Five Big Bosses are Too Clingy After Transmigrating into a Book - Chapter 12

Chapter 12: The Crown Princess is Calling Our Consort to Bed!

Chu Xingchen looked at the busy palace staff and thought that since she had to work during the day, the evening was the perfect time to build some connections. Shen Cangzhu was a Consort, and his residence was the closest.

Chu Xingchen automatically ignored the Jade Splendor Hall, which was actually the closest.

A quarter of an hour later, Chu Xingchen set off grandly with gifts for Shen Cangzhu and soon arrived.

It was dark. Because Chu Xingchen had never chosen anyone for bed and had never set foot in the Bright Jade Hall before, although the doors hadn’t been locked, they were partially closed.

Wan Dong personally stepped forward to negotiate, announcing the Crown Princess’s arrival.

Chu Xingchen looked up to admire the characters on the plaque: “Bright Jade Hall” Shen Cangzhu’s name contained the character for bamboo (竹), so living in the Bright Jade Hall was a good match.

The words “The Crown Princess is visiting the Bright Jade Hall” were like a drop of water in a pot of oil, shocking everyone in the hall.

“This is the first time the Crown Princess has personally entered the Bright Jade Hall!”

“And it’s at night!” The timing was so subtle—it was precisely the time when it was dark and one would summon someone to bed. Therefore, “The Crown Princess is calling our Consort to bed!”

The hall staff was momentarily flustered but quickly welcomed the Crown Princess inside.

Chu Xingchen was unaware that the Eastern Palace was about to explode with rumors. She walked casually into the Bright Jade Hall and met Shen Cangzhu, who didn’t have time to change his clothes for her sudden visit.

Shen Cangzhu was wearing casual home attire, and a book lay on the table, indicating he had been reading earlier.

Perhaps it was the lighting, but even when bowing, he was aesthetically pleasing. Tonight, Shen Cangzhu seemed less aloof and more approachable.

“Dispense with the formalities. I’ve interrupted your reading.”

Chu Xingchen presented the famous painting and rare books she had brought. “I wasn’t sure what you liked, so I picked out a few things. See if you like them.”

She added, “You can tell me if there’s anything else you like. If I’m lucky enough to find it, I’ll bring it to you.”

Compared to the nervousness of his attendants, Shen Cangzhu was surprised but calm about Chu Xingchen’s arrival. Hearing her words now, he couldn’t help but glance at her.

“Thank you for the gifts, Your Highness.” Previously, all such items were sent to Xie Ziqing because he was favored; they never reached him.

“You don’t need to thank me.” Chu Xingchen waved her hand and looked around the hall’s décor. The Bright Jade Hall was solemn yet elegant, with a strong literary atmosphere.

“Consort Shen, the kang you saw this morning has been completed…” Chu Xingchen began telling him about the kang and the subsequent arrangements.

Shen Cangzhu knew what Chu Xingchen was doing that morning, but as he was confined to the Inner Palace, he couldn’t inquire about the later developments and was uninformed.

Hearing Chu Xingchen bring it up, he learned the kang had been successfully implemented. He knew the far-reaching impact of this matter. Once it was promoted, the common people would be grateful to Chu Xingchen. His mind instantly generated many implementable ideas.

He took a deep breath, swallowing the words that were instinctively rushing to his mouth. “Congratulations, Your Highness.”

Chu Xingchen saw that Shen Cangzhu had something to say. “You can speak freely.”

Shen Cangzhu shook his head, subtly indicating that the Inner Palace should not interfere with the affairs of the Outer Court.

“That’s nothing. I brought it up to you. It’s fine if you say a few words. If you help me, I will only thank you.”

Shen Cangzhu was the legitimate son of the Shen family, carefully nurtured by his clan. If he hadn’t entered the palace for the sake of his family, he would undoubtedly have achieved great things. Not just him, but Xiao Wang and Ling Zhou were the same. They should have been achieving great things outside, but they were confined to the Inner Palace. Thinking about it, it wasn’t easy for them.

Chu Xingchen felt that making them do nothing in the Inner Palace was a form of torture and a waste of talent.

Chu Xingchen looked at Shen Cangzhu encouragingly, but he still didn’t speak easily. He only asked one question. “How did Your Highness come up with the idea of the kang?”

The previous Crown Princess had no concern for the common people. Never having suffered from the cold herself, she shouldn’t have been able to conceive or implement the kang. Shen Cangzhu reasonably suspected that someone else was the inventor.

Chu Xingchen realized the meaning behind his question and looked slightly abashed. “It was just a coincidence that I thought of it. The principle isn’t complicated…”

Consort Shen listened attentively. Although he still didn’t entirely believe her, the fact that the people would benefit was undeniable. “Your Highness has a caring heart, and the common people are blessed.”

“Oh, no…”

Shen Cangzhu had the people in his heart. Although he and Ling Zhou and Xiao Wang were portrayed as antagonists in the novel, they didn’t support the Crown Princess when she was insulted, but they also didn’t support Chen Ruoshui and her faction later. Chen Ruoshui tried to win them over, but they didn’t appreciate her efforts.

Moreover, they repeatedly criticized the male protagonists for overly doting on Chen Ruoshui and for usurping Imperial authority. Although they were models of integrity and genuinely good people with the world in their hearts, standing opposite the protagonists meant they were later purged.

Chu Xingchen, thinking of this, spoke with sincerity. “Consort Shen, you can speak directly to me in the future. You can also do whatever you wish. I just want you to live comfortably here.”

Then Chu Xingchen stood up. “It’s getting late. Consort, rest early.”

The attendant serving nearby instantly perked up, thinking this was finally leading to the main event. He smartly rolled up the screen to welcome the Crown Princess to the bedchamber. Instead, the Crown Princess walked straight toward the door.

Chu Xingchen’s eyes met the attendant’s. Her eyes were confused, while the attendant’s were shocked. He blurted out, “Your Highness, are you leaving?”

It was late. Everyone in the Eastern Palace and the entire Inner Palace knew what it meant when the Crown Princess visited at this hour. Yet, after sitting for a while, she was leaving. Didn’t this clearly imply the Crown Princess disliked the Consort, or that they had somehow angered her?

But they clearly hadn’t provoked her!

The attendant’s eyes involuntarily showed hurt and indignation. Shen Cangzhu frowned slightly. “Baopu, quickly beg for forgiveness.”

Shen Cangzhu also followed suit, begging for forgiveness. Chu Xingchen belatedly realized that her coming and going late at night was inappropriate behavior. She broke out in a cold sweat.

“No, no need to beg for forgiveness. I apologize for the interruption. I have something to attend to, so I must leave first. It has no other meaning.”

Chu Xingchen fled the Bright Jade Hall. Perhaps in the eyes of the attendants, since she had come, she should have stayed the night as a sign of respect for their Consort.

But she had no such intention, and Shen Cangzhu didn’t like her and didn’t want contact. In hindsight, her actions tonight were impulsive. She decided she should only try to reconcile with them during the day in the future.

“Send out word that I have business to attend to at night,” Chu Xingchen instructed Wan Dong.

Shen Cangzhu, watching Chu Xingchen leave, instructed the hesitant Baopu, “Observe the people who interact with the Crown Princess these past few days.”

He wanted to find out who had presented the idea of the kang to the Crown Princess. That person was talented, and it would be a shame to waste their skills.

Seeing Shen Cangzhu pick up his book and resume reading, as if Chu Xingchen’s arrival and departure had no effect on him, Baopu stomped his foot in frustration. “Consort, how can you still be reading? If Her Highness had stayed tonight, you would have been her first man!”

Men in the world took pride in this, especially when the person was the Crown Princess.

“She won’t stay,” Shen Cangzhu said. He didn’t mention that he didn’t want her to stay either.