Choosing the Crown Princess

Chu Siqing spoke to him through her thoughts: [What's with that look?]

Tu Qingchen said pityingly, [Poor little thing.]

Chu Siqing did not understand. She assumed he pitied her because she had transmigrated into a baby and could only be carried around.

She was even rather smug: [So what if I'm a baby? I still became Great Chu's Holy Maiden!]

Out of fellow feeling for someone from the same world, Tu Qingchen had wanted to tell Chu Siqing that many people could now hear her thoughts as she dug into juicy gossip.

Yet whenever he or anyone else tried to bring it up, their words were automatically blocked.

Apparently, this was heaven's will.

Tu Qingchen's gaze grew even more tender and pitying, giving Chu Siqing goosebumps.

Chu Siqing asked, [What exactly did Imperial Uncle send me to the Heavenly Derivation Pavilion for?]

Tu Qingchen replied, [Simply to make it easier to see you.]

They had just been talking about Emperor Chu Ming when he arrived.

A palace attendant announced from outside, "His Majesty and the Crown Prince have arrived-"

Hearing that the Crown Prince had come too, Chu Siqing hurriedly called for the system in her mind.

[A-Tong, hurry and dig up some gossip about the Crown Prince.]

The system replied, [Host, let me have a look.]

[Found it! The cousin the Crown Prince admires likes the Second Prince!]

With no empress currently presiding over the central palace, Consort Li, Consort Xian, and Consort De jointly managed the harem. The Second Prince was Consort Li's son.

Chu Siqing perked up. [A melodramatic love triangle! Quick, give me the details.]

Hearing that Emperor Chu Ming had arrived at the Heavenly Derivation Pavilion with the Crown Prince, Tu Qingchen hurried forward to greet them with Chu Siqing in his arms.

Princess Yu also came out to pay her respects.

After exchanging greetings, everyone took their seats.

The Crown Prince's name was Chu Yuheng. He was fifteen years old and had been born to the late empress.

Though Chu Yuheng tried his best to appear composed, his eyes kept drifting toward Chu Siqing in the Imperial Preceptor's arms.

She was his first cousin, as well as Great Chu's Holy Maiden.

He had also attended the ceremony to offer sacrifices to heaven that day and had heard the Holy Maiden's thoughts perfectly clearly.

When he first heard the baby reveal Lu Dahai's secret, he had found it as unbelievable as everyone else.

But then evidence had been found in the vice minister's residence, and Lu Dahai had confessed to colluding with Qi. Everything had borne out Chu Siqing's words.

Ever since, Chu Yuheng had felt an indescribable curiosity about this cousin. Now that he saw her up close, he could hardly contain himself.

Noticing the Crown Prince's repeated glances at his niece, Emperor Chu Ming smiled. "Heng'er, would you like to hold your cousin?"

Naturally, he was happy to see his son and niece become close.

Chu Yuheng nodded and asked Princess Yu, "Aunt, may I hold Siqing?"

Han Wanqing was overwhelmed by the honor and hastily said, "You're too courteous, Your Highness. Of course you may."

Tu Qingchen handed Chu Siqing over to the Crown Prince.

Staring at the Crown Prince's handsome face, Chu Siqing could not help swooning again.

[Aaaah, my crown prince cousin is so handsome! I love him!]

Hearing his cousin praise his looks, Chu Yuheng was just about to smile when she added:

[Too bad he's about to be cuckolded.]

Chu Yuheng's handsome face froze. *???*

Everyone present held their breath, savoring the juicy gossip while also squirming in their seats.

Emperor Chu Ming: My son is being cuckolded?

Princess Yu: Sweetheart, could you keep some things to yourself?

Tu Qingchen: Poor little thing.

Looking into his cousin's sparkling eyes, Chu Yuheng's mind raced.

Though he was not yet married, his father had recently begun considering candidates for crown princess.

There were three candidates on the provisional list: Ning Qingyan, daughter of Duke Cheng'en; Xiao Wenshu, daughter of Duke An; and Wen Minjing, daughter of Marquis Yongding.

In terms of personal affection, Chu Yuheng leaned toward his cousin Ning Qingyan.

Did his little cousin mean that Qingyan already had someone she loved?

Chu Siqing studied Chu Yuheng's handsome face, utterly baffled:

[Is Ning Qingyan an idiot? She turns up her nose at my pure, untouched crown prince cousin and falls for the Second Prince, who's already married with a child?!]

The Second Prince had been married for over a year and had a daughter, so "married with a child" was easy enough to understand. But what in the world did "pure, untouched" mean when applied to the Crown Prince?

Hearing his cousin describe him as "pure, untouched," Chu Yuheng's mouth twitched.

When he saw his father, Princess Yu, and the Imperial Preceptor all looking at him with peculiar expressions, indignation welled up inside him.

He-he was simply keeping himself chaste! He wasn't impotent!

[Oh, so the Second Prince seduced her first. He staged a chance encounter with Ning Qingyan and deliberately acted all suave and charming. What a schemer!]

[He's already married with a child, yet he's out seducing a girl who might become his younger brother's wife. What a scumbag!]

At that, Emperor Chu Ming's expression darkened slightly.

The Second Prince was indeed reaching too far.

Moreover, many court officials had recently urged him to make Consort Li empress. Someone with an agenda was surely fanning those flames.

Even the harem was restless.

Princess Yu and Tu Qingchen trembled. Imperial secrets, brothers fighting within their own walls-w-was this really something they were allowed to hear?!

Chu Yuheng, however, had few strong feelings about it. If his cousin liked his second elder brother, he would simply marry someone else.

Even his affection for Ning Qingyan was largely the fondness he would feel for a younger sister. It had not reached the point where he could accept no one but her.

Besides, he had long known that, born into the imperial family, there were certain things he could not decide for himself.

Emperor Chu Ming said, "Imperial Preceptor, I have recently been considering a bride for the Crown Prince. Do you have anyone to recommend?"

Tu Qingchen grumbled inwardly, Isn't he just using me to prompt Chu Siqing into revealing the right candidate?

He dared not treat the matter lightly. After some thought, he said, "I would not presume to speak rashly. However, I have heard that Duke An's daughter, Xiao Wenshu, is renowned for her talents, while Marquis Yongding's daughter, Wen Minjing, possesses exceptional intelligence..."

Both were candidates Emperor Chu Ming favored. Tu Qingchen deliberately spoke a little slowly, hoping to draw out Chu Siqing's thoughts.

Sure enough, Chu Siqing went digging through gossip with the system.

[My Imperial Preceptor big brother really has a good eye. Both women he recommended are one in a hundred.]

Emperor Chu Ming: That was clearly my shortlist, all right? ~_~

[Huh, Wen Minjing's grandfather verbally arranged a childhood betrothal for her years ago, to the young son of Prince Shun's Manor. Unfortunately, the old man's memory has grown poor with age, and he's forgotten all about it himself.]

Emperor Chu Ming shook his head inwardly.

If word later spread that the crown princess had previously been betrothed, it would reflect poorly on the imperial family.

[Oh my, Marquis Yongding is henpecked, too. Who would have thought that Lord Wen, so imposing and formidable in public, is often made to kneel on a washboard by his wife!]

[And Wen Minjing has learned to wield a whip with almost supernatural mastery...]

Chu Yuheng could not help shuddering at that.

He did not want to marry Miss Wen!

[Duke An's daughter, Xiao Wenshu, on the other hand, is genuinely gentle and gracious inside and out, yet she knows how to get things done. She's simply a perfect match for my crown prince cousin!]

Emperor Chu Ming coughed and asked the Crown Prince, "Heng'er, what do you think?"

Chu Yuheng hurriedly replied, "I leave everything to you, Father."

Surely his father wouldn't bring home a whip-wielding crown princess for him?

Emperor Chu Ming settled the matter at once. "Then Duke An's daughter, Xiao Wenshu, shall be the crown princess!"

The system immediately announced in Chu Siqing's mind, [Host, you have successfully assisted in choosing the crown princess. Points +300.]

Chu Siqing was bewildered. [I-I didn't do anything! Why do my points just keep climbing?]