Chu Qianchen left after he finished speaking, and this time, he never stayed.
Chu Qianhuang stared at Chu Qianchen in amazement.
She felt as if she had never known Chu Qianchen.
Chu Qianhuang was stunned for a moment before leaning over to help Chu Yunyi up from the ground, and asked with concern: "Brother Yi, are you okay?"
While speaking, she couldn't help but look at Chu Qianchen's back.
Chu Yunyi was also looking at Chu Qianchen. He had fought with other boys his age many times, but he had never lost. This was the first time he was easily knocked over by a girl! If he told anyone about this, he would be too ashamed to face anyone!
Chu Yunyi sucked in a breath of cold air. His arms were still weak and his back was aching. He was really embarrassed today.
How did the second sister do it? !
Chu Yunyi felt as if a feather was scratching his heart, and then he heard Chu Qianhuang say again: "Brother Yi, your robe is dirty, go back to Qingfeng Pavilion and change first."
"Brother Yi, don't be angry with your second sister. She probably had some misunderstandings with your aunt recently, so..."
"Let's go see Qin..."
Chu Qianhuang's words of comfort to Chu Yunyi from the back also reached Chu Qianchen's ears. Chu Qianchen did not stop, but walked farther and farther away, and could not hear the rest of the words clearly.
After returning to Wanyan Courtyard, Chu Qianchen went out to the blacksmith shop. The first knife had already taken shape. She discussed it with the blacksmith and supervised the work for half a day before returning to the Marquis' Mansion.
The Marquis' Mansion has been in chaos recently, so naturally no one came out of their way to welcome Chu Yunyi.
After Chu Qianchen greeted everyone, he came back early and went to bed. He was not awakened by Amber until the rooster crowed.
The procedure to enter the palace was complicated, and one had to leave at the beginning of the morning. Amber was nervous, thinking that this was her daughter's first time in the palace, and she tried to make everything perfect. She had picked out everything from clothes to jewelry yesterday.
Chu Qianchen let Amber do whatever she wanted. Although she felt that entering the palace was no big deal, she also knew that she couldn't be too shabby today, otherwise outsiders would inevitably say that the Shen family treated their concubine harshly.
It took Chu Qianchen nearly half an hour to dress up before he came out of Wanyan Courtyard. The timing was perfect, as the carriage left the house at the beginning of the morning.
Along the way, Shen was talking to the two girls about the palace rules and various precautions. In fact, all three of them knew it well. Shen said this specifically for Chu Qianchen to hear. After all, Chu Qianhuang had never been to the palace since she was a child, and she had previously been a companion to the third princess. Among the three, only Chu Qianchen was entering the palace for the first time.
Chu Qianchen knew Shen's intentions and responded obediently from time to time.
In fact, this was not her first time entering the palace. In her previous life, after Qin Yao captured the capital, she had also entered the palace with the army. However, the palace at that time had just been devastated by war, with broken tiles and ruins everywhere. Even though all the corpses had been cleared away, there was still a faint smell of blood in the air.
It is no longer the magnificent, solemn and majestic appearance it is now.
Chu Qianchen looked at this strange yet somewhat familiar imperial palace. Instead of feeling awe, he looked at it with a sense of detachment and indifference.
Shen thought Chu Qianchen was nervous, so when she walked outside Concubine Chu's Zhongcui Palace, she gave her a reassuring look.
Chu Qianhuang smiled gently, with a calm demeanor, and said in a low voice: "Second sister, don't be nervous, the imperial concubine is very kind."
The young eunuch had already gone in to report, and soon, palace maids in the hall welcomed the three of them in and led them to the east wing hall.
The Zhongcui Palace was magnificent and splendid, and the air was filled with a light and elegant scent of incense.
"Greetings to Her Majesty the Concubine."
Concubine Chu sat on a rosewood Luohan bed, wearing a scarlet silk jacket carved with peony flowers and a gorgeous nine-pheonix and four-phoenix crown on her head.
She has a beautiful face, like pear blossoms under the moon, with a pair of gracefully shaped phoenix eyes under her thin willow-leaf eyebrows. She is dignified, gentle, elegant and restrained.
"No need to be polite." Concubine Chu showed a gentle smile, raised her hand, and looked at Chu Qianhuang with concern, looking her up and down, "Sister Huang, are you okay?"
Previously, Shen had used the excuse that Chu Qianhuang was unwell to postpone her appointment as the princess's study companion. Even Concubine Chu knew this very well, but she still put in enough effort on the surface.
"Thank you, Auntie Noble Concubine, for your care." Chu Qianhuang bowed gracefully, "My niece has recovered completely."
"That's good." Concubine Chu sighed and smiled slightly, "Please sit down."
Several palace maids brought in three chairs, and the two Shen family members sat down. Other palace maids served them tea, and everything went smoothly.
Concubine Chu sipped her tea elegantly and asked Shen, who was sitting below her, with concern: "Sister-in-law, how is Xiao's injury?"
Shen replied, "My Lady, my mother has invited many famous doctors who are good at orthopedics to see the Marquis, but the result is still not good. It takes a hundred days for a broken bone to heal. The Marquis' leg will need at least three months to recover, and it will be difficult to recover to its original state after recovery."
This means that Chu Lingxiao is bound to become lame.
Her expression was calm, neither sad nor gloating, she was just stating the facts impartially.
Concubine Chu frowned slightly and continued worriedly, "Sister-in-law, I heard that there is a miracle doctor in Jishitang who is very skilled in medicine. It was that miracle doctor who cured the face of Princess Hui'an. Could you please ask your sister to help ask that miracle doctor to see A Xiao?"
Shen sighed, "A few days ago, my third sister came to the Marquis' Mansion. She only goes to Jishitang to get medicine every few days. She hasn't seen the miracle doctor for a long time."
Concubine Chu frowned even more tightly, her red and soft hands, which were as white as mutton-fat jade, tightly clenched the handkerchief, and she felt a little worried.
Among the concubines in the harem, she was not favored. When the emperor ascended the throne, the Crown Princess was naturally the queen, and she was named a noble concubine partly because she gave birth to the second prince, and partly because the queen thought she was sensible enough and used her to suppress Han Shufei, who was favored at the time.
She is already 33 years old this year, not young anymore. The emperor has not visited her for a long time. Moreover, in recent years, the emperor has been obsessed with Taoism and has neglected the concubines in the harem.
She was not favored to begin with, and if her family fell into decline, even the minor concubines and powerful eunuchs in the palace would bully her, and Concubine Han Shu would also add insult to injury.
Not only did Ah Xiao break his leg, but he also lost his job. So, what hope is there for the Chu family, which only has a title of marquis but no real power?
Concubine Chu felt a surge of undercurrents in her heart, her knuckles were stiff, and her thoughts were racing.
Axiao's leg can be cured slowly. There are many talented people in this world. She doesn't believe that his leg injury cannot be cured.
The problem now is that the job of the flag bearer guard cannot wait for anyone. If he doesn't keep the job quickly, it will be too late when someone else takes the position.
Concubine Chu's eyes flashed, and she sighed, "Ah Xiao has been very ambitious since he was young. I am afraid that he will suffer a series of setbacks, become depressed, and give up on himself, which will be detrimental to his recovery."
"Sister-in-law, I know you are sensible, virtuous and capable. This time, I will ask you to persuade Xiao more and accommodate him. You are husband and wife, and when Xiao recovers from his injury, he will definitely remember your love."
Concubine Chu said this tactfully, actually she wanted Shen to be "sensible" and take the initiative to ask to go back to her parents' home to ask Duke Mu for help, at least to keep Chu Lingxiao's job.
Since Shen had taken the initiative to propose it, this way, it wouldn't count as owing the Duke's Mansion a favor.
Shen understood but pretended not to understand and perfunctorily said "The Marquis is much more energetic" and "There will always be a way when you reach the mountain" and so on.
6◇9◇Book◇Bar
Concubine Chu's graceful and gentle face froze for a moment. She was angry and annoyed, but she couldn't bring herself to ask Shen for help.
Shen lowered her eyes and picked up the teacup, pretending not to see it. A hint of sarcasm flashed across her eyes. She thought: These two siblings are the same. They always beat around the bush when they want to ask others to do something for them, and they have to make it seem like others are begging them for help.
Thinking of her daughter Chu Qianhuang again, Shen's heart became even more complicated: she finally understood why her daughter was raised astray. With a father like Chu Lingxiao, it was inevitable that she would be influenced by him... It is difficult for a person to learn good things, but it is very easy to learn bad things.
Concubine Chu had been in the palace for so many years, and even though she was dissatisfied with Shen, she did not lose her composure. She quickly returned to normal and changed the subject awkwardly.
"You are Sister Chen, right? I haven't seen you for a few years. You have grown up..."
Concubine Chu looked at Chu Qianchen with scrutiny and emotion in her eyes.
The thirteen-year-old girl still has a childish face. Her three thousand black hair is tied into two buns. She wears a gold filigree and gemstone-inlaid white jade hollow double phoenix peony ornament, which makes her skin as white as snow and as delicate as cream. She has bright eyes, white teeth, and beautiful eyebrows and red lips.
The little girl has a radiant complexion and natural beauty.
No wonder Zhao Er couldn't forget this cousin...
Concubine Chu thought to herself, but kept a straight face.
Once you enter the palace, it's like entering a deep sea. Since the emperor ascended the throne, she has never left the palace. It has been several years since she last saw Chu Qianchen.
Chu Qianchen bowed and simply said yes.
"Sister Chen, what do you like to do on weekdays?" Concubine Chu asked in a seemingly friendly manner, but there was actually a sense of alienation in her eyes.
She didn't like Chu Qianchen, but Gu Nanzhao liked Chu Qianchen, so he begged her many times: "Mother, cousin Chen doesn't want to be a concubine, I want to marry her as my principal wife."
For Chu Qianchen, her son even knelt down and begged her. Concubine Chu didn't want to be alienated from her son, so she had no choice but to comfort her son and tell him that she would think about it.
She specifically asked Shen to bring Chu Qianchen into the palace today, also to show it to her son.
"Your Majesty, I like reading storybooks." Chu Qianchen said seriously.
When Shen heard this, a smile flashed across her eyes, and the hand holding the teacup paused in mid-air.
"..." The smile on Concubine Chu's lips faded slightly, and she sighed inwardly that this girl was really not presentable.
Concubine Chu continued patiently, "It's good for a little girl to read a storybook to relieve her boredom. You like reading, so I think you have a quiet personality..."
Shen sipped her hot tea, and she knew clearly what Concubine Chu was up to. Moreover, Sister Chen must have seen through it as well, so there was no need for her to say anything more.
In Shen's opinion, let alone letting Chu Qianchen be the second prince's concubine, even if she was the principal wife, it would be unfair to this girl.
Concubine Chu naturally had no idea what Shen was thinking, so she asked the next question in a condescending manner: "How are you learning the arts of music, chess, calligraphy and painting?"
Chu Qianchen replied, "I studied with a teacher in the inner school for three years, and I have only learned a little bit."
In her previous life, she also wanted to study in the boudoir school for a few more years, but Aunt Jiang said that girls should not learn too much music, chess, calligraphy and painting, but should work harder on needlework, so she stopped going to the boudoir school. After her rebirth, she had so many things to do every day that she had no time to waste time in the boudoir school.
Concubine Chu's contempt for Chu Qianchen increased by three points. The so-called "a little dabbling" means learning everything but not being proficient in anything. Besides, what can he learn in just three years? Chu Qianchen's music, chess, calligraphy and painting are just entry-level at best.
At this time, Chu Qianhuang smiled and said, "Aunt Guifei, my mother has recently started to teach me and my second sister how to manage the household."
She seemed to be afraid that the situation would be too awkward, so she spoke to ease the atmosphere.
Concubine Chu raised her eyebrows, a little surprised.
It is not surprising that Shen taught Chu Qianhuang how to be a housekeeper, but Chu Qianchen was also taught... Learning how to be a housekeeper is something that only the main wife needs to learn.
This girl Chu Qianchen is really ambitious. She is probably pestering housekeeper Shen just to show off to Zhao'er. She keeps saying that she doesn't want to be a concubine, which shows that she thinks too highly of herself.
Humph, she is the eldest daughter of the Marquis's Mansion, but she became a concubine in the Prince's Eastern Palace. Chu Qianchen, a mere concubine's daughter, wants to hang around a prince. She is really too ambitious!
(End of this chapter)