Resplendent – Chapter 505

Chapter 505 — A Dark and Hidden Thought

Ling Juechen was defeated by the ‘indecent’ little girl. She still had no resistance to his looks, it seemed. From now on, he really ought to make more use of the beauty trap, only then could he keep her heart firmly tied to him. Thinking this, he gave the young girl a dazzling smile that could make even sunlight lose its brilliance: bright, clear, and pure without the slightest flaw…

Gu Ye was awakened by the noise Eunuch Zhuang made when her father sent him over. She couldn’t help feeling a bit annoyed with herself: How could she be so useless? How could she stare blankly at someone’s face like that! 

Sure enough, beauty leads kingdoms to ruin!

When Chu Bufan returned and saw his daughter still standing in the outer hall, watching the Fourth Prince and Prince Ning with wary eyes, he spoke in an unusually gentle voice, as though afraid of startling her, “Daughter, the manor sent over a jar of fresh milk today. Your mother told the cook to prepare ginger milk pudding, your favorite. Go and try it while it’s hot.”

Gu Ye flashed her father a sweet smile, completely ignoring the Fourth Prince and Prince Ning as she turned and left with effortless grace. 

Ling Juechen watched the hem of her skirt disappear around the corner before he finally, reluctantly, withdrew his gaze.

Chu Bufan let out a displeased snort and began to usher the guests out, “Your Highness, Prince Ning, I have already heard your explanations and apologies. My household is humble, and I fear we may not properly entertain esteemed guests, so please…”

Ling Juechen acted as if he hadn’t heard the dismissal at all. With a gentle expression, he said leisurely, “I’ve heard that the chef of the Duke’s residence rivals, if not surpasses, the one at Qingfeng Pavilion. I wonder if I might have the good fortune to taste the delicacies of your esteemed manor?”

The Fourth Prince widened his eyes: Cousin, aren’t you being a bit too shameless? Who stubbornly insists on staying for a meal when the host clearly has no intention of entertaining guests? The Duke of Zhen obviously doesn’t want to keep us!

Ling Juechen shot him a sidelong glance: A journey of a thousand miles still begins with the first step. Without more chances to interact, how could I let my future father-in-law see my virtues?

“What? Father, are you inviting Prince Ning to stay for a meal?” Chu Xiaowu came running all the way from the training grounds, drenched in sweat and not even bothering to change his soaked clothes. “I heard Prince Ning’s martial arts are exceptional. Please, do grant me some guidance!”

Trying to steal my little sister? It’s not that easy! 

Chu Xiaowu considered himself one of the stronger fighters among his brothers. Add in Xiaosi and Xiaoliu, and even Gu Ming,that half-baked fighter, barely counted. No way they couldn’t handle him!

Anyone who dared covet their little sister should be prepared to get thrashed!

Chu Bufan nearly exploded from anger at this foolish son: When did I ever say I was inviting him to stay for dinner?!

With Xiaowu saying it outright, didn’t that make it seem like he really was hosting a banquet?

To be fair, it wasn’t completely Xiaowu’s fault. The boy was obsessed with martial arts and used to idolize the Grand King General. Now that he had the chance to spar with someone surnamed Ling, there was no way he’d let it pass.

Ling Juechen, of course, wouldn’t miss such a perfect opportunity. Going along with the flow, he followed Chu Mubai to the training grounds.

Once there, Chu Mubai personally issued a challenge to Prince Ning. Ling Juechen, considering his future brother-in-law’s pride, refrained from being too ruthless. Even so, Chu Mubai couldn’t last long before he was defeated.

The Chu brothers exchanged glances, then all swarmed toward Ling Juechen at once. Unfortunately, the outcome didn’t change. Same timing, same moves—one after another, including Gu Ming, they were thrown into a heap like stacked logs.

Ling Juechen didn’t forget to offer Gu Ming some encouragement, “Min’er, your martial arts have improved quite a bit lately.”

Gu Ming scratched the back of his head with a shy grin. “It’s all thanks to the Chu brothers’ guidance. I’ve already started learning martial arts systematically with Uncle Chu and my older brothers. Every day I study military strategy and tactics with them too…”

“Xiao Min, whose side are you on? What are you chatting with him for? Come here!” Chu Mubai, undaunted by repeated defeat, charged forward again with teeth bared and claws out.

Ling Juechen knocked them down one by one, and pairs when they came in pairs. The Chu brothers’ martial skills were solid and well-practiced, but before an unrivaled master like Ling Juechen, they simply weren’t enough.

By the time the Chu brothers were lying on the ground panting like exhausted dogs, not wanting to move a muscle, the man facing them didn’t even have a wrinkle on his clothes. He looked as calm and effortless as a drifting cloud.

When Chu Bufan finally finished dealing with the Fourth Prince and rushed to the training grounds, he found his few foolish, disappointing sons enthusiastically receiving guidance from Prince Ning. One round of martial arts, and his sons were completely won over!

Spineless! He was embarrassed to admit they were his children.

Meanwhile, Lady Jun was in the lakeside pavilion of Mingzhu Pavilion, admiring the jewelry the Empress had bestowed upon her daughter. She placed the filigree bracelet onto her daughter’s slender wrist and said with satisfaction: “Look at these layers of filigree. This craftsmanship alone is worth a fortune. And this pink gemstone is so clear and bright. It matches your soft, rosy complexion perfectly.”

Wensheng, her chief maidservant, exclaimed in surprise, “Madam, look. When the sunlight hits it, it shines with multicolored light. It’s dazzling! I thought it was carved from rose quartz, but it’s not. Quartz could never have such brilliance.”

“Is this a diamond?” Jun Li picked up a jeweled hairpin flower and examined it carefully in her hand. “I went to Yinzhen Pavilion with Sister Miao last time and saw a pair of diamond earrings there, which were just as dazzling as this. Such tiny earrings, yet they cost three thousand taels of silver! Most of the diamonds sold at the pavilion are white. I never expected they’d come in such a vivid, lovely pink!”

Jun Miao was holding a begonia hairpin. In the bloom of the gold-painted begonia, pink stamens sparkled in the sunlight, like dewdrops resting on the petals—lively and vivid. Her heart, however, soured.

Ever since her cousin was found and brought back, it had been one honor after another: national-treasure-grade fabrics bestowed by the Emperor, pink-diamond jewelry gifted by the Empress; favor upon favor, endlessly.

If… If her cousin had never been found, and she had been adopted by her aunt to become the Duke’s only daughter, then all of these, every honor, and everything in this entire Mingzhu Pavilion should have been hers.

Why did her cousin have to return? Why did she have to steal everything away from her?!

“Miao’er, be careful not to break the hairpin.” Jun Li saw her gripping the ornament tightly, staring down absentmindedly, and couldn’t help reminding her.

Jun Miao’s hand trembled slightly, and the hairpin slipped from her fingers. Jun Li reacted quickly, catching it before it hit the ground.

Jun Miao’s complexion turned a shade pale, and she hurried to apologize, “I didn’t mean to… The hairpin is just so beautiful. I got lost looking at it. You suddenly called out to me, and I didn’t react in time, so…”

Lady Jun sighed softly in her heart and gently patted the girl’s hand to reassure her: “It’s fine. The hairpin isn’t damaged. Don’t blame yourself too much.”

When the two girls had first arrived, they were so pure and unassuming. But now? Jun Li hadn’t changed much, still as innocent as ever. Yet Jun Miao, who was a year older, had already lost herself in the splendor of the Duke’s Manor, lost herself in the pleasure that power brought her.

No matter how deep the thoughts of a teenage girl might run, they could not escape Lady Jun’s eyes.