RPAGF Chapter 360 A seed was quietly planted in her heart.
Chapter 360 A seed was quietly planted in her heart.
Du Ruoling's heart skipped a beat when he looked at her, but relying on her current status, she still straightened her back and wore a hint of provocation on her face.
Lin Jingchuan was not angry, but his voice was as cold as ice: "Princess Anping, what a show of power."
His tone was calm, yet it carried an invisible sense of pressure, silencing the noisy crowd around him, who dared not even breathe.
"If anything happens to my sister," Lin Jingchuan's gaze swept over Du Ruoling's still smug face, "I will make you know what true royal dignity is."
He paused, his tone carrying undisguised contempt.
"Even if you are a princess personally appointed by the late emperor, and your lineage is the royal bloodline of my Yongwang Mansion, there is still a world of difference between you and me. There are some bottom lines that not just anyone can cross."
These words were like a silent slap in the face, making Du Ruoling's face burn.
She understood what Lin Jingchuan meant; he was warning her that her title of princess was not enough in front of true royalty!
Lin Jingchuan stopped looking at her, picked up the unconscious Lin Xingyao, turned around, and nimbly got into the carriage that had been prepared to the side.
The carriage curtain fell, blocking all prying eyes.
The carriage sped away, leaving behind a mess and a pale-faced Du Ruoling.
Once the main figures had left, the onlookers lost interest and dispersed, whispering amongst themselves.
Du Ruoling's maid, Chunxue, then dared to step forward, her face filled with fear.
"Princess, what...what are we going to do? The young prince..."
"What are you afraid of?" Du Ruoling spat fiercely, the frustration she felt from being suppressed by Lin Jingchuan's aura just now turning into anger.
"A piece of trash captured by an enemy country dares to put on airs in front of me, the princess!"
She stared viciously in the direction the carriage had disappeared: "If he dares to cause trouble for me, I'll make sure Lin Xingyao never gets to hold her head high in the capital again!"
"Let's spread her shameful secrets, embellishing them even more, and see who's more disgraceful!"
Chunxue was still somewhat uneasy: "But Princess, it seems to me that the young prince is very protective of his sister..."
Du Ruoling snorted coldly, withdrew her gaze, and a strange smile appeared on her lips. She said leisurely, "Don't you think there's something a little off about these two siblings?"
Chunxue blinked blankly: "What's wrong? Isn't it normal for an older brother to protect his younger sister?"
"Fool!"
Du Ruoling cursed impatiently, too lazy to explain to this stupid girl anymore.
She always felt that the way Lin Jingchuan looked at Lin Xingyao, the tension and protectiveness in his eyes, seemed to go beyond the boundaries of ordinary siblings.
She couldn't quite put her finger on what was wrong, but the thought had quietly taken root in her heart like a seed.
Inside the carriage, the commotion from the street corner seemed to have had no effect on the warm atmosphere.
Yun-ge'er's curiosity about his family's shop hadn't subsided yet. He leaned his little head against the window and pointed to a grain and oil shop outside, asking, "Mom, is that one ours too?"
Chu Ruohan was amused by him and reached out to pull him back to sit down.
“That’s not it. That’s the Chen family’s shop in the west of the city.”
"Oh."
Yun-ge nodded as if he understood, then leaned back against Gu Junze and asked softly, "Dad, do you own many shops?"
Looking at his son's curious eyes, Gu Junze, unusually, didn't put on a stern face and said in a gentle voice, "Yes, a little."
Yun-ge's eyes lit up even more: "Is that more than Mother's?"
Gu Junze shook his head, a smile in his eyes, "Your mother is the local tycoon of our family!"
Chu Ruohan glared at him but didn't say anything.
Xuan-ge stirred in Gu Junze's arms, rubbed his eyes with his little hands, clearly awake, and mumbled sleepily, "Dad..."
Gu Junze lowered his head and kissed his little face: "Awake? We're almost at your grandparents' house."
As they spoke, the carriage slowly came to a stop.
The coachman's respectful voice came from outside: "General, Madam, we have arrived at the Chu residence."
"Okay." Gu Junze responded and carefully handed Xuan Ge'er, whom he was holding, to Chu Ruohan.
He got up and got off the carriage first, then turned around and reached out his hand to Chu Ruohan inside the carriage.
"Take it easy," he whispered, his eyes fixed on her, as if afraid she might bump into something.
Chu Ruohan, holding onto his arm, carefully stepped off the carriage using a footstool.
Yun-ge'er couldn't wait to jump down himself, and he didn't forget to bring Xuan-ge'er down with him.
The vermilion gate was wide open, and servants were already waiting at the entrance. Chu's father and mother stood inside, their faces filled with expectant smiles.
"Father, Mother." Chu Ruohan stepped forward, her voice filled with the joy of returning home.
"Father-in-law, Mother-in-law," Gu Junze said, bowing in return.
"Hey, come in quickly, come in quickly!" Mother Chu hurriedly stepped forward.
Yun-ge called out sweetly, "Grandpa! Grandma!"
Holding Gu Junze, Xuan Ge'er imitated his older brother, babbling incoherently.
"Oh, my dear grandson!"
Chu's mother took the soft, cuddly little Xuan-ge'er, and her face broke into a wide smile.
The group entered the mansion through the gate, passed through the front courtyard, and headed towards the main hall.
As soon as they stepped into the main hall, they saw Chu Yueshu and Ying Qing already waiting there.
Chu Yueshu, dressed in a light purple new dress, had the shyness and joy of a new bride on her face. Upon seeing her sister's family, she immediately stood up to greet them.
"Sister, brother-in-law!"
Yingqing followed behind and bowed, saying, "Greetings, General. Greetings, Young Madam."
He still looked somewhat reserved, unlike the ease he had shown at the general's mansion yesterday.
Gu Junze nodded slightly, his gaze falling on Ying Qing with a hint of a smile that was barely perceptible.
Chu Ruohan smiled and looked at Ying Qing, "Still calling me General?"
Yingqing's face flushed, and she realized what she had done. She quickly corrected herself, but because of nervousness and unfamiliarity, her tongue stammered, "Brother-in-law!"
He scratched his head a little embarrassedly.
Having served his master for most of his life, he suddenly found himself transformed into his brother-in-law, a change in address that made him quite uncomfortable.
Chu Yueshu watched from the side, unable to resist chuckling to herself, and gently nudged his arm.
Chu's mother looked at them with a smile: "That's right! We're all family now, so don't be so reserved."
Chu Ruohan smiled and walked up to Chu Yueshu, took an exquisite brocade box from the maid accompanying her, and handed it over.
"This is a small token of my appreciation from your sister to you and your brother-in-law."
She paused deliberately when addressing him, with a hint of good-natured teasing.
Chu Yueshu blushed slightly as she accepted the brocade box: "Thank you, elder sister."
Yingqing quickly followed suit, saying, "Thank you... thank you, sister."
Father Chu stroked his beard, watching his daughter and son-in-law get along harmoniously, a gratified smile on his face.
"Alright, alright, stop standing there..."