Transmigrated Female Official

The next day, Chu Qingluo called Luo Lifei from the tailoring workshop and mentioned Lingnan to her. At first, Luo Lifei hesitated, but upon hearing that it might be a good opportunity to test Chu Yilin's feelings, she immediately agreed. Chu Qingluo then reminded her to dress up for the occasion.

After settling things off with Luo Lifei, Chu Qingluo sent someone to Feihong Palace to invite Chu Yilin. While it wasn't appropriate to get too close to other male servants, she could openly invite her own brother.

Not long after, Chu Yilin arrived humming a little tune. As soon as he entered the inner room, he asked, "What is it? Why did you call so urgently? I was playing chess with Princess Anyang." Seeing the apples on the table, he casually tossed one up and took a bite.

Seeing him crunching loudly, Chu Qingluo suddenly said, "I haven't had time to wash it yet."

"Pfft—why didn't you say so sooner?!" Chu Yilin's eyes widened as he turned to find a place to vomit.

She continued, "Just kidding."

"..." Chu Yilin gasped and gave her a thumbs up, saying, "Well done, even I was fooled by you."

"That's your own fault for being greedy, you can't blame anyone else." Chu Qingluo chuckled and then said, "I invited you here because there's something I felt I should tell you beforehand."

"What's the matter? Why did you call me here in such a serious manner?"

"Tonight, there's a moonlit flower viewing party by Suyin Lake. Lingnan invited Luo Lifei to go with him. The important thing is... she readily agreed and even asked me for some makeup advice." Chu Qingluo deliberately made up a couple of sentences to see his reaction.

“…Oh.” Chu Yilin continued eating his apple without changing his expression and asked, “And then?”

"Then I think it's necessary for you to know! If Luo Lifei and Lingnan develop a mutual affection while admiring the flowers, then you're out of the picture."

Chu Yilin rolled his eyes dismissively: "It had nothing to do with me anyway."

Chu Qingluo gritted her teeth and said, "Luo Lifei has already admitted to us that she likes you. If Second Brother really doesn't have any feelings for her, then she should just fall for someone else as soon as possible." After saying that, she felt that it wasn't strong enough, so she added, "So as not to waste her time on you, you playboy!"

"What?! Don't talk nonsense. Look at my current status, do you think it's appropriate for me to mention other women to me?"

"Let others be, do you think I don't know the truth?" She shook her head helplessly and said earnestly, "Second Brother, are you really planning to continue like this?"

Seeing her serious expression, Chu Yilin smiled and said, "Isn't this great?"

"What's so great about this? Whether he stays in the palace as Princess Anyang's male servant or leaves to continue his carefree life, it's all just superficial glamour, isn't it?"

"It's so much more comfortable being alone—"

"Heh, heh!" Chu Qinglu chuckled dryly. "I can't argue with you. Don't regret it when you're old! When you try to show off your past glories, no one will be envious; they'll just say you're hopelessly stupid."

"Tsk, do I need to show off? Isn't it obvious? Carefree and at ease!"

Chu Qinglu rolled her eyes at him and said, "I'm too lazy to argue with you. Anyway, this is all I can do to help you."

Chu Yilin had just finished his apple. He tossed the core into the container and clapped his hands crisply, saying, "You called me here in such a hurry, I thought something was wrong. Let's go!"

Chu Qingluo helplessly made several faces at his back.

Anyway, the message was clearly conveyed, and if he really did nothing, then she really couldn't help him.

……

Inside the training ground, a group of soldiers were practicing close combat. Nearby, at the shooting range, two dashing men stood tall, their clothes fluttering gently in the wind as they swayed their long legs.

"Why did you suddenly decide to invite me to the drill ground?"

At this moment, Ji Qiran raised his bow and arrow, aiming at the bullseye in the distance. The bow was drawn taut, the arrow swift as a shuttle; a black arrow, steady and precise, pierced straight into the red bullseye.

"I just suddenly felt suffocated." Chu Yilin also raised his bow and arrow, released the string, and his brown arrow flew towards the target... finally passing by the target in a magnificent fashion.

Missed the target!

Ji Qiran raised an eyebrow in disbelief: "Oh—?"

Chu Yilin cleared his throat speechlessly: "It's a bit windy today." After saying that, he drew his bow again and released an arrow... This time, it landed right next to the target. "...It's been too long since I've used my bow; I'm rusty."

Ji Qiran smiled and said, "Me too." Then he fired an arrow and hit the bullseye again.

"...That's so boring! You should at least have shot two shots off target to soothe my wounded soul," Chu Yilin said, pouting.

Ji Qiran smiled again, revealing her pearly white teeth. "It's just an inertia I can't control."

"See that guy over there?" Chu Yilin pointed with his chin towards the other end of the training ground with a wicked smile.

Ji Qiran looked in the direction he pointed and saw Yao Man inspecting the soldiers' training.

He hadn't seen Yao Man for quite some time. Ever since the Pan Yin incident, Yao Man, at the Sixth Princess's behest, had been forced to keep her distance from him. But now that the storm had passed, he feared she would cling to him again as before.

Ji Qiran didn't think twice and quickly turned around, throwing the bow in his hand at Chu Yilin and saying in a low voice, "You play by yourself! I'm leaving."

Chu Yilin nimbly took the bow and said, "No way, there are only a few things to play with in the palace."

"Feeling bored?" A glint of light flashed in Ji Qiran's eyes. "Great! If you're bored, hurry back to the Chu family!"

"No rush." ​​Chu Yilin tossed the bow back to him and fired another arrow, this time hitting the bullseye. "I've heard there's a spectacular sight to see outside the palace tonight. Are you interested?"

"What wonder?"

"It is said that a rare flower has bloomed."

"Not interested." Ji Qiran replied without even thinking, looking completely uninterested.

"It's a flower called 'Moonlight Beauty,' which only blooms at night; it's not even available in the palace yet."

"I'm not going then."

"...Actually, I heard it from my third sister; maybe she'll go."

"..." Ji Qiran glanced at him sideways and said, "Since it's a spectacle, there's no harm in taking a look."

Seeing that he had changed his mind, Chu Yilin immediately smiled and said, "Sigh—then I can only reluctantly accompany you out of the palace."

Ji Qiran glanced at him suspiciously, unable to explain why, but felt that Chu Yilin's behavior today was a bit strange.

What's wrong?

……

After leaving the training ground, the two headed straight for the Flying Rainbow Palace.

After obtaining the Sixth Princess's permission, Chu Yilin thought he could leave the palace immediately. Unexpectedly, Ji Qiran actually wanted to return to Changxuan Palace to bathe and change clothes! Chu Yilin thought that since he was waiting anyway, he might as well go back to the palace to bathe and change clothes as well.

By the time the two of them arrived at the agreed-upon palace gate, refreshed and in high spirits, the moon had already begun to peek over the horizon. Only then did they mount their horses and leave the palace.

...

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