Chu Qianchen was about to stand up when Shen pushed him back.

"Sister Chen, please stay here. I'll go for a walk." Shen sneered, smoothed her dress casually, and went out with Nanny Chen.

In the east room, only Chu Qianchen, Chu Yunmu and Chu Yunyi were left.

Chu Qianchen actually wanted to go to the palace as soon as possible to discuss with Cheng Linhua and the others how to deal with the situation, but now Shen was running around for her, so she certainly couldn't just sneak out of the palace without caring about anything, so she could only stay here for the time being.

Chu Qianchen casually stroked the teacup at hand, thinking quietly.

From Chu Yunyi's perspective, he felt that Chu Qianchen was worried about this marriage, and worried that her grandmother and father would make things difficult for her...

Well, although Chu Qianchen always favors Chu Yunmu, she is still his sister after all, so he can just try to comfort her.

“Ahem…”

Chu Yunyi put his fist to his lips and cleared his throat. Before he could organize his words, he saw Chu Yunmu waving at Chu Qianchen mysteriously, "I'll give you something good. Open your mouth."

Chu Qianchen moved closer to him and opened his mouth slightly.

Chu Yunmu took out a candy from his purse and stuffed it into Chu Qianchen's mouth, saying in a low voice: "I asked someone to secretly go to Tang Ji next to the training ground to buy this today. It's Tang Ji's new rose crisp candy, and it's fragrant and sweet."

"Don't tell mother! Otherwise, I will ignore you!"

Chu Yunmu warned in a fierce tone, looking quite ferocious.

Chu Qianchen held the rose candy in her mouth and couldn't help but recall the scenes when she ran into Chu Yunmu in Yanghezhuang last year -

"Hey, take my candy and just pretend you never saw me here!"

"This candy is very sweet. After taking the medicine, eat another one and your mouth won't feel bitter anymore."

The boy who had just crawled in from the dog hole brushed the dust off his body with one hand, forcefully stuffed an oil-paper bag into her hand with the other, and then ran away.

Just like Chu Yunmu said, that bag of candy is very sweet.

She had never tasted such sweet candy.

Chu Qianchen smiled sweetly and rubbed Chu Yunmu's head affectionately, "Don't worry."

Chu Yunmu quickly hid, holding his head and said: "I have told you many times, you can't rub a man's head!"

Although he complained, he had a big smile on his face.

Looking at this pair of siblings behaving so intimately, Chu Yunyi once again felt that "he was the outsider" and his teeth began to ache again.

"Brother Mu," Chu Qianchen teased Chu Yunmu with a smile, "If you let me knead it, I'll give you the pine nut candy I made, okay?"

"You did it?!" Chu Yunmu's eyes lit up like a lit lantern, and he said modestly, "Then... I'll reluctantly let you rub it three times."

Chu Yunmu sat there obediently, allowing Chu Qianchen to stroke him several times.

Chu Yunyi silently looked at the puppy-like Chu Yunmu with contempt, thinking that he had no principles and no moral integrity.

Without Chu Qianchen's further instructions, Amber went back to Wanyan Courtyard to get the pine nut candy.

Chu Yunmu stared at the box of candies eagerly. Chu Qianchen took one out of the box and stuffed it into his mouth. "You can only eat one a day."

Chu Yunmu smiled until his eyes narrowed into slits, looking very happy. He was not polite to Chu Qianchen at all and asked for candy for his pony: "What about Xiaoyun?"

"Xiao Yun also takes one a day." Chu Qianchen couldn't help laughing again, feeling soft and warm in his heart.

“……”Chu Yunyi’s mouth twitched, feeling that Chu Qianchen was too partial: even Chu Yunmu’s horse got a share, but he was forgotten!

Chu Yunyi was so angry that he picked up the teacup and didn't look at Chu Qianchen. At this time, Chu Qianchen pushed the box towards him, "Brother Yi, do you want to eat?"

To be honest, Chu Yunyi is so old now that he has long passed the age of liking sweets, but now it is not a matter of one candy, he is fighting for a breath of fresh air.

"want!"

Chu Yunyi said decisively, feeling somewhat proud in his heart: This was something Chu Qianchen wanted to give him to eat, he didn't beg for it!

He picked up a pine nut candy and put it in his mouth, with the corners of his mouth slightly raised. Mm, it really tastes good.

Chu Qianchen looked at Chu Yunyi with a hint of smile in his eyes.

"Madam." Following a respectful female voice, the Xiangfei curtain was lifted up, and Shen, who had been gone for an incense stick, came back. No expression of joy or anger could be seen on her bright and dignified face.

Chu Qianchen, Chu Yunyi and his brother all bowed to Shen, who said gently, "Sister Chen, Brother Yi, please stay and have dinner together."

Chu Qianchen agreed, but Chu Yunyi declined, saying, "Mother, when I went out to get information just now, I made an appointment with Yu Qi and the others to have dinner at Yunting Pavilion. I want to find out more information from them."

After a pause, he added awkwardly: "I won't tell my father."

Shen just let him go and asked Dongmei to see him out.

After walking out of the east side room, Chu Yunyi heard Shen's gentle voice from behind the door curtain again: "Sister Chen, don't worry, I'm here and I won't let you marry in vain..."

Chu Yunyi paused for a moment.

Shen didn't say what happened when she went to Rongfu Hall just now, but if you think about it, you know that it must have ended in a bad mood.

Chu Yunyi only stopped for a short while and then continued to walk out, thinking: He was just helping Chu Qianchen to get the information out of reluctance because he couldn't eat Chu Qianchen's candy for free!

That’s right, that’s why!

Chu Yunyi walked away with his head held high, passing two little maids who were returning from bringing the food.

On this day, when Chu Qianchen accompanied Shen and Chu Yunmu for dinner, it was already dusk when he returned to Wanyan Courtyard. The setting sun made the sky red.

Chu Qianchen asked Amber to guard outside the study and went into the study alone.

She pushed open the window facing the backyard and called softly, "Xue Fengyan."

As soon as the last word fell, Xue Fengyan hung upside down from the eaves and landed lightly on the ground.

Chu Qianchen didn't even raise his eyebrows, as if it was no big deal.

Xue Fengyan jumped into the small study room from the window, sat down on a chair by the window without any hesitation, and poured himself a cup of warm tea. He had been waiting for Chu Qianchen for almost an entire afternoon.

Chu Qianchen also sat down, with only a small square table between them.

"Can you contact the prince? How long will it take?" Chu Qianchen asked directly.

Xue Fengyan swallowed the tea in his mouth and replied, "A letter sent by carrier pigeon may not reach the prince. If we rush, it will take at least seven or eight days."

"Then let's delay it for now." Chu Qianchen narrowed his eyes and said decisively.

"..." Xue Fengyan raised his eyebrows, unable to hide his surprise.

Because Chu Qianchen had not come out since he entered the main courtyard with Shen, Xue Fengyan waited for a long time but could not get him. So he simply went back to the palace more than an hour ago and discussed it with Cheng Linhua and others. Everyone felt that it would be better to delay the marriage for the time being.

The most important thing now is to never leak the news that the prince is not in Beijing, otherwise it will ruin the prince's plans.

Xue Fengyan was nonchalantly playing with the white porcelain teacup in his hand, looking at Chu Qianchen with a complicated look.

Originally, if the person who was granted marriage by imperial decree was not Chu Qianchen, this matter would be very simple and they would not have to make it difficult at all. They could just disobey the imperial decree. However, this matter became difficult because it involved Chu Qianchen.

In marriage, the girl is always the one who suffers.

The emperor used the excuse of a wedding to bring good luck to this marriage. If the marriage was delayed for too long, when it was called off in the future, Chu Qianchen's reputation would be the one that would suffer the most.

When someone mentions her in the future, the first thing that comes to mind will be——

She was a girl given by the Emperor to Prince Chen for his congratulations.

They sat together and discussed for an hour, but could not think of any other more reliable solution. They all knew that Chu Qianchen was very important to the prince, and the prince's injury was too serious. They had invited countless famous doctors for the prince, and all of them said that the prince would not survive this year.

Only Chu Qianchen said confidently that she could save the prince, and she did have the ability to do so.

Speaking of Chu Qianchen's superb medical skills, even Cheng Hualin couldn't help but mutter: "Although the emperor certainly has bad intentions, maybe Miss Chu is really the prince's lucky star."

It would probably be hard to find another doctor in the world who could save the prince, except Chu Qianchen.

Cheng Hualin gave the important task of persuading Chu Qianchen to Xue Fengyan, and Xue Fengyan had no choice but to agree.

Just now, after returning from the palace, he was alone on the roof, struggling and thinking for a long time, and still couldn't figure out how to start the conversation. However, he didn't expect Chu Qianchen to take the initiative to make this suggestion that was quite unfavorable to her.

Did she know what kind of impact this imperial marriage would have on her future?

Xue Fengyan stared at Chu Qianchen in a daze.

To them, the prince is naturally more important than anything else, but humans are not plants or trees, so who can be heartless? Xue Fengyan also feels somewhat apologetic towards Chu Qianchen.

Chu Qianchen saw what Xue Fengyan was thinking at a glance, but didn't say much and just smiled calmly.

She casually pushed the box next to her towards Xue Fengyan, "Want some candy?"

Xue Feng acted faster than he spoke, picking up a pine nut candy and eating it. An inexplicable feeling arose in his heart: he was obviously seven or eight years older than her, why did he feel like she was treating him as her younger brother?

Is it his illusion?

With this strange thought in mind, Xue Fengyan jumped out of the window again and hurried back to the palace.

After Xue Feng left, Chu Qianchen called Amber in and asked her to help him:

"Amber, you crushed this medicine."

"This medicine needs to be baked slowly over a low fire. Go get me a stove..."

"And this one needs to be soaked and steamed with wine. Go buy a jar of yellow wine tomorrow."

“…”

Chu Qianchen continued to prepare the medicinal materials for making the Da Zao Pills and didn't take the arranged marriage to heart at all.

Seeing Chu Qianchen's unhurried attitude, Amber was really worried for her own girl: The sky is about to fall, why doesn't the girl feel worried!

Chu Qianchen saw that Amber didn't move, and looked at her in confusion, "Amber?"

Amber wanted to say something but stopped herself in the end. She turned around and went out to help Chu Qianchen carry the stove.

Chu Qianchen buried his head in his work, without any distractions.

For her, it couldn't be easier.

When the prince receives the news, she will just listen to him on what to do.

Her most important task now is to make the Dazao Pills.

Except for Chu Qianchen, who was not in a hurry at all, everyone in the mansion was worried.

Chu Lingxiao has long lost his influence on the Shen family, and what makes the Shen family worried is Chu Qianchen.

That night, she tossed and turned, and barely closed her eyes the entire night.

The next morning, Shen got up early and asked someone to tell Chu Qianchen that he didn't need to go to Rongfu Hall. Then she hurried out and returned to her parents' home.

Shen hurried out of the house at five o'clock in the morning. There were not many people on the street. The carriage sped all the way, and she arrived at the Duke's Mansion before Duke Mu went to court.

At the beginning of the morning, the sky began to turn pale and the day began to brighten.

Duke Mu and his wife had just finished their breakfast. Lady Mu looked at her daughter in surprise and asked, "Azhi, why are you here?"

"Because of the arranged marriage?" Duke Mu guessed a little about his daughter's purpose.

Shen nodded, and said to her father without beating around the bush: "Father, do you know what the emperor is planning? Is there any room for this marriage to be turned around?"

Although Duke Mu was not at the parade ground yesterday, he was much more well-informed than Shen and Chu Yunyi. He knew clearly about the emperor bringing people to Prince Chen's Mansion and the subsequent marriage.

"What good intentions can the emperor have for Prince Chen?" Duke Mu said with a hint of sarcasm in his eyes, slowly stroking his beard, "The imperial decree granting marriage went to Prince Chen's mansion yesterday, but there has been no movement from Prince Chen's mansion so far. It seems that Prince Chen is indeed seriously ill."

"The Emperor is using the name of a wedding to bring good fortune, most likely to get a concubine to humiliate Prince Chen."

"The Emperor must have planned what happened yesterday. He mobilized so many troops to stage such a scene, I'm afraid he won't change his mind easily."

At least, the importance of the Yongding Marquisate was not enough to make the emperor change his mind.

Duke Mu's expression gradually became solemn. In fact, most of the court officials, including him, had realized that everything that happened yesterday was a long-planned conspiracy by the emperor.

What they are worried about is whether Prince Chen can hold on. The life and death of Prince Chen will inevitably affect the entire Da Qi.

"..." Shen's brows were tightly furrowed and her hands clenched the handkerchief.

She couldn't sleep last night and thought about this matter over and over again. She knew it would be difficult to get the emperor to take back his decision, but hearing what her father said was like a bucket of cold water poured over her head.

Lady Mu, who was standing by, noticed her daughter's worry and asked curiously, "Azhi, I remember that girl was born to that concubine named Jiang, right? Why do you care about her so much?"

Lady Mu, the Duke's wife, wondered why her eldest daughter cared so much about a concubine's daughter.

Shen said seriously, "Mother, Sister Chen is a very good and considerate child. Moreover, she saved Brother Mu's life."

Shen quickly told the whole story of how Chu Qianchen saved Chu Yunmu, including how she cured Chu Yunmu's broken leg.

Duke Mu and his wife looked at each other and were both slightly moved. They didn't expect that so many things had happened in the past few months, and their eldest daughter had not told them at all.

The wife of Duke Mu naturally felt sorry for her daughter, and felt a little sad: Alas, her eldest daughter is just too strong-willed.

Shen calmed down, looked at Duke Mu and said solemnly: "Father, even if Sister Chen really wants to marry into Prince Chen's mansion, she can't be so nameless and without status. The imperial decree asked her to marry the day after tomorrow, this... this is too much of a joke!"

"Father, is there any way to persuade the emperor to at least go through the proper etiquette for the wedding, so that the child won't have a hard time in the future?"

Shen said with a long sigh.

The imperial edict ordered Chu Qianchen to get married in three days, and to bring good luck to the couple. This was simply trampling on human dignity and treating Chu Qianchen like a concubine.

But if Chu Qianchen goes through the three books and six ceremonies, even if she gets married, she will be a prince's consort.

Even if Prince Chen really couldn't bear it, Chu Qianchen was at least the legitimate wife of Prince Chen. With royal relatives around, even the emperor couldn't just remove her from the throne.

What's more, their emperor has always been very proud, otherwise why would he go to so much trouble to stage such a drama just to obtain an imperial decree to grant a marriage!

Duke Mu nodded and agreed.

Even if it was because Chu Qianchen saved his grandson's life, this favor must be repaid.

As for whether it will succeed or not, we can only do our best and leave the rest to fate.

It was almost time, and Duke Mu stood up and prepared to go out. Just as he was about to go out, he thought of something and asked, "Azhi, do you know why the emperor chose your concubine's daughter?"

Shen was also puzzled by this matter and shook her head and said, "Father, I don't know either."

"Last month, the Imperial Concubine asked me to bring Sister Chen into the palace once. That day, Sister Chen and Sister Huang followed the Second Prince to take a walk in the Imperial Garden. They met the Emperor once, and that was all."

"I asked Sister Chen, and she didn't talk to the emperor at all. However, Taoist Xuan Jing was there at the time and gave her and Sister Huang a string of flowing beads each."

Shen could only temporarily blame Chu Qianchen for his bad luck. Perhaps the emperor had this plan at that time, and Chu Qianchen just happened to catch the emperor's eye that day.

Duke Mu said nothing more and hurried to court.

Shen simply didn't go back and stayed at her parents' home waiting for news.

Lady Mu, the Duke's wife, gave a calm look, and her personal nanny understood what she meant. She silently dismissed the other servants, giving the mother and daughter space to talk in private.

Lady Mu Guogong weighed her words carefully and asked cautiously, "Azhi, have you had a bad time with your son-in-law recently?"

Shen pursed her lips, nodded, and admitted it.

Lady Mu sighed and said with some regret: "This marriage is an injustice to you."

At that time, the wife of Duke Mu did not approve of this marriage, but the Shen family owed the old marquis a life, so the old marquis came in person to ask for the eldest daughter to be married on behalf of his eldest son, and he showed all sincerity and courtesy.

In order not to embarrass her parents, the eldest daughter took the initiative to agree to the marriage.

Lady Mu, the Duke's wife, also knew that her eldest daughter had not been happy in the past ten years of her marriage, and her heart was entirely on her two children.

Fortunately, both Sister Huang and Brother Mu have promising prospects.

The wife of Duke Mu's eyes flickered slightly, and she hesitated and said, "Azhi, although you like this concubine's daughter, you can't ignore Sister Huang. Sister Huang is your biological daughter. Besides..."

"This Sister Chen was born to that Aunt Jiang."

"She is not your daughter, so how can you expect her to be completely on the same page with you?"

Lady Mu was also afraid that one day Chu Qianchen would stab Shen for her biological mother. After all, one must be on guard against others.

"..." Shen opened her eyes slightly. Her mother's voice seemed near yet far away, as if there was a layer of membrane between them.

She was very clear in her mind and realized one thing clearly: it was Sister Huang who said it.

It was Sister Huang who came to the Duke's Mansion and mentioned Sister Chen to her mother. She used the same method she had used to treat Chu Qianling to "silently" report Sister Chen, which affected her mother's perception of Sister Chen.

Shen only felt a slight chill rapidly spreading throughout her body.

She has been treating Sister Huang coldly for so long, but it seems to have no effect.

Huang Jie'er still didn't feel that she was wrong, and she was getting even worse.

Shen was even more disappointed with her daughter. She felt powerless all over, and her eyes were filled with unspeakable sadness.

Lady Mu felt that her daughter was not in the right mood, so she gently called out, "Azhi?"

Shen took a deep breath and cheered herself up. She didn't mention Chu Qianhuang, but changed the subject directly: "Mother, although Sister Chen was born to Aunt Jiang, she gets along well with me and Brother Mu. Brother Mu also likes his second sister very much."

The more Shen praised Chu Qianchen, the more Lady Mu felt that Shen was being fooled by Chu Qianchen and that Chu Qianchen was just taking advantage of her.

After all, Shen is her biological mother, and Chu Yunmu is the future prince of Yongding Marquis. For Chu Qianchen, pleasing Shen and Chu Yunmu is of great benefit and no harm.

"Azhi..."

Lady Mu was about to explain the details to Shen, but Shen had already interrupted her: "Mother, I am usually very bored in the Marquis' Mansion. It's nice to have Sister Chen to talk to me."

Time reveals a person's true character. After spending a few months together, Nanny Chen truly felt that Chu Qianchen was truly sincere towards her wife and the fourth young master, and he was even willing to contradict the Marquis.

Nanny Chen saw the opportunity and interrupted, "I think the second young lady is a good person. She behaves in a generous and open manner, neither humble nor overbearing. She is completely different from Madam Jiang in her temperament. Her every move has some of Madam's demeanor. Perhaps it's because she has been with Madam for a long time and has been influenced by her."

"Sometimes, I feel vaguely that the Second Young Lady looks a bit like Madam when she was young. When her phoenix eyes look back at me, they are especially similar."

Nanny Chen was Shen's dowry nanny and an elder in Duke Mu's mansion. Naturally, these words coming from her mouth carried some weight.

Lady Mu was distracted and asked, "I remember she was about the same age as Sister Huang, only thirteen years old, right?"

"She is thirteen years old." Nanny Chen nodded and said, "Although the second young lady is young, she has a very calm and upright temperament. Even when the emperor ordered her to marry the prince yesterday, the second young lady was not impatient or anxious. She did not show any fear in the face of the marquis's anger, and she kept comforting the lady."

Nanny Chen really admired Chu Qianchen. If she were an ordinary girl, she would have burst into tears and lost her mind if she had suddenly encountered such a misfortune. However, Chu Qianchen was calm and composed, and was able to throw the imperial edict to the Fourth Young Master for fun.

"Isn't she afraid?" Lady Mu, Duke of Mu, asked casually.

"She can live her life just fine even if the sky falls." Shen sighed, and then remembered that Chu Qianchen said she didn't plan to get married, and felt distressed: If a girl can be spoiled while growing up, why does she need to be so strong!

Sister Chen didn't know how many times she had gone through setbacks to become as tough as a willow tree as she is now.

Lady Mu took another sip of tea and said in a subtle tone, "I've never seen you praise her like this before."

Shen just smiled and said nothing.

Lady of Duke Mu sighed secretly in her heart. She knew that her daughter was not stupid. Well, she had given the necessary advice.

Since my daughter likes that girl, just let her be.

Anyway, Chu Qianchen is just a concubine's daughter, no different from a lovable maid, so all he needs to do is make his daughter happy... Besides, she's getting married soon anyway.

Lady Mu did not try to persuade Shen any more, and said in accordance with her wishes, "Bring her to me next time."

Shen nodded and agreed: "Sister Chen is a good child, mother, you will definitely like her."

Lady Mu did not comment and changed the subject: "Azhi, it's a rare visit for you, don't be in a hurry to leave, stay and have lunch with me, I'll ask the kitchen to cook some dishes you like."

Shen had originally planned to do so. She agreed with a smile, and then listed a series of dishes. She asked, "Is the chef in the kitchen still from Wang Anren's family?"

"It's still her. Now she and her daughter-in-law are cooking in the kitchen together." Lady Mu, Duke of Mu, smiled and chatted with her daughter.

The atmosphere improved, becoming warm and joyful.

It was not until the beginning of the morning that the maid came running to report, "Madam, the Duke is back. I heard from the chief servant that the Duke accidentally sprained his ankle."

The mother and daughter fell silent and looked at each other. Lady Mu hurriedly ordered, "Quick, go get the doctor."

After a while, Duke Mu was carried to the main courtyard on a sedan chair. With him was a man in a blue robe who was about thirty years old. He had a tall and slender figure, a handsome face, and a pair of bright eyes.

"Cousin," Shen looked at the newcomer with a hint of surprise and smiled, "You're back in Beijing?"

"I just arrived yesterday." The man smiled slightly, and the smile softened his originally tough features.

He just stood there so casually, like a pine tree or a bamboo, with an indomitable spirit in his calmness.

(End of this chapter)