Chapter 1143 - Chapter 1143 A Visit to Criticize?
Chapter 1143 A Visit to Criticize?
The gauze curtain covering the window was very thin and transparent. When it was dropped, a layer of light gauze landed gently on the couch by the window. Shao Wanru was lying there with her eyes tightly closed, her hand on the little pillow for doctors feeling pulse near the couch. After checking her pulse, Qi Jue slowly put down her hand and glanced at Chu Liuchen, who was waiting near the couch. When he walked out of the door, Yujie hurried forward and placed Shao Wanru’s hand back on the couch.
Chu Liuchen stepped out of the door and stood still. “How is she?”𝘧𝔯𝙚𝐞𝘄ℯ𝚋𝘯𝚘ν𝐞𝑙. c𝑜m
“Don’t worry, Your Highness. It’s nothing serious!” Qi Jue said.
“But if it’s not a big deal, why would she vomit violently like this?” Chu Liuchen asked coldly.
“Perhaps, Her Highness heard or saw something unbearable. She couldn’t endure it and got such a big reaction. After a period of recuperating, she will be fine!” Qi Jue thought for a while and implicitly reminded Chu Liuchen — it seemed to be a psychological problem.
Qi Jue also felt strange about this matter.
He had seen Princess Chen several times and admired her for her courage and strong will at such a young age.
This intelligent young lady made a stand at every advance when proceeding through so many trials and hardships. Such a young girl was a good match for Prince Chen. No one else could be better suited to Prince Chen than her.
However, what could melt down Princess Chen, a woman of intelligence and firmness of will? Qi Jue was curious about it.
With a discreet cough, he said untruthfully, “Your Highness, if you tell me what happened to Princess Chen in the Prince Chen’s Mansion, I can help analyze it!
How could Chu Liuchen not see through Qi Jue’s intention of watching the fun? His face darkened as he said, “Good idea. You can stay and listen to the story. Xiao Xuanzi happened to tell me he was overly occupied and needed helpers!”
What sort of person was Xiao Xuanzi? He was a eunuch! His assistants should certainly be eunuchs too. Qi Jue stood rooted to the ground with fear. Then, he hurriedly picked up his medicine chest and said thoughtfully, “Your Highness, I suddenly remember some medical issues that I can’t figure out. There is something wrong with Doctor Qiu’s medical skills. I have to discuss it with Mingqiu!”
Before Chu Liuchen could say anything, he had run away.
Qi Jue didn’t want to be a eunuch, for he hadn’t yet had any children. At least he had to leave a descendant for the Qi family!
A guard came over, reporting to Chu Liuchen, “Your Highness, Marquis Xing wants to see Princess Chen!”
“Take him to the reception room on the side!” With a trace of gloom across his eyes, Chu Liuchen steadily ordered.
The guard answered and left. After leading Shao Jing to a parlor, he withdrew.
Shao Jing looked around with a frown. This was the first time he had been to the Prince Chen’s Mansion, but he could tell he was in the outer court. Somehow, he felt disturbed.
He came here to see Shao Wanru. Like Old Madam, he felt Shao Wanru had overreacted. Most likely, she pretended to be sick. Now he came here to check the situation.
He finished a cup of tea and waited a long time, but no one came. Shao Jing felt upset but forced himself to appear composed when waiting.
The door was suddenly pushed open, and Chu Liuchen slowly walked in, followed by a eunuch and a guard with a sword.
“Greetings, Your Highness!” Shao Jing hurriedly stood up and saluted.
Chu Liuchen lowered his head to look at Shao Jing and said, “Please get up!”
After the host and the guest sat down, the servant served fresh tea. Chu Liuchen’s eyes fell on Shao Jing, and he asked gently, “Why do you come here?”
Shao Jing had guessed he might encounter Chu Liuchen. Thus, he wasn’t flustered. With a light smile, he asked with concern, “When I returned to the mansion, I heard Her Highness suddenly felt uncomfortable. I was worried, so I came here to see her. Is anything troubling her? How is she now?”
“Thank you for your concern. She is fine now!” Chu Liuchen gave a lukewarm response, slightly narrowing his pretty eyes.
After Chu Liuchen finished his words, Shao Jing didn’t know what to say. He coughed uneasily and said, “My mother is getting old and not in a good mental state. Recently, my mansion has suffered a series of mishaps, and she could hardly cope with them. An imperial physician examined her and said… she had a stroke…”
“Did she have a stroke? How about I send a few imperial physicians to the Marquis Xing’s Mansion for a diagnosis?” Chu Liuchen rudely interrupted Shao Jing in a flat tone.
“Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. But she doesn’t need it now. She has been treated with acupuncture and only needs to take good care of herself!” Shao Jing said, shaking his head uneasily.
“Since everything is fine now, what do you come here for?” A trace of coldness flashed across Chu Liuchen’s eyes, but his face grew calmer.
Shao Jing’s heart thumped wildly, and he felt a little nervous.
He came to see Shao Wanru. For one thing, he wanted to explain what had happened to Shao Wanru in his mansion. No one had hurt Shao Wanru. Instead, Shao Wanru irritated Old Madam, who nearly had a stroke. For another, he wanted Prince Chen to give Shao Wanru a warning. No matter how wrong Old Madam was, she was Shao Wanru’s biological grandmother.
Her grandma was incensed by her rudeness and almost had a stroke. If this matter were spread out, many people would criticize Princess Chen, and even Chu Liuchen’s reputation would be tarnished. In this respect, Shao Jing thought he had got something on Prince Chen.
“I’m worried Princess Chen will be impeached because of this!” Shao Jing gritted his teeth with determination and said. With a solemn expression, he looked up at Chu Liuchen and continued, “No matter what my mother has done, she is Princess Chen’s elder. But because of her, my mother is now ill in bed. How could she do this? When the imperial physician checked her out, he said her life would be in danger if he arrived a little later!”
Since they had started talking about this, Shao Jing secretly told himself to maintain a firm attitude. Prince Chen seemed to have had a chance to become the crown prince, but so what? In Shao Jing’s opinion, it was just an illusion. How could the Emperor pass the throne to his nephew instead of his biological son? It was just a show of affection between family members to others!
No one would take this statement seriously!
Anyway, Shao Jing didn’t believe it. He was never optimistic about the Prince Chen’s Mansion.
Besides, if Chu Liuchen was ambitious, he shouldn’t offend the Marquis Xing’s Mansion. Without the support of her parents’ family, Princess Chen would be of no use. Chu Liuchen might genuinely cherish Shao Wanru, but so what? Was he willing to give up the Marquis Xing’s Mansion for her? Based on this, Shao Jing felt he shouldn’t get panic.
“If you have any witnesses, you can complain to the Emperor!” Chu Liuchen smiled slightly. Leisurely, he picked up the teacup and took a sip. Then, his face darkened. His beautiful eyes grew wider, blazing with bloodthirsty menace.
His utterly evil look pierced Shao Jing’s heart like a dagger. In a panic, Shao Jing opened his mouth and almost bit his tongue.
“You can enter the Palace through my mansion. I don’t care if you’ll complain to the Emperor or the Empress Dowager. As for the imperial physician, I wonder if he has agreed to testify for you!” Chu Liuchen uttered scathing remarks, eying Shao Jing with a sinister and ruthless look.
“Your… Your Highness, what do you mean?” After a long time, Shao Jing finally managed to say something.
“I’m thinking pretty much the same thing as you do! If you’re worried you might not make a big thing out of it, I can send a few people to help you. Let’s make the Marquis Xing’s Mansion lively!” When Chu Liuchen’s eyes swept over him, Shao Jing felt like a viper’s tongue was sliding across his face. It made his flesh creep.
“Your Highness, I… I was trying to advise Princess Chen not to be naughty with my mother around. My mother is getting old and a little muddle-headed!” Shao Jing gave in to Chu Liuchen and said with a hollow laugh.
Would the imperial physician testify for him? Of course, it was impossible. The testimony of other people in the mansion sounded pretty untenable. More importantly, though Shao Jing thought Chu Liuchen had little hope of getting the throne, he didn’t dare to go against him openly.
No matter how useless Chu Liuchen was, no one dared to look down on him for so many years. No other princes had the guts to provoke him.
Prince Cheng had repeatedly warned him never to enrage Chu Liuchen.
Not long ago, Shao Jing entered the room in a very threatening manner. But now, his attitude had softened quite a lot. Shao Jing was fairly flexible. The coldness on Chu Liuchen’s face faded away. He looked at Shao Jing with a skin-deep smile and raised his eyebrows. “If there is nothing else, you can go back. My wife is not feeling well, and I’m not in a good mood.”
He was asking Shao Jing to leave.
Shao Jing had to stand up and say, “I’m glad Her Highness is fine. I’ll have to take care of my mother, so I think I must go now!”
“Please go ahead!” Chu Liuchen said lazily and gave a casual wave.
His disrespectful attitude annoyed Shao Jing, who had to swallow the insult. He still wanted to take advantage of Shao Wanru. At this moment, he mustn’t fall out with Shao Wanru. Moreover, he was intimidated by Chu Liuchen’s aggressive posture.
Laughing hollowly, he said goodbye to Chu Liuchen with good manners. But after leaving the Prince Chen’s Mansion, he didn’t go straight back to the Marquis Xing’s Mansion. Instead, his carriage went to E’niang’s current residence, near the Marquis Xing’s Mansion.
As soon as he entered it, E’niang brought him a cup of tea at the perfect sipping temperature. After taking several swigs of tea, he finally felt better.
...
All went awry. He felt blue.
“Your Grace, did anything bad happen?” E’niang asked softly and refilled his cup.
Shao Jing took it and gulped down a few mouthfuls of tea before putting it down heavily. He came straight to the point and asked, “When will you go to see Princess Chen again?”
“Even if I want to see Princess Chen, she won’t meet me. I don’t know why she is not interested!” E’niang also frowned. She had been quite sure of success, but now she felt frustrated at the lack of progress. “I can go to beg Rui’an Great Elder Princess. What do you think of it?”
Since they could win over Princess Chen, Rui’an Great Elder Princess was also a good option.
“It won’t work. Princess Chen must have told Rui’an Great Elder Princess about this. Princess Chen suspects you, and so will she!” Shao Jing denied E’niang’s suggestion.
“But even if Rui’an Great Elder Princess doesn’t trust me, she must be interested in meeting me, right? Or maybe I can see the little heir of a duke!” E’niang said meaningfully. Whenever she thought she was about to become Marquis Xing’s secondary legal wife, she couldn’t help feeling thrilled. At present, she was firmly determined to remove all the obstacles to get this position.
Long ago, she was just a humble servant girl. Both Infanta Qinghua and Madam Jiang were high above her. Unexpectedly, one day, she would be the final winner. How could she not be wild with joy?