Chapter 8: Too Innocent, Thus Not Innocent Anymore

Chapter 8: Too Innocent, Thus Not Innocent Anymore

"Miss, the tea is ready. Chancellor Chu invites both of you to come for a cup and rest a bit."

Chu Ying couldn't help but wave her arm, stepping back towards Zhi Xing while calling out to Gao Wenyan.

"Gao Jiejie, hurry up!"

Gao Wenyan's face darkened further.

She calculated that at this rate, even if they just managed to reach the basics of archery and horseback riding, it would still take Chu Ying over a month.

She shook her head, sighing that there truly was no such thing as a free lunch in this world.

How could Chu Xu's favor be so easily obtained?

Whether it was finding scriptures or teaching Chu Ying archery and horseback riding, each task was a challenge.

Thinking about this, Gao Wenyan paused, her brows furrowing once more.

Why did Chu Xu approach both her and Lin Qian at the same time?

If involving Lin Qian was to harm the Gao family, then what about her?

Although she excelled in archery and horseback riding, with Chu Xu's abilities, finding someone to teach Chu Ying in the vast Capital wouldn't be difficult.

Why did he specifically choose to owe her a favor?

Moreover, he and her father were political rivals.

"Gao Jiejie! Hurry up!"

Chu Ying held a pastry in her left hand, shouting from afar.

As soon as Gao Wenyan sat down, Chu Xu poured her a cup of tea and said, "Miss, you must be tired."

"Chancellor Chu is too kind."

Chu Ying's gaze flickered between them, filled with curiosity.

"Chu Jiejie, did you learn your archery skills from the General? You're really amazing!"

She shook her head.

"My father is rarely home, and when he does return, he only wants to spend time with me, not training me."

"So since I was young, my eldest brother taught me."

"Later, when my eldest brother went to the border with my father, my second brother took over teaching me."

Chu Ying remembered Gao Wenxi, the young general with remarkable talent, a topic of discussion among the ladies in the Capital.

She couldn't help but praise him.

"Young General Wenxi is truly accomplished, accompanying the General to the border since childhood, leading troops to repel the Western Rong enemy at twenty, earning the title of Zhenjun General."

"I heard he was promoted to Piàoqí General last year. This time, he will surely rise higher."

Upon hearing this, Gao Wenyan's eyes dimmed, and she lowered her head, smiling bitterly.

"Titles are merely external things; promotion or not doesn't matter much."

"What my father and brothers seek is simply the safety and peace of our country and family."

In reality, her father spent his life in military service, protecting the nation but losing his family in the process.

General Gao sacrificed himself for his sense of loyalty and righteousness.

When Gao Wenting's blood splattered on his face, Gao Wenyan clearly saw overwhelming regret and hatred in his eyes.

"Stay alive."

This was the final instruction General Gao gave her, yet Gao Wenyan still failed him.

Sensing Gao Wenyan's emotional shift, Chu Ying looked helplessly at Chu Xu.

But he was staring intently at Gao Wenyan, his gaze deep.

Unfortunately, Gao Wenyan was too lost in her sorrow to notice.

Chu Ying never tried to guess her brother's thoughts, knowing she could never understand them anyway.

She changed the subject, asking, "Why didn't you attend the hunt in previous years, Jiejie?"

"I must have been busy with other matters."

Gao Wenyan replied evasively.

In truth, she had little interest in the annual autumn hunt.

She had attended a couple of times, but during the hunt, men and women competed separately.

Even if Gao Wenyan had great skills, she could only hunt rabbits with the ladies of noble families.

Winning against them felt unfair, so she stopped going altogether.

Chu Ying took a bite of her mung bean cake, looking expectant.

"If I can learn archery and horseback riding, I should be able to join this year's autumn hunt. You must come and watch, Jiejie!"

Gao Wenyan couldn't help but chuckle and tease her.

"What are you looking at? Can't even get yourself onto the horse? Don't blame me for your lack of skill."

After saying this, Gao Wenyan herself was momentarily stunned.

Not only could Chu Ying not claim to have been taught by her during the autumn hunt, but she could never say so in this lifetime.

She looked up at Chu Xu, who was lazily leaning back in his chair, holding a cup of tea.

Despite listening to them talk for so long, he remained silent, his thoughts unknown.

Gao Wenyan suddenly had an inappropriate thought.

Since everyone knew that the Chancellor and the Grand General should not be too close,

how much of the "discord" between Chu Xu and her father was real, and how much was fake?

Feeling her probing gaze, Chu Xu lifted his eyes, and the moment their gazes met, Gao Wenyan deftly turned away.

"I should go."

She rose from her seat under Chu Ying's surprised look.

"So soon?"

The person who had just been complaining by the horse still dared to ask her to stay?

Seeing the playful smile in her eyes, Chu Ying let out a small "humph," lowered her head, and took another bite of her pastry, falling silent.

"Xiao Wan, go and practice what the lady just taught you."

Xiao Wan was Chu Ying's nickname. Though reluctant to leave the shade, she obediently got up and walked toward the horse.

"Do not worry; what the lady fears will not happen."

Chu Xu stood beside her, watching Chu Ying clumsily practicing mounting the horse from afar.

Gao Wenyan fell silent, realizing that indeed, her family was not adept at political maneuvering. Her thoughts were laid bare before Chu Xu.

She was merely afraid that this was a trap, seeming like Chu Xu owed her a favor, but actually solidifying the friendship between their families.

If someone reported it to the Emperor, it would be hard to decide whom to protect between a general and a chancellor.

Seeing that Gao Wenyan did not believe him, Chu Xu continued: "The lady may not understand me or the Emperor."

"The Emperor's intentions are unpredictable, and I would never put myself in danger."

Gao Wenyan disagreed.

"If that were true, the Chancellor should not have invited Wenyan here in the first place."

Rarely, Chu Xu fell silent for a long time.

Perhaps due to her fear of horses, Chu Ying still failed to mount the horse gracefully.

Every time she lifted her leg halfway, she panicked and fell off, quickly soothing the horse afterward.

Once, twice, three times... it happened repeatedly.

Chu Xu pointed at her and said slowly: "My sister and I have relied on each other since childhood, and I usually indulge her."

"She has admired the lady's demeanor for a long time and has been begging me daily."

"I was unwilling to trouble the lady and cause suspicion between our families. Thus, I refused her repeatedly on this matter."

"However, after the lady protected her last time, I felt it was fate and decided to go with the flow."

After finishing, he added: "Avoiding suspicion is necessary, but being overly clear can also be suspicious."

"Given this, does the lady still wish to leave?"

Gao Wenyan pondered for a moment and asked seemingly casually: "I heard the Chancellor asked Lord Lin to find scriptures."

"At first, Wenyan didn't believe it, but now it seems the Chancellor truly believes in fate."

He smiled suddenly and said, "Lord Lin really tells the lady everything."

"The word 'fate' was something I did not believe in before, but now I do."

Gao Wenyan nodded and suddenly shouted to the distance: "No!"

"Are you trying to strangle the horse!?"

With that, she swiftly descended the steps, her figure exuding a sense of freedom.

"Has the lady reconsidered?"

Gao Wenyan turned around, her face filled with pride. She raised her eyebrows and smiled brightly.

"I never abandon things halfway."