Noble's Woman Guide

Chapter 1.2

Speaking of Chu Jinglan, he was the third child of the previous emperor and was extremely favored. He entered the royal court embarking on political governance at the age of fourteen and was commended with military merits when he was eighteen; during which he was bestowed the title King. His meritorious achievements were countless that the common people regarded him as the Crown Prince. While he was at the frontier suppressing a revolt six years ago, the previous emperor died suddenly of critical illness. Before he passed away, the previous emperor appointed his eldest son, Chu Sanghuai, as Crown Prince who succeeded the throne upon his death. Since then, Chu Jinglan has not set foot in Wangdu and has been living in seclusion in Northern Land for the past six years.

These past years, there have been constant discussions on the unstable situation of the Chu throne appointment that year with all kinds of conjectures. The four prominent families, Wang, Xie, Bai and Ye who were involved, however, had been keeping silent all these years which led to more imaginative speculations; thus this became the most anecdotal story for the storytelling community.

The carriage of King Lan slowly approached from a distance while the chatting and tea drinking session continued.

Ye Huaili was alone on the third floor of his restaurant observing the view when he suddenly heard the sound of soft footsteps behind him. He turned to look. The newcomer is wearing a cross-bun hairstyle, dressed in jade-wisp clothes, long beautiful eyebrows with mischievous eyes, and pink lips bent in a beautiful arc smiling at him.

"Why are you here, Yang'er?"

He knew very well the temperament of his younger sister. She has been tranquil unlike a girl of eighteen since taking over the position as the head of the Ye's family. There was rarely anything that could arouse her interest and this sort of public excitement scene today was the kind that she was most unwilling to come close to. It is unbeknownst what actually attracted her unprecedented arrival to Tianque restaurant today.

"I am bored at home, so I come to accompany you."

These words were truly pleasant to Ye Huaili's ears, the ever solemn stony face of him was somewhat filled with contentment. He stretched his palm out and pulled Ye Huaiyang to sit beside him.

King Lan's carriage was finally passing by below the restaurant at this moment. Ye Huaiyang distantly looked and though the dark grey heavy curtain obstructed everything, it couldn't stop her visibly soft smile. Unfortunately there were noises which broke her tranquility as some unknown people on the second floor started making unscrupulous loud clamor.

"Didn't this King Lan fled to the northern land in disgrace with his tail between his legs when he couldn't grab the throne that year? Why would he dare return now?"

"Exactly. Look at him alone, without even a single bodyguard. Does he really think he could cause an uproar? It would certainly be good during this time of peace and prosperity, as this is a splendid opportunity to render meritorious service!"

The two people then uncouthly laughed out loud in unison, which sounded wanton and disgusting.

Ye Huaiyang's smiling face gradually stiffened. Her body and eyes didn't move but the coldness in her voice spread across the room, brittle like ice that none dared to intervene.

"Ci Yuan, chase them out."

As soon as those words fell, a dark shadow flashed straight towards downstairs and not long after the noises stopped and two people - without the slightest sound of resistance - were tossed out the door

Ye Huaili slightly lowered his brows, "When did you care about this kind of thing?"

"Barking dogs are just annoying." Ye Huaiyang remarked while her phoenix eyes half drooped

"They are not necessarily just talking nonsense." Ye Huaili gazed profoundly at the simple and unadorned carriage, "You were still young that year and didn't know what had happened. King Lan's return this time may have wicked intentions and should not be taken lightly."

"Elder brother, I was young then but not to the extent of not being able to distinguish right from wrong." Ye Huaiyang retracted her sight, the affectionate hue faded leaving only a touch of gleam, "Claiming back what belongs to you is not a wicked intention."

"Impudent! Who taught you that?"

Ye Huaili, with an extremely stern look as if he was quite sensitive about this matter, stood up suddenly and reprimanded Ye Huaiyang but she just appeared unconcerned. She leisurely brushed off her sleeves when she fleetingly saw that Chu Jinglan's carriage had driven away, she skillfully deflected his question and said, "I've seen the excitement and will now leave for the clan's home. I'll wait for you tonight to come home for dinner."

She turned around after she finished the words, walked down the stairs and didn't give Ye Huaili any chance to speak. Ye Huaili stood at the same place staring for a long time until that slender back disappeared at the end of the staircase, but the gloominess on his face did not subside.

What they didn't know was that their conversations reached the carriage. Tang Qingfeng was pondering in his heart how interesting the little girl was since she mentioned his clan and wondered which prominent family was she from? He just merely wondered but in the end he didn't turn his head to verify. His expression was still solemnly cold, like a forbidden giant, guarding against probing eyes and obstructing any disturbances from affecting Chu Jinglan.

He somehow forgot that Chu Jinglan's martial arts was far greater than his, thus if he was able to hear the conversation from the restaurant, Chu Jinglan was without exception too.

Wicked intention....

Chu Jinglan silently put down the scroll in his hand and the dark-brown hawk-eyes swept outside the window. Looking at the bustling scene and the people similar to deep shadows seen in a picture scroll under the gloomy light, that one could only distinguish the outlines but not the colors giving an indescribable sense of blindness and dullness. He tightened his thin lips and did not utter a word yet struggled to suppress the surging huge waves in his heart.

He is finally back again after six years.