121 I Didn’t Teach Well

Si Huihua did not intend to report the white paper to the imperial court. Instead, he stored the remaining one-third of the white paper in the golden silk cedar wood. Then, he hurriedly prepared the carriage and rushed to the Imperial City, Jingnan Residence, which had been temporarily set up in the Ling Kingdom.

After two days and three nights, two days before New Year’s Eve, Si Huihua arrived at the national government residence.

General Quan was the father of the Consort Chu. His entire family was originally the largest military power family in the borders and was also the most powerful force that supported the Chu royal family.

Two years ago, when Duke Chu launched a war, General Quan was assassinated by the emperor of the Yan Kingdom. He was unfortunately poisoned and died.

General Quan’s only son, Quan Jiuzhou, had been weak and sickly since he was young. All the troops in General Quan’s control fell into the hands of Duke Chu.

After General Quan died, he was conferred the title of Duke. In order to express his regard to the eldest prince and Consort Chu, the weak and sickly Quan Jiuzhou directly inherited the position of General Quan. He enjoyed the same salary and benefits as General Quan, and the title of Duke continued for generations.

Quan Jiuzhou was the only brother of Consort Chu and was now the noble Duke.

If Si Huihua wanted to offer a gift, he had to line up.

Looking at the long line, Si Huihua could only find a place to stay and wait. Only when his servants lined up, presented his gifts, and reported to Duke Quan then did he have the right to visit.

If the gifts and letters sent were not satisfactory to Duke Quan, Si Huihua planned to report this matter to the Imperial Court. After all, it was a cheap piece of paper created in the territory that he was in charge of. He could also show his face to King Chu and receive a commendation.

Si Huihua’s luck was not bad. When the servants were carrying the golden silk cedar wood box, their hands slipped and the box fell. The white paper scattered on the ground, just enough to attract the attention of the passing Duke Quan.

The servant carrying the golden silk cedar wood box was picking up the white paper in a panic when a pair of boots embroidered with gold and dark patterns walked up to him.

The owner of the gold-threaded dark-patterned boots coughed lightly. The servant trembled and looked up. When he saw who it was, he quickly lowered his head.

“I deserve to die. Please forgive me!”

The noble Duke Quan stretched out a long glass-like hand. The servant paused for a moment before understanding what he meant. He hurriedly placed a clean piece of white paper in his hand.

Quan Jiuzhou had received countless gifts since he was young, but no one had ever given him a few piles of worthless white paper.

The white paper paused in his hand for no more than a few seconds before he was certain that it was not the usual snowflake paper in the study. His deep eyes darkened, but his lips curled into a cold smile. His exquisite eyes were like those of a beautiful woman who had walked out of a painting. He was so handsome that it seemed unreal.

Quan Jiuzhou glanced at July. July understood and went to the butler to look for Si Huihua’s letter.

After July confirmed that the envelope was not poisonous, he handed it to Quan Jiuzhou.

When he opened the letter, he saw Si Huihua’s words of flattery. He only got to the point on the last page.

After reading the letter, the indifferent gaze of Quan Jiuzhou landed on the white paper. He endured it again and again before coughing.

War required a lot of money, which was why the Yan Kingdom and Ling Kingdom did not want to let Sheng Huaixuan off.

Now that Sheng Huaixuan had handed over all the wealth of his family, King Chu naturally did not have to worry about the national treasury.

Once the two countries were unified and King Chu officially ascended to the throne, he would definitely try to win over the officials’ support and fill his harem.

King Chu was in his prime age, and it was very likely that his harem would give birth to another prince. In order for Consort Chu to make her son succeed the throne without fail, other than needing Chu Mingji to inherit Dabao’s aptitude and ability, he also needed to have strong financial resources and a powerful maternal family to support him.

However, General Quan was dead. Although Quan Jiuzhou had inherited the duke position, he did not have any substantial military power.

Consort Chu had even been a little worried that her position as the Queen was unstable. Since she did not have any military power, she naturally had to have more financial resources to rope in the ministers and ensure that Chu Mingji won the hearts of the people.

Quan Jiuzhou stared at the formula on the paper for a long time. His indifferent eyes were instantly filled with mockery. It happened in the blink of an eye, making it seem like someone else’s illusion.

Quan Jiuzhou closed the letter elegantly and glanced at the wooden box. “Hand it to Consort Chu personally.”

“Yes!”

…

Consort Chu had been deeply worried about her son going to the battlefield. It was almost New Year’s Eve, and Chu Shixiong was nowhere to be seen, so she vented all her anger on his harem.

Consort Chu looked at Granny Xu coldly. “I’m not feeling well.”

Granny Xu said to the head maidservant, Chunlan, “The Consort is feeling unwell, summon Ling Zhaoyi to care for her.”

Many women were stuffed into the backyard of King Chu by various people supporting different clans. Consort Chu would always reply that she was unwell and summon Ling Zhaoyi.

It could be seen how much Consort Chu disliked her.

However, it made sense. Ling Zhaoyi was about the same age as Consort Chu, but she was still like a 28-year-old girl. If they were Consort Chu, they naturally could not take this lying down.

This was already the sixth time that Ling Zhaoyi had attended to her illness this month. Chunlan came to summon Ling Zhaoyi to attend to her illness again. The highest-ranking maidservant, Fengye, who was beside Ling Zhaoyi, muttered unhappily, “Zhaoyi, your knee injury has yet to recover. Yet they are call you to attend to her illness every day. If I didn’t know better, I would have thought that Consort Chu was about to die.”

Ling Zhaoyi raised her beautiful eyes and frowned. She warned Fengye gently, “Be careful with your words.”

Fengye patted her mouth. “I know my mistake.”

Ling Zhaoyi extended her hand and Fengye hurriedly helped her up. Looking at Ling Zhaoyi’s exquisite face, she was practically like a goddess from the heavens. Why couldn’t such a good-looking person obtain the favor of King Chu?

As soon as Ling Zhaoyi left the room, it started snowing heavily. The already cold weather became even colder.

As soon as they arrived at Consort Chu’s courtyard, Granny Xu came out of the room. She sized up Ling Zhaoyi, who looked pitiful, and her gaze darkened. She scolded coldly, “Ling Zhaoyi is being disrespectful to Consort Chu. Kneel down.”

Fengye suddenly retorted, “How is our Zhaoyi disrespectful?” The weather was so cold and Ling Zhaoyi’s health was not good to begin with. If she was punished to kneel in the snow, wouldn’t she be half dead?

Granny Xu’s sharp eyes swept over. The maidservant, Chun Lan, and Xia Yu immediately slapped Fengye several times. “Pa pa pa—” Soon, Fengye’s cheeks were covered in blood red.

“Consort Chu has ordered Ling Zhaoyi to attend to her illness, but Ling Zhaoyi deliberately arrived late. She deserves to be punished! This servant openly questioned the authority of the Consort. You deserved to be punished with 20 strokes of the cane. Drag her out and sell her!”

Ling Zhaoyi looked at Fengye anxiously and knelt down in the room. She begged pitifully, “I’m late. I don’t dare ask for Your Highness’s forgiveness. My maidservant has misspoken. It’s all my fault for not disciplining her well. Please forgive me.”

Ling Zhaoyi’s pitiful plea reached Consort Chu’s ears through the door and windows. She took a sip of tea and smiled. “It’s the new year. I don’t want to attract bad luck. Since Ling Zhaoyi is willing to be punished, let them kneel in the courtyard for four hours.”

When Consort Chu’s words were passed on by Dong Mei, Ling Zhaoyi’s face turned pale for a moment, and Fengye was so angry that her eyes turned red.

Four hours would definitely harm Madam’s body.

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