Chapter 20: The Heart That Had Been Hanging, Finally Settled by Half!

At the Chu family mansion, from the patriarch and the ancestral elder down to the maids and stable hands, all were extraordinarily excited.

For today, their eldest daughter had been summoned to the imperial palace—if His Majesty took a fancy to her, wouldn’t they all rise with her?

As Chu Ruoyan stepped through the mansion’s main gate, her mother rushed out to meet her, face brimming with concern and anticipation.

“My daughter, you’re finally back!” Chu Ruoyan’s mother seized her hand, eyes gleaming with anxious excitement. “Tell me—how was His Majesty? Did he take to you? How did things go between you two?”

Chu Ruoyan’s father pretended to sip tea, but his hands trembled.

This was an opportunity that could decide the Chu family’s fate—how could he not be stirred?

But then again, he knew his daughter’s temper well.

If that girl stubbornly refused, trouble would be immense.

Being expelled from the palace was minor—if she angered His Majesty, the Chu family would be lucky to escape the capital with their belongings intact.

After returning home, Chu Ruoyan had already resumed her usual demeanor.

She gently patted her mother’s hand to soothe her: “Mother, don’t rush. Let me tell you slowly.”

Speaking, she stepped calmly into the chamber, her mother following close behind, eyes filled with eager anticipation.

Sitting by the window, Chu Ruoyan took a small sip of tea to moisten her throat, then began recounting the banquet: “His Majesty’s complexion was excellent today, and he treated me with great courtesy. But feelings cannot be forged overnight. I exchanged a few words with him at dinner, but never ventured into personal matters.”

Compared to men who, at the sight of her, became tongue-tied and obsessed, Li Chen’s conduct most won Chu Ruoyan’s favor.

At least she felt that this emperor—high in rank, mighty in power—respected her.

He showed consideration for her feelings during their conversation.

Unlike other men, who always boasted of their prowess before her.

They never cared what she truly desired.

Li Chen was exceedingly thoughtful: after learning she loved sweets, he not only prepared many desserts for her but also claimed to have some expertise in the matter.

Chu Ruoyan eagerly looked forward to tasting the “ice cream” Li Chen had mentioned; the thought alone made her swallow.

At that moment, Chu Ruoyan thought: Li Chen was simply too perfect—he seemed tailor-made for her tastes.

What woman could withstand an assault of this caliber?

While chatting animatedly with her mother, Chu Ruoyan mentioned she had met many high-ranking figures in the imperial study.

Though these dignitaries normally carried themselves with authority, when they erred, they trembled and knelt before Li Chen.

This terrified her mother, who urgently whispered: “Shh! Don’t speak of such things—even if you saw them, never mention them to others. Don’t you understand?”

Spreading secrets from the palace was extremely dangerous.

Hearing this, Chu Ruoyan suddenly felt a chill of fear.

Oh no—I just heard so much. Am I in danger?

Those ministers kneeling before Li Chen? Each one could destroy the Chu family.

Sensing her daughter’s unease, her mother reassured her: “Don’t worry. Since His Majesty allowed you to remain there, he has implicitly granted you permission. It’s just that ordinary people like us must not hear such things.”

Didn’t Chu Ruoyan’s mother want to know what had transpired in the imperial study?

Of course she did—but she also knew some things were better left unknown, lest trouble come.

The Chu patriarch, seeing his daughter’s expression, knew at once—his daughter had developed feelings for the emperor.

The knot of worry in his heart finally loosened by half.

The other half? That depended on whether the emperor found her worthy. But one thing the Chu patriarch was certain of: this new emperor was undoubtedly exceptional.

Had the new emperor been unworthy, his proud daughter would never have looked at him with such reverence.

After speaking with her family, Chu Ruoyan felt weary and prepared to retire to her room.

As she walked alone to her courtyard, a shadow slipped silently toward her.

It was none other than Xiao Ming—he stood blocking her path.

“How are you in my home?”

At the sight of Xiao Ming, Chu Ruoyan instinctively clutched her chest and pulled her collar higher.

Xiao Ming considered himself upright; even if he wished to look, he deliberately turned his eyes away and lowered his head.

He even stepped back several paces, to prove he was a true gentleman.

“Ruoyan, I’ve come to bring you good news—my master has agreed to help us leave the capital.”

!

Xiao Ming had trailed her from the palace gates all the way here, waiting for the chance to explain.

Seeing her attire, Xiao Ming felt deep pain.

For years, apart from her hands and face, he had never seen any other part of her.

Damn it—letting that dog emperor take advantage of her like this? His heart bled!

The moment Xiao Ming saw Chu Ruoyan, he had claimed her as his own.

Now that his goddess was in peril, he felt he must rescue her from this toxic swamp.

While waiting outside the palace gates, he had already imagined the humiliations she suffered within.

Damned dog emperor—I, Xiao Ming, have remembered this grudge!

When I reach the Saint Realm, I will teach this dog emperor a lesson and avenge my heart’s anguish.

But for now, lacking sufficient power, I can only let the dog emperor off—for now.

If Chu Ruoyan knew his thoughts, she’d say: It wasn’t nearly as humiliating as you imagine—she even felt a little happy.

Yet now, Chu Ruoyan recalled: she had, in fact, tacitly agreed to elope with Xiao Ming.

Back then, out of modesty, she hadn’t outright accepted—but she had indeed entertained the idea.

Only after entering the palace and seeing Li Chen had she forgotten it entirely.

Just as she prepared to explain, Xiao Ming gritted his teeth: “I know this isn’t your true intention. You needn’t explain—I trust your character. Just do your best to stall for these seven days.”

Without waiting for her reply, Xiao Ming vanished like smoke into the Chu family’s rear courtyard.

In his mind, a proud woman like Chu Ruoyan could never possibly favor that emperor.

In Xiao Ming’s mind, Li Chen was an old, ugly, lecherous man.

After all, most people only knew the TianCe Dynasty had a new emperor—they knew nothing of his true nature.

Xiao Ming’s cultivation was already one realm higher than Chu Ruoyan’s, and his cultivation method was strange, his movement swift—she couldn’t possibly stop him.

(End of Chapter)