Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 233 - 232: Outpouring

Chapter 233: Chapter 232: Outpouring

Seeing Chen Afu in tears, Chu Lingxuan felt an urge to wipe them away. He lifted his right hand, then put it down again, clenching his fist. He said, "Miss Chen, don’t be afraid, I won’t let anyone bully you."

Chen Afu wiped her tears and said, "Mr. Chu, I don’t know where else I could turn. I don’t know what to do."

Chu Hanyan noticed that her father didn’t scoop her up immediately, but rather consoled her crying aunt. She wasn’t jealous of her father’s attention to her aunt and was about to run over to comfort her when Mrs. Song came over.

Mrs. Song picked her up and whispered, "My little girl, Mr. Chu and Master Chen have things to discuss. Let’s go play over there."

Lu Mei and the other girls also quickly followed them into the house.

Within moments, only Chu Lingxuan and Chen Afu were left in the corridor.

Chu Lingxuan said again, "The second prince and the seventh prince will likely visit our house as soon as they know I’ve returned."

Were they coming to demand her? Not only was the seventh prince coming, but the second prince was coming too. Chen Afu was a little stupefied. In this age where imperial power was rampant, she had gotten herself involved with a prince. She admitted that her sharp mind was finding it hard to keep up.

She asked, "Is the second prince also going to be an oppressor?"

Chu Lingxuan said, "This time, it appears that the second prince and the seventh prince have come to inspect Dingzhou together. In reality, only the second prince represents the emperor, the seventh prince is just tagging along for leisure. The second prince has had past grievances with our family and this time he’s eager to find something against me. Today, the woman the seventh prince is interested in ran to my mansion. If the seventh prince comes to ask for her, he will definitely follow to watch the excitement, hoping to find some fault with me."

She had caused him a lot of trouble.

Chen Afu said sadly, "Mr. Chu, I’m sorry, I’ve caused you great trouble."

Chu Lingxuan laughed and said, "Yes, it’s a bit troublesome, but I can handle it." His face turned serious and he continued, "Now, Miss Chen, you have two choices. If you are willing to be Chu Lingxuan’s betrothed, even if he is a prince, he cannot abuse an official’s woman. It’s perfectly normal for you to take refuge in my house when you’re in trouble. However, if you only wish to be my daughter’s tutor, I will try my best to protect you, though the road would be more difficult."

Hearing his pledge, Chen Afu’s tears started to flow again. She felt that such a man was worth taking a risk for.

She stammered in a low voice, "Actually, I’ve always wanted to be your betrothed. But I fear you are too excellent, and your background too good. I fear that I might not be good enough for you, that you may abandon me one day, or that you would make me your concubine..."

Hearing that she had always wanted to be his betrothed, Chu Lingxuan was overjoyed. But he was amused and slightly irritated by her later words. So this was how she thought of him. What a worrywart!

He said, "What nonsense. How could you not be good enough for me? To me, any such thought would be blasphemous. Afu, you are beautiful, intelligent, kind, and the only woman I have ever wanted to marry in my life. If I have the fortune to have you, you will be my wife. I assure you, I will not abandon you halfway."

Listening to his words, Chen Afu’s tears flowed more copiously. Liu Xudong from her previous life spoke sweet words, but he never said that Chen Yanyan was his "only girl he wants to marry". This phrase, which she sought but never got in her previous life, she heard unexpectedly in this life.

Seeing her like this, Chu Lingxuan laughed and pulled her into his arms. He said, "Look at you, able to cry even at good news. If Hanyan sees you like this, she will surely laugh."

Chen Afu broke into a smile. Nestling in his arms, she felt warm and sweet.

By then it was completely dark, and because they were "talking", the servants did not dare to come light up the place. The moonlight poured down from the sky, casting their faint shadows in the corridor.

Suddenly, Chen Afu thought of Chen Shiying and raised her head to ask, "Will this involve Mr. Chen?"

From selling the unsold jewelry set in the morning, she knew deep down that she didn’t want to hurt Chen Shiying. Would him being her natural father cause trouble for his career? As a scholar from a humble family, it hadn’t been easy for him to come this far. Even though she should have been his legitimate elder daughter, and her "illegitimate daughter" status was due to the transgressions of his ex-wife, she still didn’t want his career to be ruined.

Chu Lingxuan said, "It will definitely involve him. However, the impact will not be too great. Many officials have mistresses and illegitimate children, which are considered genteel in some eyes. As long as your mother’s supposed position as his formal wife before being driven away after his academic success doesn’t come out, him having a few more illegitimate children won’t be a big deal."

What a perverse society!

While they were speaking, Chu Huai came to report that the second prince and the seventh prince had arrived and were in the front hall. They wished to see Chu Lingxuan, and also the lady who had run from Jade Kirin Silver Tower to the Chus’ Mansion earlier today.

Chu Lingxuan sneered in mockery and said, "Just as expected, they couldn’t even wait one night. Let’s go. You only need to answer them about your relationship with me. I’ll handle the rest."

Chen Afu followed him to the Outer Court. She was still a little scared, afraid to cause trouble for Chu Lingxuan, Chen Shiying, and especially Dabao. She felt as if she was floating, her steps were light, and her body swayed slightly.

Chu Lingxuan squeezed her hand tightly and said, "Don’t be afraid, I’ll handle everything."

As he dragged her along in quick strides, the moonlight elongated their shadows, one tall, one short, hand in hand.

With such a man to rely on, the journey ahead didn’t seem so frightening. Chen Afu took a deep breath, and her little hand squeezed his back.

Chu Lingxuan’s smile broadened.

In the courtyard, there were many soldiers in armor standing around, and attendants holding horsetail whisks.

The five colored glaze palace lanterns in the front hall were all lit, making the room brilliant. Beside the square table sat two men. One was the seventh prince he had met this morning, only now he was dressed in an apricot-yellow robe embroidered with a five-clawed dragon. The other man, in his thirties, was tall and slightly overweight, with an imposing bearing and a small mustache. He was dressed in the same robe as the seventh prince. He must be the second prince.

Chu Lingxuan bowed and said, "Officials, we greet the second prince, we greet Prince Rui."

Chen Afu also bowed and said, "I greet the second prince, I greet Prince Rui."

The second prince, Li Zeyu, looked at Chen Afu for a while, then turned to Chu Lingxuan and smiled, "General Chu, I apologize for the unexpected visit. I heard from the seventh prince that a stunning beauty he met today came to your mansion. I didn’t believe it at first, everyone in the Capital City knows that General Chu isn’t interested in women." He pointed at Chen Afu and continued, "Now, you’ve brought a woman with you, could it be that General Chu’s tastes have vastly changed?"