Transmigrated Female Official

“That’s just your opinion. I don’t think so.” The Sixth Princess smiled and continued, “His Majesty and I both believe that Qingluo is the most suitable candidate.”

"..." Chu Qinglu frowned slightly, but still insisted, "But I really can't do it."

Seeing that Chu Qingluo was still determined to go to the Phoenix Palace to meet the Emperor, the Sixth Princess hurriedly grabbed her and said, "Listen to my advice, for now... I mean for now, you should be patient for a while, and it won't be too late to resign when the time is right."

What does "the time is right" mean? Chu Qingluo didn't answer, thinking it was better to bring it up now than to put it off until later.

Before Chu Qingluo could respond, the Sixth Princess added, "Even if you persuade the Emperor now, you'll still be a sixth-rank female official even if you don't become a first-rank official. But I'm different. If you help me, I will definitely help you." The Sixth Princess looked directly into Chu Qingluo's eyes and emphasized, "I can give you what you want... the future."

The Sixth Princess believed she understood Chu Qingluo quite well. She was confident that her words would move Chu Qingluo and persuade her to continue helping her.

"Now that the princess is the crown prince, what else can I do for her?" Chu Qingluo wanted to find out.

"You don't need to do anything," the Sixth Princess said. "You just need to stay in this high position for now."

At this time, the old faction of the Fourth Princess had not yet been purged from the court, and the Sixth Princess only had Jiang Sha and Yao Man as her confidants. She needed time to expand her own power. Before finding a suitable candidate, it was better for Chu Qingluo to occupy the important position of a first-rank female official than to let someone else take it.

"..." Chu Qinglu smiled and said, "I understand."

Before leaving, the Sixth Princess gently touched Chu Qingluo's hand and sincerely said, "Seeing that you and Qi Ran can have a happy ending, I am truly happy for you both."

Chu Qinglu smiled and gestured with her hands, watching the Sixth Princess leave.

For her, how much sincerity the Sixth Princess had was not important. As long as they could live in peace and not compete with each other, that would be the best situation.

……

Back at Guangrentang, Peony and Qi, who had returned from their vacation, were already waiting for her at the door.

"Qingluo, you're amazing!" Peony couldn't hide her joy and rushed over to grab Chu Qingluo as soon as she saw her. "Let me tell you, the whole palace is buzzing about it now! You're a legend!"

Chu Qinglu glanced at the two of them with amusement and said, "Your information network is really impressive."

"It's not just us who are well-informed; I reckon the news has already reached outside the palace by now." Peony could already imagine the joyous scene of the Chu family.

"Heh-heh!" Chu Qingluo smiled helplessly, thinking that after experiencing so many dangers, her mother probably wouldn't be as carefree as before.

……

The successor to Chu Qingluo's position has not yet been decided, so Chu Qingluo has to stay in Guangrentang to handle a bunch of miscellaneous matters before she can leave the palace.

When they stepped through the Chu family gates, it was almost time for dinner. At this time, only Steward Li smiled and bowed to Chu Qingluo, congratulating her on her promotion to the first rank; everyone else was busy with their own affairs as usual. It seemed that Chu's mother was indeed much calmer than before.

Chu Qinglu smiled with relief and stepped into the main hall. She saw her mother sitting in the main seat, chatting and drinking tea with a strange man, while Chu Yilin and Luo Lifei were also there.

"Mother." Chu Qingluo went directly to her mother's side. "When did Second Brother and Lifei arrive?"

Upon seeing her, Chu's mother immediately stood up and bowed, saying, "My lord, I am overjoyed."

"Mother, you mustn't do this!" Chu Qingluo pulled her mother back, scolding her somewhat unhappily, "Don't make me feel so bad."

Upon seeing this, the stranger also stood up and bowed to Chu Qingluo: "Congratulations on your promotion, Lord Chu. It is an honor for your entire family."

As he stood up, Chu Qingluo finally had a chance to carefully examine the person in front of her... He was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with a decent appearance, but he had a very scholarly air about him. His words just now made him seem even more polite.

"puff--"

Before Chu Qingluo could even ask the stranger's identity, Chu Yilin inexplicably chuckled. "Third Sister, Lifei brought me to congratulate you! Congratulations!"

Chu Yilin said with a grin, and Luo Lifei couldn't help but nudge him with her elbow! Although they were all relatives and friends, Chu Qingluo was now in a high position second only to the emperor, so shouldn't they offer her a proper congratulations?

Luo Lifei smiled awkwardly and stood up, saying, "Congratulations, Lord Chu."

Chu Qingluo really couldn't stand them!

Before she could even roll her eyes in a truly epic fashion, the stranger spoke first: "Yilin has already joined the sect, yet she's still the same as before, always throwing etiquette to the wind and doing whatever she pleases."

“That’s just how he is.” Mother Chu continued, “It’s rare for you to come back, so please help me give him a good talking to.”

"No way! Mother, eldest brother, third sister likes me to be carefree like this. You can ask her if you don't believe me." Chu Qingluo said, moving behind Chu Qingluo and gently poking her shoulder. "Don't you think so?"

Chu Qingluo first smiled at her mother and the man, then asked Chu Yilin in ventriloquism, "Big brother—?"

Chu Yilin whispered in her ear, "That's right, he is Chu Yifan."

Chu Qingluo certainly remembered this name. It turned out that the law-abiding man in front of her was her legendary elder brother—the eldest son of the Chu family, the model son in Chu's mother's heart.

After understanding the situation, Chu Qinglu smiled and said to Chu Yifan, "Brother, please sit down. We are all family, so let's not be too polite and make it seem distant."

“Exactly.” Chu Yilin added, “Big brother is just too polite.” With that, he turned back and sat down next to Luo Lifei.

Chu's mother rolled her eyes at Chu Yilin and said, "You have no manners."

Chu Yifan bowed slightly and sat down as well.

"Big brother, it's really not easy to see you," Chu Qingluo teased.

Speaking of this, Chu Yifan felt embarrassed. He stood up again and said with a hint of awkwardness, "It is really presumptuous of me to come here today."

Since joining the Chu family, Chu Yifan had strictly adhered to the customs and had never returned to the Chu family. But this time, Chu Qingluo was promoted to the first rank, and even his master had spoken, instructing him to bring generous gifts to convey her congratulations.

"Brother, that's too formal of you." Chu Qingluo glanced at Chu Yifan, then at Chu Yilin, silently muttering to herself...

These two brothers definitely don't share the same father's genes. One is law-abiding and meticulous; the other is unrestrained and defies convention. They are completely different, representing two extremes.