Chapter 74

Two hours later, the servant returned with a box of purchased books and reported, “Your Highness, I’ve searched through all the major and minor bookstores in Qingzhou city, and I’ve even asked the shopkeepers, but none of them have heard of ‘Noble Women in the Hou Mansion.’ I bought some of the best-selling books from the bookstores instead.”

He picked up one book respectfully and presented it to Chu Chengji, “This book, ‘Spring Moon in the West Tower,’ is said to be in high demand among young ladies in various prefectures. When the war broke out, it sold out, and its price doubled.”

Chu Chengji listened to the news that none of the major bookstores had the book he wanted.

Subconsciously furrowing his brows, he glanced at the book presented by the servant and simply said, “That’s enough, you may leave.”

Qin Zheng definitely hadn’t had time to read any books since leaving the Eastern Palace.

Was the book she mentioned, “Noble Women in the Hou Mansion,” only available in bookstores in the capital?

Chu Chengji’s mood wasn’t very clear. After the servant left, he opened the book, “Spring Moon in the West Tower,” with a subtle expression.

After flipping through a couple of pages, he had already rubbed his temples several times.

Toward the end, he practically speed-read with narrowed eyes.

The story was simple: a poor scholar was supported by a local gentry, but got involved with the gentry’s daughter.

The scholar went to the capital for the imperial examination, while the gentry’s daughter, unmarried and pregnant, was about to be drowned.

At the critical moment, the scholar, who had become the top scholar, arrived with a wedding procession to save her, and they lived happily ever after.

Chu Chengji’s brow furrowed as if he could crush a fly.

Did all young girls enjoy reading this kind of book?

In the evening, Qin Zheng saw a new bookshelf in the room and knew it was arranged by Chu Chengji’s order.

She thought her books about architectural engineering from this era finally had a place to be stored.

She placed a pile of ancient books such as “Annotations on the Water Classic,” “Records of Wu Territory,” and “Record of Crafts” along with predecessors’ works on registration into the bookshelf.

The lower level of the bookshelf already had many books from Chu Chengji’s collection.

To make it easier to access books in the future, Qin Zheng put her books on the upper level.

Glancing at Chu Chengji’s collection, she initially thought they were all difficult-to-understand military strategies and state policies.

However, after seeing the titles, her eyes widened in astonishment, feeling struck by lightning.

“The Tears of a Consort,” “The Three Marriages of Lady Wu,” “The Abandoned Wife in Brocade,” “The Noble Concubine of the Li Family”…

Compared to the thick volumes like “Annotations on the Water Classic” and “Records of Wu Territory” on the upper level of the bookshelf, these books were… too eye-catching.

Qin Zheng suddenly recalled her question to Chu Chengji last night about whether he had read “Noble Women in the Hou Mansion.” She had a bad feeling.

Could it be that Chu Chengji thought she enjoyed reading these books and deliberately collected them?

She casually flipped through a few books. The stories were cliché and predictable, good for passing the time, but Qin Zheng didn’t have time to read such idle books now.

When Chu Chengji returned to the room, Qin Zheng was holding a book, “Records of Wu Territory.”

He glanced at the bookshelf in the corner and cleared his throat.

Qin Zheng glanced up at him. “You’re back.”

Chu Chengji nodded, pulling out the book “Spring Moon in the West Tower” from the bookshelf and casually placing it on the low table.

He cleared his throat a couple of times before finally speaking,

“This book has been selling well in major bookstores, and it went out of stock due to the war. If you have time, you can take a look.”

Qin Zheng felt that he had deliberately found so many books for her just because of something she said last night.

She smiled and said, “You’re busy with official duties, you don’t need to bother picking out these books for me.”

Lin Yao’s words echoed in Chu Chengji’s ears.

General Cao’s ignorance of opera gradually led Madam Cao to no longer discuss these matters with him, and she ended up falling for a man who understood opera…

He forced himself to speak slowly and deliberately, “I didn’t pick them all for you, I… I also read these kinds of books in my spare time.”

Qin Zheng looked up from the book “Records of Wu Territory,” her face showing a mixture of shock and confusion.

So he wanted to read them himself?

Afraid that Qin Zheng wouldn’t believe him, Chu Chengji continued with a stiff face, summarizing the story of “Spring Moon in the West Tower” and even commenting,

“It’s not appropriate for a girl to lose her purity before marriage.

It would be better for the scholar to return to marry the gentry’s daughter after achieving success in the imperial examination, so she doesn’t have to suffer.”

Qin Zheng was even more shocked to hear him speak so eloquently about it.

Before tonight, she wouldn’t have believed that Chu Chengji actually enjoyed reading this kind of book.

She swallowed hard, suppressing her astonishment, and nodded in agreement, “Yes, indeed.”

Chu Chengji noticed her skepticism and felt that something wasn’t quite right, but the current situation was good.

She would discuss these books with him more often in the future.

During the day, he was too busy, but he could spare some time at night to squint his eyes and finish reading the remaining books in the bookshelf.

He could skim through military texts at a glance, so reading these books would be even faster.

That night, before Qin Zheng went to bed, she finally saw Chu Chengji holding “The Abandoned Wife in Brocade” under the candlelight, frowning tightly with narrowed eyes.

She finally believed that the Crown Prince was indeed a novel enthusiast.

Even though he was a fan of female-centric novels from this era.

The next day, when Lin Zhao came to talk to Qin Zheng about the progress of organizing her own army, he noticed the two rows of books on the bookshelf.

Curious, she leaned over and glanced at them, then decisively pulled out a novel from the lower shelf after a quick look at the upper shelf.

“Those books on the upper shelf of the bookshelf give me a headache just by looking at the titles.

I don’t know how His Highness the Crown Prince manages to read them. Or maybe it’s just that Sister Zheng’s collection of novels suits my taste.” She sat cross-legged on the cushion, picking up a piece of candied fruit from the plate and popping it into her mouth,

Flipping through the novel in her hand with great contentment.

Meanwhile, Qin Zheng, engrossed in reading the biography of the former river transport official, couldn’t help but pause.

Those books on the upper shelf were hers.

Lin Zhao flipped through a few pages, his lips curling up in satisfaction. “The old scholar who tells stories in the teahouse also mentioned ‘Spring Moon in the West Tower,’ but he only reveals a bit each time, leaving listeners itching for more.

I asked my brother to buy it for me from the bookstore before, but he said it was too feminine and that men wouldn’t dare to buy it.

Later, the book was sold out, and I couldn’t find it anywhere. Today, I finally get to read it all at once!”

Qin Zheng, her thoughts wandering, smiled faintly. “I’ve seen men who enjoy reading these novels too.”

Lin Zhao was about to inquire who they were talking about when he noticed Chu Chengji standing outside the door, his expression far from pleasant.

Lin Zhao, who was lounging lazily a moment ago, immediately straightened his back. “Your Highness.”

Chu Chengji stepped into the room, nodding curtly.

He had come back halfway to retrieve some military defense blueprints and unintentionally overheard their conversation.

Qin Zheng, facing away from the door, turned to look only after Lin Zhao spoke.

Seeing Chu Chengji’s less-than-pleasant expression, she understood the reason behind it, but it wasn’t the right time to address it.

Instead, she asked, “Is there something His Highness forgot to bring?”

In public, Qin Zheng always addressed him as “Your Highness.”

Chu Chengji grunted in acknowledgment, taking the defense maps from the desk. “I have to discuss the attack on Hu Prefecture and Meng County with my staff. I won’t be back for lunch.”

After Chu Chengji left, Lin Zhao shrank his neck. “Why does it feel like His Highness the Crown Prince is unusually fierce today?”

Qin Zheng cleared her throat lightly. “With a major battle looming, he’s on edge.”

This explanation was flawless, and Lin Zhao nodded. “True, His Highness bears a heavy burden.”

Elsewhere in the courtyard.

Lin Yao naturally knew that Chu Chengji was about to attack Hu Prefecture and Meng County.

He gritted his teeth and wrote a report, hoping that Chu Chengji would let him lead the vanguard in the attack on Hu Prefecture.

When his report was returned, Lin Yao grabbed a tuft of grass and sat on the steps, regretting deeply.

He poured out his grievances to his confidant:

“Lu Ze is as cunning as a fox. With his sister coming to Qingzhou, how could he not know?

He deliberately went to Xuzhou urgently when his sister was about to arrive in Qingzhou, just to avoid being blamed by His Highness for the shady deeds of the Lu family?”

“Why is this old man so unlucky? He wants to be on the battlefield, fighting enemies, not serving the Lu family’s young miss who cries at the drop of a hat!”

He leaned back, and caught sight of a group of people at the end of the corridor, immediately standing up.

But it was too late.

His words had been heard by Lü Jinxin and several attendants and servants beside her.

Lu Jinxin’s nanny glared at him fiercely, shouting angrily, “Have you no manners? How dare you slander our mistress! Come, give him a slap!”@@novelbin@@

With red eyes, Lu Jinxin looked more embarrassed and ashamed than anything else. “Nanny, you must not be rude. This is General Lin under His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Lu Jinxin slightly bowed and then led the group of servants and attendants away.

Lin Yao watched the group walk away, then knocked on the head of his bodyguard. “Why didn’t you alert me when someone was coming?”

The bodyguard grimaced. “I didn’t see them either.”

Lin Yao’s gaze was complex as he glanced back at the corridor.

He picked up his weapon and headed back. “Forget it, let’s continue patrolling.”

He didn’t think he was wrong in what he said.

The Lu family of Yingzhou had done little to support them after initially helping the Crown Prince with the transportation of supplies to Qingzhou.

Even after the Crown Prince took over Qingzhou and subsequently Xuzhou, they only sent a main daughter.

Ostensibly, it was for marriage alliance, but sending just a person was still a way of manipulating the situation using their wealth.

If the Crown Prince’s side lost the war, the Lu family of Yingzhou would lose nothing more than a collateral and a main branch daughter.

But if they won, they could continue to climb up by offering the main branch’s daughter to the Crown Prince and providing substantial benefits.

The current situation in Qingzhou and Xuzhou is entirely manipulated by the Lu family of Yingzhou.

They are using their son and daughter as pawns to gamble on how far the Crown Prince can go.

Lu Ze is like a cunning fox who saw through the Lu family’s schemes early on.

That’s why he sided with the Crown Prince and is now dedicated to serving him.

As for Miss Lu and her entourage, they seem to be several degrees less intelligent.

They have failed to realize that since the day they were sent to Qingzhou, they have been nothing more than discarded pawns by their own family.

But if anything were to happen to her in Qingzhou, the Lu family of Yingzhou would likely seize upon that as an opportunity.

That’s why the Crown Prince and Crown Princess have been ensuring Lu Jinxin’s safety.

However, Lin Yao guarding this Miss Lu is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

But now that he’s realized his own indiscretion in complaining behind others’ backs, Lin Yao feels uncomfortable all over again.

As a grown man, speaking ill of a young girl behind her back makes him feel like a gossiping old woman.