Chapter 77

In the latter half of the night, a torrential rain poured down without stopping.

The next day, urgent reports of landslides from nearby villages reached Chu Chengji’s desk.

Chu Chengji quickly took a few bites of breakfast before preparing to lead people to build temporary shelters for the disaster victims.

Outside, it was still drizzling.

Qin Zheng, worried that he might catch a cold and exacerbate the old wound in his chest, said, “Your old wound aches badly on rainy days. Let me go in your place.”

Chu Chengji hadn’t expected his offhand comment last night to be taken to heart so seriously by her.

Seeing her slightly furrowed brows, he reached out to smooth them and sighed almost inaudibly, “Silly girl.”

A slanting breeze blew in through the half-open carved window, fluttering the pages of the book on the desk.

His warm fingertips slowly brushed across Qin Zheng’s forehead.

His handsome profile was delicately outlined by the light and shadow, showing a tenderness and care she had never seen before.

Qin Zheng momentarily lost herself in a daze.

Chu Chengji said, “If I go, I might catch a cold. Wouldn’t you? It’s not a big project. I’m just going to assess the disaster. You stay home. The Lu family’s daughter will come later, and I can’t possibly meet them, right?”

Qin Zheng snapped back to reality, hearing his words, and didn’t insist further.

After consulting the doctor about medicinal food for his condition, she instructed the kitchen to simmer a pot of pork bone and red bean soup, which was said to be good for his old injury.

When the Lu sisters arrived, Qin Zheng was busy reviewing the recent expenses of Qingzhou Prefecture.

The officials had prepared the accounts and presented them to Chu Chengji, but since he was occupied, Qin Zheng handled it on his behalf.

The treasury could no longer issue official silver, but since Emperor Wu’s birthday pilgrimage to Yungang Temple, volunteers for the army continued to increase.

The inability to issue military pay and uniforms was a secondary issue; weapons had to be provided.

Recently, Chu Chengji had been leaving early and returning late, discussing strategies for attacking Hu and Meng counties.

Hu County was easy to capture, but if Meng County wasn’t taken, they would be at a disadvantage against the seven thousand imperial troops.

Chu Chengji aimed for a strategy that would kill two birds with one stone.

Besides strategy, timing and terrain were crucial in battle.

Qin Zheng had a premonition that Chu Chengji was waiting for this heavy rain.

She received the Lu sisters in the front hall.

When they first met at the city gate, Lu Jinxin wore a head full of pearls and jade, with exquisite makeup and a fringe brushed up, masking her youthful innocence with heavy makeup.

Today, Qin Zheng noticed that the girl sent from Yingzhou indeed looked quite immature.

Lu Jinxin was dressed in a goose-yellow embroidered dress with twin buns adorned with pearl flowers matching her dress, her bangs falling to her eyebrows, making her look even more youthful and lively.

In contrast, though Lu Jinyan was also dressed simply in a light green embroidered gown, she immediately struck Qin Zheng as stunning.

Lu Jinyan had a pair of distinctive almond-shaped eyes, with inner corners slightly curved and outer corners upturned.

Such eyes exuded dignity in men and a touch of coldness in women, yet in both, it conveyed a sense of nobility.

“Since coming to Qingzhou, we have been remiss in not paying our respects to the Crown Princess sooner. We hope Your Highness will forgive us,” Lu Jinyan said, bowing gracefully alongside Lu Jinxin.

She was raised as a noblewoman destined to be a crown princess, her manners impeccable.

Qin Zheng smiled appropriately, neither too warm nor too distant, “No need for such formalities. His Highness has been busy with city affairs and hasn’t had time to invite you to chat with me and relieve my boredom. Don’t be reserved, please sit.”

The Lu sisters then sat down.

Lu Jinxin had only seen Qin Zheng once when they first arrived in Qingzhou.

At that time, Qin Zheng was covered in dust, and if not for being told she was the Crown Princess, she would have thought she was a demoted slave laborer.

Today, seeing Qin Zheng in a silk robe, though not in full formal attire, she couldn’t help but secretly gasp in admiration.

After sitting down, while Qin Zheng spoke with Lu Jinyan, Lu Jinxin’s eyes kept darting between their faces.

Both Sister Yan and the Crown Princess are so beautiful!

Comparing and comparing again, she found that the Crown Princess was indeed more beautiful!

From then on, she kept sneaking glances at the Crown Princess, the more she looked,

the more she felt that the Crown Princess seemed like someone who had walked out of a painting.

Lu Jinyan had never been one to flatter others.

Originally designated as the Crown Princess, she was always the one others tried to please.

Remembering the purpose of her visit, she spoke tactfully:

“My aunt passed away early, and my uncle seldom cares for his children.

When he heard that Xin wanted to visit me in Qingzhou to play, he sent her over directly.

Now, during these troubled times, it’s truly a burden for Your Highness and His Highness.

I feel deeply apologetic.

I heard there were landslides in several villages on the outskirts of the city due to last night’s heavy rain.

The Lu family still has a few cloth shops and grain stores in the Jianghuai area.

My uncle has gone to arrange shipments, hoping to contribute a little to the people of Qingzhou and ease some of Your Highness and His Highness’s worries.”

The cloth shops and grain stores she mentioned were naturally hidden assets left by the Lu family in the capital, as their overt businesses had long been confiscated by the court.

Qin Zheng was somewhat surprised.

Lu Jinyan’s words conveyed two things: first, that Lu Jinxin was not here for an arranged marriage, and she even provided an excuse—Lu Jinxin was just here to visit her.

Secondly, the Lu family from the capital wanted a way to serve Chu Chengji.

In such a flood disaster, the most needed items for the victims were food and clothing.

By saying her uncle had gone to arrange grain and cloth, Lu Jinyan was clearly eager to help Chu Chengji solve the urgent needs.

Qin Zheng was not yet sure of Chu Chengji’s attitude toward the Lu family in the capital, but nominally, they were his maternal family.

As long as they didn’t cause trouble, Chu Chengji wouldn’t treat them harshly.

He was currently employing people from the Lu family in Yingzhou but not those from the capital, which must have had his reasons.

Qin Zheng said, “You have been very considerate. The Lu family, a hundred-year-old noble family, maintains its dignity.

The late Grand Tutor Lu cared deeply for the country and its people.

The Lu family, continuing his legacy, is a blessing to the Chu state. When His Highness returns, I will discuss this with him.”

After speaking, she ordered to reward the sisters with a pair of bracelets each.

Lu Jinyan thanked her with appropriate humility, but when she looked up at Qin Zheng, her gaze carried a hint of probing.

Qin Zheng’s words were flawless, praising both the Lu family and Grand Tutor Lu, reassuring them.

If someone with less depth had heard this, they would likely be full of gratitude.

Yet, her words, aside from praising the Lu family, said nothing else.

She merely stated she would inform the Crown Prince, giving them no concrete response at all.

Lu Jinyan had no personal relationship with Qin Zheng, having only seen her a few times at banquets.

Back then, she could easily read Qin Zheng’s thoughts from her face. Now, she couldn’t discern anything at all.

As they were leaving, the rain outside grew heavier.

Qin Zheng initially wanted to keep them, but Lu Jinxin, afraid of encountering the Crown Prince, was so scared her face turned pale.

She tugged repeatedly on Lu Jinyan’s sleeve.

After Lu Jinyan politely declined the offer, Qin Zheng ordered someone to escort them out of the residence.

The crystal rain fell from the eaves at the entrance of the mansion, splashing into a myriad of tiny droplets on the ground.

Before boarding the carriage, Lu Jinyan looked back.

The cold wind blew her loose strands of hair against her face, and at that moment, her expression was a mix of sadness and a hint of envy.

Seeing her suddenly stop, Lu Jinxin turned to her, “What’s the matter, Sister Yan?”@@novelbin@@

Lu Jinyan retracted her gaze, “It’s nothing, just that I suddenly realized that those trapped in the past are not necessarily the ones who were originally involved.”

When she was young, she liked someone, but that person’s gaze had never lingered on her.

She always thought she lived with clarity.

Today she realized she was the one muddling through, clinging to the past.

Lu Jinxin clearly didn’t understand her meaning and said blankly, “What are you talking about, Sister Yan?”

Lu Jinyan smiled and said, “I just suddenly feel envious of the Crown Princess.”

She had always envied Qin Zheng.

Qin Zheng was the designated Crown Princess, forced to learn everything to perfection, but no matter how good her reputation was, it was only to match the status of the future Crown Princess.

No one ever asked her if she wanted to walk this path.

The most noble daughter of an esteemed family, yet she didn’t even have the right to like someone.

Whenever she met Qin Zheng at banquets, there were always busybodies comparing them.

Those trying to curry favor with her would disparage Qin Zheng as merely a pretty face.

They didn’t know how much she wished to be the girl they disparaged—loved by her parents, in harmony with her siblings, and with a childhood sweetheart.

Unlike her, whose family ties were thin, her mother saw her as a means to gain favor, her father saw her as a source of pride, and her sisters wished to replace her.

In the eyes of the Lu family, she was merely an object that could bring them another decade of glory…

Even after the Crown Prince married another, the Lu family sought someone else who could regain their status, planning to marry her off.

That’s why she was so moved when Lu Jinxin spoke those harsh words about raising daughters like pets.

She thought Qin Zheng wouldn’t be happy after marrying into the Eastern Palace.

Someone like her shouldn’t be involved in worldly affairs, let alone navigate political intrigues.

But Qin Zheng was clearly doing well.

At least what she showed to outsiders was very good.

She was no longer the ethereal figure from memory; she didn’t need anyone to protect her.

The shrewdness revealed in just a few words showed that no one should underestimate this current Crown Princess.

The people involved in the past had all moved on, yet she, an outsider, was the one trapped.

At that moment, Lu Jinyan felt ridiculous.

She lifted the carriage curtain and got in.

Lu Jinxin, shocked by her words, couldn’t believe Sister Yan envied the Crown Princess?

Thinking of how Lu Jinyan almost became the Crown Princess, Lu Jinxin’s eyes widened, her lips pressed tightly together.

She climbed into the carriage and cautiously glanced at Lu Jinyan, wondering how to console her.

Lu Jinyan lifted her eyelids and glanced at her, seeing through the little fool’s thoughts entirely.

She sighed and said, “It’s not what you think. I just envy the Crown Princess for living so clearly and sensibly.”

Only then did Lu Jinxin’s heart settle back into place.

She took out some preserved fruits from the carriage to eat, but as she was about to take a bite, Lu Jinyan, who had been resting with her eyes closed on the opposite side of the carriage, suddenly opened her eyes.

Lu Jinxin’s hand trembled, nearly dropping the preserved fruit.

“Don’t complain to me next time about getting fat,” Lu Jinyan said, closing her eyes again after a glance at her.

Lu Jinxin hesitated, looking at the preserved fruit in her hand.

Lu Jinyan, as if she had eyes on her forehead, said, “I guess you won’t fit into my set of Shu brocade skirts anymore.”

At the thought of losing the chance to wear those beautiful skirts, Lu Jinxin hurriedly put down the preserved fruit.

The carriage soon arrived at the other residence.

That day, neighboring villages had been hit by disaster.

Lin Yao had been sent to deal with the emergency and returned to the residence after half a day’s work, coincidentally encountering the Lu sisters’ return.

A servant placed a footstool down and held a large oil-paper umbrella over the carriage, enough to cover three people.

Lin Yao, remembering how he had badmouthed the eldest Miss Lu a few days earlier and had been overheard, felt somewhat uneasy standing by the carriage.

A slender, fair hand parted the carriage curtain.

Emerging from inside was a beautiful woman in a bean-green embroidered dress, her demeanor cool and dignified.

Just one look at her made people dare not look again; she exuded a natural nobility.

Lin Yao was visibly taken aback.

The next moment, the one who emerged from the carriage was Lu Jinxin.

The sisters only nodded faintly at him before heading into the residence, surrounded by a group of servants.

Lin Yao, having stayed at the residence for many days, saw Lu Jinyan for the first time.

Puzzled, he asked, “Who was that?”

She certainly didn’t look like a maid.

The boy at the door said, “She’s the legitimate eldest daughter of the Lu family from the capital.”

Lin Yao took another look at the entrance, but he couldn’t see anything anymore.

After Chu Chengji returned, Qin Zheng told him about the Lu family’s offer to help with disaster relief.