Duke of Zhenguan

Will Chapter 128 get me beaten?

Reminded by Yan Liu Niangzi in a low voice, Lin Chuan subconsciously turned his head and just saw Cheng Chu Rou turn and leave.

Caught red-handed by Cheng Churou, Yan Liu Niangzi's face flushed slightly. Only after Cheng Churou turned and left did she realize something was amiss, and she whispered to Lin Chuan, "Young Master, doesn't Sister Cheng know?"

Yan Liu Niangzi was always very aware of her status. Although she was a year older than Cheng Chu Rou, she always addressed Cheng Chu Rou as "elder sister" in front of Lin Chuan.

"I don't know—" Lin Chuan shook his head awkwardly.

Yan Liu Niangzi opened her mouth, remained silent for a while, and then awkwardly said to Lin Chuan, "My lord, please go and take a look!"

Lin Chuan nodded and gave Yan Liu Niangzi an apologetic hug: "I'll go check on the Cheng family. I'll come see you another day!"

After saying that, he ran off to chase after them.

On the way to the front yard, we saw Li Shi and Er Ya rushing over.

"What happened? Why did Chu Rou leave crying? Did you bully Chu Rou, Da Lang?" Li asked abruptly.

"Mother, I didn't bully her—there was a misunderstanding. Er Ya, you stay with Sixth Sister for a while, I'm going to the Cheng family to check on things!" Lin Chuan didn't stop walking, and after explaining, he was already gone.

Li Shi and Er Ya exchanged glances. At this moment, Yan Liu Niangzi also came out from the east wing. Seeing Li Shi and Er Ya, she awkwardly curtsied to Li Shi and softly called out, "Auntie!"

Upon seeing Yan Liu Niangzi, Li Shi vaguely guessed what had happened and said apologetically to her, "I'm sorry to have wronged you, Liu Niangzi!"

"I haven't suffered any injustice, it's just that my lord hasn't told Sister Cheng yet—" Yan Liu Niangzi explained.

Li looked at Er Ya with some trepidation and asked, "Er Ya, do you think your brother will be beaten if he goes to the Cheng family?"

"what?"

"what?"

Yan Liu Niangzi and Er Ya exclaimed in surprise at the same time.

On the other side, Lin Chuan went to the stable to fetch a horse, and just as he left Tonghua Ward, he caught up with Cheng Churou's carriage.

No matter how Lin Chuan explained, the carriage showed no sign of stopping.

The streets were bustling with people, and Lin Chuan, not wanting to become the talk of the town among the people of Chang'an, could only helplessly follow behind the carriage.

Upon arriving at the Cheng family's gate, Lin Chuan dismounted and stood in front of the carriage, awkwardly saying to Cheng Churou inside, "Churou, let me explain!"

A moment later, the carriage curtain was lifted, and Cheng Churou, her face covered in tears and her eyes red, glanced at Lin Chuan before getting off the carriage and entering the gate without looking back.

Cheng Chun awkwardly curtsied to Lin Chuan and quickly followed.

Lin Chuan handed the reins to the laborer and quickly followed.

Along the way, the servants of the Cheng family looked at Cheng Churou, whose face was covered in tears, and Lin Chuan, who was following behind, and were at a loss for what to do.

Upon arriving at the courtyard of Cheng Churou's boudoir, Cheng Churou entered her room, turned around, and closed the door, leaving Lin Chuan and Cheng Chun both outside.

Lin Chuan sighed and said to Cheng Chun beside him, "Cheng Chun, you can go out first. I need to talk to Chu Rou!"

Cheng Chun hesitated for a moment, then left the courtyard without saying a word.

"Chu Rou, this was my fault, and I didn't mean to hide it from you—"

With no one else at the door, Lin Chuan didn't need to worry about saving face and quietly told Cheng Churou about Yan Liu Niangzi's matter.

The door remained closed after he finished speaking. Lin Chuan licked his dry lips, turned around, and plopped down on the steps.

After a long while, the door finally opened slowly.

Hearing the noise, Lin Chuan quickly got up and turned around to see Cheng Churou, who had already wiped her face clean, looking at him with a complicated expression.

"Chu Rou—" Lin Chuan called out awkwardly.

"Come in!"

Cheng Churou said softly, stepped aside to let Lin Chuan in, and closed the door after Lin Chuan entered.

Seeing Cheng Churou close the door, Lin Chuan immediately sensed something was wrong. When he saw Cheng Churou walk to the table and pick up a sword, his heart pounded in fear. He was about to beg for mercy when he saw Cheng Churou hang the sword on the wall.

Cheng Churou turned to look at Lin Chuan, and asked thoughtfully, "Are you afraid I'll cut you with a knife, my lord?"

"How could that be—" Lin Chuan shook his head sheepishly.

"Don't worry, my lord. Even if you have to beg His Majesty to break off the engagement, I won't take a knife to kill you, and neither will Father!" Cheng Churou said softly, picked up the teapot, poured a cup of tea, and pushed it towards Lin Chuan.

Just as Lin Chuan picked up his teacup, Cheng Churou suddenly asked, "Young master, is your heart truly set on the sixth daughter of the Yan family? I've heard your aunt mention her often before, and I was puzzled at first, but I never expected—"

As she spoke, tears streamed down her face again.

Lin Chuan put down his cup and looked at the girl in front of him who was constantly crying. He felt a tightness in his chest.

"I really regret what happened with Sixth Sister, but you have always been the one I love!" Lin Chuan reached out and gently wiped away the tears from Cheng Churou's eyes, and said sincerely.

Upon hearing Lin Chuan's words, Cheng Churou suddenly broke down, throwing herself into his arms and hugging him tightly, sobbing as she said, "I thought my husband didn't want me anymore—"

"Although we're not married yet, we're practically ready to welcome you into our family. How could I possibly not want you!" Lin Chuan said softly, holding Cheng Churou in his arms.

After crying in Lin Chuan's arms for a while, Cheng Churou finally calmed down. She shyly pulled away from Lin Chuan's embrace and said softly, "Sixth Madam Yan is still at your house, sir. Please go back!"

Lin Chuan chuckled, but didn't know what to say. He could only reach out and pull Cheng Churou into a gentle embrace.

"Madam, I'll come in and get you a new pot of hot tea—"

Cheng Chun's voice suddenly rang out from outside the door.

Cheng Churou reached out and pinched Lin Chuan's waist, muttering softly, "Mother must have sent Cheng Chun!"

After saying that, he called out towards the door, "Come in!"

Cheng Chun brought in tea, silently took the used teapot, and left. Lin Chuan rubbed the spot where he had been pinched and asked softly, "Should I go and pay my respects to your mother first?"

Cheng Churou nodded and said, "I will accompany you, my lord!"

The two arrived at the main hall in the courtyard. Lin Chuan respectfully bowed to Madam Cui, who nodded and asked with a smile, "Xiao Chuan, it's been a long time since you've come. Have you been very busy lately?"

"The academy has just started, and there are indeed a lot of things to do!" Lin Chuan nodded.

"The affairs of the academy are important matters, and we really need to pay more attention to them! You are gentle but impatient, Xiao Chuan, you need to be more tolerant!" Cui said.

"Yes—" Lin Chuan replied awkwardly.

After chatting about everyday matters for a while, Cui sent Lin Chuan and Cheng Churou away.

She had already learned the details of the matter from Cheng Chun.

Cheng Yaojin had also told her about Yan Liu Niangzi, but she didn't take their conflict seriously at all. As long as Cheng Churou's status remained unchanged, what was the big deal about having another woman in Lin Chuan's room?

After spending the afternoon at the Cheng family's house, Cheng Yaojin, Cheng Chumo, and Cheng Chuliang returned home in the evening, and naturally, they had a drink together.

During the banquet, Lin Chuan learned from Cheng Yaojin that Chai Shao and Xue Wanche's 40,000-strong army had been waiting in ambush north of Shuofang and had inflicted a major defeat on the Turks.