Proud Feather

Chapter 140 Cruise Ship
As the year draws to a close, the festive atmosphere is growing stronger.

The entire palace became lively. Palace servants were cleaning the palace, changing the curtains, burning incense to purify the halls... everywhere was filled with chatter and laughter.

Chu Ling was also very busy. Today she was helping Consort Xian with the year-end banquet, tomorrow she was going to Yongchun Palace to visit Consort Shu, the day after tomorrow she was going to the East Palace to help the Crown Princess, and she also had to visit the Emperor at Funing Palace from time to time. She also had to send some things to her maternal grandparents' family and give festival gifts to Yang Yu, Chu Xiaojiu and other officials.

Seeing her full of energy, the emperor was very pleased and bestowed many gifts upon her. This inevitably made people throughout the court and the country sigh that His Majesty's favor towards the princess was rare even in history books, and even the death of the crown prince could not shake the princess's position.

……

The Golden Water Pool was teeming with tourists. On the painted boat, Chu Xiaojiu was surrounded by a group of playboys praising her, and she was in a wonderful mood.

After the Crown Prince case was resolved, the Emperor personally issued an edict to commend a group of people, including Chu Xiaojiu.

If the princess's reward slightly improved his reputation, then the emperor's commendation directly shed his reputation as a playboy and made him a role model for other noble families to educate their children.

Now all the officials and nobles in the capital know that although Chu Xiaojiu of the Kang Prince's Mansion is not good at studying, he is quite capable.

Even the scholarly young men who were on good terms with Yang Yu changed their opinion of him greatly. They would invite him to literary gatherings from time to time, speaking to him kindly and completely abandoning their previous condescension.

Of course, Chu Xiaojiu knew her own limitations and usually hung out with other playboys.

"Look, look! There's a courtesan over there!" someone outside shouted.

The playboys, always eager to join in the fun, peeked out and discovered that it was a group outing from a famous brothel in the capital. The beautiful women, dressed in elegant clothes, created a stunning and splendid scene.

Such a scene inevitably aroused envy, and soon talented men on the pleasure boats wrote poems and sent them over, hoping to form a relationship with one of the most beautiful courtesans. Others, confident in their social standing, simply sent their calling cards.

The playboys on the pleasure boat chimed in, "Ninth Brother, why don't you send an invitation too? With your reputation, you're sure to attract the attention of a courtesan."

"That's right, that's right," someone encouraged. "Your name is famous now, everyone in the capital knows you! Look, those ships have all hired top courtesans, we haven't, aren't we at a disadvantage?"

"Yes, yes, we're no good anymore, all we can rely on is our family background, but you're different! Whether we can earn this honor today depends on you, Ninth Brother!"

Chu Xiaojiu had drunk a little wine and was slightly tipsy. Encouraged by this, he was genuinely tempted. After all, hiring a courtesan wasn't a big deal, so he said, "Bring me my calling card and send it to that ship!"

The rich kids cheered and urged the boatman to row over quickly.

Halfway through the row, the pleasure boat suddenly swayed and nearly capsized.

Chu Xiaojiu tripped and fell on his backside with a "Ouch!" After regaining his balance, he angrily shouted at the bow of the boat, "Whose boat is this? You blind fool, daring to ram me..."

Before he could finish speaking, he saw someone emerge from the opposite ship's curtain, and he swallowed the rest of his words, turning them into a surprised exclamation: "Grand...Aunt?"

The spoiled brats all jumped up, looking at Qingcha standing at the bow of the boat, even more surprised than him: "Ninth Brother, is this your aunt? Which princess from the Kang Prince's Mansion is she?"

"Idiot!" someone next to him slapped him on the shoulder. "The important person is obviously inside!"

The playboy scratched his head: "Oh..." That's right. Although this girl is dressed well, she is obviously much more neat and tidy. What noble lady would wear narrow sleeves?
Qingcha, without looking to the side, nimbly leaped over the boat and bowed to Chu Xiaojiu: "Young Master Jiu, the boatman was careless for a moment, are you alright?"

"No! No!" Chu Xiaojiu scrambled to his feet. Even if he had fallen, he wouldn't dare say anything! Qingcha nodded, not bothering with formalities, and said directly, "Since you're alright, please come with me!"

"Alright! Alright!" Chu Xiaojiu turned around and told the playboys, "My aunt has summoned me, so I'll go pay my respects first. You guys have fun!"

Some busybodies asked, "Ninth Brother, can't you take us with you? Your elders are our elders too, let's all pay our respects to the Princess together!"

Chu Xiaojiu chuckled: "Next time! My aunt has a rather strange temper; she's known to throw people into the water when she's angry. I don't want you to be in trouble."

"So fierce..." The spoiled brats showed fear and quickly gave up their plans. "Ninth Brother, you go! We'll wait for you."

"No need, no need!" Chu Xiaojiu waved her hand. "You guys just play by yourselves. When it's time to go back, my aunt will take you!"

After saying that, he carefully stepped onto the wooden plank between the two painted boats and walked to the other side.

When he entered the opposite cabin, he indeed saw Chu Ling sitting by the window, drinking tea alone. Hearing him come in, she looked up and said with a half-smile, "This princess has a strange temper? Throwing people into the water when she's angry? To make sure your words aren't proven wrong, wouldn't it be better to verify them?"

Chu Xiaojiu covered her mouth and immediately admitted her mistake: "I'm sorry, Princess. I was just talking nonsense to scare them away. I absolutely did not mean to speak ill of you behind your back!"

Chu Ling wasn't really going to hold it against him. She glanced at him for a moment, then pointed to the seat opposite her: "Sit down! How about we invite a courtesan over too?"

"No, no!" Chu Xiaojiu shook his head like a rattle drum. "I just couldn't refuse their hospitality. The brothers want to see for themselves..."

Chu Ling snorted: "You're quite loyal."

Chu Xiaojiu could only laugh awkwardly, carefully placing half of her bottom opposite her.

After drinking a cup of tea, he finally caught his breath and asked, "Princess, what are you doing here? Are you out boating alone?"

Chu Ling said, "I came out with my aunt. They are having a vegetarian meal at Guangming Temple, and I came out to take a look during my lunch break."

Guangming Temple is located by the water, and you can take a boat directly to Jinshui Pond, which is very convenient.

Chu Xiaojiu said "Oh," and asked enthusiastically, "Do you want me to be your guide? I know the area around Jinshui Pond like the back of my hand. I know which restaurant has the best food, which restaurant has the best wine, and which restaurant has the prettiest courtesan..."

When he got to the last one, he thought for a moment and changed his words: "I also know a few guild halls that are frequented by the literati and scholars of the capital. There are quite a few talented and handsome scholars there."

Chu Ling couldn't help but laugh: "Do you think I'm like you, coming out just to see beautiful women?"

Chu Xiaojiu chuckled: "A beautiful view needs a beautiful woman to match, so we must make sure the princess enjoys herself to the fullest!"

This kid's pretty savvy! Chu Ling didn't beat around the bush with him and said, "I'm out having fun, but I have a goal. Do you know if there's a pleasure boat nearby? Its owner is very mysterious, and whenever he goes out, it attracts scholars and literati to visit him?"

Chu Xiaojiu scratched her head: "Which courtesan is she? She's so famous?"

Chu Ling chuckled. Would her dear second brother turn green with envy if he knew she'd become the most beautiful courtesan?
　Happy Holidays! Have you eaten zongzi yet?

　　(End of this chapter)