Before Lin Baozhu finished her words, a kind of silent awkwardness filled the room.

Lin Baozhu was born a county lord. From a young age, everything she said was right and everything she wanted was natural. She had long since developed a disregard for others and a self-centered personality. She asked this question, probably because she had heard the rumors about Chu Jinyao and Chu Jinmiao, and found it very strange and more interesting than the stories, so she came over to ask. As for what the occasion was and how the two parties should deal with it, she didn't care at all.

Chu Jinmiao's face was already extremely embarrassed. Although everyone in the Changxing Marquis' Mansion knew about this matter, they all tacitly avoided it when they spoke. Who would deliberately bring it up to make the atmosphere awkward? In front of Chu Jinyao and Chu Jinmiao, no one mentioned this matter, so that everyone could save face. But now they were visiting a guest, with so many people sitting around, and the county lord shouted it out loudly, and Chu Jinmiao, the fake daughter, couldn't even stand.

Chu Jinyao was also embarrassed, but she was much calmer than Chu Jinmiao. She smiled and said, "You are right, it is me. When I was a child, I was stranded outside because of the Tatars. My father found me and brought me back in the first month of this year."

"Oh?" The county lord was even more curious. She pointed at Chu Jinmiao and asked, "That means you grew up in her home, and she grew up in your home?"

The county lord didn't care about other people's faces. Chu Jinmiao's face was already red, while the other party, Chu Jinyao, was very frank: "Yes, I was raised by the farmer Su family."

The county lord's eyes showed a hint of meaning. She turned her head to look at Chu Jinmiao, then turned back to look at Chu Jinyao, and asked curiously: "You actually grew up in the village. Are you admitting it?"

"What's so shameful about this?" Chu Jinyao laughed. "I have never stolen, cheated or robbed anyone since I was a child. I just grew up in a poor environment. What's wrong with that? Even if the Su family is a farmer, they earn a living with their own hands. Why shouldn't I admit it?"

Even if the daughters of powerful families don't say it, they look down on ordinary people in their hearts, not to mention the poor farmers like the Su family who eat on the ground. The girls of the Chu family deliberately avoided it. First, it was because of the face of Changxing Hou and the Zhao family. Second, they felt that Chu Jinyao's background was not presentable. If they said it out loud and Chu Jinyao got a cold face on the spot, they would be asking for trouble. The more they avoided it, the more they could explain their inner thoughts. When the county lord mentioned this topic, the hearts of several girls in the Chu family turned cold.

The sixth girl thought that it was over and the situation would be embarrassing.

But no one expected that Chu Jinyao would openly admit the matter and take the initiative to reveal her past to others. If Chu Jinyao's words were evasive, the other girls would still think it was a bit fun, but Chu Jinyao was so frank that they were surprised and embarrassed.

Wounds will only rot if they are hidden. If the person involved is open-minded and not afraid of the eyes of outsiders, it will only highlight the unbearableness of the onlookers.

The county lord did not expect Chu Jinyao to say such a thing. She was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "I have never met someone like you. They are either evasive or pretentious, which is disgusting. But your straightforward personality suits my taste." The county lord said as she walked over and took Chu Jinyao's arm, saying, "Come on, I'll take you to see the flowers outside."

Lin Baozhu is the county lord, and there is no one with a higher status than her in the whole Shanxi. Lin Baozhu is used to flattery, just like she is used to eating delicacies from mountains and seas. When she accidentally met someone like Chu Jinyao who spoke the truth, she felt unexpected and liked him very much.

The third and sixth girls watched the county lord take Chu Jinyao out with their eyes wide open, and they could not hide their astonishment on their faces. No one expected this to happen. The county lord not only did not dislike it, but also looked up to Chu Jinyao. They racked their brains to find a companion for the county lord. The third girl put on makeup carefully, and the sixth girl even thought about what to say and do today. However, before they started to act, they were suppressed by Chu Jinyao's casual words?

What a joke, the third and sixth girls immediately stood up and said with a smile: "Where does the county lord want to go to appreciate flowers, we will accompany him."

The county lord did not say anything and let the third and sixth girls follow. Even the seventh girl had been instructed by Yan Shi long ago, and she did not want to be outdone and went up to them, relying on her young age to deliberately get close to them. The flower hall was full of people just now, but now it was empty. Chu Jinmiao stood there, no one noticed and no one asked, her face was extremely ugly.

The maid reminded carefully: "Fourth Miss, the county lord is out, should we..."

Chu Jinmiao knew that this was not the occasion for her to show off her face, she barely concealed the unhappiness on her face and walked out with a stiff face: "I know. It turns out that the county lord is more susceptible to pretending to be pitiful. Isn't it just a pity? Who wouldn't do that?"

Chu Jinmiao thought that the county lord was close to Chu Jinyao among all the people because Chu Jinyao was pitiful enough. Yes, with a rough life, growing up in a poor family, and having never seen anything, for a girl like the county lord, this is a perfect match.

Chu Jinmiao thought secretly and adjusted her plan. She knew that the county lord's trip to select a companion was fake, and the real purpose was to prepare for the crown princess. No matter what, she must stay by the county lord's side. With the county lord as a springboard, she will have the opportunity to leap higher in the future.

The county lord suddenly had an idea and insisted on taking Chu Jinyao to the back garden to see the chrysanthemums. The maids in the palace all said, "County Lady, it's time to set the table. If you walk too far, the old ancestor won't be able to find you."

However, the county lady was in high spirits and these words fell on deaf ears. She didn't care what the maids said. She pulled Chu Jinyao and said, "My mother found some green chrysanthemums a few days ago. I'll take you to see them." The county lady was

so focused on having fun that she didn't control the strength of her hands. Chu Jinyao felt a little uncomfortable being held like this. She moved her wrist slightly, and while the maid was talking to the county lady, she pulled it back without changing her expression.

Chu Jinyao's steps were slightly slower, and she was immediately pushed away by the third lady. The third lady had a slender waist. After squeezing into the gap, she turned around and glared at Chu Jinyao with a smug look. Chu Jinyao found it very ridiculous. She rubbed her wrist with her sleeves to cover it. The Sixth Miss walked to Chu Jinyao silently and whispered to her, "Fifth sister, do you remember what you promised me a few days ago?"

Chu Jinyao did not change her expression and asked, "What do you mean, Sixth sister?"

"Fifth sister is really funny." The Sixth Miss smiled and said, "Yes, Fifth sister is the daughter of a legitimate family. She has jumped over such a big gap from a peasant family to a marquis' mansion. How could she not be able to smooth over the small gap in front of her? It turned out that I was blind and looked down on you, and I even wanted to lend a hand to you and help you a little. Now that I think about it, what I said was ridiculous. Fifth sister is so capable, why does she need me?"

It can only be said that what kind of person you are, you like to speculate about others with that kind of eyes. The Sixth Miss originally wanted to use Chu Jinyao, but after seeing her today, she suddenly realized that she had misjudged Chu Jinyao. She must not fall into the trap.

Chu Jinyao retracted her hand and turned to look at the Sixth Miss: "What do you mean, Sixth Miss?"

The Sixth Miss's face changed slightly: "Fifth Sister, don't pretend not to understand in front of me, right?"

"I really don't understand." Chu Jinyao asked, "I hope Sixth Miss will speak directly, what do you want to say?"

The Sixth Miss was stunned, and her smile was also very stiff. Although she intended to provoke Chu Jinyao, it would be best if she could make him lose his composure, but when Chu Jinyao asked back so bluntly, she was the one who couldn't resist.

While they were talking, they had already arrived at the garden. The sun was shining brightly. The maid led them to the pavilion, laid out cushions for the girls, and said, "Girls, please sit for a while. I believe the old princess will serve dinner soon. The sun is too strong outside, so we dare not let the girls go out to play. We can only ask the girls to stay here to enjoy the breeze first, and come back to see the chrysanthemums in the afternoon."

This was reasonable, not to mention that there were many flowers planted around the pavilion. The breeze blew and the flowers swayed. It was a rare beautiful scene.

Chu Jinyao smiled and nodded and sat down, not intending to embarrass the maids. However, the county lady was not satisfied with sitting like this. She looked around and said with a curled lip, "It's so boring to be trapped here. I remember that bunch of green chrysanthemums are about to bloom. Green chrysanthemums are rare. I want to pick them and put them in a vase."

The maid beside the old princess hurriedly said, "County lady, you can't do that. It's not good to expose you to the sun. What do you want? I'll let the little maid do it for you."

"Why are you so long-winded and troublesome? I said I want to go by myself!" The county lady pushed the maid's hand away. She looked in the crowd, saw Chu Jinyao, and waved repeatedly: "Come here quickly, I remember where the flowers are, you accompany me to pick flowers."

The maid who was pushed away was embarrassed in public, but when she thought of the old princess' words, she had to patiently persuade her: "County lady, it's almost noon now. The autumn sun is the hottest now. You can't go out."

"What I do is none of your business?" said the county lady, "Besides, I'm fine now."

This was simply nonsense. Chu Jinyao looked at the sunlight outside the pavilion and felt that the maid was right. She couldn't help but say, "This sister is right. The sun is scorching now. There's no need to go out now. Anyway, the flowers won't run away after they bloom. It won't be too late to wait for a while until the sun sets."

"We have to wait until the afternoon, which is pointless. I want to go now. Aren't you annoying me by nagging me?" The county lord found that Chu Jinyao was helping others to persuade her, and felt very disappointed. She complained with a frown.

When Chu Jinmiao heard this, she said quickly, "It is said that we come with excitement and leave with satisfaction. Excitement is fleeting. How can such an elegant thing as flower appreciation be stopped by trivial things? If everyone dislikes the sun, then I will accompany the county lord to appreciate the flowers."

This is the difference between Chu Jinyao and Chu Jinmiao. Chu Jinmiao used to think that she was a legitimate lady and was used to giving orders, so it was natural for everyone to accommodate her. But Chu Jinyao would not be so willful. Put yourself in their shoes. We are all human beings. Why should you embarrass your companions for a momentary whim? Since you are out together, don't you have to discuss everything? It is too selfish to only care about yourself.

But this didn't make sense to the county master. The maid was clearly doing it for the county master's good, but she was still scolded by the county master. Now with Chu Jinmiao's support, the county master refused to listen and acted recklessly.

"County master, your skin can't stand the sun. If you get a rash when you go back, the princess will blame you again."

"Shut up, why should a servant like you interfere in my business?"

Chu Jinmiao said: "If the county master is weak, then let the maid hold an umbrella next to you to keep the sun from shining on your face, isn't that enough?"

What kind of nonsense is this? The little maid holding an umbrella for the county master is not annoying? Chu Jinyao walked over and whispered to Chu Jinmiao: "Just say less. These maids are ordered to come out and watch the county master. If the county master is exposed to the sun, he will be fine, but they will be punished. We are guests, so we should just not persuade the county master. Why bother them?"

Chu Jinmiao sneered and glanced at Chu Jinyao with disdain: "I know what you are thinking. You are afraid that I will get along with the county master, so you try to stop me. Your intentions are really bad. I tell you, just forget about these crooked ideas!"

Chu Jinyao was stunned, feeling like a dog biting Lu Dongbin who didn't recognize the good intentions. The two parties were in a stalemate, when suddenly the maids in the pavilion were startled and all squatted down.

Even the county lord became obedient after seeing the newcomer.

"Meet the prince."

Chu Jinyao heard the voice and turned around to see a young man in a white brocade dress walking slowly among the flowers that were blooming wildly in the autumn.

"I can hear you making trouble from a distance." Lin Xiyuan approached slowly, speaking nonchalantly, but the county lord, who was so arrogant just now, calmed down instantly. Lin Xiyuan said, "If you get exposed to the sun, there will be a commotion at home. You are so old, don't always make trouble."

Caught off guard, the ladies in the pavilion all stood up and bowed to the prince with some cautiousness or surprise. The third lady was originally bored watching the arrogant county lord throwing a tantrum, but when she suddenly saw the prince, her eyes were filled with joy. She stood up quickly, swaying her charming figure, and said in a coquettish voice, "Long live the prince."

Chu Jinyao was stunned when she saw Lin Xiyuan, and after she realized what was going on, she quickly followed everyone to bow. However, she was distracted and was half a beat slower. Lin Xiyuan saw a girl in the crowd who was slower to squat and stand up than the others. He was amused and paid no attention to the others.

The third girl's waist could only be twisted for the air to see.

Although the county lord was afraid when he saw his eldest brother, he was still a little unconvinced: "Who is making trouble?"

Lin Xiyuan looked at him sideways: "How dare you say it?"

The county lord stopped talking, puffed up his cheeks, and didn't dare to say anything.

While he was talking, Lin Xining caught up from behind: "Brother, why are you here suddenly? Hey, your cousin is here too?"

The Chu girls present were all Lin Xining's cousins, but when Lin Xining spoke, his eyes were only looking at one "cousin".

After seeing this, Lin Xiyuan raised his eyebrows with interest. Chu Jinyao was standing close to Chu Jinmiao and noticed it immediately.

Chu Jinyao said "Oh" softly in her heart. Cousins, no wonder. However, even if Lin Xining didn't call her, Chu Jinyao had to greet Lin Xining according to the rules: "Cousin."

Lin Xining nodded as if she had just seen other people and said, "Fifth cousin."

Lin Xiyuan smiled and glanced at Chu Jinyao, saying, "Fifth cousin, why did you only greet the second brother, what about me?"

This person is really sick. Chu Jinyao complained in her heart and said, "I clearly said it just now."

"What did you say?"

You must have bad hearing! Chu Jinyao rolled her eyes in her heart and had to pay her respects to Lin Xiyuan again: "Long live the prince."

Chu Jinyao finished speaking reluctantly and found that Lin Xiyuan, who was smiling just now, suddenly became cold after her greeting, and looked at her with inexplicable displeasure. Chu Jinyao thought to herself, as expected, the prince still remembered what happened that day, and as expected, the prince had a lot of opinions about her!

Chu Jinyao thought rather melancholy, if the prince knew that she, a vulgar woman who was not gentle and gracious at all, and even dared to climb over the wall, might become his sister's study partner with the support of the family, and even intended to seize the position of his wife, he would definitely hate her even more, right?

Chu Jinmiao sighed silently. To be honest, she would most likely disappoint Old Madam Chu. Madam Chu’s plan is great, but it can’t be helped because the prince has a big prejudice against her!

Chu Jinyao lowered her head, her face was very sad. The third and sixth girls found that these people did not mention them at all when talking, and they did not want to be outdone, so they took the initiative to interrupt. The third girl said: "Prince, why are you here?"

The sixth girl was disdainful in her heart, and only asked the prince. The third girl's face was really unbearable to look at. It turned out that she was raised by a little woman and just couldn't show up. After thinking about it, the sixth girl smiled softly and said: "Cousin, prince, are you here to look for the county lord? Could it be that we have gone too far and caused the elders to worry?"

This was much smarter than the third girl's words. The sixth girl intended to show her intelligence. She guessed the prince's intention from her words, and at the end she secretly showed her obedience and didn't want to cause the elders to worry. A lot of thoughts were implied in one sentence. A little more explicit, a little less inadequate, it was just right.

Lin Xiyuan was very unhappy when he heard Chu Jinyao calling Lin Xining cousin and himself the distant prince, but then he saw Chu Jinyao's depressed expression. Even if Chu Jinyao thought he had concealed it very well, he still couldn't hide in front of Lin Xiyuan. Lin Xiyuan's unhappiness gradually dissipated. He was angry and amused in his heart, and a warm smile appeared on his face. He smiled and answered the questions of the other two people: "My second brother and I went to grandmother's place and found out that you guys haven't come back yet. Grandmother was worried that something had happened to you, so she sent us here."

"What could go wrong..." the county lord muttered softly.

Lin Xiyuan glanced at them, and the county lord immediately fell silent. Lin Xiyuan said, "You are the only one who is disobedient. How dare you talk back? If Baozhu has caused trouble to you just now, I will ask her to apologize. Please bear with me."

The girls of the Chu family immediately returned the greeting: "We dare not."

"That's good." Lin Xiyuan smiled and said, "Let's go back now. The girls go first." As he said that, Lin Xiyuan took a step back and gestured to them to go first.

He is really a humble gentleman, gentle as jade. The third girl was very impressed. Only a fool could not catch such a man. She bowed to Lin Xiyuan, and then left with a lot of thoughts in her mind.

According to the order, Chu Jinyao could only leave after Chu Jinmiao left. She followed behind Chu Jinmiao, but just as they left the pavilion, Lin Xining found an umbrella and carefully placed it over Chu Jinmiao's head: "Cousin, be careful of the sun."

Chu Jinyao's teeth suddenly ached, and she glanced forward with a complicated look. Before she could retract her gaze, she heard a chuckle.

Chu Jinyao turned around and found that Lin Xiyuan just walked past her. When they passed by, Lin Xiyuan's smiling voice came: "Watch the road carefully."

The group of people walked and stopped in their own thoughts until they reached their destination. A maid had been standing at the door looking out. When she saw them, she ran out to greet them: "Prince, County Lord, why did you come back so late? The old ancestor and the princess were waiting anxiously, and just sent a group of people out to look for you."

Lin Xiyuan said lightly: "I'm back now." Before he finished speaking, the county lord had already run inside, shouting as he ran: "Mom, my elder brother just scolded me again!"

Lin Xiyuan sighed silently at his sister's appearance that had none of the manners of a lady from an aristocratic family. He had long felt that Lin Baozhu should be properly managed, but the Princess of the County and the old princess didn't think it was urgent, and they thought that Lin Baozhu was so innocent and lively, and was the most likable.

It's a pity that only the Lin family members felt this way.

Lin Xiyuan was thinking about something when he smelled a sweet woman's fragrance and then a woman's voice rang out: "Thank you, Prince, for what happened today."

Lin Xiyuan turned around and looked at the woman in front of him. It took him a while to realize that this seemed to be the daughter of his second aunt's family, probably the sixth child.

The sixth girl stepped forward to thank him with discretion, determined to leave a unique impression on the prince. Lin Xiyuan smiled and nodded: "No problem." As

soon as he finished speaking, he saw Chu Jinyao bowed to him from a distance, and while the sixth girl was talking to him, she quietly bypassed the two of them and tiptoed inside. As soon as she was out of sight, she immediately slipped away like a squirrel. Lin Xiyuan turned his gaze back, and the smile on his face deepened unconsciously. When he came back to his senses, he found that the girl in front of him seemed to have said something, smiling implicitly and lowering her head slightly. Lin Xiyuan was stunned. What did she say just now? Forget it, it doesn't matter.

Lin Xiyuan sent the sixth girl into the house.

No one comes to the palace for the purpose of eating. Chu Jinyao sat at the same table with her sisters. She only picked up the dish in front of her and ate the meal quietly. The old princess smiled so much when she saw Lin Xiyuan that she even pulled him to sit next to her when eating, because they were all family members and the palace didn't pay much attention to the rules of not talking while eating and not talking while sleeping. The old princess asked Lin Xiyuan about his homework, and Lin Xiyuan also answered with a smile.

When they were having a good time, a person suddenly came in from outside. The other person was dressed as a servant. When the old princess saw him, she frowned immediately. There were so many girls here, and they were the wives of other families. How could a servant come in like this?

But before the old lady could get angry, the servant had already run to Lin Xiyuan's side, bent down and whispered something in Lin Xiyuan's ear.

Chu Jinyao looked at Lin Xiyuan curiously. She watched Lin Xiyuan's face change from a light smile to a cold expression, and finally to a serious and serious expression, without a trace of smile. Lin Xiyuan stood up with a bang, and the chair behind him made a slight creaking sound on the ground: "Grandmother, my grandson has other important matters to attend to,

so I'll take my leave first." The old princess was also frightened by Lin Xiyuan's expression, and she hurriedly said: "Since there is something going on outside, you should hurry up and do your business."

Lin Xiyuan bowed to Zhao, glanced at Chu Jinyao, and finally bowed his head deeply: "Madam Changxing Hou, I'm sorry for being rude."

Zhao also stood up and said: "What are you talking about, Prince? We can come anytime, how can we delay your business?"

After Lin Xiyuan apologized, he led his people out quickly. Not to mention Chu Jinyao and others, even the people of the Lin family rarely saw Lin Xiyuan lose his composure like this. The women were whispering quietly: "What's wrong?"

Chu Jinyao looked at the direction where Lin Xiyuan left, with surprise and worry in her eyes.

She just vaguely heard the servant whispering to Lin Xiyuan "Tartar... Prince... Datong..." and other words. Although she didn't understand, these few key words that kept coming out were enough for Chu Jinyao to guess some clues.

Could it be that something big happened at the border?

Sure enough, that afternoon, the news of Datong reached the ears of the women.

The Tatars invaded the border without warning, and the prince was at the front line of the border.

When the old princess heard the news, she was shocked and the teacup in her hand fell to the ground with a "crack" and broke into pieces.

Zhao and others also turned pale in an instant.

Thirteen years ago, the Tatars marched south and Taiyuan fell. These noble women had to leave their homes and flee. Until now, the shadow of fleeing still hangs over the hearts of these noble ladies.

And now, the disaster thirteen years ago has happened again.