Chapter 1065 Bringing up the Past, Who Did It?
Shao Wanru blinked her eyes with a pleasant smile on her rosy lips and said, “Imperial Grandmother, you should also take good care of yourself. It is easy to fall ill during this period. I’m in good health, but I still got sick in the past few days. So, you should be even more careful.”
She had a rosy complexion. There was always a faint pink tinge to her delicate and fair face. At this time, she was a little haggard but still looked healthy. Such a good color greatly comforted the Empress Dowager. How could an elder not like juniors who appeared vital and healthy?
The Empress Dowager had been worried about Chu Liuchen’s health the most. Now that he married Shao Wanru, who would manage the whole mansion if Princess Chen was also sick and weak?
For this reason only, Empress Dowager was very satisfied with Shao Wanru.
“I went to the street and took a fancy to a shop. I’d like to buy it. If you like anything in the shop, I can ask someone to send it to you,” Shao Wanru said with a proud smile, revealing her white teeth.
“A shop? What kind of shop?” Seeing her so delighted, the Empress Dowager showed a little interest.
“It’s a shop selling women’s ready-made clothes. It has fine clothes and accessories. When I buy this shop, you can choose anything you like!”
Shao Wanru grinned.
“That’s great. My clothes will depend on you in the future!” The Empress Dowager was pleased to hear that and laughed heartily.
“Okay. I’ll take charge of your clothes and dress materials!” Shao Wanru promised, her s.h.i.+ning eyes dancing with joy. Her pretty face looked even more charming when she smiled.
“How could you buy that shop? Doesn’t it run well?” Nanny Wei asked curiously.
“It’s doing just fine, but the shopkeeper is in trouble. She has no choice but to sell this shop to me. Otherwise, someone else might occupy it,” Shao Wanru said.
“Who is so overbearing to damage other people’s business?” The Empress Dowager’s face fell. Shao Wanru meant that this shopkeeper was forced to give up her shop.
“I heard it was the shopkeeper’s ex-husband who had abandoned her. Now he and his current wife are conspiring to get the shopkeeper’s property. Since the female shopkeeper had no background in the capital city, she might even die if she didn’t get rid of her shop.” The smile on Shao Wanru’s face faded away. She frowned slightly and felt indignant for Madame Dong.
“What is going on exactly? Tell me the details,” The Empress Dowager said with wide eyes, knowing there must be some hidden facts.
Shao Wanru told her the grievances between Madame Dong and Wei Dahai in full detail. The Empress Dowager repeatedly sighed in lamentation and said, “Why didn’t she drive that man away?”
“I felt the same way. So, I chose to take Madame Dong in. Otherwise, as a lone and helpless woman, she may as well lose her money and even life in the end,” Shao Wanru said.
“Yes, you did it right. The man is not qualified to be an official. Go and find out if he has committed some other crimes. Such a person must not be a good official.” The Empress Dowager reproached in a fury.
Shao Wanru didn’t say Wei Dahai’s name when she told the whole story and only mentioned that he was an official.
Shao Wanru repeatedly nodded in approval and said, “You’re right. After I get this shop, I’ll inquire about this matter and find out which official appointed by the imperial court dared to do such dirty jobs!”
Nanny Wei had been standing beside the Empress Dowager. At this time, the smile on her face gradually froze. She glanced at Shao Wanru carefully, slowly lowered her head, and took a few steps back. Respectfully, she stood still behind the Empress Dowager without looking sideways.
“Such an immoral person does not deserve to work for the imperial court. How could he pa.s.s the imperial exam back then? The imperial exam only tests literary talent. He is morally corrupt. It’s a pity that some scholars of excellent character might have to suffer many a setback during their official careers.” Empress Dowager shook her head.
It suddenly occurred to Shao Wanru that the Empress Dowager seemed to be implying something.
Her long eyelashes fluttered fast. Then she raised her limpid eyes and echoed the Empress Dowager’s words. “That’s right. Literary talent is the foremost consideration when the imperial court appoints officials. Later on, those bad ones will gradually be exposed. Nevertheless, it’s hard for those without exceptional literary talent to stand out among their fellows.”
The Empress Dowager nodded in agreement and asked casually, “You had lived in Jiangzhou, right? Have you heard of the Number Three Scholar in the last exam?”
Shao Wanru shook her head and looked at Empress Dowager in confusion. “Imperial Grandmother, I was in the Yuhui Nunnery during the last imperial exam, so I didn’t see any of those scholars. I only heard that the Number One Scholar was the Third Young Master of the Mansion of the Prime Minister next door.”
The Marquis Xing’s Mansion and the Mansion of the Prime Minister were adjacent. Even if the masters of the two mansions did not exchange the news, the servants would pa.s.s it on.
A happy event like that traveled particularly fast. Shao Wanru had heard more than once from the old Nannies in Old Madam’s courtyard that they had seen Wen Xichi when he was a child. They all said that the Number One Scholar had been clever and quick-witted since childhood. At first glance, they could tell that he would be extraordinary.
“The Third Young Master of the Mansion of the Prime Minister is a nice young man of excellent character who excels in all aspects. We can consider him. Among the scholars who took the last exam, the Number Two Scholar got married, but neither the Third Young Master of the Mansion of the Prime Minister nor the Number Three Scholar has married. I heard that he also came from Jiangzhou.” The Empress Dowager turned to Nanny Wei, putting her hand on her head while trying to recall something. “What’s his surname?”
“Her Majesty, it’s Qi. He was said to have grown up with Princess Chen. There are profoundly friendly relations between the two families.” Nanny Wei reminded her with a smile.
“Yes… yes, right. My bad memory! I heard the character and wit of this young man surnamed Qi are as good as those of Third Young Master Wen. Particularly, he is a great-hearted man who values relations.h.i.+ps.” The Empress Dowager nodded in approval and said, “Tell me what this person is like. What I’ve said is only hearsay and shouldn’t be taken seriously.”
“His family name is Qi? And he was the Number Three Scholar. Qi Tianyu?” Shao Wanru asked, staying calm and collected.
“Qi… Qi Tianyu. Yes, that’s him,” The Empress Dowager said hurriedly and looked at Shao Wanru with a bright smile, “what do you think of him?”
“Uh…” Shao Wanru, seemingly embarra.s.sed by such a question, awkwardly lowered her head. Twisting the handkerchief a few times, she said uneasily and helplessly, “Imperial Grandmother, who told you I knew him?”
“Is there anything wrong?” The Empress Dowager asked kindly.
Shao Wanru said with red-rimmed eyes, “I don’t know how others talked about it. Prince Chen knows about it because he happened to be in Jiangzhou back then.”
“How could Chu Liuchen also know about it?” The Empress Dowager was surprised. Judging from Shao Wanru’s reaction, there must be something serious behind it. She didn’t want to discuss Qi Tianyu’s affairs, for she had to avoid arousing suspicion.
“Then I’ll ask Chen’er.” The Empress Dowager comforted her, “It’s nothing serious. I suddenly remembered him. I heard he was also one of the top talents in the capital city, so I wanted to know more about him. Others said that he came from Jiangzhou and seemed to know you.”
“Yes, but he… I don’t know how to bring it up. It’s better to let His Highness say it,” Shao Wanru said aggrievedly, the rims of her eyes red.
She didn’t know how Qi Tianyu’s name came to the Empress Dowager’s ears. Nevertheless, it was improper for her to talk more about him. Chu Liuchen was the most suitable person to say this matter, and the Empress Dowager had always believed in him.
Shao Wanru looked sad, but a lot of things were going fast through her head. She wondered who deliberately mentioned Qi Tianyu and why it had to involve her.
Although she had nothing to do with what had happened, she had violated the Woman Precepts and Woman Ethics. As a lady, she had behaved a little rudely. Since she hadn’t yet figured out the Empress Dowager’s true character, Shao Wanru didn’t know if she would flare up when she heard such a thing.
“Okay, okay, I’ll ask Chen’er!” The Empress Dowager said.
Shao Wanru sniffed, tilted her head to wipe the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief, and turned her head back with a gentle smile. Her delicate and mild look appeared particularly pleasant, but the glum look at the bottom of her eyes was so apparent that she made the Empress Dowager feel distressed.
“If you are tired, go back and have a rest first,” The Empress Dowager said gently.
“I’m not tired. Your birthday is coming soon. What kind of gift do you like? This is the first time that I’ve chosen a gift for you. I sincerely hope I can pick up something you like.” Shao Wanru had thrown her sadness away and turned to see the Empress Dowager with an anxious look as if she had put her whole heart into pleasing her Imperial Grandmother.
She was beautiful. At this time, all she saw in her round eyes was the Empress Dowager. Her pair of eyes were clear, and she was young, so she appeared as adorable as the little princesses in the Palace. The Empress Dowager couldn’t help showing loving care for her at the sight of her pure eyes.
“In the past years, Chen’er would send me some gifts I liked. You don’t have to worry about it. Chen’er must have prepared some.” The Empress Dowager said, beaming in a good mood.
“It’s the first time for me to celebrate your birthday, so I should do my best!” Shao Wanru said, making Empress Dowager laugh happily again.
“Your Majesty, Princess Chen is filial to you. Now you can enjoy blessings from your grandson and your granddaughter-in-law,” Nanny Wei joked.
The Empress Dowager smiled more and more happily. “Well, I don’t have any special hobbies. I am happy to accept whatever gifts you give me.”
“Imperial Grandmother, has everything been arranged here?” Shao Wanru looked around and asked curiously. When she came in, the palace maids and eunuchs outside were moving some things, mainly in the front hall.
“Your Highness, His Majesty wants to hold a banquet in the front hall this year. It will be more convenient and s.p.a.cious for everyone to have a good time. Now it is almost ready. They finished fixing up a place during this period. When Your Highness came here before, they had just started.”
Nanny Wei explained with a smile.
“Imperial Grandmother, may I go and have a look to enrich my experience?” Shao Wanru’s eyes brightened as she looked up and asked joyfully.
It was not difficult to fulfill her expectation. The Empress Dowager waved her hand with a smile and ordered Nanny Wei to take Shao Wanru there.
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