Chapter 45: Gift Him Maids

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

The weather in Chang’an in May was very fickle. In the daytime, it could still be sunny, but in the evening, thunderstorms could suddenly arrive.

Qiao Jinniang, who had just returned to the Duke Mansion, couldn’t help but worry about Tuan’er.

Last year, Tuan’er was still very afraid of thunder, and she didn’t know if he would still be scared of thunder…

When Lu Chen returned to the East Palace, an eunuch saw the wound on his hand and hurriedly called an imperial doctor over to bandage him.

Tuan’er ran into Lu Chen’s arms with his chubby little legs. “Daddy, thunder, I’m scared.”

Lu Chen touched Tuan’er’s small ears. “Don’t be afraid, Tuan’er is a big boy. Tuan’er is not afraid of thunder.”

That being said, Lu Chen still hugged Tuan’er in his arms.

Tuan’er lay on Lu Chen’s shoulder and asked cutely, “Why Mommy won’t come and see Tuan’er?”

Lu Chen: Your cold-hearted mother abandoned her husband and is going to marry another man.

Without showing the slightest emotion on his face, he said, “Mommy is busy and can’t come to the East Palace, but soon she’ll be with you all the time.”

Although Tuan’er was young, he vaguely felt that his father sounded a bit fragile today.

After Lu Chen coaxed Tuan’er into sleep, he ordered someone to go to Princess Jinghua’s mansion to invite Lin Mo into the East Palace.

When Lin Mo arrived, he looked a bit unhappy, looking as though he had been interrupted just when something was getting good.

“What’s the matter, Your Royal Highness. Why did you call me over so late? Are you so bored that you call me over to chat with you?”

Lin Mo had been Lu Chen’s studying partner ever since he was a child. Although Lu Chen was the Crown Prince, they were like friends in private and would make jokes about each other.

Lu Chen looked at Lin Mo and said, “I heard that your father has a protégé who got first place in the Provincial Imperial Examination and is expected to win first place in this National Imperial Examination?”

Lin Mo shook his fan and said, “Your Royal Highness, it’s late at night. You don’t have to be in such a rush even if you want to recruit talents…”

Lu Chen just replied flatly, “It’s urgent!”

Lin Mo: “… Li Yun is just good at writing articles, and he is not necessarily talented.

“He got first place in the Provincial Imperial Examination when he stayed on the southwest border with his father, where it was not difficult to get first place. ”

Was the Crown Prince really in such a dire need of talents that he summoned him over from the princess’ mansion late at night?

He knew what he was doing in the princess’ mansion!

Lu Chen said, “Tell him to come to the East Palace tomorrow.”

Lin Mo: “…”

Was there something special about Li Yun that he didn’t know about?

His Royal Highness called him over so late just to ask him to pass on a message to Li Yun to come tomorrow?

…

The Li Family was almost sleepless all night when they got the news from Lin Mo that the Crown Prince wanted to see Li Yun.

Mrs. Li was extremely excited.

But Old Madam Li said calmly, “Even if the Crown Prince wants to recruit talents, he didn’t have to ask Young Master Lin to deliver the news so late.

“Besides, if he really wants to recruit Yun’er, shouldn’t he wait to see Yun’er’s Imperial Examination results first?”

Li Yun’s father was also confused. “This Imperial Examination this year is going to be held in the name of the Crown Prince, and His Majesty has planned to let the Crown Prince preside over the palace exam.

“Technically, all the examinees this year will be the protégés of the Crown Prince, so why did he bother to do this? ”

Something suddenly occurred to Mrs. Li and she said, “Could it be because of Duke Anyuan?

“I heard that His Royal Highness loves the youngest daughter of Duke Anyuan very much. In her coming-of-age ceremony today, His Royal Highness even came in person and gave her gifts.

“Perhaps he heard that Yun’er is going to be his brother-in-law, so he wanted to test Yun’er’s talent? ”

Mrs. Li felt her words made sense, but she still told Li Yun not to offend the Crown Prince tomorrow.

On the next day, Qiao Jinniang received a letter from Princess Fu’an early in the morning, which stated that Tuan’er was frightened by thunder last night and cried all night calling “Mommy”.

Qiao Jinniang burnt the letter. After thinking it over, she still went out.

After all, she couldn’t just sit idle and ignore Tuan’er. He was still too young. Even if she had to reduce the time with him, it was better to do it when he was older.

After getting on the carriage, Qiao Jinniang discovered that the carriage was driving in the wrong direction, not heading towards the Duke Rong Mansion but towards the East Palace.

After the carriage stopped, she looked at the majestic palace in front of her and couldn’t help sighing. As she expected, it was the East Palace.

Following the familiar path, Qiao Jinniang came to Tuan’er’s palace only to see that Tuan’er was sleeping soundly.

There were no tear marks on his chubby little face at all.

She was deceived.

“Miss Qiao, please move to the hall.”

Qiao Jinniang frowned. Did the jerk go back on his promise? He had promised her that he would have nothing to do with her yesterday onwards!

The eunuch led Qiao Jinniang to a room screened by a screen in the lobby, where the voices outside could be clearly heard.

“Student Li Yun greets Your Royal Highness.”

Qiao Jinniang peeped through the gap of the screen, only to see the person who was saluting on his knees was Li Yun.

What is the jerk going to do?

Lu Chen, who was sitting on the seat of honor, lowered his eyes slowly. There was a big pair of dark circles on his face because he had not slept all night, but he still looked stunningly handsome.

“Arise. I have been hearing from Lin Mo that you’re very talented and are one of the most outstanding among literati.”

Li Yun hurriedly bowed and said, “I’m flattered, but I’m just an ordinary student.”

Lu Chen took a cup of tea handed over by an imperial maid.

He asked, “I heard that your family is trying to select a wife for you?

“Why don’t you wait until you finish the Imperial Examination? That’ll be better for your fiancée. Are you not afraid of failing the exam?”

Li Yun explained, “No, Your Royal Highness. I had been staying on the southwest border with my father, so I don’t have a fiancée, but after returning to Chang’an, I met a very good girl, and we’re going to be engaged.

“I’ll try my best to get a good result in the Imperial Examination and not let the girl down.”

Lu Chen’s face grew darker when he heard this. He said, “The Imperial Examination is just around the corner. I’m afraid that you should have a woman to take care of you.

“Yueming, Xingming, go to the Li Family to serve Mr. Li…”

Li Yun looked at the two gorgeous imperial maids that the Crown Prince gifted him.

But he wasn’t happy at all and even felt they were trouble.

He certainly couldn’t take them as maids since they were granted by the Crown Prince…

But neither his family’s tradition nor Duchess Anyuan would allow him to take concubines.

Besides, he didn’t want to disappoint Jinniang by accepting the concubines rewarded by the Crown Prince before they got engaged.

Li Yun braced himself and knelt down again. “Your Royal Highness, please forgive me. The lady who is going to marry me has always hated concubines, and my family also has a tradition that forbids me from taking concubines. So, please forgive me for not being able to accept the two ladies.”

Qiao Jinniang, who was behind the screen, was slightly touched.

Li Yun could do what Lu Chen couldn’t do for her.

Lu Chen frowned. “Li Yun, you took me wrong. You can just take them as maids.

“You don’t have to worry. I’ll give you their ownership deeds! ”

Li Yun raised his eyes, only to see Lu Chen staring at him with murderous eyes. He was confused. Does His Royal Highness appreciate his talent or hate him?

This look was really scary.

Li Yun’s head was covered with cold sweat. He didn’t dare to refuse anymore, so he lowered his head and said, “Thank you for your gift, Your Royal Highness. I will definitely live up to Your Royal Highness’s appreciation.”

Li Yun left with the two maids.

Qiao Jinniang came out from behind the screen and said, “Your Royal Highness, how could you be so despicable?!

“To your disappointment, my honey is different from other men and won’t be fooled by Your Royal Highness! He would rather give up his future than compromise!”

Hearing Qiao Jinniang call Li Yun “my honey”, Lu Chen’s face turned livid, and he suddenly had a severe headache…