PaiPai-Romane - Kapitel 74
“I really wanted to see him, but unfortunately I came by carriage, and you know I don’t like riding horses.”
"You're too lazy, hmm... it seems you've forgotten how he used to bully you."
"Ahem, the past is too painful to recall. As people, we must look forward."
The two brothers chatted and laughed as they entered the door side by side.
"I suddenly feel like something's not right." Someone stopped at the doorway.
Beneath his glasses, his dark, bright eyes scanned his surroundings.
"What about you now?" Chu Gexing frowned, looking at the person beside him.
"The atmosphere here is quite strange." Tang Leyan looked into the room through the door.
"Hmph," Chu Gexing snorted, "Yes, if you enter, a hundred tigers will pounce on you to welcome you."
"Did the Grand Secretary really send me?" Le Yan looked up at him, her eyes narrowing.
Chu Gexing's anger flared: "Do you suspect that I tricked you into coming here under the guise of the Grand Secretary?"
“I didn’t say that,” she laughed.
"If I wanted to, I wouldn't need to go through all this trouble."
"You seem to have quite a bit of confidence."
"You know very well."
"Judging from your expression, I sensed that it was His Excellency who invited us today, so..."
"Um?"
"Even if there are hundreds of fierce tigers, I will still walk forward with pride." With a wave of her fan, she strode inside.
Chu Ge walked behind her, gave a faint hum, and followed her inside.
Chu Gexing accompanied them all the way to Chu Zhen's dormitory.
As soon as Tang Leyan entered, she saw Chu Zhen, dressed in a dark blue robe, slowly walking out from the inner room.
He walks with his back very straight, usually with his left arm slightly behind his back, while his right hand remains still at his waist in front.
Tang Leyan had seen this person a few times. When attending court, he would also have his left arm behind his back, while his right arm would move gently and naturally with each step.
Regardless of the method, the natural dignified presence of this person is captivating.
I didn't like him at first, and I even thought to myself: What an arrogant man.
Later, without realizing it, my opinion changed. My inner thoughts shifted, and I thought: What a formidable man.
Little did they expect that these two different adjectives represented what kind of thoughts.
As soon as Le Yan saw Chu Zhen go out, she immediately closed her fan and went to greet him.
She didn't utter the word "really..." but cleverly changed her words on the spot: "Is Your Excellency well?" She clasped her hands and bowed, her face slightly flushed.
Chu Zhen was surprised to see her wearing sunglasses. Then she smiled and gently placed her hands on her shoulders, saying, "You don't need to worry, you're much better now."
"That's good." She looked up and examined his face closely.
Although her complexion was still as fair as jade, she looked somewhat weak, and her originally rosy lips had lost some color.
"Why has Your Excellency summoned me?" she asked, lowering her eyelids.
This is a real dilemma, what should I call him?
Although he knew her true identity, for some reason, calling her "A-Zhen" felt far too intimate. This was a term he only used when listening to the Empress recount past events, a private conversation between mother and daughter, and absolutely never used to address outsiders.
If you call him "Uncle Zhen," you might unconsciously feel a sense of distance.
But Chu Gexing clearly calls him that too, so logically their relationship should be closer.
After thinking it over, she sighed and decided to adopt a businesslike demeanor, simply addressing him as "Your Excellency" to gloss over the matter for now.
Anyway, when leaving home, my father always warned me: Don't reveal your identity unless necessary.
However, she didn't reveal her identity herself; he discovered it.
That has nothing to do with her.
Even if her father confronts her, she will have something to say.
I looked up at the person in front of me.
Chu Zhen's eyes swept over Tang Leyan's face, and she smiled as she reached out and placed her hand on Tang Leyan's left elbow: "Come on, sit here first."
Tang Leyan smiled slightly and followed his gesture to walk to the table. She didn't dare to sit down first, but waited until Chu Zhen sat down before flicking her robe and sitting opposite him.
"Uncle Zhen, I'll be going out for a bit." Chu Gexing saw that the two of them seemed to appreciate each other, and ever since Tang Leyan entered the room, Chu Zhen's gaze had been lingering on her, his eyes...
His emotions were unreadable.
Just as Tang Leyan had said at the entrance, the atmosphere here was quite unusual.
At the time, he only wanted to mock her, but deep down he also harbored the same doubts.
However, as the one in charge of the Nine Gates, he naturally knows some information that outsiders do not.
For example, someone guarding the East Sea region hurriedly returned; or someone knocked on the city gate last night.
Those two were both extraordinary individuals.
He believes the two things are not unrelated.
Feeling something was amiss, and being an exceptionally intelligent person, he naturally wouldn't stay and cause trouble for others, so he took the initiative to speak first.
Chu Zhen turned around: "Ge Xing, if you have something to do, go ahead and do it."
Chu Gexing agreed and left the room.
Just as he stepped out of the door, he vaguely saw two figures slowly walking out from the end of the corridor.
They are almost the same height.
They appear to be of similar age and have similar outstanding appearances, but one is upright and courageous, while the other is gentle and serene—they possess completely different temperaments.
Chu Gexing glanced over and already knew what was going on. He turned around and slowly walked towards the door.
Chu Zhen did not intend to avoid Chu Gexing.
In his heart, he had already concluded that the relationship between Chu Gexing and Tang Leyan was extraordinary.
That's how he learned that Le Yan's surname was "Tang".
The singer probably knows far more than I do.
Apart from that past event.
Therefore, he specially asked Ge Xing to bring Yue Yan to the mansion.
But since Ge Xing himself asked to step aside, he couldn't force him.
Meanwhile, Tang Leyan was overjoyed to see Chu Gexing leave.
The demon has left, but the Grand Master has left himself here. What does that mean?
Could it be that he is recounting past events?
No, no, it shouldn't be that old-fashioned.
So what is it?
Could it be a heartfelt confession?
Lost in thought, she heard the person in front of her ask, "Leyan, why are you wearing sunglasses?"
"Hey, Uncle Zhen knows about this too?" he blurted out, then realized his mistake.
He coughed immediately and awkwardly covered his mouth.
Chu Zhen didn't seem to mind at all, and said with a faint smile, "Yes, I once knew an old friend from a foreign country who had seen such a thing, but I never had one, otherwise..." A faint smile appeared on his face.
Tang Leyan was slightly taken aback. She was very clever and immediately thought of the time she had acted rudely after sleeping with him and injured him. He must be thinking of that incident now.
Feeling deeply ashamed, he whispered, "I'm...I'm sorry for hurting you last time..."
Chu Zhen was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "You don't need to apologize to me. There's no need to be so polite between us..."
Hearing this, Le Yan felt incredibly happy and pleased.
But then he continued, "Speaking of which, I can accept being called Uncle Zhen by you."
His words carried a hint of unspoken bitterness.
Upon hearing this, Le Yan frowned immediately.
Just then, she heard footsteps slowly approaching outside the door, and judging from the sound, it seemed like there was more than one person.
But at this moment, Chu Zhen said again, "Le Yan, I called you here today because I want you to meet two people."
Dragon and Tiger Fight in the Capital, Chapter 90: Three People
"Leyan, I called you here today to introduce you to two people," Chu Zhen said.
His left hand was on the table.
They had very beautiful fingers, and she couldn't take her eyes off them.
If you reach out and shake hands... a smile will unconsciously appear on your lips.
"Oh? Who is it?" he asked, raising his eyes.
Actually, there's no need to ask; the person has already arrived.
A soft cough was heard from the doorway.
Le Yan turned around to look, but Chu Zhen stood up.
Two people appeared at the door.
They share some similarities in their eyebrows, but their temperaments are completely different.
If we were to describe it, it would be like the difference between weapons and musical instruments.
And that guy exuding a faint killing intent was actually the same person he had fought at the gate of the Zhongtang Mansion.
At the time, I didn't think much of it when I met him; I just thought this person was no ordinary person.