Chapter 481 - A Blind Meeting in the Nunnery
Chapter 481 A Blind Meeting in the Nunnery
“We can see more from above!” Chu Liuchen looked up at the high ground and said excitedly.
“Climbing up the hill is even more tiring. Your Highness, you had better take good care of yourself before coming back!” Shao Wanru said. She reached out to pull his hand and went down the mountain.
Although Chu Liuchen’s health was better than the last time, it was still not as good as the average people’s. She had asked Mingqiu Nun about his illness in detail and knew that it was not easy to purge Chu Liuchen’s body of the poison that was already present when he was in his mother’s womb. What’s more, Chu Liuchen had not sought treatment for so many years. It was said that he did not care about his health at all.
This made Shao Wanru feel sad for some reason.
If one did not even care about his own health, what would he care about?
Being forcefully pulled by Shao Wanru, Chu Liuchen looked displeased and his reluctance showed. He pulled at Shao Wanru with his hand and when he saw that she did not pay any attention to him, he followed her down the mountain.
Xiao Xuanzi climbed up at some point and he was trying to persuade Chu Liuchen to take the medicine once he came down the mountain. Seeing this scene, Xiao Xuanzi was joyful. In the past, no one had been able to persuade his master. Even if the Empress Dowager came to persuade him, she could do nothing. His master had many ways to make Empress Dowager fall in with his wishes.
Now with Fifth Miss Shao, he was indeed different!
“From now on, my master can really be cured. Doctor Qi has said many times that my master should take good care of himself and take his medicine regularly. Otherwise, he will not be able to recover and he will not live long. Now he will be cured!”
Xiao Xuanzi followed them and went down the mountain happily.
The following days were very peaceful. It was so peaceful that Shao Wanru almost forgot about the massive burden of Duke Xing’s Mansion.
After staying on the mountain for a period of time, Chu Liuchen went down the mountain. After that, he spent his days recuperating in Prince Chen’s mansion. He rarely appeared at Yuhui Nunnery so no one knew about his secret visits to Yuhui Nunnery.
Rui’an Great Elder Princess and Shao Yuanhao went to the mountain to see Shao Wanru from time to time. With Rui’an Great Elder Princess’s strong backing, the people in Yuhui Nunnery dared not treat Shao Wanru badly.
Shui Ruolan had given birth to a son named Qin Xuan who was called Brother Xuan. When Brother Xuan was a little older, Shui Ruolan and Old Madam Qin brought Brother Xuan up the mountain to see Shao Wanru.
Shao Wanru lived a peaceful life on the mountain. When it came to painting, Shao Wanru liked it very much. She used Shao Yanru’s quiet room to ease her mind and she spent most of her time there. Rui’an Great Elder Princess saw that Wanru really liked this yard, so she discussed it with the master of the Yuhui Nunnery. She paid a lot of money for the use of the yard.
In addition to the main room in the middle, she could go into other places. When she was tired, she could also rest there.
Shao Yanru’s clothes and other personal items were in the main room, so it was not convenient for Shao Wanru to enter.
Originally, the master of the Yuhui Nunnery did not agree with this kind of arrangement. However, on the one hand, it was Rui’an Great Elder Princess who came forward. On the other hand, although this courtyard was owned by Shao Yanru, it was also transformed by the people sent by Duke Xing’s Mansion. Shao Wanru was Shao Yanru’s cousin and also a member of Duke Xing’s Mansion.
It was based on these two aspects and Master Pu Shan’s consent.
Shao Wanru had a very peaceful life in the Yuhui Nunnery. Other than these two courtyards, she did not go anywhere else. After that, when Zhang Qilan came to the Yuhui Nunnery to recuperate, she followed her to live a peaceful life. Zhang Qilan also liked painting and left the mountain reluctantly after accompanying Shao Wanru for a few months.
There was no lapse of time in the mountains and the capital city at the foot of the mountain was also very calm. The princes would not be married for the time being, so no one had any desire to compete for it. Gradually, some talented and beautiful women with good reputations disappeared from the public’s sight. After getting married, of course, they could not be as outstanding as they used to be when they were young ladies.
However, some women were still favored by the aristocratic families in the capital. One example was the First Miss of Duke Xing’s Mansion, who saved an old lady who fainted in the Huaguang Temple on Wenxin Road. She did not turn her back on the old lady, but helped her up together with her servant girl.
It could be said that she was kind and dignified. She was renowned for her talent and beauty. Although she was said to be the most beautiful woman in the capital, she was so young at that time. Now she was 16 years old, the best age. It was said that when they saw First Miss Shao supporting the old lady that day, all the people on Wenxin Road were stunned.
It was said that even fairies descending to the mortal world could not compare with this.
This time, the title of the top beauty in the capital city was decidedly bestowed on Shao Yanru.
A busybody deliberately wrote a poem that said, “There is a girl who is beautiful and kind...” This poem stirred up the whole capital city. The First Miss Shao became more and more widely known. It was even vaguely said that she was the most beautiful woman in the Kingdom of Dongcang.
And it was said that Miss Shao’s painting skills were also excellent. She was taught by Pu Shan Nun in Yuhui Nunnery. Pu Shan Nun was from a family of a painting master. After some misfortune happened, she became a nun. Her painting skills were all taught to Shao Yanru. Pu Shan Nun had also said that Shao Yanru was talented and clever. Besides, she was willing to work hard. If she could stay on the mountain for two more years, she would have been a master by now!
Once this rumor got out, people immediately disliked Fifth Miss Shao, who was still on the mountain. They heard that if it was not for Fifth Miss Shao who was not popular in the Duke Xing’s Mansion and made a fuss about going to the Yuhui Nunnery to observe the rites of filial piety, First Miss Shao would not have to give her the yard and go down the mountain.
What happened in the past became less clear after two years. People could only see Shao Yanru’s beauty, Shao Yanru’s kindness and Shao Yanru’s talent. They forgot that Duke Xing’s Mansion had forced this newly recognized Fifth Miss Shao to have nowhere to go, so she had to go to the Yuhui Nunnery...
Chu Liuxin, who was bored, stretched out his foot and kicked a few bamboos to the side. It was already autumn. The bamboos still looked very green, which made him feel a little better. He peered through the bamboos and looked at several young ladies from aristocratic families who were at another road. He immediately ducked and was inexplicably unhappy.
He did not want to get married yet. Why did he have to choose? This kind of thing annoyed him so much recently. Two years ago, he was very happy to hear that they did not need to choose a concubine. Now he also felt that he was still young. He was just at the same age as that of his brothers two years ago, so why didn’t they have to choose because of their young age? But now, they were so old and had not chosen yet. It was his turn again!
“Prince, have you taken a fancy to anyone?” Xiao Liuzi, the little eunuch, asked excitedly in a low voice. They peeked at the ladies secretly. Of course, they could not let the Young Madams in the front know.
“No.” Chu Liuxin squatted, took a broken bamboo branch and casually used it to scrawl on the ground, feeling extremely annoyed.
“Sir, if you do not like it, you can talk to the Queen next time and ask her to invite more ladies to come out.” Xiao Liuzi also squatted beside him and tried to flatter him.
“None of them are beautiful. I don’t like them. I do not want to choose anymore. I’m still young!” Chu Liuxin angrily poked holes in the ground with the bamboo branch in his hand.
He understood what his mother meant. She told him to keep an eye out for his bride to be. When the time was right, she would go and ask for the Empress Dowager’s permission. Then he could ask his Imperial Grandmother for permission to marry directly.
But the problem was that he was reluctant to get married. He did not want to choose a concubine at all. He thought he could play for a few more years!
He would not be too old after playing for another two or three years. There were many people in the royal family who were married at about 20 years old. Why did he have to get married at the age of 15?
“Your Highness, if you do not choose, Concubine Ming Queen will be angry. At that time, she may help you to choose.” Xiao Liuzi tried to persuade him, as he cried.
At that time, not only would His Highness suffer, but Xiao Liuzi would also be punished. Thinking of this, Xiao Liuzi felt his butt aching. In the past, he had played a trick with His Highness and Concubine Ming Queen had beaten him. If His Highness had not helped him by pleading for mercy, he would not have been able to get up. He did not want to be beaten by Concubine Ming Queen again.
His butt could not be spanked anymore, so he had to persuade the Prince again. He did not understand why the Prince had no affection for any of these ladies who were beautiful and lovely. Did he fall in love with the first beauty? But he heard that the two princes were also in love with the first beauty. It was really hard to deal with that!
“I’m still young!” Chu Liuxin inserted the bamboo branch in his hand into the ground. He stood up and clapped his hands, then sighed helplessly. “You can tell my mother that I do not like them and ask her to choose some more”
At least, there was no such thing as no choice. It was better to put it off for a while.
Chu Liuxin walked forward casually. This road was different from the one that the noble ladies took earlier. It was more remote and quieter. The stone path was curved, so it was not easy to walk and there was no place to rest from a distance.
“Master, since you don’t like them, let us go back!” Xiao Liuzi looked at the winding path and made this suggestion. His face was full of smiles. As long as Prince said that he still wanted to choose, he would not be beaten by Concubine Ming Queen.
“Let us go up and have a look!” Chu Liuxin suddenly became persistent and climbed up with big strides.
“Your Highness, when we go up... we may not be able to see anyone. We had better leave!” Xiao Liuzi wanted to reach out and pull him, but he could not pull Chu Liuxin who was climbing quickly. He could only follow him and whispered.
“What are you muttering about? Hurry up!” Chu Liuxin waved to Xiao Liuzi unhappily.
“Yes, I’ll come soon. Your highness, please slow down and be careful!” Xiao Liuzi said helplessly and followed quickly. Looking at the winding path on the road, he lamented in his heart. He knew that his master had not given up. Since Fifth Miss Shao entered the Yuhui Nunnery, his master would deal with matter in the Yuhui Nunnery.
Now, even the selection of imperial concubines had been arranged here. How indecent it was to have a blind date in the nunnery!
However, the Prince was still talking nonsense in front of Concubine Ming Queen. He said that if fate was on his side, it would be able to come to a conclusion in front of Buddha. He would definitely see it clearly. As for the reason why it was in a nunnery, not a temple, of course, it was that he was afraid that the ladies whom he looked at would be offended.
Although there were also men who conducted religious rites in the Yuhui Nunnery, it was less than that in the temple and it was much quieter.
Xiao Liuzi felt miserable when he saw his master talking nonsense in front of Concubine Ming Queen, which made Concubine Ming nod continuously. Xiao Liuzi, as a sensible person, felt that it was hard for him to know the secret of a true reason, even though no one else knew it. He felt really wronged when he could not tell the true reason.
Look, it was coming again...