Chu Yunge spent the entire afternoon indulging corruptly, experiencing the joys of an ancient emperor or king, and fully revived.
In the end, she even reaped an unexpected surprise.
“Your Highness, this humble one only knew how to read books and write articles in the past. He has composed a poem for Your Highness.”
“Your Highness, this humble one does not play instruments but is skilled at handling miscellaneous affairs. He can offer Your Highness some ideas on ordinary days.”
Among the two who remained, both were dressed as scholars and unlike the others, were not so open. They only occasionally said pleasant words. Chu Yunge had thought they were putting on the airs of scholars, but it turned out they were simply reserved.
The one who wrote the poem came from a poor farming family. His whole family had supported him in his studies, hoping he could change their fate through the imperial exams. But because he performed too outstandingly, he was envied and lacked a backer, so before the exams, someone broke his hand. He happened to encounter the princess, who saved him because he was handsome and took him as well.
He remembered the princess’s life-saving grace. Now that he had the rare chance to see her, he hurriedly composed a poem for her.
As for the one who offered ideas, he was the descendant of a famous scholar with excellent talent. But his grandfather had suddenly been betrayed by his own students. To survive, knowing the princess was seizing commoner men, he arranged an “accidental” encounter to be taken and sought shelter in the Princess Mansion.
Previously, the princess had disliked them and never summoned them again. But recently, he had sensed a different aura from her and knew it was time for him to act.
Chu Yunge looked at the two and couldn’t help but smile.
Not bad. She had dug up treasures among the male favorites again.
Scholars had talent and ability. They had even offered articles to the princess before, but at that time, she had been disgusted by her venereal disease and had no desire to see them.
Now, it was perfect for her to benefit from it.
She summoned Yan Feng. Following Yan Feng, she had already recruited a batch of Yan People, but those were martial prodigies.
Now, it was good—they had delivered literary talents right to her door, and he even knew many similar scholars from poor backgrounds.
This made her both civil and martial talents complete.
It was truly wonderful.
Just right, she did not want to recruit those from noble backgrounds either. To them, she was merely icing on the cake, with little loyalty to speak of.
But those from poor backgrounds without connections were different. She was sending charcoal in the snowy storm.
“It’s fine if you don’t want to serve with your looks. As long as you have ability, this princess is very tolerant.”
Next, find a way to show off your talents and skills. Whether you’re a mule or a horse, bring it out for a trot.
It was just right for her to examine them further and use them when the timing was right.
Talent was never too much. As long as she cultivated a few exemplars, why worry about no one to use?
The two were no fools and immediately caught the meaning. Their eyes lit up: “Many thanks, Your Highness.”
Scholars sure knew how to talk. Next, the two flattered Chu Yunge until her heart bloomed with joy.
Her happiness pierced Xie Wangze’s heart from afar and nearly made Li Guangi, who had gone to her sleeping palace to find her, lose his footing.
Li Guangi had sent flowers the day before and had been quite happy about it. But in the blink of an eye, he heard that Chu Yunge had selected many Yan People as male favorites.
The somewhat rosy complexion that Li Guangi had nurtured instantly turned deathly pale.
He helped with the accounts, often went to the study to read, accompanied her meals, massaged her—everything was good. He could even vaguely sense the princess’s favoritism toward him. Everything seemed to be developing in a good direction, only for it all to turn to smoke…
His body had already been uncomfortable, and with the aphrodisiac, he had only woken up in the afternoon, still groggy and with a headache.
Learning that Chu Yunge had been attacked the night before, he ignored his discomfort and rushed to the sleeping palace first, only to see her surrounded by male favorites.
The princess had not only found new male favorites? She had also found the previous ones…
Li Guangi tasted heartbreak and fled back to the Cloud-Gazing Pavilion.
In the midst of despair and self-abandonment, Chu Yunge arrived with an imperial physician.
It was Chu Yunge’s first time at Li Guangi’s Cloud-Gazing Pavilion.
When she found him in the study, he stared blankly at her without moving.
“Why are you dazed?”
Chu Yunge walked up amusedly.
Li Guangi stood up, disbelief in his eyes.
“Snap out of it.” Chu Yunge pointed at the imperial physician. “He specializes in speech impediments and has cured many.”
Li Guangi finally confirmed it was truly the princess.
In that instant, his nose stung. He had thought she would not come, would not seek him again.
After all, he could not speak and was not as skilled as the other male favorites…
Li Guangi took a deep breath and bowed.
But not only had the princess come, she had brought the imperial physician she had promised before. She had not forgotten their agreement.
The way she looked at him was still so gentle, treating him so intimately.
Li Guangi perked up and smiled at Chu Yunge.
Although she had gone to see the other male favorites, she had not kissed them or summoned an imperial physician for them.
She cared about him, so she had only summoned one for him.
Even if she might seek those male favorites again in the future, she still had a place for him in her heart. That was better than her never seeking him again, right?
Li Guangi thought this and obediently sat down as the imperial physician requested.
When he saw the books on the table, a flash of panic crossed his eyes, and he hurriedly stuffed them into his robes.
Chu Yunge raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
Li Guangi cooperated obediently, responding as needed.
Hearing that Li Guangi had been deliberately poisoned into muteness, the imperial physician asked many details, pondered for a moment, and first prescribed medicine.
“This subject can try treating it first, but without full confidence. Still, I must invite my senior brother.”
Though he had not spoken definitively, since the imperial physician had said it, his senior brother must be capable.
“Summon him by all means. Whatever requirements, just state them.”
Hearing that Li Guangi had been poisoned mute by his former wet nurse, who later became his stepmother, Chu Yunge broke out in cold sweat for him. Fortunately, there was hope for a cure, so she could not miss the opportunity.
Chu Yunge tilted her head to look at Li Guangi. “You’ve gone silly with joy.”
Li Guangi snapped back and hurriedly bowed to thank the imperial physician, his eyes uncontrollably reddening.
When his mother was still alive, she had sought many doctors for him, trying every divine physician and folk remedy, all to no avail.
He had been poisoned too young, with too much damage. Ordinary doctors could do nothing.
But his mother had not given up, saying even if it bankrupted the family, she would cure him. In the end, she passed first.
What his mother worried about most before dying was his muteness.
Later, just surviving with his sister was hard, and he held no hope. Unexpectedly, the imperial physician the princess found said it was worth trying.
This was the first time he saw hope, heard a sliver of possibility for recovery.
Though he had grown accustomed to it and had long been forced to accept he might be mute forever, he also wanted to speak.
Li Guangi was good-looking and obedient. Seeing him like this, the imperial physician felt deep emotion and couldn’t help saying more.
The gist was that young people should not overthink: “At such a young age, emotional injuries from excessive worry.”
Li Guangi uneasily glanced at Chu Yungge. Seeing his gaze, the imperial physician couldn’t help but add another sentence, spouting some professional terminology, which translated is:
The young guy is full of youthful vigor, a bit hot-tempered, and feeling pent up.
The imperial physician left after speaking, completely disregarding Li Guangi’s life or death.