After Chu Qing declined the Empress Dowager's offer, she enjoyed a rather peaceful time. Even the Emperor and the Empress stopped summoning her to the palace for those so - called friendly conversations.
One day, while Chu Qing was still sound asleep, she felt someone gently calling her name.
In her drowsy state, she almost thought that Wei Ying had returned.
However, when she finally woke up, the two familiar faces of her maids beside the bed inevitably brought her a sense of disappointment. She was really silly to have fantasized about Wei Ying's return.
That man was truly a scoundrel. After arriving in Qingzhou, he hadn't sent her a single letter.
He had no idea how much she missed him.
Nor did he know... how much she liked him...
Thinking of this, Chu Qing's heart skipped a beat. Only then did she belatedly realize that she had never properly expressed her feelings to Wei Ying. And needless to say, neither had Wei Ying.
All their so - called heart - to - heart talks had either happened when they were not in their right minds or were just light - hearted banter.
It was really a bit frustrating when she thought about it.
"Milady, what are you daydreaming about? Hurry up and get up. Today is your birthday. Didn't you say you wanted to go back to the Chu Mansion for your birthday this year?" Seeing Chu Qing sitting listlessly on the edge of the bed, Luoliu quickly spoke up.
Chu Qing then came back to her senses. She tapped her own head and shook her head with a smile.
She had almost forgotten her own birthday.
It was the 16th day of the seventh lunar month, the day after the Ghost Festival.
The same as in her previous life.
This date was not considered auspicious. In her previous life, she always postponed her birthday celebration by six days.
But in this life, there was no need for such trouble. In Chu Qing's memory, the Chu family didn't care at all about the auspiciousness of this date. She believed that even if she had been born on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month, the Ghost Festival itself, the Chu family would still have happily held a grand celebration for her.
She was truly held in the palm of their hands.
It made her a bit envious.
Just as her thoughts were wandering, Luoliu and Liuxin had already dressed her up.
She was wearing a pomegranate - red gold - embroidered gauze dress, which made her look even more radiant.
Luoliu said in amazement, "Milady, you look so good in this color. This servant can't even take her eyes off you! If the Prince saw you... It's a pity that the Prince can't see you now."
The smile on Chu Qing's face faded a bit, but then she curved her eyes and said with a smile, "I'll wear it for him when he comes back."
She rarely wore such bright colors before because she always thought they were not very suitable for her.
It was only today that she had to put on this dress because the two maids had been so insistent.
She was a bit embarrassed at first, but when she saw herself in the mirror, she had to admit that she was really stunned by her own appearance.
Even when she was young in her previous life, she couldn't compare to herself now.
She really had a beautiful appearance now.
...
When they arrived at the Chu Mansion, the three members of the Chu family were already waiting at the door.
Seeing this, Chu Qing quickly jumped off the carriage. She greeted her father and mother one by one. When it came to Chu Zhan, Chu Qing stretched out her hand and said with a squinted smile, "Where's my gift?"
Chu Zhan laughed and tapped Chu Qing's forehead, saying, "You little girl, you're already married, and you're still so greedy!"
Chu Qing snorted and then looked at Chu Zhan sideways, saying, "There's nothing I can do. Who made Father, Mother, and big brother spoil me so much?"
Every time she saw the Chu family, she always couldn't help but act coquettishly, just like an unmarried young girl.
After all, she was really spoiled.
The four of them had lunch in a harmonious atmosphere. Just after Chu Qing had eaten to her heart's content, Chu Zhan mysteriously pulled her out.
Even Luoliu and Liuxin didn't have time to follow.
Looking surprised, Chu Qing asked where they were going, but Chu Zhan kept silent. It wasn't until they reached the Drunken Immortal Pavilion that Chu Zhan stopped.
"Tsk!" Chu Qing curled her lips.
She had actually forgotten about the matter of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion!
There had been a misunderstanding before. In order to make this step - brother make up for her fragile heart, she had asked Chu Zhan for the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.
Actually, she had just come up with the idea on the spur of the moment. If Chu Zhan really didn't want to give it to her, she wouldn't have really been angry.
Now, Chu Zhan had brought her here. The meaning was self - evident.
Even though he was a carefree person, he wouldn't bring his own younger sister to a... brothel for fun.
So...
"Are you really going to give the Drunken Immortal Pavilion to me?" Chu Qing asked, raising her delicate eyebrows.
Chu Zhan gave her a disdainful look and said, "Do you think I'm a stingy person?"
"I think so." Chu Qing joked.
"If you don't want it, I'll take it back?" Seeing Chu Qing like this, Chu Zhan pretended to be angry and said expressionlessly.
Chu Qing smiled helplessly and tugged at his sleeve. She said in a soft voice, "Alright, alright. I know big brother really wants to give it to me. Thank you, big brother!"
"Come on, I'll take you in and have a look."
Unable to resist Chu Qing's coquetry, Chu Zhan led her striding in.
Wanqing had been waiting for them. When she saw the siblings coming in, she curtsied and said with a charming smile, "Wanqing pays respects to the young master and the Princess."
"Why does it seem so deserted today?"
After coming in, Chu Qing noticed that there wasn't a single customer in the Drunken Immortal Pavilion today. Then she realized that there didn't seem to be any girls soliciting customers at the door either.
Hearing Chu Qing's question, a trace of embarrassment flashed across Chu Zhan's brow. Then he said, "You little girl, do you really have the intention to visit a brothel?"
"Otherwise? If there are no girls in a brothel, what's there to visit?" Chu Qing curled her lips and smiled wickedly.
Chu Zhan said rather helplessly, "Why do you become less and less like a girl after marrying into the Ning Prince's Mansion? The Ning Prince has really spoiled you so much that you're becoming more and more unrestrained."
Hearing this, Chu Qing snorted and stopped talking.
Seeing this, Chu Zhan stopped bickering with her. Instead, he led her to a secluded private room on the second floor. Then he briefly told Chu Qing about the situation of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.
The more she listened, the more shocked Chu Qing became.
Her elder brother was really doing great things silently.
In her previous memories, she didn't remember Chu Zhan being so capable.
A seemingly ordinary Drunken Immortal Pavilion actually had all highly skilled people?
Seeing that Chu Zhan was getting excited while talking, Chu Qing didn't want to interrupt him. It wasn't until he had finished that she sat up straight and said, "Big brother, tell me the truth. What else do you have that I don't know?"
The smile on Chu Zhan's face froze a bit. Then his eyes darkened, and he squinted and replied, "Qing'er, what do you have that big brother doesn't know?"
Seeing that he had thrown the question back at her, Chu Qing still looked calm. "For example?"
"When did you learn martial arts, and your martial arts skills are not low."
Chu Qing concealed her slight panic and then smiled. "Of course, it was taught by the Ning Prince."
"With excellent natural talent?"
"No, it was cultivated later."
"Chu Qing! Aren't you afraid of ruining your body!" Hearing Chu Qing's answer, Chu Zhan naturally understood what she meant. There was a trace of anger in his tone.
This silly girl must have exhausted her body in order to practice martial arts! He knew that certain medicines could really damage one's body!
Seeing Chu Zhan looking worried, Chu Qing quickly patted his clenched fist and said, "Don't worry. I know what I'm doing. You can find a trustworthy doctor to feel my pulse. I'm in very good health now."
"Really?"
"Will you give me money if I lie to you?"
"..."
Seeing that she had left Chu Zhan speechless, Chu Qing suddenly leaned closer to him and said with a smile, "It's your turn. What else are you hiding from me?"
Her intuition from two lifetimes told her that Chu Zhan was not just in charge of the Drunken Immortal Pavilion.
"Um..." Chu Zhan paused for a moment. Then he let out a long sigh, as if he had made some important decision, and slowly said,
"Actually... the Mystery Tower is also mine."
"What!!!" This time, Chu Qing was truly shocked.
The Mystery Tower?!
She had heard of it in her previous life.
The most mysterious and the largest intelligence organization in the Great Yan Kingdom, the Mystery Tower, was...
Chu Zhan's...
Her elder brother's???