Chapter 10: Leisure

Chu Liuyue turned her head, raising an eyebrow lazily.

"Third Sister, I merely punished a servant who committed insubordination. Why are you so angry? In your eyes, is your elder sister really not worth as much as a mere servant?"

That depended on whose servant it was!

Chu Xianmin was currently in a fit of rage. Had there not been many onlookers around, she certainly would have been unable to restrain herself from rushing forward to sternly question Chu Liuyue!

She took a deep breath and forced a sliver of a smile

"Sister, your status is naturally more noble than theirs, but as the saying goes, one must consider the master before hitting the dog. Sister, you knew perfectly well that Lian Sheng is my person, so why did you target him like this? That strike of yours has directly ended his cultivation career!"

On the surface, she truly seemed to be standing up for one of her own.

Watching this, the crowd couldn't help but compare the two in their hearts.

Chu Xianmin had excellent talent, yet she lacked any sense of airs; she was gentle and sensible.

Seeing her like this, she was clearly distressed. It was evident that she cared deeply for the people under her command.

That single point alone was enough to earn praise.

In contrast, Chu Liuyue, being a waste, was extremely arrogant! She was practically like a madwoman!

Chu Liuyue had a sudden realization

"Oh—that's right, I almost forgot. He is your person, after all."

Chu Xianmin nearly coughed up blood from anger!

Chu Liuyue was acting a play with her!

If she didn't stand up for Chu Liansheng today, once word got out in the future, everyone would say that she, Chu Xianmin, was being bullied by a waste!

What reputation would she have left!

"Since Sister has remembered, then no matter what, please, Sister—"

Before Chu Xianmin could finish her sentence, she was interrupted by Chu Liuyue.

"So, you're saying that him bringing people here to cause trouble was also your intention?"

Chu Xianmin was suddenly choked up!

"Was it your order to have Chu Liansheng bring people to arrest me and seize the medicinal herbs I bought?"

"How... how could that be..."

Chu Xianmin denied it instinctively.

But Chu Liuyue did not believe her

"Without your instigation, would Chu Liansheng dare to do this?"

The question left Chu Xianmin speechless.

The surroundings fell silent; everyone was watching this good show.

Chu Liansheng was also clever. Knowing that if Chu Liuyue continued, it would bring them no benefit, he hurriedly wailed loudly

"Third Young Lady! It is all the fault of this lowly one! The Eldest Young Lady's status is noble, and I should not have offended her! If the Eldest Young Lady insists on informing the Family Head and the Crown Prince, I am willing to bear any consequences alone!"

Chu Xianmin's expression turned somewhat unsightly.

This was Chu Liuyue using the engagement with the Crown Prince to pressure her!

It was truly damnable; Chu Liuyue had long understood that she was unworthy of the Crown Prince and had never dared to mention the engagement out of shame, so why now—

"What is all this clamor? What are you all doing!"

A furious shout suddenly rang out!

Hearing this voice, Chu Xianmin felt a surge of joy and looked back.

"Great Elder!"

Chu Liuyue raised her eyes and indeed saw the Great Elder, Chu Xiao, walking toward them.

And half a step behind him followed an unfamiliar man.

"I am the one who sent him. Why, do you have an objection?"

The Great Elder came to a halt in front of Chu Xianmin, frowning at Chu Liuyue with undisguised disgust in his tone.

Chu Xianmin felt reassured.

In truth, the Great Elder did not know about this matter, but since he was willing to back her up now, it was exactly what she wanted.

Her heart settled much more, and she smiled to greet the man behind the Great Elder.

"Vice Captain Song, why have you come as well?"

The newcomer was none other than Song Yuan, the Crown Prince's personal guard.

Song Yuan hurriedly bowed in greeting and said eagerly

"Greetings, Third Young Lady. Song Yuan's arrival here is, naturally, to deliver something to you."

He came to deliver something; one could tell it was the Crown Prince's intention!

The expressions of the crowd shifted slightly.

They had long heard that the Crown Prince was devoted to Chu Xianmin; seeing this now, it was almost certain!

Chu Xianmin was also somewhat overjoyed. The subtle, envious gazes from those around her made her feel incredibly comfortable.

Her cheeks flushed slightly, appearing shy.

"If Brother Jin has something to send me, he could simply send someone. How could he trouble Vice Captain Song to deliver it personally?"

Song Yuan took out a letter, handed it over with both hands, and said with a happy smile

"The Crown Prince's birthday is approaching. This subordinate has come specifically to deliver an invitation to you. Naturally, others have people to deliver theirs, but for yours, His Highness the Crown Prince specifically instructed that I must personally deliver it into your hands."

Only then did everyone realize—it was an invitation to the Crown Prince's birthday banquet!

It was perfectly normal for the Crown Prince to invite guests to his birthday, but there were very few people whom Song Yuan would be sent to serve personally...

From this, it was evident that his feelings for Chu Xianmin were indeed extraordinary!

"In that case, many thanks to Vice Captain Song."

As Chu Xianmin took the invitation, her heart was naturally full of pride and joy.

She knew the Crown Prince liked her, but his attitude had always been ambiguous before; now, he was finally willing to act!

Soon, the entire Imperial Capital would know!

The Crown Prince was intentionally making her his Crown Princess!

Holding the invitation, she deliberately asked Chu Liuyue

"Sister, speaking of which, your engagement ceremony with Brother Jin is approaching. You should have received this invitation long ago, right?"

Sneers came from within the crowd.

An invitation?

The Crown Prince had likely long forgotten such a person existed!

Chu Xianmin spoke with apparent sincerity

"You haven't attended Brother Jin's birthday banquets for the past few years. You will definitely attend this year, won't you?"

Chu Liuyue sneered.

Rong Jin had indeed sent the original owner to his birthday banquets in the past. The original owner had gone full of anticipation, only to receive the ridicule and abuse of countless people!

After that, she refused to go, and naturally, Rong Jin stopped inviting her.

And this time, naturally, there was no invitation.

Chu Xianmin covered her mouth in mock surprise

"Ah—could it be that Sister doesn't have one? This, this..."

She flipped through the invitation in her hand, appearing somewhat troubled.

"I am sorry, Sister, I didn't know you didn't have one..."

The Great Elder stroked his beard with satisfaction. That waste Chu Liuyue had almost ruined the marriage alliance between their Chu family and the Crown Prince!

Fortunately, there was Minmin, who had gained the Crown Prince's favor!

"What is a waste like her doing there? To make a fool of herself!?"

Thinking of this, he looked at Chu Liuyue again, his expression turning cold and hard.

"Kneel down this instant!"

Chu Liuyue looked at him coldly.

"Great Elder, even if you want me to kneel, there must be a reason, right?"

The Great Elder's brow furrowed deeply as he pointed at the medicinal herbs and shouted angrily

"You still have the face to ask!? Tell me yourself, where did you get the money to buy these things!?"

Song Yuan glanced at Chu Liuyue.

So this was... the rumored waste of the Chu family, Chu Liuyue?

He hadn't paid attention before, so His Highness the Crown Prince didn't even know what she looked like.

He hadn't expected that at this critical moment, she would start acting up...

Truly laughable.

Seeing Song Yuan's gaze fall upon Chu Liuyue, Chu Xianmin suddenly felt uneasy.

Song Lian was actually Song Yuan's cousin; with the connections made between them, His Highness the Crown Prince might not necessarily be unaware of that matter.

Although he had never expressed a stance, his attitude clearly implied tacit approval of her actions.

But now that Song Lian's life or death was unknown, Song Yuan likely didn't know yet.

If he found out...

Chu Liuyue remained quiet for a moment. Just when everyone thought she was about to confess, she suddenly glanced at Song Yuan and spoke with a half-smile.

"Great Elder, where do you think I obtained so much money? In the entire Imperial Capital, there are probably very few people who would do such a thing, right?"

The Great Elder was about to continue his verbal abuse when he suddenly froze.

Chu Liuyue's meaning... could it be that the Crown Prince gave it to her?

He looked at Song Yuan with some uncertainty.

Song Yuan was also stunned.

How could His Highness the Crown Prince give her money?

But... besides that, there seemed to be no other explanation?

"Third Sister, you needn't feel guilty. I won't be attending the Crown Prince's birthday banquet this year."

Just as a flash of triumph crossed Chu Xianmin's eyes, she heard Chu Liuyue say word by word

"After all, the engagement ceremony is imminent, and there are so many things to prepare for. How could I be as leisurely as Third Sister? Don't you agree?"