In addition to the missing eldest son and married eldest daughter, the second daughter of the concubine, there are also four sons and three daughters in the Duke of Xiangguo Mansion. Two legitimate brothers who are the same generation as Duke of Xiangguo, one died ten years ago and the other is now out to be an official, and several brothers of the concubine have also been separated early. Therefore, there is only the branch of Duke of Xiangguo Mansion in Xiangguo.

Now the three illegitimate sons in the mansion are married and have children. The youngest one is 18 years old and has been married. Another one is the step-son who is only fifteen years old, Xia Yueting. The ex-husband of Duke Xiangguo’s wife, surnamed Xia, and only this son was his lifetime. Naturally, Duke Xiangguo could not do anything to cut off people, and Duke Xiangguo’s wife was unwilling to do it. Therefore, the child still followed his biological father’s surname Xia and did not change his name. Although this is irreproachable, it also made Xia Yueting’s life in Duke Xiangguo’s mansion a little sad.

The family has the surname Duan. As the youngest son of the Duke of Xiangguo Mansion, he is a surname Xia. Even though his mother is now the wife of the Duke of Xiangguo, Xia Yueting has been rumored by his servants since he was a child and excluded by his brothers and sisters. Although his personality is not dark, he seems a little too shy and gentle, unlike a young man in a military general's family.

Duke Xiangguo took good care of this stepson, but he was a big man after all, and he couldn't care about these trivial matters. What's more, he had been concerned about the eldest son who was missing over the years, and even his concubine's son didn't care much, let alone his stepson. He just tried his best to meet the reasonable requirements they put forward. For example, if Xia Yueting said that he wanted to study and take the imperial examination, he would ask the best teacher to teach him, and there would be nothing else.

After studying for a few years, Xia Yueting is really a material for studying. Although she is only fifteen years old, she already has the reputation of a scholar. She failed the last mansion exam, and the Duke of Xiangguo didn't think there was anything. If a 14-year-old child passed the exam, where would those who had been studying for half their lives be placed? She still encouraged Xia Yueting to continue working hard.

As a result, Duke Xiangguo paid more attention to Xia Yueting, and the princes and girls of Duke Xiangguo's mansion became more and more disliked. After all, they bully the weak and fear the strong. Duke Xiangguo was much more concerned about Huan Yu than those who cared about Xia Yueting, and they never dared to say anything to Huan Yu.

Chu Ling stood behind the flowers in a corner of the garden, looking at Xia Yueting not far away through the flowers with interest. The wife of Xiangguo Duke mentioned her son to her and said that the child was not talking. Chu Ling felt that this was more than just not talking. She didn't say anything when she was bullied like this. I'm afraid that this child would be fooled by bullying, right?

"Xia Yueting, you'd better be honest and don't get close to the princess!" A fifteen-and-six-year-old girl's face was full of spoilage and stared at Xia Yueting with a bad look.

Xia Yueting looked at her and lowered her head without saying anything. The girl was a little unhappy and reached out to push him and said, "I'm talking to you, have you heard it?"

After a while, I heard Xia Yueting whisper, "I don't...get close to the princess."

Another girl looked at Xia Yueting with some disgust and said, "No, you are not from our Duan family. The princess smiled at you before and didn't know who you are. When she knows, she will definitely be far away from you. You'd better be more tactful and don't lose the face of our Duke Xiangguo Mansion."

Chu Ling was speechless. It turned out that she was causing trouble when she was at the door.

Xia Yueting lowered her head silently, "Third sister, fourth sister, I understand."

"I know the best." The two girls seemed to be satisfied and remembered another thing, "By the way, you got a box of golden beads the day before yesterday? I've been a little tight recently, so I'll pick it up first."

"I want it too, I want it too."

Although Xia Yueting was the step-son, she was the child of the legitimate wife after all. The Duke of Xiangguo would not treat the child badly for this little thing, so she just enjoyed the treatment of the legitimate son. She was only a little worse than the eldest son who disappeared when she went to Beijing. In addition, the Duke of Xiangguo also brought a lot of dowry and had never lacked money. The illegitimate young ladies in the mansion liked to ask Xia Yueting to borrow money when they were tight, but no one knew if they had borrowed it or not.

Xia Yueting frowned slightly and said, "Sister Three, I... I'm useful to those golden beads."

"If you want to use it, ask your wife before you want it." The girl said naturally.

Xia Yueting shook her head, and a stubborn smell was slightly pursed at the corner of her lips. She said, "My mother has given me this month's flowers, and I know that my father gave me gold beads. I can't ask her to ask for it again. Moreover, you have it, you have it too." The Duke of Xiangguo is not partial to his children, and there is no such thing as giving it to Xia Yueting instead of his own children. So he was not the only one who had the gold beads the day before yesterday.

"Don't you give it?" The third lady's face darkened, and her eyes looked at Xia Yueting with a little ferocious look.

Xia Yueting shook her head, "I'm useful."

The fourth lady was even more unhappy and said, "You are just a burden brought by your wife. Why do you use the things from our Xiangguo Duke Mansion?" Xia Yueting was already thin, but she pushed her back and took a step back to push him. The fourth lady was furious when she saw that he didn't say anything, so she stepped forward and pushed him. Suddenly, a light cough came from the backyard of the garden. The two girls' faces changed. They dared to bully Xia Yueting privately, and Xia Yueting never complained. But they didn't dare to do anything openly. After all, the Xiangguo Duke Mansion was still in charge of the successor. The successor could not do anything to them due to their identity, but it would be hard to say if they gave the handle to the successor.

The two looked at each other, glared at Xia Yueting, and turned around and ran away.

Xia Yueting looked at the two of them leaving silently. After a while, she tidied up her clothes and ignored who was behind the flowers and turned around and left.

"Cough cough." Faced with such a calm breathing bag, Chu Ling had to cough again to highlight his presence. The boy finally raised his head this time and saw Chu Ling who suddenly poked his head out from behind the flowers. He couldn't help but be stunned, "Master...Princess, you..." He remembered that the princess's body seemed not as tall as the flowers.

Chu Ling jumped and flipped up from behind the flowers, landing in front of Xia Yueting in a very handsome manner. "Little cousin, why are you a boy almost domestically abused by two girls?" Xia Yueting was silent for a moment, lowered her head and said, "The princess is so serious, we... are just talking."

Chu Ling sighed, walked around in front of Xia Yueting with his hands behind his back, looking deeply worried and old-fashioned. Xia Yueting looked at her strangely, thinking that the princess was very strange. It was him who was bullied, not his cousin who bullied the princess.

Chu Ling looked earnest, "Young man, don't take it seriously. You are so weak and can even bully you at will. Then it is not common for people to be bullied outside? Not to mention those tall and powerful people from the tribe, who lifted you up like a chicken and threw you away as soon as they raised their hands. My uncle said, you are still a rare young genius, just like the Li Dan of the Li family. The young genius of the Li family is really worthless. If the men of the tribe are like you... Tsk tsk, I really doubt what you should do if the tribe is called in the future."

Xia Yueting looked at her strangely, "Is the princess instigating me to fight with my third sister and the others? They are girls. If I fight with them, no matter what I win or lose..." They are all punished. Chu Ling held her arms and looked up and down, saying, "Actually, you can't win, right?"

Xia Yueting's face, which had no expression, couldn't help but froze. Although he had never fought, he had seen his sisters or maids fighting privately. He grabbed his face and hair in various ways. Xia Yueting had to admit that although he was unwilling to fight with the girl's house, it was possible that he could not beat them.

Chu Ling observed Xia Yueting's changing expression with great enthusiasm, and felt that the boy was indeed very interesting.

Xia Yueting soon noticed Chu Ling's gaze with interest, immediately put away the expression on his face, looked at Chu Ling and said, "What does the princess want to do? Is it just to tease her?"

"..." Since she came to Pingjing, she has been often misunderstood. Is Pingjing's way of thinking and communication is different from that of people in the north?

"If it's okay, the student will say goodbye first." Xia Yueting turned around and wanted to leave after he said that, Chu Ling quickly reached out to stop him, "Little cousin, don't hurry to leave."

Xia Yueting looked a bit strange and looked at Chu Ling, who was like a playboy who teased a good woman in the street. After a while, he said, "Students dare not swear to the princess." He had no blood relationship with His Royal Highness, so Xia Yueting didn't understand why the princess stopped him here and said, "And she looked like she had no malicious intentions."

Chu Ling smiled lazily and said, "I call you my aunt, shouldn't you call me cousin?"

"..." Xia Yueting stared at Chu Ling without saying a word for a long time. After a while, he turned around and walked around Chu Ling who was blocking him. Chu Ling did not chase him, and stood behind and looked at his back with interest, "It's a very interesting boy."

"I'm worried inside, but is A Ling playing with my little cousin outside?" Jun Wuhuan's voice suddenly sounded from behind, with a bit of resentment. Chu Ling turned around and smiled, "Didn't it come long ago? Why are you worried inside?"

Jun Wuhuan walked out from behind the flowers, looked down at Chu Ling and said, "A Ling is interested in that little ghost?"

Chu Ling smiled and said, "It's very interesting boy. I wonder if Xiao Duan is happy that he has such a younger brother?" Jun Wuhuan frowned and sighed softly, "A Ling, if you pay so much attention to that kid, I'm really jealous."

Chu Ling was speechless, "Is he still a child? Does this princess look so hungry?"

Jun Wuhuan laughed and said, "How could it be? Why would A Ling like someone else if I am here?" Chu Ling rolled her eyes angrily. What are you doing here if you are so confident? Jun Wuhuan held Chu Ling's hand and walked to the other side, asking, "A Ling is not curious, has His Majesty said anything to me?"

Chu Ling thought for a while and said, "It's probably... I don't like you, picky or something. Or is it a hint that Mr. Changli should give up when he sees the trouble?" Jun Wuhuan was helpless, "Does A Ling really understand our Emperor? Is it true that he is a biological father and daughter?"

In fact, Emperor Yongjia did not dislike or dislike Jun Wuhuan. If Jun Wuhuan had nothing to do with Chu Ling, Emperor Yongjia would probably admire this young man very much. But if Jun Wuhuan was his future son-in-law, don’t blame Emperor Yongjia for being picky. In particular, this future son-in-law has no say as his father. From the time he knew, it was already the result. The result brought back by Duke Xiangguo was... the princess had already agreed to each other with Prince Changli for life!

As a father, it is no wonder that Emperor Yongjia was frustrated. Even if it wasn't Jun Wuhuan, Emperor Yongjia would still be picky if he was anyone else. Therefore, Jun Wuhuan didn't care about this because he knew that Emperor Yongjia's current attitude could not change anything. With Emperor Yongjia's personality and temper, this situation could not last long. Jun Wuhuan didn't think Emperor Yongjia would become an obstacle between him and Ah Ling at all.

Chu Ling looked at Jun Wuhuan with a funny look, "What did the Father tell you?" Jun Wuhuan said softly, "Your Majesty feels... marrying the princess she just found to be a businessman is not very consistent with the character of a father who loves his daughter. Maybe it will make people think you have fallen out of favor."

"So? Chu Ling raised his eyebrows and said.

Jun Wuhuan said, "So, Your Majesty hopes that I will participate in next year's imperial examination."

"Did you refuse?" Chu Ling said clearly that the imperial examination is something that those scholars who need to go to the court to go up step by step need to do. For Jun Wuhuan, he neither wants to have high officials and generous salaries, nor has the ambition to be remembered forever. Most importantly, for what they want to do, the efficiency of the imperial examination is really slow to a point. It is natural that Jun Wuhuan refuses.

Jun Wuhuan looked at her side, "Ah Ling isn't angry?"

Chu Ling blinked, a little puzzled, "Why am I angry?" Jun Wuhuan sighed lightly and said, "Your Majesty said that as long as I pass the third grade, I will give you and me a marriage." In other words, he voluntarily gave up an opportunity to let Your Majesty accept them and let the ministers in the court have no reason to oppose their marriage. The emperor gave marriage to the first three grades of the imperial examination, and even lowered the princesses was a tradition in all dynasties. If Jun Wuhuan agreed to the conditions of Emperor Yongjia and Emperor Yongjia would be the palace to give marriage, no matter how old scholars were, they would not say anything about this marriage.

Chu Ling chuckled and said, "I think the Lord of Cangyun City and Mr. Changli sound more majestic and domineering than the top scorer. What's more, I'm a rough man who has never read any books. If I really find a top scorer, I'd be too embarrassed. Well... By the way, Mr. Changli, you rejected your father's proposal. In fact, you can't pass the exam at all, right?" She almost forgot that Jun Wuhuan's family was also a military general for generations and was not promoted to the imperial examination.

Jun Wuhuan turned his head and pondered for a moment, then nodded and said, "It is indeed...it's possible."

He really wanted him to take the imperial examination or something, but he was really not sure that he would be able to get to the top three, and he might just fail. Ability sometimes does not mean talent, and talent may not be equal to imperial examinations. Throughout history, have many amazing talents who left behind famous works also fallen on the road to imperial examinations? Jun's family has been in power for generations, and when his family was destroyed, Jun Wuhuan was less than ten years old. In his later life, he studied martial arts, prepared for power, did business, fought wars, and intrigues with others. Jun Wuhuan has never read only what is useful to him in his studies, and has read the old articles that need to be used for the imperial examinations, but that's all. If he is proficient in this, it would definitely be nonsense.

Chu Ling couldn't help laughing in a low voice, "Father must not guess that you may not pass the exam, so he refused." Young Master Changli's reputation was too high, and people in the world always habitually thought that a person with strong abilities would do anything.

Jun Wuhuan was helpless, "I will be sad if Ah Ling says this."

Chu Ling smiled and said, "I guess my father is very angry now?" Jun Wuhuan touched his nose and nodded. He was indeed quite angry, "A Ling, what if His Majesty really refuses to agree?" Chu Ling looked at him in surprise and said, "You ask me?" Jun Wuhuan nodded seriously.

Chu Ling thought for a moment and said, "Then just drag it, I'm not in a hurry to get married anyway. Then what... Why do you think the family is destroyed?"

Jun Wuhuan sighed and murmured, "Then I'd better find a way myself, otherwise I'm afraid that one day I will do something that will make Your Majesty even more angry." Chu Ling was very curious, "Make your father even more angry? What do you want to do?" Could it be that he planned to get on the bus first and then get the ticket? In fact, it's not impossible. The Blood Fox Girl thinks that it's okay not to get the ticket back. How can you live these days?

Jun Wuhuan said, "Elop?"

"..." has no new meaning.

The group stayed in the Duke of Xiangguo's mansion until the evening before getting up and saying goodbye. During this period, Emperor Yongjia had been playing chess with Duke Xiangguo in the study room, and turned a blind eye to Chu Ling and Jun Wuhuan's behavior. What's the use of controlling it now? When Qing'er leaves the palace, he can't control it. Besides, Emperor Yongjia didn't really want to hinder Chu Ling and Jun Wuhuan, he just looked unhappy.

When Chu Ling returned to the palace, she always felt that something had been forgotten by her. She stood at the gate of Yongle Palace and looked at Xiao Shi who was following her, "Has I forgotten something?" Xiao Shi said with a blank expression, "I don't know." Seeing his serious look, Chu Ling could only wave his hand in slackeningly, "If you don't know, don't know." Since I forgot, it shouldn't be very important.

As soon as he stepped into Yongle Palace, he saw the girl coming towards him glaring at her with her cheeks puffed and staring at her. Her pretty little face was blushing, and her big watery eyes seemed to be burning with a raging fire. Chu Ling couldn't help but hold her forehead. She finally remembered that she had forgotten something. She forgot Xiao Yan'er and Jin Xue!

"Ah...haha, Yan'er, you came back so early?" Chu Ling smiled kindly. Xiao Yan'er glared at Chu Ling for a long time, but in the end she could only glance at her aggrievedly and said, "If we don't come back, will we be left outside the palace by Sister A Ling?"

Chu Ling quickly comforted him, "How could that be? Isn't it wrong? Yan'er is so obedient, why would I be willing to leave you outside the palace?"

"Liar." Xiao Yan'er turned her head and left angrily. Chu Ling looked back at her and followed Xiao Feng, "Sir Xiao, have you forgotten?"

Xiao Shi said, "I didn't forget it when I went back to the princess. But there is no need to mention it."

“…”

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Sweat ~ a few minutes late ~ Momo~
Chapter completed!