Chapter 1138 Third Madam Was Seriously

“No matter what, she is with me!”

Chu Liuchen’s eyes softened. He reached out to hold Shao Wanru in his arms and looked down at his beloved woman in his embrace. Because of what she had said, her delicate face turned pink. Even if she had buried her head in his arms, he could still see the blush on her face. Chu Liuchen felt peaceful and happy, even going into raptures over such a scene.

No matter what happened, he had everything as long as she was around.

“Don’t worry. I won’t be sad!” Chu Liuchen’s response sounded inexplicable, but Shao Wanru raised her head slightly and peeked at him. Seeing the tenderness in his eyes, she immediately lowered her head again.

They stopped talking and focused on enjoying the sweetness in their hearts brought by each other. There was no need to say anything else. The couple snuggled up together, knowing the wonderful feelings in each other’s hearts…

After coming out of Chu Liuchen’s study, Shao Wanru went outside and got onto the carriage. According to Chu Liuchen’s request, this time, she brought Qing’er and Yujie. With her current status, Shao Wanru could take a few more servants.

Her carriage arrived at the Marquis Xing’s Mansion. Zhao Xiran got the news and came out early, waiting for Shao Wanru on the spot.

Yujie and Qing’er supported Shao Wanru when she got out of the carriage.

“Your Highness!” Zhao Xiran bowed and stepped aside. Shao Wanru was surprised to see Zhao Xiqiong, Second Miss Zhao. Since Shao Wanru met her, Zhao Xiqiong often turned up before her.

Zhao Xiqiong bowed deeply to Shao Wanru.

Shao Wanru said with a smile, “Sister Zhao, I’ll visit Third Aunt first. She asked me to see her when I came back.”

“Your Highness, please do as you like. I’ll go to prepare lunch.” Zhao Xiran looked at the color of the sky and said sensibly. Shao Wanru came at this time, waiting for Old Madam to come back in the afternoon. So, she would certainly have lunch in the mansion.

“Thank you for that!” Shao Wanru narrowed her eyes and said with a trace of gloom across her eyes, “Then I’ll go to see Third Aunt first!”

“Please suit yourself, Your Highness!” Zhao Xiran stepped aside and let Shao Wanru go over with two servant girls. She then called another servant girl to report to the third branch.

“Eldest Sister, why didn’t you allow me to take Princess Chen there?” After Shao Wanru went far away, Zhao Xiqiong asked unhappily.

She had just hinted to Zhao Xiran that she wanted to take Shao Wanru to the third branch.

“What are you going to do there? Didn’t Shao Caihuan make it clear enough that day?” Zhao Xiran’s face darkened as she said unpleasantly.

“So what? My father agreed with me. It’s none of their business. They are just jealous!” Zhao Xiqiong said indifferently, not taking this matter seriously.

Upon returning home that day, she implicitly told her idea to her father, who didn’t object. He said that Prince Chen was no longer the same as before and that she should be careful not to provoke him. Besides, he warned her not to offend Princess Chen either. Princess Chen, chosen by Prince Chen, must be unique to him.

It was precisely for this reason that Zhao Xiqiong specially came to the Marquis Xing’s Mansion. Since Old Madam would come back today, Princess Chen should also come. Zhao Xiqiong was trying to build a good relationship with Princess Chen. She only needed to make sure Princess Chen wouldn’t hate her. It would be even better if she could please Princess Chen. Perhaps, Princess Chen would take the initiative to take her in before she asked for help.

With this in mind, Zhao Xiqiong came over, determined to ingratiate herself with Shao Wanru. To her disappointment, her sister threw cold water on her idea, which deeply distressed Zhao Xiqiong.

“This is the Marquis Xing’s Mansion, not the Minister Zhao’s Mansion. You’re a guest, but Princess Chen is the host. Do you think she needs a guest to show her the way? And Third Aunt doesn’t like you. Since she asked Shao Caihuan to invite Princess Chen, Third Aunt must have something to do with her. As an outsider, how could you follow her the whole time?”

Zhao Xiran said with displeasure.

In her heart, she was unhappy with her father’s decision. Her father used to be very clear-minded, but recently, he seemed increasingly confused! How could he tell Prince Chen would take Zhao Xiqiong into his mansion? Why did he think Princess Chen would bear it and take the initiative to accept Zhao Xiqiong as Prince Chen’s consort?

When Zhao Xiran married into Marquis Xing’s Mansion, Shao Wanru was not married yet. Therefore, they spent some time together. They were not close to each other, and Zhao Xiran never dared to underestimate Shao Wanru. When Zhao Xiran was newly married, she was once pushed to the end of her rope due to a tiny oversight. How could any ordinary woman be capable of that?

Her father seemed to take it for granted, while her second sister flattered herself.

Zhao Xiran wanted to disillusion her younger sister. However, Zhao Xiqiong turned a deaf ear to her repeated warnings. Zhao Xiran felt helpless as she looked at Zhao Xiqiong, who was full of unreal expectations. In her opinion, this marriage couldn’t be achieved at all. Prince Chen would only accept the woman he liked. Otherwise, why didn’t he get a legal wife for so many years?

Prince Chen, favored by the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, could marry anyone he fancied. Even Young Madams with status as high as Infanta Yuan’an would have to marry him. Though he had been a sick man who would die soon, it didn’t matter! Somehow, Zhao Xiran felt Prince Chen must have fallen in love with Shao Wanru, her sister-in-law, a long time ago.

There was no evidence. It was just a woman’s intuition.

But since Zhao Xiran had nothing to prove her intuition was correct, her sister wouldn’t believe it. Thinking of this, Zhao Xiran sighed helplessly. She reached out to hold her sister’s hand and said, “Go back with me. Let’s prepare a decent meal for Princess Chen. It will make her happy. Third Aunt is in poor health. She won’t keep Princess Chen for long!”

Zhao Xiqiong thought Zhao Xiran’s suggestion sounded reasonable. Though reluctantly, she followed Zhao Xiran back. When Shao Wanru was back from the third branch of Marquis Xing’s Mansion, she would try her best to fawn at her. Zhao Xiqiong believed that Princess Chen would readily accept an obedient consort like her. She had a noble status and was willing to be a humble consort. How could Princess Chen not be dissatisfied with her?

Second Miss Zhao was trying her best to please Shao Wanru, hoping that she would let Chu Liuchen accept her as a consort. However, Shao Wanru didn’t know it.

With Yujie and Qing’er, Shao Wanru went to the third branch. Someone had already gone to report when they arrived at Third Madam’s courtyard. Then, Shao Caihuan and Shao Cailing came out to welcome them.

At the sight of Shao Wanru, they were about to salute her, but Shao Wanru smiled and told them to skip it. Afterward, they entered the main room together.

The smell of medicine in the main room was strong. Since Third Madam was always weak in health, she had taken medicine almost all year round. The window was open for fresh air, but there was still a distinct smell of medicine inside.

After Shao Caihuan and Shao Cailing, Shao Wanru entered the inner room. There, she saw Third Madam lying on the bed — she was all skin and bones. Shao Wanru couldn’t help but be stunned. “Was the Third Madam so seriously ill?”

Third Madam was very thin, but it could be seen that she remained quite calm. When she saw Shao Wanru coming over, she struggled to rise up.

Shao Wanru hurriedly stepped forward and prevented her from getting up. Then, she sat down on the chair beside the bed.

“How do you get so sick? What did the doctor say?” After taking her seat, Shao Wanru asked in astonishment.

It had never occurred to her that Third Madam would be terribly sick. When Shao Caihuan came to tell her about it, she didn’t say that her mother was at death’s door from her illness.

Third Madam was in poor health for a long time, yet she had never become so hopelessly ill that she could barely get herself out of bed.

“Nothing serious. I caught a cold and don’t feel well. I’ll be fine after a short rest!” Third Madam said carelessly, her smiling eyes on Shao Wanru’s face.

“Have you asked an imperial physician to examine you?” Shao Wanru asked with a frown.

“Not everyone can send for an imperial physician in the Palace!” Third Madam shook her head and said.

“Didn’t Third Uncle tell Second Uncle about your condition?” Shao Wanru asked in confusion. Although the third branch couldn’t get an imperial physician, Shao Jing could.

“His Grace has been very busy recently and seldom stays in the mansion. My illness is nothing serious. There is no need to bother him!” Third Madam shook her head and said.

“Is Shao Jing hardly at home? Has he always been with E’niang? He seldom lives in the mansion. E’niang must be a really tough woman.”

“No matter what, you need an imperial physician!” Shao Wanru said in displeasure. She turned to Shao Caihuan, who was standing beside her, and said, “Ask for someone to get an imperial physician with my name card. Your mother looks so sick. Only an imperial physician knows her physical condition!”

The rims of Shao Caihuan’s eyes turned red. She wiped the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief and nodded.

No one in this messy mansion cared about her mother’s illness. Shao Caihuan had told her father about the problem, but he was unsympathetic. He only said he would go to tell her Second Uncle, but she received no reply. Shao Caihuan had tried to find her Second Uncle but never succeeded. Marquis Xing was not there every time she went to his place.

It appeared to be a minor illness, but her mother was confined to bed by sickness, which made Shao Caihuan very anxious.

That day, her mother asked her to see Princess Chen in the Prince Chen’s Mansion. Shao Caihuan had planned to tell her bad condition to Princess Chen. But later, she decided to say it when Shao Wanru returned to the mansion.

She didn’t expect that Shao Wanru would take the initiative to help as soon as she came.

With tears in her eyes, she lowered her head and followed Yujie out silently. She took the name card handed over by Yujie and asked someone to invite an imperial physician over.

In the room, Third Madam’s eyes were also slightly red. She sighed softly and said to Shao Cailing, who was standing aside and wiping her tears, “You can leave now and stay outside with your sister for a while. I have something to talk to Princess Chen!”

“Yes!” Shao Cailing turned around with tears streaming down her face.

When she got out of the door and saw Shao Caihuan standing there, she suddenly felt sadness welling up. She threw herself into Shao Caihuan’s arms and wept softly.

“Mother will be okay. She will be fine!” Shao Caihuan comforted her in a low voice, but she didn’t know whether she muttered these words to soothe Shao Cailing or herself.

The wound on her face had almost healed. There were only a few tiny scars, indiscernible from a distance, but they could be seen under close examination. Fortunately, her rouge and powder were of good quality, which could cover the minor flaws. But even so, Shao Caihuan felt herself inferior and hardly left her home.

She was flustered and afraid that something terrible would happen to her mother. She looked up at the door and forced herself to hold back the tears in her eyes. Her mother had told her not to be willful again. If anything happened, she would try every means to protect them and never let anyone scheme against them…

The room fell silent. Third Madam wiped away the tear stains from the corners of her eyes and sat up straight. “Your Highness, my illness situation looks unbelievable to you, doesn’t it? I fell sick not long ago but have one foot in the grave now.”

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