Five Big Bosses are Too Clingy After Transmigrating into a Book - Chapter 22

Chapter 22: Your Actions, He Found Them Quite Intense

“No.” Xiao Wang shook his head, looking deeply at Chu Xingchen. “Thank you for your trust, Your Highness. I will do my best.”

“Mm-hmm, I believe in you.” Chu Xingchen finished speaking and was about to eat when a palace servant requested an audience, saying he had important matters for him to handle.

Xiao Wang looked at Chu Xingchen. Chu Xingchen quickly said, “You go quickly.” Work was important.

Xiao Wang handled the matters before nightfall. Unavoidably, many palace servants noticed the abnormality of his clothes, and the sharp-eyed ones even saw the lipstick mark on his back.

This was extraordinary! They quickly imagined scenes of him and Chu Xingchen getting intimate, completely misunderstanding the situation.

Although no visitation plaque was officially turned and no record was made, gossip quickly circulated in the palace that Xiao Wang might soon be favored by the Crown Princess. Some even said he and the Crown Princess were about to do the deed but were interrupted.

Xiao Wang didn’t take the lipstick on his back seriously, and the servants didn’t dare show any difference or discuss it in front of him. After handling the matters, he returned directly to Jinghong Hall.

Coincidentally, Ling Zhou was waiting for him. He immediately noticed the strangeness of Xiao Wang’s clothes and his keen eye caught the lipstick mark, but he didn’t realize what it was, assuming Xiao Wang had gotten dirty while handling palace affairs. “Brother Xiao Wang, are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” Xiao Wang’s expression softened considerably when he saw Ling Zhou. “Why did you come over now?”

“Nothing, I just felt a little stifled hearing Baojian talk about the execution. She…” Ling Zhou started to speak but quickly shut his mouth. He wasn’t worried about Chu Xingchen!

Xiao Wang looked puzzled, but Ling Zhou was already standing up. “It’s nothing, I’m leaving now.”

Xiao Wang realized what he meant. Looking at Ling Zhou’s retreating figure, he said, “The Crown Princess is fine. She might just have been a little scared.”

They rarely talked about the Crown Princess before. Perhaps the fact that Chu Xingchen was scared surprised Xiao Wang, prompting him to speak.

Ling Zhou’s retreating figure paused. “Brother, I’m not worried about her!” He then ran off.

Xiao Wang lowered his head and smiled slightly, looking at the wrinkles on his sleeve. “Jinyan, change clothes.”

It was only when he changed clothes that Xiao Wang realized how obvious the lipstick mark on his back was. Due to the fabric, the lipstick was hard to wash off. That garment could no longer be worn and was difficult to dispose of.

With Chu Xingchen’s lipstick mark, it was inappropriate to discard it or give it away. He could only store it in the wardrobe.

Since he managed palace affairs, he quickly heard the rumors. He regretted the incident for a moment, thinking he should have changed clothes sooner, but immediately felt that changing clothes might have led to even wilder rumors.

…

Chu Xingchen was completely unaware of the series of effects caused by one lipstick mark. Xiao Wang had left early, and she was alone at the dinner table again, having barely eaten.

Looking at the large table of dishes and Wan Dong, who firmly refused to eat with her, Chu Xingchen looked up. “Zhou Buyan, come down and eat with me.”

She had no appetite alone, and it was too wasteful.

Zhou Buyan stuck his head out from the roof and shook it toward Chu Xingchen.

This special, silent way of appearing was very ghost-like, startling Chu Xingchen. “…I command you to come down.”

With five husbands, she refused to believe she couldn’t find one person to eat with!

Hearing the command, Zhou Buyan finally descended. After confirming that Zhou Buyan hadn’t eaten, Chu Xingchen told Wan Dong to serve him a bowl of rice. “Eat it.”

Zhou Buyan picked up the bowl and ate quickly and silently, his speed astonishing.

He ate like a robot, as if everything tasted the same to him. Before Chu Xingchen could react, he put down his bowl and chopsticks and floated away.

The bowl was spotless, without a single grain of rice left.

Chu Xingchen: “…”

Forget it, forget it. She would just eat by herself. Chu Xingchen had a moderate appetite and quickly finished her meal.

After the servants cleared the dishes, Chu Xingchen stopped Wan Dong. “Wan Dong, how much do you know about Consort Shen? Who is this Miss Luo that Zhu Mo mentioned?”

Wan Dong knew exactly what Chu Xingchen wanted to ask. “This servant does not know if it is true, but I have heard a little before. The Shen and Luo families have been friends for generations. Grand Secretary Shen and Libationer Luo are also friends. Consort Shen and Miss Luo seem to have known each other since childhood. I heard that the two families intended to arrange a marriage earlier.”

In summary: childhood sweethearts, innocent affection. If not for unexpected circumstances, they would have grown old together. Instead, Shen Cangzhu entered the palace.

However, since they were planning a marriage, they must at least like each other or have a favorable impression, right?

“Has Miss Luo gotten engaged or married yet?” Chu Xingchen asked.

“I haven’t heard anything yet.”

Chu Xingchen nodded. Once the situation was stable and the time was right, if this Miss Luo was still waiting, she would definitely let Shen Cangzhu leave the palace and fulfill their wish to be together.

…

Just as they were talking, Zhou Buyan suddenly floated out. A strange noise quickly followed from outside, then quickly ceased.

Chu Xingchen and Wan Dong instantly tensed up, thinking it was another assassination attempt. But when they went out to look, the person standing in the courtyard was the exasperated Ling Zhou.

“Why are you grabbing people randomly?” Ling Zhou looked at Zhou Buyan, annoyed and angry. “Is it great to be skilled? I’ll definitely look for you for a proper spar next time.”

Chu Xingchen: “What happened?”

Zhou Buyan glanced at Ling Zhou and pointed at the wall. “Thought he was an assassin.”

Chu Xingchen understood. She looked at Ling Zhou. “Did you climb the wall? Why don’t you just come in through the main gate?”

Ling Zhou’s face turned red with anger. “I was just practicing my skills randomly! Who knew he would catch me!”

Hearing Xiao Wang say Chu Xingchen was a little scared, he couldn’t help but sneak over, wanting to see if Chu Xingchen was crying from fear. Instead, he was immediately caught by Zhou Buyan.

He glanced at Chu Xingchen. Seeing that she looked quite well, he muttered inwardly, She doesn’t look scared at all.

Chu Xingchen saw through Ling Zhou’s reluctant honesty. “You heard that the dagger was coated with lethal poison, so you came to see me. Thank you.”

Ling Zhou wouldn’t admit it. “I did not!”

“You really didn’t?” Chu Xingchen sighed. “As expected, no one cares about me.”

Ling Zhou looked at her. Just as he was about to comfort her, he suddenly saw her lips. Looking at their beautiful shape, the image of the mark on Xiao Wang’s back flashed through Ling Zhou’s mind. He suddenly realized what that mark was.

That was Chu Xingchen’s lipstick mark! The color and shape were exactly the same.

Ling Zhou froze for a moment. He thought of the crude jokes told by the soldiers in the barracks. They rarely saw women, and some might never touch one in their lives. Those who had seen or tasted a woman could talk about it forever.

He looked at Chu Xingchen, a common phrase from their crude jokes flashing in his mind: Your actions, he found them quite intense.

Ling Zhou swallowed the words that were about to come out and turned to leave.

Chu Xingchen watched his retreating figure. Eh? Why did he suddenly seem angry? What kind of tantrum was he throwing now? She was just teasing him a bit!

“If he doesn’t care, he doesn’t care.” Chu Xingchen rubbed her nose and went back to sleep, but she tossed and turned, unable to fall asleep.

Wan Dong, who briefly returned from thoroughly investigating the Jade Splendor Hall, found her still awake. “Your Highness, can’t you sleep?”

“Mm.”

“Perhaps Your Highness should select a consort?” Wan Dong presented the box containing the red plaques. “Someone accompanying you might help you fall asleep.”