Who is spreading rumors that my filial piety towards them has changed?

Chapter 72 Jin Yu Caught in the Act (41/51)

Chu Mingkong hadn't even warmed up in bed when his attention was drawn to the chatter of the maids outside.

These maids were all transferred from the Cui family by Aunt Gu, but it was a pity that the prettiest ones weren't chosen. The maids of the Cui family often interacted with servants from other wealthy and powerful families, and frequently overheard things from their conversations.

Chu Mingkong listened intently and vaguely heard words like "Fifth Prince," "framing the Imperial Concubine," and "execution," and he got a general idea of ​​what was going on.

To call the Fifth Prince a talent is an understatement; he acted impulsively and actually made things happen.

"When he was playing with the gourds, I guess Consort Wan's sudden crying really frightened him. As soon as I left, he immediately started to frame Consort Wan. But when was she executed? I have to go and see for myself!"

Executions also follow rules. Executions are carried out after the autumn harvest, requiring death row inmates to be dealt with in the seventh month of autumn (early autumn) or the eighth month of autumn (mid-autumn). As for the specific time, the phrase "It's noon, execute!" is frequently heard. Unfortunately, the first month of autumn has arrived, and the Fifth Prince has no chance to delay. Since his news has reached the maids, it's highly likely that his head will roll within the next day or two.

Chu Mingkong got up, changed his clothes, and went to the Shangguan family's residence first. He found that Shangguan Rong was not there, so he changed his route and went to the academy, where he found her.

"I thought you weren't coming. Have you heard about the Fifth Prince?"

Shangguan Rong, dressed in white, was making tea when she suddenly heard Chu Mingkong's voice behind her. She instinctively turned around quickly, protecting Hou Tinghua. Chu Mingkong found her reaction rather exasperating; was such a strong reaction really necessary?

If he had just finished flirting with her a second ago, Shangguan Rong's strong reaction would be acceptable, but they've only just met! It's as if Chu Mingkong is the kind of person you should be wary of only when he appears behind your back!

Shangguan Rong knew her reaction was a bit too strong, because while she was making tea, she was examining her own heart and discovered some things that she couldn't understand herself. She realized that although she didn't like Chu Mingkong's behavior of randomly going into places, her body was getting used to that strange feeling.

She had been preoccupied with this matter for the past two days, which is why she reacted this way when Chu Mingkong's voice suddenly came.

She quickly responded to him, "I've heard about it. It is indeed a big deal. I never expected that the Fifth Prince would actually harm his own mother. He deserves to die like this."

Chu Mingkong approached Shangguan Rong and said, "Let's not talk about this for now. I think you must have a lot of opinions about me in private, Rong'er."

"No."

"Then why did you keep protecting the person behind you?"

"I... I can find you another place, but please don't go to that kind of place."

It seems that Shangguan Rong still hasn't grasped the "Yamete Theory" he mentioned before: don't expose your unforgiving side to him. Even if she really doesn't want to, as long as she pretends to be indifferent, Chu Mingkong's thoughts will likely be much shallower.

Speaking of women's "back garden," especially female cultivators' "back garden," Chu Mingkong still feels it's a waste. Once one reaches a certain level of cultivation, one can abstain from grains, using the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to sustain life. But if you calculate it that way, isn't it a waste of an important organ? Humans aren't like mythical creatures, born without an organ, only taking in and not giving out; they should at least use it.

Look how much fun Jinyu is having! Rong'er, how come you, as a teacher, can't even compare to your students?

"I'm not used to it yet. Didn't your face turn red when I was doing it to you before?"

"That's because you made me angry!"

Chu Mingkong pressed forward relentlessly, while Shangguan Rong retreated step by step, trying to protect her back until the very last moment. However, behind her was a small table with tea sets. Her slender hand touched it, and she accidentally knocked over a teacup, spilling tea onto the table and wetting Shangguan Rong's clothes.

"Hiss—" Her hand was scalded red by the hot tea.

The monks wouldn't be harmed by water at this temperature, but they would still experience the burning pain.

Shangguan Rong pursed her lips, a hint of displeasure in her eyes. She had never shown that womanly side to others before, but now, facing Chu Mingkong, she said angrily and aggrievedly:

"...Look at you, always thinking about such inappropriate things!"

Chu Mingkong was angered by her fierce expression. Shangguan Rong's glaring and fierce look seemed more like she was being coquettish. With her beautiful face as a backdrop, even her angry expression was very charming.

He held her hand and gently rubbed the reddened area. "It's my fault. I saw you were in a bad mood and wanted to tease you. Does the burn still hurt? I'll find some medicine to put on it for you."

Shangguan Rong rolled her eyes at him, her anger still lingering, but she didn't pull her small hand away from Chu Mingkong's grasp.

"If you truly feel remorseful, then stop dwelling on that place of mine..."

Chu Mingkong then said, "I also want to see if your buttocks are burning. Why don't you let me see them too, and I'll rub and blow on them for you?"

"You!" Shangguan Rong wanted to punch him, and said angrily, "I won't let you see!"

"Did it get wet?"

"It's none of your business if it gets wet!"

Suddenly, the door to the library opened, and Jin Yu rushed in excitedly. She wanted to share with Chu Mingkong the foolish thing the Fifth Prince had just done, but as soon as she opened the door, she saw Chu Mingkong and Shangguan Rong by the window, their bodies very close together, and she was even holding Shangguan Rong's hand.

"Chu, my love!" Jin Yu said with a stern face.

Chu Mingkong quickly let go of her hand, completely unprepared for Jin Yu's arrival. Shangguan Rong felt a pang of anxiety when she saw the large hand that was holding her suddenly release her, but she quickly regained her composure and walked over with Chu Mingkong as if nothing had happened.

Shangguan Rong was also puzzled. It seemed that Jin Yu and Ming Kong's relationship was really... very good, a relationship that went beyond the gratitude for saving a life.

"What were you and Sister Rong'er doing just now?" Jin Yu looked at Shangguan Rong's hand suspiciously.

Chu Mingkong explained, "When I came in, I accidentally startled the Second Miss. She knocked over her water glass and burned her hand. I'm checking to see if she's alright."

Shangguan Rong found it strange. Before, when Jin Yu threw a tantrum and refused to recite her lessons, she would chase after her with a gold medal and slap her hand. Now, however, Jin Yu was being scrutinized by her as if she'd been caught cheating. Luckily, she hadn't actually shown Chu Mingkong any other burns, otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to explain herself.

Shangguan Rong nodded without changing her expression, echoing Chu Mingkong's words:

"Yes, Your Highness startled me so suddenly that I got my clothes all wet."

She turned to the side to show Jinyu her clothes, and then showed her the overturned tea set behind her. Jinyu's doubts were greatly relieved.

They did seem excessively intimate just now, but if it was an action to check for burns, it seems, barely, almost acceptable.

"I brought a spare dress, Sister Rong'er, would you like it?"

This was a spare dress that Jin Yu had prepared in case Chu Mingkong soiled her clothes after she arrived.

Shangguan Rong shook her head: "No need, I have several spare clothes... Jinyu, what brings you here?"

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P.S.: That's all for today's three updates. I don't know why my gastroenteritis has flared up into diarrhea; even drinking hot water makes me want to ejaculate. Every moment I'm gambling, betting that the fart is a real fart, and not...

Chapter 73 How about I acknowledge you as my mother?

Shangguan Rong prepared so many clothes for the same reason as Jin Yu: while staying in the study, her clothes might get dirty by some lecherous man surnamed Chu. She prepared both men's clothing and dresses; the former was for when outsiders were present, and the latter was what Chu Mingkong had requested her to wear.

When she went to the next room to change her clothes, she originally intended to change into men's clothing, since it wouldn't be appropriate for Jin Yu to wear a dress there, and it would also save her the trouble of asking why. However, thinking of the care Jin Yu showed for Chu Mingkong, and how Chu Mingkong immediately let go of her hand after Jin Yu's "attack," Shangguan Rong hesitated and changed into a white dress.

When Jin Yu saw Shangguan Rong walking over in a white dress, she blinked in surprise and stared at her for a long time. It was truly a rare sight to see her wearing a dress!

"Sister Rong'er, it's rare to see you wear a dress. Why did you suddenly change your style? You never wanted me to change before."

Shangguan Rong remained expressionless, walked straight to the table and sat down, saying calmly, "The maidservants in the house made a mistake; there's only a skirt available. When did Jin Yu become so close to His Highness the Crown Prince?"

Jin Yu and Chu Mingkong sat down early, but surprisingly, the princess did not sit next to Chu Mingkong. There were four seats at the square table, and Jin Yu chose one directly opposite Chu Mingkong.

She picked up the tea Chu Mingkong had poured for her, took a small sip, and said:

"After Mingkong saved me on Qing'an Street last time, am I supposed to treat my savior coldly? Otherwise, Sister Rong'er will chase after me and scold me for being impolite, just like before!"

As expected, Jin Yu also had a bit of a manipulative streak. Chu Mingkong found it amusing; Jin Yu was trying to imply to him that Shangguan Rong was very fierce, the kind of shrew who would chase after someone and hurl insults. However, Chu Mingkong didn't think much of it, because he had been called vulgar and shameless by Shangguan Rong quite often. Besides, he already knew this; when he secretly went to Shangguan Rong's place before, the then Crown Prince had been reminiscing about the past.

Shangguan Rong understood Jin Yu's meaning and secretly retorted:

“If Jinyu hadn’t been so sleepy and lazy, but had actually finished reading and memorizing the book, I wouldn’t have had the chance to teach you a lesson.”

Everyone wants to maintain a perfect image in front of the opposite sex they admire. When Jin Yu saw her pure and innocent image being smeared with a large stroke by Shangguan Rong with a brush, she clenched her fists in anger under the table. She was even more anxious when she saw the smile on Chu Mingkong's lips.

Under her red dress, Jin Yu quietly took off her embroidered shoes, and her jade feet, wrapped in cloth stockings, stretched onto Chu Mingkong's legs, crawling from his calves to his knees, and then quietly up his thighs.

Chu Mingkong silently sipped his tea, glanced down at the restless little foot, and felt a pang of regret.

Why aren't these feet wearing stockings...? He had tried to get the weavers to make stockings before, and although he successfully made a pair and tricked Xiao Yunhan into wearing them, it ultimately failed to gain traction because the cost was too high.

Cloth socks are comfortable to wear, but they are less aesthetically pleasing.

Suddenly, Shangguan Rong felt something shaking under the table and even touched her feet. Looking down, she saw that Jin Yu and Chu Mingkong's feet were neatly placed.

Almost discovered, Jin Yu dared not move. She quickly tried to attract Shangguan Rong's attention by saying guiltily:

"Sister Rong'er, who hasn't been disciplined in the past? I feel that most of the royal family members have been disciplined by you."

So many people were disciplined by her simply because they were courting death. No teacher had ever dared to discipline them before, and now that a woman had come, they were even more resentful, thinking she wouldn't dare touch them. The result was obvious: she went around beating them one by one with her gold medal. Still not convinced? Go ask the Emperor to take away her gold medal!

Shangguan Rong recalled, and quickly remembered who she hadn't scolded, saying:

"The Fifth Prince, he was the most hardworking back then, but I didn't actually teach him anything. He learned many things on his own by consulting with teachers. Consort Wan also invited many famous scholars to guide him."

Upon hearing about the Fifth Prince, Jin Yu finally remembered why she had come. She had just witnessed Chu Mingkong and Shangguan Rong being "intimate," and in her haste, she had forgotten her purpose.

"That's what I came here to talk about. Do you know what happened during the morning court session?"

Chu Mingkong had naturally guessed this, and he said:

"The Fifth Prince went to the morning court again to cause trouble, claiming that my birth mother, Consort Wan, had an affair with me and demanding that we be punished?"

"Yes! Mingkong, how come you're so quick to know? I only found out about this after I woke up and heard the palace maids talking about it."

You slept in quite comfortably, didn't you? Not only me, but even Shangguan Rong has heard about it...

When someone is eager to share something with you, even if you already know it, it's best to say you don't. Jokingly saying, "You're so late with the news," is a bit of a letdown.

Chu Mingkong said, "I only know the general outline; I don't know the specifics. Jinyu, do you have any news?"

Jin Yu said happily:

"I heard that after the Fifth Prince was attacked by assassins in the palace last time, he suspected that Consort Wan was responsible for it. He reported the evidence to the Imperial Clan Court that day, saying that Consort Wan stole his horse and went out of the palace to see you."

However, the Imperial Clan Court did not react for a long time. When he went to inquire in person, the Imperial Clan Court avoided seeing him. But a minister told him to rest and recover and not to cause any more trouble. At this time, the Fifth Prince felt that the Imperial Clan Court had been bribed by Consort Wan, so he went to the morning court to make a scene again.

It was only after this commotion that it was discovered that Consort Wan had guessed that the Fifth Prince was going astray and had spoken to the Imperial Clan Court in advance to let him off the hook. She even covered up the Fifth Prince's act of letting a palace maid who knew how to disguise herself into the palace.

As a result, the Fifth Prince courted his own death and brought the matter to the court this morning. Once everything was exposed, Consort Wan couldn't save him even if she wanted to. When I left the palace, I heard that Consort Wan was pleading with the Empress Dowager.

well......"

Jin Yu had no sympathy for the Fifth Prince. Just a few days ago, he had forced her to undergo a self-examination for virginity in court. The Fifth Prince had only himself to blame. But as Shangguan Rong said, the Fifth Prince was indeed the most diligent among the princes and princesses back then, yet he had ended up in this situation.

I feel no sympathy, but I can't help but sigh.

Chu Mingkong also wanted to sigh. The thought of the Fifth Prince reminded him of the string of gourds, and his mind went astray.

If Consort Wan hadn't left the palace to plead for the Fifth Prince's help, it seems the Fifth Prince wouldn't have used this incident to his advantage and thus court death. But that's not quite right either. If Consort Wan hadn't left the palace to rescue him, Chu Mingkong would have shot him dead at the palace gates, but there would definitely have been follow-up trouble, and he would inevitably have been implicated in court matters again.

So the Fifth Prince was going to die anyway, but the way he died saved Chu Mingkong a lot of trouble, and didn't even cause any trouble for Consort Wan.

Shangguan Rong said, "Jinyu, if you are familiar with Consort Wan, it wouldn't be a bad idea to go and offer your condolences."

Jin Yu hesitated, "This isn't a good idea. The Fifth Prince is so biased towards the Empress Dowager, he almost wants to recognize her as his birth mother. Consort Wan might really dislike me."

Shangguan Rong realized her oversight and nodded, "That's true, it was my oversight, but you'd better wait a while and make sure you're in proper royal etiquette. If Consort Wan doesn't see you then, that's fine."