Chapter 1009 Though Respectfully, He Showed Them the Door
Chu Liuchen captured it when Qin Huaiyong palpitated with fear. He cast Qin Huaiyong a sidelong glance, smiling gently.
“It’s my business to present memorials to the Emperor. You two are deputies. You won’t write to His Majesty and secretly sue me, will you? Or…” Chu Liuchen narrowed his eyes as he said this. This time, his glamorous eyes revealed an air of mystery and gloom. “Are you going to sacrifice me behind my back?”
The vein between Chu Qing’s eyebrows throbbed fiercely. It was indeed his plan. Of course, he wouldn’t be so insensible to suggest anything to the Emperor openly. But in his report, he skillfully pushed Chu Liuchen into the teeth of the storm.
He hinted that Chu Liuchen could take charge of this business. First of all, he had the most distinguished status in the group with diplomatic missions. Moreover, it would be too late to send other people here. If one of them in the envoy team had to marry the rumored princess of the Xu State, Chu Liuchen would be the most suitable candidate.
Even if Chu Qing was not convinced in his heart, he had to admit that Chu Liuchen was more handsome than him. As long as the Xu State princess met him, she would choose him to be her husband.
Anyway, Chu Qing was very confident for various reasons.
But that was in the past. When his eyes fell on the letter that Chu Liuchen picked up from the corner of the table, sweat broke out on his forehead. The more he looked at it, the more he felt it might be the letter he sent to the capital with the memorial.
“The letter is in Chu Liuchen’s hands; what about the memorial?”
Chu Qing abruptly looked up at Chu Liuchen in horror. “Did he dare to quietly take away my memorial to the capital?”
“Your Highness, no, I don’t dare. I’m just telling the truth!” Qin Huaiyong answered with a calm voice. After all, he had experienced great upheavals and changes, so he could at least keep composure, though Chu Liuchen’s words triggered huge waves in his heart.
Also, he saw the letter he wrote to his family, which was supposed to arrive in the capital with the memorial, but how could it end up in Chu Liuchen’s hands?
“What did Chu Liuchen want to do?”
“You don’t dare?” Chu Liuchen casually curled his lips and stood up leisurely. His thin lips slightly raised, and the faint color of his lips made him look a little relentless. “You two, listen, don’t use any underhanded means. The Xu State princess can make her requests. But if you’re trying to mislead the Emperor with false messages, I can take you into custody.”
Chu Liuchen pinched the letter on the table as if he was playing something funny. Then he picked it up and turned to walk inside.
“Prince Chen…” Chu Qing couldn’t help calling out.
“What else can I do for you, Commandery Prince Qing?” Chu Liuchen turned his head with interest. He smiled gracefully, but there was an insidious glint in his eyes.
Chu Qing had an inkling for the first time: he shouldn’t have come here. He was supposed to establish his merit and business here. In his eyes, Chu Liuchen was nothing but a dying sick man. How could he take control?
“But what should I do now?” Chu Qing wondered.
“Prince Chen, we are messengers officially sent by the Emperor. Though you’re in charge, we serve as envoys. You can’t interfere too much in our affairs!” Qin Huaiyong also stood up. Chu Qing was stone mute, so he had to speak out in their defense.
He was also unconvinced. They were the ones accredited to the foreign state, but how could Prince Chen intercept their reports to the capital city? He had no right to do that!
“Ningyuan Army General, if you think you can bypa.s.s me and appeal to the Emperor, then do it. Be careful — your appeal may not reach His Majesty or be regarded as lies to manipulate him. At that time, I could not do anything to help. Anyway, I’ve done my very best in helping you and fulfilling my duty!”
Chu Liuchen’s long eyelashes cast a shadow under his eyes. Slowly, he looked up with a half-smile. “You two, the diplomatic mission looks easy, but a slight mishap can get us drowned. I appreciate your selfless spirit of setting the national interest above your family’s. Here I wish you two speedy success in advance, and may all your wishes come true!”
After that, he roared with laughter, swaggering off and seemingly in excellent humor.
Qin Huaiyong and Chu Qing remained behind, watching Chu Liuchen leaving, but they couldn’t utter a word, so scared that their foreheads came out in a cold sweat.
Qin Huaiyong lived a good life with his family. After so many lonely years, Qin Huaiyong finally had a home and his children. How could he discard his peaceful family with happiness overflowing?
Chu Qing had a family too. He had a hard time climbing to his current position and was making headway in the imperial court. Never would he waste his previous efforts. Chu Liuchen’s warning was glaringly obvious: if they dared to go against him again, they might get into trouble; unlike this matter about the tattling letter, he wouldn’t let them off so easily next time.
Qin Huaiyong gritted his teeth, giving in to Chu Liuchen first. He bowed to the figure behind the screen and vowed, “Prince Chen, I will follow your lead from this moment on!”
Prince Chen withheld his confidential letter. Since the Emperor was far away, he might do whatever he wished without fear of interference. The Emperor had sent many guards to follow him and ensure his safety, so Prince Chen’s men const.i.tuted the majority of their diplomatic corp. In this respect only, if anything happened to Chu Liuchen, neither of them would survive.
In other words, even if either of them suffered or died, it would not be a big deal as long as Chu Liuchen was fine.
In terms of these two points, he and Chu Qing were at a disadvantage. If they fell prey to his dark schemes, the Emperor wouldn’t burrow into their misfortune when Prince Chen was fine.
After clarifying the vital issue, Qin Huaiyong immediately surrendered because he had a family to take care of.
The same idea had occurred to Chu Qing. No matter how unwilling he was to submit, he must face up to reality. He grated his teeth and swallowed the humiliation. “I’m at your command, Prince Chen!”
“Why? The Emperor valued and trusted Chu Liuchen more than his sons. I’m also the deceased emperor’s son, but why am I so unsuccessful in realizing my ambition?
“Is it just because I’m not the legitimate son of the deceased emperor? But since our father had pa.s.sed away and we wouldn’t succeed to the throne, whether we were the legitimate son was not important. Usually, as a consort’s son, they should like me more than the legitimate son. After all, I’m less likely to take the throne.
“But why does the Emperor favor Chu Liuchen instead of me?”
Chu Qing was unwilling to take his defeat lying down, but no matter how reluctant he was, he had to bow to pressure.
Xiao Xuanzi walked out from inside, all smiles, and said, “General Qin and Commandery Prince Qing, Prince Chen is not feeling well and needs to get some rest now. Please go back!”
As he spoke, he stepped aside to make way for them and bowed with a smile, appearing excessively respectful.
But no matter how respectfully, he was showing them the door.
When sending them off to the courtyard gate, Xiao Xuanzi turned around and left with a smile.
“Ningyuan Army General!” Chu Qing stopped Qin Huaiyong, who was about to leave.
“What’s up?” Qin Huaiyong, who looked pretty normal, cast a cold glance at Chu Qing and asked.
“Did you write a memorial to the capital city?” Chu Qing, his jaw clenched a little, made up his mind and could not help asking. Just now, Qin Huaiyong’s downcast face suggested that he must have done the same thing.
There was more than one letter on the table just now.
“Commandery Prince Qing, don’t you think it has nothing to do with you?” Qin Huaiyong choked with resentment inside the courtyard, but he couldn’t lose his temper there, so he didn’t look well this time.
“I could do nothing but admit defeat before Prince Chen. But does Commandery Prince Qing also want to suppress me?”
“Ningyuan Army General, please don’t misunderstand me…”
“It was a misunderstanding and my fault. I have something to do, so see you then!” Qin Huaiyong impatiently gave him a fist and palm salute to stop him from talking more. Then he ignored Chu Qing, turned around, and strode away — he simply left Chu Qing here.
Chu Qing’s face twisted in hatred. However, he took in a large gulp of air and managed to hold back his anger by repeatedly telling himself that he couldn’t vent his rage on Qin Huaiyong right before Chu Liuchen’s gate.
At present, he was just an idle prince without real power. This trip to the Xu State was of utmost importance to him. A little impatience would spoil his grand plan: he would take this opportunity to gain a foothold in the imperial court and get away with handling those useless trifles all day.
Gritting his teeth, he turned around with difficulty and went back the same way he came. He could do nothing harmful to Chu Liuchen, but dealing with Qin Huaiyong was much easier! But haste does not bring success; he had to take it slowly.
When in the Xu State, Qin Huaiyong and he would serve as envoys without Chu Liuchen keeping an eye on them. At that time, it would be more convenient for him to use some artful means. At present, he’d better not act rashly.
Qin Huaiyong and Chu Qing held the same vicious thoughts. This time, Chu Liuchen made them see the huge gap between them, which scared them. Neither of them dare to apply any means against Chu Liuchen, so of one accord, they targeted each other.
In the capital city, the Empress Dowager’s order was sent to the Prince Chen’s Mansion through the side door at night: if Shao Wanru was fine the next day, she should go to the Palace.
The order from the Palace was delivered when the night fell.
Someone must have said something to the Empress Dowager.
Shao Wanru thought that the Empress Dowager would call her at the earliest tomorrow morning. Infanta Yuan’an would enter the Palace to see the Empress Dowager and mention this matter. Only then would the Empress Dowager summon her. To her surprise, the instruction came in advance, but she wasn’t asked to enter the Palace today. The Empress Dowager seemed to be very considerate to her.
Chu Liuchen seemed to be the only one who could do the business while taking care of her feelings. Thinking of this, Shao Wanru couldn’t help but feel a touch of sweetness in her heart. He was thousands of miles away, but he cared about her and quickly reacted for her. Her watery eyes sparkled in the warm light, which made her face gentler.
He had been out for a few days, so how was he? Although she knew he was in good condition, he still needed to pay more attention to his health when he was far away from home.
She walked under the lamp, picked up the writing brush, and began to write a private letter to him, her eyes exuding tenderness and affections.
Yujie came in with a cup of tea and swallowed back the words on the tip of her tongue, knowing that her master would only look so gentle and tender when she thought of Prince Chen. She smiled shyly, like a teenage girl. At this moment, she was no longer the sophisticated lady who had gone through many trials and hards.h.i.+ps and seen through the mortal world.
“Is there anything wrong?” Shao Wanru put down the brush and looked at her letter again before asking.
“Nanny Zheng, tell me… she has something important to tell you!” Yujie said.