青春期撞上更年期第1部

Chapter 394 Prince Cheng Who Turned His Mind Wholeheartedly Toward Buddha

Shui Ruolan stopped and stared at Qin Wanru with a gloomy look. “Wanru, do you know what you are talking about?” she asked seriously.

Qin Wanru’s reaction surprised Shui Ruolan in that she had supposed that Qin Wanru might not like Qi Tianyu but she didn’t expect that Wanru would refuse this suggestion so pointedly by burning her bridges behind.

Qin Wanru looked at Shui Ruolan and answered calmly, “Mother, I know father’s plan. Things have become like this or should we still consider him as a sincere friend? Everybody knows Qin Yuru has affairs with Qi Tianyu in Jiangzhou. However, as a man, can Qi Tianyu really put down the knot in his heart since the wedding was canceled and he was involved in that scandal?”

“So you mean Qi Tianyu has a secret?” Shui Ruolan was astonished and then frowned.

“Mother, you was in Jiangzhou and you saw him before. As a man, can he really be willing to put himself at a disadvantage? Qin Yuru deceived me into getting on the bridal sedan chair! If I really had gotten on it, then I would have been ruined. Qi Tianyu at that time also tried to get me into trouble, but now he just considers this marriage as a good thing. Mother, can you believe it?”

Qin Wanru answered slowly as her eyelashes fluttered slightly.

Her words silenced Shui Ruolan. She then thought over her words and said, “Wanru, your father thinks highly of Qi Tianyu and also has implied him before. He says that Qi Tianyu quickly responded that he will not bother about the past and promises that Qi’s Mansion will still enjoy the long and deep friendship with our mansion.”

“Qi Tianyu did say that?” Qin Wanru asked indifferently.

“Yes, he did. Since your father heard his answer, he then has decided to let you marry Qi Tianyu and has said that Qi Tianyu is destined to have a bright future! I know Yuru grew up with Qi Tianyu but so did you. As regards the event, Qi Tianyu was so angry that he had to act like that and it doesn’t mean that he has no feeling for you!”

Shui Ruolan answered.

Staring at Shui Ruolan, Qin Wanru replied seriously, “Mother, I would rather remain unmarried all my life than marry Qi Tianyu!”

Her unusually determined attitude had Shui Ruolan understand her true feeling clearly. She frowned tightly and explained, “I once persuaded your father but he just refused my suggestion. He kept saying that this marriage will benefit both families. Moreover, he doesn’t have a son so he will get Qi Tianyu help him to a large extent if Qi Tianyu becomes successful in the future!”

Qin Wanru’s mouth curved into an ironic smile as she knew what it meant. “Get him help us? Since father has chosen Duke Yong’s Mansion, he must know he will lose if he turns to them again!”

Qin Wanru knew Qin Huaiyong had agreed on this thing when Qi Baiyu told her about Qi Tianyu’s unusual behaviors. Thus, she was clear that it would not be just a coincidence that Qi Tianyu visited her mansion in an unusually frequent way. However, she just didn’t expect that Qi Tianyu would adopt such a method.

Shui Ruolan said hesitantly, “Wanru, I have told your father that it will not be a simple thing but your father just maintained that Qi Tianyu is the best choice and thought he is a perfect man!” She had known Qin Wanru would not like him. When they were still in Jiangzhou, Qin Wanru was nearly ruined by them in such a serious event and she would not forget this unless she was generous to a fault!

Thinking for a while, Qin Wanru then said, “Mother, you just tell father that I disagree anyway!”

Since she had doubted Qi Tianyu, even though Shui Ruolan suddenly told her this, she had figured out a counterplan before. Thus, everything was still in her control. It was inconvenient for her to say anything about it as everyone was unwilling to let her know. Since it now was uncovered, she then seized the opportunity to express her opinions directly.

“Qi Tianyu? Or does he still regard me as a cageling in the last life? Does he still believe that I will be pushed to the edge by them and finally fall into the abyss?”

“I think so. I will talk to your father but I am afraid he is too obstinate to change his mind!” Shui Ruolan sighed. It was hard to convince Qin Huaiyong for he was a man who stuck to his colors.

“Mother, take it easy. Since such a serious event happened in the capital city, nobody will be in a mood to prepare a wedding. Father now is preoccupied with the event and moreover, I am still young so it will not be in a hurry anyway!” Qin Wanru answered calmly with a smile.

“Even though in the capital city many kids’ marriages have been arranged by their families, few eleven-year-old kids have been engaged. Not to mention it is a period of many troubles so there will be neither rest nor tranquility in the city now, which means that Qin Huaiyong cannot care about Qi Tianyu and me. Moreover, since Shui Ruolan will tell him that I disagree, father may let Qi Tianyu hang with me as frequently as he can to eliminate my unwillingness.”

Anyway, it was a good thing for her! She quite expected to see how shameless Qi Tianyu would be when dating with Qin Yuru in private while trying to please her to make her willing to marry him!

The word “back-stabber” fit Qi Tianyu perfectly for he always acted cleverly and was scheming and calculating!

Since she now was still young, nobody would blame her for her bluntness. She slightly lifted the corners of her mouth and smiled coldly.

“In my last life, Qi Tianyu and Qin Yuru lied to me but this time they will not succeed!”

The following days were turbulent because of the assassination. People in the city were much more restrained than ever even during the New Year!

Compared with the same period of previous years, there were less noisy and bustling parties in the city. Seldom people would attend a big banquet unless it was held by their best friends or their relatives. As people seemed to pay close attention to the assassination privately, they now noticed Prince Cheng who turned his mind wholeheartedly toward Buddha.

Everyone had heard that Prince Cheng was so obsessed with Buddhism that he had not married anyone and there even was no concubine in his mansion even though he now was in his twenties. Followed by his male servants, he always dressed in very plain clothes. Moreover, he seldom appeared in the capital city but in those temples he chose.

Normally at this time of previous years, he never went down the mountain but only stayed in the Buddha Hall every night.

This time, everyone had the same idea before the assassination happened. Then they found Prince Cheng went down the mountain secretly this year. Some clever people would quickly realize that nobody would have noticed he had come to the capital city without this assassination against him.

So, could they think that Prince Cheng also did the same thing secretly in previous years?

Or did those scouts not notice Prince Cheng went down the mountain? The truth behind this thought scared many scouts of different aristocratic families and made them take a sharp intake of breath!

A rumor had been gradually spread. Although nobody talked about it in public, more and more people knew what the rumor was saying.

The deceased emperor didn’t enthrone Chu Liuchen who was still a baby before he died but helped the current emperor ascend the throne. It was said that the deceased emperor had thought his son was too young to inherit the throne for he was afraid that some treacherous officials would seize the chance to bring calamity to the country when learning many young emperors were threatened by those traitors.

Thus, he finally enthroned the current emperor and claimed that it was appropriate for the little brother to inherit the throne from his deceased elder brother.

Those who supported the current emperor had always held this statement which was also the official statement of the royal palace.

No matter whether the statement was true, the current emperor finally ascended the throne formally with the statement. After that, he had claimed that he would treat his little cousin as his biological son equally. He even said that if Chu Liuchen was strong enough, he would also have the chance to inherit the throne.

Well, of course nobody could totally figure out what the meaning of “strong enough” was but Chu Liuchen’s poor health turned all rumors back.

What else could he do in such a poor health! It seemed that he might die before the current emperor’s demise. Thus, it was definitely impossible for Chu Liuchen to ascend the throne!

However, somehow the rumor just reappeared.

But this time, the hero of the rumor had nothing to do with Chu Liuchen but the current emperor and Prince Cheng.

Since there was a precedent that little brother was able to inherit the throne from his elder brother, Prince Cheng seemed to be eligible to ascend the throne. In other words, his plan to ascend the throne actually accorded with the mainstream but exactly because of this saying, what his little tricks in the darkness meant was very clear.

The more rumors were spread, the faster people knew. Then people would pay more attention to Prince Cheng and began to doubt whether this so-called Prince Cheng was preoccupied with Buddha, which might be merely a mask for him to hide his tricks!

Prince Cheng’s Mansion now had gained more attention, which made Prince Cheng unable to keep in a calm and detached state.

Since Qin Wanru was merely a daughter of Ningyuan Army General’s Mansion, who was very young and unengaged, she should have had nothing to do with this trouble.

However, this event which would not have mattered Qin Wanru just hit on her!

Qin Wanru was astounded!

Looking over the invitation card painted with gold letters, Qin Wanru asked in surprise, “The invitation from Prince Cheng’s Mansion?”

“Yes, they are from Prince Cheng’s Mansion and we just received them. They said that the invitation cards are written for our two ladies, First Miss and you!” answered Yujie.

Prince Cheng’s Mansion now had come under the spotlight because of the event and nobody knew when their mansion would get worse. Shouldn’t they keep a low profile? Why did they send invitation cards to each mansion and even name those ladies?

When seeing Qin Wanru deep in thought, Yujie explained quickly as she had asked Nanny Duan before, “Miss, many unmarried ladies of aristocratic families have received the letter.”

“Many ladies of aristocratic families? So are there anyone else except those ladies?” Stunned, Qin Wanru fluttered her long eyelashes as a trace of darkness appeared in her eyes.

“No. Only those ladies of aristocratic families. It is said that Prince Cheng is going to pick up a consort from these ladies! Thus, he now invites those unmarried ladies to attend the banquet held by Prince Cheng’s Mansion!” Qing Yue replied.

“Consort selection? I heard that Prince Cheng has always turned his mind toward Buddha but why does he decide to pick up brides now!” Qin Wanru asked Nanny Zheng confusedly as she knew Nanny Zheng would know something about the gossip of the royal palace.

Hearing Qin Wanru’s question, Nanny Zheng nodded and then shook her head. Watching everyone’s confused look, she then answered, “Miss, Prince Cheng once decided not to marry and I heard that he once had a fiancee. It is said that they were really good but the fiancee died before marrying him. Prince Cheng then determined to obsess himself with Buddhism after being shocked. He was very determined at that time but I also cannot figure out why he will decide to pick up his consort all of a sudden?”

Nanny Zheng also felt confused.

“Please tell me the details!” Qin Wanru asked curiously.