Repairing the Past

Chapter 29

The atmosphere in the dining room changed when Chu Yao joined in. After two days of dwelling in her private pavilion, the girl reappeared for breakfast together.

There was no restriction or rebuke coming out of the mouth of general Chu. Everyone stay silent. Putting food in their mouths and throwing eyes at each other. Except for Chu Zhan, the young man looked a little enthusiastic about seeing his half-brother join the dining table.

"Eat a lot, Yao'er. You're Ling'er too. You guys should put on some weight. You guys are too skinny. " Say Chu Zhan with the typical tenderness of an older brother while adding some pieces of meat and vegetables in the bowls of his two younger siblings.

Instead of saying thank you, Chu Yao actually smiled without speaking a word. Another thing with Chu Ling. The girl was so enthusiastic about talking to her brother.

"Thank you brother Zhan. My sister also has to eat a lot. You should taste all of this good food. I'll take you around to taste all the good food here."

Chu Zhan smiled as he stroked his youngest sister's hair, "Yes, we'll take a walk together. But not for today. Brother will accompany father to the palace."

Chu Yao's chopsticks almost stopped moving when she heard Chu Zhan's words. However, he returned to acting normal as if he was not affected by anything. He should not show an interested expression because it will cause a new wave of conflict between himself and the father.

"Are you going to meet the emperor's majesty to talk about the wedding of your brother and princess?" Chu Ling asked as she glanced at General Chu.

"It looks so." Chu Zhan replied as briefly as possible. He didn't want to talk about it at the dinner table.

Madam Xun glared at Chu Ling. He told the boy's mouth to be as silent as he was. However it seemed that Chu Ling did not understand the gesture her mother gave her. He was getting more fussy and wondering.

"By the way about marriage, brother Zhan knows that brother Yao was proposed to young master Shu."

Chu Zhan flinched and looked towards Chu Yao. The girl continued to eat with calmness. Chu Zhan was quite shocked, he had never known the news before.

As if perceiving the intent of Chu Zhan's gaze to him, Chu Yao finally opened her voice, "Just a misunderstanding."

"Although it was just a misunderstanding but it was a pity, big brother Yao hurriedly refused. Though young master Shu seemed to be quite serious about wanting to establish a relationship with big brother Yao." Chirp Chu Ling was unaware of the vexation on Chu Yao's face.

"It looks like you have to learn etiquette again, Ling'er!" Before Chu Yao threw the chopsticks into Chu Ling's face, the Chu general first reprimanded the girl.

The middle-aged man stopped bribing his food and left the room.

Madam Xun stared intently at her youngest daughter. There was also some annoyance on the woman's face before she followed her husband out of the room. Chu Ling curled up. He was too late to realize the stupidity he had done. Surely the mother will lecture at length later.

Though his initial intention only wanted to corner Chu Yao for a moment but instead the opposite.

It was really annoying for Chu Ling.

But Chu Yao did not bother. He finished his breakfast with a stifled smile.

After the morning activity was over, Chu Yao moved out but Chu Yao's footsteps were suddenly stopped by Chu Zhan.

"I didn't expect my sister to be so popular with the young master of the capital." Chu Zhan muttered that sounded like a sneer.

Chu Yao snorted at the fool. Chu Zhan's reaction was a normal reaction to the measure of the colossal men of his era. Chu Yao raised next to an eyebrow when the charismatic man gave a cream-colored invitation paper with a red frame in the middle to Chu Yao.

"What's this?" Chu Yao asked as she received the invitation letter. He read the outer writing and opened the inner letter. His eyebrows wrinkled slightly but returned to normal a moment later.

"It was your brother who wanted to ask. After the eighth prince and young master Shu, what was the relationship between Yao'er and young master Zhao?"

Chu Yao automatically surly responded to the question of the older brother who appeared to be interrogating her. By reflex he returned the letter to Chu Zhan, "Just an invitation to an autumn party. I'm not interested. Big brother could give that invitation to Chu Ling."

"Chu Yao, this invitation is intended specifically for you.. " Chu Zhan grabbed Chu Yao's arm when the girl was about to pass away leaving her.

"If I give this invitation to Ling'er, it won't hurt her feelings. We both know that little brother liked young master Zhao for a long time. But this young master Zhao actually wants to get in touch with you."

Chu Yao's jaw hardened and the corner of her lips twitched in annoyance.

"Does big brother think I intentionally made young master Zhao interested in me?" Chu Yao's sarcastic remark made Chu Zhan shut up for a moment.

"Did you not think that I had teased the eighth prince and young master Shu together!"

"That's ridiculous. " Chu Yao chuckled, "if you want to look for my mistakes, you better find one that makes more sense."

"It's not.. You misunderstand, Yao'er." Chu Zhan the gulp. He did not mean to offend his half-brother. His words, however, created hostility between them.

"Sister's worries I can understand but I can't control other people's feelings for me. In fact, I am not willing to participate in that love drama between Chu Ling and Zhao Ming De. They're not my goal! Not my priority! So please leave! Take care of your sister's business, she needs your support more than me! don't bother yourself to take care of this insignificant invitation!"

Chu Yao did not care. He brushed off Chu Zhan's hand and continued his footsteps indifferently. He left Chu Zhan with guilt.

Behind the door, Chu Ling was precisely sculpting with clenched hands. He clutched his handkerchief withstanding the pain of the words of his two brothers who seemed not to assume his existence in that place.

Are they unconscious or intentional?

Couldn't they speak in a slower voice, simply keeping the feeling of Chu Ling watching them.

Exorbitant!

In addition to the annoyance caused by his two brothers, Chu Ling also felt a very real sense of disappointment. He had not expected that young master Zhao would give a special invitation to Chu Yao. Though all this time the one who was trying to attract his attention was Chu Ling. Why was it precisely Chu Yao that made young master Zhao interested?

Yes, Chu Yao has indeed deliberately teased young master Zhao. There was no way the man would be so interested without any previous cause. So many beautiful and talented women in the capital, why did the attention of young master Zhao fall on that wild woman instead?

Chu Yao was indeed a thorn in the flesh to Chu Ling. Although he did not want to deal with the crazy woman anymore, but if it comes to his future with the young man he loves, his stepbrother must be burned from this world.

If the longer left, the itchy women will be more and more so.

***

The emperor's private palace..

Ye Zuan bowed in salute to the number one person in Airland. Emperor Long greeted the eighth prince warmly and invited the young man to sit next to him by the fish pond.

"Zuan'er, what brought you here?" The emperor asked his youngest son.

It was a strange thing to see Ye Zuan meet him in broad daylight like this. Usually, the young man would meet his father at night.

Always at night.

But not for today. There was an important matter what had stirred his instinct of courage this time around.

"There is nothing I can hide from my father." Ye Zuan replied with a bright smile. But that smile instantly disappeared and changed with seriousness.

The emperor aligned himself. He ordered the guards and servants to go away from the place.

"Before I ask, I hope your father is really willing to answer honestly. Consider this a special request from Ananda. Please your highness is willing to grant." Said Ye Zuan in a respectful manner. He did not even hesitate to do kowtows so that his highness the emperor could not resist his wishes.

Although a little suspicious, Emperor Long still tried to calm his usual authoritative. He nodded slowly and helped the child stand up again. Ye Zuan did not forget the etiquette. He thanked me and sat down together.

"Dad, this is about the death of General Chu's first wife... " Ye Zuan said very carefully.

"I overheard that he had not died by suicide. Except for someone's actions. Is it true that this person is the queen?"

Ye Zuan watched the old face beside him closely. There is a significant change in fear, but like it is just an excess of thought. The emperor seemed to be unaffected.

"Zuan'er, you must know the punishment for accusing the Imperial family without proof, right?" Said the Emperor with a calmness that even made Ye Zuan feel anxious.

"I dare not accuse. It's just that I heard it directly from Eunuch Han and the crown prince." Ye Zuan did not want to twitch. He better be honest in order to show his sincerity to the problems they are currently discussing.

The emperor's countenance instantly changed, "What have they talked about?"

Ye Zuan took a breath and positioned himself well before telling him everything he heard.

Long enough for the eighth prince to pass on information to the emperor without having to offend the number one person in Airland. The word selection must be appropriate so as not to impress blame.

In the end the emperor still chose silence listening. There was a long pause when all the information had been conveyed. And that was quite awkward for Ye Zuan.

"You better know. I've harbored this guilt long enough."

The Emperor's eyes twinkled. It was as if he was collecting pieces of memory that had long been in his grave in secrecy. The old man looks sad. But it also seems to be missing something that is impossible to get back.

Slowly the emperor opened his mouth. He began to tell the origin of the fateful event.

"It all started with our victory over Merva. General Chu took the captives who were the rest of the surviving prairie royal family. One of them is the daughter of the king of Merva, Meng Shixun. She was concubine Meng, the wife of general Chu whom everyone knew."