abandoned child
The Crown Prince invited Chu Chengchao and his brothers to a small gathering at his residence. Lu Yunchu remained pondering the letter given to her by Consort Xiao. If Chu Chengchao hadn't died, it shouldn't have affected the original plan. She could simply hide him and claim he had passed away, but he certainly wouldn't listen to her…
Night deepened, and the candlelight flickered in the breeze. Chu Chengchao returned, faintly reeking of alcohol, his face flushed. He opened his arms and pulled her tightly into a hug, his voice cheerful: "I saw my little nephew today! So tiny, so soft, and he even grabbed my fingers..."
Lu Yunchu lowered her head, trying to come up with an excuse. But Chu Chengchao's kiss had already landed on her; he picked her up and carried her to the bed.
No, not only the child, but also I can't let him see my muscular physique...
She was about to say that she was on her period and couldn't come, but unexpectedly he sat up, his eyes filled with struggle and apology. He raised his hand and awkwardly brushed the stray hairs from her forehead, his voice lowering, "I... I'm not often in the capital, I don't want you to suffer alone..."
Lu Yunchu finally felt relieved. She remembered Chu Qin's wish, which was also her wish: to become a general and control her own destiny, instead of struggling with this love that could be lost at any moment.
Chu Chengchao hugged her and quickly fell into a deep sleep, a silly smile still on his face. Moonlight shone through the window lattice, outlining his well-defined and powerful physique hidden beneath his nightgown.
A sudden chill ran through her as she recalled Chu Ling's fearful whisper: "Marriage is terrifying... Most women don't know martial arts, and they're too easily harmed in their confined homes..."
The only option is to escape, to escape this seemingly cheerful but actually dangerous eldest prince.
But before that, we have to put on a show.
She rose gently, put on her outer robe, and silently began making pastries, pondering her future plans.
When Chu Chengchao woke up, he saw the exquisite pastries on the table and Lu Yunchu coming over to straighten his clothes. His eyes were full of surprise.
After breakfast, he was still in high spirits, chatting away with her about the interesting things that happened at the border. Suddenly, he changed the subject, his eyes sparkling as he looked at her: "How beautiful our names sound together! Yun Chu, meaning 'promise of the beginning'; Cheng Chao, meaning 'bearing the glorious future,' it's just one Yun Hua Chao! Our future child will be named Chu Hua Chao!"
He was full of anticipation, while Lu Yunchu merely smiled in agreement. Chu… that was his child, what did it have to do with her? It was the mother who carried on the family line, yet they had snatched the mother's child and claimed it as their own. Such a mother was nothing more than a vessel.
Chu Chengchao, acting on a whim, wanted to go with her to an ancient temple in the suburbs to pray for blessings. Lu Yunchu couldn't help but think, "They're probably going to pray for a child..."
The ancient temple bells tolled distantly, incense smoke wafted, and the tranquility could not dispel the sorrow in her heart. Chu Chengchao held her hand and stopped beneath a tree adorned with vermilion wooden plaques, symbolizing marriage. He looked up and carefully hung a new plaque at the highest point. On the plaque was a line of words: "Chu Chengchao and Lu Yunchu, for all eternity."
Something seemed to gently bump into her heart. She remembered her mother's words and the hopes she and her sister had shared while reading storybooks. She had secretly thought how wonderful it would be if all love in the world could be fulfilled... But now, as if she could see eternity in this moment, she felt only sorrow in her heart.
Chu Chengchao seemed to sense her displeasure, and subconsciously touched the cold mask on his face, his voice tinged with grievance: "Am I... very ugly...? I don't deserve it..."
Lu Yunchu shook her head and gently hugged him: "How could that be? In my heart, you are always the most beautiful."
He remained silent for a long time, and finally, as if he had made a great decision, his fingers trembling, he slowly removed the mask that he had never taken off.
A gruesome scar ran diagonally down his right temple, ruining his otherwise handsome appearance. He lowered his head, unable to look her in the eye, his face filled with unease and inferiority.
His appearance was both pitiful and adorable. Lu Yunchu didn't look away, but instead stepped forward, tilted her head back, and gently kissed the scar.
His tears fell instantly, like those of an innocent child. This was certainly endearing, but he was only suited to being a child. He was not suited to being a prince, a husband, or even a future father; he was only suited to the vast wilderness of the Western Regions.
To ease the somber atmosphere, Chu Chengchao took her to the horse farm. He still shielded her in front of him, his arms tightly wrapped around her, holding onto the reins. He looked very embarrassed, lacking his usual liveliness.
Just then, an urgent secret report arrived. After reading it, Chu Chengchao immediately burst into curses, his whole body trembling: "The Emperor... has actually placed my uncle's family under house arrest, and wants to... wants to wipe out the old forces in the southwest! He even wants... wants to send my uncle's only two children, my sisters, to the western and northern deserts for marriage alliances! On what grounds! All these years, my uncle has been guarding the southwestern border, loyal and devoted, and has never thought of rebelling!"
He immediately stormed into the palace and had a fierce argument with the emperor. The specific details are unknown, but it is known that in the end, the emperor, with a gloomy face, tacitly allowed him to take his two younger sisters back to his own residence.
Given the urgency of the situation, Chu Chengchao worried that his sisters might encounter an ambush on the way, so he led his entourage to the southwest to meet them.
Watching his hurriedly packing figure, Lu Yunchu felt a pang of anxiety.
She eventually slipped Consort Xiao's letter into a hidden compartment in his luggage. He hadn't done anything wrong, nor had he harmed himself, but he certainly wouldn't listen and would only go his own way.
After Chu Chengchao left the capital, she continued to go to the training ground every day. One day, her aunt suddenly summoned her and, upon seeing her, sneered contemptuously, "Your husband is a complete idiot! Your mother still wanted to protect him... Ha... This time he's courting death! I have to find a way to make you break off all ties with him quickly, otherwise, if you stay with this kind of pig for too long, you'll become just as stupid and drag all of us down with you!"
Lu Yunchu lowered her head and remained silent, but her aunt then said something that shocked her: "Chu Ling wanted to marry a eunuch to avoid an arranged marriage. His Majesty was furious and wanted to execute the eunuch, but she secretly sought him out, intending to commit suicide together. Fortunately, that little vixen Chu Cheng'an saved her and then threatened to kill himself, forcing the emperor to compromise and declare to the public that Princess Chu Ling was praying for the country's well-being, thus banishing her..."
She didn't know what to say. She wanted to see Chu Ling, but that very night she received a wedding invitation from Chu Ling.
Chu Cheng'an brought Chu Ling and the eunuch to his residence and held a banquet for them.
At the wedding banquet, Chu Ling wore a red wedding dress, but her face radiated an unprecedentedly bright and genuine smile. She held tightly to the ugly, gloomy eunuch's hand and smiled at everyone.
After the banquet, she found Lu Yunchu and got straight to the point: "In the first round of the struggle for the throne, we women have absolutely no chance. We can only bide our time for now. I was scheming for Chu Cheng'an in his mansion. He thought I was really troubled by love and had no fear of me. I have been trying to get in touch with Su Xike, obtain the 'Portrait of the Sage,' and change it to the 'Portrait of the Sage Maiden.' I will use the excuse of the Sage Maiden emerging from the East and her maternal virtue transforming the world to lay the foundation for the next round of the struggle for the throne."
She sighed and continued with some helplessness, "That scroll is in Su Xike's hands, but she pretends not to know, to prevent Chu Cheng'an from discarding it after it has served its purpose. I need to think of a way to get close to her and make her work for us."
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