Help! The innocent prince always tries to seduce me clumsily

Chu Shitong was stunned for a moment when he heard this.

She remembered the time when she changed into women's clothes and was rescued by Chu Shixuan in the brothel.

To this day, Chu Shitong cannot forget the look that Chu Shixuan gave her.

That was the first time in her two lives that she saw such a disobedient expression on Chu Shixuan's face.

There was a greedy look in his eyes, and he stared at Chu Shitong motionlessly, as if he wanted to engrave her appearance at that moment in his mind.

They are so similar to the men who participated in the auction in the brothel.

If we have to point out the difference, it is that the depth in Chu Shixuan's eyes is deeper than that of any of those auctioneers.

Chu Shixuan saw it all, and he continued calmly, "It would be great if there was a girl like Xiaoqi who was cheerful and talented."

Chu Shitong subconsciously replied: "It seems that my brother likes talented women."

"If it's playing the piano or dancing or something like that, I'm not interested."

Chu Shixuan pushed aside the picture paper beside him and said, "The woman I like must have an extremely intelligent mind, be well-read, and preferably have her own political opinions. She must not be subservient to the harem, and have a simple temperament and be carefree and happy."

"..."

These words brought Chu Shitong back to his senses.

"Brother, what are you talking about?" Chu Shitong's expression was somewhat puzzled. "Many of these noble ladies in the capital are illiterate. Second sister is a princess and can't even recite the Book of Songs. It's enough for a woman to know how to serve you according to the Three Obediences and Four Virtues. Do you still want her to have political opinions?"

Chu Shitong didn't say the rest of the words, but it didn't affect her at all as she cursed Chu Shixuan in her heart.

No wonder she never got married in her previous life. His conditions were too harsh.

The girls in Beiqing mainly study music, chess, calligraphy, painting, embroidery and dance in school. It is good enough if they can read.

The most famous talented woman in the capital was only able to compose poetry and lyrics.

Political foresight is something they have no access to because their parents never let them learn about it. All they learn are things that will make it easier for them to get married and serve their husbands well.

Not content with being confined to the harem, every woman in Beiqing is there to take care of her husband and children. Even the queen has to stay in the harem obediently and has no right to speak at a formal banquet.

To this condition, they even added "simple temperament, unrestrained and carefree" which is outrageous.

Anyone who understands the situation in the court is a well-read person, and the minds of scholars are the least likely to be simple, because if they know too much, their thoughts will be too complicated.

Chu Shixuan also requires people to have a simple temperament.

Not to mention "carefree and happy". Most of the compliments for little girls are expressed as "gentle in temperament and delicate in mind". If the adjective "carefree and happy" is used to describe any girl, the girl would be slapped in the face.

absurd.

Chu Shitong really couldn't help it, so he added another sentence.

"Why do you have so many conditions for marrying a wife? Are you going to send her to the court to be an official? Then you might as well just find an adult in the court to marry. There are many more men who meet the requirements than women in all of North Qing."

Chu Shixuan said calmly: "There will always be someone who meets the requirements."

Chu Shitong rolled his eyes inwardly.

I finally got the conversation to go on, but it's so outrageous.

Even if Chu Shifeng were to look for the item under these conditions, it would probably take him a year or two to find it after searching the entire Beiqing.

Chu Shitong asked: "If there is someone who meets your requirements, but is of average appearance, would you consider her?"

Chu Shixuan said without thinking: "Don't consider it."

Chu Shitong: “…”

She couldn't sit still.

"Brother, your condition is too harsh."

Even if you meet the requirements, you don’t have to look bad.

As expected, it’s the damn Chu Shixuan.

"I'm not in a hurry to find one anyway, so it doesn't matter if you're demanding." Chu Shixuan didn't really care about this kind of thing.

Chu Shitong asked again: "If there is a stunning beauty in front of you and a normal-looking woman who meets your requirements, and you have to choose one, which one would you choose?"

Chu Shixuan chuckled. On such a cold day when the snow was melting, his smile was warm and gentle like the gentle breeze of spring.

"What's the problem, Xiaoqi?"

"I'm curious, brother, please choose one." Chu Shitong looked at him with his chin supported.

She just wanted to see what Chu Shixuan could accept at best.

Chu Shixuan seemed to think seriously for less than a second, and said: "A woman who is so beautiful that she can overthrow a country must be a disaster. For the sake of the stability of the government and the peace of the world, she should be killed."

Chu Shitong: “Ah?”

"A woman who meets the requirements but lacks appearance... I am not someone who doesn't value appearance, so for the sake of fairness, kill her too."

Chu Shitong held his forehead with his hand.

She didn't want to talk anymore.

I don't want to say another word to that damn bastard Chu Shixuan.

Chu Shixuan couldn't help but chuckle when he saw Chu Shitong gritting his teeth in anger.

In his eyes, when Chu Shitong was angry, he would always subconsciously take a deep breath, then grit his teeth unconsciously, and his cheeks would slightly bulge out, like a little hamster.

"Xiao Qi is angry?"

Chu Shitong turned his head away and said, "My brother teased me like this, so I am naturally angry."

"Then tell me, how can I apologize to you?"

"Your Majesty, there is no need to apologize." Chu Shitong said, "Don't take jokes between brothers seriously. I will stay here for a while."

Chu Shixuan took out a red wooden box from the drawer of the table and placed it on the table.

Chu Shitong heard the noise and looked over secretly.

Chu Shixuan opened the box, which contained neatly arranged snacks. The milky white pastries were dotted with light yellow honey osmanthus jam. The aroma of rice accompanied by the elegant fragrance of osmanthus instantly filled the entire carriage.

Chu Shixuan pushed the box in front of Chu Shitong and said, "Can I use this box of ripe pear cake to make amends to Xiaoqi?"

Chu Shitong was secretly dissatisfied.

The tone is like coaxing a child.

Chu Shitong is not a child. She will not be angry just because of a box of pastries.

However, this was also a way for Chu Shitong to save her life. Chu Shitong knew it clearly, so she took the step. If she didn't, it would seem that she was narrow-minded and immature.

"Since my royal brother is willing to apologize, I have no choice but to accept it and reluctantly forgive my royal brother."

Chu Shitong picked up a piece of ripe pear cake and tasted it.

It is called cooked pear cake, but it is actually made by crushing rice flour and adding some other things before steaming. The honey and osmanthus jam on top is used to enrich the taste. Some people also use other jams, which probably have the same effect, making the cake not only have the aroma of rice.

Chu Shitong tasted one and found that the cooked pear cake was still warm.

It should have been steamed and placed in the box just before I left.

Chu Shitong looked at the wooden box containing the cakes with curiosity. It did not seem to be an ordinary wooden box. She had been in the carriage for so long, but she did not smell the scent of cakes before the box was opened.

The incense in the incense burner may interfere with the sense of smell, but it is impossible for it to interfere so much.

"Brother, this box is great. I didn't smell any pastries along the way."

Chu Shixuan had been staring at Chu Shitong while she was eating the pastries. Noticing that Chu Shitong showed no expression after eating the pastries, he actually became interested in the wooden box containing the pastries. He then picked up the teacup, took a sip, and lowered his eyes to hide the slight disappointment in his eyes.

“This box is intricately made and can preserve flavor while keeping it warm.”

Chu Shitong finished the ripe pear cake in his hand in a few bites and asked, "Do you still want this box?"

Chu Shixuan put down the teacup silently.

"Is this a habit you developed from Lao Liu?"

Chu Shitong smiled embarrassedly.

She felt that this box would be best used to store cakes for the young master in the future, as it could keep the food warm and would not transfer any flavor.

It's not that her people can't develop this little gadget, it's because there's not much demand for it and there's no need to waste manpower and energy, so they thought of shamelessly giving it a try.

From what Chu Shixuan said, it was most likely that he would not be able to get the box, but Chu Shifeng was so generous as to give him everything.

Even for something as insignificant as strawberries, as long as Chu Shitong said it was sweet, he would ask Chu Shitong to take some away.

"Sixth Brother is the best to me. He gives me everything I like. Yesterday he even said he would give me a rocking chair."

Master Chu suddenly raised his eyes and looked at her.

An inexplicable emotion rose in his eyes for no reason.

"Is this why you are close to him?"

"Yeah." Chu Shitong pretended to be stupid and admitted frankly, "Sixth Brother treats me very well."

Chu Shixuan suddenly said inexplicably, "I can give you what you want."

Chu Shitong paused, pretending not to hear the hidden meaning in his words, and said, "I didn't play with the Sixth Brother for those things. Those are just one of the ways he treats me well."

Chu Shixuan fell silent.

Seeing Chu Shixuan being humiliated, Chu Shitong felt very happy.

Continue to hold the cooked pear cake and start eating.

While eating, Chu Shixuan suddenly said.

"Since this is an apology gift for you, the box is naturally yours as well."

"Thank you very much, my royal brother." Chu Shitong thanked him casually without taking any heart away.

The taste of this ripe pear cake is average at first, but after eating two or three pieces, I think it tastes quite good.

Chu Shitong ate five or six pieces in a row, and Chu Shixuan poured her a cup of hot tea and pushed it to her.

"Eat slowly."

"Thank you, brother."

Chu Shitong picked up the teacup and took a sip. When he swallowed the last bite of the cooked pear cake, a scene inexplicably appeared in his mind.

The scene flashed by and Chu Shitong didn't even remember clearly what it was.

But the words came out of his mouth uncontrollably.

"Big brother's ripe pear cake is still the best."

After Chu Shitong finished speaking, he stood there in a daze.

My mind went blank and I had no idea how I could have said such a confusing sentence.

But...the reaction her body gave her seemed like these words were very familiar coming from her mouth.

"Snapped--"

The sound of a cup breaking could be heard in the carriage.

Chu Shitong looked up and saw that the cup in Chu Shixuan's hand had fallen to the floor at some point, and the tea had left tea stains on his clean and tidy robes. However, he seemed to still be in a daze, staring at Chu Shitong with his eyes slightly wide open, without blinking.

Chu Shitong didn't know what was going on, so he reluctantly said, "But the cup was too hot, didn't my brother hold it firmly?"

Chu Shixuan suddenly came back to his senses and looked away.

"Yes... a little hot."

The servants came in from outside the carriage and cleaned up the debris.

After the servants left, the carriage became eerily quiet.

I don’t know what Chu Shixuan is thinking.

Chu Shitong has been trying to recall the fleeting scene.

And that strange, blurted out sentence.

Who is “Big Brother”?

She glanced at Chu Shixuan with some uncertainty.

Could it be Chu Shixuan?

But I have always called him "Royal Brother". Even if we follow the principle of seniority, I should call him "Eldest Royal Brother".

How could she possibly call Chu Shixuan brother?

The title "brother" is different from "royal brother". "Brother" seems to be more intimate. She and Chu Shixuan have the same father but different mothers and are competitors. She is not like Chu Shifeng, who calls him by the throne directly, which is considered a very decent intimacy.

This glance happened to meet Chu Shixuan's gaze.

Chu Shitong smiled awkwardly, "I think my royal brother must be tired, why don't you take a rest first."

Chu Shixuan didn't seem to mean that. He stared straight at Chu Shitong, his handsome eyebrows slightly wrinkled.

"Xiao Qi, do you remember the ripe pear cake you ate at East One?"

Chu Shitong shook his head.

"I don't remember eating cooked pear cake in Dongyi. My brother must have remembered it wrongly."

"Maybe I remembered it wrongly."

Chu Shixuan didn't ask any more questions, and a low sigh was heard from the carriage.

Chu Shitong did not respond either. The two of them walked along in silence, each with their own thoughts.

The carriage sped along, following the morning sunshine, stepping over the snow piled on the mountain road, and finally arrived at Kaiyuan Temple.

Chu Shitong quickly got off the carriage.

The mountains in winter are covered with snow, like a blanket, winding among the mountains.

The pine trees on the mountain are still green, tall and straight, lined up in rows, and seem blurred together from a distance.

The fresh air at the foot of the mountain, the cool wind carries the scent of snow and pine trees, blending with the smell of incense in the temple, making one feel as if they are in a different world from the capital.

I came here today to pray, hoping that this heavy snow will herald a good harvest.

The blessing ceremony is also very simple. It is enough for two people to burn incense and worship the gods.

During the worship, Chu Shitong noticed that Master Wuji was staring at him.

The incense is inserted into the incense burner and the ceremony is completed.

Chu Shijing stepped forward and said, "My Royal Brother and Xiaoqi have worked hard on the journey. The temple has prepared lunch. If you have time, why not have lunch before leaving."

In this situation, the elder Chu Shixuan naturally has the final say.

"I'd like to trouble my royal sister and the other hosts."

Chu Shijing: "By the way, Master Wuji said that he has a copy of the "Calming Sutra" and wants Xiaoqi to pass it to Her Royal Highness the Princess."

Chu Shitong also guessed that Master Wuji must have something to say.

She asked: "Royal sister, where is Master Wuji now?"

"It's in the backyard of the temple."

Chu Shitong said, "Then I will go to Master Wuji to get the Buddhist scriptures. Brother, you should follow my sister first."

Chu Shixuan nodded, and Chu Shitong went to the backyard.

Chu Shitong walked all the way to the backyard and saw Master Wuji sitting on the swing under the tree. The snow around him had been cleared away.

She walked forward, looked around and saw no one, then said, "Stinky old man, what do you want from me?"

Master Wuji smiled and said, "Of course I have something to ask you."