muyao beside her who, oblivious to her feelings, asked, "Didn't your second senior brother come?"
"No, he's in seclusion recently."
"He probably doesn't want to come," Chen Muyao said bluntly. "After all, he's so far removed from his past life, it's hard for him to find an excuse."
Zhou Yulin said with some helplessness, "Shouldn't you only be concerned about one person today?"
Chen Mu glanced at his friend who had been promoted to the position of Crown Prince, his expression indifferent, "Let's talk about it after he gets promoted."
Crown Prince, promoted?
Isn't that just ascending to the throne?
Zhou Yulin glanced at Chen Muyao and said leisurely, "Then may I ask when your esteemed son will be promoted?"
Chen Muyao has lost all her cultivation and is now starting to cultivate again.
"Do you think someone as harsh as my father would let a Foundation Establishment cultivator become the head of the family?"
Zhou Yulin glanced around and was somewhat surprised not to see Yu Tao'er, since she felt that the relationship between the two was somewhat unusual.
The banquet began that evening, and glass after glass of wine was consumed. Chen Muyao couldn't drink, so he just watched Zhou Yulin from the side. When it was time for the fourth glass, he lazily stopped her, saying, "You're not allowed to drink anymore."
Drinking alcohol to warm up in winter didn't bother Zhou Yulin at all.
Looking at Chen Muyao, who was wrapped up like a cotton ball, she suddenly remembered something.
"Chen Muyao".
"Hmm?" he hummed, looking up at him.
"It seems like it's the sixteenth again today."
Zhou Yulin recalled, "After last time, I couldn't understand it no matter how I thought about it. I was clearly already half a step into the Nascent Soul stage, so how come you were still only at the Foundation Establishment stage overnight?"
Chen Mu shook his ears until they turned bright red, wishing he could cover the man's mouth tightly.
"Shut up." Chen Mu grabbed the wine cup that Zhou Yulin had just used on the table and gulped it down.
Zhou Yulin chuckled and beckoned with her finger. Chen Muyao reluctantly moved closer. "An Heng, something important is going on tonight. Let's go first."
Upon hearing the word "major event," Chen Muyao was truly ashamed and dared not speak.
Zhou Yulin was a pragmatist, and he took his leave well in advance.
Lan Tingyue looked up at the figure at the door and paused.
“Why didn’t you go in and take a look when you came?” Zhou Yulin said honestly. “If you hadn’t come, he probably would have been staring at the door all night.”
Yu Tao'er turned around and looked at her former friend, "No, I just happened to be passing by."
"I have something to do in a bit, so I'll be leaving now."
In that brief moment of hesitation, Zhou Yulin seemed to understand the man's unspoken meaning: why give hope to someone whose relationship is destined to end in nothing? It's all in vain.
When Chen Mu shook himself out, Yu Tao'er had already left.
Zhou Yulin rubbed her hands together and scolded, "Why are you out so late?"
Chen Mu held up the gift in his hand and said lazily, "Because this person insisted on giving us both gifts."
"Oh? So enthusiastic."
"Yes, they even wished us to have a baby soon."
"..." Just as Zhou Yulin rolled up his sleeves and was about to rush into the banquet hall, Chen Muyao stopped him in time.
"Just kidding."
"He only said one thing: 'When we travel the world, wherever we go, we must never forget him as our friend.'" Chen Mu paused, then continued, "
Memories flooded back, and Zhou Yulin slipped her hand into Chen Muyao's pocket. Before he could shake her off, she asked, "Chen Muyao, what would you do if I forgot you?"
Without hesitation, the person replied, "Then I'll stay by your side as a friend."
"That sounds really heartbreaking."
Zhou Yulin thought for a moment and described it as, "It's like the second male lead in a storybook who secretly loves the female lead. How can you be the male lead if you're like this?"
"It's enough that you're the female lead." Chen Mu glanced at the person and said leisurely, "If you're the female lead, then if I'm with you, wouldn't I be the male lead?"
"Hey, you!" Zhou Yulin was about to curse at this person, but then she felt that what this person said made a lot of sense. "Then I need to find a lot of second male leads."
"You dare?" Chen Muyao said irritably, "Then I'll just kill them one by one."
"I will fight until I am the only one left by your side."
Zhou Yulin looked at the man's serious profile and knew that this was something he was truly capable of doing.
"Chen Muyao, tell me another secret."
Even if you don't try to win me over, I will still fall in love with you.
Zhou Yulin looked at the man's somewhat stunned expression and said softly, "Thank you for staying for me."
(End of article)
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