青春期撞上更年期第1部

“What’s wrong?” Shao Wanru asked.

“My master accidentally slipped and bumped against the door.” Dongshui hastily explained.

Shao Wanru looked down and saw Qin Yiyan leaning against the door with one of her legs lifted.

“Is your foot injured?”

“Nothing serious. Don’t worry about me. I’m fine!” Qin Yiyan said, still covering her forehead with her hand. But since her hand didn’t press closely against her head, Shao Wanru could still see the red swelling under her hand. It was more eye-catching than her fair skin.

So, she indeed had bumped hard against the door. As a Miss from a distinguished family, she should have been taught how to behave decently; for instance, a Miss shouldn’t sway her dress when walking and shouldn’t show her teeth when smiling. Even if the Qin family was no longer prosperous like before, its family members should still follow the rules from the past. It had only been more than ten years. How could Qin Yiyan have forgotten these rules?

Miss Qin kept a graceful demeanor in Consort Lan’s place and could answer questions without a hitch. However, she became reckless as soon as she arrived at the Prince Chen’s Mansion. Shao Wanru felt it quite interesting.

“Help your Miss up,” Shao Wanru said while asking someone to invite Qi Jue over. Since her guest was injured, she had to ask a doctor to check on her.

Shao Wanru hadn’t yet decided on the place to settle Qin Yiyan down, so she could only take her to her own courtyard.

After they took their seats in the yard, Shao Wanru asked Nanny Yu to arrange a place for Miss Qin to live.

Qin Yiyan had few requirements and just wanted a quiet place. A small, inconspicuous place was acceptable, but she asked to live closer to Shao Wanru’s courtyard, saying she could talk more conveniently to Shao Wanru, Princess Chen.

She could avoid arousing suspicion and stay close to the hostess by doing so. Qin Yiyan appeared so considerate and sensible that Nanny Yu couldn’t help looking at her kindly.

Nanny Yu considered this matter simply. Since Qin Yiyan was Prince Chen’s cousin, it was reasonable for her to stay at the Prince Chen’s Mansion. After all, the only elder she had was living in the Palace. How could an unmarried Young Lady live there? Moreover, Consort Lan, as the Emperor’s favorite woman, was now the focus of everyone’s attention. Miss Qin could live with Consort Lan, but it might damage her reputation.

This cousin Miss seemed to know how to behave appropriately, which made Nanny Yu even more satisfied. After leaving the main courtyard, she went straight to pick up a place for Miss Qin.

When Qi Jue came over, he examined Qin Yiyan. Her forehead was seriously injured, and there was a big red bump, which looked scary. Her foot was not badly hurt, and she just sprained her ankle. It would be fine after a few days of recuperation.

After checking her out, Qi Jue left some ointment and withdrew.

“My Lady, His Highness is here!” Yujie came in and reported when a servant girl was putting ointment on Qin Yiyan’s wounds.

While they were talking, a young servant girl lifted the curtain. Then, Chu Liuchen, dressed in a light black brocade robe embroidered with bamboo patterns, appeared at the door. There was a faint elegant smile on his handsome face, and his eyes were slightly curved. It could be seen that he was in a good mood.

Qin Yiyan was sitting on the chair when the servant girl put the ointment on her wounds. Abruptly, she stood up and looked at Chu Liuchen with excitement. Her lips trembled before she said softly, “Greetings, Cousin!”

She called him like that when servant girls said, “Greetings, Your Highness!”

The greetings of those servant girls drowned out her voice.

“At ease,” Chu Liuchen said, waving his hand lightly without glancing at Qin Yiyan. Afterward, he went straight to Shao Wanru, let her sit down with him, and asked, “How is Imperial Grandmother?”

“Her physical condition is okay, and she is in a good mood today. I think she should be fine after resting for a period!” Shao Wanru said with a smile.

Qin Yiyan didn’t know whether to stand or sit down. While biting her lip, she looked at Chu Liuchen and Shao Wanru and slowly lowered her head, looking quite pitiful.

“Consort Lan asked me to bring your cousin back. She will live in our mansion for some time!” Shao Wanru pulled Chu Liuchen’s sleeve, pointed at Qin Yiyan, and introduced her.

There was a smile in her sparkling eyes. She believed Chu Liuchen had heard of this matter. Servants in the mansion must have reported it to Chu Liuchen as soon as she took Qin Yiyan back.

Consort Lan asked her to take this cousin back, and Qin Yiyan was wounded when she entered the mansion. In this case, Shao Wanru couldn’t hide her presence even if she wanted to. Besides, she had never intended to keep it from Chu Liuchen. The best way was to introduce her openly.

It was as if Chu Liuchen notice Qin Yiyan only when Shao Wanru pointed to her. He shifted his eyes to her.

“Greetings, Cousin!” Qin Yiyan said and bowed sideways to Chu Liuchen again. At this time, no other servant girls were saluting together with her, so her voice could be heard clearly.

“Then let her live here. Has her courtyard been arranged?” Chu Liuchen asked carelessly. After giving her a perfunctory glance, he turned back. He hadn’t even noticed the newcomer in the room and directly overlooked her.

“Nanny Yu is tidying it!” Shao Wanru replied.

“In that case, take her away to rest,” Chu Liuchen ordered lazily.

“But… but I’m afraid the place hasn’t been cleaned up yet…” Shao Wanru added.

“It is not ready. Then find her a clean place to stay,” Chu Liuchen said a little impatiently.

Shao Wanru winked at Qu Le, standing aside, and replied with a smile, “I’ll ask someone to take her to rest!”

Qu Le came over and said to Qin Yiyan with a smile, “Cousin Miss, please, let me take you to have a rest!”

Looking at her cousin who ignored her, Qin Yiyan nodded and left with Qu Le without saying anything, as if she hadn’t deliberately fallen and hurt herself to see Chu Liuchen.

“Why did you bring such a person here?” Chu Liuchen took Shao Wanru’s hand with dissatisfaction and asked.

“Consort Lan asked me to accept her. I heard from her that even the Emperor knew it. So, I had no excuse to refuse her to move in!” Shao Wanru knew Chu Liuchen hated it when Consort Lan interfered in the affairs of his mansion, but she really couldn’t turn down this request. Even the Emperor had agreed to this matter, so the Prince Chen’s Mansion shouldn’t and couldn’t refuse it.

She swayed his wide sleeves and said coyly, “For my sake, keep her in the inner court. This cousin seems to know how to behave properly. Maybe she won’t be so troublesome!”

After she saw Chu Liuchen, Qin Yiyan left decisively. Even if she felt wronged, she didn’t wear the pitiful look as what she had shown in Consort Lan’s place, nor did she reveal a charming look before Chu Liuchen. This cousin seemed mysterious!

Somehow, she aroused Shao Wanru’s interest.

In the next few days, this cousin Miss surprised Shao Wanru even more because she behaved completely differently from what she had shown in Consort Lan’s palace.

Usually, she remained quietly at her place. Except for Shao Wanru’s courtyard, she rarely wandered into other places. She just did her needlework and was very busy every day, trying her best not to disturb the life of Prince Chen’s Mansion.

The scenes that Shao Wanru had imagined never happened — Qin Yiyan never approached Chu Liuchen on purpose. She even tried not to come over when Chu Liuchen was there. Therefore, since she met Chu Liuchen for the first time, she had never seen him again.

When they were at Consort Lan’s place, Shao Wanru was almost sure that Qin Yiyan harbored evil intentions, regarding her as a scheming woman who would step on her to get a higher status. To Shao Wanru’s surprise, she had always remained in her proper sphere. Qin Yiyan had changed so much that Shao Wanru decided to observe her for more time before judging her.

No one mentioned deposing the Empress because everyone focused on Chu Liuchen. Besides, the Emperor seemed to have put this thing aside. Gradually, everyone ignored it, and the Empress kept her position. Consort of Virtue took over the imperial harem while Consort Ming assisted her. For the time being, the Empress was in charge of nothing. She only said she was not feeling well and needed to recuperate for a while.

The debate about Chu Liuchen in the imperial court had ended. The Emperor recognized Chu Liuchen as one of the rightful successors to the throne, but he had to appraise him carefully in the following days. He hadn’t yet decided who would be the crown prince of the Eastern Palace. Since the Emperor was still in his prime, no hasty decision should be made.

Chu Liuchen’s previous status was confirmed. From then on, he would have the right to inherit the throne like the other princes. For a time, some of the old officials who had worked for the deceased emperor were overjoyed and satisfied. They were very distressed when Prince Chen had no chance to win over the throne. Finally, their wish came true in a perfectly justifiable way.

Afterward, four princes had the right to succeed to the throne.

At this time, envoys from the Xu State arrived outside the capital city. Chu Liuchen returned to the envoy team with his people. After he put the team into a better shape, they were ready to enter the capital city tomorrow.

That night, Chu Liuchen didn’t go back to the capital city. Instead, he chose to camp and rest outside the city.

“Master, Princess Yutao asks to see you!” Xiao Xuanzi reported, smiling broadly.

...

“What is she doing here at this time? Tell her to go back. We can talk tomorrow!” Chu Liuchen said lazily.

Xiao Xuanzi answered and left. But after a while, Chu Liuchen heard some people quarreling outside, and their voices became louder and louder. Unhappily, Chu Liuchen stood up and walked out of the door with his hands clasped behind his back. There, Princess Yutao rushed over with two female guards, and Xiao Xuanzi chased after them, appearing angry and annoyed. After all, he couldn’t do anything to Princess Yutao.

Princess Yutao could be considered his master’s ally, so Xiao Xuanzi didn’t want to ruin their relationship.

“What does your master mean? He sneaked away. Well, I can forget it. But why doesn’t he allow me to see him now? Is he plotting against the Xu State?” Seeing Chu Liuchen, Princess Yutao stopped in anger. She was indeed in a towering rage. Back then, she noticed the carriage carrying Chu Liuchen before her was very strange.

She had tried many times to ask about it but was stopped.

As a guest in the Kingdom of Dongcang, she knew full well she couldn’t offend Prince Chen, who looked ruthless and vicious. But she had just learned the truth: that damned eunuch disguised as Prince Chen and fooled them all the way. The real Prince Chen had already arrived in the capital city. Anyway, they made her look like a fool. Princess Yutao was so furious that she couldn’t help dashing over.

She had to make it clear if Chu Liuchen was taking the Xu State seriously.

“What’s my purpose? You burst in, and your intention is completely exposed.” Chu Liuchen smiled gently, but his penetrating eyes were cold. As he fastened his gaze on her face, Princess Yutao felt as if something evil and ice-cold were slithering its way across her back, which made the hair on her back stand on end.

“You… I… What’s wrong?” Princess Yutao took two steps back and vigilantly examined Chu Liuchen’s handsome face. People who had suffered losses would always learn from their mistakes.