Chapter 107 Does His Royal Highness the Crown Prince dare to kiss the Grand Tutor?
Chu Li smiled weakly, "Of course I can't compare to you, sir."
Now most of the eyes in the hall are on them, making Chu Li feel like a sheep among a pack of wolves.
Mu Feng's side was also firing fiercely, and the noble ladies, led by Xue Binglan, the daughter of the Minister of Works, were also eyeing them covetously.
The Empress Dowager is really good at stirring up trouble. With so many women present, the three of them naturally became the focus of the whole audience.
The Queen Mother smiled with satisfaction when she saw the reactions of the noble ladies, and the noble ladies from each family began to show off their talents.
Cui Zhihui, the legitimate daughter of the Minister of Revenue, played the zither. The sound of the zither was like running water in a mountain stream, clear and melodious, making people feel happy and peaceful.
The sword dance of Xue Binglan, the daughter of the Minister of Works, is eye-catching.
Huangfu Qingran's painting of a hundred flowers also won a lot of applause.
After watching more than a dozen talent shows in a row, Chu Li was already extremely sleepy.
Ever since she got pregnant, she would take a nap after every meal, but today was not a good day to catch up on some sleep.
The Empress Dowager twirled the Buddhist beads with her fingers and said, "The daughter of the Minister of Revenue, Cui Zhihui, has a dignified character and outstanding musical skills. I like her very much!"
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Cui Zhihui glanced at Chu Li shyly.
Chu Li's fingers trembled. Could it be that the Empress Dowager wanted to marry Cui Zhihui to her as a concubine?
The Empress Dowager was all smiles. "The autumn chrysanthemums are in full bloom, and each one is vying for beauty. Don't waste the beautiful autumn scenery, let's all go and enjoy the flowers!"
Chu Li was absent-minded. As he walked, he felt depressed looking at the chrysanthemums all over the garden.
Where is Ye Hanting?
Didn’t you promise to help her out?
A man's mouth, a liar.
The mistress's meaning is obvious; the candidate for concubine has been decided.
However, Ye Hanting disappeared at the critical moment, leaving her alone to deal with the problem.
Okay, okay, then she can do whatever she wants.
Chu Li plucked a white chrysanthemum and was turning it with his fingers out of boredom.
Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of two figures. Cui Zhihui and her maid were not far from her, following her with a handkerchief twisted in their hands.
Chu Li quickened his pace and deliberately hid, wanting to see what the other party was going to do.
Cui Zhihui lowered her head for just a moment and could no longer see Chu Li.
The maid behind her saw her stop suddenly and did not brake, so she bumped into her back.
"Miss, I was wrong." It was the maid's first time entering the palace. She was curious about everything she saw and did not focus on looking ahead. She knelt on the ground nervously and kowtowed to Cui Zhihui to apologize.
Cui Zhihui bent down, and Chu Li thought she was going to help the maid, but unexpectedly she slapped the maid in the face and scolded her coldly: "Bitch, you have soiled my clothes, can you bear the consequences?"
The Shu brocade she was wearing was made by craftsmen her mother had personally hired, sewing it piece by piece with gold thread and embellishing it with pearls. It was very valuable. Yet the damn maid actually dared to walk without paying attention and bumped into her.
"I was wrong!" The little maid seemed very afraid of Cui Zhihui. She knelt on the ground and dared not get up.
Cui Zhihui suddenly remembered that the prince was still nearby.
She was so busy getting angry that she forgot the occasion. If the prince saw her scolding a servant, he would definitely have a bad impression of her.
She lowered her voice and said, "Do you want to embarrass me? Get up now!"
"I'll get up right away." The little maid stood up hurriedly.
Chu Li saw the whole process of Cui Zhihui slapping the servant girl from behind a dense tree.
Cui Zhihui is indeed very beautiful. Her father holds an important position in the government, so naturally there are many people who flatter her. From her eyes, Chu Li can see that Cui Zhihui is arrogant and does not like to lose.
Just like she had used all her strength when playing the piano just now, trying to outshine all the other noble ladies.
Combined with her attitude towards the servants just now, Chu Li roughly guessed her character.
He is cold by nature, competitive and has a strong sense of self-esteem.
She walked out slowly and looked at Cui Zhihui with a distant look.
"What is Miss Cui doing following me?"
Cui Zhihui was startled when she saw Chu Li, then she smiled and said, "Your Highness, it was the Queen Mother who asked me to come and get closer to Your Highness. Um... can I enjoy the flowers with Your Highness?"
She wanted to say something but stopped herself. Chu Li had already understood that the concubine chosen by the Empress Dowager was Cui Zhihui.
"I have no interest in children now, so I won't marry a concubine." Chu Li rejected her straightforwardly.
Cui Zhihui's self-esteem was hurt, her eyes trembled, and it seemed as if tears were welling up in her eyes. From childhood to adulthood, there was basically nothing she could not get what she wanted.
Besides, her father is the Minister of Revenue, so who wouldn't give her face? Although Chu Li is the crown prince, it would be too hurtful to reject her like this!
And it happened in front of her servants. If this got out, how would she live her life?
"Your Highness, is there something wrong with me?" Cui Zhihui asked unwillingly.
Chu Li frowned, "You are very good, but I have made up my mind."
"Why?" Cui Zhihui looked at Chu Li's cold eyes. Her pride and self-esteem were severely trampled upon by Chu Li, and tears welled up in her eyes.
Chu Li suddenly heard a familiar voice behind him, "Your Highness."
Chu Li turned around and saw Ye Hanting coming in white.
Chu Li watched him walk towards her step by step, and she was happy. She said, well, how could I not help what the gentleman promised her.
But why was there something wrong with the way Ye Hanting looked at her, like a man looking at a woman he likes.
Chu Li's heart trembled, Ye Hanting was already beside her.
Suddenly, her hand was held by Ye Hanting, and then Ye Hanting's bony hand passed through her fingers and interlocked theirs.
Chu Li's pupils dilated. What the hell! Is this the solution Ye Hanting mentioned?
Cui Zhihui's eyes widened, her heart nearly jumping out of her chest. Ye Hanting raised his hand, which was interlocked with Chu Li's, and said to Cui Zhihui, "Is this reason enough?"
Cui Zhihui opened her mouth wide, unable to utter a word.
Chu Li was held in Ye Hanting's warm hand, and the autumn wind brought a faint scent of flowers. Chu Li's heart was filled with panic. Ye Hanting was indeed a rebellious person who did not follow the usual path!
Cui Zhihui came to her senses and realized that the Grand Tutor actually liked the Prince!
She did not lose to the noble ladies, but lost to the Grand Tutor!
Cui Zhihui felt that she had been greatly humiliated. She shed tears, fearing that the prince was deliberately teasing her in order to reject the tutor he had found.
She wiped away her tears and straightened her back, like a gambler who had lost all night and was making a last-ditch effort.
"If His Royal Highness the Crown Prince and the Grand Tutor dare to do one thing, I will believe it and will never bother them again!"
She said word by word: "May I ask: Does His Royal Highness dare to kiss the Grand Tutor?"