Chapter 118: So, you’ve already climbed into the North Prince’s bed, haven’t you?_i
After hearing the maid’s words, Chu Yuqin, seated on the stone stool, lapsed momentarily into a daze, her face revealing a look of puzzlement.
Sister?
Chu Yuqin immediately snapped back to reality.
“Qing Li? Could it be Qing Li who has arrived?”
She then rose from the stone stool and, with graceful strides, quickly made her way toward the mansion’s entrance.
By the time Chu Yuqin reached the entrance, she saw Chu Qingli, dressed in a green Cloud Attire, tall and poised, with an expression of cool detachment, standing outside with a sword in hand.
Chu Yuqin, curious, asked, “Qing Li, what brings you here?”
Though Chu Qingli, like Chu Yuqin, was raised by the Chu Family, their upbringing within the family differed.
Chu Yuqin’s upbringing was geared towards being the personal maid of Chu Yue, and then, as she grew up, to protect Chu Yue, serving as a tool to take a hit for her.
Chu Qingli’s upbringing, on the other hand, was to be the family’s assassin, a tool to do the family’s dirty work.
Unlike Chu Yuqin, Chu Yuqin had now completely left the Chu Family, and neither would she return to the Chu Family nor would they say anything about it.
But Chu Qingli was different.
In theory, Chu Qingli could not leave the Chu Family without a mission.
Chu Yuqin felt a momentary pause in her heart.
That’s right, Chu Qingli wouldn’t leave the Chu Family without a mission.
Could it be that she had some mission?
Chu Qingli’s presence here meant that her mission was very likely related to the North Prince Mansion.
As Chu Yuqin’s thoughts were running wild, Chu Qingli asked impassively, “Sister, why haven’t you returned to the Chu Family?”
Hearing this, Chu Yuqin came back to her senses, then said, “Sister is now married and no longer considered part of the Chu Family.”
Chu Qingli continued to inquire, “Since you are already married, why do you still follow the North Prince? Why do you stay in the North Prince Mansion?” ” What can you gain by following that incompetent man?”
An assassin like Chu Qingli was trained to suppress emotions, and all her emotions were entrusted to Chu Yuqin, the person she had been closest to since childhood.
Thus, in Chu Qingli’s eyes, Chu Yuqin’s happiness was her own happiness.
Now that Chu Yuqin no longer had to stay in the Chu Family, she was free to pursue whatever she desired, yet she still chose to follow the child of Chu Yue.
In Chu Qingli’s eyes, Chu Yuqin had become a maid to the North Prince.
Back when she was the maid to Chu Yue, and now, with Chu Yue gone, she continued to serve Chu Yue’s son as her master. This was a sign of servility.
Chu Yuqin’s servility deeply disgusted Chu Qingli!
In truth, Chu Qingli was also disgusted with her own lack of will to rebel, projecting her own feelings onto Chu Yuqin instead.
Upon hearing Chu Qingli call Lu Chen an incompetent man, Chu Yuqin was taken aback, then responded with slight displeasure, “Qing Li, have you come to North City just to tell Sister these things?”
Chu Qingli said coldly, “You are still the same as before, loyally devoted to your master.”
Chu Yuqin then spoke up, “Given the current instability in North City, if Sister has nothing important, you should leave North City immediately.”
Chu Yuqin didn’t want to argue with Chu Qingli. She was well aware that Chu Qingli had always looked down on Lu Chen, considering him nothing but a worthless man.
When Chu Yuqin had previously returned to the Chu Family, Chu Qingli had urged her to leave Lu Chen to seek her own happiness.
But she hadn’t done so, which had caused a rift between the sisters.
Chu Qingli, with an impassive face, asked, “Sister, are you going to abandon me too?”
This…
Stunned by the question, Chu Yuqin asked in confusion, “What do you mean by that?”
Chu Qingli replied directly, “The Family Head thinks I’m useless and sent me to find you. I thought you would remember our bond and leave North City with me. Now it seems you’ve completely submitted to that incompetent man.”
Once Chu Qingli made this clear, Chu Yuqin instantly understood what was happening.
Chu Xiong had given Chu Qingli freedom to come to North City, probably intending for her to stay by Lu Chen’s side to protect him—as after all, Lu Chen was his grandson, related by blood.
Chu Xiong was not like most men; he didn’t care as deeply about the patriarchal preference for sons, and he had always cherished Chu Yue.
Perhaps because of his own son’s failures, Chu Xiong had come to favor Chu Yue more, and he had many regrets about marrying her to the Sum Queen, believing he had destroyed his daughter’s happiness.
After Chu Yue’s death, it was also Chu Xiong who had Chu Yuqin go to Lu Chen’s side to look after and protect him.
Even though Lu Chen had no hope of contending for the throne anymore, Chu Xiong instructed Chu Yuqin not to leave him.
In Chu Yuqin’s view, Chu Xiong’s concern for Lu Chen stemmed from the love for his daughter having transferred to Lu Chen, his grandson, after her passing.
Chu Yuqin sighed and then said, “Qing Li, have you ever considered that the Family Head sent you to North City because he wants you to protect the North Prince?”
Chu Qingli asked in a tone devoid of emotion, “Why should I protect that useless man?”
“The Family Head has already given me freedom, and from now on, I’m free to do whatever I want.”
Chu Yuqin understood why Chu Qingli thought this way; having been trapped in a “cage” for too long, now that she had suddenly gained her freedom, she naturally wouldn’t carry out any more tasks given by the Chu Family.
Then Chu Qingli said, “Sister, let’s leave North City together. Away from that man, the world is vast; there will always be a place for us sisters to seek refuge. We don’t have to be bound by anyone, nor serve as any man’s maid anymore. We are free now.”