"Second brother, I know you feel bad, but you can't put the blame on me!"

Chu Lingxiao certainly knew that he didn't do it. Now after hearing Chu Lingyu's suggestion, he also realized that there was no need for the Shen family to do this.

Chu Lingxiao frowned, the feeling of being wronged made him feel angry and suffocated, he snorted coldly: "It's obviously you who made the enemy outside."

"I just go to and from the government office every day, and at most go out for a drink with my colleagues. How could I have a deep hatred with anyone?!" Chu Lingyu roared, his face flushed red, and his eyes became even redder, as if stained with blood.

The hatred in my heart reached its highest point at this moment.

He was paralyzed, his life was ruined by his own elder brother! Chu Lingyu was unwilling to accept this, his anger and hatred made him lose all reason, and he rushed towards Chu Lingxiao frantically...

Amidst the screams, Chu Lingyu rolled off the couch, fell flat on his face, and screamed in agony.

The inner room was in chaos.

Mrs. Liu cried out in pain, and Chu Lingting hurried to help her. The lady almost fainted. Chu Lingxiao subconsciously took two steps back, fearing that Chu Lingyu would pounce on her like a mad dog again.

Chu Lingyu screamed and pointed at Chu Lingxiao tremblingly, angrily scolding: "Chu Lingxiao, get out of here! I don't need your hypocrisy. From now on, I don't have you as my big brother anymore!"

Chu Lingxiao's previous gloating had all been lost. He felt that he had a lot of grievances but nowhere to speak them out. Even if he did, no one would believe him. Even his lady dowager and his two half brothers looked at him with suspicion.

But he really didn't do this! Chu Lingyu's serious injury made the atmosphere in Yongding Marquis's mansion more solemn, and people were restless.

Soon even Shen, who was in Duke Mu's mansion, knew about this.

The lady-in-waiting was really at a loss, but couldn't bear to see her second son become paralyzed, so she ordered Liu to go to the Duke's Mansion in person to ask for a letter to invite the imperial physician.

No matter how much Liu disliked Shen, she had to lower her attitude for Chu Lingyu and cried, "Sister-in-law, even though we had some unpleasantness before, we are still a family after all, and there is no overnight hatred among family members!"

"For so many years, my husband has always respected my sister-in-law. Sister-in-law, I beg you, please help me get a doctor to see him."

"I really can't bear to see him paralyzed in bed for the rest of his life..."

Liu sobbed and sobbed, her eyes were red and swollen, and she looked at Shen at the top of the table pleadingly.

Shen was too lazy to meddle in the Chu family's affairs, but her mind moved, a dark light flashed in her eyes, and she changed her words and said, "I will ask someone to go to my father to ask for a letter."

"Sister-in-law..." Liu was shocked and dumbfounded.

She had already prepared herself that Shen would embarrass her and humiliate her, and she even thought about kneeling down to beg Shen. However, she didn't expect Shen to agree so readily that she almost suspected she was dreaming.

After a cup of tea, Liu, who received the note, felt like she had found a treasure. She was so excited that she kept thanking the owner and left with the note.

Shen looked at Liu's receding back and suddenly said to Nanny Chen beside her, "Chu Lingxiao was really ruthless."

"But you deserve it!" If she hadn't noticed it, Brother Yi wouldn't have been on guard against his family and might have really fallen into his trap.

Like Chu Lingyu, Shen also felt that Chu Lingxiao had been so cruel to his younger brother just for the sake of his job.

Of course, she didn't post that because she sympathized with Chu Lingyu, but just to make the fight between the two of them more fierce.

This is the only way to ease her anger.

Nanny Chen was still a little confused and exchanged glances with Dongmei who came over to serve her tea.

Shen slowly drank a sip of hot tea, her whole body felt smooth, and she sneered, "It's only been a few days, and their family has become so chaotic. No wonder they would attack Brother Yi!"

"Chu Lingxiao is really a man without ruthlessness. He can abandon his son, but he can't be so cruel even to his brothers. He only knows how to scheme all day long. His family is disgusting."

Nanny Chen sighed secretly. Come to think of it, Chu Lingxiao was so cruel to his brother and son, and he even switched his two daughters. He was simply shameless and had no bottom line. What could a person like him not do?

Nanny Chen was afraid that Shen would be angry with Chu Lingxiao again, so she coaxed her softly, "Madam, please don't be upset, or else Second Aunt will worry again."

Chu Qianchen came to the Duke's Mansion yesterday, took Shen's pulse again, and prescribed a prescription.

When Shen thought of her daughter, she smiled, her eyebrows curved, and she said, "I'm not angry. I see through them. Getting angry for these people is just self-destruction. It's not worth it."

After what happened with Kang Hongda, Shen finally thought it through: People can't reason with beasts. If a beast bites you, can you bite it back? If she was alone, she could afford it, but she still had Mu Ge'er! Shen took another sip of hot tea. As soon as she drank it, she could taste that it was the hundred-year-old Pu'er that Chu Qianchen had just sent yesterday.

Her heart became calmer, like the surface of a lake in spring.

"Dongmei, go to Prince Chen's Mansion and give Sister Chen a message." Shen said calmly, "I think Chu Lingxiao will have to ask her for an errand soon."

"Tell her not to pay attention to Chu Lingxiao. If Chu Lingxiao makes a fuss, tell him to come find me."

As she spoke, Shen's brows showed a hint of disdain, and she curled the corners of her lips in a sneer, her expression calm.

She didn't intend to let Chu Lingxiao get away with it by giving him such a good job as the Military Selection and Clearing Officers Division of the Ministry of War. He didn't deserve it!

Dongmei agreed, and fearing that Chu Lingxiao would overtake her, she immediately arranged a carriage and went to Prince Chen's Mansion, where she told her about Liu's visit to the Duke's Mansion to ask Shen for the invitation and Shen's speculations.

Shen's guess was correct, but Dongmei was already late. In fact, Chu Lingxiao had already arrived a cup of tea ago.

However, Chu Qianchen deliberately left him alone and asked him to wait in Shaohua Hall. He then leisurely changed his clothes, sent away Dongmei who came to report the news, and then slowly went to Shaohua Hall in the front yard.

Chu Lingxiao had long been impatient and asked the palace guards standing outside the hall repeatedly, but no one paid any attention.

After changing two cups of tea, he saw Chu Qianchen's figure enter his field of vision and walk towards him leisurely.

The father and daughter didn't even exchange a word of greeting. The first thing Chu Lingxiao said was, "What's the errand?"

His eyes were filled with eager desire.

Chu Qianchen smiled faintly and asked instead of answering, "How is Second Uncle?"

"Your second uncle is paralyzed." Next, Chu Lingxiao gave a brief account of how Chu Lingyu was ambushed and became seriously injured and paralyzed.

Finally, he added, "The family has invited all the famous doctors in Beijing, and they all said that your second uncle is hopeless and will never be able to walk again in this life. You should be happy now, right?"

Chu Qianchen raised his eyebrows with a smile, and tilted his face slightly, "Why should I be happy?"

"My second uncle is paralyzed. Isn't it you, father, who is the biggest beneficiary?"

She smiled with her lips curved, and her delicate little face was full of innocence.

However, Chu Lingxiao had once seen the second daughter showing no fear of weakness when facing the emperor in the imperial study, and he simply did not believe that she was really naive.

Perhaps it was his second daughter's nature that was like this, or perhaps it was because of the training she received from Prince Chen after marriage that she was no longer the cowardly concubine's daughter of the Chu family.

She is a poisonous snake that can bite people at any time.

But precisely because she is an aggressive venomous snake, she has the ability to help herself get that job and even regain the title.

Chu Qianxiao now has extremely complicated feelings towards Chu Qianchen. He wants to strangle her to death when he hates her, but he doesn't dare to.

Chu Lingxiao didn't want to waste time talking to her, and asked anxiously again: "What's the errand?"

"Was it father who did what happened to my second uncle?" Chu Qianchen still did not answer Chu Lingxiao's question.

Facing this daughter, Chu Lingxiao did not dare to be careless at all, nor did he want to reveal his cards too early, so he sneered incomprehensibly: "Yes or no, does it matter?"

However, Chu Qianchen did not give up and asked for the second time: "But was it done by my father?"

Chu Lingxiao: “…”

Chu Lingxiao stared at Chu Qianchen closely, his eyes deep.

Now in the Marquis' Mansion, not only Chu Lingyu, but even the Madame Dowager has determined that he did it. He can't explain it anywhere, but it is definitely not him.

If facing someone else, Chu Lingxiao would tell the truth, but would Chu Qianchen want to hear this answer?

The hall was silent, and the only sound was the swaying of branches in the courtyard.

When the father and daughter's eyes met, they were confronting and exploring each other, engaging in a game in which neither side would give in.

In the silent stalemate in the room, Chu Lingxiao swallowed, his Adam's apple rolled slightly, and his eyes turned half a circle hesitantly.

After a while, he placed his bet like a desperate gambler and uttered a word: "Yes."

Now that he had made the decision, Chu Lingxiao became calm and said, "Although he was not sent to Youzhou for exile, your second uncle is already paralyzed and a useless person. He will never have any future in his life. Isn't that enough?"

Chu Qianchen did not answer. She picked up the blue and white porcelain teacup and drank tea elegantly, as if she was thinking or delaying time.

Chu Lingxiao's heart grew tense as the silence prolonged, and he couldn't help but wonder if Chu Qianchen wanted to go back on his word.

His hands grasped the armrests, and just as he was about to speak, he heard Chu Qianchen casually say, "That's enough."

Chu Lingxiao's eyes suddenly widened, unable to hide the ecstasy in his heart.

"Where is the appointment document?" he asked quickly.

Chu Qianchen smiled lightly: "I have two jobs here, you can choose any one, one is the military selection and clerk division of the Ministry of War, and the other is the doctor of the Ministry of Internal Affairs."

What?! Chu Lingxiao's eyes suddenly widened.

He originally thought that Chu Qianchen wanted to shirk her debt, but he didn't expect that she would actually offer a better option than the Ministry of War's Military Selection and Cleaning Bureau.

The Imperial Household Department was in charge of royal affairs. Not only could it deal with various royal merchants by purchasing for the royal family, but it also had its own unique business, such as sable fur. The work in the Imperial Household Department was so lucrative that countless people were trying their best to squeeze into the Imperial Household Department.

Chu Lingxiao was afraid that Chu Qianchen would go back on his word, so he hurriedly said, "I've made up my mind. I'm going to the Ministry of Internal Affairs!"

Chu Qianchen smoothed the wrinkles on his sleeves and reminded him, "Father, you have to think it over carefully. The job of the Ministry of Internal Affairs is to work for the royal family. With so many eyes watching, there can be no mistakes."

Chu Lingxiao certainly knew that the job in the Imperial Household Department was not that easy. The Minister in Charge of the Imperial Household Department had been replaced three times in the few years since the emperor ascended the throne.

The transactions of the Imperial Household Department went into the emperor's inner treasury. If something went wrong, it would be equivalent to paying compensation to the emperor, and the emperor would be furious.

"Of course," Chu Qianchen quickly changed the subject, "If father does a good job, promotion is just around the corner."

Chu Lingxiao's eyes sparkled, and he said again: "I've made up my mind, I'm going to the Ministry of Internal Affairs!"

There is a folk saying that there is no business in the world that is guaranteed to make a profit.

In fact, this statement is wrong. The business of the Imperial Household Department is a sure win.

As long as a little bit of money flows out from the fingers of those imperial merchants, it will be enough for the Chu family to live on for several generations. Moreover, who in the court dares to respect the officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs? This position is too rare! !

Chu Qianchen waved his hand casually and told Jiang Yuan, "Jiang Yuan, go tell the prince."

"Yes, Princess." Jiang Yuan accepted the order respectfully and left the hall calmly.

Chu Lingxiao was not in the mood to drink tea until now, so he picked up the teacup.

Thinking back to the last time Chu Qianchen ordered the maid to get the appointment document from the Ministry of War, he felt a little subtle: his daughter was actually the one who could call the shots in Prince Chen's Mansion. She knew everything about the Ministry of War and the Imperial Household Department, and she only needed to send someone to "tell the prince", instead of her having to go and ask Prince Chen herself.

Chu Lingxiao drank his tea while curling the corners of his lips in a strange way.

The father and daughter had no affection for each other and had nothing to say to each other, so the hall fell into an eerie silence again.

Chu Lingxiao drank his tea silently, and couldn't help wondering whether he should get along well with Chu Qianchen. That way, with the support of Prince Chen's Mansion, his future would be smoother.

He is no worse than others, but he has been stagnant in officialdom over the years. In the final analysis, he just lacks a "noble person".

Chu Lingxiao glanced at Chu Qianchen from time to time. Chu Qianchen was leisurely and comfortable, not even looking at him. He was drinking tea, peeling nuts, and eating snacks.

After all, Chu Lingxiao did not lower himself to talk to Chu Qianchen. When he finished the cup of tea in his hand slowly, Jiang Yuan finally came back with the appointment document in his hand.

Chu Lingxiao's heartbeat uncontrollably quickened, his eyes were unusually bright as he stared at the appointment document.

Chu Qianchen raised his hand and pointed at Chu Lingxiao, and Jiang Yuan directly handed the appointment document to Chu Lingxiao.

Chu Lingxiao took it eagerly, opened the document quickly, and confirmed the content and the seal of the Ministry of Personnel again and again. His heart, which had been beating wildly, finally settled down and felt at ease.

Really, this appointment letter must be true! Chu Qianchen gave the order to leave calmly: "You should report to the Ministry of Internal Affairs as soon as possible."

Chu Lingxiao had no intention of staying any longer. He had already gotten what he wanted, and he didn't want to stay here any longer.

Chu Lingxiao cleared his throat, said a polite word, "Please give your father's regards to the prince," and left.

The moment he stepped out of the hall, Chu Lingxiao felt like he was reborn, and even his clumsy left leg seemed to become lighter.

He felt that he had vaguely grasped Chu Qianchen's thoughts. She was forcing him to express his opinion and to bow to her. She wanted to control him, so she was willing to give him some benefits so that he would obey.

Chu Lingxiao left without looking back. Chu Qianchen drank two more sips of tea before getting up and returning to the inner courtyard.

Gu Jue was holding a carving knife and fiddling with the jadeite raw stone that Chu Yunyi had given him. There was no rush anyway. He would only carve for a while when he felt like it. Moreover, with Chu Qianchen watching him, he could not hold the carving knife for more than an hour at a time.

Therefore, although I have received this piece of jade for more than ten days, it only has a rough outline.

Chu Qianchen didn't disturb him. He walked to his side quietly, holding his chin and staring at him.

She liked to see him concentrate, and she discovered that he liked it too.

There is an hourglass on the small square table next to it.

When the sand in the hourglass was almost gone, Gu Jue put down the carving knife, and at this time, a basin of warm water was already prepared.

After Chu Qianchen tested the water temperature, he enthusiastically washed his hands.

Gu Jue wet his hands first, and after washing them roughly, Chu Qianchen took a piece of rose-scented soap and rubbed circles on the palms and backs of his hands, while telling him a few things about Chu Lingxiao and Chu Lingyu, including Chu Lingxiao's admission that he was the one who did it.

"but……"

Chu Qianchen put down the soap, his eyelashes fluttered twice, and then he heard Gu Jue say, "It's probably not Chu Lingxiao, he doesn't have such courage."

Chu Qianchen raised her eyes to look at Gu Jue. When their eyes met, she couldn't help but smile and nodded, "Your Highness is right."

She slowly worked bubbles into his hands, rubbed each of his slender fingers carefully, and then washed them with clean water. Only after making sure that the crevices between his nails were clean did she curl her lips in satisfaction.

She washed his hands and hair, which was a habit she developed when he couldn't move around a while ago. Now the wound on his chest had healed well and he could wash it by himself, but Chu Qianchen still couldn't help but want to help him wash it.

She felt that this was probably due to the similar mentality that he liked to carve small objects for her and she liked to make clothes and weave needlework for him.

Chu Qianchen narrowed his eyes in pleasure and said, "My Lord, you see people more clearly than I do. On the other hand, I am only blinded by one leaf."

When Chu Qianchen heard the news from Dongmei, like Shen, her first reaction was that the main culprit behind the scenes was Chu Lingxiao. Just now, she had repeatedly questioned Chu Lingxiao in Shaohua Hall, also to test Chu Lingxiao's reaction.

Although Chu Lingxiao admitted that he did it, Chu Qianchen felt something was wrong.

Now after hearing what Gu Jue said, Chu Qianchen finally understood what was wrong.

Indeed, Chu Lingxiao was not brave enough to do this. If he had the courage to kill, he would not have made no progress in his career for so many years.

Chu Lingxiao is a person who loves power and face, and always acts aloof. That's why he doesn't like the Shen family because others would talk about him trying to marry into the Shen family.

If he really wanted to attack Chu Lingyu, he would definitely worry that others would suspect him and point fingers at him for the rest of his life and say that he murdered his own brother. When the time comes, he would regret it.

What he dared to do was to secretly swap the two baby girls, something despicable, shameless and cowardly, because he thought no one would discover the truth, and the two ignorant baby girls could only let him control their fate! Chu Qianchen's eyes showed a mocking smile, and at the same time, his hands did not stop, carefully drying his hands with a white towel.

Mm. Clean and refreshing, and the fingers are really long.

"Who do you think did it?" The smile on Chu Qianchen's lips deepened, and he couldn't help but compare his palm with his own, with his delicate palm pressed against the rough palm.

How could Gu Jue know? But seeing Chu Qianchen was very interested, he said nonchalantly, "Just ask and you'll know."

He ordered Jiang Yuan to go ahead and find Cheng Linhua. Jiang Yuan followed the order and left. As for Amber, she obediently took the basin out.

Only the young couple were left in the room.

Gu Jue moved his fingers, grabbed her hand in return, and pulled her to sit on the rattan chair by the window.

The rattan chair was large enough to accommodate two people. Until now, Chu Qianchen still treated Gu Jue as a porcelain doll and did not dare to lean on his chest. The two of them leaned their backs against the pillows, sitting side by side, with their arms touching.

Chu Qianchen casually played with his long, beautiful fingers and asked in a tender voice, "How long will it take for his job to go wrong?"

"Is it urgent?" Gu Jue asked.

When facing Gu Jue, Chu Qianchen never hides anything and just nods directly.

She really couldn't bear it any longer. The sooner this matter could be resolved, the better. The Chu family was like a leech that couldn't get rid of blood after sucking enough. It was disgusting.

Gu Jue gently rubbed her hair with one hand, leaned over and whispered in her ear: "With his greed and stupidity, it won't take more than a month."

It’s actually not difficult to understand someone like Chu Lingxiao.

Can't Duke Mu see through it?

In the final analysis, the first step was wrong. By marrying her daughter to Chu Lingxiao, she had already put herself in a dilemma. She could only hope that her son-in-law was not that bad...

The problem is, human hearts can be so dirty.

Whether on the bloody battlefield or in this seemingly prosperous and peaceful capital, people's hearts are equally complicated.

Gu Jue's eyes were deep and he let out a long sigh in his heart.

She can wait for a month! Chu Qianchen smiled with satisfaction, bowed his head, and kissed the palm of his left hand gently.

Gu Jue's left hand trembled slightly.

Then he pulled her hand over and, likewise, gently kissed the palm of her delicate left hand.

Very light and soft.

His warm breath sprayed on her palm, making her feel itchy.

When Gu Jue looked up at her, he added, "Yun Zhan has already told Brother Yi about this matter."

Chu Qianchen: “…”

Chu Qianchen subconsciously applied a little force on the fingers that were holding Gu Jue's hand, feeling a little worried about Chu Yunyi.

Without her saying anything, Gu Jue knew what she was worried about, and continued, "He got drunk and cried. Yun Zhan dragged him to practice with the Black Armor Army for two days. He collapsed as soon as he returned to the tent yesterday, and he hasn't woken up yet."

"This kid can't drink much. He needs to practice. He got drunk with only half a bottle of wine. He was so drunk that he forgot most of what he did and said."

Gu Jue shook his head in amusement, which made Chu Qianchen laugh as well.

Chu Yunyi is a proud and strong-willed child, but he is never one to dwell on trivial matters. After getting drunk and crying this time, he should be fine.

Sure enough, some things should be discussed between men.

If she were to say it, Chu Yunyi would try to show off in front of her again, and maybe even try to comfort her by bringing up the fact that he is the eldest son.

This kid doesn't even think about it. He is just a nobody. She and her mother don't need him to worry about them!

Chu Qianchen gently leaned his head on Gu Jue's right shoulder and praised: "Yun Zhan is really good at talking, I have to thank him."

What is Yunzhan missing? She wondered in her mind.

Gu Jue touched her head again, helped her adjust to a more comfortable position, and continued to chat with her: "When she was in the Yun family before, Yun Zhan was also plotted against."

Yun Zhan was a bastard's son. He was admitted to the Imperial Academy when he was young. He stood out among several bastards in the Yun family and was looked at with special favor by the Earl of Zhongyong. However, he was also feared by his stepmother and brothers.

Before joining the army, he was almost tricked by his stepmother into becoming the son-in-law of another family, a merchant family. It was because of this incident that Yunzhan decided to give up the military examination and directly joined the army and went to the north.

As long as he is not in the capital, the Yun family will naturally not be able to plot against him.

Gu Jue talked about a few things that happened when Yun Zhan was young, and finally said, "So, he hardly ever goes back to the Yun family now."

But now, Yunzhan has the support of Prince Chen's Mansion. To put it bluntly, even his father, Earl Zhongyong, has no right to manipulate his marriage at will. Even if Earl Zhongyong really has his eyes on a candidate, he still has to ask Gu Jue first to see if Gu Jue has any other arrangements.

Chu Qianchen couldn't help but think of the day when Yun Zhan's neck was "accidentally" cut by Yun Hao. To this day, Yun Zhan's neck still has the scar from that time. He himself was very open-minded and didn't hide the scar. He always said that he deserved to remember this lesson.

Gu Jue stroked her slender shoulders twice, and then said, "Just let Yunzhan take care of Yi Ge'er, and you don't need to worry about these things."

"Don't always treat him as a child. He's not a child anymore."

Of course Chu Qianchen listened to Gu Jue. Since Gu Jue said not to worry, she didn't worry about it and nodded obediently.

Who would have thought that Gu Jue’s next sentence would be: “You are not even two years older than him…”

What he meant was that Chu Qianchen was not that old, so there was no need to worry about Chu Yunyi about everything.

This sentence was like stepping on a cat's tail. Chu Qianchen's hair stood on end. He sat up, his beautiful phoenix eyes widened and he said seriously, "I'm not young anymore!"

Gu Jue: “…”

Chu Qianchen stared into his eyes and said, "I'm almost 15 years old."

In Gu Jue's eyes, she was like a child who refused to obey.

Gu Jue was amused by her. His eyes and lips curved into charming arcs, and smiles rippled in his pupils.

He looked at her as if she was a priceless treasure, held in the palm of his hand.

"Well, we Qianchen are not small anymore."

He leaned over and placed a soft kiss on her eyelid, making her feel protected and loved.

(End of this chapter)