Chapter 1264 - 1264 Brothers Gambling Among Each Other
Chapter 1264 Brothers Gambling Among Each Other
Shao Jie’er moved to the Commandery Prince Qing’s Mansion as a consort. In this case, the Emperor must have recognized her ident.i.ty. But why didn’t people in the mansion admit her status later? It was because no one in the Commandery Prince Qing’s Mansion had gone to inform Grand Prince, the director of the Imperial Clan, about this matter.
The Emperor had agreed. As long as anyone notified the director of the Imperial Clan, Shao Jie’er could be regarded as a half-consort even if she didn’t officially go to wors.h.i.+p the Imperial Clan.
That was what the Commandery Prince Qing’s Mansion needed!
“My Lady… Then… Then why did you let Second Miss go?” Yujie asked in confusion. If her master did not allow Second Miss to leave, she could not make it.
“Even if I didn’t allow her to leave, she would escape after I left there. Anyway, I would be blamed for this matter. Even worse, Shao Jie’er might even lose her life, and the dead cannot bear witness.” Shao Wanru said lightly.
There was no testimony of witness after she pa.s.sed away, and Shao Wanru would still have to bear the consequences.
“But then, others might ask that who let Second Miss leave? And did she leave when you were away?” After thinking for a moment, Qing’er asked. She was much more thoughtful than ordinary servant girls.
“Honestly, only a few people could let Shao Jie’er leave and control the direction she chose and the place she went. In the end, she would have an accident.” Shao Wanru said coldly.
She had already thought of the whole thing the moment she saw Mo Qiuyi.
Her rosy lips curled slightly, showing an air of coldness. In this case, she decided to take the easy option and give them what they wanted. Shao Jie’er, mean and ungrateful, just suffered the consequences of her deeds. Those people wanted to plot against her by using Shao Jie’er — they overestimated themselves.
Everything was ready, and these people were waiting for Shao Wanru to cast herself into the net. Even if she didn’t go there this time, there must be a reason for her to come! Coincidentally, she met Mo Qiuyi there…
Chu Qing followed a eunuch into the Palace. He was going home after the regular meeting of the imperial court. But surprisingly, he was summoned by someone in the Palace.
In a quiet palace, Chu Liuchen looked at Chu Qing, who was approaching step by step with malicious and insidious eyes.
It was Chu Liuchen inside. When Chu Qing saw that, he was shocked and stopped in a hurry. The Emperor was not feeling well these days, and Chu Liuchen had not gone to court in the past few days. Unexpectedly, it was Chu Liuchen who summoned him in.
After a short pause, he walked forward slowly, feeling uneasy.
“Greetings, Your highness.”
“Please sit down!” Prince Chen waved his hand, and soon two eunuchs brought a chair over. Then they submissively put their hands down and stepped aside.
Chu Qing didn’t know why Chu Liuchen wanted to see him. Stepping aside, he sat and asked, looking a little bit nervous. “You wanted me to be here. Er… Why?”
“Can’t I meet you if there is nothing important?” Chu Liuchen asked with a faint smile.
Even though his smile looked gentle, it still sent a chill to Chu Qing’s heart. He felt scared and stressed for no reason. He forced a smile and said, “You must be joking. We are originally… How could we not be close?”
“I heard you would make an unknown woman your legal wife?” Chu Liuchen didn’t beat around the bush and went straight to the point.
Chu Qing didn’t understand at first. After thinking for a while, he asked, “Are you… talking about Qiuyi?”
“I don’t know if this woman is the one you have chosen to be your legal wife. This matter has nothing to do with me, but your princess-to-be is scheming against my wife. Then, I have to handle this matter!”
“What did Qiuyi do?” Chu Qing asked in surprise because he had no idea about it.
“Your princess-to-be seems to be very capable. She accomplished something big without you noticing it!” Chu Liuchen’s delicate lips curled. He slightly raised his beautiful eyes, looking careless.
“How could Mo Qiuyi not be capable?” There was no doubt about her outstanding capabilities. Chu Qing knew it very well. This was an important reason why he wanted her to be his legal wife. Compared with Princess Yuyan, Mo Qiuyi was the woman who could rule over his inner court. With her, he could focus on great things.
In Chu Qing’s mind, Princess Yuyan might cause trouble, but Mo Qiuyi would never do that.
“I don’t know what you mean!” Chu Qing straightened his back, unwilling to appear too weak before Chu Liuchen. They were brothers who had lost their father. Why could Chu Liuchen vigorously suppress him?
“Well, I know something you don’t know. Shao Jing’s second daughter is your consort?” Chu Liuchen casually asked as if he didn’t notice that Chu Qing’s expression had changed drastically.
“No, not a consort. She is just a concubine with no status,” Chu Qing answered indifferently. He did not like Chu Liuchen interfering in the affairs of his inner court.
“I’m afraid you have gotten it wrong. At the very beginning, Uncle the Emperor has agreed to let Shao Jie’er marry into your mansion as a consort, hasn’t he?” Chu Liuchen asked with great interest. Under his searching gaze, Chu Qing felt more depressed.
“Shao Jie’er didn’t behave properly, so she is not suitable to be my consort! Later on, she returned without permission when something happened to the mansion. How could she be my consort?”
Chu Qing said.
“No?” Chu Liuchen asked again.
“No!” Chu Qing said with certainty.
Chu Liuchen asked again as if he didn’t see the anger in Chu Qing’s eyes, “Are you sure? Or has your mother asked someone to change her status proof? Your mother might have agreed to the thing granted by Uncle the Emperor.”
“What do you mean? My mother would not do such a thing. How could she make Shao Jie’er my consort?” Chu Qing became increasingly impatient.
Her mother hated Shao Jie’er so much, so how could she take the initiative to make Shao Jie’er a consort?
“I know your purpose. Shao Jie’er has a bad character, and her behaviors are unacceptable. How could such a woman be my consort? Even my ordinary concubines are better than her.” Chu Qing gritted his teeth with determination and said. Chu Liuchen dominated their conversation. Chu Qing felt breathless under such intense pressure.
He shook his sleeves and covered the blue veins on his arms. He was afraid he would lose control and fight with Chu Liuchen.
He exhaled deeply. This was Chu Liuchen’s territory, so he wouldn’t and couldn’t fight here. But this depressed feeling made him uncomfortable.
“Well, then, Grand Prince, please come out!” Chu Liuchen smiled languidly and stretched out his slender hand to pat him.
Chu Qing turned his head in a daze and saw Grand Prince coming out from behind the curtain. He was so fat that he could barely walk.
A eunuch brought over a large chair. Grand Prince sat down and rubbed his belly. It was tough for him to stagger here. So, when he had nothing to do, he was unwilling to go out and would rather lie at home.
In particular, when he was asked to go to the Imperial Palace, he knew there couldn’t be a good thing.
“Commandery Prince Qing, someone from your mansion came to me with your visiting card. Then I was told to record Shao Jie’er as your consort.” The aged Grand Prince did not explain much and went straight to the point. “But according to what you said just now, you don’t know about this matter. In this case, who used your visiting card to deceive me?”
His visiting card was not something that anyone could get.
“Really?” Chu Qing was stunned. Subconsciously, he was on the alert.
“Yes, indeed. It happened the day before yesterday. Commandery Prince Qing, what’s wrong with your mansion? Is it safe? Sometimes, someone was going to a.s.sa.s.sinate you. Sometimes, your mansion was haunted. Now, even your visiting card was stolen. Such a mistake about the visiting card might cause big trouble. Nothing serious happened because it was sent to me. But if it was sent to other mansions, others might doubt and criticize you!”
Grand Prince said with a grin and moved his legs to relax. He was so fat that he would feel miserable if he stayed put for a long time. The chair was not small, but he didn’t think there was enough s.p.a.ce for him because he could barely squeeze himself into it.
What would happen if it was sent to other mansions? If such a visiting card were lost, it would cause big trouble, especially during this sensitive period. All the mansions were very cautious for fear of causing serious trouble. Even the Emperor’s sons had shut their doors and declined to see visitors, meticulous about everything. Therefore, shouldn’t an unfavored nephew like him behave more appropriately?
Chu Qing’s expression changed drastically. He stood up, bowed deeply to Grand Prince and Chu Liuchen, and said, “Grand Prince and Prince Chen, I’ll find out the truth when I get back. I’ll give you an explanation.”
After that, he turned around and was about to leave.
“Wait a minute,” Chu Liuchen drawled lazily, tapping gently on the table with his slender fingers. Then, he said with an extremely casual att.i.tude, “Since Shao Jie’er is not your consort, please do me a favor. Whatever mistakes Shao Jie’er made, she is my wife’s cousin. It would be great to let her live somewhere far away from the capital! What do you think about it?”
It sounded like a question, but Chu Qing gave him the suggestion in a very matter-of-fact way. His words sounded more like a notice to Chu Qing. Anyway, Shao Jie’er was merely a concubine with no status. It was indeed not a big deal for him. But Chu Qing felt very aggrieved as if he had been severely beaten. What was worse, with his head pressed down, he had to cheer for this brutal beating.
He felt depressed and tried to compose himself, his eyes gloomy and cold. After a while, he nodded to Chu Liuchen and said, “Okay, she is just a concubine. Nothing serious.”
After that, he said goodbye to the two of them. This time, neither of them stopped him and watched him leave in a hurry.
With a handkerchief, the aged Grand Prince wiped the sweat off his forehead and smiled at Chu Liuchen. “Your highness, this matter is settled, right?”
“Thanks for the trouble, Grand Prince,” Chu Liuchen said politely.
“Don’t mention it. It’s what I should do.” Grand Prince felt uneasy and moved again. He did feel terrible even though he was on the chair. “If there’s nothing else…”
“Grand Prince, there is no need for me to tell you how important the offspring of the royal family is. Am I right?” Chu Liuchen said. When his face suddenly darkened, traces of gloominess appeared on his gentle face. Under his piercing gaze, Grand Prince seemed targeted by a powerful savage prey. His hands trembled, and he hurriedly explained. “It’s not my fault. People from the Commandery Prince Qing’s Mansion said so.”
In his heart, Grand Prince cursed Chu Qing at full blast. He got involved in this matter for no reason. He didn’t know why such a thing happened. Commandery Prince Qing didn’t manage his inner court well, but somehow, the trouble was brought upon Grand Prince’s head.
“Do you think it has nothing to do with you? Then I’ll tell Uncle the Emperor the details when I meet him,” Chu Liuchen said coldly.
“Well… I… I was negligent to my work.” Grand Prince had to admit defeat to a junior. At this time, he hated Chu Qing even more.
Grand Prince had just wanted to live out the rest of his life as the director of the Imperial Clan. What was wrong with being an idle Prince with few desires? Without reason, he was involved in this matter.
“Grand Prince, you neglected more than once. Do you remember the matter about the former empress more than a decade ago?”
Grand Prince’s face changed dramatically.