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  Chapter 12: The Cost

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  On July 1st, the Chu family received an imperial edict from the empress dowager. On the day of the third daughter's birthday, at the hour of Chen, she was to enter the palace for a banquet.

  On the day he received the edict, Chu's family memorialized that Fourth Young Master Chu had contracted an illness and was not suitable to enter the palace, requesting Empress Dowager's gracious permission.

  The next day, the empress dowager issued an edict stating that Si Chuyunqing did not need to enter the palace, while Er Chuyunting and San Chukeqi were required to enter the palace on the same day and must not be late.

  Chu Xue was getting a bit anxious, she knew that Zhu Yi Chen would definitely enter the palace to help, but after he entered the palace, how could she find him? And... it wasn't anything specific, but somehow she felt that seeing him before entering the palace would put her at ease.

  However, she still didn't send the flying letter, and the old lady had already become suspicious, calling her suspicions, which could only lead to more twists and turns.

  Daughter's Day

  At the third watch, Chu Xue was called up to wash and dress.

  Everything was done according to the old lady's wishes, and all the clothes and jewelry were used as given by the old lady, not a single item more or less.

  As for the curved knife, Chu Ke thought carefully and finally put it down. Bringing a knife into the palace would be a capital offense if caught, and she didn't necessarily need to use it anyway. She also didn't have to take that risk.

  Everything was ready, and Qing Guo followed, not taking anything, but bringing the extra clothes that had been prepared. She went to pay her respects to the old lady, who saw that she had put on all the clothes and accessories that had been given to her, and was extremely satisfied, nodding her head and giving a few instructions before calling her out.

  Chu Ke came to the entrance of the inner courtyard and saw two horse-drawn carriages parked outside, with Chu Yunting sitting separately, and the family's preparations were also very thorough.

  Chu Ke sat in the car and ordered Qing Guo to roll up the curtains. After a while, she saw Chu Yun Ting.

  It had been several months since they last met, and Chu Yunting looked much thinner. She was wearing a large red five-color embroidered narrow-waisted wide-sleeved short shirt, with a long red silk skirt that trailed on the ground, making her look ethereal. Her makeup was quite heavy, and the silver flower pattern at the center of her eyebrows was particularly eye-catching, with intricate silk threads coiling around the flowers, almost covering half of her forehead. However, because the vines were so delicate, they didn't overwhelm her face, but rather complemented its radiance.

  Chu Yun Ting stepped out and stood there, looking at Chu Ke Qi with a clear and cold gaze, her expression calm.

  Chu Ke also sized her up, it seemed that the strict education of the past few months had been useful. In her eyes, Chu Yun Ting's demeanor was indeed much better than before. Going to the palace to curry favor with the empress should not be a problem.

  "It's been a long time," Chu Yunting said, her voice also very cold.

  Chu Ke smiled, this attitude is just right, someone who will soon enter the palace should naturally be superior to others, and an arrogant and proud demeanor is very important. She nodded with a smile, "It won't be long, just a few months."

  Chu Yun Ting looked at her with a happy expression, smiled faintly, and turned to get on the carriage. The curtains of both carriages were also lowered, and they drove along the main street towards the Forbidden City.

  The horse carriage had just left the alley and not far away, it suddenly stopped. Chu Ke heard the voice of Chu Yun Ting's maid coming from the front: "Second Miss has something to say to Third Miss, please ask Third Miss to get on the front carriage."

  Qing Guo was just about to lift the curtain and take a look, when Chu Ke Hui pulled her back, "Don't bother, didn't you see those two maidservants who came from Old Lady's side? They're here to help us deal with Second Young Miss."

  As expected, the old woman walking beside the carriage spoke up. "The old lady's orders are that the horse-drawn carriage cannot stop in front of the palace gate."

  "Second Miss, Second Miss..." The maid suddenly called out.

  The old woman also shouted "Aiyo"

  Before Qing Guo lifted the curtain, Chu Kei had already lifted it up and saw that the car in front was still moving. Chu Yun Ting jumped down from the moving carriage, two old women rushed to support her, her maid crouched at the edge of the carriage, wanting to jump but not daring to, scared and kept calling "Young lady... Young lady..."

  Chu Yunting had already jumped down, and the carriage only came to an emergency stop. The carriage that Chu Kei was sitting in also had to come to a stop. Chu Yunting lifted her skirt to get on this side of the carriage, but two old women blocked her way. Chu Yunting pointed at them, "If you dare touch me, I'll sit down right here."

  The two old women were taken aback and didn't dare to stretch out their hands to pull. Chu Ke couldn't help but burst into laughter, "What's the hurry, like a young lady getting married?"

  "Block the car door, with your feet facing outwards. Whoever comes up will be kicked by whoever." Chu Ke instructed.

  Qingguo hesitated, and Chuyuntin was already clinging to the car frame, trying to get in. Qingguo blocked the entire door with his body, his feet pointing outward, stuttering "Second Miss... don't come up..." His obviously fake bravado scared her so much that she trembled all over.

  "Chu Yunting completely ignored her and continued to climb up the car frame. Qing Guo was so scared that she kicked me, I... really..."

  Really stretched out his foot and kicked Chu Yunting down

  No one saw it and thought it was Qing Guo who kicked, but in fact Qing Guo knew the most clearly that... it was San Guniang who kicked from behind, forcing her to kick out...

  Chu Yunting was kicked under the car with one foot. If it weren't for the two old women supporting her from behind, she would have really fallen to the ground on her butt.

  The old woman shouted in surprise, and the carriage driver also let out a startled cry. Chu Yunting's maid finally scrambled down from the carriage, calling out "Miss" as she rushed over.

  Chu Yun Ting probably didn't expect Qing Guo to kick her, and in anger, she pointed at Qing Guo and scolded "Little hoof..." Just then, the two old women lifted her up without regard and put her back on the carriage in front. The two old women also got on, and urgent voices came from inside the carriage, "Let's go, let's go, hurry!" Her maid was so scared that she wet her pants as she climbed onto the carriage.

  The coachman hurriedly drove the carriage forward, and Chu Kei heard a "bang bang" sound from the front of the carriage, but never heard anyone speak.

  Chu Ke smiled so hard her whole body shook, Qing Guo looked at her with a tense and resentful gaze.

  The horse carriage went a bit further, and slowly some carriages gathered in. Before long, the procession had become very long, and Chū Kǎi Qì's carriage was in the middle of it, neither at the back nor at the front, following the main group forward. In front, Chū Yún Tíng's carriage also became much quieter, with no sound to be heard.

  Arrived at the palace gate, they got off their carriages and followed the eunuchs' guidance to walk inside until they reached Kunning Palace.

  Chu Ke followed behind the crowd, half lowering her head and not looking anywhere. Although she didn't look around, this place was very familiar to her, and even with her eyes closed, she could walk through it smoothly. Coming to such a familiar environment, her mood had actually calmed down a lot, and there wasn't the turmoil she had imagined, perhaps she had really adapted to her current identity and was content with being a lady-in-waiting.

  They arrived at the Kunning Palace, where they were led into the palace by eunuchs of the Kunning Palace. At the entrance to the hall, everyone waited at the door, waiting for the empress inside to summon them one by one.

  Chu Keai stood beside Chu Yunting, the two of them standing relatively close together. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Chu Keai scrutinized Chu Yunting from head to toe once again, checking for any imperfections. In the treacherous palace, one must be cautious and prudent.

  Chu Yun Ting's silk clothes didn't move, and she said in a low voice, "On the way to the palace, I still knew that I couldn't look around and lose my demeanor. When I arrived at the gate of the hall, why did you make such an impolite gesture?"

  Chu Xue looked at her with a smile and turned back, lowering her head slightly, "Did the second sister say I was doing it on purpose?"

  "Hmm."

  "Is it intentional awkwardness or intentional attention-seeking?"

  "Hmm."

  "But second sister is also very attentive to me, the difference is, I am open and honest, while she is sneaky."

  "Hmm"

  They stood in two rows waiting to enter the palace, with two people at the back of one row and a dozen or so standing beside them. The two secretly stole glances, which attracted some unstable gazes.

  Chu Ke Ai was very attentive to her despite being poor, and was on guard against her doing something, the car she had just gotten on was definitely not for a romantic tryst.

  However, among the onlookers was a familiar face that caught her attention - it was Lan Zixi, who had been crying and refusing to enter the palace. Chu Ke'er was taken aback for a moment, thinking that if she didn't want to enter the palace so badly, why not pretend to be ill or even actually fall ill instead of coming today when the situation was so precarious?

  In a flash, Chu Yunting swiftly pulled out something from her sleeve and flung it at her, covering her in it.

  Chu Ke looked down and saw a water stain on her chest, she turned around to see Chu Yun Ting casually putting away the small bottle, smiling and saying "Third sister's clothes are wet, it's really not respectful to go in and see the empress like this, why don't we go change into another set of clothes? My maid happened to bring an extra one." She even enthusiastically waved at the eunuch standing by the door, calling out "Gong gong?"

  "That eunuch saw the commotion over here and didn't make a sound." He said in a low voice, "Hurry up!"

  Chu Yun Ting smiled and pointed at Chu Ke Hui, "My clothes have been splashed with water, may I ask your permission to go to the outer hall to change?"

  That eunuch looked at Chu Ke'er and frowned, saying "Did you bring clothes?"

  Chu Yun Ting smiled and bowed her head.

  Eunuch impatiently said "Hurry up and bring him here"

  Chu Yunting continued to smile and bowed her head in thanks. "One push, Chu Ke'er, go!" She laughed so hard that her eyes narrowed into a slit.

  Chu Ke was pushed out of the team, she could only smile and wave goodbye to Chu Yunting. She smiled, but Chu Yunting couldn't help but feel a little embarrassed, looking at her who was now smiling like a little fox, she bit her lower lip.

  Chu Ke looked at Lan Zixing again, and Lan Zixing had a somewhat fortunate and mischievous look on her face, smiling sweetly at her.

  This damned stinky girl, I've dug up our ancestors' graves and still can't get rid of her? Chu Keqi thought angrily to herself.

  Following the eunuch out of Kunning Palace, there was a small courtyard outside the palace, with a circle of houses in it. The maids who followed and served waited here.

  The eunuch stood at the door, expressionless, and said, "Hurry up, the empress is about to summon you." (If you like this work, welcome to subscribe and reward on Starting Point Website, your support is my greatest motivation.)

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