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

"Don't take it to heart. The Lantern Festival is several days away. Let's go tomorrow. If you ask me, this is the young master's oversight. Why didn't Princess Yongzhen bring guards with her when she went out? If she had brought a few guards to guard against any unreasonable people, this wouldn't have happened. If you didn't have any suitable guards, why didn't you call me?"

Chu Mingkong knew that Jin Yu was trying to liven things up, so he nodded and humbly agreed:

"Indeed, but Princess Jinyu is of noble birth, how can I compare to her? It's difficult for me to even send a message to her."

Jin Yu was quite generous, directly tossing a guest token to Chu Mingkong. It was unclear whether she had prepared it specifically for him or kept one on her person for guests.

"Here you go. If you ever take Yongzhen out to play in the future, remember to call me. With me around, this kind of thing won't happen again."

Madam Zhen glanced at Jin Yu in surprise. Based on her years of knowing Jin Yu, she knew that Jin Yu would never give out the honorary guest token to anyone else. This was clearly meant for Chu Mingkong!

Among the royal children, Jin Yu appears to be the most enthusiastic, but in reality, she is the most aloof. This aloofness is not due to ignoring people's indifference, but rather to her disdain for most. Perhaps it is because her position allows her to come into contact with many people, and her own intelligence allows her to see that most talented men are merely affected and pretentious, and that most praise is hypocritical flattery.

When Jinyu was a child, she would come to play with her and constantly criticize the foolishness and naivety of the young master, thinking that anyone with a certain family background would be admired by her.

She found out her true colors, because Jin Yu was no longer afraid to show Yong Zhen her even bolder side.

How could such a cold and aloof princess give the token to Chu Mingkong?

Perhaps they just wanted to know how Chu Mingkong and Yongzhen got along, to see if there was any fun in it.

Yongzhen had heard Jinyu say before that she admired heroes who were generous, upright, and brave. However, Chu Mingkong had a bad reputation and was basically not worthy of Jinyu's attention. Perhaps his reputation before he came to the capital was still somewhat acceptable. Jinyu had been interested in this young prince of Xiling before.

Now is not the time to think about that. We need to get Jinyu away as soon as possible, and we can't let her cling to "Yongzhen" and interrogate her about today's events.

Madam Zhen wanted to return and question Chu Mingkong about the meaning behind the gift, whether it was... given to the wrong person and should have been given to Yongzhen, but now it had to be saved for later.

"Mingkong, take Yongzhen to the back to rest first."

Chu Mingkong obeyed the generous elder's every command: "Okay."

Jin Yu stood up as well: "I'll join you."

Madam Zhen quickly stopped her, saying, "Jinyu, please sit down for a moment. I have something to ask you."

"......oh."

Jin Yu didn't really like accompanying Madam Zhen. It wasn't that she had any issues with Madam Zhen, but simply that she couldn't let loose and felt restricted in Madam Zhen's presence. She could only give a sheepish reply and slunk down.

"Madam Zhen, what is it?" she asked obediently.

Madam Zhen had no questions to ask; she simply wanted to keep Jin Yu away from Yongzhen. Madam Zhen thought of the "ivory" Chu Mingkong had spat out earlier that day.

"Today, Mingkong, in an attempt to please Yongzhen, recited a few lines of quite interesting poetry. They were very flavorful and original. He claimed he heard them while playing in the street. Jinyu, you've met many people, do you know whose work this is?"

After listening to Madam Zhen recount the events of the day, Jin Yu was greatly astonished.

In the countryside, there were study rooms. These study rooms would often invite people to wait in teahouses to collect impromptu inspirations from storytellers and visiting literati, including but not limited to stories and impromptu doggerel, and they would pay some royalties for it.

However, those exquisite poems that Madam Zhen just mentioned could not possibly have been overheard on the street. If they were, they would have been collected into a study long ago.

Could it be that Chu Mingkong, that scoundrel, came up with this himself...?

As soon as this thought came to mind, Jin Yu felt even more that Chu Mingkong had many wonderful qualities, unlike the boring rumors she had heard before.

Leaving aside the milk he somehow got his hands on, he could always find a few lines of poetry from some obscure corner to please Yongzhen, who was rather aloof and indifferent.

"Grandma, are you serious or not?"

Well, in terms of seniority, Jin Yu should indeed call Madam Zhen "Grandma," because under normal circumstances, Jin Yu would address her as Empress Dowager. Although the Emperor doesn't need to treat Madam Zhen with the same respect as an Empress Dowager now, the proper etiquette and respect must still be observed, and Jin Yu, as a junior, needs no further explanation.

The seniority system within the royal family is quite subtle. Incidentally, Lady Zhen is a year and a half older than the current Empress. Normally, Empress Pei would have to call Lady Zhen "Mom," but since Lady Zhen was deposed by the late Emperor, she has been removed from the royal family genealogy, and Empress Pei no longer needs to call her "Mother."

Why would I lie to you?

"That's true. These lines of poetry might have been heard in a restaurant in Xiling. Xiling is located at the border, with a complex folk culture and many foreign guests. There might really be some wonderful poems that the capital doesn't know about."

"That's possible. In that case... Yongzhen probably won't be going out with you for the Lantern Festival today. How about Mingkong goes with you?"

Madam Zhen was somewhat uneasy. She had brought up the poem Chu Mingkong had recited earlier that day, hoping to pique Jin Yu's interest and get her to question Chu Mingkong about where he had stolen the brilliant poem—a task assigned by an elder. However, having known Jin Yu for so many years, she knew very well that Jin Yu, aside from the princes and brothers, had almost never traveled with any other men—she wasn't interested and looked down on those people.

If she refuses to let Chu Mingkong accompany her, then Jin Yu will most likely have to pester Yong Zhen to accompany her, which will put "Madam Zhen" in a difficult position, since "Yong Zhen" is not available to accompany her now.

Unexpectedly, Jin Yu's reaction took "Madam Zhen" by surprise.

Upon hearing that her grandmother had allowed her sister Yongzhen's man to accompany her to play, Jinyu's face lit up with joy, and she no longer cared whether Yongzhen accompanied her or not.

"Really? Then I'll order him to come with me in a bit. I won't bother Yongzhen today; let her rest by herself. I'll find her to play with another day!"

Chapter 42 Jinyu Loves Milk

Chu Mingkong helped Yongzhen back to her room. Seeing her dizzy again, he was very worried. This time, it didn't seem like she was just confused from sleeping.

She seems to have some hidden ailment.

He recalled the red, rare pendant he had previously obtained from a blind box—the Soul-Locking Jade Pendant—and mentally connected it with the Filial Piety System:

"This pendant must have other uses, right? It's not like it's specifically used to compensate for deficiencies in cultivation techniques. It must have some kind of effect, judging from the name, it's used to soothe the soul?"

The Filial Piety System replied succinctly: "Yes, the Soul-Locking Pendant can alleviate the problem for the girl in front of you."

Chu Mingkong was speechless. Why didn't you say so earlier!

Although this pendant is the "final piece of the puzzle" for some kind of divine skill, to Chu Mingkong it is nothing more than a gift, regardless of whether it has any connection to any divine skill.

This system really has some problems. It never explains things completely, and he always has to ask. It feels like they're deliberately keeping things from him.

"Mingkong, help me untie my bodice. I want to rest; it's uncomfortable being wrapped up like this," Yongzhen ordered him.

The young woman sat on the bed with her back to Chu Mingkong. She slowly took off her clothes, revealing her fair and snow-white shoulders. She raised her jade-like arm and tied her long black hair behind her head so as not to get in Chu Mingkong's way.

Chu Mingkong swallowed hard. He wanted to maintain his composure as a gentleman, but his mouth was dry and his tongue was burning. Fortunately, his concern for the patient prevailed.

Carefully and cautiously removing the cloth that carried the rich scent of frankincense and setting it aside, Chu Mingkong took out the Soul-Locking Jade Pendant, warmed it in his palm, and then hung it around her swan-like neck, the red jade pendant dangling between her breasts.

"Mingkong, what is this...?"

Yongzhen wanted to pick up the beautiful pendant to examine it more closely, but a pleasant coolness swept through her body, as if her spiritual meridians were being nourished by spring rain. Her delicate body trembled slightly, and her consciousness immediately returned to clarity.

The woman was taken aback and grabbed him.

I...I'm not Yongzhen, I'm her mother...I used her body and a handsome young man...

Chu Mingkong, oblivious to Yongzhen's change, said mysteriously:

"This pendant is called the Soul-Locking Jade Pendant. A master gave it to me when I was a child, telling me to give it to someone destined to receive it. It has great power to calm the soul and can help one cultivate some kind of divine skill. I always feel dizzy when I see Yongzhen, and suddenly I remembered this thing. What use is divine skill? Your safety is the most important thing. However, I heard that there are two of these pendants. It's a pity that I only have one. Otherwise, I would give one to Madam Zhen as well, so that we could be a pair."

It's actually a Soul-Locking Jade Pendant!

"Why are you being so nice to me? We've only just met!"

Chu Mingkong thought for a moment, but he couldn't bring himself to say that he had fallen in love at first sight. If he tried to fool her, he figured Yongzhen would be able to tell; she wasn't the kind of naive girl.

"I think maybe I'm just fickle and lustful? You're beautiful and charming, and you have a good personality, so naturally I want to get closer to you and treat you well, even to the point of being attentive. That way, even if you don't end up with me and just treat me as a friend, I can still spend more time with a pretty girl, and that will make me feel much better."

At this moment, "Yongzhen" had completely remembered who she was; she was Madam Zhen.

Her surprise at unexpectedly obtaining the Soul-Locking Jade Pendant was quickly overshadowed by Chu Mingkong's candid words, which moved her deeply.

She had seen all the glory and splendor of the past, the maternal grace of the nation, as if the stars in the sky were within her grasp. But the sincerity of this Prince of Xiling was something she had never experienced in her past years.

She suddenly felt a pang of envy for her daughter...

"If I had been born later..."

Chu Mingkong's attention was completely drawn to a huge sum of money that had been used to express filial piety, and he didn't hear Yongzhen's murmur: "What, do you want some water?"

"You...you've given me such a generous gift, I'll return this first, and then we'll see what else I can give you later...Don't tell anyone else, and don't mention it in front of Yongzhen in the future." The woman bit her red lips.

"Is there anything I can't mention in front of you?" he wondered. Yongzhen held his large hand and pressed it against her heart.

Yongzhen turned her face away, but Chu Mingkong still saw the blush rising on her fair and delicate face.

I could feel the heartbeat emanating from that softness in my hand.

----------

Chu Mingkong was unable to come to his senses for a long time.

Although it wasn't as big as Master Zuo Qiuchi's, it had a similar softness when squeezed, and it also gained a lot of corrupted filial piety. Giving 500 corrupted filial piety in one go was too outrageous.

—As expected of a gift with red rarity!

"Hey, what are you daydreaming about? You're currently traveling with Princess Jinyu, the most esteemed princess of the Tianji Empire!"

Jin Yu brought her pretty face close to his, dissatisfied with Chu Mingkong's dull reaction.

However, from Chu Mingkong's perspective, Jin Yu was so close that the glimpses of her skin peeking out from under her clothes were fully visible.

It's a pity that Yongzhen still wears a bra; it affected her development. She's not exactly small, but her sister Jinyu is a whole size bigger than her.

"Oh, you're thinking about something else. Where are we? I'm getting off to go home."

"No, you promised Madam Zhen you'd accompany me to the Lantern Festival." Jin Yu, dressed in a phoenix-embroidered palace dress, reached out to stop him. "Also, I want that sour milk from this morning!"

The princess's carriage is equipped with a soundproof array, so there's no need to worry about whispers being overheard.

Chu Mingkong glanced at her, then asked the system for a small cup of milkshake to eat slowly, but he only ate it for Jin Yu to see and had no intention of giving it to her.

"Why is there new milk again? Where's mine?"

Princess Jinyu had been accustomed to a life of luxury since childhood, and had tasted countless delicious snacks. However, all those delicacies paled in comparison to the new treats that Chu Mingkong had introduced her to in the past few days.

She had never seen anyone make such awful-tasting milk into so many delicious and varied dishes.

Chu Mingkong ignored her. Although he had been asked by Madam Zhen to accompany her on the Lantern Festival, he hadn't said he would make her happy. Just standing next to her was enough to keep her company.

Immediately, he switched to a different strawberry yogurt flavor to savor, hoping to anger Jin Yu and get rid of her.

Jin Yu stared at him for a long time, then suddenly smiled sweetly, moved closer to him, hugged Chu Mingkong's arm, and pressed one of her ample breasts against him.

"Good brother~ How come you have hidden so much milk here? I can't empty it all! I really like it. Can Jinyu try some of your milk? Look, Jinyu even gave you the manor's token~"

Yes, that's pretty much the state Jin Yu was in when I spied on her that night.

Something's not right. Why would she reveal this side of herself to me? Did someone say something to Jinyu, forcing her to get close to me?

If outsiders saw her like this, countless talented young men in Beijing would be utterly shocked by this dream goddess.

"So that's what you were planning when you sent the token. Take it back. I wouldn't dare go to your residence; it's something I don't need. But if you want to drink this milk, just take a beating—the old rule."

"Don't even think about it, you brat!" Jin Yu caught the token he threw back, crossed her arms indignantly, and glared at this ungrateful fellow.

"I'm in a good mood today, so I'll send you two flavors with one tap."