Chapter 41 Indeed, Our Chancellor Is Handsome

Chapter 41 Indeed, Our Chancellor Is Handsome

After Wen Zishu came of age, she was dissatisfied with the marriage her father had arranged for her and chose to run away from home.

She did not want to be locked up in the palace at all.

Her mother had wasted all her years in the palace, and although her elder sister had found her ideal husband, there were still endless squabbles and jealousies.

Wen Zishu said, "Children raised in the palace know that fighting over a man is the most unworthy thing."

So she ran away.

Stepping out of the palace, Wen Zishu saw the vast world for the first time.

"Only mountains and rivers will never betray you."

She said so.

From then on, she began her life of traveling and enjoying nature.

Gradually, Wen Zishu became unsatisfied with just Yue Country. The first country she visited was Great Ning.

Thus, Gao Wenyan heard about the seventeen-year-old Chu Xu for the first time from her.

At that time, Wen Zishu passed through a small town in Longnan and saw a crowd ahead. She went over to see what was happening and discovered two men confronting each other.

One of the young men was tall and dressed in black, accompanied by a boy a few years younger than him.

Later, Wen Zishu, who often disguised herself as a man, drew inspiration from the boy's appearance, claiming she was a woman with a masculine appearance.

Only those who had seen the little boy would know that there really were men who looked so delicate.

Looking at the tall, black-clad man, his sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, his handsome features, and especially his cold demeanor, it was the seventeen-year-old Chu Xu.

She had never seen such an extraordinary man before, and her heart skipped a beat.

Speaking of this, Wen Zishu joked, "I thought at the time that your Great Ning was full of handsome men."

However, the man they were confronting clearly wasn't one of them.

He was fat and jowly, with a protruding belly, looking quite greasy.

"What happened? What's going on?"

Wen Zishu asked around and finally understood the situation.

It turned out that the man owned several businesses, and the boy, unaware of this, had gone to one of them.

The man not only withheld the boy's wages but also set up a scheme to make him owe a huge debt, now demanding he sign a contract of indenture.

Indeed, behind him stood a group of thugs.

"This is bullying!"

She was indignant, but the passersby merely shook their heads.

"There's nothing we can do; that's Lord Liu."

"Yes, the boy can only blame his bad luck."

Another person added.

The boy looked scared and hid behind Chu Xu, saying something while looking up.

Chu Xu remained calm, nodded slightly without saying anything, yet it seemed to reassure the boy.

The man lost patience and said, "Debts must be repaid! Either pay the money or give me the boy."

"And if I don't?"

"Then don't blame me for being impolite!"

With a wave of his hand, the thugs approached menacingly, each wielding sticks, looking fierce and intimidating.

"Bullying the few with the many! How unfair!"

A female voice rang out, and Chu Xu paused, turning back anxiously.

Wen Zishu emerged from the crowd, getting a clearer look at his face and seeing the deep disappointment in his eyes.

It was like the light had gone out.

Chu Xu, showing no gratitude, hid the boy behind him and drew his sword, ready to fight.

Wen Zishu was worried. How could he fight so many people with a child?

Unexpectedly, Chu Xu's target was not to defeat the thugs but to capture the leader. He aimed for the man himself.

The man panicked and tried to run but was stopped by Chu Xu's sword.

Without harming him, Chu Xu whispered something that made the man's face turn pale, and he ordered the thugs to stop.

Then he led his group away in disgrace.

Reclaiming the promissory note, the boy was overjoyed and reached out to take it, but Chu Xu put it in his pocket, saying, "Naturally, it's mine."

The boy was stunned for a moment before smiling and saying, "Even without this note, we cannot repay the debt we owe you, sir."

Chu Xu raised an eyebrow but said nothing.

Seeing they were about to leave, Wen Zishu chased after them.

"At least I stood up for you. Why aren't you thanking me?"

"Why should I thank you?"

"I was going to help."

But Chu Xu didn't give him the chance and acted on his own.

"I never needed your help in the first place."

Wen Zishu felt a cold rebuff and couldn't help but draw a breath, sighing, "How heartless."

It was still the boy who showed understanding, saying, "The lady did help me; she must be my friend."

"That's right."

Wen Zishu agreed.

She then said, "Why don't you treat me to dinner? I'm hungry."

"Young master, could we invite the lady to dine at our home? Deduct it from my pay."

Chu Xu gave him a faint glance.

"Where do you have any money?"

He blushed and stammered, "Truly... if that's so, let's just add it to the account."

Hearing this, Gao Wenyan became curious and asked, "So you ended up having dinner at his house?"

She laughed.

"No."

Chu Xu didn't even let her through the door.

But Wen Zishu eventually settled down in this small town because he found Chu Xu intriguing.

For the entire month, she observed Chu Xu and tried to get closer to him.

She learned that besides the boy, Chu Xu had two other children, one boy and one girl.

Chu Xu himself wasn't much older, yet he acted like their elder guardian.

During this month, it happened to be the New Year, and the little boy came to give Wen Zishu dumplings and a red envelope.

"The lady is from out of town. Though I am younger, I dare to give you a red envelope to share the joy."

Wen Zishu was curious, "Where did you get the money?"

"The young master gave it to me."

"Is your young master already married?"

"Not yet."

He thought for a moment.

"But the young master always carries that sachet. We don't know which lady gave it to him."

Seeing Wen Zishu's disappointment, the boy even comforted her.

"Perhaps it's just to ward off unwanted attention. The young master is quite popular with ladies."

At that time, Great Ning was in turmoil, and the New Year of Yue Country was approaching again. Wen Zishu had to leave Longnan.

Before leaving, she specifically went to see Chu Xu.

"I'm leaving. If the young master has any intention, I will return."

Having said it to this extent, Chu Xu merely nodded and coldly replied, "Take care, Miss."

"Do you truly feel nothing for me?"

After all, she had tried everything this past month.

"Why should I?"

Such a clear rejection was better; Wen Zishu could finally let go of the idea.

Before leaving, she asked, "Is it because of that sachet?"

Chu Xu looked down and admitted straightforwardly.

"Only because of this sachet."

Not that he disliked others because of the sachet, but rather he only had eyes for the person inside it.

"Since I'm leaving, and we've met, would the young master be willing to tell me your name this time?"

"Chu Xu."

Wen Zishu stretched lazily and said to Gao Wenyan with a sense of relief, "After that, I gave up."

She wasn't the type to tie herself down over a man.

Today, meeting again after many years, she felt a bit embarrassed recalling her actions back then.

"So I really didn't mean to hide it."

Then, she couldn't help but marvel at her own taste once more.

"Still, he has truly become even more handsome."

Gao Wenyan agreed wholeheartedly.

She nodded and smiled, "Yes."

"Our Chancellor is indeed handsome."