When Jing Chen was still a baby, he was sent to Mount Longhu by the royal family. He had been away for 18 years and stayed in the deep mountains and forests. Since he could remember, he had been taught by his martial uncles and learned both literature and martial arts. He had never done any heavy work, nor did he have time to play. When he was younger, he began to wander in the mountains and forests. Compared with humans, he was more familiar with flowers, birds, and beasts.
Listening to Jing Chen's plain and straightforward answers, the people at the table listened with great interest at first, but then they became bored and gradually changed the topic to Jing Chen's journey to the capital.
"Cousin, I heard that you encountered some danger on your way to the capital and were injured. Is that true?" The one who asked this question was Liu Jiu, the eighth prince, who was ranked between Liu Hao and Liu Tan. His biological mother was an unfavored noble in the palace. Like the eleventh prince, she followed Liu Hao in and out of the palace all day long.
Xue Rui turned to glance at Liu Hao when he heard this question, and he came to an understanding in his heart. Jing Chen was framed on his way to the capital, and the murderer was unknown. The emperor ordered to keep it a secret, but the investigation was handed over to Liu Hao. Few people outside knew about it. Where did Liu Jiu "hear" it? He must have been instructed by Liu Hao.
Jing Chen had stayed in the palace for a while, but the person he saw every day was the Emperor. Most of these cousins had only eaten a palace banquet together once, so they were still very unfamiliar with each other.
Looking at Liu Jiu, who was concerned, he hesitated and nodded. After all, he was not used to lying.
Jing Chen just made a small movement, but everyone at the table was shocked. They all looked at him with concern and asked at once, "What happened?"
"Where was he hurt? Is it serious? "
"Was it a natural disaster or an accident?"
Yu Shu looked at the people at the table who were fawning over her and secretly observed their expressions. She secretly analyzed whether any of them had anything to do with the bastards who hurt Jing Chen. This was the main purpose of her coming to the banquet today.
As Yu Shu observed, she found something strange. Xue Rui, Liu Tan, and Liu Hao were sitting and drinking. Not only were they unmoved, but why was Little Princess Xi Wen pulling Little Junior Sister Shui Yun to study her palm?
As if sensing Yu Shu's gaze, Xi Wen turned around and their eyes met. Another sneer. Then she turned her face and whispered something to Shui Yun. Shui Yun raised her head and looked at Yu Shu for a while. Then she turned her head and said a few words to Xi Wen. Xi Wen burst into laughter. Yu Shu looked at her smiling face and didn't know what Shui Yun had said. To make her so happy.
If Yu Shu had been sitting closer, she would have been able to hear the conversation between the two of them, "Sister Shui, do you see the lady opposite us? Can you help me look at her face? Will she be rich or noble in the future? "
"… Miss Yu has a neutral appearance, but she is not destined to be rich and powerful."
"Oh? Sister, in the ten classes of people that you mentioned to me just now, which class do they belong to? "
"She should be in the ninth class."
"Pfft … then she is just a lowly person."
Shui Yun frowned and didn't answer. But she let go of Xi Wen's hand without a trace. Xi Wen was too happy. She didn't notice the disapproval in her eyes.
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The people at the table all knew how to read people's faces. After caring for a long time, they saw that Jing Chen was unwilling to say more. Most of them settled down, but there were also some who didn't know what to do.
"By the way, I also heard of something." Liu Jiu scratched his head and glanced in Yu Shu's direction. "A while ago, the Palace bestowed a reward to a girl who was said to have escorted Cousin to the capital. Is there such a thing?"
Jing Chen liked peace and quiet the most. He had a headache after being surrounded by this group of people for a long time. But when someone asked about Yu Shu, he concentrated and answered, "Yes, I was in danger on the way. Thanks to a friend who took care of me, I was able to reach the capital safely."
"Oh? Which lady is it? Is she here today? " Liu Jiu looked left and right, pretending to be confused. The others looked at Yu Shu. It was obvious that this unassuming young lady was qualified to sit here with them because she had escorted Daozi.
"Yes, she is here." Jing Chen didn't plan to introduce her, but everyone knew it.
Yu Shu found that she had become the focus of the table. She put down her heavy white jade shoes and smiled at them. Because there were some sesame seeds on the corner of her mouth, she looked a little silly.
"May I ask for the lady's name?" someone asked.
"Replying to Your Highness, this student's surname is Yu, and my first name is Shu." Yu Shu saw that the one asking the question was a prince, so she didn't dare to offend him.
Xue Rui, who was sitting next to her, was drinking wine and watching her deal with it.
"Oh? You call yourself a student. Are you an examinee this year? Oh, the imperial examinations don't accept women. Are you an examinee for the Great Yan Examination? "
"This student is untalented, but I am an examinee for this year's Great Yan Examination."
"Oh?" Liu Hao, who had been silent for a long time with his wine cup in hand, suddenly interjected, "May I know where Miss Yu is from and which aristocratic family she comes from?"
Yu Shu had heard Xue Rui mention the relationship between Liu Hao and Ji Xingxuan. She was wary of this Prince Ning. She paid attention to the traps in his words and carefully answered, "Your Highness, please don't laugh. This student is not from an aristocratic family. My hometown is in the southern wetlands. I only had a master to guide me. Later, we were separated by fate."
"Is that so?" Liu Hao narrowed his eyes and said with a fake smile, "Then Miss Yu's master is really capable. The disciple he taught is much better than the students of the Imperial Historian's Library."
Liu Hao's words caused the eyes of everyone at the table who were originally dispirited to light up, and Xue Rui's hand that held his wine cup tightened as he raised his head to stare at Liu Hao with an unfathomable gaze.
Someone asked excitedly, "Seventh Brother, where did you get these words from? Is this Miss Yu more capable than the people of the Imperial Historian's Library?"
Liu Hao nodded. Yu Shu's eyelids twitched. She guessed what he was going to say at almost the same time he opened his mouth, "Last year, I went to Imperial Uncle's Dingbo House and made a bet with Liu Jiong and the others. The person who accompanied me was the fourth daughter of the former Celestial Commissioner, Right Judge Ji Family. I'm sure you all have heard of her reputation. Three years ago, she passed the Great Yan Examination and this year she took the exam again. She aimed for the title of Great Yi Master. In the end, she lost to this Miss Yu. If you don't believe me, you can ask the Imperial Prince if there was such a thing. "
Liu Jiong was innocently affected. He looked at the smiling Prince Ning and then looked at the gloomy Xue Rui. He answered dryly, "Uh, there was such a thing."
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