Chapter 1272 The Inner Chamber in Prince Zhou’s Study
Shao Wanru left the Palace through the side door. Upon entering Prince Chen’s Mansion, she went straight to Chu Liuchen. On the third floor of his study, she saw Chu Liuchen work on memorials to the throne behind the large desk.
Few knew many memorials to the throne had been sent to Chu Liuchen since the Emperor was ill. The side door connected the Prince Chen’s Mansion and the Palace was tightly guarded. The officials thought the Emperor replied to these memorials to the throne despite his illness. But in fact, most of them were handled by Chu Liuchen. Hearing Shao Wanru coming up, Chu Liuchen put down the memorial in his hand.
“What’s wrong?” Seeing Shao Wanru come in with a tight face, Chu Liuchen waved to her and asked.
Shao Wanru came over and nestled in his arms, rubbing her small head against his chest with a touch of softness that Chu Liuchen could feel.
She reached out and hugged his strong waist, speechless for a long time.
“Did Imperial Grandmother make things difficult for you?” Chu Liuchen knew she had gone to see the Empress Dowager in the Palace. Thus, seeing her like this, he couldn’t help laughing, and his soft eyes fell on her.
“No, Chu Qing went to the Palace with Consort Dowager Qing,” Shao Wanru said, pursing her cherry lips, “I feel Nanny Wei seems to be helping Consort Dowager Qing.”
“What makes you think so?” Chu Liuchen smiled and asked.
Shao Wanru buried her head in his arms, not wanting him to see her face. “I can’t tell the reason. Anyway, I think it may be like this. I have a feeling.”
It might be difficult for others to comprehend. She had no evidence, and Nanny Wei did not say much to help Consort Dowager Qing. But she just felt that way. On an impulse, she came to share this feeling with Chu Liuchen. To her dismay, she could not find evidence except for these words, which deeply depressed her.
“How about I check it out?” Seeing her in a dark mood, Chu Liuchen asked with a smile.
“Okay!” Shao Wanru said bashfully. That was what she thought. She would be relieved if they could find out the truth. Wei Dahai had been determined to plot against her, disregarding her high status as Princess Chen. Thus, she had always felt some people supported him in the dark. Besides, his niece Mo Qiuyi married Commandery Prince Qing. However, Chu Qing would never pay a debt of gratitude by his marriage.
There were various reasons. Viewed apart, each looked normal. But when looking at them as a whole, she felt something wrong. However, she could not find out the truth of such a problem. She asked Chu Liuchen to investigate it because she wanted him to pay attention to things about Chu Qing.
No matter what the truth was, there must be something fishy.
“I’ll check it out. You can rest easy. Don’t go to the Palace frequently these days if there is nothing urgent.” Chu Liuchen comforted her with a smile. Knowing she was emotionally unstable, he complied with all her whims.
“Imperial Grandmother is in poor health, so I want to see her more often.” Shao Wanru said, shaking her head. The Empress Dowager had fallen ill. Though almost recovered, she was not as vigorous as before and had visibly aged. Shao Wanru had been trying to develop dishes cooked with medicinal herbs for her.
The Empress Dowager wholeheartedly doted on Chu Liuchen, so Shao Wanru hoped she was all right.
“Okay, do as you see fit!” Chu Liuchen said softly.
“I didn’t dare to take action directly these days. Today, I have carefully observed her complexion. I will find Mingqiu Nun and Doctor Qi and ask them to write a prescription. We can make a medicated diet together!” Shao Wanru said.
Her smile became sweeter and broader when she mentioned Mingqiu Nun and Doctor Qi.
Mingqiu Nun did not say she would resume secular life, but at least she was willing to live in Prince Chen’s Mansion and did not ask to return to the Yuhui Nunnery. This was a good thing. Doctor Qi was in a better mood now. From time to time, he would find out some complicated cases and study them with Mingqiu Nun. On the surface, he wanted to solve medical problems. But all of this was because he was unwilling to let go of Mingqiu Nun.
They were fellow disciples with the same master. It was Doctor Qiu who caused their misunderstanding of each other. They then parted with each other. Doctor Qi had not yet married, while Mingqiu Nun shaved her head and became a nun. Their current relationship was quite harmonious. Shao Wanru estimated that they could still be together after many years.
“Don’t be too tired!” Chu Liuchen nodded and lowered his head. His soft breath fell on her neck. “Does it still hurt now?”
After his question, a red flush spread from Shao Wanru’s face to her neck. She put forth her strength and pinched him hard on his back. How could he be so shameless?
“What’s wrong? Did I ask the wrong question? It was my fault last night. I’ll be more careful. Tell me if it still hurts. I’ll ask Qi Jue for some medicine and give it to you later,” Chu Liuchen said, preserving a mask of solemnity. The smile in his beautiful eyes made him look more elegant.
“Elegant and refined, seriously?” Shao Wanru felt she had misjudged him, a man who didn’t know what shame was. How dare he ask Doctor Qi for medicine? How could she have the cheek to see Mingqiu Nun and Doctor Qi?
She pressed her hand hard on the soft flesh of his waist. She intended to give him a sharp pinch this time but failed because of his hard muscle. This man always gave people false impressions. His face looked pale, but he was strong with a sturdily-built body. Although he was sick, she heard he had been practicing martial arts since childhood. Ever since he recovered, he obtained a good level of physical fitness.
He just appeared sick and weak. Last night, he shamelessly did intimate things with her for much of the night. Remembering that, she was too ashamed to look up at him. People said that his lips were pale and his body was weak, but now all of this was fake, absolutely not true.
She bit her lip and almost couldn’t say a word, her face flaming with embarrassment.
His head was gently lifted, and his delicate lips landed on her pink, tender lips. He bit them gently and went deeper into her mouth…
“Chu Qing may be the descendant of the former dynasty?” Chu Liuzhou patted the table and became excited. Going around in circles, he reached out and threw his arms around Shao Yanru, exclaiming excitedly, “That’s great. It’s a good reason.”
Chu Liuzhou didn’t think it was true, but it didn’t matter. He asked, “Do you have any way to contact Commandery Prince Cheng?”
“Well… Prince, I’m yours now.” Shao Yanru said aggrievedly. Her delicate and charming face was suffused with blushes as she rested her slim and supple body on Chu Liuzhou. Seeing her like this, Chu Liuzhou could feel himself heating up.
“Your father used to work for Commandery Prince Cheng, didn’t he? Give him a fake message,” Chu Liuzhou said.
“But… but I’m yours now,” Shao Yanru spoke in an affectedly sweet voice. Chu Liuzhou was aroused. With a gentle stretch, she pushed him a little further away and said, “Prince, Infanta Yuan’an sent someone to check this place today. What should I do if she finds me? I’m supposed to be dead now, so I can’t meet anyone. More importantly, I can’t let Infanta Yuan’an misunderstand you, Prince.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll warn her to behave herself.” Speaking of Infanta Yuan’an, Chu Liuzhou became agitated. Since she entered the mansion, Infanta Yuan’an frequently made a scene, which annoyed him intensely.
Many women married into his mansion with her, so she was not indispensable to him. Recently, he had just visited Infanta Yuan’an once. However, never had he rested at Infanta Yuan’an’s place. Sometimes, he would secretly meet Shao Yanru. As such, how could he have so much time to coax Infanta Yuan’an?
If Infanta Yuan’an behaved well, he would not mind making her the future empress. Otherwise, she would never get the leading position.
Infanta Yuan’an was inferior to Shao Yanru in every aspect. Not to mention her appearance, her mind was much less intelligent than Shao Yanru’s. Moreover, Chu Liuzhou was very satisfied with Shao Yanru’s charming exterior. How could anyone bear to part with such a smart and affectedly sweet beauty? Five days in the past ten days, he sneaked into Shao Yanru’s place on the pretext of living in the study.
Shao Yanru was the most favored one in his mansion.
“Prince, Infanta Yuan’an is your legal wife. I know how to treat her. I will avoid her and not make things difficult for you. But at this time, I can’t visit her even if I want to,” Shao Yanru said in a pleasant voice. She lowered her head with a sense of grievance and said with red eyes, “You took such a big risk to get me out of the Palace. I can’t let others criticize you because of me.”
Chu Liuzhou would have to face much more severe consequences than criticism. If the terrible secret about Shao Yanru was exposed, even Chu Liuzhou might not bear the consequences.
Shao Yanru was so devoted and obedient to him. Hearing her words, Chu Liuzhou felt increasingly tender and protective toward her and disliked Infanta Yuan’an even more. Her appearance was not as good-looking as Shao Yanru, and her character was never lovable.
“Prince, Princess Zhou arrives!” A servant rushed in with a flustered face.
“Prince!” Shao Yanru also panicked. Anxiously, she pulled Chu Liuzhou’s clothes and became tearful, looking extremely pitiful.
“You go to the inner room first!” Chu Liuzhou said with a sullen face and pointed toward somewhere inside. There was a bed for rest in his study. He was said to have slept in the study. Sometimes, he spent the night with Shao Yanru in the study, and sometimes he went to live in Shao Yanru’s place.
Shao Yanru hid inside, and Infanta Yuan’an entered in a huff. As soon as she came in, she looked around but found no one. Then, she looked up at the inner room of the study.
“Greetings, Prince!” Infanta Yuan’an stepped forward and asked a servant girl to put the food hamper on the tea table. “I’ve made a decoction of medicinal ingredients for you. Have some first.”
“Thank you,” Chu Liuzhou said lightly.
“I heard you have been living in the study for the past few days. It’s getting cold, so please let us change the quilt for you.” Infanta Yuan’an pointed to the soft quilt held by a servant girl behind her and said with a smile. After that, she went to the inner door of the study without waiting for Chu Liuzhou’s answer.
When Chu Liuzhou saw her go over so presumptuously, his face instantly fell. He slammed his hand on the table. “Yuan’an, are you trying to stir up trouble here?”
Infanta Yuan’an came to a halt with a look of surprise. “What did you say, Prince? I kindly wanted to change a thicker quilt for you. Why would you think like that? Or, have you hidden any beautiful lady, your secret lover, in there?”
Infanta Yuan’an had always suspected a woman outside her surveillance was hiding in the mansion. She did not believe Chu Liuzhou would live in the study with a pure heart and few desires. There was something fishy about it. Today, she decided to check Chu Liuzhou’s inner room with the excuse of changing the quilt. Infanta Yuan’an believed she would find some clues as long as a woman had been to Chu Liuzhou’s inner room.
Chu Liuzhou had been neglecting her since she married into the mansion. Thinking of this, Infanta Yuan’an showed a trace of gloom in her eyes. She was the legal wife of Prince Zhou. Why could those bitches be more favored than her?
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