Chapter 17 I Refuse

  "The imperial concubine's residence is really lively today, it seems I've arrived at the right time." As soon as Chu Jiu Yang finished speaking, everyone turned to look in his direction, and a smiling, gentle girl was already standing before them.

  The moon-white water-like ripples on her skirt, the lotus-colored intricate flowers on her spring shirt, and only a few decorations in her hair, with just one branch of red coral trembling golden hairpin. When she entered, the ruby earrings shook slightly, just as the dazzling sunlight outside refracted onto them, making people's eyes shine brightly for a moment.

  The laughter and chatter of the women in the house suddenly stopped, and their faces all looked very strange.

  Chu Yuexin was the first to react, hastily getting up from her seat and revealing a shy and soft smile as she said: "Third Sister!"

  Chu Youyang's gaze shifted over, but it was a smile that wasn't quite a smile as he looked at the second madam who was still sitting beside him in a daze.

  Her eyes were shining brightly, and at this moment, her face still had a smile on it, looking like a lovely young girl.

  But the second lady still felt a sudden tremble in her heart, and before she could think, she stood up, bent her knees and saluted: "Young Master!"

  Only after the action was over did I suddenly realize that I had unknowingly been led by a blonde girl, feeling embarrassed in my heart and awkward on my face.

  Lei Ce Fei's face was not pleasant, but she saw clearly that Chu You Yang was deliberately giving the second madam a warning.

  Chu Nanyang and she didn't get along, but it was the first time someone had come looking for her so openly.

  Lei Ce Fei's heart was ringing loudly, but her face didn't show it. She smiled and greeted: "Zhen Yang is back, when did you arrive? Why didn't you have someone inform me ahead of time?"

  The old woman outside didn't pass on the message, which indirectly shows that this master is incompetent.

  However, she was self-righteous and wouldn't stoop to arguing with a subordinate in front of outsiders, so she just swallowed her anger for now.

  "I've just arrived." said Chu Nanyang, "Father was urgently summoned by the Emperor to enter the palace for an audience, I'm afraid Concubine Yi might be worried, so I came over to tell you."

  Chu Yi'an entering the palace is a matter of course, just casually instructing a servant to come over would be enough.

  This girl is obviously just an excuse made up on the spot.

  However, within the Eastern Palace, the Crown Prince is the most powerful. Since Zhen BeiCheng has made him a shield, Lei CeFei does not dare to refute.

  "I was just thinking of sending someone ahead to take a look, but I got held up talking to Y'ao and the others for a couple of sentences." Lei Ce Fei's face stiffened for a moment before she smiled.

  Chu Youyang hooked up the corner of his lips, didn't catch her words, and casually glanced around the decorations in the room. Suddenly, he changed the subject and said, "Just now, I heard a lively noise from the side concubine's house in the courtyard, as if there was some kind of celebration?"

  "We were just discussing your second sister's marriage." Things will be revealed sooner or later, and Lei Ce Fei didn't hide it either, speaking directly, "The Crown Prince has always been busy with official duties, neglecting his personal life. Xiner had her hairpinning ceremony two months ago, so it's about time to settle the marriage."

  "Oh? Is that so? But I don't know which family you're referring to," said Chu Nanyang.

  She herself had not yet married, and Lei Ce Fei did not think she would ask deeply, but also didn't take it too seriously. She said: "Xin Er's temperament is soft and gentle, if she went to another family I'm afraid she'll be bullied, after thinking about it carefully I still feel that marrying her into the Ping Guo Gong Fu is better, with your older sister there to take care of her, she won't suffer."

  Chu Youyang's expression didn't change, and he said casually: "I remember that the Pingguo Duke's estate only has one legitimate son, the eldest son. Is it possible that my second sister is going to marry a bastard?"

  Lei Ce Fei's composure was good, but Chu Yue Yao couldn't stand her endless questioning and directly raised her chin with a proud expression, "You don't have to keep guessing, it was me who couldn't bear the thought of Second Sister being bullied in another household, so I decided to take her in as a concubine for my husband."

  Before his words had even fallen, Chu Nianyang's face had already turned cold in an instant.

  Her gaze swept across the faces of the crowd, carrying a sharp edge that made people feel uncomfortable, and finally fixed on Leixi Fei's face: "Is this what Consort Lei means?"

  "Xing'er's temper is well-known to you, I was thinking of agreeing just now." Consort Lei said with a smile, but she winked at him.

  The second lady was thoroughly wrapped up in the promise of a peaceful wife's position made by Lady Lei, and fearing that Zhu Mo would stir up trouble, she hastily said: "Just now the eldest young mistress mentioned it, I also think it's not bad, so I agreed."

  Chu Youyang didn't respond with a yes or no, and instead looked at Chu Yuexi's timid expression again. His tone was gentle yet still carried an air of authority as he asked, "Has second sister agreed as well?"

  "I—" Chu Yuexin's eyes were burning with anxiety, she opened her mouth to retort, but was shut down by the second madam's sharp glare.

  Chu Yu Yao had been spoiled and overbearing since she was a child, going to the Ping Guo Gong Fu as a concubine was something she was extremely unwilling to do. In fact, it wasn't just because of Chu Yu Yao's relationship, Chu Yu Xuan although having a soft temperament also had her own pride, although she was born out of wedlock, she was also the daughter of Chu Yi An and a noble lady, how could she possibly go be someone's concubine?

  Chu Yuexin felt wronged, but with people like Lei Ce Fei above her, she didn't dare to speak out.

  "This child is too sensitive." The second lady accompanied a smile to mediate, pulled down Chu Yuexin and said in a low voice, "Didn't we just agree on that?"

  Chu Yuexin's tears welled up in her eyes, and she finally uttered a weak "yes"!

  "Concubine Lei is in charge of the inner courtyard, have you all agreed? Is this what they call unity?" Consort Lei was still worried about trouble, but Chu Sunyang suddenly laughed out.

  Everyone was baffled, and the next moment they suddenly found her gaze had reached its peak in that instant, saying word by word, "But - I won't agree!"

  A single word "I", deliberately emphasized, made the Second Lady and others tremble in their hearts.

  "County Master!" The second lady suddenly became anxious, pinched her handkerchief and stepped forward, "Marriage is always a matter of parental orders and matchmaker's words. Concubine Niangniang and the eldest county master are promoting this, it's..."

  "Who is the father? Who is the mother?" Chu Nanyang didn't wait for her to finish and coldly calculated, "Even if there isn't a legitimate crown prince's wife in the backyard, but within this Eastern Palace, the father is the master of the family. This marriage affair must have been approved by the father, right? Besides the father, who else dares to claim to be the second sister's father and mother in this Eastern Palace? If there is, then come out and show yourself, I haven't seen such a person yet!"

  Even if Leixi Fei was in charge of Zhonggui, she was only a side concubine in name.

  It wasn't until now that everyone realized that Chu Youyang had been addressing Lei Ce Fei as "Ce Fei Niang Niang" since he entered the door, rather than "Lei Mu Fei" or "Ce Mu Fei".

  Zhuo Wenjun's words were sharp and sonorous.

  The second lady's back was covered in cold sweat, and she nervously fidgeted with the handkerchief in her hand.

  Chu Nanyang didn't intend to let her off, his sharp eyes staring at her, pressing her with a stern tone, "Lian Shi, tell me, who gave you the guts to dare bypass your father and hastily decide on Er Jie's marriage?"

  The two madams were shocked by her aura and knelt down with a soft leg.

  Digression

  My Xīn Bǎo is not arrogant because of being spoiled, and the cold war with Cè Fēi is not because I'm underestimating my own strength. I'll explain the specific situation later ╭(╯3╰)╮

  PS: I've been sleeping poorly lately, every day I wake up early and wait for dawn. Then I surprisingly found that the sky starts to brighten up at 4 o'clock. Due to insomnia, my brain is not functioning well, it takes a long time to grind out 2,000 words. Today was even later, don't hit me. Just now, I almost sent the manuscript to Wang Fei's side, fortunately, the chapter with 2k words couldn't be sent out, after poking several times without sending it out, I realized I made a mistake. I found that I'm really getting more and more foolish~