Chapter 41: Chu Hengyang Protecting His Sister

Now, Chu Hengyang, who had been looking for a way to escape, found himself with nowhere to run.

He hurriedly turned around and, not daring to meet Xiao Yixi’s gaze, offered a respectful bow: "Your Royal Highness the Princess."

Watching his reaction, Xiao Yixi grew even more convinced of Chu Ying’s words.

Yet, a heart that had already suffered harm once, though healed, still trembled involuntarily with timidity. She was terrified of being hurt again.

Let her try just one last time.

If this "seduction" of hers failed, then she... would simply stop liking him forever.

"Mr. Chu, I wonder if you are free at noon today?" Xiao Yixi said calmly.

It sounded as casual as any ordinary inquiry.

Chu Hengyang’s mind was in such utter turmoil that he could not spare a single coherent thought to guess the meaning behind her words.

"This humble subject is planning to return to the estate for a meal with my younger sister at noon, so I am afraid I have no free time," Chu Hengyang replied with a chaotic mind.

"Then..." Xiao Yixi’s eyelashes fluttered lightly as she lifted her gaze. "I wonder if Mr. Chu would be willing to invite this Princess to join you and your family for the midday meal at the Chu residence?"

Chu Hengyang’s breathing stopped completely.

He dared not entertain the possibility that Xiao Yixi might hold feelings for him.

There was only a flustered bewilderment.

What could Her Royal Highness possibly... what could she possibly mean by this?

Chu Ying was immensely eager to eavesdrop closely on their inner thoughts and enthusiastically ship them as a couple.

However, determined not to act as a third wheel disrupting the progress of their romance, she bravely stepped forward to face Qu Ao, the intimidating director of discipline who always made her shudder.

"Director, these are my enrollment documents for the Imperial Academy," Chu Ying said, handing them over.

Yet, a trace of confusion lingered in her mind.

Why was that enthusiastic young student who had kindly brought her to report to the director seemingly entirely unafraid of this terrifying figure?

Could this... be the natural apathy of a born slacker student toward a fearsome director of discipline?

Qu Ao pulled his gaze away from the lingering atmosphere between Xiao Yixi and Chu Hengyang.

It seemed Her Royal Highness and Mr. Chu shared mutual affection for one another.

Qu Ao took Chu Ying’s documents.

On the other side, Chu Hengyang had been left dizzy and overwhelmed by Xiao Yixi’s words, entirely at a loss for how to respond.

"Could it be that Mr. Chu..." Xiao Yixi pressed her lips together. "...is unwilling?"

The softly whispered words carried a faint undertone of sadness that inexplicably struck Chu Hengyang’s heart.

A sharp pang went through his chest, and he quickly said, "Your Royal Highness has misunderstood. This humble subject suddenly remembered that today is my younger sister’s first day at the Imperial Academy, and there are many matters to attend to. At noon, we will not be returning to the Chu estate, but rather eating at the academy’s dining hall. Would Your Royal Highness be willing to join my younger sister and me for lunch at the Cold Courtyard within the academy?"

***

The disappointment in Xiao Yixi’s eyes vanished, replaced by an expression of hard-to-conceal joy.

Maintaining her usual detached demeanor, she nodded. "Very well."

Chu Hengyang clenched his fists.

Though he did not know what kind of twists and turns this promise to the Princess might bring, at the very least, he would no longer have to stand helpless before her, plagued by inner chaos.

With that thought, Chu Hengyang caught sight of Chu Ying not far away, handing her academy documents to Qu Ao for inspection.

And standing right beside her, staring at her unblinkingly, was Qu Zhouyuan.

A surge of blinding fury rushed straight to his head.

Without pausing to explain further, Chu Hengyang hurriedly bowed. "Your Royal Highness, I have matters to attend to, so I must take my leave."

"Go ahead," Xiao Yixi replied.

Unaware that Qu Zhouyuan held unusual feelings for Chu Ying, she departed the courtyard with a heart full of fluttering anticipation over her rendezvous with Chu Hengyang.

When lunchtime arrived... she would use every ounce of her ability to seduce Hengyang.

By then... she would finally know just how deep his affections for her truly ran.

Filled with hope, Xiao Yixi walked away gracefully.

Meanwhile, Qu Ao, who was still looking over Chu Ying’s enrollment papers, suddenly felt an oppressive wave of murderous intent closing in on him.

This killing aura was even denser than the one his wife, Li Miao, had perfected over several decades.

Tempered by years of enduring Li Miao's murderous glares, Qu Ao snapped his head up.

Not far away, Chu Hengyang—dressed in pale blue robes, usually as gentle as a bright moon and a clear breeze—kept a steady smile, but his eyes were filled with a terrifying, piercing hostility as he marched straight toward them.

Then Qu Ao glanced at Qu Zhouyuan, who was still staring fixedly at Chu Ying’s face.

Qu Ao grit his teeth.

Of all the people this unfilial brat could fancy, why did it have to be the ninth young miss of the Chu family?!

Not only was the Chu family’s ninth young miss a handful, but she was also a massive trouble protected fiercely by Lord Chu, Lady Chu, and a total of eight older brothers!

Yet this reckless scoundrel was openly staring at her right under the very noses of her brothers—who could possibly save him now?

"You unfilial wretch!" Qu Ao lashed out with a fierce palm strike aimed squarely at Qu Zhouyuan’s head.

The sudden blow startled Chu Ying so badly that the color drained completely from her face.

No way!

Was this... was the director of the Imperial Academy even more terrifying than a modern director of discipline?

Could he just physically assault students so casually?

Even as she stared in shock, Qu Zhouyuan had already skillfully and smoothly dodged his father’s vicious blow.

"Father, you've frightened classmate Chu," Qu Zhouyuan said, looking at Qu Ao with undisguised disapproval in his eyes.

***

Qu Ao’s fist clenched even tighter.

He was already defending her?

Chu Hengyang, who had been marching over to settle accounts with Qu Ao and Qu Zhouyuan, noticed the sudden pallor on Chu Ying’s face. All thoughts of issuing a warning vanished instantly, replaced entirely by a surge of aching protectiveness.

"Little sister, are you alright?" Chu Hengyang asked with deep concern, his hand gently stroking her head in a gesture of utmost tenderness.

[Hmph. The precious little sister I've carried in the palm of my hand and pampered since childhood—when has she ever suffered such a fright? It even scared the color right out of her face—]

Chu Hengyang cast a lethal, side-long glare at Qu Ao.

[If I can't touch Qu Ao, surely I can deal with his son?]

With his eyes holding only Chu Ying and no regard for reason or rules, Chu Hengyang was already sharpening his knives in his heart against Qu Zhouyuan, viewing him like a fattened lamb ready for slaughter.

Chu Ying quickly snapped back to her senses.

Her eldest brother truly was the ultimate dark-bellied mastermind!

Yet, who would have thought that the slacker student who acted like a little puppy was actually the director's son?

No wonder she had thought the academy director was more terrifying than any modern disciplinary head.

It turned out she had misunderstood the whole situation.

"Eldest Brother, I'm fine," Chu Ying quickly reassured him. "I just didn't react in time and was startled by the director's sudden movement, that's all."

Chu Hengyang shot yet another warning glare at Qu Ao.

"Director Qu, regarding this matter..." Chu Hengyang had no intention of letting Qu Ao off so easily.

[Although this little sister of mine is always up to mischief—climbing trees, scaling walls, or sneaking meat to eat—she is forever the most well-behaved, the most adorable, and the absolute best little sister in the world. Nobody is ever allowed to bully her.]

Qu Ao’s stern expression nearly cracked.

Never did he imagine that he would get scolded by his wife at home, only to be scolded by his subordinates at the academy.

And even worse—

He was being scolded by a subordinate simply for trying to protect his own son and causing a misunderstanding.

Qu Ao twitched his facial muscles, feeling deeply aggrieved by the tragic turn his life had taken.

Still... he had no choice but to swallow his pride.

After all, he was indeed the one in the wrong this time.

"Uh..." Qu Ao glanced at Chu Hengyang’s expression.

Mr. Chu doted on his younger sister excessively. If he wanted to appease him and make the anger dissipate, he probably just needed to make his younger sister happy, right?

An idea suddenly struck him, and Qu Ao’s eyes lit up. "Classmate Chu, the food at the academy’s student dining hall is exceptionally delicious. But my wife..."