Chu Junyi stood still with Emperor Mingde under a large willow tree. The wind blew, making their robes flutter.
The palace servant dragged the prison guard from the Supreme Court of Judicature away.
Chu Junyi glanced at the man from the corner of his eye. When he looked up, he saw Emperor Mingde turning around. His previously amiable expression had become extremely solemn.
"The Fu family in the south of the Yangtze River is also a well - known family in the region. Do you know why the Fu family declined?"
Chu Junyi said he didn't know.
At this moment, he just listened to Emperor Mingde.
Sure enough, Emperor Mingde didn't ask further. Instead, he turned around, stared into the distance alone, and began to tell the story slowly, "It was the struggle between the legitimate and the illegitimate branches. This is also a common problem among all aristocratic families.
The decline of the Fu family started from the inner - chamber strife, which gradually evolved into the strife in the officialdom and between the legitimate and the illegitimate branches.
The collateral branch of the Fu family accused the direct branch of embezzlement and forming cliques. I needed to break the power of the aristocratic families, so I used the Fu family as an example."
"Do you know why I summoned you here, Scholar - Laureate?"
Chu Junyi said, "Your Majesty wants me to do something like using someone as an example."
He originally thought that His Majesty summoned him to ask about the academic progress of the two princesses. Now it seemed that it should be about the Fu family and even the affairs of other aristocratic families in the future.
Otherwise, His Majesty wouldn't have told him these things.
Emperor Mingde let out a soft laugh. He always appreciated smart people.
For this reason, he specifically turned around, sized up Chu Junyi carefully, then raised his hand and patted his shoulder. The admiration in his eyes was self - evident.
"Right. I summoned you for this very matter. I'm going to give you an official position now, but it's a low - ranking one and extremely risky. Are you brave enough to take it?"
Chu Junyi's eyes lit up. He didn't want to seem too excited, so he quickly covered it up, but Emperor Mingde still noticed.
Emperor Mingde liked this kind of look very much. It showed a wolf - like ambition and courage, which made even an old man like him feel excited, as if he had returned to his youth when he and a few close friends went hunting large wild beasts.
That feeling was exciting and exhilarating!
"Good! Chu Junyi, receive the imperial edict!"
Chu Junyi quickly knelt down to receive the edict.
Emperor Mingde unfurled the imperial edict and read, "By the Mandate of Heaven, the Emperor decrees..."
...
At night, Li Xinyue was lying in the bathtub, lost in thought about the Fu family and her mother - concubine. Suddenly, she heard a noise behind her.
Li Xinyue put on her clothes and walked out. Sure enough, in the study connected to the bedroom, Chu Junyi was sitting in her armchair, writing and drawing something with her paper and brush.
She just remembered that this guy said during the day that he was going to a newly - opened inn.
But she wasn't interested.
"Then I won't go." Chu Junyi drew a simple outline of a figure with a smooth motion. Then he looked up and compared it with the real person. Only then did he notice that Li Xinyue seemed a bit abnormal tonight.
She was dressed thinly, only wearing an inner garment, and her hair was loose.
Moreover, the usually high - spirited and vibrant Princess Yuanyang was listless tonight. Sickness and tiredness were clearly visible on her face and couldn't be concealed.
He put down his brush, walked up to her, raised his hand to feel her pulse. When he lowered his eyes, he accidentally caught a glimpse of the fair skin on her chest. His fingertips suddenly felt hot, and he lowered his eyes and coughed lightly.
"Why has your cold gotten worse? Isn't the prescription from the mansion doctor effective? What about the prescription I gave you? Haven't you taken it either? Put on your clothes and dry your hair!"
He frowned unhappily but didn't dare to look at her again. His ears were already slightly red.
Li Xinyue stared blankly up, then turned back blankly. She took off her shoes and curled up in the armchair. Sniffling and dragging her voice, she said, "It's all because you were coming. Otherwise, I would have gone to sleep long ago. If you really care about me, just go back quickly so that I can go to bed earlier and don't have to put on more clothes."
Chu Junyi, "... So you're trying to drive me away like this?"
"Yeah." She was too lazy to think. Whatever he said was fine, because she was really sleepy and in a bad mood. So she tried to say as few words as possible.
Chu Junyi didn't say a word and turned to go out.
Li Xinyue suddenly sat up straight!
He just left without even saying goodbye. Did he really think the Princess Mansion was his home?
Unexpectedly, the door was pushed open again the next moment. Chu Junyi was holding an extra piece of clothing, a small blanket, and a clean towel.
Li Xinyue understood, "You went into my room!"
"Yeah." He answered frankly. Then, as if thinking of something, he deliberately teased her, "I've been everywhere in the Princess Mansion except the princess's boudoir. I had to go and take a look."
Li Xinyue gave him a disdainful look and didn't really want to pay attention to him. "Mr. Chu, it seems you've wasted all your time reading the classics. If Confucius knew, he'd surely come back to life out of anger."
Chu Junyi let out a muffled laugh. He raised his hand to move a chair next to her, wrapped her up tightly, then sat down to dry her hair. He said, "Even Confucius can't interfere in matters between men and women. Princess, some answers can't be avoided. You must know that indecision will surely lead to trouble!"
Li Xinyue turned her head to avoid his touch and stared fixedly at his wrist. Wasn't this guy getting a bit too familiar with these actions? Were they really that close?
"Forget it. I'll do it myself!"
"I'll help you. What are you afraid of!" Chu Junyi slapped away the outstretched hand, then pressed her head onto his lap and gently and skillfully dried her hair.
Li Xinyue felt like she was on fire. This guy Chu Junyi must be doing it on purpose!
He was just looking for an opportunity to seduce her. How hateful!
"Don't move!" Chu Junyi lowered his eyes and glanced at her. Suppressing his laughter, he threatened, "If you move again, I'll shout. Then everyone in the Princess Mansion will know that the princess has hidden a man here, and the rumor that the princess is promiscuous will surely be confirmed."
Li Xinyue, "... You're forcing me to be promiscuous."
Chu Junyi burst out laughing, then covered his mouth. He quickly changed the topic, "What did the man who stopped your carriage say to you?"
Li Xinyue, "Do I have to report it to you?"
"Not necessary."
"Then what did His Majesty say to you?"
"Do you want to know?"
"Forget it. Don't tell me." Being asked like this, it seemed as if she was very concerned about him. She didn't want him to think so. Otherwise, this guy would surely get even more conceited.
Chu Junyi was deliberately teasing her, but obviously, she had already noticed. He laughed again, finding it both interesting and cute.
But then he thought that if such a cute princess ended up with someone else, he just didn't feel right.
The smile on Chu Junyi's face froze slightly. He wanted to say something but didn't.
Li Xinyue suddenly remembered that there were some things she had wanted to ask for a long time but had forgotten. "How did you invite Murong Xiu yesterday? It's really strange that he actually came out."
"How else? I just told the truth. The princess wants to invite the young master out for a talk."
Li Xinyue almost jumped up. "You, you, did you have to be so direct? Couldn't you be a bit more tactful?"
Chu Junyi firmly held down the wobbly head. "What do you think a normal reason for one man to invite another man would be?"
If he could find a proper reason, he wouldn't have told the truth.
Of course, what he actually said was, "If the young master has no feelings for the princess, it's better to say it clearly. Cut it off when it should be cut off, so as not to let the princess daydream."
Then Murong Xiu agreed.
So Chu Junyi always thought that Murong Xiu came to reject Li Xinyue. Who would have thought that they actually took a fancy to each other? Then what was he?
"It hurts. You're hurting me!" Li Xinyue felt as if her hair was about to be pulled out!
This guy must be crazy!
Chu Junyi came to his senses and quickly let go of his hand, helping her up.