Chapter 8 Tale of Two Phoenixes

 FlamingoBees 

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Tale of Two Phoenixes 

 Chapter 8: 

Unperturbed by Favor

Although some information was subtly gleaned from Yu Lan's inquiries, Chu Yu couldn't help but show a hint of suspicion, so she restrained herself from asking too much. Besides, the insights from Yu Lan were merely the perceptions of a naive girl, and Chu Yu still needed to assess the true situation herself.

Among the people at the banquet, there were two individuals Chu Yu paid particular attention to. One of them sat at the lowest position on the left side. This young man appeared slightly older than Rong Zhi, around twenty-one or twenty-two years old. He had a slender, handsome appearance, but since entering the courtyard, a melancholic air had enveloped him, and the sense of loneliness on his face had yet to dissipate.

His demeanor and aura were starkly at odds with the vibrant colors of the garden. Under the bright blue sky and fluffy white clouds, this small patch of darkness stood out conspicuously.

From the moment he entered until Chu Yu announced the revocation of Rong Zhi's authority, he hadn't even glanced at her, sparing her not even a single look, as if the very act of meeting her gaze would sully his eyes.

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Chu Yu observed his reaction after speaking, and indeed, the melancholic young man showed a response. He glanced at Chu Yu with a mix of disdain and indignation, but he restrained himself, saying nothing and turning his head away with a glint of coldness in his eyes.

However, the most surprising reaction came from Rong Zhi.

As Chu Yu declared her decision to strip Rong Zhi of his freedom to come and go, he was in the midst of raising his cup to drink. Upon hearing Chu Yu's words, there was no change in his demeanor, no pause in his action. He simply took a graceful sip of wine, delicately set down the cup, then turned to Chu Yu with a serene smile and said, "Very well."

While some felt aggrieved on his behalf and others took pleasure in his misfortune, he seemed entirely unaffected. Or rather, he was aware of it all but chose not to concern himself. His tranquility was a form of elegant luxury, akin to encountering a rare and precious gemstone, something to be stumbled upon rather than forcefully pursued.

It seemed that all the tumultuous emotions, when they reached him, would be sorted out and soothed.

Having carefully observed the behavior of each person at the table, Chu Yu smiled faintly and said, "I was just joking, don't take it seriously." Without understanding Rong Zhi's background, she didn't intend to make any major changes hastily. Her earlier words were merely a test, and the reactions of the others did not disappoint her, except for Rong Zhi.

The young man seemed to exude a fragrance of scholarly elegance from his brows and eyes, with new revelations on every page, and Chu Yu had yet to see how many pages this book had.

Upon hearing Chu Yu's words, Li Se's suspended heart finally settled, secretly relieved to have escaped unscathed. He pondered whether he should go to Rong Zhi later to make amends to avoid any grudges. Conversely, there was a hint of disappointment in Mo Xiang's delicate and graceful brows.

Meanwhile, Rong Zhi remained calm and composed as ever, like the rolling clouds in the sky and the snowy-white youth under the flowers. He smiled gently and replied, "Yes."

What was supposed to be a banquet turned into Chu Yu's busy observation of everyone, with her mind preoccupied. She hardly ate anything, and even when she did, she couldn't taste it. Occasionally, she would speak a few words at the table and observe the reactions of the others, making judgments accordingly.

Chu Yu ate absentmindedly, and most of the male companions couldn't find peace of mind either. Some speculated in their hearts what tricks the princess was up to this time, eating even less than Chu Yu herself.

In the past few days, the princess had changed tremendously. It wasn't her appearance that had changed, but rather her demeanor. Sitting at the head of the table, the young woman no longer wore the intoxicatingly vague smile that used to deceive others. She smiled rarely then, and when she did, it was faint, yet resolute. Her clear eyes seemed to pierce through everyone's gaze, as if she could see right through them.

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

It was as if she had become a completely different person.

Chu Yu was aware of the doubts among the others, but she didn't care. Ever since she had learned of her identity and status from her maid, Yu Lan, she had started to let go of her worries.

As long as she was careful and didn't leave solid evidence behind, what did it matter if someone suspected her? Who could produce evidence to prove that she wasn't the real Liu Chu Yu? Who dared to question such a prestigious princess? So what if she was different from the past? She was happy to change, and who had the right to question her?

If push came to shove, she still had the ultimate trump card of "amnesia" to play.

Losing her memory was the ultimate weapon in ninety percent of time-traveling novels, both ancient and modern. But for Chu Yu, it was the last resort.

Using amnesia to feign innocence, relying on others to perceive the world, being led by others, and being unable to control any problems — this was not Chu Yu's style.

However, Chu Yu had some confidence in the authority of Princess Shanyin. In this palace, presumably no one dared to question her arbitrarily... except for Rong Zhi.

This young man had been Chu Yu's greatest concern at the time.

Following Chu Yu's original intention, she thought it best to immediately dismiss all the male attendants. Handsome as they were, she was not Princess Shanyin and had no need for such arrangements. It would be better not to hinder the prospects of these fine young men.

Through observation, Chu Yu noticed that Rong Zhi held a particularly special position in Princess Shanyin's eyes and among all the male attendants. Yet, Rong Zhi's background remained a mystery. He didn't seem like someone forced into his role as a male attendant, yet he never flattered Chu Yu. He even seemed to possess complete freedom within the mansion, yet he never acted arrogant. Perhaps only the original Princess Shanyin knew who Rong Zhi truly was.

He seemed to desire nothing, and it was precisely because of this that Chu Yu found him unfathomable.

Half an hour later, the gathering ended, and Chu Yu announced the dispersal of the guests. However, no one moved. Who dared to leave in front of the princess? The awkward situation arose where everyone sat silently, exchanging glances.

Chu Yu said, "I'd like to stay here a little longer. You all may leave."

Still, no one budged. Initially puzzled, Chu Yu soon realized that Princess Shanyin must have had a tainted reputation, having played similar tricks on people before. Hence, everyone was so cautious.

As Chu Yu pondered how to resolve the situation, someone chuckled lightly. Chu Yu looked up to see Rong Zhi raising his glass to her before draining it in one go. Then, he stood up gracefully and left.

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

After Rong Zhi left, the disdainful handsome young man who had looked down on Chu Yu also followed suit. Where one led, others followed. Before long, most of the guests had left, but two beautiful young men remained by Chu Yu's side, unwilling to depart. One looked pitiful, the other charming and alluring, both gazing at Chu Yu eagerly.

Chu Yu couldn't help but feel both helpless and amused. How could she not understand that these two young men were vying for her favor? Unfortunately, she was not Princess Shanyin and couldn't decipher such complex romantic intentions. With no other choice, she spoke up again to dismiss them, "You should leave as well. I want some time alone."

Exchange glances, Mo Xiang and Liu Se subtly conveyed their mutual enmity before each carefully bowed to Chu Yu and reluctantly left.

The rows of seats were now empty, and though there may not have been deep emotions involved, the post-banquet solitude left Chu Yu feeling a sense of melancholy.

The opulence of the princess's mansion had initially overwhelmed Chu Yu, but despite the abundance of lavish clothing and sumptuous food, they couldn't fill the emptiness in her heart.

Having paid the price of losing everything from her past life to come here, Chu Yu was now a princess, enjoying luxurious comforts, yet she couldn't help but feel that she was not as carefree and content as she had been in the modern world.

Nevertheless, Chu Yu did not complain, self-pity, or lament. After regaining her senses, her gaze was resolutely fixed on the future.

Deep within her, there was a resilient vitality, always flourishing regardless of the circumstances. Even in this obscure era of over a thousand years ago, she could still bloom into a brilliant flower.

This was a kind of tranquility, emanating from the soul, noble and unaffected by material possessions, social status, or the passage of time.

Chu Yu raised an eyebrow and looked beyond the apricot forest, her gaze penetrating through the vivid red branches and snow-white petals, to the vast and clear blue sky.

She knew that one day, she would be able to fly freely.

© translations belonging to  flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com. If you read this somewhere else instead of flamingobeestranslations.blogspot.com then the translations has been posted WITHOUT permission of translator.

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