Chapter 22: Inescapable

  Hua Ruoyun and He Shi were stunned, although they knew that the Crown Prince would come today, but how could the Crown Prince possibly barge into this backyard?

  Hua Zhe Yu stared at Chu Ba in a somewhat unbelievable manner. He was the Crown Prince? The Crown Prince actually acted as an assassin and killed Chen Tai Fu's eldest grandson? What big secret lay behind this?

  Chu Bao noticed her gaze and glanced at her sideways.

  She pretended not to know him and turned her head away, pulling the peony up with her. Only then did she slightly bow her head and say: "I've seen the Crown Prince, may the Crown Prince be safe."

  Her words suddenly awakened everyone present, and they all immediately knelt down and kowtowed in respect.

  Chu Ba didn't call them to get up, he just raised his chin and stared at the rain-soaked flowers, scaring the newly risen peonies into kneeling down again.

  The flower was rained on but didn't want to kneel, and it wasn't good to let people criticize her too much, so she had to say in a moderate tone: "This humble woman is not feeling well, please excuse me for taking my leave first."

  Chu Ba thought of her being beaten up that day and was furious, but seeing her words and actions today were vastly different from that day, she thought to herself, "You can pretend all you want, I'm here just for you today, let's see how long you can keep it up."

  He didn't answer her either, but instead said to those around him, "Get up, all of you."

  The crowd stood up, and He Shi hastily pulled Hua Ruomeng forward to apologize: "My niece was rude and collided with Your Highness just now. I hope Your Highness will forgive her for her mistake."

  This prince is the son of Wen Guifei, and he is extremely close to Zuo Xiang and other civil officials. These civil officials have always looked down on the Hua family and refused to interact with them. In their opinion, the Hua family has only been able to rise to prominence because of the princesses and women who married into the imperial family in previous generations, and they are essentially a lowly and unrefined family that is not worth mentioning. They may not say it to their faces, but behind their backs, they have cursed them countless times.

  And this prince, who had always been considered a versatile talent in both literature and martial arts, had never looked at the people of Hua's family with his proper eyes during various banquets. Now, he suddenly arrived at the Guo Gong Fu, which was simply a heavenly blessing. Unexpectedly, he was offended by Ruo Meng, who didn't know how to behave properly.

  Hua Ruo saw Chu Ba's majestic and heroic appearance, and her heart suddenly moved with thoughts. She intentionally came forward with a gentle and elegant demeanor, saying: "Our Eighth Sister is just straightforward by nature, without any ill intentions. I hope Your Highness won't take it to heart."

  With such a beautiful face appearing, Chu Bao couldn't help but take two more glances at her. Just as he was about to speak, Hua Changrui rushed over with his entourage, "Your Highness, how did you suddenly appear here? I've been searching everywhere for you."

  Behind him, Chu Mingqiu was following at a steady pace.

  Chu Mingyu had already seen what had happened here earlier with one glance, and smiled: "So, Imperial Brother was rushing over to kill the dog. However, in front of so many young ladies, Imperial Brother's actions seem a bit too violent."

  Chu Ba laughed and said with a smile, "What's the big deal about being rough? We've got dog meat to eat, haven't we? Hua Changrui, take this dead dog away and have the kitchen stew it into soup. The flavor will definitely be delicious."

  Hua Ruo's heart ached and her tears welled up, but she didn't dare make a sound, so she blamed it all on Hua Ze Yu.

  Hua Zhangrui was helpless and had no choice but to ask someone to carry away the dead dog.

  The flower rain invited him to leave without a response. Leaving was not an option, nor was staying. She just hoped this man would quickly leave. Seeing him made her feel suffocated.

  "Your Highness, it's hot outside, why don't we go inside and have some melons and fruits to dispel the summer heat?" Hua Ruo Yun smiled as she invited him.

  Chu Ba took the brightly polished knife from the palace maid and inserted it into the scabbard on his back, walking forward with his hands behind him: "Forget about the melons. I heard that the martial arts arena of the Duke's mansion is unparalleled in the world. Why don't you take me there now?"

  His movements were as smooth and effortless as floating clouds and flowing water, powerful and forceful, with a noble and elegant aura, simply a beautiful paradox that left the Huajia sisters' eyes sparkling.

  Hua Changrui stared blankly, was the martial arts arena of the Duke's Manor really unparalleled in the world? How could he not know? But since the Crown Prince said so, how could he say otherwise?

  After walking a few steps, Chu Bao seemed to remember something and turned back to say: "Oh, right, let's have this lady and the young ladies go together to observe. The female official by my side is quite skilled, later I'll have her demonstrate a set of fist techniques, it can also broaden your horizons."

  As for his refusal, Huarong's face was somewhat unbearable. The two women in the second house naturally returned a sarcastic smile to her, and didn't care whether the female official's fist could open her eyes or not. Anyway, they were eager to get this invitation, so they all went to the martial arts arena in the front yard with a flourish.

  It rained while people were not paying attention, and she quickly retreated back to Jingting Garden. Amidst Qin'er's shouting, she and Yu Ru changed into their clothes in their respective rooms.

  After changing her clothes, she couldn't help but look at the right hand that had once hit someone with a somewhat melancholy expression, muttering to herself: "That guy has an ominous and intimidating aura, I wonder if he's here to take revenge on me?"

  Instead, she shook her head, "If he wanted me dead, I would have been gone with just a slight pinch that day... But he didn't come for revenge, and it can't be just to see me, right?"

  "Hmm, you actually have some self-awareness. My esteemed presence here is certainly not to see a shrew like you."

  The flower was startled by the rain, and when she turned her head to listen, she saw that Chu Ba, who should have gone to the martial arts arena, was standing behind her with his arms crossed, looking spirited. This was what he meant by "watching" the martial arts arena? Just a blink of an eye? It made her suspect that he hadn't even gone to the martial arts arena.

  Chu Ba waved her hand at her, "Come here, let me take a good look."

  She raised her eyes and glanced around, this person pushed away so many people and quietly ran over, definitely nothing good.

  She walked out with a straight face, "Your Highness has something to say, please go to the hall and talk, we are alone in this room is..."

  She hadn't finished speaking when Chu Ba grabbed her hair and pulled it back, causing Hua Yu to cry out in pain. She lost control of her body and fell backwards, but Chu Ba stretched out his arm and caught her shoulder, holding it firmly against his solid forearm. The force was just right, neither too much nor too little.

  "You're called over but you run away. Do you think I, the crown prince, am made of thin air?" Chu Ba raised his arm a bit lower, his aura pressing down on others.

  She blinked her eyes, should she be grateful that she had crossed over to a wealthy family and could live like those female leads, with someone serving her every day, eating and drinking well, and having a much higher chance of meeting the so-called general's son? At the same time, when nothing was happening, she could flirt with them, as long as she understood some poetic phrases and songs.

  Heaven knows, that's her strong point.

  In this situation, if she were a bit more infatuated, she could very well think that way.

  "No one takes you for a fool, it's just that we've never met before. A young woman can't afford to lose her manners, so please let go." She pushed his arm away with a firm and composed expression, using her waist strength to stand up by herself.