Chapter 622: Paying a Visit

Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations

Yuan Hongjun hesitated, “But master…”

Chu Qingzhi patiently waited for him to continue.

After a moment of hesitation, Yuan Hongjun finally spoke up, his voice filled with inner conflict, “Master, I’m afraid that I only have a shallow fondness for Yuru. What if 1 can’t develop deeper feelings for her in the future? What if 1 end up delaying her marriage?”

Chu Qingzhi smiled gently, “Yuru certainly wouldn’t want to be forced into an arranged marriage. 1’11 go and buy you two some time. If it turns out there’s no fate between you, then we can make other plans.”

Yuan Hongjun thought it over. The only viable solution seemed to be what his master suggested. He lowered his head apologetically, “Master, I’m sorry for the trouble.”

“It’s no trouble. You are my disciple, and it’s my duty to help when my disciple is in need.”

“Thank you, master.”

“You should get back to the free clinic, don’t keep the patients waiting. I’ll change into something more formal and go pay a visit.”

“Yes, Master.”

With Chu Qingzhi’s help, Yuan Hongjun arrived heavy-hearted but left feeling relieved.

After he left, Chu Qingzhi went to the medicine room to delegate some tasks to Chu Qingning and then changed her clothes before heading out.

In the residence of Prince Zhao.

In the courtyard, Consort Xin called Li Tingzhao over, smiling, “Tingzhao, I heard that General Fan is selecting a husband for his second daughter. Why don’t you propose?”

Li Tingzhao was taken aback, “Mother, why would General Fan consider me?”

It seemed like a sure way to be humiliated.

Consort Xin frowned, “Why wouldn’t he? You’re not Lin Yingmin anymore; you’re Li Tingzhao, a prince. It’s the Fan family who’s out of their league.”

Li Tingzhao, who had a sense of self-awareness, replied, “Mother, General Fan won’t agree. Besides, I don’t want to marry Fan Yuru…”

Consort Xin interrupted him angrily, “Then whom do you want to marry? Marry Chu Qingzhi? Aren’t you aware of her situation? Even if she weren’t betrothed, 1 wouldn’t agree to you marrying her. A country girl, how could she be worthy of a prince?”

Hearing this, Li Tingzhao felt guilty, “Mother, a girl like Chu Qingzhi is one in a million. Even if I wanted to marry her, she wouldn’t agree.”

Consort Xin asserted firmly, “No matter what you say, you must go and propose to Fan Yuru. By marrying her, you will no longer be invisible, and plenty of people will come to curry favor with you. I don’t want you to live an insignificant life forever.”

Li Tingzhao was a little shocked. Could it be that his mother had other intentions?

“Mother, what do you want?”

Consort Xin said, “I won’t make you do anything bad, but as a prince, you can’t just idle every day. You should take on some official duties, right?”

These words indeed reminded Li Tingzhao. Ever since he was titled a prince, he had been lost, not knowing what to do, feeling dull and listless every day. Her words cleared the fog in his mind.

“Mother, 1 won’t propose to Fan Yuru, but I will request an audience with the Emperor to arrange some duties for me.”

Annoyed, Consort Xin said, “Fine, if you won’t go, 1 will go myself.”

Li Tingzhao was greatly troubled, “Mother, I…”

Consort Xin decisively interrupted him, “Don’t worry about it anymore, I will handle it.”

By marrying Fan Yuru to Li Tingzhao, she not only hoped to bolster her son’s position but also hoped to make him more focused and stop him from always thinking about Chu Qingzhi!

She was determined to make this happen.

At General Fan’s Mansion.

In the room, Fan Yuru sat on a stool, grumpily saying, “Mother, tell father 1 don’t want to get married right now.”

Madam Fan, however, didn’t side with Fan Yuru, “Yuru, the incident with the Second Prince of Mobei Kingdom scared your father, and 1 was also worried for days. You should listen to your father and find a suitable marriage match. If you don’t want to hold a wedding right away, you can wait a couple of years.”

Fan Yuru couldn’t accept what she was hearing, “Mother, do you mean I have to find someone to get engaged to?”

Madam Fan nodded firmly, “Yes.”

Fan Yuru was distressed, “Mother, why aren’t you supporting me this time?”

Madam Fan held her daughter’s hand, “1 don’t want you to marry abroad. It’s good to marry someone in the capital where I can see you anytime. If you marry to another country, we might never see each other again.”

Fan Yuru understood her mother’s feelings, but she had no one she liked in the capital, “Mother, go back first, let me think.”

Madam Fan’s first reaction was, “You’re not planning to run away, are you?”

Fan Yuru replied helplessly, “Father has soldiers guarding the mansion, I couldn’t escape even if 1 had wings.”

Realizing the truth of this, Madam Fan said, “Alright, think it over and decide quickly. Don’t go against your father, or you’ll be the one who suffers.”

“I understand.”

Madam Fan stood up and left. Not long after she left, a maid came in to report that Chu Qingzhi had arrived.

Fan Yuru’s eyes lit up, “Qingzhi is like a timely rain!” She hurried out to greet her.

Chu Qingzhi hadn’t been at General Fan’s mansion long when Consort Xin also arrived. However, one was there to see Fan Yuru and General Fan, and the other to see Madam Fan, so they didn’t cross paths.

“Qingzhi!” Fan Yuru embraced her affectionately, “I didn’t expect you to come see me. 1 feel like I have hope now.”

Chu Qingzhi asked with concern, “I heard you were grounded at home. Has your father been hard on you?”

Fan Yuru pulled Chu Qingzhi into the room, bitterly saying, “My father isn’t giving me a hard time, but he is forcing me to get engaged.”

Understanding why General Fan would do such a thing given recent events, Chu Qingzhi tentatively asked, “What are your thoughts on this?”

Without hesitation, Fan Yuru said, “1 don’t want to marry.” She then eagerly asked, “Qingzhi, is there a way to change my father’s mind?”

On her way here, Chu Qingzhi had calculated that Yuan Hongjun and Fan Yuru had a marital fate with a turning point coming in half a month.

Chu Qingzhi replied, “I’ll talk to General Fan. I can’t guarantee the outcome, but I’ll try my best to buy you some time.”

Fan Yuru looked at her trustingly, “My father is very stubborn and rarely changes his mind. So far, only Brother Tang has managed to change it, but 1 believe you can too.”

Chu Qingzhi smiled, “I’ll try.”

Fan Yuru personally escorted Chu Qingzhi to General Fan’s study and knocked on the door, “Father, Qingzhi has something to discuss with you.”

Inside, General Fan was busy with official work. Initially planning to decline the visit, he changed his mind, “Come in.”

He had always wanted to meet Jinghong’s fiancee but never had the chance. Now that she was here, he was curious to see what set this young lady apart.

Fan Yuru opened the door, giving Chu Qingzhi an encouraging smile, “I’ll wait for you outside, talk well.”

“I’ll do my best.” With that, Chu Qingzhi walked into the study..

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