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墨書 Inktalez
The gazes of the four attendants shifted from Lu Mingzhan's face to Xin Yao, their hearts filled with astonishment.
They had initially thought that Yun Qingyu was unwilling to sit close to anyone, but it turned out they were mistaken; Yun Qingyu simply did not want to sit next to Lu Mingzhan. However, when would this personal shadow guard ever be able to dine alongside her master?
Lu Mingzhan's expression was beyond difficult to describe; it was a mix of shock, anger, humiliation, and a sharp resentment that made him wish he could kill everyone in front of him.
Yun Qingyu, however, paid no mind to the crowd's surprise and calmly instructed, "Given that the Consort is unwell, starting today, all internal affairs in the Princess Manor will be entrusted to Xin Yao, except for This Palace."
Yun Qingyu announced this decision with an indifferent demeanor. Her voice was not loud, but it struck like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up waves of shock among those present.
Everyone understood that Consort Lu Mingzhan had completely lost power; the new rising figure was the shadow guard Xin Yao.
After the banquet concluded, Yun Qingyu slowly set down her chopsticks and said flatly, "Wen Zhan will stay; everyone else may leave."
By the end of the meal, Lu Mingzhan felt as if he had endured a calamity, utterly exhausted both physically and mentally.
Upon hearing Yun Qingyu's words, he gritted his teeth in anger, flames of fury igniting within him.
He pondered bitterly: Did I come here today just to suffer for this little half-hour and provide Yun Qingyu with an opportunity to establish her authority?
Or was it simply to humiliate me?
Yet at that moment, the pain coursing through his body left him too drained to feel any further rage. After being tormented by Yun Qingyu for the past two days, he had lost his temper and could only curse inwardly to vent his dissatisfaction. He decided to temporarily swallow this frustration and wait until he recovered before seeking revenge on Yun Qingyu.
Soon enough, only Yun Qingyu, Xin Yao standing beside her, and Wen Zhan remained in the Flower Hall.
After a moment, Wen Zhan respectfully spoke up, "May I ask why Your Highness has kept me here?" He slightly lowered his head, a hint of confusion in his eyes.
Yun Qingyu raised her gaze slightly, looking at him with an expressionless face. In a flat tone, she said, "I heard that you are quite knowledgeable and skilled in arithmetic, yet you hold no significant position in the Wen Family."
Wen Zhan was taken aback; the princess had never shown interest in the inner workings of the household attendants. Where had she heard this?
He paused for a moment, then slowly nodded. "Yes."
In those few exchanged words, Yun Qingyu had already discerned that this Wen Family Bastard had been biding his time, concealing his talents while waiting for the right opportunity.
So she asked bluntly, "Do you wish to enter officialdom?"
Wen Zhan was surprised by her question. After all, in Western Chu, no man associated with a princess—be it husband or favored consort—was eligible for an official position.
After briefly contemplating Yun Qingyu's intentions, he replied, "Your Highness, there are two obstacles to my entering officialdom. First, according to Western Chu customs, attendants cannot hold official positions. Secondly, the Wen Family has a legitimate son favored by my father; he would never allow me to surpass him. If Your Highness needs me to serve in an official capacity, I am willing, but I have conditions."
Yun Qingyu raised her gaze slightly higher, surprised by the boldness of the man standing before her in such a respectful manner.
After all, few dared to negotiate conditions with her, known as the "Violent Princess," throughout Western Chu.
However, she did not respond immediately and casually asked, "What conditions?"
Wen Zhan replied calmly, "I can serve Your Highness loyally, but you must ensure that I am no longer oppressed by anyone and that I am free from any constraints imposed by the Wen Family. I do not wish to be looked down upon any longer; I do not want to risk being beaten while secretly studying. I refuse to be sent off to serve as a mere plaything. Even if one day I must commit patricide or fratricide, Your Highness must protect me."
Yun Qingyu stood up and quietly gazed at Wen Zhan. She felt satisfied with his boldness and intelligence, slowly nodding her head. "It's settled then. Prepare for this year's Autumn Examination! Your goal is to become the Top Scholar. In a few days, it will be Lord Wen's 50th birthday. As his son, you should return to pay your respects. This Palace will accompany you."
A glimmer of surprise flashed in Wen Zhan's eyes, and a faint smile curved his lips. He lifted his robe and respectfully knelt down. "Thank you, Your Highness. I will not disappoint you."
This kneel was a vow of loyalty, representing his submission to Yun Qingyu, marking the beginning of their pact.
Meanwhile, Lu's Mansion held a flower-viewing banquet to ensure Lu Mingzhan could continue staying at Princess Manor.
However, Lu Mingzhan's sister, Lu Wanyue, was extremely reluctant. With an unhappy expression, she complained, "Yun Qingyu treated my brother that way and still invited her over. It's truly unlucky."
Lu Mingzhan's mother, the ever-pretentious Lady Lu, hurriedly advised her, "Be patient. Once we have used Yun Qingyu to our advantage, there will be time for reckoning later."
At that moment, a voice called out, "The Eldest Princess has arrived," in front of the Lu Family's gate, causing the servants of Lu's Mansion to kneel on the ground.
Lady Lu led Lu Wanyue and others to welcome her in the courtyard. With the same fake smile she always wore, Lady Lu approached Yun Qingyu with feigned kindness and reached out to pull her closer. "Qingyu, you’re here."
Seeing this, Yun Qingyu's Personal Maid, Jing Lan, immediately stepped forward to block Lady Lu’s advance, her sharp gaze fixed on her.
Lady Lu frowned and coldly reminded her, "The Princess has been officially titled as the Eldest Princess. Her status is equivalent to that of the Empress; wherever she goes, subjects must pay their respects with great ceremony. Are you ignorant of the rules or deliberately being disrespectful?"
Just as Lady Lu was about to reprimand Jing Lan further, her gaze inadvertently met Yun Qingyu's cold eyes. In that instant, she felt a chill run down her spine and an inexplicable fear surged within her.
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