024

Full of doubts, he looked at his wife under him again.

She didn't change, not even her eyelashes fluttered, and waited patiently for his answer.

He couldn't answer.

Her sudden change left him confused.

But he didn't want to touch those lips, so he kissed her neck instead.

The skin beneath her earlobe was extremely sensitive. The heat from his breath first brushed against her, and Chu Yinran shuddered. Before the shudder subsided, he pressed his hot kiss upon her again, and she could not help but hum.

It was so light, almost inaudible, but they were so close that they could still sense the tenderness of the sound.

She pinched her fingers in frustration.

Lu Jingzhuo paused, and the kiss suddenly intensified.

To prevent any further noise, she bit her lips.

In the end, I was sweating all over.

The next morning, Lian Xuan came to help Chu Yin get dressed and found a kiss mark on the back of her neck, like a lilac petal.

This is the first time such marks appear on the Crown Princess.

It really is true that a short absence makes the heart grow fonder.

Chu Yin herself didn't know it, she just felt a little tired. It might be because she was too tired from trying not to make any sound.

"I want to eat grilled wheat with chicken, pickled bamboo shoots, and black rice porridge later...just these three things," she ordered.

Rendong hurriedly sent a palace maid to the kitchen to pass on the message.

"Find another eunuch to deliver the Manjusri tea to the Chu family, and also ask about any progress on my brother's life-long event." It's already July and the weather isn't too hot. I wonder if my mother can start taking care of it.

"yes."

Chu Yin got out of bed and washed, but she didn't do any careful dressing. She just used a jade hairpin to fix her hair.

There was a plate of peach cakes on the eight-immortals table, which looked like the ones Lu Jingzhuo had eaten in the morning.

He promised Lu Jingchen that he would try it, and he actually tasted it.

Chu Yin also took one and ate it.

It's sweet but not greasy, which is good.

After breakfast, the eunuch who went to the Chu family returned, and Ren Dong reported to Chu Yin: "The tea has been delivered. Madam Chu likes it very much. She also said that the matter of Mr. Chu has not been decided yet. I will give you an answer in half a month."

It seems that he hasn’t met the girl yet, so he can only wait a little longer. Chu Yin rested for a while and stood up to change to short shots.

Honeysuckle was surprised: "Are you going to practice now?" No wonder you were so careless just now.

"Yes, once in the morning and once in the afternoon."

She may not live to be a hundred, but she should live to be fifty, right? How can she do that without working hard?

There is wind blowing in the yard from time to time, which is quite cool.

She practiced Baduanjin under the eaves.

The two children had already woken up and came over to join their mother in making a fuss.

While Chu Yin was taking a break, Lian Xuan asked, "Does your painting need to be framed, Crown Princess?"

ah!

She had taken the initiative to show it to Lu Jingzhuo yesterday, but she actually forgot about it.

"Don't use it yet. Put it on the desk."

"Yes, Princess."

After Chu Yin finished practicing Ba Duan Jin for the second time, she felt refreshed, but she was sweating profusely.

After washing, she asked Lian Xuan to comb her hair into a bun.

A hollow golden hairpin with a flying phoenix pattern is inserted on the right side, and a light pink velvet flower is pinned on the side of her hair, adding a touch of cuteness to her bright and gorgeous appearance.

Lian Xuan smiled and said, "You rarely wear velvet flowers in your hair, this is quite suitable."

Chu Yin tilted her head towards the mirror and said, "I'm half a year younger."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Jingzhuo replied.

When their eyes met, she smiled and called out, "Your Highness."

It was still that restrained smile, and the curve of his mouth was exactly the same as yesterday.

Lu Jingzhuo suddenly understood something.

She is very similar to the original Chu Yin.

Could it be that she went to the Manjusri Temple, realized that her coquettish behavior was inappropriate, and changed her behavior?

It is normal for the Crown Princess to be dignified and self-respecting, there is nothing wrong with that.

But she acted like a spoiled child to seduce him and have a child. Now the idea has not stopped. Why did she change her mind? Or did she feel that she no longer needed to seduce him and use various means to get what she wanted?

His thoughts turned to another, and he remained expressionless, glancing at Velvet, whom he had never seen before: "Did you just get up?"

"I got up at 7:00 a.m. and just practiced the exercises twice."

"…More haste makes waste. Don't tire yourself out."

Chu Yin's smile deepened a little: "Thank you for your reminder, Your Highness. I will pay attention."

As it was noon, the two of them had lunch together.

Thinking of the painting, Chu Yin apologized, "I was probably tired yesterday and forgot to show it to Your Highness. Please don't blame me."

It turns out that she remembered it. Lu Jingzhuo said calmly: "It doesn't matter. It's the same at any time."

Having said that, Chu Yin's ultimate goal was still to be in love with Lu Jingzhuo, so she walked to the desk and showed the three paintings to Lu Jingzhuo.

He was not good at painting, but he could tell at a glance that she was painting with a fine brush.

Because of its extremely dense and detailed outlines and clever use of pigments, looking at the painting is like seeing the real thing. He has already imagined the scene of the spiritual spring cascading down in his mind.

“Not inferior to Kong Weining’s Listening to the Spring.”

Chu Yin was delighted by the high praise, but she was reserved: "Your Highness, you are too kind. How can I compare to Master Kong... But Your Highness knows this person? I don't usually see Your Highness appreciate paintings."

"You naturally don't know what I do in Chunhui Pavilion." She has only been here two or three times, right?

It turns out that he does more than just listen to the lectures. Chu Yin suddenly had an idea: "That's right. Your Highness and I only spend time together at noon and in the evening. We don't really know each other well... In fact, in addition to painting, I also collect calligraphy occasionally. I like Liu Xu's calligraphy very much."

He must have learned it from somewhere else in his previous life, but in this life she told him in person.

He'd better remember to send the letter as soon as possible.

However, Lu Jingzhuo just hummed, not showing whether he heard it or not.

Chu Yin was inevitably disappointed, but still asked: "What does Your Highness like?"

She never asked him.

Sending him a flower arrangement was a presumptuous decision and definitely not what he wanted.

When I sorted out my memories, I found no clues at all.

It's not possible that he just likes handling government affairs, right?

Lu Jingzhuo didn't answer, and slowly put down the painting in his hand: "I have to go."

Half an hour had passed before she knew it. Chu Yin said, "I will see His Highness off."

In just four or five sentences, she had said "concubine" several times. Lu Jingzhuo looked at her solemnly, and then found that she had always kept a distance of one foot from him, so he said, "No need."

I was rejected...

She just wants to fulfill her duties as a good wife, is that necessary?

This guy is really hard to please. He is not allowed to act coquettishly, not even this, Chu Yin complained inwardly.

Lu Jingzhuo walked away quickly.

When I reached the palace gate, I saw a pale yellow sycamore leaf blown by the wind and fell at my feet.

It’s really autumn.

Migratory birds are flying south, and these days flocks of geese often fly across the sky, making their "cawing" sounds.

The pomegranates were already half red and as big as fists, lying under the branches. Lu Zhen saw them and was very greedy, and clamored to eat some. Chu Yin asked Xiaodou to stand on a stool and pick one for her.

After washing and peeling it, the seeds inside were not very red. Chu Yin took one and gave it to her daughter to eat.

She pursed her lips, feeling so sad that she almost cried.

Lu Yu was curious: "Mom, I want one too."

It is natural for brothers and sisters to share the joys and sorrows, so Chu Yin also gave him one pill.

Lu Wei's face immediately wrinkled into a bitter gourd.

Chu Yin chuckled, then wondered if it was really that sour.

Out of curiosity she also ate one.

The sour and astringent taste spread on her tongue, and she almost threw the pomegranate in her hand away. But at this moment, an idea flashed through her mind, and she kept the pomegranate, brought it back to the hall, and placed it on the desk.

Afterwards, Chu Yin went to practice martial arts.

She sweated less than before, and after practicing twice, her hands and legs were not so sore.

In this case, you should learn horse riding.

I wonder if Lu Jingzhuo is willing to teach her?

Probably she still won't agree, so she might as well find a female officer who knows how to ride to teach her.

Yes, that’s it!

Lian Xuan had already prepared water in advance and sprinkled some osmanthus flowers that were about to bloom on it.

Chu Yin sat in the bathtub, her nose filled with sweet fragrance.

Mid-Autumn Festival is coming soon.

August……

October is almost here.

She had to quickly find a way to catch Gong Huai.

Seeing Chu Yin leaning against the bucket, her spring-like fingers carelessly fiddling with the osmanthus flowers, her brows suddenly furrowed, Lian Xuan asked: "What's wrong with you? You were so happy just now, why do you suddenly seem to be worried?"

"I have something on my mind," Chu Yin raised her hand, watching the water droplets falling from her fingertips, creating ripples, and ordered, "Go out and prepare the car. I'm going to Kunning Palace later."

"Ah? Going at this time?"

"Yes." She had a solution.

Lian Xuan responded.

After getting dressed, Chu Yin took a car to Kunning Palace.

It was approaching the evening hour and there were faint orange-red clouds on the horizon.

Queen Jiang was surprised and asked, "Ayin, why are you here at this time?"

"I would like to ask my mother for a favor." Chu Yin went straight to the point.

"Sit down and talk."

"Yes." Chu Yin said half-truthfully, "My daughter-in-law told Er'er and Zhen'er the story of Dayu controlling floods a while ago. They were too young to understand, so my daughter-in-law suddenly remembered that there seemed to be a jade carving of Dayu controlling floods in the palace. My daughter-in-law wanted to let Er'er and Zhen'er take a look, maybe it would be helpful."

Queen Jiang asked Nanny Chen, "Is there such a jade carving?"

"Your Majesty, there is none in Kunning Palace, but elsewhere... I think we should ask Eunuch Chen, who is in charge of the four great treasure houses."

Chen Qingsheng was Gong Huai's superior. He was implicated by Gong Huai and was beheaded. Of course, he was also derelict in his duty. He was fooled by Gong Huai and did not realize that this subordinate had been stealing treasures.

Queen Jiang groaned, "Ayin, I'll invite Eunuch Chen tomorrow morning and you can tell him."

"Thank you, mother," Chu Yin was about to say goodbye, but when she stood up, she thought about riding again, "Mother, I want to learn horse riding recently. I wonder which female official is good at it?"

Nanny Chen understood this very well: "Your Majesty, please ask Yu Sizhang to come. She is the daughter of a military officer."

The Sizhang was under the Shangyi Bureau and was in charge of weapons. Originally, its status was not low. However, since the previous dynasty, the female officials had been weakened repeatedly and had no power anymore. Their role was just a decoration.

Queen Jiang showed a puzzled expression: "Ayin, why don't you let Jingzhuo teach you? He has been practicing horse riding since he was a child, wouldn't it be better for him to teach you?"

That depends on whether he is willing.

Anyway, she didn't want to run into a wall again. Chu Yin said, "My daughter-in-law doesn't want to trouble him. Besides, it's easier to arrange time with a female official teaching."

It was indeed inconvenient for her son to go to Chunhui Pavilion to attend classes every day, so Queen Jiang didn't say anything more.

Nanny Chen was always considerate and reminded Chu Yin: "Since the Crown Princess wants to learn horse riding, the riding and archery uniforms must be made first."

Thinking of the shorts she brought when she taught martial arts, Chu Yin smiled and instructed Ren Dong: "Go to the Shanggong Bureau and tell the Sizhi that I want to make four sets of riding and archery uniforms, embroidered with plum, orchid, bamboo and chrysanthemum patterns respectively. As for the colors... red, orange, blue and green."

"Yes, I will go now."

It was already evening when we returned from Kunning Palace.

Lu Jingzhuo arrived at the East Palace before her.

"I heard that you went to pay a visit to the Queen Mother?" he asked.

"I need your help with something," Chu Yin told him the whole story. "Er'er, Zhen'er has seen the jade carvings, so she must have a deep memory of the story of Dayu's flood control. Maybe she can remember it."

Why go to so much trouble for a story? Lu Jingzhuo glanced at her.

Chu Yin was wearing a rose-purple peony-patterned brocade short jacket, and a jade-colored embroidered skirt with broken branches and piled flowers. She had her hair in a ponytail bun, and wore a gold hairpin and a jade ring. She looked elegant and graceful, but her expression was so dull, like a handful of snow among a cluster of flowers. It was hard not to notice her.

She has been like this for half a month.

Lu Jingzhuo didn't expect her to become so thorough.

In bed too...

Of course, he didn't have sex as often as before, because he wanted to see what Chu Yin was thinking.

"Luckily there is the jade carving. If it were a different story, what would you have done?" He rolled up his sleeves and washed his hands.

It was just an excuse, there was no other story. Chu Yin said, "I'll try to pick some simple stories... Of course, if Your Highness is free, you can read them to them." As she spoke, she glanced at the pomegranate on the desk in front of her. She smiled and walked over to take it in her hand. "Last time, Zhen'er asked Your Highness about the pomegranate. Do you still remember it?"

"Um."

"It's grown so big." She showed it to him.

The seeds inside the peeled pomegranate were light pink. Lu Jingzhuo glanced at them and said nothing.

"Would your highness like to try it?" she asked.

Lu Jingzhuo refused: "No need."

I wanted to see his expression when he ate the sour pomegranate, but now I can't see it.

Who told her not to act coquettishly? Otherwise, she might be able to coax him into eating one.

It’s all to give up now, Chu Yin put the pomegranate aside.

Very crisp and neat.

Lu Jingzhuo glanced at Shi Liu and for some reason thought of the time when she wanted to feed him ice cream.

Holding the silver spoon, he urged him to eat faster, saying that his hands were sore.

Later, he fed her for the first time.

He lowered his eyes and slowly wiped his hands with a towel.

Chu Yin ordered the palace maids to serve the meal.

At this time, Ren Dong came back from the Shanggong Bureau and said, "Crown Princess, I have conveyed your intention to the Sizhi. The Sizhi said that it will take about eight days to complete. Please wait a moment, or make a set first and send it to me if the Crown Princess is in a hurry."

"There's no need to rush. Tell them tomorrow to be more careful." She had things to do in the warehouse, and she also had to get rid of the Gong Huai.

"Yes, I will save you the trouble."

Lu Jingzhuo was confused by what he heard. He sat down at the table and asked, "What's the matter?"

Chu Yin said: "I asked the engineer of Shanggong Bureau to make a riding suit for me."

It turned out that she had always wanted to learn horse riding from him.

But when did he ever promise to teach her?

Just as Lu Jingzhuo was dissatisfied with her self-assertion, he heard Chu Yin say, "Don't misunderstand me, Your Highness. I will ask the female official to teach me horseback riding."

Lu Jingzhuo: “…”

Prince: ??? He must have heard it wrong!