Transmigrated as the Princess Consort of a Fallen Nation

Chapter 74

Two hours later, the servant returned with a box of purchased books and reported, “Your Highness, I’ve searched through all the major and minor bookstores in Qingzhou city, and I’ve even asked the shopkeepers, but none of them have heard of ‘Noble Women in the Hou Mansion.’ I bought some of the best-selling books from the bookstores instead.”

He picked up one book respectfully and presented it to Chu Chengji, “This book, ‘Spring Moon in the West Tower,’ is said to be in high demand among young ladies in various prefectures. When the war broke out, it sold out, and its price doubled.”

Chu Chengji listened to the news that none of the major bookstores had the book he wanted.

Subconsciously furrowing his brows, he glanced at the book presented by the servant and simply said, “That’s enough, you may leave.”

Qin Zheng definitely hadn’t had time to read any books since leaving the Eastern Palace.

Was the book she mentioned, “Noble Women in the Hou Mansion,” only available in bookstores in the capital?

Chu Chengji’s mood wasn’t very clear. After the servant left, he opened the book, “Spring Moon in the West Tower,” with a subtle expression.

After flipping through a couple of pages, he had already rubbed his temples several times.

Toward the end, he practically speed-read with narrowed eyes.

The story was simple: a poor scholar was supported by a local gentry, but got involved with the gentry’s daughter.

The scholar went to the capital for the imperial examination, while the gentry’s daughter, unmarried and pregnant, was about to be drowned.

At the critical moment, the scholar, who had become the top scholar, arrived with a wedding procession to save her, and they lived happily ever after.

Chu Chengji’s brow furrowed as if he could crush a fly.

Did all young girls enjoy reading this kind of book?

In the evening, Qin Zheng saw a new bookshelf in the room and knew it was arranged by Chu Chengji’s order.

She thought her books about architectural engineering from this era finally had a place to be stored.

She placed a pile of ancient books such as “Annotations on the Water Classic,” “Records of Wu Territory,” and “Record of Crafts” along with predecessors’ works on registration into the bookshelf.

The lower level of the bookshelf already had many books from Chu Chengji’s collection.

To make it easier to access books in the future, Qin Zheng put her books on the upper level.

Glancing at Chu Chengji’s collection, she initially thought they were all difficult-to-understand military strategies and state policies.

However, after seeing the titles, her eyes widened in astonishment, feeling struck by lightning.

“The Tears of a Consort,” “The Three Marriages of Lady Wu,” “The Abandoned Wife in Brocade,” “The Noble Concubine of the Li Family”...

Compared to the thick volumes like “Annotations on the Water Classic” and “Records of Wu Territory” on the upper level of the bookshelf, these books were... too eye-catching.

Qin Zheng suddenly recalled her question to Chu Chengji last night about whether he had read “Noble Women in the Hou Mansion.” She had a bad feeling.

Could it be that Chu Chengji thought she enjoyed reading these books and deliberately collected them?

She casually flipped through a few books. The stories were cliché and predictable, good for passing the time, but Qin Zheng didn’t have time to read such idle books now.

When Chu Chengji returned to the room, Qin Zheng was holding a book, “Records of Wu Territory.”

He glanced at the bookshelf in the corner and cleared his throat.

Qin Zheng glanced up at him. “You’re back.”

Chu Chengji nodded, pulling out the book “Spring Moon in the West Tower” from the bookshelf and casually placing it on the low table.

He cleared his throat a couple of times before finally speaking,

“This book has been selling well in major bookstores, and it went out of stock due to the war. If you have time, you can take a look.”

Qin Zheng felt that he had deliberately found so many books for her just because of something she said last night.

She smiled and said, “You’re busy with official duties, you don’t need to bother picking out these books for me.”

Lin Yao’s words echoed in Chu Chengji’s ears.

General Cao’s ignorance of opera gradually led Madam Cao to no longer discuss these matters with him, and she ended up falling for a man who understood opera...

Qin Zheng cleared her throat lightly. “With a major battle looming, he’s on edge.”

This explanation was flawless, and Lin Zhao nodded. “True, His Highness bears a heavy burden.”

Elsewhere in the courtyard.

Lin Yao naturally knew that Chu Chengji was about to attack Hu Prefecture and Meng County.

He gritted his teeth and wrote a report, hoping that Chu Chengji would let him lead the vanguard in the attack on Hu Prefecture.

When his report was returned, Lin Yao grabbed a tuft of grass and sat on the steps, regretting deeply.

He poured out his grievances to his confidant:

“Lu Ze is as cunning as a fox. With his sister coming to Qingzhou, how could he not know?

He deliberately went to Xuzhou urgently when his sister was about to arrive in Qingzhou, just to avoid being blamed by His Highness for the shady deeds of the Lu family?”

“Why is this old man so unlucky? He wants to be on the battlefield, fighting enemies, not serving the Lu family’s young miss who cries at the drop of a hat!”

He leaned back, and caught sight of a group of people at the end of the corridor, immediately standing up.

But it was too late.

His words had been heard by Lü Jinxin and several attendants and servants beside her.

Lu Jinxin’s nanny glared at him fiercely, shouting angrily, “Have you no manners? How dare you slander our mistress! Come, give him a slap!”

With red eyes, Lu Jinxin looked more embarrassed and ashamed than anything else. “Nanny, you must not be rude. This is General Lin under His Highness the Crown Prince.”

Lu Jinxin slightly bowed and then led the group of servants and attendants away.

Lin Yao watched the group walk away, then knocked on the head of his bodyguard. “Why didn’t you alert me when someone was coming?”

The bodyguard grimaced. “I didn’t see them either.”

Lin Yao’s gaze was complex as he glanced back at the corridor.

He picked up his weapon and headed back. “Forget it, let’s continue patrolling.”

He didn’t think he was wrong in what he said.

The Lu family of Yingzhou had done little to support them after initially helping the Crown Prince with the transportation of supplies to Qingzhou.

Even after the Crown Prince took over Qingzhou and subsequently Xuzhou, they only sent a main daughter.

Ostensibly, it was for marriage alliance, but sending just a person was still a way of manipulating the situation using their wealth.

If the Crown Prince’s side lost the war, the Lu family of Yingzhou would lose nothing more than a collateral and a main branch daughter.

But if they won, they could continue to climb up by offering the main branch’s daughter to the Crown Prince and providing substantial benefits.

The current situation in Qingzhou and Xuzhou is entirely manipulated by the Lu family of Yingzhou.

They are using their son and daughter as pawns to gamble on how far the Crown Prince can go.

Lu Ze is like a cunning fox who saw through the Lu family’s schemes early on.

That’s why he sided with the Crown Prince and is now dedicated to serving him.

As for Miss Lu and her entourage, they seem to be several degrees less intelligent.

They have failed to realize that since the day they were sent to Qingzhou, they have been nothing more than discarded pawns by their own family.

But if anything were to happen to her in Qingzhou, the Lu family of Yingzhou would likely seize upon that as an opportunity.

That’s why the Crown Prince and Crown Princess have been ensuring Lu Jinxin’s safety.

However, Lin Yao guarding this Miss Lu is like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

But now that he’s realized his own indiscretion in complaining behind others’ backs, Lin Yao feels uncomfortable all over again.

As a grown man, speaking ill of a young girl behind her back makes him feel like a gossiping old woman.