The next morning, Chu Tian sent someone to deliver brocade robes, pearl hairpins, and jade rings to Chu Shu.
Chu Shu hadn't recovered from the three sword wounds she suffered last night, so she had no mind to look at these things. Only after she was dressed and had her hair and makeup done did she realize that her outfit was completely modeled after Chu Xinxin's.
Clever as she was, she instantly understood Chu Tian's thoughts.
Chu Shu had always been a favored daughter of heaven, and others were always the ones imitating her. Now, however, she was being forced to imitate a woman whose cultivation, background, and temperament were inferior to hers. This humiliation was worse than death for her.
Moreover, if Xiao Linyi really takes a liking to her, the position of the young master of the Chu family in Zhongzhou will be out of her reach. How could she be willing to let that idiot Chu Qian take the position!
Chu Shu angrily shattered the jade hairpin in her hand with her spiritual power, and decisively turned to find Chu Tian.
It is unknown what she said to Chu Tian, but after the two finished talking, Chu Tian immediately sent a secret letter back to the Chu family in Zhongzhou by his trusted confidant.
After reading the letter, the Chu family's Tribulation Transcending Ancestor and the other two great protectors discussed and calculated in a secret chamber for seven days. After emerging from seclusion, they summoned the disciples below the Nascent Soul stage of the clan and, carrying the clan's supreme treasure—the Heavenly-grade spiritual treasure Yin-Yang Eight Trigrams Diagram—secretly set off in batches to the Qiangze Secret Realm, located at the border of Central State and Eastern State.
Because all the major families of Zhongzhou are currently gathered in Shengjing of Dongzhou, the Chu family's actions have gone unnoticed.
In Shengjing, it was a rare occasion for people from five prefectures and one island to gather together, and all sorts of tea parties, banquets, and competitions, large and small, were held one after another.
Si Yingge was so busy that she barely had time to breathe. Ya Wen was at one place in the morning and then went to another in the afternoon.
Chu Xinxin is now in management, so she doesn't need to run around. However, after the Chu family held that family reunion event, Xiao Linyi is now keeping a closer eye on Chu Xinxin, following her everywhere and leaving her with no freedom at all.
Even the second steward felt like he was going to freeze to death by Xiao Linyi's gaze if he spoke more than a few words to Chu Xinxin.
"Why don't you go into seclusion and cultivate?" Chu Xinxin sincerely suggested.
Xiao Linyi nodded happily, and then he and Chu Xinxin meditated in the secret room for three days. If Chu Xinxin hadn't threatened to kill herself, Xiao Linyi probably would have stayed there forever.
As soon as Chu Xinxin came out of the stone chamber, she received a plea for help from the current chief musician of the Qin Workshop. He said that he had been playing for ten days straight and his fingers were sore that he wanted to ask for leave to go home and recuperate. However, there was a performance at the palace the next day, and he could not just send someone to do it casually. He asked Chu Xinxin to come and save the day.
Chu Xinxin put away the communication talisman and looked at Xiao Linyi beside her: "Look, we have something important to discuss."
Xiao Linyi: "Okay, I'll go with you."
"You should just stay at home, or go visit Tianji. Your status is too high; it's not appropriate for you to attend a banquet for juniors like this."
"You are now my peer."
—Translated, it means: You are my Daoist partner, so it is inappropriate for you to attend or even perform for them, as you are of the same generation as me.
After Xiao Linyi finished speaking, he looked at Chu Xinxin with that "I'm going to take you by force" look.
"Why have you been so clingy lately?" Chu Xinxin looked at Xiao Linyi suspiciously, then suddenly leaned closer: "Are you hiding something from me?"
Xiao Linyi's heart skipped a beat, and he vehemently denied it: "No!"
"You answered so quickly, there's definitely something fishy going on!" Chu Xinxin exclaimed for the sixth time. "Xiao Linyi, tell me quickly, your face has turned pale, something must be wrong!"
Xiao Linyi nervously pursed her lips, glanced at Chu Xinxin with a half-closed look, said "No means no," and left, pretending to be unhappy.
"System, do you think he's really hiding something from me?" Chu Xinxin felt that Xiao Linyi's pale face looked rather jarring.
[He probably thought the Chu family was angered. His affection for you is 9999%, and his possessiveness is definitely very strong. If the Chu family wanted to take you away, wouldn't that cross his line?]
That makes sense.
Chu Xinxin looked in the direction where Xiao Linyi had disappeared and sighed deeply.
The next day, Chu Xinxin carried her Rao Liang to the palace. Before they even stepped into the banquet hall, the system announced that Emperor Liang, Chu Tian, and other Mahayana cultivators were inside.
"Isn't this banquet a farewell feast held by the Third Prince Qingyun for his senior brother Penglai? Why are they here too?" Chu Xinxin asked.
Because you came...
"What does this have to do with me?"
So when Xiao Linyi came, they had to come and keep him company.
Chu Xinxin: ......
At the banquet, everyone had experienced the power of the Half-Immortal a few days ago, so they all sat upright and drank their wine in small sips, for fear of offending True Immortal Zichen.
Chu Tian did not come to apologize that day, but today, upon arriving at the banquet, he personally poured wine for Xiao Linyi, punished himself with three cups as an apology, and never mentioned Chu Xinxin's background again, adopting an extremely humble attitude.
Seeing Chu Tian's reaction, the younger generation dared not move an inch, hoping that Miss Xin Xin would come to their rescue as soon as possible.
Chu Xinxin led the people from Siyin Pavilion in. Just as they were about to sit down and play the zither, Emperor Liang said very considerately, "Miss Xinxin has come from Siyin Pavilion. The journey is long, and you must be very tired. Someone, please invite Miss Xinxin to come up and sit down."
Emperor Liang's confidant immediately appeared beside Chu Xinxin, as if he had been waiting for her all along, which startled Chu Xinxin.
Chu Xinxin declined, saying, "Thank you, Your Majesty, but the music from Siyin Pavilion is indispensable..."
"What's so difficult about that? There are plenty of talented people in the other states, and surely there will be skilled musicians among them." Emperor Liang looked around, his eyes gleaming with eager hope that someone would come to the rescue. In any case, he dared not let Chu Xinxin play the zither for him right now.
Chu Tian stood up: "Emperor Liang, my daughter Chu Shu is skilled at playing the zither. Why don't we have her entertain everyone?"
Emperor Liang looked at Chu Shu.
A flash of anger crossed Chu Shu's eyes when her name was called, but she quickly lowered her head to hide it, and when she looked up again, she had a polite smile on her face: "I am willing to play for everyone."
She walked to Chu Xinxin's side and looked at the zither in Chu Xinxin's hand with a gentle expression: "Chu Shu is not prepared today, may I borrow Miss Xinxin's zither?"
Chu Xinxin generously gave it to her, and then sat down next to Xiao Linyi with Liang Di's confidant.
Chu Shu was indeed skilled at playing the zither; her ethereal, fairy-like music was captivating.
However, her expression was not intentional. Chu Xinxin looked at her, and although she smiled, the smile did not reach her eyes.
Chu Shu was indeed very annoyed. She knew that Chu Xinxin was coming to play the zither today, so she came over specially. Although the status of musicians in Liang Kingdom was not as low as that in Zhongzhou, just imagining Chu Xinxin playing and her listening made her feel relieved, and the humiliation she had suffered because of Chu Xinxin these past few days could also subside a bit.
But the reality is the opposite!
She knew what Chu Tian meant: to show weakness and lower the enemy's guard, but she just couldn't swallow her pride.
Who does Chu Xinxin think she is? She rose to a high position by relying on Xiao Linyi...
Chu Shu swallowed her anger unwillingly. She would wait a few more days. As long as the Qiangze Secret Realm matter was accomplished, she would definitely trample Chu Xinxin and Xiao Linyi under her feet.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com