Chapter Fifty-Six: Xu Chuming Takes the Exam; The Crown Prince Meets Xu Chuming
Duke Zhao arrived at Songchi Courtyard with his own thoughts in mind. Upon seeing the emaciated Zhao Yu, he couldn't help but sneer.
Zhao Yu put down the memorial in his hand and called out, "Father."
"What is it, Father?"
Duke Zhao narrowed his eyes slightly. "I went to the Zhao family today."
Zhao Yu paused slightly, then pursed his lips.
Duke Zhao: "I didn't see her, I only saw your cousin. That little girl looks somewhat like your sister when she was little..."
After saying this, the Duke of Zhao paused slightly.
To say that he resembles Zhao Lingyao is an understatement; rather, he bears a resemblance to the Crown Prince when he was young. His eyebrows and eyes exude a heroic air, and the corners of his eyes are slightly upturned, just like the Crown Prince's.
Duke Zhao snapped out of his thoughts and continued, "I intend to bring the two sisters back to the manor."
Zhao Yu said calmly, "She won't agree."
In his previous life, before Zhao Yu took Xu Chumian and her sister to Wenju, he asked her if she wanted to return to the Zhao family mansion.
Xu Chumian immediately refused. Firstly, there were still people from the third branch of the Zhao family in the mansion at that time. Secondly, Zhao Ying had revealed before her death that the old lady of Zhao did not like her, a concubine's daughter. If Xu Chumian were to take Mu Mu to the Zhao mansion again, it would be more convenient and comfortable for the two sisters to live alone.
Now, though.
Xu Chumian couldn't be severing all ties with the Zhao family.
Duke Zhao's tiger-like eyes widened slightly: "There's no reason for the Zhao family's granddaughter to be left out in the streets."
Zhao Yu coldly curled the corners of his lips, "If Father is not afraid of being rejected, I will not stop him."
Duke Zhao frowned, feeling that his eldest son's temperament was becoming increasingly strange. He changed the subject and said, "Now that there is unrest in the north, the grain that should have been transported west to Yuzhou is blocked at the Luozhou port. If the grain were to go north, I'm afraid His Majesty would decide to send troops."
Zhao Yu responded with a "hmm".
Yuzhou is located west of Daliang, in a remote and harsh environment. Most of the grain and fodder are transported from rich and fertile lands, and Luozhou is a necessary route.
The general guarding Luozhou was a former subordinate of Prince Ding. Now that the grain supplies in Luozhou had been seized, if he were to secretly detain the grain supplies and transport them to the north, it would be a formal declaration of war by Prince Ding against the Liang Dynasty.
Furthermore, the Crown Prince was assassinated by the King of Qin a few days ago and has not yet recovered. The people in the Eastern Palace are in a state of panic, and some forces have even turned their attention to the King of Cheng in the north.
Your Majesty has few children, having only two sons. One is the Crown Prince born to the late Empress, and the other is the Second Prince, Prince Cheng, born to Consort Ning.
When he was young, King Cheng studied under King Ding. When he was around ten years old, he followed King Ding to the north to guard the border. Now he is only twenty years old.
If Prince Ding rebels, Prince Cheng will surely try every means to return to the capital. Within a month at most, the situation in the capital will be completely changed.
...
Soon the day of the girls' primary school exam arrived.
That morning, Xiao Qingyan went to pick up Xu Chumian and took her to Luming Academy.
The exam lasted for two whole hours in the morning before people started to emerge from the school.
It was nearing noon, and many mansions had their carriages parked at the gates, ready to pick up the young masters and ladies who were going to school and take them home for lunch.
Xu Chumian had clear, bright eyes and a fair, delicate face. She wore a long, smoky purple dress with a crescent-white cloak over it, and slowly emerged from inside, holding paper and pen.
Upon seeing Xiao Qingyan standing by the carriage, Xu Chumian's eyes immediately lit up with a smile, and she quickly walked towards the man.
Aside from passersby, no one else witnessed this scene.
There was also the Crown Prince who came to pick up Shen Lingyin from her studies.
The prince, draped in a heavy cloak, was involuntarily drawn to a smiling woman not far away, unaware that Shen Lingyin had called him several times.
Shen Lingyin raised her voice, "Your Highness, let's go."
The crown prince finally came to his senses, withdrew his gaze, and nodded gently: "Mm."
Shen Lingyin was the Crown Prince's future wife, and there was no objection to her riding in the same carriage as the Crown Prince.
On the way back to the Shen family, the Crown Prince kept reading a book and never looked at Shen Lingyin once. This made Shen Lingyin feel frustrated and resentful towards Xu Chumian.
She really is a vixen.
Not content with seducing Xiao Qingyan, she also wants to seduce the Crown Prince!
The Crown Prince suddenly chuckled, "Lingyin, what's wrong?"
Shen Lingyin feigned a weeping posture, "Does Your Highness no longer like Lingyin?"
Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince was about to speak, but the itching in his lungs made him cough incessantly. Shen Lingyin had no choice but to hide her impatience and quickly comforted him, "Your Highness, it's Lingyin's fault for making things difficult for you."
After the Crown Prince recovered, he patted Shen Lingyin's head.
"Why do you say that? Since you are my fiancée, I will naturally treat you well."
Shen Lingyin sniffed, "Then the prince kept looking at that woman. I heard she's the one who stole Qingyan away, leading Xingyang to this state..."
The crown prince's expression remained unchanged, a faint smile playing on his lips: "Jealous?"
Shen Lingyin bit her lip and remained silent.
The Crown Prince added, "Qingyan has always been single. I'm just here to see who the woman is that has captured his heart."
Shen Lingyin then smiled, "Then Your Highness is not allowed to look at other people in the future."
The Crown Prince patted Shen Lingyin's hand.
"Of course, I will treat you well."
After escorting Shen Lingyin back to the Shen residence, the Crown Prince left.
Shen Lingyin walked inside, her face darkening. Now that Xiao Qingyan was keeping a close eye on Xu Chumian, she couldn't do anything to Xu Chumian.
"Miss, the Princess of Xingyang has arrived."
Shen Lingyin frowned: "Why are you here again?"
Xingyang was stupid and clumsy, and she loved to fawn over Shen Lingyin, listening to Shen Lingyin in everything. That's why Shen Lingyin was willing to pay more attention to her.
Back in her own courtyard, Shen Lingyin's face switched to a warm smile again, "Xingyang, you've come."
Xingyang has lost a lot of weight recently. After her father was demoted to Prince of Chen, she hasn't been to school for several days. Thinking about the mocking looks from others, Xingyang is restless and can't sleep at night.
It's all Xu Chumian's fault.
First, Zhao Yu got Xu Chumian out of the Jingzhao Yin's office, and not long after, her father was demoted. Xingyang thought about it for several days and became even more certain that it was Zhao Yu's doing.
She began to cry to Shen Lingyin, "Sister Shen, now Zhao Yu and Qingyan are both backing her up, what am I going to do!"
Upon hearing the name Zhao Yu, Shen Lingyin's smile faltered.
Her eyes held a sinister glint. It wouldn't have mattered if it were anyone else, but even Zhao Yu was helping her...
"Xingyang, Xu Chuming will be attending the girls' school at Luming Academy. Are we still worried about not finding a way to deal with her?"
Xingyang frowned in disdain. Those free girls' schools were set up for ordinary people, and they never paid any attention to the children of officials who were studying properly.
"good."
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