Chu Lingyang was finally persuaded to come down by the Princess Ling.
Later, he went to the martial arts hall to practice boxing.
With his brute strength, if he wasn't allowed to vent, he might still be clamoring to go to the palace tonight.
The current palace was complex and full of turmoil. Anyone who got involved would find it difficult to retreat unscathed.
Only by staying put for now could he find peace and security.
Princess Ling accompanied Chu Lingyang to the martial arts hall and left after watching him become engrossed in his practice.
However, she did not return to her chambers. Instead, she went to another courtyard.
The courtyard where Chu Qianli had lived not long ago, Plum Blossom Garden.
Since Chu Qianli and Fu Ning had both entered the palace, this courtyard had become very quiet.
Only one or two servants would clean it during the day. After nightfall, hardly anyone could be seen.
But Princess Ling knew that someone still lived here.
She went to the back courtyard and indeed saw a figure swaying in the tree.
"Now that she has entered the palace, she probably won't return. How long are you going to wait?"
The man sitting in the tree looked down at her but did not speak.
Princess Ling leaped lightly, landing effortlessly on a branch not far from him.
She did not sit down, but stood by his side, watching him.
"The Emperor mobilized a large force today, leading the royal army to the moat. Such a grand and extensive ritual, and you didn't go?"
There was anger in her eyes. She finally squatted down, leveling her gaze with the man on the branch. "Lan Qing, what exactly are you thinking?"
The man sitting in the tree had eyes like stars and brows as dark as ink. His temples were like the sunset clouds, indescribably beautiful.
Most beautiful of all was his face.
Snow-white, clear, flawless, and alluringly lustrous.
His entire being was like a celestial being, pure and untainted.
He was the "Qingcheng" mentioned by Fu Ning, but Princess Ling called him Lan Qing.
Lan Qing turned his head to look at her, still saying nothing.
He gently swayed his legs, and the branch began to sway, as if he were on a swing, gently rocking back and forth.
Princess Ling casually raised her hand, a gust of palm wind sweeping out, pulling back the branch he was sitting on.
It was steady, not allowing his body to sway at all.
Lan Qing turned his head, and this time, he actually smiled at her. "Sister, your internal energy has improved again."
He actually smiled at her!
Princess Ling's heart suddenly jolted.
He seemed to have always disliked smiling.
It wasn't because he was naturally cold, but because he didn't know what happiness was, so how could he smile?
But he looked like he was in a good mood now?
"Lan Qing, what are you thinking? Why did you come here to find Chu Qianli? Why are you waiting for her?"
She found herself understanding this younger brother less and less.
This realization made her very uneasy.
He used to be so obedient, listening to her in everything. But now, he seemed to have his own ideas.
He had even left the Lingjiu Palace without a word.
That's right, the man sitting in front of Princess Ling, watching the stars on the branch, was the culprit who had thrown the entire palace into a frenzy.
The Imperial Tutor, Lan Qing.
But no one knew that Princess Ling, whose original name was Lan Ji, was the Imperial Tutor's own sister!
"Sister, I wasn't thinking of anything."
The smile on Lan Qing's lips vanished.
He truly didn't understand what happiness and joy were. His master had never taught him since he was young.
But he had felt quite happy sitting here watching the stars and waiting for Chu Qianli to return.
However, he suddenly remembered something else: "Sister, when we were looking for the princess for the Emperor last time, did you get a clear look at the princess in the ice pool?"