TGCFNM -Chapter 437 What!

Bai Su listened, dumbfounded, and then went back to tell Chu Ling in the cabin.

Chu Ling, upon hearing it, was equally stunned.

So the ending of the original novel was that Chu Yue did not end up living a lifelong, happy life with Xiao Lengjue. Instead, after Xiao Lengjue became emperor, in order to stabilize the court, he filled the harem, and Chu Yue didn’t even secure the position of empress.

And Chu Rou actually ended up entering the palace, becoming Xiao Lengjue’s consort?

What a terrible ending!

The things Chu Rou said to Xiao Lengjue that night, almost everything regarding Chu Yue, were lies. Her purpose was to suppress Chu Yue in front of Xiao Lengjue, so that he wouldn’t think of her.

And her motives were simply to get into the palace. She didn’t even think about aiming for the position of empress for herself.

What kind of twisted mindset is this in a “romance brain”?

Most importantly, she actually revealed in front of Xiao Lengjue that she knew some things about the future!

That would certainly make Xiao Lengjue cautious!

Now that she’s “helping” him, he might tolerate her presence, but if one day it involves his own safety, she would be the first one he’d eliminate!

“Fool.” Chu Ling spat out two words, then rubbed her forehead and lowered her head. “Let’s go. Stay away from people like that. She’s even more desperate than us to hide her connection to the Chu family.”

“People like that?” Wan Sanjin was startled. “In just a short while, have you figured something out, my lord?”

Chu Ling gave a faint hum. “People who swagger around publicly, indifferent to the death of the Chu family, must be cold-blooded inside. We should just keep our distance.”

Wan Sanjin thought it made sense and instructed the boatman to row them back.

Bai Su looked at Ghost Scholar and asked, “What do you think about what Chu Rou said—how much is true, and how much is false?”

Ghost Scholar lightly stroked his beard. “Some true, some false.”

Bai Su leaned against Chu Ling. “Is it really possible that someone knows the future?”

Ghost Scholar chuckled. “My lord, you might as well expect to see ghosts—nothing is impossible. But I think Second Miss Chu doesn’t know much, which is why she thought of gaining support through marriage.”

“You have to understand, even if Grand Tutor Sun truly has students all over the world and some influence, Sun Yingxiu isn’t the best choice for the central palace. The crown princess must have a strong backing to support Heir Xiao, giving him greater leverage to secure the throne.”

“If Grand Tutor Sun holds no real power, how could Miss Sun help Heir Xiao?”

“If Heir Xiao really ascends to the throne later, then choosing Sun Yingxiu makes sense. She has no backing and a weak personality, so in the harem: first, her status won’t surpass the emperor’s true beloved; second, as a kind empress, she can better manage the harem.”

“Also, regarding Eldest Miss Chu, the story doesn’t make sense. They claim she was adopted at six, treated well, but also made to marry on someone else’s behalf. Every sentence feels fabricated—to gain Heir Xiao’s sympathy, and to comfort herself, pretending she wasn’t actively betraying but was forced to leave the Chu family.”

Bai Su understood. “I see now.”

Chu Ling wanted to applaud after hearing this—Ghost Scholar really was impressive.

Ghost Scholar smiled lightly. “Now that Heir Xiao and Sun Yingxiu’s engagement is set, and the emperor seems to care for him, it’s quite ridiculous.”

“Heir Xiao is a target?” Bai Su asked.

Ghost Scholar nodded. “Definitely a target. Just think of his background: his grandfather is the emperor, but his grandmother was a palace maid. Even his own prince father married a high-ranking palace maid.”

“The royal family values noble bloodlines, so the origin of a prince or princess is crucial. Choosing a consort with unmatched status means giving up the throne.”

Bai Su understood. “Then why is Heir Xiao still happy there, chasing after daughters of noble families? He should quickly tidy things up and find a way to have the emperor grant him a fief.”

Ghost Scholar chuckled. “We used to worry that Heir Xiao might truly become the next emperor, because we thought he was ambitious, always plotting, accumulating strength to take over the capital. But he suddenly chose a safe path—hoping the emperor would willingly pass the throne to him. That idea is just absurd…”

Chu Ling let out a breath of relief. In this life, without Chu Yue’s help, without his own strong power, and even listening to Chu Rou to marry a noble lady, Xiao Lengjue blocked his own path step by step.

Xiao Lengjue was now completely unfit to ascend the throne.

“Master Wan, it seems we’ve lost a big troublemaker,” Chu Ling suddenly said. Xiao Lengjue shouldn’t have time to approach them now. His next step would probably be, according to Chu Rou, actively pursuing a noble lady.

Wan Sanjin looked back, confused. “My lord, what big troublemaker?”

“Mm… Chu Rou must have met with Young Master Xiao to discuss something important, so she won’t be coming to win us over for a while. We’re safe—wouldn’t you say that means one big trouble less?” Chu Ling said.

Wan Sanjin nodded. “Right! That really does mean one less big problem for us!”

Chu Ling nodded, her expression completely relaxed.

“I didn’t expect that just by Chu Rou meeting Young Master Xiao, you’d think of so much, sir. Impressive!” Wan Sanjin gave a thumbs-up.

Chu Ling accepted the praise naturally.

At that moment, Su He lifted the curtain and looked at the boatman. “Let’s go back that way. I see there are fewer people near the bridge.”

The boatman made a sound of agreement and began to push the boat.

Once Chu Ling and the others were clear of the large ship, they also came out of the cabin and sat on the deck, chatting and laughing while using their hands to push the floating lanterns in the water further away.

“Eh, someone on the bridge,” Wan Sanjin said. “Seems like it’s Qingyu… but with someone else?”

Chu Ling’s expression lit up with curiosity. She grabbed Wan Sanjin and Su He, and they all ducked back slightly, signaling the boatman to slow down, and peered toward the bridge.

The fireworks had dissipated, and the bridge was empty.

It was late at night; the full moon hung perfectly between the two people on the bridge.

Fu Qingyu, in a flowing white robe, looked like an immortal descended from the heavens.

The other person wore a fearsome demon mask and a light-colored magnolia-white floor-length gown, her figure graceful, almost like a goddess.

At that moment, the goddess’s belongings had been knocked to the ground, and she looked flustered. Fu Qingyu realized something was wrong and half-crouched to pick them up.

The woman hesitated for a moment, then also half-crouched.

Chu Ling elbowed Wan Sanjin. “Master Wan, your Qingyu has a love interest now—he doesn’t want you anymore!”

Wan Sanjin shot Chu Ling a sidelong glance. “With Qingyu’s personality, how could his mind be on romance?”

Chu Ling clicked her tongue, her eyes behind the pig mask sparkling with teasing humor. She started narrating a little story about the man and woman on the bridge:

“Look, a perfect couple, fatefully meeting on a bridge, with the moon as their witness, moonlight as their thread. The man is courteous, the woman shy; a gentle breeze lifts their hair, gently entwining… The woman bows to thank him, and—suddenly—the mask’s strap breaks? The mask falls!”

Chu Ling was thrilled!

Even from the side, it was clear the woman was extremely beautiful. Moreover, the woman looked flustered at Fu Qingyu, slightly turning her head, which made it even clearer for Chu Ling and the others to see.

But suddenly the woman spotted three pig-masked faces and was startled. She froze for a moment, then turned her head—only to meet Fu Qingyu’s cold gaze.

Chu Ling excitedly tugged at Wan Sanjin and Su He. “See it? See it? Perfectly like in the story—the scene, the breeze, the arch bridge, the man and woman—perfect!”

Su He nodded. “It is beautiful… even their outfits match.”

Chu Ling teased, “Master Wan, I think Qingyu has no time for you now—his love has arrived~”

Behind Chu Ling, Cui Xi, holding Wangcai, looked shocked and confused.

“Isn’t that… the young lady?”

Chu Ling froze, turning around in disbelief. Seeing Cui Xi’s sincere expression, she was completely dumbstruck.

“Sir, that is… the young lady~” Cui Xi said.

Chu Ling felt dizzy, still stunned, when she realized her arm had been grabbed tightly, with the other person holding on with great strength.

She turned to see Wan Sanjin.

Wan Sanjin was holding onto Chu Ling and Su He’s arms firmly, his eyes behind the pig mask full of shock, disbelief, and helplessness.

“Shi Lanyu… is actually a woman… she… she really is a woman!”

Chu Ling: “???!!!”

What!?