Chapter 69
Under Shang Lu's deliberate gentleness and Chu Hua's love for her and her family, the two quickly changed from a state of "not bothering each other" to friends who "sympathize with each other and care for each other".
Shang Lu intuitively felt that something was wrong, but he thought that not knowing the reason would not matter, so he let everything take its course.
The system knew the truth but couldn't tell it. A system hid in a corner and laughed for a long time: [Hahahahaha... Huhuhu... Hehehe... Hehehe... Oh hohoho...]
Chu Huan listened to the 3D surround laughter that lasted for three minutes. Her head was buzzing and she almost felt numb.
No matter how cute the little baby voice is, it can’t be treated like this. She finally couldn’t stand it anymore: [Shut up! ]
System: […Hahaha.]
I laughed so hard that I almost shut myself up in shame.
Although the system runs on code, it also has human emotions such as curiosity, grievance, and shame.
Since they were bound together, Chu Huan has always been very kind to it, never making any noises, and it was frightened when she was caught off guard.
[Sister Huan, you don't love me anymore.] The system complained aggrievedly.
Chu Huan wanted to reply "I've never loved you", but she was afraid that the system would get so angry that it would become autistic, and she would have to coax it in the end, which would only increase her workload.
Forget it, let’s be reasonable.
"If you laugh a little, even for a minute, I can handle it. Tell me, how long did you laugh?"
The system doesn’t have a timer, so how can I know how long I’ve been laughing?
But the good-tempered Chu Huan ordered it to shut up. It won’t last very long, right?
The system asked hesitantly: [Long time?]
Chu Hua: [At least three minutes.]
If these three minutes had not been so unbearable for her, with her heartbeats ringing in her ears, she would not have counted the time by her heartbeats.
system:【……】
Chu Hua: [Here, you time it, and I'll let you experience the feeling of someone laughing in your head for three minutes straight.]
The system felt suffocated just thinking about it: [No, no, I reflect on this and promise not to do it again!]
Chu Hua decided to quit while she was ahead: [Okay, it’s a deal.]
On the one hand, the system felt fortunate, but on the other hand, it felt that Chu Huan was too easy to talk to - if anyone dared to laugh in its mind for three minutes, it would definitely laugh back!
No, it must protect the host!
[Oh, Sister Huan, there's something I forgot to tell you. Chu Shu and the old lady are coming back today and will be at the door in a quarter of an hour.]
The Imperial Guards sent someone to warn them, saying it's best not to appear in front of you. If it's unavoidable, they've also been told what to say and what not to say. So this time, the old lady didn't dare ask you to greet them at the door in advance.
Chu Shu was a little unconvinced, but she didn't dare say anything in front of the Imperial Guards. She was being obedient for now, but there was no guarantee he would do anything in the future. You had to be careful.
Chu Huan didn't think so: "As long as Chu Shu isn't married, she'll have to live under my mother's control. To find a good marriage, she's been trying too hard to be nice and clever, and she doesn't dare to do anything to me."
Even if she were to marry, with her promising family backing her up, her life would be easier in her husband's family. She's a sophisticated egoist, so she wouldn't be unable to understand this.
The system issued a soul-searching question: [But she now has her eyes on the Fifth Prince! The Fifth Prince lives next door to you!]
[With such a good advantage, if she takes a chance, the wife of an official will become the consort of an imperial prince. Shouldn't she be more calculating?]
The problem is that "taking a chance" is extremely difficult to implement.
First, the Fifth Prince already knew that Chu Shu had ill intentions towards him and would be doubly vigilant; second, both of them were still young and many of their tactics could not be used.
Chu Huan: [After the New Year, the Fifth Prince will only be ten years old. What can he plot against?]
System: [The cliché of ancient Chinese novels is to have a group of people catch a couple in adultery, finding them lying together in dishevel. If their reputation is tarnished, they must marry them.]
[So what if the Fifth Prince is young? Chu Shu is only fourteen, so just wait a few more years.]
Chu Huan had to admit that the system made sense, but... [You also said that it was a routine from ancient Chinese novels. You have to consider reality.]
Everyone could see that the Fifth Prince would not do anything, and that this was Chu Shu's plan. Concubine Shu was a fiery woman, and would retaliate against anyone who dared to scheme against her son. The Emperor would not allow others to scheme against members of the royal family at will, otherwise anyone could use such tactics to cling to the royal family.
The Fifth Prince has no feelings for Chu Shu. To catch them in bed, Chu Shu must drug him. Let's not even talk about how to do this quietly. If she succeeds, this will be a fatal handle.
"Today they can drug me, tomorrow they can poison me. How can the safety of the royal family be guaranteed? The emperor will definitely make an example of someone, and Chu Shu will not end well."
The current emperor has only four princes, each of whom is a precious treasure. He has spent a lot of effort, manpower and material resources to cultivate them in the direction of both civil and military talents. Anyone who dares to touch them will be punished.
Saying "it won't be good" is still thinking positively. It is possible that Chu Shu's life was used as a warning to others.
The system can only collect query intelligence and make certain guesses based on the existing situation, which is not very accurate.
If it guesses right, it will be proud. If it guesses wrong, it will not be anxious. It will learn from the experience and try again next time.
[I'm not a strategy system, so I can't check favorability. Judging from the current facts, the emperor's favorability towards Chu Shu is not high. If he gets hold of such evidence, Chu Shu will be at least skinned alive.]
As for why the emperor did not have a good impression of Chu Shu, the reason was obvious: he had a very high opinion of Chu Huan and would not allow anyone to bully her again and again.
It would be fine if there was no opportunity, but if there was a legitimate opportunity to punish, given the emperor's petty and vengeful nature, he would definitely punish severely.
By then, it is possible that Chu Shu might lose half of her life or even her entire life.
Chu Huan also thought of that and pressed her eyebrows.
I hope Chu Shu doesn't do anything stupid, otherwise it will be very difficult for her and the entire Chu family.
But things obviously didn't go as she wished.
After Old Lady Chu and Chu Shu came back, they hadn't had time to rest yet when Chu Shu came with some things in her hands.
She chose a good time, just before the old teacher's class was about to end.
Jia Yi and Cai Gang stood at the door like gate gods, not allowing Chu Shu to disturb the progress of the class inside. Chu Shu was really obedient and did not force her way in. She stood in the cold wind for a long time with her things in her hands. She did not go forward and knock on the door until the class was over.
The system reminded: [Sister Huan is your half-sister.]
Chu Huan: “…” What is coming will come.
She cast a sympathetic look at the Fifth Prince, stood up and went to open the door. There was no other way, there were three people in the study, and her status was the lowest.
The Fifth Prince: “…”
The study door was only open a crack for her to go out, and she closed the door as soon as she came out.
"Is there something?" Chu Huan did not put on a good face, hoping that Chu Shu would give up.
Chu Shu turned a blind eye, smiled softly, and acted like a caring older sister.
"Huan'er, I heard that the Grand Tutor has accepted you as his student. Despite all the court affairs, he still comes to teach you regardless of weather. It must be incredibly hard work. As your elder sister, I thought I'd give him a thank you gift."
"Look, I just got back today and I'm here to see the Grand Tutor. Huan'er, please move aside. I have to thank the Master in person."
Chu Shu stood upright in the cold wind of several degrees below zero, like a white lotus standing firmly in the snow.
Chu Huan: “…”
The Fifth Prince: “…”
Old Master: “…”
I really don’t know what to say.
The system used to read information in the melon field, but the first time it saw the White Lotus display its power, the entire system was shocked.
[This, this, this... If someone who doesn't know the truth heard this, they'd think she was your mother. He's more of a father, but how could she, at such a young age, be so feminine?]
What mother? Can you speak? Chu Shu's smile froze on her face. She was only fourteen years old!
In the study, the fifth prince and the old lady quickly covered their mouths and said, "Don't laugh, or you'll be exposed!"
The system's complaints continued: "Your mother only helped you prepare the apprenticeship gift and didn't say anything in front of the Grand Tutor. Why is she, a half-sister who has nothing to do with you, acting so high and mighty?"
[She caused you to lose half your life, and yet you didn't even come to visit. Now she's trying to seduce the Fifth Prince, so she's using the opportunity of thanking the Grand Tutor to give you a gift. She's so shameless that the city walls aren't even as thick-skinned as she is!]
Jia Yi and Cai Gang, who were guarding the study door, almost couldn't help laughing out loud.
They, the Jinyiwei, have received professional training and generally won't laugh no matter how funny something is, unless they really can't help it.
Meanwhile, the Fifth Prince and the Old Grand Tutor in the study were already trying so hard to hold back their laughter that their shoulders were shaking, and they were only one step away from bursting into laughter.
Chu Shu's face became even uglier.
If it weren't for the repeated warnings from the Jinyiwei, and if the purpose of her visit today had not been achieved, she would have cursed back.
The purpose of her trip was exposed by the system. The Fifth Prince and the Old Grand Tutor heard the whole thing inside, and things became difficult to deal with afterwards.
It was just a rare opportunity to get close to the old Grand Tutor and the Fifth Prince, and she was unwilling to miss it.
"Huan'er?" Chu Shu quickly composed herself, acting like a well-educated lady from a wealthy family. "Don't you want me to go in?"
"Don't worry, I won't disturb your class. I'll go in and say a few words to the teacher, give him a thank you gift, and then leave."
Chu Shu lowered her voice so low that only those nearby could hear, "Or... are you worried that your sister will take away the Fifth Prince's affection for you?"
The fifth prince and the old tutor in the study did not hear the latter sentence, but Jia Yi and Cai Gang had received professional training, and their hearing was better than that of ordinary people, so they heard it very clearly.
The two looked at each other: This is not easy to deal with.
Chu Shu smiled victoriously, knowing that she could get in just by saying this.
Her sister had always been aloof and aloof. She could make money but wasn't greedy, and she had power but didn't abuse it. It was as if she had a scale in her heart that she would never cross. To show that she had no interest in the Fifth Prince, Chu Huan would definitely let her in.
Chu Huan hesitated for a moment, but didn't move aside. "Go back."
Although Chu Shu had this idea, that if she was sent back today, she would come next time, but today's excuse was too outrageous and she could not give in.
The triumphant smile on Chu Shu's face was still there, but it suddenly froze, making her already dull face look a little funny.
"What did you say?"
Chu Huan: "Let you go back."
The system shouted synchronously: [I told you to get out of here!!!]
Everyone:!!!
Those who were farther away could still cover their ears, but those who were nearby almost felt deafened.
Chu Huan and Chu Shu were simultaneously attacked by high-decibel noise at close range, and subconsciously closed their eyes and covered their ears.
[Tong'er.] Chu Huan's face turned pale. [Don't be so loud, I can hear you.]
The system realized it had gotten into trouble and quickly switched to a low voice, whispering, "I'm sorry, I'm so angry."
Chu Huan rubbed her ears, and when she looked up, Chu Shu had already calmed down under the threatening gazes of Jia Yi and Cai Gang, and there was no sign of anything unusual.
With such acting skills and on-the-spot reaction ability, if it were put into modern times, she would at least win a Best Actress award.
Chu Huan sighed secretly, but remained expressionless: "Let's go back."
Chu Shu was about to say something when she received a cold look from Chu Huan: "Stay in your yard quietly, and we will live in peace. Otherwise, I will deduct your monthly salary if you come here."
It was just a monthly allowance, so Chu Shu didn't take it seriously.
Her mother was captured by the Embroidered Uniform Guards, but all the private savings her mother had saved were in her hands. The old lady would also give her subsidies, and she had a lot of money on hand. However, she still despised Chu Huan in her heart: for so many years, she only knew how to deduct the monthly allowance.
Soon, Chu Huan came up with her second trick: "Come twice to deduct the dowry, today counts as one."
In other words, if Chu Shu dares to come to the Fifth Prince's courtyard again, her dowry will be deducted.
Chu Shu's expression changed: "You dare?!"
The voice that was soft just now became extremely sharp in the blink of an eye, like a chicken with its neck pinched and screaming desperately.
In fact, Chu Shu's lifeline was indeed strangled.
A woman's dowry is the capital for her to settle down in her husband's family in the future. The more her family gives, the more they value their daughter, and her husband's family and outsiders will look up to her.
Chu Shu was still thinking about how to get more dowry from Chu Ping and Wen Shi, and show off her dowry so that everyone in the capital would envy her. But before she even started thinking, Chu Huan was deducting her dowry. How could she tolerate this?!
Chu Huan didn't say anything, but just looked at Chu Shu steadily and said silently: Let's see if I dare.
Chu Shu's face turned blue and then red, and then red and then blue again. "My dowry comes from the public, you have no right to deduct my dowry."
The more she spoke, the more confident she became. Her back straightened. "If you dare to withhold my dowry, I will have people beat drums and gongs everywhere to publicize everything you've done, so that the whole capital can see what kind of person you, Chu Huan, are!"
"By then, everyone will know that you are a woman who withheld your sister's dowry, and you are stingy and calculating against your sister. Haha, I think your brother's reputation in the officialdom will also be affected by this."
Jia Yi and Cai Gang: "..."
Seeing with my own eyes the hypocritical white lotus transform into a man-eating carnivorous plant really broadened my horizons.
Moreover, Chu Qin is Chu Shu's biological brother after all, so Chu Shu did not hesitate or hold back when she was scheming against him.
Chu Huan remained calm. She dared to play the card of withholding the dowry, so naturally she could not have failed to anticipate Chu Shu's counterattack.
"Chu Shu, you don't think your dowry is presentable, do you?"
"What do you mean!" Chu Shu was panicked. No way?
Chu Huan didn't try to clear her mind: "Go back and don't come here again. You know my methods."
Not sure what Chu Huan knew, Chu Shu was scared.
She knew that Chu Huan had a system comparable to Jianghu Know-it-all. Even if she didn't know it before, once she persisted, Chu Huan would know everything.
If Chu Huan knew about it, the emperor and all the officials would know about it, and she would be finished.
Chu Shu bit her lip tightly and made the best choice for herself at the moment: "Okay, I'll go back, and you have to promise me that you won't kill me all."
She longed for a reassurance.
Chu Huan didn't say anything, turned around and closed the door, silently ordering her to leave. Chu Shu had no choice but to leave.
The Fifth Prince and the Old Grand Tutor heard everything but said nothing. They simply handed Chu Huan a cup of milk tea and some roasted chestnuts, silently comforting her with their actions: "Every family has its troubles. It's okay."
The system knew Chu Huan wasn't sad, it was just curious: "Sister Huan, what evidence do you have against Chu Shu?"
Chu Shu, who had not walked far, stopped, a look of horror on her face, turned around and ran back.
She hadn't run a few steps when the Jinyiwei who appeared halfway held her down, covered her mouth, and dragged her away.
What a joke! It was okay to go there before, but you will definitely be exposed if you go there now!
Chu Huan didn't really want to say anything, fearing the system might get curious and spread the news, so she could only reveal part of the story: "It's Liu Yue's secret. Her money isn't entirely legitimate."
Therefore, if we must investigate, a considerable portion of Chu Shu's dowry must be confiscated. This is the truth behind Chu Huan's claim that she could deduct the dowry. Otherwise, how could she, who was not in charge of the household finances, so casually deduct her sister's dowry?
When the system saw that Chu Huan was not interested in sex, it knew that she wanted to use this to control Chu Shu, so it did not ask any more questions.
"Shall we eat some watermelon? I ate a really big one while you were in class just now."
Everyone stood up and said: Eat! We must eat!
At this time, Chu Shu, who was dragged away by the Jinyiwei, breathed a sigh of relief.
Her mother's private source of money was exposed, but without evidence, the government couldn't take her money. Fortunately, that was fine.
However, if Chu Huan really knew the truth, she would have to be more restrained in the future, so as to avoid not only failing to catch a rich husband but also losing all her savings, thus getting the worst of both worlds.
Chu Hua: [Whose melon?]
System: [Prince Zong Ling Furui's.]
Chu Hua: [What happened to him?]
System: [His crown prince was not born to the princess, but he is a legitimate son. His grandson was not born to the princess, but he is a legitimate grandson.]
Chu Hua: ???
Everyone: ???
Huh? What kind of logic is this?
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