Chu Xinxin took two steps back: "Yun Zheng, don't talk nonsense. I was ignorant before, but now I only like Young Master Su."
Zhou Huaichuan: ......
Yun Zheng: "Then I'm relieved. Miss Chu, you're a good person too."
Chu Xinxin and Yun Zheng exchanged a glance, their eyes meeting for a moment, as if they had reached some kind of agreement.
Zhou Huaichuan glanced at Yun Zheng, his gaze carrying a strong warning.
Yun Zheng ignored her and kept patting his chest to assure Chu Xinxin that Young Master Su was not the kind of superficial person who only liked pretty faces, and that he would definitely like someone as interesting as Miss Chu.
Everything was going in the direction he hoped for, but Zhou Huaichuan... felt a little frustrated!
...
Before we knew it, the Spring Festival banquet had arrived.
The Spring Festival banquet is not just about appreciating flowers.
The young masters and ladies of each family used all their skills to compose poems, play musical instruments, paint, and some even had to test their martial arts.
This is different from the Hundred Flowers Banquet.
The Hundred Flowers Banquet is an elective course, while the Spring Exploration Banquet is a required course, and everyone must participate.
It was held for three consecutive days...
"Damn, I wasn't this tired when I took the college entrance exam."
Chu Xinxin found a secluded spot and hid.
It was terrifying. Qi Yi even found a particularly kind old lady—Madam Li from the Grand Tutor's family—to take her around to various circles.
After a few laps, Chu Xinxin's face was stiff from smiling.
"System, keep watch for me for a while, I'm going to take a nap."
Chu Xinxin loosened her collar and fanned herself; it was too suffocating, having to compete and socialize at the same time.
Are you crazy?
[Sister, couldn't you find a side room? Why hide behind the artificial hill? Don't you know this kind of place is always a hotbed of trouble?]
The system watched helplessly as Chu Xinxin lay down on a hidden rock, closed her eyes, and fell asleep.
The system diligently monitored the activity within a ten-mile radius for her.
Chu Yun and An Yi started arguing again.
The eldest prince promised the position of crown prince's wife to at least five beautiful noble ladies.
Zhou Huaichuan and Su Shi slowly walked over here.
[Sister, sister, the target has appeared!]
Despite the system calling for a long time, Chu Xinxin remained sound asleep.
The system had no choice but to listen to it itself first.
"...Huaichuan, that poem about bamboo you wrote today was truly exquisite! The eldest daughter of the Chu family is indeed as rumored, with remarkable literary talent!"
Su Shi held the poem copied by the servant in his hand, savoring it word by word. The more he savored it, the more wonderful it seemed, completely unaware that his friend's mood was not very pleasant.
"Her handwriting is also beautiful, simple and elegant, exquisite and subtle!" Su Shi couldn't stop praising her. "I really want to get to know such a woman."
Zhou Huaichuan stopped in his tracks, just as the two of them reached the foot of the artificial hill.
“Her name is Chu Xinxin.” Zhou Huaichuan turned to look at Su Shi, the hesitation in his eyes gradually fading and replaced by certainty.
Su Shi also stopped with him and said with a smile, "Who in the capital doesn't know Miss Chu's name? She saved the Princess Lingshan, admired peonies at the Hundred Flowers Banquet, and won three times against the Prince of Huainan at the horse race in the suburbs of the capital... One thing after another, even the Emperor praised her highly."
Zhou Huaichuan listened quietly and said softly, "She is indeed very good."
"Alas, it's a pity her appearance is damaged, otherwise..."
"Otherwise what?"
Zhou Huaichuan pressed for more information.
Su Shi said regretfully, "Otherwise, her poems would have been more widely circulated."
Zhou Huaichuan: "What do you mean by that?"
"A fair maiden is sought after by gentlemen. The second young lady of the Chu family is not as talented as her in poetry, yet her poems are circulated even in the farthest Western Regions. Huaichuan, why do you think that is?"
Su Shi smiled and said, "Because Miss Chu is renowned for her beauty, her poems and everything about her are imbued with beautiful words."
"Brother Su, do you think so too?"
"I admire Miss Chu's talent, and I also admire Miss Chu's beauty and talent."
One possesses talent, the other beauty; Zhou Huaichuan's hand, hidden in his sleeve, loosened and then clenched again: "Brother Su, when did you start judging people by their looks?"
Su Shi pointed to the apricot blossoms next to him: "When appreciating flowers, one should naturally choose the most beautiful one."
The apricot blossom is delicate; that's not her.
Zhou Huaichuan withdrew his gaze and said calmly, "Let's go."
Su Shi nodded: "Oh, by the way, Huaichuan, you said you wanted to see me. What is it?"
Zhou Huaichuan shook his head: "Everything is fine now."
"Hey, you..." Su Shi's voice suddenly stopped as he passed through the crescent-shaped gate.
Because he saw a graceful woman standing under the apricot tree ahead.
The woman, dressed in an apricot-pink dress, raised her hand, seemingly wanting to touch the petals swaying in the wind, or perhaps about to ride the wind away with an ethereal grace.
Hearing their footsteps, the woman turned her head. Her face was covered by a veil, and only her eyes were visible.
Those eyes were so bright and clear, as if they had never seen any filth in the world.
Su Shi was stunned: "Which family's young lady are you...?"
As soon as he asked the question, he realized that the woman wearing a veil could be anyone other than Chu Xinxin, the eldest daughter of the Chu family.
Zhou Huaichuan's heart tightened. Had Chu Xinxin just... overheard their conversation?
I don't think so....
Chu Xinxin nodded slightly to them, and then prepared to leave.
Su Shi called out to her, "Are you the eldest daughter of the Chu family?"
Chu Xinxin: "My daughter is Chu Xinxin."
Su Shi's eyes lit up: "Miss Chu, your poem about bamboo is wonderful, I..."
Chu Xinxin interrupted him: "Thank you for your kind words, Young Master Su, but I suddenly feel that no matter how beautiful the bamboo is, it cannot compare to the beauty of these apricot blossoms in full bloom. The Spring Exploration Banquet is for women who are even more beautiful than apricot blossoms. Young Master Su, I must excuse myself..."
She overheard what I just said.
Su Shi's face flushed slightly.
I've never been so directly confronted in my entire life.
But it was his own fault again, and Su Shi had a headache: "Huaichuan, that's not what I meant."
"It's nothing."
Zhou Huaichuan's tone was flat and uninteresting. Su Shi sighed and asked him what was wrong.
"Never mind, I'll find an opportunity to apologize to Miss Chu later."
Su Shi didn't know what method he used.
When Zhou Huaichuan saw him again, Su Shizheng had Chu Xinxin laughing so hard she was shaking with laughter.
Just as Zhou Huaichuan was about to approach, he saw Chu Xinxin take out a purse from her bosom, hand it to Su Shi with both hands, and then run away shyly.
Su Shi stared at Chu Xinxin's retreating figure, still in a daze as she disappeared.
"Hmph, this Young Master Su is really indiscriminate. He can even bring himself to kiss Miss Chu, who has such a beautiful face."
"Hasn't he always prided himself on being refined and aristocratic? Miss Chu owns a mine; he should be taking a detour."
"Heh, just putting on an act."
Several men with dark circles under their eyes, thin builds, and dressed in ornate robes were gossiping in front of Zhou Huaichuan, and their conversation was becoming increasingly vulgar.
"But you know what, although Miss Chu is ugly, her figure... hehehe, in bed, she's probably incredibly alluring!"
Have you said enough?
Zhou Huaichuan coldly interrupted them, his eyes bloodshot, as if a sleeping beast had suddenly awakened, his aura gradually becoming stronger and fiercer.
The group felt a chill run down their spines and dared not meet his gaze.
"Your Highness, we're just talking casually."
The group made an excuse and hurriedly ran away.
Zhou Huaichuan glanced at Su Shi, who was still savoring the moment, then turned to find Chu Xinxin.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com