Chapter 1156 - Chapter 1156 Families with Different Importance
Chapter 1156 Families with Different Importance
“Oh, I’m going to find my grandma!” Shao Yuanhao turned around and was about to leave.
“Wait a minute, Your Grace!” E’niang grabbed Shao Yuanhao’s sleeve and said, “I have something else to say!”
“What? Say it!” Shao Yuanhao ordered grumpily.
“Your Grace, you can rush over and make everything clear, but then what? Do you want to deal with Madam Jiang? No matter how wrong she is, she is still your Second Aunt!” E’niang advised him, seemingly earnestly. Of course, she could not let Shao Yuanhao rush out to Rui’an Great Elder Princess and Princess Chen recklessly like this. At that time, they would not spare her.
“Then tell me what I can do?” Shao Yuanhao could listen to the advice of others. He stamped his foot hard and said, “She murdered my parents. I will never live under the same sky with my sworn enemy!”
“Your Grace, that’s what I think. Trust me. When I move into the Marquis Xing’s Mansion, I will help you take revenge. It’s also my purpose. That was why I asked Her Grace and Her Highness for help. As long as I marry into the Marquis Xing’s Mansion, I can avenge your mother’s death for you!”
E’niang advised.
“You want to avenge my mother? But why are you willing to do that?” It was not easy to fool Shao Yuanhao into believing her words. At this point, he started sizing her up with suspicious eyes.
“Your mother saved my life. Even if I must pay for it with my life, I will avenge your mother!” E’niang took a deep breath and vowed in a low voice.
“Thank you so much!” Shao Yuanhao looked at E’niang and suddenly took a step back, bowing to her.
“Your Grace, please don’t do this. I’m just a servant girl. It’s my duty to do this!” She hurriedly stepped aside to avoid his salute, twisting her ankle a little. It seemed that she was indeed injured just now.
“Take a rest. I’ll ask someone to fetch the ointment!” Seeing that she had difficulty in moving, Shao Yuanhao ordered the servant beside him to fetch the ointment for external injuries.
One servant left, and the other stayed to keep an eye on E’niang from a distance.
“Thank you, Your Grace. I have to go back now. Can I come to find you if I have something to do in the future? Her Grace is powerful and influential. I don’t dare to disturb her often. Could you help me pa.s.s messages on to her?” After thanking him, E’niang looked at Shao Yuanhao and asked.
Her words made sense. Rui’an Great Elder Princess was of n.o.ble status, and not everyone could meet her casually.
“You can see me at the Imperial Academy!” Shao Yuanhao thought for a moment and said.
“Thank you, Your Grace. Many thanks! With your words, I feel so relieved. Her Grace may not hear the news in time if Madam Jiang tries to play any tricks. I’m afraid it will ruin the big plan!” E’niang thanked him repeatedly and bowed sideways, shedding joyful tears.
When it was time to leave, she said, “Your Grace, I’m leaving now. A servant girl leading the way is waiting for me!”
“Is your foot okay?” Shao Yuanhao asked.
“Nothing serious. Don’t worry, Your Grace!” E’niang said. Since she had achieved her goal, she did not dare to stay any longer. Otherwise, someone would report it to Rui’an Great Elder Princess or Princess Chen.
Shao Yuanhao had agreed to see her. In the future, she could get in touch with him easily. Better still, she didn’t have to meet him in the Rui’an Great Elder Princess’s Mansion, which would be much more convenient.
Seeing that she insisted on leaving, Shao Yuanhao did not ask her to stay any longer. He nodded and watched her hurriedly hobble over to the peach blossom grove, heading in another direction.
When E’niang was out of sight, Shao Yuanhao told the servant who stayed behind, “Send all the items to my courtyard later!”
After that, he left the servant behind and walked forward.
The servant worriedly watched him, looking up at the pavilion on the rockery high above the garden in the distance. Then, he responded, feeling secure.
“Prince Chen is there. My master must have gone there to see His Highness. He will be safe.”
As expected, Shao Yuanhao was going to find Chu Liuchen!
When he ascended to the pavilion and saw Chu Liuchen leaning against the railing, he still could not restrain his anger. Chu Liuchen smiled as he came over in a burning fury, slightly raising the corners of his mouth. “Is it settled?”
“It should have been completed. This woman is indeed malicious.” Shao Yuanhao walked to Chu Liuchen’s side and sat down, saying with hatred.
“Marquis Xing has long coveted your father’s t.i.tle of n.o.bility!” Chu Liuchen’s eyes turned cold and solemn as he reached out and patted Shao Yuanhao on the shoulder. “You are the only younger brother your sister has. Never let her down. You are her closest family related by blood. No one loved her when she was in Jiangzhou, but now she wants to give you all her love!”
The rims of his eyes were red. Shao Yuanhao lowered his head and said, “I know it!”
He could hardly recall the things happening between him and his Second Uncle and Second Aunt. Compared with them, his sister and grandmother were his closest family. As he grew older, Shao Yuanhao gradually understood the evil trick of ruining a child by spoiling him. However, when he recalled the past, he couldn’t help feeling that they had at least raised him.
His grat.i.tude for their so-called love and care in his childhood had become faint, yet he always remembered being a Shao Family member.
“Your father and mother were the victims of the fight for the t.i.tle of n.o.bility. You and your sister became orphans and even strayed to other places. Because of this, your sister couldn’t reunite with you. If you still care about their small favor in raising you, you might as well return the t.i.tle of n.o.bility to them, lest they plot against you and your sister again. Even your grandmother might fall into the abyss of pain. Her daughter died back then, and she might lose her grandson and granddaughter in the future!”
Chu Liuchen’s eyes fell on Shao Yuanhao. Although his voice was lazy, it was full of frightening coldness and majesty.
“If you can’t tell who is your closest families, give up this honor that originally belonged to you. In this way, you may be able to stay alive!”
Chu Liuchen spoke to Shao Yuanhao bluntly without reservation. At this moment, he didn’t treat him as an ignorant child.
He could not let Shao Yuanhao be a burden to Shao Wanru, even if he was her biological younger brother.
Since the matter had been exposed, Chu Liuchen felt it best to get to the bottom of the case. Therefore, he decided to show the enemy’s cheap intrigues to Shao Yuanhao.
“Brother-in-law, don’t worry. I know who are my beloved families!” Shao Yuanhao felt great pain, as though his heart were cut into many pieces by Chu Liuchen’s words. But when he came to his senses, he gritted his teeth with determination and said, “I am the only man in the mansion whom my grandma and sister can rely on. I have to protect them!”
A man should protect the people he cares about. Shao Yuanhao understood this.
In the past three years, Rui’an Great Elder Princess thought she had protected him well and never let him get involved in anything troublesome. But he had secretly learned from Chu Liuchen for three years. He had been an ignorant boy, but gradually he became sensible. Anyway, he was not the innocent child as he looked on the surface now.
When Shao Wanru and Chu Liuchen left, Shao Yuanhao walked them to the carriage.
“Hao’er, go back and be filial to our grandma!” Shao Wanru turned around and told Shao Yuanhao. As a boy who hadn’t reached adolescence, he was still a little shorter than Shao Wanru.
“Sister, please rest a.s.sured. I see!” Shao Yuanhao pulled Shao Wanru’s sleeve, looking like an innocent child again.
Shao Wanru lowered her head slightly.
“Sister, the next time that woman comes, I will send someone to tell you!” Shao Yuanhao lowered his voice and said with a kind and honest look.
Somehow, Shao Wanru found this expression quite familiar. She glanced sideways at Chu Liuchen, who was smiling with his hands clasped behind his back. He looked gentle and refined indeed.
She couldn’t help smiling and exclaiming. “Hao’er has grown up!”
She joked. Inexplicably, when she said it, the rims of her eyes turned red. She hurriedly forced a weak smile to cover up her sadness. Then, she turned around and got on the carriage with Chu Liuchen’s help.
She was afraid she would burst into tears if she stayed any longer.
In her last life, she didn’t know where the child had been wandering. Perhaps, he did not even have a chance to grow up. Now he was standing right before her, alive and kicking. This scene made her feel unreal.
In this life, many things changed. She was no longer the humble woman living in misery in her previous life.
Chu Liuchen got on the carriage. After coming in, he saw Shao Wanru leaning on one side with slightly red eyes. He casually reached out to hold her in his arms and patted her gently.
...
Shao Wanru remained silent in his embrace but felt her heart was no longer so empty. In this life, she was no longer lonely and always had someone to turn to. Her eyelashes fluttered twice and gently lowered, casting two uneven shadows under her eyes. When she felt secure, her tender eyes made her delicate face more pleasant.
The corners of her rosy lips curled up slightly…
The carriage went straight to Prince Chen’s Mansion, but Shao Wanru was still asleep. While still in a daze, she was carried out of the carriage by Chu Liuchen. When she woke up, four hours had pa.s.sed.
She slept so soundly that she didn’t even have a dream. The painful and lingering memories of her previous life had tortured her the whole time. But at this time, it seemed she could finally handle her agonizing past with ease.
“My Lady, you’re awake!” Yujie stepped forward and lifted the gauze curtain with a smile.
“Where’s Chu Liuchen?” Shao Wanru took a cup of warm water from Qu Le, took a sip, and asked.
“His Highness has just left. He asked you to have a good rest and not to worry too much,” Yujie said.
Shao Wanru got up. After was.h.i.+ng up, she saw some fruit on the fruit tray on the table and asked curiously, “Where did these fruits come from? Why haven’t I seen any of them before?”
They looked like apples but were smaller. Each was plump. At first glance, she could tell that they were picked when ripe.
“They are rewards given by Consort Lan from the Palace. This kind of fruit is said to be a Xu State specialty, so not many were brought over. Only a few consorts in the Palace received some. Consort Lan has awarded you this plate of fruit!” Yujie said with a smile.
They were from Consort Lan. Shao Wanru had guessed it but still felt a little surprised.
...
The matter of the Empress seemed to have calmed down, and Consort Lan appeared before everyone. Without the previous restriction, Consort Lan came to public attention. Yet, she seldom left her place and did not meet other imperial consorts.
The Empress Dowager was sick and preferred a quiet life, not allowing those imperial consorts to pay their respects to her.
The Empress kept a low profile. Also, she announced she was not feeling well and did not require imperial consorts to visit and inquire after her. Although everyone was very curious about Consort Lan, few people saw her. It was said that even Consort of Virtue and Consort Ming were rejected when they came to see Consort Lan. They were told that Consort Lan felt too poorly to meet guests.