"No, this King was not present at the time. Lan'er insisted on speaking with the former Emperor herself."
Therefore, Chu Lingyang didn't actually know what Lan Ji had said to his father back then.
"Did Your Highness not ask the Princess afterward?" Chu Qianli asked again.
Chu Lingyang chuckled, "Naturally, I asked. But Lan'er said it was a secret between her and Father. Since Father agreed after meeting Lan'er, I was happy and didn't ask anything further."
Chu Qianli merely smiled and said nothing more.
Chu Lingyang also seemed disinclined to discuss the topic further, as it was a matter between husband and wife.
He was now considered half an old man, nearing forty. Speaking of these matters of affection, he feared being laughed at by the younger generation for being immodest.
Of course, his reasons for seeking out Chu Qianli were twofold: firstly, his fourth brother had awakened, and he was happy about it; secondly, he actually wanted to inquire about something.
"Little Li'er."
Chu Lingyang poured Chu Qianli a cup of wine. "Speaking of which, we share the same surname. Perhaps we are relatives from long ago."
"Your Highness jokes. You are from the royal family of the Southern Ming Chu clan. How could I be related to your royal family?"
"Nothing in this world is absolute."
However, Chu Lingyang was merely making conversation. He wasn't truly fixated on these familial ties.
"That, Little Li'er," Chu Lingyang hesitated before finally getting to the point. "Do you think… I will ever have a chance to see that fellow again?"
How could Chu Qianli not see that he had always wanted to ask about Uncle Jiu but dared not speak up?
"I truly don't know. You should be aware of his temperament."
Seeing a flicker of disappointment in Chu Lingyang's eyes and a sense of dejection enveloping him, Chu Qianli felt a pang of sympathy.
"Didn't Your Highness say it yourself? Nothing in this world is absolute. It's not impossible."
"Is it really possible?" Chu Lingyang, who had lowered his head, suddenly lifted it, staring intently at her small, palm-sized face.
"Little Li'er, you're saying I can see him, aren't you?"
"..." Chu Qianli was somewhat speechless. Was that how her words could be interpreted?
"That, I really can't say for sure. I don't know where he is either."
Chu Lingyang said no more, his mood quite complex. He began pouring himself more wine.
As he drank, he eventually picked up the entire wine jar and began to guzzle from it.
"Is Your Highness in a bad mood?"
"Yes." It wasn't really about being in a good or bad mood. Perhaps after being disappointed for so long, he had forgotten what hope felt like.
In the blink of an eye, the entire jar of wine was emptied.
Including the previous ones, he had consumed three jars.
All of them were strong liquor.
At this point, his eyes began to show signs of intoxication.
"Little Li'er, do you know? For over ten years, hardly anyone has been willing to drink with me anymore."
"Your Highness is a soldier. It's best to drink less alcohol."
Marching and fighting were not child's play. Without alcohol in the army, the soldiers could maintain a clear mind.
"But I am just an idle person here in the imperial city. When I'm not fighting, I'm a superfluous person."
Chu Lingyang probably didn't know what he was saying. Muttering to himself, after drinking half a jar more, he began to become somewhat incoherent.
"Why can't that fellow come to see me even once? Am I that incapable of keeping secrets? I can keep secrets for him too!"
"Uncle Jiu... Ah Chu has secrets for you to keep?"
Chu Qianli wasn't being nosy; it was just that she genuinely cared about Uncle Jiu's affairs.
"What secrets does he have?"