Since all the talisman paper she gave to Shen Wan has been used up, and the imperial physician and the doctors are helpless in treating Gu Zhiyan's illness, then the matter is almost certain to be settled.
There was still heavy snow outside the window. It was not even 3 p.m. yet, but the weather was already as gloomy as the devil's hour at dusk.
There was only one lamp on in the warm room, and the dim light shone on Chu Qianhuang's smooth cheeks. Her pair of black eyes were bright and lively, and she looked like a blooming flower.
But in Shen Wan's eyes, the delicate flower in front of her was extremely poisonous.
Shen Wan looked at Chu Qianhuang quietly for a moment, then closed her eyes, as if trying desperately to calm herself down.
When she opened her eyes again, her dark pupils seemed to be sucking people in, and she said in a flat tone, "Just say what you want to say."
Those few simple words were spoken slowly and heavily.
Facing Shen Wan's questioning, Chu Qianhuang just smiled and said nothing. She turned her gaze slightly and glanced at the two little maids beside her.
Rong Mama was very perceptive. She immediately called the maids out of the room and stood guard at the door herself. Then she heard Chu Qianhuang say meaningfully, "Some people say that fate is arranged by God, but I think fate is something you cultivate yourself."
The aunt and nephew looked at each other quietly. Their expressions were obviously calm, but Madam Rong felt as if she couldn't breathe, and the air seemed to be condensed.
Shen Wan took another deep breath and said slowly in a suppressed voice: "Then how do you think I should repair it?"
Chu Qianhuang smiled slightly, not feeling uncomfortable at all under Shen Wan's pressing gaze. Her smile was filled with a calmness and composure, and her voice was still gentle and respectful: "I heard that my uncle has been assigned the task of escorting the third princess to her wedding."
Shen Wan had never expected Chu Qianhuang to bring up this matter. She widened her eyes in surprise and her heart skipped a beat.
Prince Jing is a member of the imperial clan. He has been working in the Ministry of Rites for many years. Most of the tasks he is involved in are related to the imperial clan. For example, when the emperor goes to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to offer sacrifices on New Year's Day, Prince Jing will be responsible for the preparations for the Imperial Ancestral Temple. For example, when Princess Yong'an married in Youzhou last year, Prince Jing escorted her to the palace...
This time the Third Princess is marrying Nan Hao, and the wedding arrangements are handled by the Ministry of Rites and the Ministry of Clan Clan Affairs. Prince Jing is only in charge of escorting the bride. And it's not just Prince Jing who will go alone, the Crown Prince or the Prince will also go with him to show that Da Qi values the marriage between the two countries.
Shen Wan didn't speak for a long time. Her eyes were deep and sharp, as if she wanted to cut Chu Qianhuang open and see her core.
Chu Qianhuang also noticed that Shen Wan's eyes had changed, and she knew that Shen Wan was very dissatisfied with her, but she didn't care and didn't matter.
After what happened to her during this period of time, she finally understood that pinning her hopes on old love was illusory.
The warmth and coldness of human nature is like drinking water, only you know it.
Once she is no longer Shen Zhi's daughter, the Shen family's affection for her will end.
If she wants to achieve her goal, she must do whatever it takes and rely on herself.
As the saying goes, hit the snake at its three-inch point.
No matter who a person is, whether he is noble or poor, once his weakness is caught, he will become a lamb to be slaughtered.
Shen Wan’s weakness is Gu Zhiyan.
Although Chu Qianhuang didn't want to use Gu Zhiyan, she also hated those conspiracies and intrigues, but she was just a weak woman. She couldn't take the imperial examinations, nor could she go to the battlefield. If she wanted to realize her ambitions and dreams, she couldn't rely on others' charity, she had to fight for it herself.
Otherwise, what awaits her is only a miserable end from which there is no escape.
The world is not black and white, there is also gray area.
Chu Qianhuang looked at Shen Wan steadily, and said calmly: "This talisman paper is obtained by fate. You can't ask for it. Only I can get it."
The "medicine" she used was both a medicine and a poison. In that ancient time when there was no Western medicine, it would be absolutely impossible for those Chinese medicine practitioners to see the problem.
A hint of contempt flashed across Chu Qianhuang's eyes. She sat there elegantly, with more confidence on her face.
In this world, she is the only one who knows this medicine, and she is the only one who can relieve Gu Zhiyan's symptoms.
Shen Wan took in Chu Qianhuang's subtle changes in expression and asked directly, "What do you want?"
Now that things have come to this, even without asking, Shen Wan knew that it was Chu Qianhuang who had tampered with the so-called talisman paper.
If Shen Wan once had a little affection for Chu Qianhuang, at this moment, it was all completely crushed and disappeared by Chu Qianhuang's actions.
Shen Wan's heart was very calm, a kind of calmness that came after extreme disappointment, and she was even slightly relieved.
As long as Chu Qianhuang needs it, it will be fine.
Transaction, transaction, as long as the other party has demand and desire, the transaction can be completed.
The fear is that the other party's malicious intent is just for revenge, and they have no other purpose.
In an instant, Shen Wan recalled the past events about the Mei family. The unbearable scenes flashed back one by one, piercing her heart like needles.
The picture finally stopped at Gu Zhiyan’s flushed little face.
Shen Wan subconsciously clenched her fists and stared at Chu Qianhuang, waiting for her to state her conditions.
Since Shen Wan asked directly, Chu Qianhuang didn't beat around the bush and said directly: "I want to go to Nanhao, aunt, as long as you convince my uncle to take me to Nanhao."
"That's impossible!" Shen Wan refused immediately without even thinking, raising her voice slightly.
Although Prince Jing was in charge of escorting the Third Princess to her marriage, this was a marriage between two countries and all the etiquette was regulated. The list of the wedding team was also determined by the Ministry of Rites.
From the royal family members, officials of the Ministry of Rites, and the princess's tutors to the eunuchs, palace maids, and maids who came with the dowry, as well as the imperial guards who escorted the bride, everything was clearly defined and explained clearly: not one more and no one less.
It is simply impossible to squeeze Chu Qianhuang into the wedding procession for no reason. With what identity?
Moreover, Chu Qianhuang is a daughter of the Chu family. No matter what, she is still the daughter of a marquis. It is impossible for her to go there as a palace maid, right? This condition is not only absurd, but also impossible for the Prince's Mansion to do.
Shen Wan said again: "Why don't you change the conditions?"
Doubts were rolling in her heart. She didn't understand why Chu Qianhuang went to accompany the third princess, Nan Hao. It couldn't be because she was thinking about the friendship between them as classmates, right? Even if she thought about it with her toes, it was impossible.
"No, I just want to go to Nanhao." Chu Qianhuang shook her head and said in an unquestionable tone, with a faint smile still on the corner of her lips, just like when she turned around just now.
Shen Wan: “…”
Shen Wan secretly clenched her fists, a dark cloud surged over her pupils, and her chest felt as if a ball of cotton was stuffed in it. She felt extremely uncomfortable and said, "The Chu family will not agree."
Chu Qianhuang stared at every change in Shen Wan's expression, chuckled, like a sneer, and casually said: "I just want to go to Nanhao."
She picked up the teacup gracefully and blew gently at the floating leaves on the tea soup, looking as if she didn't want to say more.
The room fell silent again, terrifyingly quiet.
The two of them faced each other quietly, as if they were engaged in a silent battle.
For a moment, no one spoke, and no one was willing to give in, or rather, they both had their own bottom line and there was no way to retreat.
The sound of the wind outside the window became extremely harsh and loud.
"princess!"
Suddenly, an anxious female voice outside the warm room broke the silence.
The head maid rushed into the warm room like a gust of wind. The door curtain behind her fell down and swayed in the air.
"Princess, the county lady is starting to twitch!" The maidservant was too nervous to care about etiquette and said nervously, panicking and at a loss. They had already tried all the methods they could use on Gu Zhiyan.
The originally tense atmosphere suddenly took a turn for the worse.
Shen Wan: “!!!”
At this moment, Shen Wan's mind was blank, and the only thing left was worry about her daughter.
She stood up suddenly, her face pale, and all the strength in her body seemed to be drained away. Her feet were weak and she almost stumbled and fell. Fortunately, the head maid was quick to support her, shouting, "Princess, be careful."
The love of parents is like that of others. Chu Qianhuang sighed quietly as she watched the scene in front of her, and looked at Shen Wan with a condescending look of pity.
From Shen Wan's perspective as a mother, she sympathized with Shen Wan. Perhaps motherly love is the only selfless love in the world.
only……
There was a subtle emotion in Chu Qianhuang's eyes as she looked at Shen Wan.
Last year, when Gu Zhiyan was kidnapped, she had heard Shen Zhi mention something about the concubine Mei of Prince Jing. Shen Zhi was vague at the time, and Chu Qianhuang didn't pay much attention to it, after all, it was Shen Wan's family affair. Until recently, for Gu Zhiyan's illness, she investigated again and learned more about the inside story.
This incident proves the saying that there must be something hateful about a pitiful person.
The consequences of Shen Wan's actions came back to Gu Zhiyan, causing her to suffer from amnesia.
The law of karma and retribution, that's about it.
Chu Qianhuang stood up slowly and took out a piece of talisman paper from his sleeve pocket.
"Forget it, aunt, I won't force you." Chu Qianhuang sighed, walked forward slowly, and handed the talisman paper to Shen Wan, "This is the talisman paper I just got from Wuwei Temple. Alas, Qi Niang has been suffering from high fever for a long time. I, as her cousin, feel sorry for her..."
"But this talisman paper only depends on 'fate', so I can only take out this one."
Although there was no threat in Chu Qianhuang's few words, and her expression was as gentle and generous as usual, Shen Wan could still hear the obvious threat in her every word.
Shen Wan: “!!!”
Shen Wan's pupils shrank, her lips tightly pursed, and she did not reach out to take the talisman paper.
Madam Rong and the head maid stared at the light talisman paper closely, their hearts rising to their throats. They both wanted to say something but stopped themselves, and looked at Shen Wan's expression again.
Chu Qianhuang smiled, her smile was light and clear, and she said clearly, "Aunt, you don't have to look for mother...it was the Chu family who gave up on me first."
Since the Chu family had wronged her, she would not have any attachment to the Chu family. She was not some saintly woman! Therefore, even if Shen Wan went to Shen Zhi to intervene, it would be useless. She would not compromise. At worst, both sides would perish.
She is the rubble and Gu Zhiyan is the porcelain.
6◇9◇Book◇Bar
Rubble is not afraid of porcelain, and rubble is not more valuable than porcelain.
Chu Qianhuang looked at Shen Wan steadily, and said calmly in a tone of seeing through the world: "Aunt, I have nothing to lose, but Qi Niang still has you, aunt, and uncle..."
She was willing to gamble her future. If she failed, she would die. But would Prince Jing and Shen Wan be willing to gamble with Gu Zhiyan's life? Anyway, she had already shown her trump card, and now it depended on Shen Wan's choice.
"..." Shen Wan remained silent and motionless.
But her eyes, which were gradually turning red, and her fingers, which were white-knuckled as they clenched the handkerchief, betrayed her. She was not as calm as she appeared.
Chu Qianhuang curled her lower lip again, and her tone became softer.
She took another half step forward, stuffed the talisman paper into Shen Wan's hand, and took the initiative to end today's conversation: "Aunt, you take your time to think about it, I'll take my leave first."
Then, she took three steps back and bowed politely, "I'll come visit Qi Niang when she's feeling better in a few days."
Chu Qianhuang smiled brightly and looked calm, as if there was no grudge between her and Shen Wan, as if she was still the eldest daughter of the Chu family who was loved by Shen Wan and had free access to Prince Jing's mansion.
Without waiting for Shen Wan to react, Chu Qianhuang turned around and walked lightly towards the door curtain. When he reached the door, he suddenly stopped, turned around to look at Shen Wan again, and then went out.
Aunt Rong escorted the person out of the main room, and ordered a little maid guarding under the eaves to see Chu Qianhuang off.
Madam Rong did not go back immediately. Her angry eyes pierced Chu Qianhuang like nails. Only after her back disappeared did she withdraw her gaze and return to the warm room.
Shen Wan was still standing there blankly, motionless, as if half of her soul was lost.
In her hand, she was still holding the talisman paper that Chu Qianhuang had given her. The talisman paper had been crumpled into a ball, like a drowning person grabbing the last piece of driftwood.
Rong Mama moved her lips and wanted to speak, but there was another sound of hurried footsteps from behind. A little maid ran over in a hurry and said, "Princess, the county lady is twitching more violently and vomiting yellow water..."
The little maid was almost on the verge of tears.
Shen Wan's body trembled violently, as if she was struck by lightning.
She rushed towards the green gauze cabinet where Gu Zhiyan was temporarily staying, running faster and faster, too flustered to pay attention to her feet, shouting, "Qiniang...Qiniang..."
A faint mist appeared in Shen Wan's eyes again, and she almost fell down accidentally. Fortunately, the maid supported her again.
After Shen Wan stood firm, she continued to rush forward until she reached Gu Zhiyan's bed.
The room was filled with the sour smell of vomit, but Shen Wan was completely unaware of it.
Behind, Madam Rong lagged behind by several steps. Looking at Shen Wan's fragile back, she felt angry and distressed.
She was also in the warm room just now and heard what Chu Qianhuang said. She was really frightened and filled with indignation.
Princess Shen Wan watched Chu Qianhuang grow up and always liked her. She often invited her to stay at the palace for a short time in the past ten years. The county lady had been playing well with her cousin Chu Qianhuang since she was a child. When the county lady was not sick, she was like Chu Qianhuang's little tail. She always called her cousin and treated her more intimately than the cousins in the county prince's palace.
However, Chu Qianhuang actually attacked the county lady! She was too cruel and vicious!
Aunt Rong walked to Shen Wan's side and also looked at Gu Zhiyan on the couch.
Gu Zhiyan's little face was flushed, her eyeballs rolled up, she was twisting her head unconsciously, and her limbs were twitching and contracting convulsively. The wet nurse was holding down Gu Zhiyan's limbs, fearing that she would accidentally hurt herself.
Shen Wan stared at Gu Zhiyan through the blurry water in front of her eyes and held the talisman paper in her hand even tighter.
Both the imperial physician and the doctor said that if the child's high fever and convulsions are not treated for a long time, they will recur, and in severe cases, it may even cause damage to my daughter's intelligence.
The air in the room became increasingly oppressive, and everyone felt as if a huge rock was pressing down on their heart, heavy and heavy.
In the dead silence, only Gu Zhiyan's unbearable mumbling could be heard intermittently.
On the other side, Chu Qianhuang had already walked out of the main courtyard and was heading towards the ceremonial gate. The palace's maid walked in front of her to lead the way, and her older maid Baoqin held an umbrella for her to shield her from the wind and snow.
The huge royal palace was shrouded in snow and wind. In this cold winter with heavy snow, the evergreen trees in the courtyard were still lush and green, unafraid of the wind and cold.
Chu Qianhuang pulled her cloak closer as she walked. The biting cold wind scraped at her face like a knife. Her cheeks flushed, her expression was proud, and her steps were steady, just like a red plum blossom in the wind and snow, beautiful and fiery.
A confident and determined smile appeared on her lips.
This was a way out she planned for herself.
After her and Chu Qianchen's life stories were revealed, Chu Qianhuang's heart turned cold and her blood turned cold. She no longer had any unrealistic hopes and began to plan a way out for herself.
At that time, she knew that the Marquis' Mansion, Shen Zhi and Duke Mu's Mansion would be unreliable in the future. Chu Lingxiao and Aunt Jiang were exiled again, and the only one she could rely on was herself.
She had already anticipated the worst case scenario. Not only would she lose her status as the legitimate daughter of the Marquis's Mansion, but she would also lose her position as the princess's companion and would not be able to go to Nanhao.
She could accept the others, but she could not accept the last one, which would be tantamount to taking away her last glimmer of hope.
Therefore, Chu Qianhuang had already considered it in advance.
When the third princess gets married, she will not only need a princess to accompany her to study, but she will also need officials from the Ministry of Rites and royal relatives to send her off. However, in her dream, she did not see such a trivial matter as who would send her off.
She could only try to figure it out on her own.
She was not familiar with the officials of the Ministry of Rites, and it was impossible for her to establish a relationship with the Minister or Vice Minister of Rites in a short period of time, so she could only start with the royal family.
Prince Li, as the head of the clan, was originally a suitable candidate, but he was too old to withstand the fatigue of traveling by boat and carriage, so it was impossible for him to go to the wedding.
Excluding a few idle princes and princes holding military positions, Chu Qianhuang felt that the most likely candidate was Prince Jing who worked in the Ministry of Rites. After all, he had also escorted Princess Yongle to her wedding last year.
As for the royal relatives, the Crown Prince should also go to see her off, but the Crown Princess is narrow-minded. If she goes to ask the Crown Prince or the Crown Princess for help, the Crown Princess might think that she is offering herself to the Crown Prince.
After much thought, the person who was most convenient for her to attack and had the biggest loopholes was Prince Jing.
She had to use what she had available to her and do the best she could.
At this time, Chu Qianhuang finally arrived at the ceremonial gate. The gate was empty, without a single carriage, and only countless snowflakes falling.
It had been snowing for a short while, but a thin layer of snow had already accumulated on the ground, and some footprints were vaguely visible.
The gatekeeper saw them, walked over quickly, and whispered something in the ear of the little maid who was leading Chu Qianhuang. Only then did the little maid realize that Chu Qianhuang did not come by carriage in such a snowy day.
The little maid was a little surprised, and suggested calmly: "Miss Chu, please wait a moment, I will have someone prepare a carriage to take you back to the Marquis' Mansion."
"No need." Chu Qianhuang smiled calmly and generously.
She didn't come to the Prince's Mansion by carriage today.
Shen Zhi has been very strict with her recently. Once she uses the carriage of the Marquis' Mansion, Shen Zhi will definitely find out that she has come to Prince Jing's Mansion.
Thinking of this, Chu Qianhuang felt annoyed, but there was still a faint smile on her beautiful face.
Seeing this, the little maid didn't force it, but just said: "Then I will escort the young lady to the door."
Chu Qianhuang responded with a smile.
The maid and the gatekeeper quickly escorted them to the east corner gate. Chu Qianhuang and Baoqin left together, and happened to pass by a man riding a black horse.
The other party seemed extremely anxious and didn't even look at Chu Qianhuang and her servant whose faces were blocked by the oil-paper umbrella. However, Chu Qianhuang noticed the other party.
Today is also Wan Niangniang, the second update at 14:00 . I saw the message. This is a story that focuses on love (think about Ah Yan and Ah Yi), so don’t worry that there will be no love scenes, it will just be reduced appropriately to speed up the rhythm of the plot line~
(End of this chapter)