Chapter 1159 - Chapter 1159 Many Invitations
Chapter 1159 Many Invitations
“Changxing Gra.s.s?” Out of curiosity, Shao Wanru picked up a few stalks of gra.s.s in the box and asked, “What is Princess Yuyan up to?”
Many accidents were related to Changxing Gra.s.s, and she was nearly killed because of it. What did Princess Yuyan mean by sending the gra.s.s here now? Of course, Shao Wanru didn’t think it was a coincidence.
Chu Liuchen looked at the Changxing Gra.s.s in Shao Wanru’s hand lazily and said carelessly, “I had asked for the gra.s.s from the Xu State.”
“Why do you want the few stalks of gra.s.s?” Shao Wanru asked in confusion and waved the half-withered gra.s.s in her hand. It didn’t dry up and looked fresh, at least.
“I asked for them for Uncle the Emperor, but the Xu State had always said they didn’t have the gra.s.s. They needed some time to look for the gra.s.s. Even in the Xu State, finding this kind of gra.s.s is not easy. It is because they grow only in remote and untraversed mountains and marshlands.”
“Then… why did His Majesty want it?” Shao Wanru blinked her watery eyes and asked hesitantly.
“He certainly wanted to find out what happened at that time. All incidents have something to do with the Changxing Gra.s.s. Did the Xu State send the Changxing Gra.s.s that year? Or, did anyone consort with the Xu State and find some Changxing Gra.s.ses? The answers to these questions are still unknown. Yet, neither is a happy issue!” Chu Liuchen said.
He was dressed in a long dark-colored robe with an overlapping collar. It made his creamy white face as s.h.i.+ny as pearls and his deep eyes even more penetrating. At this time, he did not look as refined and gentle as he used to be. With a little indifference, his manner became quite similar to Shao Wanru’s. He seemed more aloof and detached than before.
Shao Wanru meditated in silence. She had indeed been involved in the previous matters, but Chu Liuchen took over them. She believed these matters would no longer implicate her. However, she was afraid that he would be involved. These things could be big or small. Initially, she thought these matters had been settled, but now it seemed the Emperor had only shelved them for the time being.
The envoy of the Xu State had ulterior motives!
“Will the Changxing Gra.s.s be sent to the Palace?” Shao Wanru thought for a moment and stopped pursuing the previous matter. “Will it get you involved?”
“Yes, the gra.s.s will be delivered to the Palace. But don’t worry. I won’t get involved in this matter. In the first place, Uncle the Emperor told me to ask for some gra.s.s from the Xu State, not on his behalf, but in my name. It could be regarded as a personal favor I wanted from the Xu State. If I got the gra.s.s from the Xu State without hindrance, it meant Xu State King didn’t know anything about it. Otherwise, there would be something fishy!”
Chu Liuchen smiled, and his face softened. There was a glimmer in his limpid eyes.
“Judging by the present situation, do you think they were willing to do it or not?” Shao Wanru shook the Changxing Gra.s.s in her hand and asked curiously.
“They were a little reluctant. But it doesn’t seem to be about Xu State King, but someone around him. The person must have a close relations.h.i.+p with Xu State King!” Chu Liuchen smiled with a thoughtful look.
That day before he left, he made such a request to Xu State King. At that time, Xu State King hesitated a little and was about to agree. However, Princess Yuyan and Consort Li suddenly mentioned something else about Princess Yuyan after she arrived at the Kingdom of Dongcang. As a result, this topic was put aside. Then, before he left, Chu Liuchen asked the envoy about this matter, but he said he was not clear about this.
Since Chu Liuchen was about to leave, it was too late for him to ask about it. Moreover, he didn’t ask for it in the name of his country. It was only a small favor to him. Thus, it didn’t matter whether people in the Xu State would give it to him.
He had thought Xu State King would pretend to have forgotten about it. To his surprise, Princess Yuyan brought over the gra.s.s for him. It was worthwhile to fathom the hidden meaning behind this matter!
It looked that the few stalks of Changxing Gra.s.s were from Princess Yuyan, whose purpose was to show kindness to Chu Liuchen.
Princess Yuyan was just a princess in the imperial harem. Although she was familiar with the Changxing Gra.s.s, she would never collect any. The gra.s.s should be from Consort Li if Princess Yuyan didn’t have it. Before Xu State King could say anything about it that day, Consort Li and Princess Yuyan abruptly changed the topic, leaving the matter about the gra.s.s unsettled.
“Are you going to attend this gathering?” Shao Wanru asked with understanding in her eyes, curving up her rosy lips.
“Of course, I’ll. Since Princess Yuyan is so sincere, how can I not join the fun?” Chu Liuchen said with a meaningful smile.
“Consort Li is very suspicious!
“If it were Consort Li, whom would she collude with? Matters related to the Changxing Gra.s.s are half-genuine and half-sham. I have also interfered and know some things are true.”
It was true that someone secretly touched the Changxing Gra.s.s. The coachman of Prince Zhou’s Mansion did use the Changxing Gra.s.s. He had checked it and found that the few stalks of Changxing Gra.s.s were not from the national treasury, although the gra.s.s stored there was gone.ReadNovelFull.com
The same invitation card also appeared on Chu Liuyue’s desk. Looking at this exceedingly exquisite card, Chu Liuyue looked up at Princess Yuyan opposite him and said, “Thank you for coming here in person. I will be there.”
“Thank you for your support, Your Highness. I’ve just arrived in the Kingdom of Dongcang. The first honorable guests I must invite should be the few princes, including you. You have given me a definite reply. I wonder if the other princes will also do me this favor!” Princess Yuyan said with a smile.
She got dressed up today, exuding a kind of casual charm.
She was dressed in a full-length dress with complicated peac.o.c.k patterns. The ribbon wound across her light gray coat, hanging from her arms. It swayed as she walked. Even when she stood still, it made her delicate and brilliant. Another ribbon of the same color had been tied around her slender waist. Men’s hearts would race uncontrollably when seeing her slim waist and ample b.r.e.a.s.t.s, not to mention she had seductive eyes.
She smiled sweetly at Chu Liuyue, her beautiful eyes full of tender affection falling on his face.
“Won’t you send invitations to the other mansions in person?” Chu Liuyue’s heart skipped a beat, and he asked with a smile. His fingers sc.r.a.ped on the invitation card, and he looked thoughtful.
“No, I won’t go. I’ve asked Infanta Yuan’an to invite Prince Zhou. Previously, Princess Chen promised my Eldest Sister that Prince Chen would come with her. As for Prince Xin, my Eldes Sister will go to invite him. I don’t know if he will come. I came here. I was worried that you might give me the cold shoulder. Fortunately, you didn’t embarra.s.s me!”
Princess Yuyan pretended to be lucky and patted her ample bust.
Chu Liuyue unconsciously looked down and fixed his eyes there. Then, he slowly looked up. “You came here to send the invitation in person, which I feel was more than I deserved. You came all the way to the Kingdom of Dongcang. I should have treated you first, but I didn’t expect you to hold a banquet before me!”
“Your Highness, you flatter me!” Princess Yuyan said in a tender and sweet voice.
“I didn’t say it out of politeness!” Chu Liuyue waved his hand and said, “I mean it. In the beginning, I planned to do it, but since there is no hostess in my mansion, I feel too embarra.s.sed to invite you and your sister!”
Speaking of this, Chu Liuyue frowned slightly and seemed a little unhappy when discussing this topic.
“It is so considerate of you to think about that. My sister and I are very grateful for your kindness. But I wonder why you haven’t married. Prince Chen ranked third, but he got married before you. Is this acceptable in your country?” Princess Yuyan asked curiously and leaned closer to Chu Liuyue.
She bound her b.r.e.a.s.t.s high, and her collar was appropriately dressed, neither too high nor too low. But when she leaned forward, Chu Liuyue saw a trace of snow-white skin there, which looked pretty attractive.
This time, Chu Liuyue remained composed as if he was not tempted. He shook his head with a bitter smile and leaned back to pull himself away from her. “In our country, elder brothers should marry first, but my Third Brother’s situation is special. He was in poor health back then. Imperial Grandmother was afraid that he might… So, she let him get married first!”
“But you are the eldest prince, after all!” Princess Yuyan said, offended on Prince Yue’s behalf. “All activities have certain orders. We can’t break ethics and social rules. If we change rules casually, many things will end up in a mess!”
Her remarks were full of meaning.
Many things? She might talk about the fact that Chu Liuchen got married first or the order of succession to the throne. According to the rules, the throne should be pa.s.sed to the eldest prince.
“Do you believe everything should be done in order of arrival?” Chu Liuyue raised his eyebrows and smiled. He liked this statement.
“Of course,” Princess Yuyan said, her l.u.s.trous eyes on Chu Liuyue. “I heard Prime Minister Zhang’s daughter would be your legal wife. I’m wondering how beautiful she is. I’ve sent someone to invite her, but I don’t know if she will come. Could you please send someone to talk to her again and ask her to do me this favor?”
“I can’t help you with this,” Chu Liuyue said awkwardly.
“Why? Wouldn’t Miss Zhang do this small favor for you?” Princess Yuyan was surprised, staring at Chu Liuyue with her sparkling eyes.
“I’m not very familiar with Miss Zhang. I’ve just met her twice. We have nothing to say even if I meet her somewhere.” Chu Liuyue frowned, and it could be seen that he was a little displeased.
Princess Yuyan’s heart leaped with joy. It seemed that the relations.h.i.+p between Miss Zhang and Prince Yue was fragile. That was great! Although she thought so in her heart, she didn’t show happiness on her face. Instead, she looked more surprised and asked, “Aren’t you going to get married soon? But haven’t you got familiar with each other? How… how can you have any feelings for each other?”
“Our parents and match-makers decide this marriage!” Chu Liuyue said implicitly.
“I know your country advocates this kind of marriage, but I also heard that if princes are unsatisfied, their marriages won’t be settled. Are you happy with yours?” Princess Yuyan asked, looking at Chu Liuyue with fake concern in her luminous eyes full of charm.
Princess Yuyan was exceedingly beautiful and could be regarded as a rare beauty. But her bewitchingly charming appearance could hardly arouse the man’s pity.
After all, Princess Yuyan was not as good-looking as Shao Yanru. Sometimes, Chu Liuyue could see the same charismatic manner in Shao Yanru. But since Princess Yuyan overexerted herself, her act of seduction looked obvious. Compared with her, Shao Yanru, with intangible charisma, was far more alluring. Therefore, Chu Liuyue saw through Princess Yuyan’s intention at a glance.
However, this was a good thing for him. If Princess Yuyan was willing to be his consort, he didn’t mind letting her marry into his mansion. The Xu State could be of some help to him. This was why he echoed Princess Yuyan’s words.
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As for Zhang Qilan, he was indeed not very satisfied with her. He had two specific reasons…