Chapter 902: Are You Going to Renege on Your Promise?
"Didn"t you just mention that you are unmarried? Though I heard that you had been engaged, you promised to marry the Second Miss of Marquis Xing"s Mansion when you were in the Palace at that time, haven"t you? So, why don"t you take her as a concubine in a simple way in the several days, which might help you have a child?" Chu Liuchen said meaningfully.
Chu Qing blushed with a livid face. He looked at Chu Liuchen coldly and then slowly lowered his eyes with a strong intent of killing in them.
"How dare Chu Liuchen humiliate me to this extent!"
What a great shame for him to be treated like that by a dying patient! He clenched his fists and tried to suppress the agitation in his heart. After a long while, he slowly raised his head with calm eyes. He cupped his hands toward Chu Liuchen and said, "Go into the details, please!"
Chu Liuchen seemed to be very satisfied with Chu Qing"s att.i.tude and even became friendly. He sat down again and waved to Chu Qing politely, indicating the latter should sit down on a chair beside him.
Xiao Xuanzi was astute. He asked someone to serve them with two cups of tea, and then stood beside Chu Liuchen with his head lowered.
"It is said that it was you who saved Second Miss Shao when she fell into the water in the Palace that day, Commandery Prince Qing. His and her Majesties both knew about it. It has been long since that matter happened, but you have never paid a visit to Marquis Xing"s Mansion to enquire her. Are you going to renege on your promise?"
Chu Liuchen"s att.i.tude was very friendly, and his smile was elegant and harmless.
Of course, he looked like that on the surface. Chu Qing thought for a while and asked, "Do you mean that I should go to Marquis Xing"s Mansion and propose to Second Miss Shao?"
"It"s not my idea but the requirement of Marquis Xing"s Mansion. I am just the messager. Marquis Xing"s Mansion said they will marry Second Miss Shao to another family if you don"t intend to keep your promise. After all, you are not the only member of the royal family!" Chu Liuchen said leisurely.
Commandery Prince Qing"s heart throbbed with a trace of shame and anger flas.h.i.+ng in his expressions.
Others might not know what had happened in the Palace that day, but how could Chu Qing not know? Actually, it was the First Miss of Marquis Xing"s Mansion, Shao Yanru, whom he saved, but with Chu Liuyue and Chu Liuzhou"s help, Shao Yanru lied that it was Second Miss Shao, the non-lineal descendant of Marquis Xing"s Mansion, and they all asked him to take her as a legal wife soon.
However, Chu Qing couldn"t stand the grievance. Later he claimed that he had been engaged and could only take Second Miss Shao as a concubine instead of a legal wife.
But even though she would just be his concubine, Chu Qing would feel disgusted as if he had swallowed a blue bottle fly as soon as he thought that it was the result of being bullied by Chu Liuyue and Chu Liuzhou.
This was also the reason why Chu Qing did not want to go to Marquis Xing"s Mansion. Anyway, he had not married his legal wife yet, so he was not in a hurry to take the consort. Unexpectedly, it brought him other troubles.
He said to others that he had been engaged and there was someone to be his legal wife, so they didn"t choose a beauty for his marriage in the Pageant.
He had intended to marry a lady from a n.o.ble family so that he could become more powerful with the help of her family. Who knew that he would have no share of those beauties because of his previous words?
All of these were caused by the fact that he saved Shao Yanru from the water at that time! He failed to get what he wanted. In addition, it was very gushy, so Chu Qing didn"t want to think about it again.
Now it seemed that Marquis Xing"s Mansion had lost its patience. But she was a useless daughter of non-lineal descent and it was said that she was not favored. What could he get from her?
"She is just a leftover woman. Is any other member of the n.o.ble family willing to marry her?" Chu Qing snorted coldly.
Since Shao Jie"er admitted that she had fallen into the water at that time, he should not be the only one who saw her wet clothes.
"It is unnecessary that leftovers are useless. At least she is one of Marquis Xing"s daughters and much better than the lineal Miss of the third branch. Now Baolin Shao has entered the Palace, so Second Miss Shao is the only daughter of Marquis Xing, who thinks highly of his second daughter now!" Chu Liuchen said lazily as if he had never noticed the contempt in Chu Qing"s words.
Chu Qing was slightly shaken when he heard that, and he couldn"t help taking it seriously for the first time.
If First Miss of Marquis Xing"s Mansion married any other prince, Marquis Xing would definitely support his eldest daughter. But she had no use anymore and his second daughter was his only hope. Therefore, Second Miss Shao was of great use even if her reputation was ruined and her status was not high.
The Emperor did not choose any beauty of n.o.ble family for him, but Chu Qing suddenly felt that he was not treated unfairly, because Shao Jie"er at least had a biological father, though she herself did not have a high status.
"So it is true that another member of the n.o.ble family wants to marry her, isn"t it?" Chu Qing frowned slightly and asked.
"I was not going to involve myself in your matter. But since you came to see me today and asked me for help, I will reluctantly tell you that Marquis Xing"s Mansion doesn"t intend to marry Second Miss Shao of high status to you now. They should want to give up you to marry a better family!"
Chu Liuchen"s tone was a little frivolous.
Chu Qing felt humiliated and infuriated. He had always looked down on Shao Jie"er, but now Shao Jie"er looked down on him! How could he not be angry when he was slighted by a daughter of non-lineal descent?
He clenched his fists and suppressed the restlessness in his heart and said, "Do they want me to marry the daughter of the third branch?"
"The third branch is not bad! At least she is a legitimate daughter." Chu Liuchen narrowed his eyes and did not give an exact answer. He waved his hand and said, "That"s all I want to say. You can leave now. I expected to see the battle between Marquis Xing"s Mansion and you, but it seems that I can"t see it now! I am tired, so you leave!"
"Your Highness, about the journey to Nan Jiang…" Chu Qing asked in a tolerant tone.
"You are doomed to go to Nan Jiang! However, for the sake of your safety, you can go to visit General Qin, who is able to protect you!"
Chu Liuchen got impatient and closed his eyes to rest. His att.i.tude was incomparably arrogant.
Even though Chu Qing was extremely angry, he did not dare to lose his temper. He cast a cold glance at Chu Liuchen"s handsome face.
He stood up and cupped his hands towards Chu Liuchen, "Thank you for your advice, Your Highness!"
"It is not a big deal for me, because I have nothing to do. I can have fun from your conflicts," Chu Liuchen didn"t open his eyes and said casually.
"Anyway, thank you, Your Highness!" Chu Qing cupped his hands to Chu Liuchen politely again and then walked out of the room.
The eunuch he brought was waiting outside the door, and a supervisor of Prince Chen"s Mansion led them out.
Anyway, Chu Qing didn"t leave Prince Chen"s Mansion empty-handed. At least the visit made him decide to marry Shao Jie"er, who was valueless but now became treasure because Shao Yanru had entered the Palace. Naturally, he wanted her.
He stood at the gate of Prince Chen"s Mansion and took a deep breath. Chu Qing had got his thoughts into shape along the way out so he looked very calm now. As for Chu Liuchen"s response, it was actually expected. If Chu Liuchen agreed to help him with kindness, Chu Qing would be skeptical. His att.i.tude was just as usual as it should be.
"After all, that patient is always an indifferent and unpredictable person."
Of course, he would not believe that Chu Liuchen was harmless!
"Even though he is a dying patient, he can"t be harmless!"
Nevertheless, Chu Qing was interested in Chu Liuchen"s advice. He knew that Chu Liuchen had never had a good relations.h.i.+p with Chu Liuyue and Chu Liuzhou.
"Your Highness, please get on the carriage!" The carriage of Commandery Prince Qing"s Mansion stopped in front of the gate.
Chu Qing nodded, got on the carriage, and then ordered, "Go to Marquis Xing"s Mansion!"
Since Shao Jie"er was useful, she should marry him and even get pregnant as soon as possible. In this way, Marquis Xing would stand on his side and help him wholeheartedly.
"Anyhow, Shao Jie"er is now Marquis Xing"s only daughter of great use. He has no reason to refuse to help me, his son-in-law. The engagement between Shao Jie"er and me has been agreed upon by several masters in the Palace before. As long as I mention it, it will be finished!"
Chu Qing had put down his doubts about Chu Liuchen and wholeheartedly thought that he would be allowed to marry Shao Jie"er, which was a perfect plan in his mind. But he did not expect that not only did Marquis Xing not agree immediately, but also he suffered a lot…
After Chu Qing went out, Chu Liuchen slowly opened his eyes. He rolled his black eyes and the air around him became gloomily cold. Then he picked up a piece of jade on the table and played with it for a while. Suddenly he asked, "Xiao Xuanzi, what do you think?"
Xiao Xuanzi answered, "Marquis Xing will not marry Second Miss Shao to Commandery Prince Qing. I heard that this Second Miss has an extraordinary status now!"
According to Princess Chen, Marquis Xing did not intend to marry Second Miss Shao to Commandery Prince Qing. He was going to make use of her to attach his family to another more powerful family. How could he leave her to Commandery Prince Qing?
"Chu Qing is not a person who is willing to suffer losses. Go and spread the news that Shao Jing is going to destroy Shao Jie"er and Chu Qing"s marriage. Chu Qing is leaving for Nan Jiang. How can his wife be taken at this time?" Chu Liuchen said with a chuckle.
Xiao Xuanzi"s heart missed a beat, and he knew that his master was going to cut in.
If his master got involved in this kind of thing, it would inevitably become more and more severe.
"Yes, I am going to give the order!" Xiao Xuanzi answered hurriedly.
"Get it spread in the Palace first. It"s reasonable for the people there to know it first, especially the Empress. We have to inform her first in case she lost her temper and broke the rules because she is informed too late!" Chu Liuchen replied lazily. If others heard what he said, they would definitely be shocked.
Who would have ever thought that a dying prince, the son of the Former Emperor, could reach into the Imperial Harem and even affect the Empress"s position as the master of Imperial Harem!
"Yes, I"ll give the order now!" Xiao Xuanzi nodded, thought for a second, and asked, "Should I inform Her Highness?"
"I will tell her. As for other things, she has her own opinions. You don"t have to offer her too much advice. If she gets involved in something, you can tell Nanny Zheng first. You will carry out Princess"s order after she makes a decision!" Chu Liuchen stood up and said casually.
"Yes, I understand!" Xiao Xuanzi"s eyes lit up and he answered hurriedly!