Chapter 5: A Late-Night Visitor

"That's right. Didn't Third Sister always say she liked that 'Red Jade Openwork Pendant' from the Treasure Pavilion and asked me to buy it for you? As one of the Treasure Pavilion's signature treasures, the price is naturally exorbitant. Could it be... that Third Sister actually can't afford the silver? But... the people from the Treasure Pavilion only agreed to let me take the item after a pre-payment of a thousand taels because of our Chu family's reputation..."

Chu Liuyue wore a look of difficulty.

Beside her, the Great Elder nearly choked on his breath.

One hundred and ninety-nine thousand taels!

Even for the Chu family, producing such a large sum of money all at once was no easy feat!

He looked toward Chu Xianmin. No matter how much he liked Chu Xianmin, he felt a surge of immense dissatisfaction at this moment, and he snapped coldly

"Minmin! You are being far too unreasonable!"

Since the Chu family's name had been invoked, this item had to be purchased!

Otherwise, if word of this spread, there was no telling what people outside would say about their Chu family!

Chu Xianmin opened her mouth, wanting to defend herself, but she couldn't say a word.

She had never asked Chu Liuyue to buy anything for her, let alone that Red Jade Openwork Pendant worth two hundred thousand taels from the Treasure Pavilion!

That item had been famous for a long time; it was a treasure crafted from top-tier, luxurious red jade.

Although it provided some benefits to cultivation, it was nowhere near worth two hundred thousand taels! Therefore, for a long time, no one had ever bought it!

She hadn't expected Chu Liuyue to be so cunning!

She was trying to make her shoulder the burden of these two hundred thousand taels!

Chu Xianmin trembled with rage. If the Great Elder hadn't been there, she feared she would have rushed forward to tear Chu Liuyue's mouth apart!

Over all these years, the silver she had saved up amounted to only four or five thousand taels. To her, this two hundred thousand taels was nothing short of a massive abyss!

However, since it concerned the reputation of the Chu family, she had no choice but to take responsibility for this matter!

"This... don't worry, Great Elder. Minmin will certainly produce this money herself..."

She grit her teeth and forced a smile.

"Mother has always doted on Minmin. She previously promised that if Minmin could secure the top rank in this academy assessment, she would grant me one request."

Chu Xianmin's mother, Lu Yao, came from the Lu family, which was one of the top merchant families in the entire Imperial Capital, possessing immense wealth that could not be underestimated.

By saying this, on one hand, she was explaining that she could produce the money regardless and would not make things difficult for the Chu family; on the other hand, she was using the prestige of the Lu family to elevate herself.

Sure enough, upon mentioning the Lu family, the Great Elder's expression softened considerably.

"Your mother truly dotes on you the most. However, that is also because you are inherently outstanding. I recall the academy assessment begins in one month, does it not?"

The Tianlu Academy where Chu Xianmin studied was the top existence in the entire Yaochen Kingdom. Those who could pass the entrance exam were nothing less than enviable geniuses!

Even members of the Imperial Family had to undergo assessments to enter!

It was precisely because of this status that Chu Xianmin was so highly favored within the Chu family.

"Yes."

Chu Xianmin's confidence grew much stronger. Then, as if thinking of something, a trace of shyness appeared on her pretty face.

"Brother Jin also—His Highness the Crown Prince also said that if Minmin can take first place, there will be a reward."

Chu Liuyue raised an eyebrow slightly.

The so-called "Brother Jin" she mentioned was, naturally, the current Crown Prince, Rong Jin, who held a marriage engagement with Chu Liuyue!

Looking at her like this, anyone could see that there was definitely something going on between her and Rong Jin!

The Great Elder's eyes lit up

"Is that true?"

The Crown Prince possessed extremely high talent and outstanding ability, and was deeply loved by His Majesty.

The Chu family was currently in decline; if they could climb onto the great tree that was the Crown Prince, things would naturally be different!

However, Chu Xianmin seemed to suddenly remember something. She shot a quick glance at Chu Liuyue and explained somewhat nervously

"Sister, please do not misunderstand, there is really nothing between me and Brother Jin! He must only be looking out for me because of your engagement. If Sister could enter the academy, Brother Jin would surely treat you even more—"

Her words came to an abrupt halt.

Who didn't know that Chu Liuyue was a natural waste who couldn't even perform normal cultivation, let alone enter Tianlu Academy?

As for the engagement... if anyone truly cared about that engagement, Chu Liuyue wouldn't have been bullied to this extent!

Chu Ning clenched his teeth, but his heart gradually grew cold.

He had thought that if he waited one more month for Yue'er to get engaged to the Crown Prince, the current situation could change, but... looking at it now, it was nothing more than his wishful thinking!

He had heard before that the Crown Prince seemed to have feelings for Chu Xianmin, but he hadn't expected it to have reached such an overt stage!

They simply did not hold Yue'er in any regard!

Poor Yue'er, being so devoted to the Crown Prince...

Chu Xianmin looked at Chu Liuyue inwardly with triumph, wanting to see a look of pain on her face. But to her surprise, Chu Liuyue didn't seem to care about this matter at all. Not only was she not shocked or disappointed, she actually laughed.

"Then that is wonderful. As long as Third Sister can produce the money, it's fine."

Chu Xianmin was stunned. Why did she feel that, to Chu Liuyue, the Crown Prince didn't seem as important as that two hundred thousand taels...

"The matter is settled. Father and I will be heading back now."

Having said that, Chu Liuyue actually turned and left with Chu Ning.

"You—"

Chu Xianmin felt as if she had punched a bag of cotton, feeling a sudden tightness in her chest.

Walking to the door, Chu Liuyue suddenly stopped and turned around.

Her dark, cold eyes stared straight at Chu Xianmin, actually carrying an unspoken, heavy pressure!

"By the way, Third Sister, you should be more careful with your words in the future. If I hadn't returned in time today, wouldn't everyone think I stole your things and ran away? Then I truly wouldn't be able to clear my name even if I died, wouldn't you agree?"

Chu Xianmin suddenly shuddered!

She knew!

She must know everything!

Chu Xianmin wanted to argue, but she felt an invisible force enveloping her head, making it impossible to move!

It wasn't until Chu Liuyue's figure disappeared outside the door that she gradually recovered, her forehead drenched in cold sweat!

A ruthless glint flashed in the depths of Chu Xianmin's eyes.

It seemed she had to first investigate the situation of Song Lian and the other two before finding a way to deal with Chu Liuyue once and for all!

...

Chu Liuyue and Chu Ning returned together to the remote small courtyard where they resided.

"Yue'er, you've been tired all day, go rest quickly!"

Chu Ning patted Chu Liuyue's head with heartache.

Chu Liuyue quickly scanned the surroundings. Although she had the memories of her predecessor, seeing it for real still made her sigh inwardly.

Calling it a small courtyard, it was actually just a few dilapidated houses; the interior was practically bare.

It was obvious at a glance what kind of life the father and daughter had been living.

If told, people likely wouldn't believe that Chu Ning, who was once the noble next successor of the Chu family, and Chu Liuyue, the nominal eldest young lady of the Chu family, would live in such a place.

Chu Liuyue nodded gently

"You too, Father."

Chu Ning's lips moved, wanting to ask something, but in the end, he only let out a soft sigh.

"Yue'er, Father knows you like the Crown Prince, but... I fear he is not your destined partner. Chu Xianmin has great talent and the backing of her family; your targeting of her today, I fear it might—"

Chu Liuyue gave a light smile.

"Father needn't worry, Yue'er knows what she is doing."

Chu Ning's full heart of worry suddenly left him speechless when he met those smiling yet calm eyes.

Yue'er... she really seemed to have changed a bit...

He nodded, rubbed his daughter's hair, and then turned away.

Chu Liuyue's gaze fell on his right leg, which he was barely able to support, before she quickly looked away and pushed the door to enter the room.

Night had fallen outside, and a sliver of faint moonlight flowed in through the dilapidated window.

Chu Liuyue walked to the window, her fingertips tapping lightly, her gaze deep.

She had asked during the day; today was the tenth day of the seventh month in the 832nd year of the Yaochen Kingdom. Comparing it to the calendar of the Tianling Dynasty, it was exactly the one-year anniversary of "her" death!

In other words, she had been reborn into the body of the Chu Liuyue from one year later!

With her current identity and strength, if she wanted revenge, she indeed needed to plan carefully...

Suddenly, her expression changed, and she quickly turned back toward the bed

"Who!?"

Inside the room, there was dead silence! The air was almost stagnant!

A moment later, in the dark room, a pair of ice-blue eyes appeared!

Chu Liuyue froze, only then seeing clearly that it was actually a massive white lion, curled up obediently on her bed!

"Xue Xue?"

(End of Chapter)