To conserve energy and prepare for the next day's performance, Chu Chen did not engage in life simulation before sleeping.
The next morning, Chu Chen arrived at the entrance of Qingming Palace to wait.
He had expected Princess Xin Yue, given her age, to be a bit of a late riser. To his surprise, she was already awake as dawn broke.
Upon seeing Chu Chen waiting at the entrance, Princess Xin Yue gave a slight nod and left without a word.
Chu Chen felt a touch of confusion but dared not ask.
Since Princess Xin Yue had not spoken, he naturally dared not leave and continued to wait.
After about half an hour, Princess Xin Yue returned. Judging by her expression, she seemed to be in good spirits.
Chu Chen breathed a sigh of relief. If the princess was in a good mood, it seemed the success rate of today's plan would be higher.
"Not bad, not bad, you're quite early today," Princess Xin Yue said, settling into a comfortable posture and gesturing to Chu Chen with her chin. "Begin, let me see what tricks you can perform today."
"As you command!"
Chu Chen immediately stepped forward, picked up a gleaming, cold-edged sword, and began to dance.
After completing the sword dance, Chu Chen's face was slightly pale, and his right hand trembled slightly.
Noticing Princess Xin Yue seemed to have observed his condition, Chu Chen quickly hid his right hand behind his back, remaining silent.
Princess Xin Yue frowned almost imperceptibly but paid it no mind. "You little eunuch, you know quite a few things."
"Then do you know of any interesting martial arts? Tell me about them."
"Replying to the Princess, your humble servant does indeed know of an interesting palm technique," Chu Chen said.
"This palm technique is called Bone Dissolving Soft Palm. It requires no prior martial arts foundation, and upon learning it, one can overcome the strong with the weak, and the powerful with the gentle!"
"Is that so?" Princess Xin Yue's interest was immediately piqued. "Then demonstrate it quickly. I want to see if this Bone Dissolving Soft Palm is truly as formidable as you say."
"As you command!"
Chu Yun nodded slightly, stood up, and as he circulated his internal energy, his face grew even paler. He struck out with a palm, suddenly coughed up blood, and collapsed to the ground.
Princess Xin Yue's brow furrowed. "What happened? Did you make a mistake in your practice?"
Someone nearby scoffed, "I knew it. This little eunuch doesn't know any martial arts. Look at him now, he's done himself in!"
"No..."
Seeing Chu Chen clutching his shoulder and stammering, Princess Xin Yue grew impatient.
"Just say what you need to say. This Princess will naturally uphold justice for you!"
Seeing Chu Chen still reluctant to speak, Princess Xin Yue could no longer contain herself.
Chu Chen's martial arts display had been quite impressive, captivating Princess Xin Yue. Furthermore, finding someone to teach her martial arts was no easy feat, making her quite invested in Chu Chen at the moment.
However, seeing Chu Chen in this state annoyed her. She simply ordered someone to pull open Chu Chen's collar to see what he was hiding.
Chu Chen feigned a weak struggle. Moments later, a dark, bruised handprint appeared on his shoulder for all to see.
Seeing Chu Chen in this state, Princess Xin Yue immediately understood that he had been beaten!
"Who did this to you! Speak quickly!" Princess Xin Yue's eyebrows shot up. "I want to see who dares to lay hands on someone I favor!"
"This... yesterday afternoon..."
Chu Chen spoke with great difficulty, clearly lacking strength, which only fueled Princess Xin Yue's anger.
"Forget it, don't speak. I'll find someone to tell me!" Princess Xin Yue said coldly.
She then ordered all the eunuchs who had been in the Imperial Study the previous afternoon to be summoned.
Although they had been warned not to speak carelessly, seeing Chu Chen kneeling on the ground, covered in blood, and the large handprint on him, the eunuchs immediately understood what had happened. They began to spill everything like a torrent.
After the eunuchs finished their accounts, Chu Chen feigned a recovery of his strength. "Your Highness, Chief Steward Xue was merely fulfilling his duties. It is merely that this humble servant's skill was insufficient, and I could not withstand the Chief Steward's palm strike."
"I beg Your Highness not to blame the Chief Steward."
Seeing Chu Chen's earnest demeanor, Princess Xin Yue was exasperated. "Are you foolish? Are you foolish? Why are you speaking up for someone who beat you?"
"And why didn't you say anything about your injury? You still forced yourself to perform for this Princess?"
"This..." Chu Chen lowered his head. "It is what this humble servant should do."
"As long as Your Highness is happy."
Princess Xin Yue was momentarily stunned, then became even more furious.
"No, this matter cannot be left like this!" Princess Xin Yue gritted her teeth and said hatefully.
"I will go find Mother Empress!"
With that, Princess Xin Yue stood up in a huff.
Of course, before leaving, she did not forget to have someone carry Chu Chen to his room to rest.
Watching Princess Xin Yue storm out in a fit of anger, a fleeting sense of guilt crossed Chu Chen's mind.
"I'm sorry, for my own safety, I had to trouble you by using you."
At this moment, Chu Chen felt more joy than guilt.
If Chu Chen had revealed this matter himself, Xue Yun, upon receiving the news, could have easily threatened the other eunuchs and accused Chu Chen of false accusation.
But Chu Chen had remained silent throughout. The Princess had investigated everything herself, making the matter highly credible.
Most importantly, the eunuchs in the Imperial Study were forced to side with Chu Chen, placing him in an unassailable position.
However, Chu Chen's joy was short-lived, as Princess Xin Yue returned, still fuming.
Seeing this, Chu Chen quickly resumed his pretense of weakness.
"Hateful, hateful, truly hateful!" Princess Xin Yue stomped her feet forcefully in the room as soon as she returned, appearing extremely angry.
"Mother Empress actually didn't believe my words! The witnesses and evidence are all here, why doesn't Mother Empress believe me!"
"No, if you get beaten again in the future, it'll be over, and no one will teach me martial arts!" Princess Xin Yue clapped her hands, a look of sudden realization on her face. "I know! Those people had this very idea!"
"To prevent you from teaching me martial arts, they attacked you!"
As she spoke, a hint of smugness appeared on Princess Xin Yue's face. "Since that's the case, then Little Chenzi, you shall move to Qingming Palace to live!"
At these words, not only the surrounding guards but even Chu Chen himself was stunned.
"Huh? There's such a move?"
"Your Highness, absolutely not, absolutely not!" the attendant beside her quickly advised.