Chapter 29

On one side was the lively, glittering Banquet Hall; on the other, the dark, quiet depths of the corridor. Chu Yunmiao was right in the middle, for a moment unsure whether to go forward or retreat.

After hesitating for a bit, she still crept closer.

Chu Yu and Yu Changning were both dazzling figures in their own right; why were they talking in a hidden little corner like this? Chu Yunmiao was very curious.

Reality did not oblige her.

Just as she reached a spot where she could almost hear their conversation clearly, the two people ahead of her stopped in perfect understanding and turned together toward her direction.

The two of them were practically the pinnacle of the Empire’s combat strength; there was no way they had not noticed someone eavesdropping.

But soon, Chu Yu and Yu Changning each confirmed by their own means that the person listening in from not far away was indeed Chu Yunmiao, the very one they had been talking about. So the Imperial Crown Princess, who had been worried she might already be exposed and was even wondering if she should go “turn herself in,” discovered that the silent pair had started talking again.

Chu Yu’s voice was full of obvious displeasure. “In any case, everything I said just now was my full meaning. I hope you can recognize your place and talk to her less.”

Yu Changning remained neither humble nor overbearing. “Your Majesty, I have made my position very clear as well.”

Her gaze drifted casually toward Chu Yunmiao’s hiding place. “Even if you are her mother, you have no right to interfere in her friendships or social life.”

Chu Yunmiao froze, vaguely realizing something. Her heartbeat began to race uncontrollably.

Chu Yu gave a cold snort. “Children make mistakes all the time.”

“As her mother, I have the duty to guide her onto the right path.”

Yu Changning pressed her lips together, and after a moment said, “Today is her coming-of-age birthday banquet. You should not be treating her like a child anymore.”

Chu Yu said, “No matter how old she is, she will always be the little princess in mine and the Empress’s eyes. Yu Changning, I’m warning you...”

Chu Yunmiao didn’t catch what came after. She didn’t know whether Chu Yu had deliberately lowered her voice or simply hadn’t said it at all.

The corridor fell quiet for a moment, then Yu Changning’s voice sounded again.

“I’m sorry, Your Majesty. This is a private matter of mine, and I’m afraid I cannot obey your orders.”

Chu Yu had not yet responded when she added, “Besides, I have already fulfilled our agreement. From this point on, you have no right to interfere in the relationship between the two of us.”

The normally calm and composed Emperor was clearly angered. “You still have the nerve to say that?”

“Didn’t I tell you not to appear before her until she turned twenty? What’s this business with the instructor?”

Chu Yunmiao’s heart lurched.

Chu Yu meant... that Yu Changning’s inexplicable falling-out with her back then, even refusing to meet her, was because of her mother’s request?

Chu Yu had demanded that Yu Changning not appear before her until she turned twenty?

Why?!

She had only known that her mother did not much like Yu Changning; she had no idea it had reached this extent.

Chu Yunmiao’s thoughts were in disarray; she couldn’t quite sort out the reason behind it.

On this matter, however, Yu Changning seemed to take it in stride.

She replied, “I kept the agreement. The instructor position was an accident; although I met her ahead of time, these past days I have been interacting with her in the capacity of an instructor, so that does not count as breaking our original agreement.”

Chu Yu gave a cold laugh. “You think I’d believe that?”

To her, this was basically no different from Yu Changning and Chu Yunmiao spending the night together in the same bed, only for Yu Changning, that beast, to tell her the next morning that nothing had happened between them.

Yu Changning sighed. “Of course you would believe it.”

She spread her hands. “If not, you wouldn’t be speaking to me so calmly here today; you would have already acted by now, wouldn’t you? You also know there isn’t any extra pheromone on her...” She paused there, then continued, “Do you think that if I hadn’t kept to the original agreement, Yunmiao she... would still be like this now?”

This semester, living day and night with the person she loved, and then later learning Chu Yunmiao’s true identity, Yu Changning felt she had endured it with great difficulty.

Chu Yu did not answer this time; she expressed her attitude with action instead.

Chu Yunmiao blanked out for a second. When she came to herself, she saw that the two over there had already started fighting.

She jumped in alarm and peeked out to look. She had originally wanted to take the chance to slip away, but saw that Yu Changning wasn’t fighting back at all; she was simply taking the blows passively. Seeing that, Chu Yunmiao’s feet suddenly felt glued to the spot.

She hesitated there for several seconds, and finally couldn’t hold back any longer. She walked toward the two of them while calling out, “M-Mother, I...”

At the sound of her voice, Chu Yu stopped.

She glared at Yu Changning, the meaning on her face self-evident. Then, before Chu Yunmiao could react, she caught hold of her eldest daughter’s arm and said, “Come.”

Chu Yunmiao exchanged only a brief look with Yu Changning before Chu Yu led her away, pulling her out of that oppressive atmosphere.

Along the way, Chu Yunmiao looked back several times, and each time she only saw Yu Changning standing alone in the dark depths, silently watching them leave.

That sight stirred an indescribable feeling in Chu Yunmiao’s heart. Seizing the moment when Chu Yu dragged her into a lounge, she finally came back to herself and shook off Chu Yu’s hand.

“Mother, what exactly happened? Why, why did you fight with Yu Changning?”

Chu Yu’s expression shifted. After a moment, she said, “Keep your distance from her.”

Chu Yunmiao wasn’t about to let go of such a good chance to learn the truth. “Back then, when Yu Changning suddenly left, was it because of you? You forced her to cut ties with me, didn’t you?”

Chu Yu knew Chu Yunmiao had already heard most of what was said in the corridor, so she didn’t hide it and admitted directly, “Mm.”

Chu Yunmiao’s lips parted slightly, but she couldn’t get out the question, Why?

Actually, after all this time, there had already been enough clues around her. She wasn’t stupid; she had pieced together a rough explanation. She had only just learned that this explanation had evolved into something so major.

As an Alpha, Chu Yu probably saw more clearly than anyone.

When they were young, Yu Changning’s possessiveness toward her had been especially strong. During those years when Chu Yunmiao was close to Yu Changning, she had not even made any other friends. She had been muddle-headed while in the situation, and with Yu Changning’s many methods, soft and hard alike, the other girl had truly kept a dignified Imperial Crown Princess cupped in her own palm all along. Even her two younger sisters had been jealous of Yu Changning when they were children.

Later, Yu Changning became much smarter. She no longer rejected Chu Yunmiao’s relatives; instead, she almost bribed them by treating Chu Yunhuan and Chu Yunli even better, which further solidified her position in the Chu family’s eyes.

But Chu Yu was not so easy to fool.

Even when they were young, she had already found this domineering little follower somewhat unpleasant; once Yu Changning differentiated into an Alpha, she could no longer bear it. She was an Alpha herself; how could she not understand what Yu Changning’s behavior meant?

So, rarely, she used her authority within the family and demanded that Yu Changning stay away from Chu Yunmiao for a period of time.

Yu Changning could not tell Chu Yunmiao about this, and Chu Yunmiao was kept in the dark. That was the truth behind Chu Yunmiao’s inexplicable “falling out.”

Chu Yunmiao sorted through the connections in her mind and for a moment didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

She looked at Chu Yu, thought about it, then leaned in to act spoiled. “Mother... thank you, but I’m not that easy to fool.”

Chu Yu glanced at her and said nothing.

Chu Yunmiao rested her head on her shoulder. “Really. Besides, I’ve already grown up now... Yu Changning said something right; you can’t interfere with my normal social interactions.”

Chu Yu tapped her on the forehead. “You can’t outplay her.”

Chu Yunmiao took a deep breath. “We’re not playing around, either...”

The more she spoke, the more she felt her judgment had been right. “I think I can still tell good from bad. At the very least, Yu Changning has never had any ill intentions toward me... and, cough...” Her face turned a little red. “She’s actually pretty nice. She’s not as bad as you think...”

Chu Yu was just about to speak when the room door was opened from outside.

She was about to flare up, but after seeing who had come in, she abruptly quieted down. “Mother? Yan’yan?”

The Dowager Empress came in with the Imperial Empress.

“What’s going on? I heard you were going to lose your temper at Yunmiao?”

Chu Yu was exasperated. “Who told you that? Yu Changning?”

“Why do you care where I heard it?” The Dowager Empress grabbed one of Chu Yu’s hands and smacked it lightly, then looked at Yunmiao. “Sweetheart, she didn’t yell at you, did she?”

Chu Yunmiao smiled. “Of course not. Mother would never yell at me.”

She glanced at Chu Yu, soothing her with her eyes as she said, “Mother was reasoning with me; I found it very beneficial.”

Chu Yu huffed, but her expression improved considerably. “It’d be great if you could really listen.”

Shu Yan’yan looked baffled. “Reasoning? What reasoning?”

Chu Yu had the least defense against her. “Nothing.

“Yunmiao is an adult now; I was just taking the chance to make some things clear to her.”

Shu Yan’yan nodded. “I see. Are you done?” She said, “You’ve been gone so long, I couldn’t find you anywhere.”

Chu Yu’s attention immediately shifted to her. “You were looking for me? Why didn’t you send me a communication?”

Shu Yan’yan said, “I was afraid of disturbing you.”

“Nothing like that.” Chu Yu reached out and stroked her long hair.

Knowing Shu Yan’yan was here, Chu Yu lost all interest in tending to her own affairs. Chu Yunmiao seized the opportunity and said, “Grandma, Mommy, you and Mother probably have things to discuss, right? Then I’ll head back to the Banquet Hall first.”

The Dowager Empress glanced at her. “Mm, go on. It’s still early; go have fun with your friends.”

Chu Yunmiao nodded and slipped out of the lounge in a flash.

She hadn’t gone far before someone pulled her into another small corner. Chu Yunmiao wasn’t flustered at all; she obediently leaned against the wall.

With the distant brilliant lights as backdrop, she saw the other person’s face.

“Yu Changning.” Chu Yunmiao called her name. “Did you go complain to my grandmother?”

“No.” Yu Changning touched her cheek. “I saw the Dowager Empress and the Empress looking for the Emperor, so I pointed them the way.”

She looked at Chu Yunmiao, concern on her face. “Did the Emperor... make things difficult for you?”

Chu Yunmiao suddenly felt a little embarrassed and turned her face away. “What do you mean, make things difficult? She’s my mother, of course she wouldn’t make things difficult for me.”

Yu Changning then let out a breath. “That’s good.”

The atmosphere fell quiet at once. Chu Yunmiao looked at her expressionless face and suddenly felt a surge of anger.

She pressed her lips together and looked at Yu Changning. “Don’t you have anything to explain?”