Xuanyuan Chaohua respectfully replied, "Yes, Your Majesty understands. However, please forgive my bluntness. The Fifth Princess is undoubtedly an exceptional person in every way. But I have always been concerned about the border and have never dared to be negligent in the slightest. I was a late bloomer when it came to matters of the heart and do not understand love. However, I have always longed for the love between my grandparents and I would not hastily arrange a marriage. That would be an insult to both myself and the princess. If the princess marries me, I will definitely protect her with all my heart. Otherwise, such a hasty marriage would be deceiving the princess's feelings and disrespecting Your Majesty. I currently have no one else in my heart, so please forgive me for not being able to agree to harm the princess."
"You...you're just making excuses. We can get married and then develop our feelings for each other. What does this matter? There are plenty of people in this world who marry according to their parents' wishes and matchmakers' words, and they're doing just fine. You just don't want to marry me, the princess. I'm not going to be so eager to be rejected. Waaah..." Baili Le's eyes filled with tears as she turned and ran to Consort Sun, sobbing between her legs.
Consort Sun looked on with heartache, and her expression turned cold as she looked at Xuan Yuan Chaohua: "General Xuan Yuan, I invited you to a banquet today, and this is how you humiliate me?"
Xuanyuan Chaohua remained silent. Ouyang Yue squinted at Consort Sun, then glanced at Emperor Mingxian. At this moment, Emperor Mingxian said, "Since that's the case, I naturally can't force Chaohua. What Chaohua said is right. This is an ancestral instruction set by my uncle. Even if it's out of filial piety, it's good for Chaohua to be cautious. I also appreciate mutual affection. My uncle has made so many contributions to the court. If I can't even help him abide by this last instruction, I would truly be letting down the Princess's residence."
“Your Majesty, Xuanyuan Chaohua is clearly humiliating the Fifth Princess! The Fifth Princess has never asked Your Majesty for anything in her life, but this time she has truly fallen for worldly desires, which is why… This Xuanyuan Chaohua won’t even give Your Majesty a child, he’s simply audacious! Your Majesty…” Consort Sun was about to speak with a cold face, but was suddenly interrupted by Emperor Mingxian, “Alright! I have my own decision on this matter! You need not say any more.”
Upon hearing this, Consort Sun's expression immediately changed. Her previous harsh words vanished, replaced by an unusually gentle and submissive tone. She said, "Yes, it was because I cared too much about the Fifth Princess that I spoke inappropriately. Please punish me, Your Majesty."
Emperor Mingxian nodded slightly and looked at Xuanyuan Chaohua, saying, "Chaohua, how about this? I respect my uncle and aunt very much, and the ancestral precepts of the Xuanyuan family cannot be abandoned. However, you have been away from home for many years and have not had much opportunity to experience romantic feelings. While you are still in the capital, you can spend more time with the Fifth Prince. How could you not fall in love with each other? However, I am not domineering or unreasonable. I promise you that if you have another woman you like and are willing to marry, I will bless you."
Xuanyuan Chaohua and Ouyang Yue exchanged a glance. Baili Le had proposed to Xuanyuan Chaohua in front of them, and he had refused, doing so in the name of Baili Le, Consort Sun, and even Emperor Mingxian. Since Xuanyuan Chaohua disagreed, Emperor Mingxian couldn't press him too hard. Therefore, he made this compromise, even declaring that he would bless Xuanyuan Chaohua if he truly had another girl he liked—essentially guaranteeing Xuanyuan Chaohua's happiness. However, they couldn't be so tactless as to refuse Emperor Mingxian's compromise; otherwise, they would be showing a blatant disrespect to him.
Xuanyuan Chaohua immediately replied, "Thank you for your kindness and consideration, Your Majesty. I will certainly give this matter serious consideration."
Baili Le was somewhat dissatisfied, but she knew that this was a way to resolve today's matter peacefully. She gently bowed to Emperor Mingxian and said, "Father, I have remembered this." Then she looked at Xuanyuan Chaohua and said, "General Xuanyuan, in all my years, there has never been anything I wanted that I could not have. I like you, and I will naturally make sure that you like me too. When we are mutually in love, General Xuanyuan, you should have nothing more to say, right?"
If they were truly in love, what excuse would her brother have? Ouyang Yue's eyes flickered slightly, and Xuan Yuan Chaohua immediately said, "Yes, what the princess says is absolutely right."
Baili Le's complexion improved somewhat, but Consort Sun's expression was rather unpleasant. Emperor Mingxian only sat for a short while before leaving because he had official business to discuss. Consort Sun then turned to leave, claiming that she was feeling unwell.
"Woof!" Just then, a white figure suddenly rushed into the hall and charged towards Ouyang Yue. Ouyang Yue paused and quickly dodged backward. The cat then pounced on Xuan Yuan Chaohua, who was standing to her side. Xuan Yuan Chaohua reacted extremely quickly, suddenly dodging backward and narrowly avoiding the white figure's attack. Xuan Yuan Chaohua and Ouyang Yue looked closely and saw a small white dog, pure white without a single blemish. It was wagging its tail and eagerly eating a bowl of soup on Xuan Yuan Chaohua's table. It was a soup made with various precious ingredients, and the bones had been simmered for two whole days to become flavorful. Had the dog's nose been lured by the aroma of the soup?
"Xiaobai, you're being disrespectful! Come here right now!" Consort Sun was also startled by the white dog's actions. She couldn't help but scold it when she came to her senses. At this moment, the dog, named Xiaoyu, looked rather disheveled because the fur under its mouth was stained with dirt from eating. Consort Sun's expression was not good. After all, it was her dog, and it was embarrassing for her to disturb people. She couldn't help but say, "General Xuanyuan and Mingyue, are you alright? I usually spoil Xiaobai. It's not shy at all. Did it frighten you?"
Ouyang Yue laughed: "Not at all. This little white dog is so lively and cute, I like it very much too. It just so happens that my brother and I have already finished using it, so we won't stay and disturb the Noble Consort. We'll take our leave now."
"Well then, I won't keep you any longer. You may return now." With that, Consort Sun waved her hand, and Ouyang Yue and Xuanyuan Chaohua slowly left the main hall. However, before leaving, Ouyang Yue saw Consort Sun holding Xiaobai with a smile on her face and vaguely heard, "Why is Xiaobai so unruly today? It actually ran to someone's table to snatch food and even pushed them away." As she spoke, there was no anger at all, but rather a smile. Ouyang Yue sneered and turned around, already out of the main hall of Mingxiang Palace.
Xuanyuan Chaohua suddenly sighed. Ouyang Yue glanced at him and couldn't help but touch Xuanyuan Chaohua's hand. Although they were siblings, they couldn't be as intimate in front of outsiders as they were at home. "Brother, since the Emperor didn't say anything definitively, there's no need to worry. There will be many unexpected things happening in reality."
"I know." Xuan Yuan Chaohua nodded, but his expression did not relax. In fact, even though Xuan Yuan Chaohua was at the border, many people were watching him. One of them was the constant sending of women to the border. Xuan Yuan Chaohua had been very troubled by the Ying family over the years. Even though Princess Shuangxia in the capital was of noble status and ordinary people dared not bother her, and she herself preferred quiet and rarely attended banquets, there were still people who tried to sneak in through her to find a marriage for Xuan Yuan Chaohua.
As for the ancestral precepts, Ouyang Yue had only recently learned of them. These precepts did exist, but they weren't established by her grandfather, Xuan Yuanhu. Instead, they were added by Princess Shuangxia after Xuan Yuanhu's death. Princess Shuangxia and Xuan Yuanhu had been husband and wife for many years, so it was easy for her to imitate his calligraphy. Furthermore, the Xuan Yuan family was small, and there were no objections to this. It could be said that Princess Shuangxia herself added them. However, they undoubtedly served a purpose, saving Xuan Yuanchaohua some trouble. Otherwise, how could he have escaped today? This shows Princess Shuangxia's foresight; she probably foresaw this situation long ago.
With such flexible time, they can get a lot done.
The two walked a few steps, and just as they were about to leave, several beautiful young women entered from the entrance of Mingxiang Palace. Leading the way was a woman dressed in a pink gauze dress. Her figure was incredibly graceful, what modern people call a "devil's figure"—tall, with a high, firm chest, a shapely bottom, and a slender waist, like a snake woman incarnate. Her gait was alluring, her hips swaying slightly. This woman was equally striking in appearance. Her eyes were bright and clear, her nose small and high, and her lips a vibrant red like cinnabar, a strange combination of allure and innocence, yet perfectly suited to her. Her attire wasn't extravagant, but it was perfectly appropriate, pleasing to the eye. With her bright eyes and white teeth, she was a truly captivating and lively woman.
Upon seeing Xuan Yuan Chaohua and Ouyang Yue, the woman immediately gave a slight bow and said, "Greetings, Princess Consort of Chen and General Xuan Yuan."
Ouyang Yue smiled and said, "No need for formalities. May I ask who this lady is?" The woman was strikingly beautiful, but Ouyang Yue had never seen her before. She carefully examined the woman's attire. Although it was not overly luxurious, it was quite different from the clothes of the maids behind her. Clearly, she must be a newly arrived concubine in the palace.
The woman in pink smiled gently, her face instantly turning rosy, like a spring breeze caressing her: "I am a newly arrived beauty in the palace, named Fenyan. I have long heard of the Princess Consort of Chen and have always wanted to find an opportunity to meet her, but I rarely have such an opportunity since entering the palace. I never expected to meet her here, I am truly lucky."
Ouyang Yue laughed: "So it's the Pink Beauty. She is indeed a beauty of unparalleled grace. I had heard that several young ladies had entered the palace, each one talented and beautiful. Seeing her today is truly an eye-opener. It is an honor for this princess."
Although Fenyan is Emperor Mingxian's woman and can be considered Ouyang Yue's elder, Fenyan is currently only a beauty and holds a low-ranking, unremarkable position. Ouyang Yue, on the other hand, is the Princess Consort of Chen, whose seniority is lower but whose status is more noble. Therefore, Fenyan naturally had to pay her respects.
Hearing Ouyang Yue's praise, Fenyan's smile became even more beautiful and charming: "Princess Consort Chen is too kind. Princess Consort Chen's talent and beauty are recognized throughout the Langya Continent. How can they compare to my delicate appearance? I am ashamed of myself."
Ouyang Yue simply smiled and said, "You're too modest, Miss Pink. You must have come to Mingxiang Palace to discuss important matters with Consort Sun. I won't disturb you any longer."
"Respectfully seeing off Princess Consort Chen and General Xuanyuan." Fenyan watched Ouyang Yue and Xuanyuan Chaohua leave before slowly walking towards the main hall.
"Bang!"
"They are simply ungrateful! I, the princess, have lowered myself so much, yet Xuan Yuan Chao Hua still makes all sorts of excuses. They clearly don't respect me, the princess!" As soon as Fen Yan stepped into the main hall, something was suddenly thrown out. Fen Yan and the maid behind her were startled. Fen Yan immediately covered her face and turned to the side. The object slammed backward and hit the maid behind her. The maid immediately covered her forehead and cried out in pain.
"Ah, she's bleeding! Stop the bleeding quickly!" The palace maid next to her cried out in alarm and hurriedly fetched something to wipe the injured palace maid's wounds.
"Useless thing! It's just a cup, and she managed to break it! What's the point of keeping someone like that around!" Baili Le was furious when she saw this. Baili Le's appearance inherited seventy percent of Consort Sun's beauty, but she still had a bit of childishness on her face and lacked some of Consort Sun's mature charm. However, this could not ignore Baili Le's beauty. Her face was flushed with anger, and her beautiful eyes were filled with tears. She was naturally a rare beauty, but she seemed to regard the palace maids as less than human.
Given Baili Le's background and the fact that she has been the only princess favored for so many years, it's normal for her to have a temper. Moreover, she felt that Xuanyuan Chaohua had deliberately slapped her in the face. In her anger, she wouldn't care about the lives of others.
Na Fenyan walked in and immediately bowed to Consort Sun and Baili Le: "This concubine greets Consort Sun and the Fifth Princess."
When Baili Le saw Fen Yan enter, his expression darkened even more: "What are you doing here!"
Consort Sun, holding Xiao Bai whose mouth had been cleaned, gently stroked its head. Xiao Bai nestled comfortably in her arms, its eyes half-closed. Consort Sun glanced at Fen Yan, who was gracefully bowing to the side, seemingly oblivious. After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, when Fen Yan was starting to feel unsteady, she finally said, "Get up." Then she turned to Baili Le, "Alright, don't be angry anymore. As long as you put in a little more effort in the future, you won't be afraid of not being able to win over Xuan Yuan Chao Hua. Sit down now, look at yourself." She pointed again, "You sit down too."
"Thank you, Noble Consort Xie." Fenyan sat obediently to the side, her head lowered, not daring to speak.
Consort Sun glanced at her with her beautiful eyes and said, "I heard that the Emperor favored you again last night."
Fenyan's face immediately showed fear: "Yes, this concubine... this concubine..."
Consort Sun smiled, her face extremely amiable, but a sharp glint flashed in her beautiful eyes: "Why are you so nervous? I'm only concerned about you. It was I who recommended you to enter the palace in the first place. Your favor is also beneficial to me, and I am naturally happy to see it. There were five women who entered the palace at the beginning, and in just one month, your favor has grown more and more. Except for a couple of times when the Emperor was intrigued, he has long forgotten about the others. But you are different from them. You were specially trained by me to serve the Emperor. Temporary favor is nothing. What I want is for you to enjoy continuous favor. Do you understand?"
Fenyan lowered her head, her eyes flickering slightly: "Yes, I understand."
Consort Sun waved her hand: "Granny Qi, take her away."
Upon hearing this, Fenyan's face instantly turned pale: "Your Highness, I...I was feeling unwell yesterday...I'm afraid I can't...take it..."
Consort Sun's eyes darkened upon hearing this: "What? You can't even endure this little bit of hardship? Do you still expect me to trust and promote you? You should know that I will personally guide you, which is your good fortune, yet you've become so self-important?!"
Upon hearing this, Fenyan immediately knelt down and said, "No, I dare not, I dare not."
"Pink Beauty, come into the inner palace with me quickly. Don't anger the Imperial Concubine any further. She's doing all this for your own good," said Granny Qi expressionlessly. Pink Beauty stiffened and knelt down to kowtow to Imperial Concubine Sun. "I thank Your Highness for your kindness. I will certainly live up to Your Highness's expectations."
"Hmm, she's not confused yet. Go away." Consort Sun waved her hand, and Fenyan, her face pale, was led away by Granny Qi. Baili Le watched Fenyan leave and couldn't help but complain, "Mother, this Fenyan looks like a vixen. You still let her into the palace. What if she steals Mother's favor?"
"You're still young and don't understand these things. Although your mother is still beautiful, time waits for no one. Compared to those young girls, it's not just about who captures a man's heart. With Fenyan's current momentum, she'll naturally be promoted after a while. Then I'll go directly to Mingxiang Palace, and the Emperor can come here often. That will be a sign of my honor." Although she said this, Consort Sun's expression was still not good. Promising that she was no longer young and had no competitiveness was something that no woman could accept.
Consort Sun was indeed very charming and elegant, but Baili Le was already of marriageable age, and Baili Jian was well past twenty. She was almost forty, and although she was well-maintained and looked like she was in her early thirties, she couldn't compare to a delicate fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl. To secure her favor, this was naturally a last resort.
"Ah! It hurts, Granny Qi, please...please be gentle..." Just then, a faint cry came from inside. Consort Sun immediately ordered all the palace maids to be sent away to guard the place, while she herself led Baili Le into the inner palace. In one of the rooms inside the inner palace, two palace maids with solemn faces were guarding the place. When they saw Consort Sun and Baili Le coming over, they immediately bowed. Consort Sun waved her hand and said, "No need for that, open the door."
"Yes, Your Highness."
The door creaked open, and Consort Sun and Baili Le entered. The room was empty. Consort Sun walked to a wall, unscrewed a scroll, and then stepped back against the wall, leading her and Baili Le into a tunnel. Candles hung on both sides of the tunnel, casting a yellowish glow. However, the screams grew louder. Soon, the two arrived at a stone chamber, twisted a stone pillar, and the stone door opened. Upon entering, the scene inside immediately came into view.
Baili Le gasped upon seeing the scene inside: "Mother, this is..."
"This Fenyan is still very inexperienced and naturally needs some training," Consort Sun said casually, which made Baili Le's eyes widen.
The stone chamber was simply furnished. A wooden shelf held various strange and unusual items, and next to the stone table in the middle was a long wooden table with all sorts of odd objects on it. On the other side of the stone wall, four pillars were tied to ropes, which bound Fenyan's limbs. At that moment, Granny Qi and two old palace maids were adjusting these things to Fenyan. Fenyan's face was alternating between red and white, and her expression was very strange. She kept making various noises.
Upon hearing this, Granny Qi reached out and pinched Fen Yan's armpit directly: "No, that's too awful. Be more seductive." The armpit area was quite hidden, so no one would notice the mark, but Granny Qi's pinching technique was unique. Fen Yan's face turned pale, beads of sweat rolled down her cheeks in pain, and she stammered, "Yes, Granny Qi, Fen Yan understands..."
Consort Sun then asked, "How is it? Has there been any progress?"
Just as Granny Qi was about to stop, Consort Sun said, "No need, just report back to me." Granny Qi naturally nodded in agreement, "Reporting to Your Highness, this Fenyan is quite talented, and she will probably be quite skilled in another half month."
Consort Sun nodded: "Fenyan, you are currently enjoying the Emperor's favor. Remember not to be arrogant, but to learn humbly. What I want is for you to maintain the Emperor's favor for a long time, understand?"
With her hands bound, Fenyan could only turn her head and say with a pale face, "Yes... Fenyan will definitely remember and will never let down the expectations of the Noble Consort, ah!" Suddenly, Fenyan cried out in pain, and the expression of Granny Qi beside Fenyan was also a bit strange.
Consort Sun had already turned around and left with Baili Le. As soon as they left the stone chamber, Baili Le couldn't help but say, "Mother, if this Fenyan gains favor, won't she become a threat to you?"
Consort Sun sneered: "I know this, of course, and I will never give her that chance. I will keep Fenyan firmly in my hands. You should also keep this in mind. Give men a little sweetness now and then, and they will naturally like you more. I brought you here today to show you that even in the future, you and Xuanyuan Chaohua cannot always be so stubborn and demanding, or you will lose his favor."
Baili Le smiled and said, "With Mother's guidance, I naturally have no problem." However, Baili Le was indignant. How could someone as lowly as Fenyan compare to her, a princess? Xuanyuan Chaohua had always disagreed, but in the end, he still had to compromise. Did she think he wouldn't eventually give in? Compromise like her mother was not her nature.
Ouyang Yue and Xuanyuan Chaohua met up with Baili Chen outside the palace and then went to the princess's residence. Once back at the princess's residence, they naturally told Princess Shuangxia everything that had happened in the palace. Princess Shuangxia sighed and said, "Of course I expected this to happen. Fortunately, we managed to add that ancestral rule, otherwise Chaohua wouldn't even have had the right to refuse today."
Ouyang Yue said, "Grandmother was right. As the number one general of the Great Zhou Dynasty, many people are envious of my brother's position. It is indeed not easy for my brother to remain aloof. My brother has been back for some time now. If we just wait until the time is over before he returns to the border, things will be much easier."
Princess Shuangxia nodded, but still said, "But this delay is not a solution. Chaohua is indeed getting on in years and it's time for him to get married. Getting married early can also curb the ambitions of those people."
“That’s true, but finding someone you’re truly happy with isn’t easy. With your status, most of the people who come after you have ulterior motives. It’s not easy to find someone who is truly devoted to you. If they’re not sincere, I think it’s better to take things slowly. You can’t just settle for someone.” Ouyang Yue said.
Princess Shuangxia nodded in agreement: "That's right. Chaohua has worked very hard all these years, which is why she was able to stabilize the Xuanyuan Army. If she were to find an ambitious woman, it would definitely do more harm than good. Chaohua, do you have anyone you like? Why don't you tell me, and your grandmother will give you some advice."
Xuan Yuan Chaohua smiled wryly: "Grandmother, if I really had someone in mind, I would definitely tell you. But I really don't have anyone I like."
Baili Chen listened silently without saying a word. Actually, he hoped to find a suitable match for Xuan Yuan Chaohua as soon as possible. Otherwise, he always felt that Xuan Yuan Chaohua's doting on his younger sister was a bit excessive. Sometimes, it made him envious. After thinking for a while, he couldn't help but say, "I think we should find an opportunity to hold a banquet and invite some young ladies from the capital. That way, my brother-in-law can have a say. Even if he doesn't find one he likes, it doesn't matter. If he does find one, it will be good for Grandmother and us to take a look."
Xuanyuan Chaohua looked at Baili Chen, but shook his head: "That's not necessary. I can take care of it myself. There's no need for Grandmother and Yue'er to worry about it."
"Now we must put this matter on the agenda. If you don't care, someone else will. Do you really want to marry Baili Le?" Princess Shuangxia chimed in. Baili Chen knew very well how much Mingxian favored Baili Le. He had been spoiled and willful since childhood, and once he made up his mind, nothing could change it. Now that Baili Le had his eye on Xuanyuan Chaohua, it would be difficult for him to escape. Baili Chen wouldn't admit it, but he felt a slight sense of schadenfreude. After all, his brother-in-law was very attached to his stubborn wife. Maybe marrying a shrew could curb his bad habits. Of course, although Baili Chen thought this, he wouldn't say it out loud, much less do it. Even if she were a shrew, Baili Le wouldn't be a good choice.
Xuanyuan Chaohua gave a wry smile, but still didn't say much. Princess Shuangxia, however, became interested after thinking about it: "Hmm, I think we should do it this way. I need to think about what reason to use to hold this banquet."
Ouyang Yue laughed: "Grandmother, I think it would be better to hold this banquet at the Prince Chen's residence. Since my marriage to the Prince, we have only held one banquet at the residence. After that, we did not hold any banquets because we did not want to go through too much trouble and extravagance. This time is a good opportunity. I think no one will refuse to give us face. Grandmother and brother can go. Even if we cannot attend, it will be fine. We will have a legitimate reason to do so."
Princess Shuangxia nodded and said, "Hmm, that's a good idea. Then let Yue'er handle this."
"Yes, Grandmother."
After talking for a while, Ouyang Yue and Baili Chen left by carriage. Inside the carriage, Baili Chen said, "Yue'er, don't you have any good candidates?"
Ouyang Yue's eyes flashed slightly: "There are candidates, but it's not up to me to decide. Relationships are between two people, and they have to like each other. Holding a banquet in the Prince's mansion can be an opportunity for me to test the waters. If it can lead to a beautiful marriage, that would be a wonderful thing."
"Oh, who is it that even I can't tell?" Baili Chen's arms were already wrapped around Ouyang Yue's waist. This slender waist was Baili Chen's favorite place. He also shamelessly blew his breath on Ouyang Yue's fair neck, making her neck itchy and numb. She couldn't help but push him away, "Stop it. We're in the carriage. Aren't you afraid of losing face?"
"What's shameful about this? I'm just showing my affection for my wife. People around are too busy being envious and jealous to be ashamed of it." As he spoke, he gave Ouyang Yue a quick kiss on the cheek, his hands becoming even more restless. "My wife, tell me quickly, who is the candidate?"
Ouyang Yue stared wide-eyed, but couldn't help but whisper, "..."
Baili Chen was taken aback upon hearing this: "Oh, it's her? That's not bad." Ouyang Yue nodded slightly, but the next moment she grabbed Baili Chen's hand and said, "No, we must at least return to the manor."
Baili Chen said helplessly, "Fine, I'll do whatever my wife says." Ouyang Yue glared at him. This was bound to happen, wasn't it? Did he think she was as thick-skinned as him?
As soon as they returned to Prince Chen's residence, Baili Chen pulled Ouyang Yue inside quickly. However, after only a few steps, a servant rushed up from behind and said urgently, "Your Highness, Your Highness's Consort, Young Master Leng requests an audience."
"What's he doing here at this time? I won't see him!" Baili Chen had no time to see anyone right now, but the servant's expression changed drastically: "But it's Young Master Leng..."
Ouyang Yue could tell that the servant's expression was off, so she quickly said, "Take him to the main hall, we'll be there right away." She then pulled Baili Chenchan towards the main hall. As soon as they entered, they saw a grinning man sitting in a chair. Ouyang Yue frowned. "Cousin, what's going on with you!"
Leng Caiwen sat in the hall, but his clothes were disheveled and his face was covered with bruises, clearly the marks of a beating. As the eldest son of the Leng family, and with an excellent relationship with Baili Chen and Leng Yu, who would dare to hit him?!
☆、188、Playing the rogue, mysterious person (annual meeting ticket~)
"Cousin, brother-in-law, it seems I'll have to come to Prince Chen's mansion to bother you for a while." Leng Caiwen said with a smile, but the smile greatly affected his facial expression. Before he could even laugh twice, Leng Caiwen suddenly gasped, covered his face, and cried out in pain.
Baili Chen and Ouyang Yue walked in, and their expressions darkened upon seeing Leng Caiwen's appearance. Baili Chen frowned and asked, "Caiwen, what happened? Who in the capital would dare to hit you like this?" Ouyang Yue also looked directly at Leng Caiwen. The couple's personalities were quite similar; even now, their frowns and expressions were almost identical. Leng Caiwen suddenly seemed to lose his composure, then laughed heartlessly, "What? Could it be that I hurt myself? I went to the mountains at night to enjoy the scenery, got drunk, and tripped, resulting in this mess."
Ouyang Yue and Baili Chen believed such a blatant lie. If Leng Caiwen had truly fallen off a cliff, he should have been partially paralyzed, with his arms and legs more severely injured. However, to their eyes, his limbs appeared unharmed, with the injuries mainly concentrated on his face. If he had truly fallen, would Leng Caiwen even be able to keep his face? At least he didn't have several long, bloody scratches, which was already a kindness to him. Baili Chen couldn't help but say, "Oh, so your face fell to the ground. You didn't even completely ruin your face, which is so shameless. That's quite an interesting fall."
Leng Caiwen just chuckled and didn't say much. Ouyang Yue frowned at Leng Caiwen and said bluntly, "He looks like he's not very experienced, getting beaten up like this."
Leng Caiwen laughed, completely unconcerned. He twitched his aching lips and said, "Hey, all of you! My cousin's here to ask for lodging. If you don't welcome me, just say so! Why are you making fun of me like this? Sigh, just think about how I have no place to sleep. If I leave the Chen Prince's mansion, I'll be sleeping on the streets. How pitiful and miserable! There's nowhere in this world for me to stay! Don't worry about me, don't worry about me. I need to cry, to cry out the sorrow in my heart! Sigh!"
With a "whoosh," Leng Caiwen picked up his ever-present fan, this time displaying a painting of a tiger descending a mountain. However, this painting was now torn apart near the handle, the tiger's head severed in two, turning it into a crippled tiger descending the mountain—lacking any semblance of its former power. Just as Leng Caiwen was about to speak, he felt the fan was leaking air, creating increased resistance. Looking down, he exclaimed in shock, "My God! This is my painstakingly crafted masterpiece! Which audacious madman dared to damage my fan like this? It's an utter waste! All his property should be confiscated to compensate for my emotional trauma!" Leng Caiwen then began to wail and scream, his mournful expression quite convincing.
Seeing his unserious behavior, Ouyang Yue was speechless and directly said to the servants, "Go and prepare a guest room for Young Master Leng, and then find a royal physician to come and examine his injuries. He needs the best medicine."
Just as the servant was about to agree, Leng Caiwen hurriedly said, "Oh, no need, no need. I can handle these injuries myself. Why would I need a royal physician? If I fall and hurt myself like this, wouldn't people laugh at me? Cousin, you can't be so heartless, can you? Your cousin will lose all face."