青春期撞上更年期第1部

“Sister Zhao, don’t mention it. She asked me to take her out of the Palace, saying she wanted to offer incense to her master. She was unwilling to stay in the Palace,” Shao Wanru explained.

“Your Highness, may I ask… if she died of any sudden illness?” Seeing that Shao Wanru looked fine, Zhao Xiran asked cautiously.

Shan Yanru had been fine but died all of a sudden.

If it happened outside the Palace, the Marquis Xing’s Mansion would find out the truth. However, she died in the Palace. Moreover, Shao Yanru had entered the Palace under such circumstances, so the Emperor never doted on her. In fact, he detested her. In this case, how could the Marquis Xing’s Mansion have the courage to investigate this matter? They could only accept the result silently.

Even if they wanted to inquire about it, they could only ask around secretly and didn’t dare to mention it openly. Shao Wanru was just suitable for such secret inquiries.

“I don’t know much about it. When Consort of Virtue told me about it, I didn’t believe it, but it turned out to be true,” Shao Wanru answered briefly. It seemed that she didn’t feel like talking about it. Then, she casually added, “I asked Mo Yan about it later, but she couldn’t explain why it was so. She just said that there were some disputes. As for the details, we’d better wait for her to tell Old Madam herself when she sees her!”

Since Shao Wanru didn’t want to say it, Zhao Xiran wouldn’t mention it again to avoid annoying Shao Wanru. Anyway, her purpose of coming to the Prince Chen’s Mansion today had been achieved. Even better, she got the news about Mo Yan. Then, she could give a reasonable explanation when she went back.

“Then let’s wait for the matter of Mo Yan to be settled!” Zhao Xiran said.

Shao Wanru nodded noncommittally and abruptly changed the topic. “What do you think of the matter between Eldest Brother and Infanta Yuan’an last time?”

Zhao Xiran was stunned. “It has been so long. How could she mention it again at this time?” After thinking for a while, she answered carefully, “Infanta Yuan’an is powerful, so your brother has nothing to say!”

After saying that, she sighed heavily. At first, she just answered perfunctorily. But when she finished sighing, she couldn’t help sighing again and felt inexplicably sad.

“What if he testifies against Infanta Yuan’an?” Shao Wanru asked.

This proposal scared Zhao Xiran so much that her face tightened. Hurriedly, she restrained the worry in her heart. Infanta Yuan’an would be Princess Zhou in the future. Although this matter had deeply humiliated her, Prince Zhou would not allow others to push her too hard.

“Well… A long time has passed. Back then, we didn’t make that matter clear. If we bring it up now, it will get you into trouble,” Zhao Xiran said meaningfully.

Of course, Shao Wanru understood what she meant. There was no need for Zhao Xiran to elucidate. After a moment of silence, she seemed to have made a decision, “In that case, forget it. I’ve wanted to help Eldest Brother give vent to his anger!”

“No need. He is much better now!” Zhao Xiran said with a hollow laugh.

She was afraid that he might lose his life in the end instead of venting his anger. His life would be in danger once he became the immediate cause of the fight between the two princesses.

The Marquis Xing’s Mansion was in internal and external troubles, so Zhao Xiran was not confident enough to do that.

Being refused, Shao Wanru seemed to be a little unhappy. After talking with her for a while, she looked a little tired. Zhao Xiran was sensitive enough to know that this should be the reason why Shao Wanru asked her to come here today. Since she disappointed her, Shao Wanru was not in the mood to chat with her. Thus, Zhao Xiran stood up and said goodbye to her considerately.

Perfunctorily, Shao Wanru asked her to stay longer, but she soon asked Yujie to send her to the mansion’s gate.

After getting on the carriage of Marquis Xing’s Mansion, Zhao Xiran leaned against it and carefully pondered her conversation with Shao Wanru. She was increasingly convinced that Shao Wanru invited her over because she wanted the Marquis Xing’s Mansion to confront Infanta Yuan’an.

Something had happened in the two foreign princesses’ courtyard, and Infanta Yuan’an was said to have fainted. But after that, several noble ladies were given to Prince Zhou. It could be seen that Infanta Yuan’an must have irritated the powerful figures in the Palace.

Princess Chen didn’t get along well with Infanta Yuan’an. Thus, she wanted to use her family’s power to trample on Infanta Yuan’an at this time.

Thinking of this, Zhao Xiran broke out in a cold sweat on her back. The Marquis Xing’s Mansion couldn’t withstand the revenge of Prince Zhou and Ruiping Great Elder Princess. It was better for them to behave well and stay meticulous. First of all, they had to solve the problems in their mansion.

Madam Jiang. She was going to find Madam Jiang.

Princess Chen failed to achieve her goal but accidentally reminded Zhao Xiran of something important. She must tell Madam Jiang that a mistress would marry into the mansion as a secondary legal wife. Madam Jiang should be more anxious than her regarding this matter. It had been so many years. Zhao Xiran didn’t believe that her shrewd mother-in-law didn’t know anything about it. If she had a backup plan, she could use it to prevent that woman from marrying into the mansion.

After returning to the mansion, Zhao Xiran went to the study and honestly told Shao Hua’an about the conversation between her and Shao Wanru. Shao Hua’an nodded repeatedly and felt her response proper and reasonable. At this time, they couldn’t become a sharp tool for the Prince Chen’s Mansion to deal with Infanta Yuan’an. They were not capable enough to do that. If they were stupid to get involved, they might be finished off without noticing it.

It would be best for them to suffer this loss quietly.

It had been a long time, and Shao Hua’an was not as angry as before. He could calm down and think about the cause and effect of the matter and the best way to handle the current situation.

After the discussion, Zhao Xiran went back to the inner court. As soon as she sat down in her courtyard, she heard from the servants that the Prince Chen’s Mansion had sent two vats of water lilies over.

After thinking for a while, she asked some people to move the two vats of water lilies to her courtyard. It could show that she attached great importance to the Prince Chen’s Mansion.

The Prince Chen’s Mansion had sent a few rough old maids who looked very strong. An old maid in charge took them in. After greeting Zhao Xiran, she politely asked where they should place the vats of flowers.

Zhao Xiran sent a trusted servant girl to give the order. She sat inside and pondered for a while. Then she got up and went to Madam Jiang’s living place in the inner court with only one servant girl.

The courtyard was still the same one. It was large but very desolate. The front door of the yard had long been sealed. Only a small side door could be opened, which had been used to send food.

Zhao Xiran knew very well that only a few servants were left inside. However, no one wanted to be locked up with Madam Jiang until she died. The people inside could not leave unless there were any special reasons.

Since Madam Jiang was locked up, Zhao Xiran had never come into this place again. She stood at the side door and asked a servant girl to knock on the door. An aged maid who looked old and clumsy opened it. When seeing Zhao Xiran, she was stunned and hurried forward to bow. “Greetings, First Young Madam!”

“What is your master doing?” Zhao Xiran asked.

“She was walking in the yard just now!” The old maid reported. Apart from taking a walk, Madam Jiang could only sleep. She couldn’t and didn’t dare to walk out of this courtyard. Shao Jing had long warned her that he would divorce her if she made any trouble again.

Zhao Xiran walked in. This was the first time she had come to Madam Jiang’s courtyard since the accident. The courtyard had not been cleaned for a long time. This place was completely overgrown with weeds, and the branches and leaves were all over the ground.

She stood in the yard and did not go to the main room. Madam Jiang had got the news and came out with a servant girl. There were only two or three servants left in this place.

“What are you doing here?” Madam Jiang glared at Zhao Xiran in displeasure and vented her anger on her, blaming Zhao Xiran for her miserable life. “This daughter-in-law brings bad luck. If it weren’t for her, I would still be the Madam of Marquis Xing. How could I possibly end up like this? Fortunately, I can still depend on Ru’er. When she rises to a high position, I will ask my son to divorce her.”

“Greetings, Mother!” Zhao Xiran stepped forward and bowed.

“If you have anything to say, just say it. Don’t come if you have nothing important to report. I hate seeing you!” Madam Jiang said coldly. She raised her head and stood on the steps, looking at Zhao Xiran coldly.

“Mother, I do have something to tell you, but I don’t know if I should,” Zhao Xiran said in a mild and roundabout way.

“Cut the crap and get straight to the point. You don’t have to be so courteous because no one pays attention to you. I’m not Hua’an, so I never think you have a good character. At that time, I was blind to believe you could prosper your husband. It had never occurred to me that you would squander our family fortune. Our mansion is so damn unlucky to take you in!”

Madam Jiang poured out a torrent of abuse on Zhao Xiran, venting her pent-up anger.

She racked her brains for the most sinister swearing words.

Zhao Xiran clenched the handkerchief in her hand for fear that she would lose control of her emotions and behaviors. Madam Jiang’s vicious and mean face looked indeed annoying. She would never come here to see her if it weren’t necessary.

Zhao Xiran lowered her head slightly to hide the anger in her eyes.

Suppressing the rage in her heart, she said, “Mother, Father is going to marry a secondary legal wife. Do you know that?”

“Marrying a secondary legal wife? That’s great! Let Hua’an marry a secondary legal wife in case you…” Madam Jiang cursed without thinking. After letting out a few curses, she suddenly came to her senses, and her eyes instantly became icy cold. Facing Zhao Xiran with frowning brows and angry eyes, she repeatedly asked, “What did you say? Who will marry a secondary legal wife? Who will do that?”

When she asked the last question, her shrill voice became ear-piercing.

“Father is going to marry a secondary legal wife. She is said to be a mistress kept outside for more than ten years. Also, she is a Miss from an aristocratic family. When in trouble, she came across Father. Father said he would bring her in as his secondary legal wife.” Zhao Xiran calmly looked at Madam Jiang’s almost distorted face, feeling a surge of joy in her heart.

...

Madam Jiang said she could hardly wait to see Shao Hua’an marry a secondary legal wife. Now, it was her turn to face the harsh reality. Zhao Xiran would like to see how she would deal with it!

“A Miss from an aristocratic family? How could there be such a woman from an aristocratic family? I knew Shao Jing had a mistress outside. Who knows how that cheap bitch hooked up with him? How dare she say she is a Miss from an aristocratic family?” Madam Jiang hurled all kinds of abuses against that mistress, fuming with anger.

She had long felt that Shao Jing had a mistress outside, but she had never found out who the woman was. To her huge surprise, this slut wanted to marry into the mansion now.

“I’m the legal wife. If I disagree, this whore can’t marry into our mansion.” How Madam Jiang wished that Shao Jing was right in front of her. In that case, she would pounce on him and bite off his flesh. Then, she would cripple that woman and send her to a brothel.

“Mother, you are not the legal wife but a secondary legal wife!” When Madam Jiang was in a frenzy of rage, Zhao Xiran fanned the flames of her anger.

Shao Jing had no legal wife but two secondary legal wives. It was against the rules.

She had never brought it up to Shao Wanru, nor had Shao Wanru mentioned it before her, but they both understood this thing.

A man was only allowed to marry one legal wife and one secondary legal wife. How could Marquis Xing have two secondary legal wives? In theory, there seemed to be no solution to this matter!