When they saw that there was no one at the courtyard gate, everyone realized that they had all been deceived.
Normally, they would have scoffed at such an obviously fake ruse. But since the one using it was the princess, subconsciously they all thought that the princess would disdain to use such a... deceptive method.
As for Zhao Yue, he was a bit thick - headed. He really thought the prince had come. When he turned around expectantly to look for the prince, he found that there was no one behind him.
He had been deceived by this little girl!
By the time he realized he had been tricked, it was too late. At this moment, Zhao Yue suddenly felt a heavy weight on his back, and then a sudden chill on his neck.
Just as everyone was curious about what Chu Qing would do after tricking the other party into turning around... they saw that the princess, whom they had thought was petite, rushed behind Zhao Yue as nimbly as a cheetah the moment he turned around. Then she lightly jumped onto his back. Immediately afterwards, Chu Qing firmly pinched the pulse point on the other's wrist.
Chu Qing narrowed her eyes and hooked the corner of her mouth into a smile.
The sun was a bit dazzling, and so was Chu Qing.
Everyone in the Water Department was surprised to see Chu Qing's smooth and fluid movements.
Chu Qing's movements were neat and clean, without any trace of hesitation. The strength she exerted was just right. One wouldn't know about her internal energy without fighting her.
But... for someone who had only been practicing martial arts for a short time, she was already excellent enough and amazing enough!
If she could keep training as hard as they did every day, given time, she might even catch up with their prince!
Zhao Yue stood there stunned. When he came to his senses, he unwillingly shook his body hard, but Chu Qing's legs were firmly wrapped around his body from behind. When he struggled, he could feel Chu Qing increasing the strength in her hands.
His throat hurt and felt numb.
"Master!" someone in the crowd exclaimed in surprise.
Zhao Yue frowned and snorted, "I won't believe it no matter what! Even if the Jade Emperor himself came, I wouldn't believe it!"
"Get off," the voice behind seemed to carry a bit of coldness.
It really was the prince! Zhao Yue's face flushed with excitement. Sure enough, when he turned around stiffly, Prince Ning, Wei Ying, was looking at him indifferently.
"Get off," Wei Ying repeated, his tone even colder than before.
Chu Qing pursed her lips and didn't say a word. She loosened her hold on the other person and then landed on the ground.
Only then did she belatedly realize that Wei Ying seemed a bit unhappy. Did he dislike the way she had deceived others?
Chu Qing lowered her eyes.
"From now on, don't touch other men casually," Wei Ying leaned closer to Chu Qing and whispered in a low voice.
"Huh???" Chu Qing's body stiffened. Immediately, there was an indescribable tingling in her heart, and it felt as sweet as if she had eaten honey.
...
Meanwhile, Zhao Yue was telling the whole story on his own. Seeing that Wei Ying's expression seemed to have softened, he raised his voice and said,
"Prince Ning! You tell me, isn't this little girl too sneaky!"
Chu Qing glanced at Zhao Yue and thought to herself that this guy still couldn't tell the relationship between her and Wei Ying? And what had he just said?
Naturally, Wei Ying didn't listen to what he was saying. His mind was entirely on Chu Qing. He was thinking about whether to let her go take a bath and change clothes now when Zhao Yue's deep voice reached his ears.
Wei Ying frowned. What on earth was this guy talking about?
Little girl? Was he referring to Chu Qing?
However, the blank expressions on their faces looked different to Zhao Yue. He thought the prince was waiting for his suggestion on how to punish this girl, and the girl's look was probably a plea for mercy.
Zhao Yue sighed helplessly and then said seriously, "Forget it, forget it. Your Highness, you don't need to punish this girl. Just have her do my laundry for a day later. At such a young age, she's not at all upright. Instead of learning good things, she's learned these underhanded and sneaky tricks."
"What did you say?" Chu Qing frowned and narrowed her eyes.
Seeing her frown, Zhao Yue pursed his lips, "I'm asking you to do my laundry for a day. What's wrong? Not willing? If you're not willing, then I'll ask the prince to punish you! A heroic figure like the prince surely won't approve of your behavior!"
At this moment, Chu Qing lowered her head and rubbed the space between her eyebrows. Her expression was extremely complicated, a mixture of anger and amusement.
She was angry that someone dared to ask her to do laundry. She was amused that this big oaf was really so stupid.
Wei Ying's expression was also a bit complicated. Zhao Yue... was really unique. No wonder he was brought here by Wu Ya.
"You go do the laundry for a day," Wei Ying regained his expressionless look and then added, "For everyone in the entire Water Department."
"Ah?" Chu Qing and Zhao Yue were both shocked.
Zhao Yue seemed a bit embarrassed and scratched the back of his head, "Your Highness, isn't the punishment a bit too harsh?"
Chu Qing also looked at Wei Ying in surprise, waiting for his explanation.
Wei Ying still looked unchanged and said, "It's not harsh."
"Asking a little girl to do the laundry for the entire Water Department? And there are so many rough men?" Zhao Yue frowned when he saw that Wei Ying's tone was non - negotiable.
"You asked the princess to do the laundry for the entire Water Department?" Wei Ying gave Zhao Yue a cold look.
"I didn't ask the princess to do the laundry for everyone in the Water Department... Ah!!! This little girl is the princess?" Zhao Yue was first confused and then suddenly realized.
This little girl... was the princess? The Princess of Ning?
Zhao Yue was shocked, and his face turned deathly pale.
Glancing at the onlookers, they were all covering their mouths and desperately trying not to laugh, their faces turning red.
"Princess...?" Zhao Yue swallowed nervously and carefully spoke.
Chu Qing raised her eyebrows, walked up to him, and said, "What, do you still want this princess to do your laundry?"
"Don't dare, don't dare!" Zhao Yue quickly shook his head and waved his hands. Even if he was stupid, he would never dare to ask the princess to do his laundry!
But... did the prince mean that he should do it?
Finally realizing what was going on, Zhao Yue felt a bit uncomfortable. Summoning up his courage, he said, "Your Highness surely wouldn't punish me like this just because the princess had a competition with me!"
Hearing him say this, Wei Ying's expression instantly turned cold, "Do you think this king is doing this for that reason? Don't you know that all is fair in war? If you're facing an enemy, who will be upright with you? As long as they can kill you, that's enough."
"But..."
"There's no 'but'. If you can't have this kind of awareness, then you don't need to stay in the Water Department anymore."
With that said, Wei Ying reached out and put his arm around Chu Qing's waist, then left with her.