Chapter 22

That night, after Yu Changning left, Chu Yunmiao received a video call request from the Empress.

While she was at school, she had always stayed in contact with her family; usually it was just a simple call or message, though. The Imperial Palace rarely initiated video chats, so as not to disturb her training.

Chu Yunmiao froze for a moment, then immediately tapped accept.

The next second, the 3D projections of the Emperor and the Empress appeared in her room.

Chu Yunmiao adjusted her expression and waved at the two of them. “Mother, Mummy.”

Chu Yu gave her a nod, while Empress Shu Yan’yan smiled and replied, “Baby, good evening.”

She greeted Chu Yunmiao warmly. “It’s a little late. Am I disturbing you?”

Chu Yunmiao shook her head. “Mummy, don’t say that. Whenever you call me, it’s never a disturbance.”

Shu Yan’yan’s cheeks turned pink with a smile.

The people of the Empire had very long lifespans; signs of aging usually didn’t appear until after 200. So the projected Shu Yan’yan looked very young and adorable, nothing like the mother of three children. Spoiled by Chu Yu and her daughters over the years, she still kept a girlish sweetness to her.

At that, she nodded. “That’s good.”

But Chu Yunmiao was still a little puzzled.

“You’re video calling me... is something wrong?”

Shu Yan’yan remembered why they were calling and her expression turned serious. “We heard that traces of a new type of perfume were found at Huaqi University.

“Baby, you weren’t affected, were you?”

Warmth flooded Chu Yunmiao’s heart.

This perfume incident had been discovered and contained quickly, so it hadn’t caused any real harm at all; probably not many people were paying attention to it. Her family must have been watching the situation closely the whole time, which was why they called to check on her as soon as they heard.

Thinking of that, she took a deep breath. “I’m fine! Mummy doesn’t need to worry about me!”

Just as Shu Yan’yan let out a breath of relief, Chu Yu, who had been reading off to the side, suddenly turned her head.

She studied Chu Yunmiao’s projection and confirmed, “Really?”

Chu Yunmiao’s expression stiffened slightly.

Chu Yu wasn’t as easy to fool as Shu Yan’yan.

She cleared her throat. “Actually... a few days ago, I went to a banquet with my classmates and did have close contact with it. But the school quickly conducted screening and containment, and I’ve already taken an enhanced suppressant. I’m completely fine now.”

Yu Changning had already promised her; that meant the matter of the inspection had definitely been suppressed.

On that point, Chu Yunmiao still trusted her very much.

Shu Yan’yan didn’t notice anything amiss at all; she trusted her daughter completely, and by now had relaxed. “Mm, the school is pretty responsible. Since you’ve already been checked, then Mummy doesn’t need to worry.

“Were you and your classmates frightened? Mummy recently developed two new desserts; I’ll send them to you tomorrow. Remember to share them with your instructor and your classmates.”

Chu Yunmiao smiled. “Okay, thank you, Mummy.”

Shu Yan’yan nodded happily. She seemed about to say something else when Chu Yu suddenly called to her and said a few words in her ear. Shu Yan’yan was very innocent; upon hearing this, she nodded and told Chu Yunmiao before temporarily leaving.

Chu Yunmiao’s back went tense.

Her mummy was completely under her mother’s thumb, so she probably hadn’t noticed Chu Yu’s intentions. But Chu Yunmiao knew: her mother was deliberately sending Mummy away so she could speak to her alone.

Her heartbeat instantly quickened.

Sure enough, once Shu Yan’yan walked off, Chu Yu narrowed her eyes at her. “You passed the inspection?”

Unlike Shu Yan’yan, she knew exactly what Chu Yunmiao’s true secondary sex was. If the school had really started screening, how could Chu Yunmiao possibly have come through unscathed?

Chu Yunmiao didn’t even blink; she kept her usual expression and played dumb. “Of course!”

Chu Yu tilted her head, studying her while she thought.

Chu Yunmiao couldn’t help but defend herself in a small voice. “Mother doesn’t need to worry.

“If I really hadn’t passed the inspection, I wouldn’t be sitting in my dorm room chatting with you and Mummy right now.”

The logic was indeed sound, and Chu Yu nodded, no longer dwelling on it. She only asked, “You’re sure you can make it to graduation?”

Chu Yunmiao nodded. “No matter what, I won’t give up halfway.”

Hearing that, Chu Yu actually curved her lips. “Good.”

Chu Yunmiao secretly let out a breath.

After this matter was settled, Chu Yu suddenly changed the subject.

Her gaze rested somewhere in the air, her posture relaxed, as if she were mentioning it offhand. “I heard your instructor was replaced; the new one is...”

Her voice lowered; even reading that name in a deadpan tone seemed to make her suppress her temper. “Yu Changning?”

Chu Yunmiao shifted awkwardly.

The person Chu Yu had just mentioned had only left not long ago, and it felt as though her presence still lingered in the dorm.

The Long Princess took a deep breath and nodded. “Mm.”

Chu Yunmiao tapped the book in her hand with one finger, one tap at a time. “I see.”

Then she asked, “You’ve met again... have things softened between you?”

For some reason, Chu Yunmiao didn’t dare look her in the eye. “There’s nothing to soften or not soften. She’s Class 1’s instructor now; I have to obey her and respect her.”

Chu Yu rubbed the bridge of her nose, looking pained.

She softened her voice. “Baby, don’t think I’m butting into your friendships. But Yu Changning, you should keep your distance from her.”

Chu Yunmiao rarely heard Chu Yu badmouth anyone behind their back; in her memory, the few times it had happened seemed to all involve Yu Changning.

She was a little confused. “Mother, why do you care so much about A-Ning... cough, about Yu Changning?”

Chu Yu glared at her in exasperation.

“Who else would it be because of?” she clicked her tongue. “Five years ago, when she ignored you, how long were you down? I don’t want my precious daughter to go through that again someday.”

Chu Yunmiao lowered her head, feeling guilty for having doubted her mother.

“Mm, I understand.”

She took a deep breath. “Don’t worry, I won’t. Five years ago I was still an underage little girl; it’s different now! I can tell what people are really like!”

Chu Yu nodded. “Of course Mother trusts you.”

But she still didn’t give up. “Still, there’s an old saying: a gentleman does not stand beneath a crumbling wall. Taking precautions and keeping away from Yu Changning, that wall, is very necessary too.”

Chu Yunmiao murmured, “She’s my instructor now. I can’t exactly ignore her completely.”

In fact, half an hour ago, Yu Changning had still been leaning against her, inexplicably asking her to rely on her more.

And now...

Should she listen to Chu Yu, or follow Yu Changning’s request?

The Long Princess did not hesitate for long; very quickly, she leaned toward Yu Changning.

After all...

It wasn’t as though the Emperor had clearly said he would help her with disguising her secondary sex.

Chu Yunmiao made up her mind; secretly sticking out her tongue in her heart, she silently apologized to Chu Yu.

Chu Yu still didn’t know her daughter had already “betrayed” her.

She knew that saying too much would only backfire, so she didn’t press harder and only said, “Mm.” By then, Shu Yan’yan had returned to the projection, carrying two cups of milk and placing them on the table.

Shu Yan’yan asked curiously, “What were you two talking about?”

Chu Yu explained first, “Nothing. Just asking about how Baby’s doing at school.”

Shu Yan’yan suddenly remembered something and said excitedly, “Oh right, Yunmiao, Changning is your instructor now, isn’t she?”

Chu Yunmiao nodded.

Shu Yan’yan’s smile grew even brighter. “That’s wonderful! It’s so great that she can look after you at school! You two got along really well when you were young; you should spend more time with her. Changning is older than you, so she can teach you anything, and then you won’t have to worry about making mistakes.”

As she said this, her back was to Chu Yu, so she didn’t see her own partner behind her turn green with anger.

Chu Yunmiao, however, caught sight of her mother’s awkward expression.

She held back a laugh. “Mm, I know.”

Shu Yan’yan went on, “I haven’t seen Changning in a long time. Is she busy? If you have time, invite her back to the Imperial Palace...”

Before she could finish, Chu Yu couldn’t bear it anymore and directly pulled her into her arms by the waist.

Shu Yan’yan was startled, and the words in her mouth were indeed cut off.

She turned back in displeasure. “What are you doing?”

Chu Yu forced out a smile that looked entirely out of place. “I think teaching Baby to recognize her friends is more important. What do you think?”

Without waiting for Shu Yan’yan’s answer, she added, “But it’s too late today. We shouldn’t disturb Baby’s rest. Let’s go to bed, and I’ll explain it to you properly?”

Shu Yan’yan’s face turned red. “The video call isn’t even off yet. Let go of me first...”

Click—

The two projections vanished instantly before Chu Yunmiao.

The Imperial Long Princess remained very calm; after all, this wasn’t the first time she had seen her mother abruptly cut off a call while speaking.

She muttered “good night” into the empty air, then turned and went back to the bedroom to sleep.

That night, she slept exceptionally well. In her dream, a lingering cedar scent wrapped around her, filling her heart with a serenity and peace she had never felt before.