Chapter 17 He Takes Back His Words

"Why don't you go to the backyard first? Siqian is there. You two brothers haven't seen each other for a while, right? Why don't you go over and play with him?"

Chu Siqian? Isn't that the protagonist? Has he also entered the palace?

Chu Ran felt that he had nothing to say to Chu Siqian. Although he was the protagonist, Chu Ran didn't know him.

However, Chu Ran looked up at Concubine Xi. Compared to sitting in the same room with Concubine Xi, he still...

Chu Ran stood up and went out.

Concubine Xi looked at Chu Ran's back and sneered. He has been in the palace for such a long time, but he still doesn't know the rules. He is indeed a bastard born of a bastard, a pile of mud. It is ridiculous that his brother still hopes to support him.

Chu Ran walked from the front yard to the back yard and happened to see Chu Siqian and several palace maids and eunuchs playing Cuju in the back yard.

A ball wrapped with colorful ribbons was tossed back and forth among several people.

The palace maids and eunuchs all had a great time.

The reason why Chu Ran could recognize Chu Siqian at a glance was naturally because his clothes were different from those of others.

Chu Siqian was the son of an official. Although he could not dress as luxuriously as the princes, he was also wealthy with his brocade clothes and silk ribbons.

Chu Ran watched for a while and found that Chu Siqian, whether in appearance or when he smiled, was easy to make people like him and want to get close to him. He was indeed the protagonist who everyone admired. At first glance, he seemed to be glowing with gold.

Chu Ran is not Chu Qinglin. He neither hates nor likes Chu Siqian. He looks at Chu Siqian as if he is looking at a stranger he is not very familiar with.

Soon, Chu Siqian found Chu Qinglin. He stopped playing Cuju and turned around. His forehead and neck were covered with hot sweat, which set off his flawless white skin. He was not like those stinky men who just played ball. It seemed that even the sweat on his body was fragrant.

Chu Siqian was surprised for a moment, then he smiled happily, "Qinglin, you're here?"

I feel like this person is pretty good...

Chu Siqian turned around and said to the palace maids behind him, "You guys go down first. I want to talk to him alone for a while."

The palace servants seemed to like him and obey him very much, and they all turned around and left.

Chu Siqian watched the palace servants leave with a smile. The moment he turned around, Chu Ran found that the smile on Chu Siqian's face had disappeared, replaced by obvious hatred and disgust.

"What are you doing here?"

Chu Ran:?

He took back what he had just said about thinking Chu Siqian was a pretty good person.

Chu Ran shrugged, "I don't know either. I was just walking around and ended up here."

Chu Siqian frowned, walked towards Chu Ran, and bumped into Chu Ran's shoulder hard, causing Chu Ran to stagger back two steps.

Chu Siqian said with disgust, "Get out of here, you stinky thing."

Chu Ran swore that he had just taken a shower and didn't smell at all.

However, this Chu Siqian doesn't seem to be as innocent and kind as described in the original text.

After standing there for a while, someone came to call Chu Ran back.

When he returned to the room, there were still only Concubine Xi and the two palace maids serving her. Chu Ran had no idea what Concubine Xi wanted to do by calling him over today.

Concubine Xi asked with concern: "Life in the palace must be very hard, right?"

Chu Qinglin has lived alone in the palace for so long, and no one has ever cared about him. It's impossible that people would start to care about him now, right?

Chu Ran: ...

But Concubine Xi didn't really care about Chu Qinglin. She asked a question with concern, and even didn't bother to listen to Chu Ran's answer. She continued: "Your father meant that you have been in the palace for so many years, and it is time for you to do something for the family. I have sent someone to arrange it. Tomorrow you will go to serve Eunuch Zhao."

A light bulb went off in Chu Ran's mind, and he suddenly thought of something.

In the original text, Chu Qinglin seemed to have accepted Zhao Zhongyi as his adoptive father in the end? And Zhao Zhongyi seemed to be disgusted with Chu Qinglin and often beat him. Chu Qinglin later had a lame leg, which was caused by Zhao Zhongyi's beating.

Oh shit.

If he really goes to serve Zhao Zhongyi, will he be able to keep his leg?

He hasn't married yet, he can't be lame!

"I won't." Chu Ran flatly refused.

Concubine Xi was stunned for a moment, then her brows furrowed, her expression strange and strong, "You don't?"

"What I mean is," Chu Ran laughed and said without taking a breath, "I am a useless person, I have no sense, I am not smart, and I am not flexible. If I am asked to serve Eunuch Zhao, if I make a big mistake by accident, it would be a small matter for me to offend Eunuch Zhao, but if I implicate my father, that would be very bad, don't you think, aunt?"

Concubine Xi's complexion improved slightly. She smiled and said, "You are quite self-aware."

Chu Ran breathed a sigh of relief.

It's best if you think this way.

"I also think that you are clumsy and may not be able to do this well. You need to choose someone who is smarter and more reliable to do it."

Chu Ran nodded hurriedly.

Yes, that's right.

"However, you are a member of the Chu family after all. You have our Chu blood flowing in your body. You are more trustworthy than others."

Chu Ran lowered his head, but couldn't help but secretly complain, what's the point of blood or not, it turns out Chu Qinglin wanted the Chu family to die. So, people with the same blood relationship may not all be of the same mind.

After thinking for a while, Concubine Xi said, "How about this? I will discuss this matter with my brother. You can go back first."

I guess I have escaped a disaster for now.

On the way back, Chu Ran suddenly remembered that he had an appointment with the fifth prince Li Dingning to meet at the old place. At this time now... he should have left, right?

Forget it, let’s go and take a look.

When they arrived at the place, Li Dingning was still waiting for him. Li Dingning got very angry with Chu Ran. Chu Ran knew that he shouldn't have been so late, so he kept apologizing and coaxing him for a long time. He also promised to tell him stories every day for the next few days. Only then did he manage to make this little ancestor happy.

When we returned, it was already dark.

Li Fu moved a stool and sat in the middle of the yard, with his back to Chu Ran, as if in a daze.

After hearing the footsteps, Li Fu turned around, looked up at Li Fu standing at the door, and said, "I'm back."

Chu Ran said "hmm", walked into the room, moved a stool and sat down next to Li Fu. He glanced at Li Fu, then imitated him in a daze.

When bright stars began to appear in the sky, Li Fu suddenly asked, "Where is the food you brought?"