Chapter 1056 Confirming the Information
Rui’an Great Elder Princess cast a glance at Chu Liuyue with a faint thoughtful look in her eyes and said, “He has taken the medicine. At this time, he should have fallen asleep!”
“Since he is asleep, I’ll see him next time!” Chu Liuyue said with a smile, “My cousin is now the heir of a duke of the Marquis Xing’s Mansion. Your wish came true.”
“From the beginning, everything belongs to him.” Rui’an Great Elder Princess said, her face turning cold.
“In any case, everything should be his, but will Marquis Xing be willing to accept this result? You’d better be careful!” Chu Liuyue said with concern.
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After a brief pause, Chu Liuyue continued, “By the way, the First Young Master of the Marquis Xing’s Mansion collided with Infanta Yuan’an’s carriage. Do you know that?”
“What’s the matter?” Rui’an Great Elder Princess frowned and didn’t understand what Chu Liuyue meant by mentioning this.
This matter had caused a sensation, so Great Elder Princess had certainly heard of it.
“Actually, that thing…” Chu Liuyue hesitated and looked at the people around Rui’an Great Elder Princess.
Rui’an Great Elder Princess coughed in a low voice and said, “Don’t worry. They are my trusted subordinates. Say anything you like here!”
“When Shao Hua’an b.u.mped into Infanta Yuan’an’s carriage, he was fine. It was Yuan’an who ordered her people to hit him!” Chu Liuyue lowered his voice.
Rui’an Great Elder Princess opened her eyes wide. “But… why?”
“In the race to the position of the heir of a duke, I’ve been to the Ruiping Great Elder Princess’s Mansion. Speaking of this matter… Aunt Ruiping probably doesn’t like Marquis Xing very much!” Chu Liuyue said with a smile.
He made only a veiled reference to the past issues, but the hidden meaning was easy to understand. Chu Liuyue said something to Ruiping Great Elder Princess. Because of this, she loathed Marquis Xing. As a result, after Shao Hua’an accidentally crashed into her carriage, Infanta Yuan’an used it as an excuse and gave him a violent beating.
So, he said all of this to express goodwill toward Rui’an Great Elder Princess. When Infanta Yuan’an was in the Palace, she said it was a sheer accident.
Rui’an Great Elder Princess was slightly stunned but understood quickly. The smile on her face became more genial. She narrowed her eyes and nodded approvingly. “Has Yuan’an recovered from her injury?”
“Her face is wounded. My second brother has sent a miracle-working doctor there. His medical skills are excellent, so there shouldn’t be any problem,” Chu Liuyue said.
“That’s good. I’ll ask someone to see her!” Rui’an Great Elder Princess said softly with concern.
Her action was to show Chu Liuyue her grat.i.tude to Infanta Yuan’an and him. Hearing this, Chu Liuyue was overjoyed. If Rui’an Great Elder Princess stood on his side, it would be highly beneficial to him.
Rui’an Great Elder Princess had firmly supported Shao Wanru, her granddaughter, which was enough to make Shao Wanru work for him, not to mention her relations.h.i.+p with the Empress Dowager. Chu Liuchen’s actual background had always been mystic. If he placed a p.a.w.n beside Chu Liuchen, it would give him many advantages.
“Her injury isn’t serious. It doesn’t matter whether you go to see her or not. If you visit them often, it will arouse suspicion. Perhaps, the Marquis Xing’s Mansion would find something out and talk nonsense to my father,” Chu Liuyue said considerately to show his concern for Rui’an Great Elder Princess.
He just mentioned it casually to please Rui’an Great Elder Princess. However, it would not be appropriate if Rui’an Great Elder Princess and Ruiping Great Elder Princess were in close contact. They only needed to reach a tacit understanding.
Rui’an Great Elder Princess thought for a moment and nodded. “I worried too much!”
“I’m afraid that Shao Jing won’t leave Cousin Hao’s matter at that, will he?” After Rui’an Great Elder Princess received his kindness, Chu Liuyue looked more concerned.
Rui’an Great Elder Princess snorted coldly, and her face fell. “He can do whatever he wants. I am not afraid of him.”
“Great-aunt, you certainly don’t have to fear him, but what if Shao Jing wants to deal with Princess Chen and Cousin Hao? Now my third brother is not in the mansion. If anything happens in his mansion, I’m afraid that Princess Chen will be too young to handle it!”
Chu Liuyue reminded Rui’an Great Elder Princess.
“Even if Prince Chen is not at home, Shao Jing can’t suppress Princess Chen with filial piety because of her high status. Besides, Old Madam of the Marquis Xing’s Mansion is not in the mansion.” Rui’an Great Elder Princess had been paying attention to the affairs in the Marquis Xing’s Mansion, so she knew Old Madam had already packed up and moved to the Yuhui Nunnery.
Old Madam of the Marquis Xing’s Mansion might have the right to hold back Princess Chen with filial duties, but it was hardly a justifiable excuse for Shao Jing, Marquis Xing!
“Great-aunt, you are right, but I am just afraid that Shao Jing might play some dirty tricks. I heard His Majesty had sent his imperial guards to the Prince Chen’s Mansion. I don’t know if it has anything to do with Shao Jing!”
Chu Liuyue came here today to inquire about Shao Wanru’s business. Initially, he wanted to ask Shao Yuanhao about it. But since Shao Yuanhao had fallen ill, he could only inquire about something from Rui’an Great Elder Princess in a roundabout way.
Rui’an Great Elder Princess waved her hand and said indifferently, “It was a false alarm. Nothing serious. His Majesty sent his guards to catch the remaining evildoers of the previous dynasty, for they thought that these people might hide in the Prince Chen’s Mansion. After asking the chief supervisor some questions, these imperial guards left. They didn’t disturb Princess Chen, so this matter was unlikely connected with Shao Jing.”
“Shao Wanru is fine? Has my plan failed?”
Chu Liuyue was shocked, but he didn’t show it on his face. He still looked concerned and said, “That’s good. My third brother is away, and I fear the Marquis Xing’s Mansion will make trouble again. Father asked about my third brother the day before yesterday.”
“Did His Majesty tell you when Prince Chen would return to the capital city?” Rui’an Great Elder Princess raised her spirits.
“Uh… Please forgive me for not being able to tell you that!” Chu Liuyue said in embarra.s.sment.
The diplomatic mission could also be considered a major military affair, so he certainly couldn’t say it. Chu Liuchen was heading back to the capital city. Usually, it was safe on their way back. However, there was no guarantee of his safety. Some people might attempt to hurt Chu Liuchen or the two Xu State princesses going to the capital city with him.
It was easy to cause an accident if Chu Liuchen’s schedule was exposed. The best choice was not to ask or tell!
“I’ve asked too much!” Rui’an Great Elder Princess understood what he meant and apologized slowly.
“Great-aunt, if my third brother enters the capital city, I will inform you immediately.” Chu Liuyue stood up and said with a smile, “I have something else to do now. See you then!”
Rui’an Great Elder Princess nodded and said, “Go ahead if you have something to do!”
After bowing to Rui’an Great Elder Princess, Chu Liuyue turned around and strode away.
Rui’an Great Elder Princess frowned slightly. Chu Liuyue came over and talked aimlessly without stopping. There seemed to be no critical or practical issues. What was his purpose?
Zhuozhuo had sent someone to tell her that if anyone came to inquire about her, she should pay special attention to it. However, many people had asked about Zhuozhuo, including several Madams who had some dealings with her in the past. When they met her, they would mention Zhuozhuo and especially the news that the Emperor’s imperial guards had once entered the Prince Chen’s Mansion.
In addition to these Madams keeping in constant touch with her, Rui’an Great Elder Princess only mentioned her granddaughter to Chu Liuyue.
“Then who is the one plotting against my granddaughter in secret?” Rui’an Great Elder Princess had always thought that Ruiping Great Elder Princess was suspicious, but now she felt Chu Liuyue seemed a little fishy too.
She reflected on all he had said to her but found nothing special because he only said a few words of concern.
“Who could it be?” Rui’an Great Elder Princess was in a dilemma. Anyway, she had to tell her granddaughter about it. Shao Wanru was brilliant and would find some clues from these people…
Chu Liuyue’s mind was in tumult, but he managed to remain calm when walking out. “Shao Wanru has nothing to worry about, which means that my plot failed!
He was a little annoyed and couldn’t help pondering over it. “My plan is detailed and perfectly coherent, but the people of Prince Chen’s Mansion didn’t fall into the trap. Which part went wrong?
“Needless to say, Shao Wanru might be lucky. However, the chief supervisor of the Prince Chen’s Mansion, who was supposed to take this bait, turned up safe and sound!
“First of all, I should get rid of the chief supervisor of the Prince Chen’s Mansion. Then it would be much easier to deal with Shao Wanru. At that time, I could kill her or make her disappear without much effort. The chief supervisor of the Prince Chen’s Mansion was the biggest trouble. He had been the general steward of the former empress, so it won’t be easy to finish off this sly old fox.”
Right after Chu Liuyue got on the carriage, his face fell, and a trace of fierceness flashed across his eyes. There must be a reason for his failure, but he didn’t know which part had gone wrong.
His carriage slowly went through the gate of Rui’an Great Elder Princess’s Mansion.
“Go to the Number One Scholar Restaurant.” As soon as they were out of the gate, Chu Liuyue ordered.
The coachman answered, raised his whip, and drove the carriage to the Number One Scholar Restaurant, Chu Liuyue’s favorite place.
Halfway, the carriage stopped there for a moment, and a young eunuch dressed as a servant got out of the carriage. He ran away quickly to invite Wen Xichi, Third Young Master Wen of the Mansion of the Prime Minister.
The Number One Scholar Restaurant was doing well. Those successful candidates hadn’t yet been awarded official jobs. From time to time, they would entertain guests here. In addition, many elegant scholars liked this place, so its business was brisk.
When Chu Liuyue got off the carriage, a sharp-eyed shop-boy spotted him and immediately approached to greet him with a smile, “Master, please come in!”
Chu Liuyue had ordered that no shop-boy here was allowed to call him Your Highness, for he was not willing to expose his ident.i.ty here.
He followed the shop-boy into the Number One Scholar Restaurant. The first floor was almost full. He didn’t linger there and went straight to the fourth floor.
A private room on the fourth floor had been reserved especially for him the whole time.
“Who is this man? Didn’t they say that there was no private room available?” Someone asked bitterly when seeing the shop-boy lead Chu Liuyue to the private room upstairs with a flattering look.
“He must be a n.o.ble child in the capital city. Even if we pa.s.sed the exam, we can’t be compared with them.” Another man beside him raised the corner of his mouth and said with sarcasm, feeling unconvinced in his heart.
Some of them pa.s.sed the exam, while others didn’t. When they drank together in the past, they were attracted to each other by common tastes. So they specially gathered here a few more times to have fun.
They asked for a private room, but the shop-boy kept saying there was none. Now that they saw someone else was directly taken to a private box, they were full of righteous indignation.
Yan Xi’s eyes followed Chu Liuyue upward. Coincidentally, he was among this group of people…