Chapter 242 An Undercurrent Arising from Whitey

At night, Jiang Yashuang had a shower before having sex with Qiu Yelan as usual. After this, he could not fall asleep. He tried to listen carefully to the sound outside and expected somebody would come and report the diagnostic result.

However, he waited until the middle of the night with no one to report it, and his heart grew heavier and heavier.

The inkiest black light before dawn, Jiang Yashuang heard a faint rustle outside the window, which was drizzle hitting the banana leaves. The sound was dense but light and soft. In the past, it made him relaxed when listened to it. But now, the sound unnerved him more and more.

He pushed lightly away the sleeping Qiu Yelan in his arm, crept up to get dressed, and ran to the Marquess Qin’s yard in the night to find out the news himself.

It was dark at this time of night, and the porch kerosene lamps were lit, but all did not shine far, seeming dim and heavy.

With the heavy heart as the lamps, Jiang Yashuang greeted Madame Tao who was coming to greet him. Jiang Yashuang tried to hold back his emotions and ask for Marquess Qin’s condition. Luckily, the first sentence Madame Tao said was, “It’s not life-threatening and he will be fine in a few days.”

But it was too early to get relief, because, “The imperial doctor said that he is fine today does not indicate that he will be fine tomorrow. What will happen to him is not sure. We have to wait and see after he takes drugs for two days and re-check him.”

“What a relief to hear that he is fine!” Jiang Yashuang felt relieved. And then he mentioned that Xin Fubing would live in the Summer Palace with Qiu Yelan for a short time.

Madame Tao said yes without thinking too much. She even sent Mom Hu to the summer retreat of the Sir Jibei’s Mansion to tell Madame Ou about their leaving.

Madame Ou, actually, disagreed Xin Fubing and Qiu Yelan to go to the Summer Palace at the critical time, let alone live for a short time there.

Although she was strict with the young girls, she respected her sister-in-law very much. In order not to spoil her sister-in-law’s mood, she agreed in the end.

Xin Fubing’s grandmother was reluctant to move anywhere, even in the summer or deep winter. She would stay in the old house in the capital. However, she lauded to let Xin Fubing have a summer vacation in the Summer Palace. The reason she had given was that she cared much about her granddaughter. In her deep heart, she was hoping that Xin Fubing could contact the members of the Jiang Family as the Jiang Family was prominent in the capital. In this way, even her daughter-in-law was not living in the capital, she could get help from her granddaughter who could seek help from the Jiang Family.

Over the past years, Xin Fubing had been to the Mount Dizi with her aunt Madame Mi. This year, as Mi Yinyin squeezed her out many times, she would be reluctant to stay with Madame Mi again. She chose to stay with Madame Ou this year. So, it was natural that she must follow Madame Ou.

Now, Madame Ou agreed to let her live in the Summer Palace for a short time. No matter Xin Fubing was pleased or not, she had to pack and go there.

Qiu Yelan, after receiving the confirmed message sent by Jiang Yashuang, visited Madame Tao Junior and Sheng Shishui. And then she went visiting He Shuijin with a set of jewelry, asking her to take care of her two sisters-in-law. After she arranged all in the house, she began to get the package she prepared earlier, and went to the Summer Palace with Xin Fubing.

Just like entering their own house in the capital, womenfolk of the Jiang Family entered the Summer Palace smoothly.

Before they met the Empress, Jiang Yashuang had informed the Empress of their coming. Hence, Empress Jiang exempted them from the ceremony, telling them where they would live. As Xin Fubing looked terrible, the Empress ordered the maids to help them unpack their packages but Qiu Yelan was ordered to stay. The most urgent topic the Empress wanted to ask was about Marquess Qin’s illness, “I was reported that he passed out last night. Why? How about him now?”

Qiu Yelan knew in her heart that, on the surface, the Empress seemed calm, but in her heart, she must be nervous. So, Qiu Yelan told her every word that Jiang Yashuang told her.

After hearing her words, Empress Jiang paused for a while, saying, “So, today’s diagnostic result is not a final one? We have to wait two more days?”

“As per grandmother said to Yashuang, we do,” replied Qiu Yelan respectfully.

“Okay, let’s leave this aside now.” Empress Jiang was an open-mind woman. She changed the topic, “About Fubing, what’s going on about her? Didn’t I tell you before to let her off the hook? With so many days passed, why does she look worse and more haggard?”

“At the banquet last night, Mi Yinyin angered her. She rushed back to her room, crying badly!” said Qiu Yelan, showing that nothing she could do. “I chased after her, and comforted her for a long time, but I was refused to enter her room… I guessed she might be sad for an entire night, and she did not recover before meeting you.”

Xin Fubing’s condition gave a headache to the Empress, “In the past, I thought she was a girl with a big picture in her head. I don’t think she was weak! How can she become a girl who can be beaten down by Mi Yinyin’s one sentence?”

Qiu Yelan defended Xin Fubing, “As you know, Mi Yinyin is one of the nieces of the sixth aunt. At the banquet of last night, all seniors are present. Cousin Xin did not want to be a buzzkill. Hence, she had to hold her horse before being mad…”

“What a mess!” The Empress grunted, adding after shaking her head, “Although Weisang is one of the princes, he must have a bright future! His wife must be a tough girl. Look at Princess Yan and prospective Princess Zhou, they are tough. I have an eye on her because I think she is a nice girl. In the following days, you need to focus on her and needn’t do anything else, teaching her how to live in the palace. Don’t weaken our family because of her.”

Qiu Yelan said yes and added, “Yashuang suggested that as Cousin Xin is living in the palace, it may be good for her to meet the Seventh Prince from time to time…”

“I will arrange it!” nodded Empress Jiang. While she was about to say something else, Princess Yongfu walked in hurriedly. She greeted the Empress with “Mother” and then looked at Qiu Yelan, smiling, “Yelan, as you are here, I need your advice. I don’t like the flowers in my yard. I want to change some but I am not sure which flowers I should plant. Can you come with me and give me some suggestions?”

Empress Jiang had been pampering her daughter. After hearing her words, she let Qiu Yelan go immediately, “As you have things to do, Yelan, you and Yongfu go to do your business!”

After retreating, Qiu Yelan asked Princess Yongfu, “Your Highness, which flowers do you want?”

“I don’t care about it at all. I just found an excuse to get you out of there,” said Princess Yongfu, making face. She continued with a smile, “I have something else to tell you. You know that my grandmother wants to betroth Princess Changping to Kuang Qingwu, don’t you?”

Qiu Yelan was confused, “Yes, I know. But what does this have to do with me?” She must have known this, or why did she suggest the Seventh Prince hold the marriage? Did anything go wrong with this?

Princess Yongfu looked askance at her, “But your sister is still hooking up with Kuang Qingwu… Although I know your sister and you are not close, I guess you don’t know their affair. But you think about it. If my grandmother and Princess Changping notice their relationship, they may turn their anger on you. So, I think you should talk with your sister. She has no chance to win Princess Changping, who my grandmother supports. In terms of status, Princess Changping is a Commandery Princess. You can’t let her be a concubine, can’t you? Let me take a step back. Even if your sister is willing to marry Kuang Qingwu to be a concubine, do you think my grandmother and Commandery Princess will be tolerant letting them live under the same roof?”

Qiu Yelan was stunned, “I don’t know Ningtai still seeing Kuang Qingwu?!” She suddenly realized that the Empress did not mention this and she did not seem to ask about it. So, she continued to ask, “Princess Yongfu, how do you know this?”

“Xiao Su told me last night when I went to the Prince’s Mansion of Puyang,” said Princess Yongfu, pursing her lips. “His side yard is just across a stream of Kung Qingwu’s side yard. A maid saw that Kuang Qingwu walked Commandery Princess Ningtai out of his side yard at dusk. It was getting dark. You know, Xiao Su is an honest man. He never lies. So, I think it was real.”

“I don’t suspect you and the Duke of Puyang. Never.” Qiu Yelan said nervously. She began to regret that she was busy with her own business when she condoled old Princess Qin. She did not take the chance to make it clear to Qiu Jinzhu, asking her what her relationship with Kuang Qingwu was all about. Since she was busy back then, she forgot to ask her about it. Until now, she realized they had been seeing each other for a year.

“It does not matter Empress Dowager Gu turns her anger on me. Anyway, as I am a daughter-in-law of the Jiang Family, it is difficult for Empress Dowager Gu to like me,” thought Qiu Yelan. She felt overwhelmed. “What I am afraid of is that they turn their anger on my brother. The battle for the status of the Crown Prince has lasted for a year. While the battle did not turn to be an open conflict, the battle is getting more heated by the day! Unfortunately, Qiu Jinglan is in his mourning period. Hence, he had neither a title nor a chance to hide behind Prime Minister Xue…”

After finishing the topic, Princess Yongfu had no intent to leave. Instead, she tugged on her sleeve and asked, wide-eyed, “I heard that the dishes you cooked for my brother Yashuang were exquisite…”

“If you like it, I can make some for you. Okay?” Cook was an easy task for Qiu Yelan. And what was more, Princess Yongfu just told her an important message. Qiu Yelan was pleased to make her happy. In this way, she said yes to her promptly.

“I know you won’t let me down!” Princess Yongfu was so excited that she pushed Qiu Yelan to run toward her house. She commanded her maids while they were running, “Go and invite Chunxiao, I like more people around!”

Half a day passed, Qiu Yelan left Princess Yongfu’s house, intending to go back to the house arranged for Xin Fubing and her. Suddenly, Chu Chunxiao, County Princess Duanrou, ran after her and shouted, “Yelan, please wait up!”

Qiu Yelan was surprised and stopped. Chu Chunxiao came over and asked shyly, “As for the dishes you cooked today, I think my parents might like them. Could you teach me how to cook?”

“Okay, my pleasure,” Qiu Yelan thought she might have something else to ask. After hearing her question, she smiled, “If you are free now, how about we talk about it while we are walking home?”

Chu Chunxiao was so pleased that she said thanks many times… While Qiu Yelan was teaching her how to cook, she asked how Prince Qiyang was going recently. Speaking of Prince Qiyang, Chu Chunxiao’s bright face turned sad. She sighed, “My father is not good recently, and my mother worries about him much. We always have the imperial doctors over our house, but nothing goes better… ”

Qiu Yelan knew that Prince Qiyang had a congenital disease. The doctor could do nothing for him. However, she had to comfort her while they were walking. Not before long they almost arrived at the house arranged for Qiu Yelan and Xin Fubing, they saw Xin Fubing holding Whitey in her arms with Nianxue lying at her feet and talking with a pretty girl before they entered the yard.

Looking closely, they noticed that the girl was Princess Changping.

“What brings her here?” Seeing this, both Qiu Yelan and Chu Chunxiao were stunned a little.

What surprised Qiu Yelan even more, though, was that, “Cousin Xin is in a terrible mood. She even did not want to greet Empress… It was unlikely for her to be out, and more surprisingly, to talk with Princess Changping.”

While they were confused, Princess Changping and Xin Fubing saw they are coming too. Princess Changping twisted her head, greeting, “Commandery Princess Qiu, Chunxiao, you are finally back home.”

Qiu Yelan was rewarded with a title of Commandery Princess. In principle, after she married Jiang Yashuang, Jiang Yashuang should be called as a husband of a princess. However, we all knew that the Jiang Family was prominent in the capital. And more, the Prince’s Mansion of Xihe was not backing for Qiu Yelan. So, Qiu Jinglan, Ruan Ciyi, Mrs. Zhou and others from the maiden family thought that the titles weren’t worth fighting. It would be better to be called following the rules in the Jiang Family such as Qiu Yelan was called the young lady and Jiang Yashuang the young master. The seniors in the Jiang Family might be happier about this.

But, how did outsiders call them? It was beyond their control, and they could not force them either.

At this moment, needless to say, Qiu Yelan would not request Princess Changping to call her Madame Qiu. Hence, she answered while walking toward them with Chu Chunxiao. After paying salute, she intended to converse with them by empty words at the beginning. However, she noticed that Princess Changping was sizing up Whitey and saying with a fake smile, “Whitey looks like the same age as my cat ‘Pinger’. Back then, I also wanted to have a cat with fur around its heterochromia eyes. But unfortunately, the one I booked in the Tao Family died before making out of the nest. So, I had to choose the second-best and get a different one… Commandery Princess Qiu, I wonder where you got this one?”

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