My low-key cultivation of immortality was discovered by the emperor in my diary.

Chapter 23 Disliking Each Other, Tearing Up the Invitation

The deal was done, and the garden was bought.

The four returned to Xuanzhen Temple in high spirits. Lin Jiuxiao even said he would cook a good meal that evening to celebrate Chu Lengyu's housewarming.

Chu Wenchen had been waiting at Xuanzhen Temple for half a day, and as time passed, his unease and restlessness grew stronger.

He even began to suspect that Lin Jiuxiao and Chu Lengyu had never actually left the house, but were simply hiding and deliberately avoiding him, playing tricks on him from the shadows.

Just as he could no longer contain himself and was about to get up and leave, footsteps finally came from outside the door.

Lin Jiuxiao, furious, was the first to push open the door and enter, followed by Ji Lingchuan, Chu Lengyu, and Lüyun, who entered the guest room one after another.

Chu Wenchen had long known that this confrontation was inevitable. Despite Lin Jiuxiao's anger, he remained unmoved. Even if Lin Jiuxiao questioned him, it would not affect him at all.

He leaned back in his chair, his gaze flippant, seemingly showing no respect for the old man before him.

To be honest, Chu Wenchen was tired of trying to lie to this old guy before, and he was too lazy to play along with him anymore.

In his view, whether it was Lin Jiuxiao or Ji Lingchuan, they were just poor, penniless Taoist priests, nothing to care about, and if they offended them, so be it.

Although Xuanzhen Temple is one of the ten temples in the world, Lin Jiuxiao is just a minor acting abbot. Even if he offends him, Xuanzhen Temple will not make things difficult for him for the sake of such an old guy.

It feels so good to have power and status.

Chu Wenchen looked disdainful and casually greeted, "Long time no see, Daoist Lin."

He was dressed in magnificent robes, the cloud patterns embroidered with gold thread gleaming in the light, forming a stark contrast with Lin Jiuxiao's simple blue robe.

This appearance is almost identical to Chu Wen'er's. Chu Lengyu frowned, thinking to herself that, as expected, like father, like son, and two different kinds of people cannot be made from the same pot of rice.

Lin Jiuxiao was in a good mood, but upon seeing Chu Wenchen, the anger in his heart erupted like a volcano.

He clenched his fists, glaring angrily at Chu Wenchen, his eyes fixed on him as if he wanted to nail him to the ground. Yesterday's events had brought his loathing for Chu Wenchen to its peak.

Lin Jiuxiao said angrily, "You really have no shame, daring to come here!"

Every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, as if he wanted to devour Chu Wenchen alive to vent his hatred.

"What's there to be afraid of? It's just a Taoist temple, isn't it?" Chu Wenchen smiled indifferently and continued to sit leisurely in his chair.

His gaze swept over everyone else and landed solely on Chu Lengyu.

He was slightly taken aback; he hadn't expected that his goddaughter, who had been bullied and harassed in the backyard for years, would still be so beautiful.

She is like a pearl; no matter how many hardships she endures, they only add to her brilliance.

Chu Wenchen had never cared about matters in the inner quarters, but he never expected her to be so eye-catching and outstanding. He immediately understood why his daughter was so wary of her, to the point of being somewhat obsessed.

That face was like a work of art meticulously sculpted by God, every feature perfectly proportioned and flawless.

As for her own daughter, Chu Wen'er, although she could be considered beautiful, she paled in comparison to Chu Lengyu.

Just for her face, Chu Wenchen made up his mind to keep her hidden in the backyard of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion and never let anyone else see her.

At the same time, he harbored deep resentment in his heart.

Why is my older brother so lucky? He can easily beat me even with things he doesn't need or care about!

Even an abandoned baby picked up by chance is several times better than one carefully raised by others.

God is so unfair!

Chu Lengyu felt Chu Wenchen's gaze, a gaze filled with malicious scrutiny and jealousy, which made her extremely uncomfortable.

She frowned slightly and said coldly, "Second Uncle, what brings you here today? If it's about taking me back to the manor, then I'll be frank, and you don't need to bother."

Seeing this, Ji Lingchuan stepped forward and stood in front of Chu Lengyu, looking at Chu Wenchen with a wary expression: "We have seen through your true colors, don't try to deceive us anymore."

Lüyun chimed in, "That's right."

Lin Jiuxiao walked up to Chu Wenchen and questioned him, "Even if you hadn't come today, I would have come to your door tomorrow to ask you a good question. Chu Wenchen, I only entrusted Yu'er to you for your elder brother's sake, but look at what you've done?!"

"What have I done? Have I skimped on her food or clothing?" Chu Wenchen raised an eyelid and retorted, "I may not be as devoted to her as my elder brother, but Yu'er is not a child anymore. Should we still treat her like she was when she was little, holding her in our hands and protecting her?"

He then turned to Chu Lengyu and accused her, "Wen'er did have a little argument with you, and things didn't go well, but she's younger than you, she's your sister. To hold a grudge over such a small thing and slander your sister at every turn, Yu'er, aren't you going too far?"

Chu Lengyu was dumbfounded. She never expected him to be so shameless, not only lying through his teeth but also turning the tables on her.

She gave a cold laugh and said, "That's right, I'm the older sister and she's the younger sister. Second sister, come and apologize to me first. I'll discipline her properly in the future."

Chu Wenchen didn't want to completely break ties with her, so he said, "In that case, come back with me first, and I'll have Wen'er apologize to you."

He wore a gentle smile, but it looked utterly hypocritical.

Chu Lengyu shook her head repeatedly and said bluntly, "There's no point in talking when we don't see eye to eye. We both know what happened in the past, and sweet talk won't help. Senior Uncle and Senior Brother, let's see him out. Don't let him in again."

After saying that, she turned and left.

This outcome was not unexpected for Chu Wenchen. However, he had not intended to force her to return to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, otherwise he would not have only brought one trusted subordinate here today.

It's better to leave her at Xuanzhen Temple; in the desolate wilderness, "accidents" are more likely to happen.

Since things had come to this, Lin Jiuxiao had nothing to say to Chu Wenchen, only saying, "From now on, Yu'er will have nothing to do with you anymore. I will take care of her."

Then they sent someone to "invite" Chu Wenchen out.

After boarding the carriage, his trusted aide drove away.

Chu Wenchen took out the invitation to the snow appreciation banquet from his pocket and stroked its exquisite cover with his fingers.

Before coming, Wen'er had asked him not to bring the invitation, but he did not agree.

Because he was thinking that the snow appreciation banquet was organized by Princess Jin'an and had an imperial edict, rather than doing something underhanded that would give others a handle to use against him, he might as well go openly and say that Chu Lengyu was unwilling to accept it, since she always refused to go anyway.

But he has now changed his mind and doesn't want to give Chu Lengyu any chance to turn the tables.

Chu Wenchen slowly tore the invitation into pieces and casually scattered them in the snowy wilderness, a cold smile playing on his lips.