Chapter 14 He couldn't wait any longer
Hearing Prince Duan ask about the cousin.
Princess Chaoli looked at him warily, "Second brother, why are you asking about the cousin from the Marquis's mansion?"
Prince Duan carefully observed Zhou Chuanxing's expression, then rubbed his lips. "Hey, last time she got lost in the palace, wasn't it me who took her out? I thought that girl was quite interesting. You should have seen her this time, right? Come to think of it, she didn't even say thank you to me."
Chao Li shook his head.
She did ask Chu Yanqing to invite the person over, but Chu Yanqing said the girl was sick.
"It seems she's sick; I didn't see her in person."
"Are you sick?"
Zhou Chuanxing's expression grew increasingly cold.
Prince Duan, keeping his eyes down and his mind at ease, said, "Second Brother, good things often come with difficulties."
Zhou Chuanxing said nothing more and sat back in his armchair to continue handling state affairs.
Chao Li clearly sensed that his second brother was in a bad mood. "Third brother, second brother, he..."
Prince Duan laughed and said, "Hey, that's just how Second Brother is. By the way, you've been gone for so long, go back and change your clothes, they all stink."
Princess Chaoli raised her hand and sniffed the smell on her sleeve. "Where does it smell? You're just being nosy."
A little girl would naturally feel uncomfortable if someone told her she smelled bad.
He snorted loudly at Prince Duan, "Be careful you don't end up not finding a wife!"
After Princess Chaoli left, Zhou Chuanxing seemed unable to wait even a moment longer, "Go to the Marquis's residence."
Prince Duan picked at his ear. "What reason?"
Zhou Chuanxing blurted out, "Whether you pursue Miss Chu the Third or congratulate Prince Chu the Young Master, you choose one."
"Understood," Prince Duan snapped his fingers stylishly, turned to leave, but then remembered something and came back to Zhou Chuanxing's side.
"Second brother, why did you go through all this trouble? Why didn't you just ask the Marquis's mansion for the person? They wouldn't dare refuse."
Zhou Chuanxing pressed his temples hard. "Do you know anything about Prince Chu?"
Prince Duan had many subtle tricks up his sleeve; he inserted two fingers into his belt and spun around twice.
People with broad shoulders and narrow waists are often of noble birth, exuding an air of elegance and grace.
"This person... seems very cunning. Are you afraid he won't let go?"
Zhou Chuanxing said calmly, "Madam Hou is kind-hearted. Her own niece still can't get a proper title, which must be because the Crown Prince Chu is unwilling. But the Hou family hasn't arranged a marriage for Miss Tang. What could be the reason?"
Prince Duan understood. "Don't worry, your third brother will definitely help you get this done."
So what if he's pursuing Miss Chu? He's thick-skinned anyway, so he doesn't care if he gets rejected once a day.
Princess Chaoli came to the Marquis's residence in the morning, and Prince Duan came again in the afternoon.
Everyone in the Marquis's residence was somewhat confused.
However, Chu Yanqing did have some guesses.
Princess Chaoli came in the morning and repeatedly inquired about her marriage, which made her suspicious.
After seeing that big bad wolf, Prince Duan, again in the afternoon, what else is there to be unclear about?
Isn't it just that he wants to marry her, but can't let go of the other women, and wants to enjoy the bliss of having two wives?
She wouldn't want to see him if it weren't for his identity.
"May Your Highness Prince Duan be well." Chu Yanqing glanced at him expressionlessly, then quickly looked away.
Prince Duan came under the guise of pursuing Chu Yanqing, so he naturally had to be more tolerant of her coldness.
"You're too kind, Miss Third," he said after greeting the Lady of the Marquis, teasing Chu Yanqing a couple of times, and then inquiring about the progress of Chu's son's marriage.
Hearing that they were ready to propose marriage to the Wei family, he was overjoyed and praised Chu Yannuo and Miss Wei to the skies.
Lady Hou's expression remained indifferent throughout.
Chu Yanqing wasn't in a good mood either, and when no one was looking, she rolled her eyes at Prince Duan several times.
Unfortunately, they were captured by Prince Duan.
He mouthed a threat to Chu Yanqing, "I'm really giving you too much face!"
Chu Yanqing pretended not to see it.
"It's getting late. The Duan Dynasty is busy with affairs of state, so you should be heading back now. I won't see you off."
Prince Duan refused to leave. "By the way, I escorted your cousin out of the palace last time, and she hasn't thanked me yet. Since she's here at the manor today, call her out so she can thank me."
Chu Yanqing knew he was there to cause trouble.
They refused to leave.
If we don't invite my cousin over, I don't know when we'll be able to get rid of this big shot.
After a moment's hesitation, he said, "Please wait a moment, Your Highness, I will go and fetch my cousin right away."
When Chu Yanqing arrived at the Green Bamboo Garden, Tang Xinuan was studying weapon diagrams.
Upon hearing that someone wanted to see her, she refused without hesitation: "Cousin, I don't see anyone."
Chu Yanqing could understand her cousin's feelings.
Her brother was keeping her as his own while also arranging to marry another woman, and he still wouldn't let her go.
Who could be in a good mood when they encounter something like this?
However, since the prince wanted to see her, she couldn't very well refuse.
"Cousin, the person who came is Prince Duan. He specifically asked to see you."
Tang Xinuan still refused to go, "Cousin, just say I... say I'm sick and I don't want to go."
Chu Yanqing nodded knowingly, "Okay, if you don't want to go, then don't go. I'll go and talk to them."
She went over to her cousin to see what she was doing. Her cousin was drawing and writing on a picture that looked like a crossbow.
"Why are you looking at this kind of weapon? It can't be made in most places, except by the imperial arsenal."
But the Ordnance Bureau isn't a place anyone can just join; even my father probably doesn't have that authority.
Tang Xinuan has her own thoughts; she never follows other people's ideas.
"Cousin, do you think my drawing is pretty?"
Chu Yanqing knew nothing about weapons. If it weren't for her father and brother both practicing martial arts and having seen many of them, she wouldn't have been able to recognize what she was drawing at all.
What's so interesting about a cold, lifeless weapon?
However, Chu Yanqing still praised her with an appreciative tone: "Cousin, you draw really well."
Tang Xinuan smiled happily.
"I think it looks good too."
The two sisters hadn't been talking for long when Chu Yanqing, still remembering Prince Duan, hurriedly replied.
She promised to bring the person over, but now her cousin doesn't want to go.
After hesitating for a moment, he pointed to the lime and said, "Come with me."
And so Chu Yanqing led Qing Ning back to the reception hall.
“Prince Duan, my cousin is indeed feeling unwell. This is her maid. You can ask her if you don’t believe me.”
Qing Ning obediently knelt on the ground and kowtowed to Prince Duan.
"Miss has been unwell these past two days and hasn't eaten much. She's been bedridden. I dare not lie, and I beg Your Highness's forgiveness."
Prince Duan frowned.
My younger sister came here but didn't see Tang Xinuan.
If he comes and doesn't see anyone, his second brother will definitely get angry.
"Since you're sick, I'll go see you myself."
Chu Yanqing hurriedly stopped him: "My cousin is an unmarried woman. It would be bad if word got out that Your Highness would go to her boudoir like this."
To make things difficult for her, he actually went and caused trouble for her cousin. Prince Duan must have a lot of free time.
Prince Duan's expression grew increasingly displeased. "Can't I even look at her?"
Chu Yanqing firmly replied, "Of course not. How will my cousin face people if word gets out?"
Prince Duan gritted his teeth in hatred, "Chu Yanqing, don't go too far."
Although Chu Yanqing feared the power of Prince Duan, she wasn't without temper. "What, you like my cousin? Then find someone to arrange a marriage and marry her properly with eight sedan chairs!"
By the way, our daughter absolutely forbids her husband from having three wives and four concubines, not even my cousin.
"If Prince Duan can do it, I'll take you to see her right now."
Prince Duan had never seen such an unreasonable person as Chu Yanqing.
"Chu Yanqing, one day you'll be begging me for mercy. Don't blame me for not showing any mercy then."
Chu Yanqing chuckled and said, "What past relationship do we have that makes it sound like we have some improper relationship?"
Suddenly, Prince Duan's eyes reddened, and he glared at Chu Yanqing's infuriating little mouth, clenching his fist tightly.
"You just wait!"
After speaking, he left the Marquis's residence with a belly full of anger.
Zhou Chuanxing waited until Prince Duan returned, then asked, "How did it go?"
Prince Duan suppressed his anger and said, "I didn't see him. He said he was sick."
Zhou Chuanxing: "..."
After a long silence, he said, "Prepare a map of the Marquis's residence for me."
Prince Duan was startled: "Second Brother, what are you doing? Sneaking into the Marquis's residence at night? The Crown Prince Chu knows martial arts. If you're discovered, those old bastards in the court are just looking for something to do with you..."
Zhou Chuanxing seemed to have an immense amount of energy with nowhere to vent it.
He clenched his fists and placed them on the desk, then banged his forehead against the desk several times.
When I looked up again, my eyes were bloodshot.
"I... can't wait any longer."
A note from the author:
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