Chapter 233: Confiding

Chu Lingxuan saw Chen Feng in tears and had the urge to wipe them away for her. He raised his right hand slightly, then dropped it, clenching his fist. He said, “Miss Chen, don’t be afraid. I won’t let you be mistreated by him.”

Chen Feng wiped her tears and said, “Mr. Chu, besides coming to you, I don’t know where else I can go. I don’t know what to do.”

Chu Hanyan, noticing that her father didn’t immediately embrace her but was consoling her crying aunt, felt reassured. Her father was being kind to her aunt, and she had no reason to be jealous. She was about to run over to comfort her aunt when Mama Song came over.

Mama Song picked her up and whispered, “My dear, Master Chu and Miss Chen have something to discuss. Let’s go play over there.”

Luo Mei and the other maids quickly followed them into the room.

In an instant, only Chu Lingxuan and Chen Feng were left in the hall.

Chu Lingxuan continued, “Before long, once the Second Prince and the Seventh Prince find out I’m back, they might come to our residence.”

Were they coming to demand her? Chen Feng was puzzled. Not only the Seventh Prince but the Second Prince as well? In this era where royal power was paramount, she felt as though her quick-witted mind had reached a dead end.

She asked, “Is the Second Prince also coming to aid and assist?”

Chu Lingxuan explained, “This time, it seems like the Second Prince and the Seventh Prince are inspecting Dingzhou Prefecture together. In reality, only the Second Prince is representing the Emperor, while the Seventh Prince is here for private enjoyment. The Second Prince has a grudge against me and is eager to find some leverage against me. Today, the woman the Seventh Prince had his eye on ran to my residence. If the Seventh Prince comes to demand her, he’ll definitely come to watch the commotion and see if he can catch me red-handed.”

She had inadvertently caused him a great deal of trouble.

Distressed, Chen Feng said, “Mr. Chu, I’m sorry. I’ve caused you a lot of trouble.”

Chu Lingxuan smiled and said, “It’s a bit troublesome, but I can handle it.” His expression then turned serious as he continued, “Now, Miss Chen, you have two choices. If you are willing to be my wife, not formally married, then even as a prince, he cannot mistreat a woman of a minister. Seeking refuge at my home when you’re in trouble is perfectly normal. If you only wish to be my daughter’s master, I will still do my utmost to protect you, but this path will be more challenging.”

Upon hearing his latter assurance, Chen Feng’s tears flowed even more. She felt that a man like him was worth the risk of loving.

In a soft, hesitant voice, she said, “Actually, I have always wanted to be your unwed wife. But I’m afraid. You’re too outstanding, and your background is too noble, while mine isn’t as high. I’m afraid I’m not worthy of you, afraid you’ll abandon me, afraid you’ll make me your concubine…”

Chu Lingxuan was overjoyed to hear that she had always wanted to be his unwed wife. However, her subsequent words amused him. It seemed she was truly a silly woman who loved to overthink.

He said, “Nonsense. How could someone as wonderful as you not match up to me? In my eyes, that word is a blasphemy to you. Feng, you are beautiful, intelligent, and kind. You are the only woman I’ve wanted to marry all these years. If I’m fortunate enough to have you in my life, you will be my wife. I promise you, I won’t abandon you.”

Hearing his words, Chen Feng’s tears surged even more. In her previous life, Liu Xudong had showered her with sweet words, but he had never said she was the “only woman he wanted to marry.” She felt that this sentence, which she had longed to hear in her previous life, she unexpectedly heard in this life.

Seeing her like this, Chu Lingxuan smiled and embraced her. He said, “Look at you, turning a good thing into tears like this. If Hanyan were to see, she’d surely tease you.”

Chen Feng laughed through her tears. Leaning on his chest, she felt warm and content.

By now, the sky had completely darkened, and because of their “conversation,” the servants hadn’t dared to come and light up the area. The clear moonlight cast their indistinct shadows in the hallway.

Suddenly, Chen Feng thought of Chen Shiying and looked up, asking, “Will this matter involve Mr. Chen?”

Through the headpiece that didn’t sell that morning, she realized that deep down, she didn’t want to harm Chen Shiying. If her status as his illegitimate daughter were to be exposed, would it affect his career? It was no easy feat for him as a commoner to reach his current position. Even though she should have been his legitimate eldest daughter, the identity of this “illegitimate daughter” was the result of his mother’s evil deed. Despite this, she still didn’t want his future to be ruined.

Chu Lingxuan replied, “It will certainly involve him, but the impact won’t be too great. Many officials have private affairs and illegitimate children. In the eyes of some, these are still considered elegant. As long as it doesn’t come out that your mother should have been his lawful wife and was driven out after he passed the imperial examination, a few more illegitimate children won’t be a big deal.”

What a twisted society!

As they conversed, someone reported that the Second Prince and the Seventh Prince had arrived and were in the front hall. They wanted to see Chu Lingxuan and the young lady who had come from the Jade Qilin Jewelry Store to the Chu residence.

Chu Lingxuan sneered sarcastically and said, “Indeed, they couldn’t even wait for a single night. Let’s go. You just need to tell them your relationship with me. Everything else, leave it to me.”

Chen Feng followed him as they walked towards the outer courtyard. She was still somewhat afraid, fearing that she might cause trouble for Chu Lingxuan, Chen Shiying, and especially Dabao. She felt as though her body was no longer her own, feeling light and unsteady on her feet.

Chu Lingxuan firmly grasped her hand and said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here for you.”

Being pulled along by him, their shadows stretched long in the moonlight, hand in hand, one tall and one short.

With a man like him to rely on, the road ahead wasn’t as frightening as she had imagined. Chen Feng sighed in relief and lightly squeezed the large hand holding hers.

Chu Lingxuan’s smile deepened.

As they reached the front courtyard, many soldiers in military attire stood there, along with palace attendants holding feather dusters.

The front hall was brightly lit with five glass palace lamps, illuminating the room splendidly. Two men sat beside the Eight Immortals table. One was the Seventh Prince, whom she had seen in the morning, now dressed in an embroidered imperial robe of apricot yellow with a five-clawed dragon motif. The other man, in his thirties, tall and slightly stout, with a dignified bearing and a small mustache, was dressed in a similar imperial robe as the Seventh Prince. He should be the Second Prince.

Chu Lingxuan bowed and saluted, “This official pays respects to Your Royal Highness, and to Prince Rui.”

Chen Feng also curtsied and said, “This official pays respects to Your Royal Highness, and to Prince Rui.”

The Second Prince, Li Zeyu, glanced at Chen Feng and then smiled at Chu Lingxuan. “General Chu, pardon the intrusion. I heard from my younger brother that a stunning woman entered your mansion today. I find it hard to believe. Everyone in the capital knows that General Chu is not fond of women. Now, to see you bring a woman, has General Chu’s temperament truly changed?”