Virginia
In this urgent situation, Zhao Youyi sent a message directly to Fuzhou by carrier pigeon, informing Chu Chanyin that she was about to travel to Fuzhou.
What should have been a half-day journey, Zhao Youyi covered in just a few hours by riding at full speed.
As expected, a white figure appeared on the city wall. Compared to heavy or flamboyant colors like black and gold, Chu Chanyin preferred fresh and elegant colors. His clothes were mostly blue and white, like a celestial being banished from heaven, untouched by worldly affairs.
Zhao Youyi dismounted and looked at Chu Chanyin not far away. The man gave her a familiar, gentle smile, just as always.
As soon as Zhao Youyi entered the city, he saw Chu Chanyin coming down from the city wall. He took out a clean handkerchief and handed it to her. “Cousin, you must be exhausted from your journey. I have asked someone to prepare a meal at the mansion, but I don’t know if it will suit your taste.”
Zhao Youyi was about to mention that she had a residence in Fuzhou, but then she thought that since she had come in such a hurry, if Chu Chanyin were to accompany her, the two of them would be heading to Jiangzhou the next day, so it wouldn't make much difference where they stayed. Rather than having Uncle Zhao go to the trouble of preparing food and bedding, she might as well stay at the Chu Prince's residence for the night.
Zhao Youyi took the handkerchief and nodded. "Cousin, you've gone to a lot of trouble. I have come here today because I have important matters to discuss. Please lead the way."
The two walked back to the Chu King's mansion. Since the distance was not far, Chu Chanyin did not prepare a carriage. Unexpectedly, many people in the city recognized the Chu King and turned their attention to him when they saw a young and beautiful woman standing next to him.
"Is this the Princess Consort of Chu?" someone asked in a low voice.
"If His Highness personally greets him, it's highly likely that it is."
"This young lady is so beautiful; she and Your Highness are truly a match made in heaven!"
Zhao Youyi looked puzzled and couldn't help but tug at his cousin's sleeve to make him lower his head. "Cousin, are you that famous in Virginia? Why do people on the street look at me like I'm a monkey?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Chanyin looked around in confusion. Seeing that everyone's gaze was occasionally falling on him and Zhao Youyi, he remembered the rumors mentioned by Steward Li and lowered his voice to explain, "This is my fault. A few days ago, I heard from the steward in the manor that the news of my marriage in Shenjing has spread throughout the entire Fuzhou. I guess the emperor is behind it."
Zhao Youyi blinked and looked at him, but seeing his helpless expression, she could only give up.
Never mind, it's a fact anyway. Besides, having the title of Princess of Chu will have some advantages in recruiting female soldiers in Fuzhou.
Thinking of this, Zhao Youyi glanced at the distance between the two people. They didn't seem intimate, unlike newlyweds.
Chu Chanyin felt her gently tug at his left arm, and then she pulled it up to him.
Feeling her intimate gesture, his face flushed red.
What's wrong with my cousin...?
Chu Chanyin's movements suddenly stiffened, and his gaze involuntarily turned to Zhao Youyi.
Their eyes met, and Zhao Youyi smiled sweetly, took his arm and whispered, "Cousin, things have come to this point. If we act a little closer, it will be beneficial for the recruitment of the Women's Army in Florida."
After saying that, Zhao Youyi suddenly felt a little uneasy. If things were to settle down in the future, how would Chu Chanyin get married if he had her as his "princess"?
“If my cousin has other ideas…” Zhao Youyi was about to pull her hand away when she felt Chu Chanyin reach out to stop her.
"No!" Chu Chanyin said subconsciously.
Seeing his resolute expression, Zhao Youyi didn't say anything more, and the two soon arrived at the Chu Prince's residence.
Chu Muqing, like a little rice ball, squatted next to the stone lion at the gate, with a white dog lying at her feet.
Seeing this scene, Zhao Youyi couldn't help but laugh, and said to Chu Chanyin in a low voice, "Look at Mu Qing and the puppy, they look just like two glutinous rice balls."
Chu Chanyin looked closely and saw Chu Muqing squatting on the ground counting ants, which made him both amused and exasperated.
“Mu Qing,” Chu Chanyin said.
Chu Muqing, who was counting ants, subconsciously raised her head when she heard her uncle's voice. Just as she was about to get up and rush towards him, she saw Zhao Youyi beside him.
Chu Muqing rushed towards Zhao Youyi, her voice crisp and clear: "Auntie, Auntie! You really came! Uncle didn't lie to me after all!"
Zhao Youyi caught the little dumpling, squatted down and pinched his cheek: "Yes, Auntie missed Mu Qing, so she came to see if Mu Qing had been studying hard."
Chu Muqing took a step back guiltily, glared at Chu Chanyin, and her eyes seemed to say, "Did you tattle on me?"
Chu Chanyin smiled innocently, pretending not to see his gaze.
“Don’t look at your uncle,” Zhao Youyi pointed a finger at the little dumpling’s head, “he didn’t tell on me, I’m just guessing.”
Chu Muqing smiled guiltily and pulled Zhao Youyi into the mansion to see the rabbits. "Aunt, come and see! Uncle's rabbits are so fat!"
Chu Chanyin smiled as he watched the two of them, then picked up the little white dog next to the stone lion and walked into the mansion.
"Cousin, I'll come find you later!" Zhao Youyi shouted as Chu Muqing pulled him toward the backyard.
Chu Chan smiled and pointed to the study, indicating that he would wait for her there.
The rabbits kept in the backyard were all plump and strong, with incredibly smooth fur. When they saw someone coming, they jumped back as if startled. Zhao Youyi glanced at Chu Muqing, then at the rabbits, and had to admit that Chu Chanyin really knew how to raise them. No matter what kind of creature it was, he raised it to be plump and healthy.
Chu Muqing took out carrots and greens from the basket next to her and handed them to Zhao Youyi, saying, "Auntie, take this bunny and it will come over!"
Zhao Youyi took the carrots and greens, squatted down, and waved them at the group of rabbits. The rabbits couldn't help but hop forward a few steps when they saw the food. Their red eyes looked at Zhao Youyi, and they stared at her for a while, as if trying to see something from her pretty face.
Seeing that the person in front of her meant no harm, one of the rabbits boldly hopped over and started biting the carrot. Then several other rabbits hopped over and ate the vegetable leaves in her hand.
Zhao Youyi couldn't help but laugh when she saw the group of fluffy rabbits, her eyes sparkling as she looked at Chu Muqing: "They've all come over!"
Zhao Youyi couldn't help but reach out and touch the rabbit. The soft, warm touch instantly dispelled her worries.
Zhao Youyi was surrounded by a group of rabbits, while Chu Muqing handed her carrots and greens.
"Hey, Mumu, what are you doing?" Suddenly a voice interrupted this heartwarming scene. Zhao Youyi turned around and saw a man dressed in a blue robe slowly approaching, fanning himself with a fan.
"Who is this?" Su Chaoyang stared blankly at the face that resembled Zhao Youli's by about 50-60%.
“Uncle Su!” Chu Muqing blinked at him. “This is my aunt, aunt, this is Uncle Su!”
"You must be Sister Zhao?" Su Chaoyang approached them, fanning himself with his fan. "Guan Guan cry the ospreys, on the islet in the river; a fair maiden, a gentleman's good match. Sister Zhao, I am your Brother Chaoyang."
Zhao Youyi looked at him with a puzzled expression, wondering where this peacock came from and why he was trying to get close to her right away. Was he asking for a beating?
"No, no!" Chu Muqing quickly explained when she saw that he had used the wrong address, "Aunt is Uncle's wife. Uncle is younger than Uncle Su, so you should call her sister-in-law!"
The two exchanged a glance, both seeing awkwardness in each other's eyes.
"Ziyang, what are you doing here?" Chu Chanyin rushed over and saw this scene, and quickly went to Zhao Youyi's side.
The rabbits around her scattered hastily when Chu Chanyin arrived, and Zhao Youyi felt a little reluctant to see them leave.
Seeing that the rabbits surrounding Zhao Youyi were startled and ran away because of his arrival, Chu Chan felt a little guilty: "I'm sorry."
Zhao Youyi quickly waved his hand to indicate that it was nothing, "Cousin, who is this?"
Seeing that this person could freely enter and leave the backyard of the Chu Prince's mansion, Zhao Youyi knew that this person's relationship with Chu Chanyin must be extraordinary.
"This is Su Chaoyang, the eldest son of the Su family, and also my deputy general," Chu Chanyin explained.
“This is Brother Nianling’s sister,” Chu Chanyin introduced them, “Cousin, Ziyang also knows your brother.”
Zhao Youyi turned her gaze to Su Chaoyang, and upon seeing this, Su Chaoyang quickly introduced herself: "Sister Zhao... oh no, sister-in-law, hello! My surname is Su, my given name is Chaoyang, and my courtesy name is Ziyang. I am an old acquaintance of your brother."
Zhao Youyi smiled gracefully and curtsied slightly: "Greetings, Brother Ziyang. My name is Youyi, courtesy name Nianwan. My brother has also mentioned you and my cousin to me."
She was lying to him. Zhao Youli had only mentioned Chu Chanyin to her at most, the famous Prince Chu. The three of them had a childhood friendship, so she only had a vague impression of Chu Chanyin due to the effects of her amnesia.
"So it's Sister Nianwan! You're so beautiful, just like the moon in the sky, pure and ethereal," Su Chaoyang exclaimed, bowing slightly.
Zhao Youyi felt uncomfortable under his praise, and her lips twitched involuntarily. She tugged at Chu Chanyin's sleeve and whispered, "Cousin, is there... something wrong with your friend?" Then she pointed to her head.
Su Chaoyang, seeing her actions: ...
Chu Chanyin kicked Su Chaoyang and said sternly, "Be serious, don't scare her."
Su Chaoyang, wincing in pain, finally withdrew his supernatural powers. "Alright, alright, since you're a prince, I can only obediently listen to you. Zhao... ah, no, sister-in-law, what brings you to Fuzhou?"
Compared to the mushy "sister-in-law Nianwan" and the strange-sounding "sister-in-law Zhao," she preferred the term "sister-in-law," at least Su Chaoyang's tone was normal when he said it.
"I've come to see my cousin about something," Zhao Youyi said hastily, not wanting to elaborate.
Upon hearing this, Chu Chanyin seemed to have found an excuse to leave. He picked up Chu Muqing and placed him in Su Chaoyang's arms, saying, "Young Master Su, please keep an eye on him for me. My cousin and I have important matters to discuss."
Upon catching the plump glutinous rice ball, Su Chaoyang quickly said, "What's the rush, Chu Huaicong? It won't make a difference if it's just a little while longer."
Su Chaoyang turned to Zhao Youyi with a smile and said, "Isn't that right, sister-in-law?"
Zhao Youyi really didn't want to see this person talking nonsense, so she ignored him, grabbed Chu Chanyin's sleeve, and ran towards the study.
Su Chaoyang, holding Chu Muqing, watched the two disappear in a flash and fell silent.
No, am I that disliked?
Su Chaoyang silently grumbled to himself.
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