Chapter 29: In the Original Work, Su Liyue Was the Only Female Lead in the Entire Dasheng Royal Palace Who Treated Him Well

At this moment, Chu Xingchen wished he could transform into a wild beast, skinning Su Yingxue alive, tearing her flesh, drinking her blood, and devouring her meat to vent the fury and hatred in his heart!

But the current Chu Xingchen was too weak; within the Dasheng palace, he stood alone and outnumbered, his hands pinned down by Su Yingxue’s servants.

He glared hatefully at Su Yingxue, like an unyielding young beast, and said through gritted teeth, “Your Highness the Eldest Princess, please spare this lowly one. I know nothing of drum dancing.”

Su Yingxue, accustomed to the absolute obedience of palace servants, was infuriated by this still-untamed little beast with his occasional defiance, angered that he had humiliated her at the birthday banquet.

She immediately took a leather whip and lashed his back more than a dozen times, striking so fiercely that his skin split open, flesh torn, and blood stained his clothes.

It was then that Su Liyue, always as pure and flawless as a pear blossom, kind and beautiful, could not bear to witness such suffering. Even though no one dared to offend Su Yingxue at that time, only Su Liyue stood up and hurried toward her.

Though she wore a smile on her face, her voice carried concern and urgency as she pleaded, “Stop, Aunt, stop!”

Su Liyue had attended the banquet with the Empress that day. With a heart as compassionate as bodhisattva, she could not endure the sight of human suffering. Smiling, she took Su Yingxue’s hand and said gently, “Dear Aunt, since today is your birthday, how can we let the blood of a lowly servant stain your eyes? Since ancient times, shedding blood is considered inauspicious. As a noble of imperial lineage, you must not be angered on such a day.”

Seeing that Su Yingxue was somewhat persuaded, Su Liyue smiled and took the leather whip from her hand. While leading Su Yingxue back by the hand, she signaled to her maid, Muxue, with a glance, her words sweeter than honey. “Aunt, please sit. Since it is your birthday banquet today, if you do not mind, Liyue would like to play a tune for you, wishing you joy on your birthday, year after year as blissful as tonight, and all matters in life fulfilled.”

Muxue understood her mistress well; a single glance conveyed Su Liyue’s intention. Seizing the opportunity while Su Liyue performed, she personally rescued the beaten Chu Xingchen from the servants, escorted him away from the palace banquet, and returned him to the Cold Palace.

After seeing the living conditions in the Cold Palace and knowing her princess’s temperament, Muxue not only sent high-quality medicinal ointments, food, and clothing but also ordered the Cold Palace servants not to enslave or beat Chu Huangzi. She even assigned several maids from the Princess’s Palace to attend to Chu Xingchen during his recovery.

From then on, Su Liyue would occasionally visit the Cold Palace herself to check on Chu Xingchen’s condition.

It could be said that in the original work, Su Liyue was the only one in the entire Dasheng Royal Palace, aside from his own small servant, who genuinely treated him well and was the purest and kindest woman in the world.

Perhaps from the moment he was saved, Chu Xingchen had already developed feelings deep in his heart for the pure-hearted, beautiful, and gentle Su Liyue.

This was Chu Xingchen and Su Liyue’s first meeting, the beginning of their destined bond.

But now, Chu Xingchen had yet to meet his official match. Yet, as Zhang Susu gazed at that handsome, jade-like face of the young nobleman before her, she felt a stir of emotion. If the male lead of this novel was so strikingly handsome, how beautiful must the female lead, Su Liyue, be?

Could she resemble an ethereal fairy sister like Liu Yifei?

Or as described in ancient texts: “Lovely as the peach blossoms of spring, pure as the chrysanthemums of autumn”?

In any case, Zhang Susu suddenly developed a special anticipation for the female protagonist Su Liyue. If given the chance, she must meet her. Perhaps in the days to come, with this Eldest Princess no longer insane, she and Su Liyue could alter their fated ending and become good friends.

In the Original Work, the male protagonist was utterly devoted to Su Liyue, his white moonlight. Perhaps in this life, if she, Su Yingxue, refrained from being the villain, she could establish a friendly relationship with the female protagonist and have her plead on her behalf to the male protagonist.

That way, perhaps years later, when the male protagonist conquered the kingdom, he might spare Su Yingxue’s life. Was that not a possibility?

Ah, perhaps this wasn’t an entirely new idea!

Thinking this, Su Yingxue suddenly broke into a radiant smile. She knew that with her clever wit, there would always be more solutions than difficulties. She could overcome any obstacle that stood in her way, as if slaying gods and buddhas alike.

Then she would smoothly complete her mission of winning over the second male lead, return to the modern era with the reward money, and live the life of a wealthy woman!

“Your Highness, Your Highness!” Mr. Qingming called several times, but Su Yingxue, lost in her foolish grin, showed no reaction. Frowning, he called out a few more times, finally rousing her from her own world.

“My apologies, Mr. Qingming. I was discourteous,” Su Yingxue said, startled awake. Her first action was to bow and apologize. Fortunately, Mr. Qingming was broad-minded and merely urged her to take her seat quickly.

Su Yingxue walked gracefully to her seat and sat down. The palace attendants had long prepared a desk and chair for Chu Xingchen on the other side of the hall. Due to the separation between men and women, Qiushuang had ordered a white gauze screen painted with landscapes to be placed between their desks.

Chu Xingchen sat to Su Yingxue’s left. On his desk lay the set of writing materials Su Yingxue had prepared for him, along with all the accompanying books.

Mr. Qingming’s lecture was both profound and accessible, and both listened with great attentiveness. Two years earlier, Chu Xingchen had already reunited with the spies his maternal family had infiltrated into the Dasheng Royal Palace from the Great Qi Dynasty.

Over the past two years, although he still endured bullying and servitude during the day, he had spent his nights and spare moments diligently catching up on the knowledge he had previously lacked.

Thus, the present Chu Xingchen was far different from his past self. He was skilled in martial arts, well-versed in poisons and medicine, and exceptionally learned. In fact, what Su Yingxue was studying now was far too elementary for him.

Chu Xingchen currently needed the inconspicuous identity of an uneducated Hostage Prince to conceal his true intentions for remaining in the Dasheng Royal Palace. Therefore, he deliberately hid all his talents. Having received the order yesterday, he had come to the study hall today to learn alongside her.

Since he had long mastered these subjects, Chu Xingchen occasionally stole glances at the person behind the screen beside him during the lecture.

Initially, Chu Xingchen had assumed that Su Yingxue’s invitation to study together was merely a pretense. To his surprise, he found himself peeking at her multiple times.

Her gaze never once strayed from the books or Mr. Qingming’s explanations; she was studying with remarkable diligence.

Chu Xingchen had never heard that the Eldest Princess enjoyed reading. Yet the rumors of the past two months turned out to be true. Even if the content wasn’t particularly profound.

However, for Su Yingxue, she had stopped studying etiquette and literature since the age of six, and it would not be an exaggeration to say she was practically illiterate.

Now, being able to recognize all these contents within two months and understand poetry, essays, historical texts, classical allusions, and scriptures truly reflects her sincere effort and dedication.