I just want to be a princess, no, you want to be a queen

Chapter 164: Study Dispute

Princess Jin was obsessed with getting her son back, and was easily deceived. How could Concubine Song let go of such a great opportunity?

Lu Mingyang looked at the bewildered Chu Mingzheng and told him about the day in Shoukang Palace when Princess Jin had begged the Queen Mother. She asked, "Your Highness, don't you want to?"

Chu Mingzheng was speechless. How could he not want to?

I miss the rose pastries and peach blossom wine my mother brought me when I was reading by lamplight at night; I miss my father raising his broad arms high when I was practicing martial arts in the morning; I miss the evening when it was pouring rain and I coaxed my younger brothers and sisters to go fishing in the river; I miss that unrestrained and reckless boy even more.

Lu Mingyang put his hand on the man's trembling shoulders and broached the sensitive topic for the first time: "Your Highness, this matter is not hopeless. The Emperor is happy with this, and Concubine Song will also add fuel to the fire. If you want, we can work together to find a solution."

Chu Mingzheng shook his head silently.

Yes, being the son of the Prince of Jin again, he would no longer have the title of prince, and would need his brother's permission to pay respects to his father or visit his mother. Naturally, he was so proud that he wouldn't want to. But it was better than being frightened here and losing his life!

Lu Mingyang advised, "Your Highness, fame and power are external things. You say you have enough food and clothing, so can't you just be content?"

"Be content?" Chu Mingzheng just found it funny when she said that. "Yangyang, Jin Yiluo asked you to marry, why didn't you go? His Majesty adopted an heir, why did you insist that your eldest sister inherit the title? You yourself are not content, and you expect me to be content!"

"How is that the same!"

"How is it different?"

Lu Mingyang was stunned by his question. She actually felt that what he said made sense, but she still forced herself to explain: "I did that to save my life."

"Am I not?"

"If you want to survive, you should stay away from the center of the power struggle. Instead of forming a clique and pursuing personal interests like you are doing now. The emperor is suspicious of you, but is he wrong?"

As the two talked, they gradually started arguing and began to speak without restraint.

"Am I forming a clique for personal gain?" Chu Mingzheng was furious. "You want me to put my life, death, honor, and disgrace in the hands of others and then beg for mercy? I can't do that."

"You speak so eloquently, but you just want to be the emperor!"

"So what!"

The sound was deafening.

Isn't he afraid of being heard? Lu Mingyang's heart trembled, and he pushed away his embrace, holding onto the table and left.

Chu Mingzheng grabbed her hand, holding it in front of him, and retorted aggrievedly: "Yangyang, what you want is natural; what I want is treasonous."

At this moment, Lu Mingyang suddenly felt a pang of heartache. She moved her palm to place it on the back of his hand, and said in a hoarse voice, "Your Highness, he won't give you that position. Pei Mian, Zhu Cong, those brothers who have been with you through thick and thin, can you bear to let them die for you in vain?"

"Do you think I will lose?" Chu Mingzheng looked away dejectedly and said with a smile, "Don't worry, before I die, I will definitely draw a clear line between us and will never implicate you."

Lu Mingyang raised his eyes and said, "In your eyes, I'm saying this just because I'm afraid you'll get me into trouble?"

"Isn't it?"

"Yes! I'm scared to death. You'd better divorce me now!"

"Okay!" Chu Mingzheng was stunned after saying this.

Lu Mingyang angrily grabbed a piece of rice paper and spread it out: "Write. Whoever doesn't write is a puppy."

"Write!" Chu Mingzheng picked up the brush and dipped it in ink. The tip of the brush swayed for a long time but no ink appeared. He said angrily, "Grind the ink!"

"Grind it!" Lu Mingyang picked up the ink stick and ground the ink.

Royal divorces are not that easy. She just wanted to put down his arrogance, but she didn't expect him to actually write it. Seeing the three big characters "和离书" appear on the rice paper, Lu Mingyang panicked.

"Take your time writing. I'll go back and pack my things!" Lu Mingyang threw down the ink stick and ran out.

Zheng Hao stood far away in the courtyard, watching the princess run away crying. After careful consideration, he walked cautiously towards the study. Suddenly, he was hit on the head.

"I deserve to die!" Zheng Hao fell to his knees and saw clearly that it was a brush that hit him.

Chu Mingzheng asked, "How much money is in the mansion's account?"

Zheng Hao said, "More than one thousand taels of silver."

It's only a little over a thousand taels. It will take quite some time to collect ten thousand taels! Chu Mingzheng raised the corner of his mouth unconsciously: "Go, bring the account book to me!"

Zheng Hao said, "The account book is in the accounting office, and the key to the accounting office is in the hands of the princess."

I was smart enough to write down the more than one thousand taels when I heard the princess talk about it.

"Got it!" Chu Mingzheng headed for the main courtyard and passed through the archway in the backyard. He saw a figure. The moonlight poured in, the veil was charming, and the graceful figure was looming.

"Miao'er, it's so late, why haven't you slept yet?" He was worried.

Qin Miao tenderly took Chu Mingzheng's arm and said softly, "Miao'er went to the palace to see mother today. Mother has some liver qi stagnation. The imperial physician said that midnight dew is the most effective medicine. So Miao'er came to collect some."

"Miao'er is so thoughtful!" Chu Mingzheng awkwardly brushed her hand away.

Qin Miao concealed the disappointment in her eyes and urged softly: "Brother Zheng, go back and rest quickly. Miao'er can do it. She can collect dew by herself and is not afraid of the dark."

Chu Mingzheng: “…”

"I'll go pick them with Miao'er!"

Having said that, what else could he say besides this? Chu Mingzheng took the white porcelain bottle from her hand and collected the dewdrops she had shaken off the flowers and trees.

"Miao'er, why is my mother sick?" He had just seen her.

Finally remembered to ask myself!

On the day Princess Qinghe came to the mansion, Qin Miao had been expecting her to have an argument with Lu Mingyang. Unexpectedly, despite the unpleasantness at the palace banquet, Princess Qinghe was still willing to live with her.

After several unsuccessful attempts to invite Princess Qinghe to stay in her East Warm Pavilion, she had no choice but to turn her attention to Princess Jin. Fortunately, her mother was indeed more useful than her sister. But it wasn't that easy for her to say so herself!

With a cry of "Ah", Qin Miao twisted her foot and fell into Chu Mingzheng's arms, pulling at the collar of his shirt and crying out in pain.

"Sprained your ankle?"

Do you want to confirm again? Qin Miao looked up, pitifully gazing at the captivating man before her. Chu Mingzheng removed his restless hands and carried Qin Miao sideways back to the East Warm Pavilion.

Seeing this, Mudan quickly switched to ylang-ylang incense. The curling smoke filled the room with an infinitely ambiguous atmosphere.

Qin Miao sat on the bed, her hair half loose, one of her feet propped up on the edge, revealing her swollen ankle. Although it was intentional, she had indeed sprained her ankle.

"Is there any medicine?" Chu Mingzheng asked.

"Yes!" Mudan hurried over with the medicine.

Chu Mingzheng said, "Come and apply medicine to your daughter."

Qin Miao hurriedly grabbed Chu Mingzheng's wrist and hinted, "Mudan, why don't you serve His Highness a cup of hot tea?"

"Yes!" Mudan hurriedly put down the medicine and closed the door from the outside.

"Squeak!" Qin Miao groaned softly in pain and said aggrievedly, "Thank you, Brother Zheng."