TGCFNM -Chapter 554 This Is a Major Taboo

Chu Yue quickly caught up to Chu Ling in just a few steps, her eyes threatening as she stared at her. “What exactly are you trying to say?”

“You don’t mind everyone looking over here, guessing about our relationship, do you?” Chu Ling still smiled. “Your fiancé is looking at you too.”

Chu Yue cast her a cold glance. “You like to smile so much? Let’s see how long you can keep it up!”

Chu Ling shrugged casually. Chu Yue, fuming, turned her head and strode toward Fu Qingyu, then sat down next to him.

“I told you before, trying to win favor in front of the nobles is useless. Why bother?” Fu Qingyu looked down with a faint smile and poured himself a cup of wine.

Chu Yue offered a polite, restrained smile. “You can’t seem to stop calling me that, can you?”

“Do you have any right to order me around?” Fu Qingyu tilted his head toward her. “Just because of Grand Tutor Fu?”

Chu Yue’s smile faded slightly, and she lowered her voice. “I still haven’t asked you—when you gave me advice to go to the Lu residence, what were you doing?”

“I saved you. Otherwise, you would have been dead,” Fu Qingyu said with a faint smile.

“I’m asking, what exactly did you do?” Chu Yue frowned. “I’m not stupid. Don’t you think I know this was all a setup?”

“So what if you know? You need me, not the other way around.” Fu Qingyu drained his cup of wine, then spun it with his fingertip, letting out a light whistle. “The wine in the palace… it’s just like this.”

Chu Yue found him difficult to understand, even a little frightening. Unlike Xiao Lengjue, who at least had some affection for her, this man was cold-blooded—completely impossible to warm.

Not long after Fu Qingyu arrived, Prince Rui and Prince Su arrived one after the other.

Once they were there, neither paid attention to the other. They went to their own seats and drank cup after cup of wine.

When the Emperor changed into his bright yellow dragon robe and appeared, everyone knelt in unison and shouted, “Long live the Emperor!”

At that moment, the Emperor looked over the kneeling crowd, fully satisfied, and strode through them without needing the support of Eunuch Zhang, climbing confidently onto his dragon throne.

After sitting, he seemed to admire the scene for a moment before signaling everyone to rise.

“Today, I am extremely pleased, truly pleased!” the Emperor laughed heartily, his eyes shining, full of vigor and spirit. He spoke in a steady, powerful voice, completely unlike an old man.

Some officials were surprised; others unconsciously showed concern.

Once the Emperor finished speaking, everyone raised their cups in a toast to him.

The music resumed, and the dancers began again. After three performances, the Empress Dowager finally arrived, fashionably late.

The Emperor, acting like a filial son, personally came down to greet her. After helping her to her seat, he ordered attendants to serve her wine.

Fu Qingyu also brought Chu Yue forward to pay respects.

The Empress Dowager held Chu Yue’s hand, smiling warmly and kindly, as if speaking at length. She then had Gao Gonggong present the prepared gifts.

Chu Yue shyly accepted them and bowed in thanks.

Fu Qingyu also bowed slightly by her side, speaking softly. The Emperor watched, smiling—a perfect picture of a harmonious family.

Chu Ling’s legs were going numb, but she didn’t dare move, as the formal greetings above weren’t yet over; everyone remained standing steadily.

At this moment, the Emperor seemed to finally notice them. He gestured for them to sit, then returned to his throne.

With Lu Shi standing as a screen, Chu Ling quietly pinched her own legs, muttering, “When will this ever end?”

Lu Shi smiled. “Not anytime soon.”

As expected, some ministers began to flatter: first praising the Emperor, then praising Fu Qingyu, and finally adding that Grand Tutor Fu truly was the teacher of all scholars in the realm—having educated the Crown Prince, a prodigious talent, and taken care to raise the Crown Prince’s orphaned child so well.

The Emperor casually began to praise in return and asked Grand Tutor Fu what reward he desired.

Grand Tutor Fu smoothly went along, requesting that the two children be married as soon as possible. Naturally, the Emperor laughed heartily and agreed, while the Empress Dowager also smiled lovingly from the side…

Chu Ling looked at everything before her and felt it all was absurd and laughable.

Each had their own agenda, yet they all pretended to act as righteous, honorable people.

At that moment, Chu Yue suddenly stood, her gaze searching until it landed on Chu Ling, and she let out a soft laugh: “Lord Chu.”

Chu Ling’s heart leapt: Here it comes! She slowly stood and bowed to Chu Yue, her demeanor calm and unassuming. “How should I address you? As the fiancée of Master Fu?”

Chu Yue was momentarily taken aback, then forced a polite smile: “You may call me Miss Shi.”

Chu Ling bowed: “Miss Shi.”

Chu Yue looked at her. “I’ve often heard of Lord Chu’s renown—resolving extraordinary cases, bringing justice for the people. They even call you a god among men.”

Chu Ling was surprised and asked in disbelief: “How is that possible? You’re a lady—did you chase after me to know where I judged cases? Besides, I haven’t judged any cases in the capital.”

She spoke, still glancing at Lu Shi with a puzzled expression.

Lu Shi interjected: “She’s merely a junior still in training; she doesn’t deserve Miss Shi’s praise.” He snorted coldly, his expression dark.

The Emperor knew the reason, so he didn’t mind Lu Shi’s anger—after all, that man still wanted his life. Being angry was understandable.

But the others found it strange, and even stranger that despite Lu Shi being so disrespectful, the Emperor still defended him.

Chu Yue paused, then smiled and said: “Indeed. I actually wanted to ask Lord Chu a question. I was wondering…”

“Stop!” Chu Ling said tensely, looking at her. “Miss Shi, you are to marry Master Fu. You should know you cannot get too close to court officials—that is a grave taboo!”

“I’m only asking a question,” Chu Yue said lightly. “Lord Chu, are you worried I’ll put you in an awkward position?”

“I am a court official. I serve the Emperor, not to answer any lady’s idle questions. Please, Miss Shi, be mindful of your position and do not meddle in state affairs,” Chu Ling said sternly. She bowed slightly, then turned her head away.

The Emperor squinted his eyes, instinctively looking at the Empress Dowager, then glanced at Chu Yue with a faint smile: “If you have a question, ask your future husband. In all of Da Zhou, there’s no one smarter than him. You’d best not trouble my official.”

Chu Yue bowed embarrassedly: “It was Lanyue’s rashness.”

The Emperor laughed heartily: “That’s because my official did well. Come, present rewards to Minister Chu.”

Chu Ling loudly expressed her thanks.

With a wave of the Emperor’s hand, the hall became lively once more.

After sitting down, Chu Yue held her wine cup with slight concern, her fingers gripping so tightly they turned white.

Fu Qingyu spoke: “Lord Lu knows how to teach and how to speak. During the last hunt, the Emperor trusted him greatly.”

“Is it just because of Lord Lu?” Chu Yue asked mockingly.

“Then why else?” Fu Qingyu didn’t understand but couldn’t help recalling the time in the imperial study—Lord Chu had committed a grave offense, yet was only detained for three days, and was released before the third day thanks to Lu Shi’s plea.

So why did the Emperor favor Lord Chu so much?

Chu Yue’s eyes turned icy as she looked past the others to Chu Ling drinking with them, and she whispered: “We can’t let her go on like this. She will be a threat to us.”

Fu Qingyu seemed not to hear, lowering his gaze.