Chapter 24: Startling the Horse in the Bustling City

  Study room.

  When Zhen saw Guan Yang coming over, he smiled and said, "The young lady of the county has arrived."

  "Hmm!" Chu Nanyang smiled and handed over an inquiring gaze to Chu Yi'an, "Is Father still busy? If you and Zeng Guanjia still have things to discuss, then I'll take my leave first. However, you must drink this bowl of chicken soup first, Lu Yuan said you didn't even eat lunch."

  The tone was not without a hint of blame, and as he spoke, he turned around to take the porcelain bowl from Qingteng's hand and placed it on Chuyi An's desk.

  Zeng Guanjia watched and felt a wave of relief in his heart. It just so happened that he had finished reporting on the matters here, so he excused himself and left.

  "The servant also took her leave first." Qingteng could no longer linger in the study, and immediately performed a courtesy before retreating to wait outside the door.

  Chu Youyang took a spoonful of soup and handed it to Chu Yi'an.

  Chu Yi'an finished drinking the chicken soup in a few mouthfuls, then took the handkerchief from Chu Mo and wiped his mouth before saying: "Just have the maid deliver it, why did you come yourself?"

  "If I don't come over myself, I'm afraid Father will put it off again and forget. I'll only be at ease if I see you drink it yourself." Chu Nanyang said, walking behind Chu Yi'an to massage his temples and relieve his fatigue, "Your body is your own, Father. No matter how busy you are, you can't neglect your own health. Meals should be eaten on time."

  These days, due to the small movements of the Nanhe Wangfu and the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, Chu Yi'an has been extremely busy, often handling official documents until midnight, with no one by his side to help him. Looking at the obvious dark circles under his eyes, Chu Zhaoyang is truly worried.

  "Can't I even take care of my own body? What's with all the fuss." Chu Yi'an closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair, savoring the rare moment of comfort.

  Chu Youyang burst out laughing at his words, "Does Father still think he's a young man in his teens or twenties?"

  Chu Yi'an is already forty-two this year and is no longer considered young in this era, let alone having grandchildren.

  However, Chu Yan Yang was pleased with the teasing and rarely chimed in, saying, "What's wrong, is my dear Cui Bao going to despise his old useless father?"

  "How could I? Even if Father becomes 70 or 80 years old in the future, Xīn Bǎo will always be a child in front of Father. How would I dare to look down on Father?" Chǔ Jiàngyáng pouted and said with a very serious expression, "Father is Xīn Bǎo's and Brother's lifelong relative and dependence. It's just that I dislike Father not taking care of his own body."

  The entire Eastern Palace had several brothers and sisters, but the women all harbored ulterior motives. These so-called siblings each had their own agendas, and they were only considered a family because of their shared interests.

  It's not that I'm indifferent to them, but rather I want to distinguish myself from them. If we're being honest about familial relationships...

  In her past and present lives, Chu Nianyang only recognized two people: Chu Yi'an and Chu Qifeng.

  Her thoughts were no secret, and Chu Yi'an didn't need to spell it out. He just thought of something and said with a sigh: "Next month will be busy, take a look at the next few days, which day is free to go to Ci Xiu An to see Fang Shi."

  This is an order, although ——

  The tone is not particularly tough.

  Zhuo Rouyang pursed her lips and remained silent.

  Chu Yi An immediately knew she was unhappy, so he opened his eyes and looked at her, "What's wrong? You're not happy?"

  "No!" Chu Nianyang smiled and looked into Chu Yi'an's eyes, "This is what should be done, it's just that this year brother is not here again - I'm afraid of disturbing her."

  Chu Yi'an shook her head with a wry smile, but didn't ease up despite considering her emotions, and instead patted the back of her hand, saying: "Go!"

  "Good!" Chu Nanyang smiled brightly.

  It's actually no big deal, although she has some reservations in her heart, she also understands Chu Yi'an's intentions.

  The mouths of all under heaven are still not enough to be stopped.

  The father and daughter chatted for a while, then saw that there were still many documents on Chū Yì ān's desk waiting to be reviewed. Chū Jiǎngyáng didn't stay long either, just reminding him to take care of his body before returning to Jǐn Huà Táng.

  At dinner time in the evening, Chu Yan Yang suddenly remembered Chu Yi An's instructions and said to the two maids, "Later, you two go to the warehouse to take a look, move out some supplements and medicinal materials, and prepare for tomorrow - we will make a trip up the mountain."

  The two girls were both stunned.

  Qingteng blinked, momentarily dazed, but it was Qingluo who spoke up, "Is the county magistrate going to pay his respects to Concubine Ce?"

  "Uh-huh!" Chu Nanyang nodded, his voice still somewhat stifled. "She's my mother, even if we're not close anymore, how can I really just leave her there unattended? The proper etiquette cannot be abandoned, you all go prepare."

  The two girls exchanged a glance, and it was only now that they turned around.

  This must be what the Crown Prince meant.

  "Yes!" The two of them then didn't say anything else and went their separate ways to prepare.

  Chu Youyang was strolling alone in the garden to digest his food, and when he got bored, he leaned on the railing under the corridor and fiddled with that cluster of autumn begonias to pass the time.

  Fang Ce Fei, also known as Fang Shi in Chu Yi An's words, is her and Chu Qi Feng's nominal mother. However, due to some special reasons, she left the mansion to become a nun at Ci Xiu An before they turned one year old.

  Fang's personality is cold, but in fact, it's not just towards Chu Jiu Yang, but also to everyone else. She doesn't get close to anyone, and only Chu Jiu Yang would feel a sense of distance because of comparison. Fang is also not intimate with Chu Qi Feng, but at least from the way she looks at him, one can see a hint of kindness. However, when it comes to herself, her gaze is icy cold, as if looking at an enemy.

  When she was young, Chu Nanyang would feel wronged every time he saw her, thinking that she didn't take him seriously because of the preference for sons over daughters. Gradually, they became more and more estranged.

  It wasn't until Qu Qiyan revealed her true identity that she finally understood.

  It turned out that Fang's coldness and even hostility towards her were justified, Chu Qi Feng was indeed Fang's son, and she...

  No!

  Now that she has regained her loved ones, Chu Yi'an and Chu Qi Feng, Chu You Yang is already filled with gratitude, and as for her own life story, she no longer wants to dwell on it.

  So Fang Shi being her nominal birth mother should also fulfill this ritual, for no other reason than that ——

  She gave herself such a legitimate and decent identity in front of people, which is a kindness that needs to be repaid.

  The two girls worked efficiently and had everything ready by nightfall.

  It was also a blessing from heaven that the next day was a fine day with bright sunshine.

  Going out of Ci Xiu An Inn, we have to go through Nan Cheng Gate, which means crossing the entire bustling city.

  To avoid conflicting with the crowd, Chu Yunyang took two servants out early in the morning. The coachman Old Ma drove the carriage forward, and they were moving at a steady pace when suddenly they heard the sound of horseshoes coming from the front of the crowd, accompanied by screams and shouts that filled the air.

  "Get out! Get out! All of you get out!" A man's rough and overbearing voice came crashing down like a muffled thunder.

  "This is a bustling city district, who has eaten the gall of a fierce leopard and dares to ride horses wildly here?" Qingteng frowned at Chu Sunyang.

  She has already sensed the taste of conspiracy.

  Qing Luan's eyebrows and eyes were stern, she moved over to lift the curtain to take a look, but the next moment she heard Old Ma exclaim in surprise, followed by a sway of her body, the entire carriage suddenly flipped over to one side of the road.

  Digression

  So this is the rhythm of father and stepmother? Pfft!

  Some girls said they don't want to watch the harem fight, but this harem fight will directly affect the pattern of the later queen's fight, can't be saved, babies are slightly calm and don't be anxious.