Chapter 924 Elder Sister Gives the Marriage Up to Younger Sister
Old Madam felt unhappy about Shao Wanruâs calmness in secret, but she didnât show any dissatisfaction on her face. She kept a friendly face and pushed the pastries in front of her to Shao Wanru. âFifth Girl, have a taste of these pastries. The new chef in our mansion made them. If they agree with you, you can take the chef back. She is also from Jiangzhou and good at making local pastries!â
There were only about ten pieces of pastries on the plate. They were indeed the specialties of Jiangzhou, where Shao Wanru grew up. Even though she lived in the capital city now, she occasionally wanted to eat Jiangzhou food out of her food habits.
However, no one in the capital city was good at making the cuisine of Jiangzhou, so she slowly gave up such an idea.
She couldnât help moving her index finger when she saw them now. Yujie took a piece with a handkerchief to her. Shao Wanru took a bite. She nodded with a smile and said, âIt tastes authentic!â
âSince then, I give you the chef!â Old Madam said with a smile.
âThank you, Grandma!â Shao Wanru said with a gentler smile on her jade-like face. She put down the dim sum in her hand, stood up, and bowed deeply to Old Madam.
âYou are too polite. I am your grandmother! Of course, I hope that you can eat well. You used to live in Jiangzhou for so many years, so Iâm afraid that the food in the capital city might not be to your taste. I happened to find such a cook, and I thought of giving her to you if you are satisfied with her!â Old Madam, with affection, held Shao Wanruâs hand and asked her to sit down.
âGrandma, Fifth Sister must understand your affection to her. She has always been filial to you,â Zhao Xiran suddenly said with a smile. She flattered both Old Madam and Shao Wanru at the same time. Zhao Xiran was indeed a tactful person who could always please others.
She seemed to be very intimate with everyone in Marquis Xingâs Mansion, as if what had happened on the wedding day had nothing to do with her.
Shao Wanru smiled calmly and then turned to look at Chu Qing with deepness in her watery eyes.
As she turned and noticed Chu Qing, Old Madam winked at Zhao Xiran. Then Zhao Xiran pointed at Chu Qing and said with a smile, âFifth Sister, we are in need of your help in making a decision!â
âSister Zhao, youâre too polite. As a married daughter, how can I make a decision for you! There is the elder present!â Shao Wanru smiled.
âFifth Sister, though you are married, you are always a daughter of the Shao Family. Grandmother should make such a decision alone, but the marriage might be the key to the lifelong happiness of the two sisters. So Grandmother wants to hear more opinions from others. Thatâs why we invited you here!â Zhao Xiran explained.
Shao Wanru said gently, âSister Zhao, please tell me the details!â
She had known early that Old Madam would definitely tell her what happened if she came here. She pretended to be polite just now because she wanted Old Madam to understand that she could have refused to help.
âItâs about Second Sister and Third SisterâŠâ Zhao Xiran looked up at Shao Cailing and sighed, âit was the matter of Second Sister, but later Second Sister said she wanted to give her marriage up to Third Sister!â
âGive the marraige up to Shao Caihuan?â
According to Zhao Xiranâs words, it sounded like Shao Jieâer did that for Shao Caihuanâs good. How was Shao Caihuan recently? Anyway, her disfigured face cannot be fully recovered yet. Therefore, Shao Jieâer pitied Shao Caihuan and gave up the marriage to her?
Could Shao Jieâer be such a kind person?
A trace of suspicion flashed in Shao Wanruâs eyes. How could she not know what kind of person Shao Jieâer was!
âGrandma, what do you think of this?â Shao Wanru asked.
âI⊠I disagreed with it at first. But I pondered it and thought it might be a good idea. Third Girl is somehow a legitimate daughter, while Second Girl is just a concubineâs daughter. Itâs also a good thing for Commandery Prince Qing to marry a legitimate daughter,â Old Madam sighed.
Chu Qingâs heart skipped a beat when he heard that. Old Madam did mention that they wanted him to marry Shao Caihuan just now. When they were talking, Shao Wanru came.
âIf that is the case, it wonât be bad. A legitimate daughter is naturally better than a concubineâs daughter!â
âBut many people living in the Palace know about the relationship between Second Sister and Commandery Prince Qing!â Shao Wanru slowly raised her watery eyes and reminded them.
âThatâs the only disadvantage! But such an idea is good for both Marquis Xingâs Mansion and Commandery Prince Qingâs Mansion. So we hope that you can explain it to Empress Dowager, Fifth Sister. Itâs not that we are reluctant to part with Second Sister, but that Third Sister is more suitable than her!â Zhao Xiran frowned, glanced at Shao Wanruâs face, and said in distress.
Both Shao Jieâerâs and Shao Caihuanâs incidents happened in the Palace. Based on the situation at that time, both of them seemed to be innocent victims.
If they were innocent and willing to exchange with each other, it would be a good thing for the two mansions. Empress Dowager and the Empress should agree on it after they knew that.
âGrandma, Iâm just a married woman, and Iâm younger than Second Sister and Third Sister. Iâm afraid itâs not appropriate for me to speak to Empress Dowager about it!â Shao Wanru shook her head and refused with a smile.
Old Madamâs face instantly darkened.
âFifth Sister, you donât have to persuade Empress Dowager. You only need to tell her the details of the marriage between our mansion and Commandery Prince Qing, and she will give us a response!â Zhao Xiran explained.
âI donât dare!â Shao Wanru answered with an imperceptible sneer on the corner of her mouth. âSo they want me to take the responsibility, donât they?â
There must be a secret reason why they wanted to replace Shao Jieâer with Shao Caihuan. And her Second Uncle must be involved in such a plan. No matter what he was plotting, it would definitely not do her any good.
If the plot was exposed in the future, Prince Chen would be the one who took the blame.
Then, Marquis Xingâs Mansion could get away with it. At that time, they could say that Shao Wanru took the advantage of her status as Princess Chen and made arbitrary decisions in Marquis Xingâs Mansion! She forced Shao Jieâer to give up her marriage to Shao Caihuan because she didnât get along well with Shao Jieâer!
As soon as Old Madam opened her mouth, it was enough to turn right and wrong upside down. As for Zhao Xiran, she was such an excellent nonsense talker.
âFifth Girl, why do you not help us? You are the dignified Princess Chen. You just need to pass on a message. Why donât you dare?â Old Madam questioned with a cold face.
âGrandma, I canât! Itâs not that I donât dare to explain it to Empress Dowager, but that I am afraid Prince Chen will be angry. He hates me meddling in other peopleâs business the most. When I married into Prince Chenâs Mansion, he has told me that as Princess Chen, I should be indifferent to othersâ business. I must not care too much and annoy Empress Dowager and His Majesty. Prince Chenâs Mansion has never interfered in the affairs of the officials!â Shao Wanru said calmly.
It meant that Prince Chenâs Mansion would not form cliques, nor would it be entangled in any interest conflict with officials. When she married into Prince Chenâs Mansion, Prince Chen had already warned her.
âFifth Girl⊠â Old Madam was so angry that she almost slammed the table.
Once realizing that a conflict was imminent, Zhao Xiran hastened to catch Old Madamâs sleeve and say with a smile, âYou are right, Fifth Sister. Prince Chen has always been indifferent and unwilling to cut in the affairs of any ministers. However, Marquis Xingâs Mansion is different. After all, it is your parentsâ home. Even though you have married into Prince Chenâs Mansion, you are still related to Marquis Xingâs Mansion, right?!â
Her words suppressed Old Madamâs anger and managed to win some time for Old Madam to think.
Thinking for a few seconds, Old Madam realized that she couldnât lose her temper and scold Shao Wanru, whose status was different. She was backed by Prince Chenâs Mansion now!
Prince Chen was a very difficult person to deal with! Zhao Xiran had heard from his father again and again that Prince Chen was not as gentle and leisurely as he looked on the surface. He was the last man in the world you dared to annoy. Otherwise, you would have to bear the consequences.
Because of her fatherâs warning, Zhao Xiran certainly dare not do anything to Shao Wanru, who was under Prince Chenâs protection, and she had to stop Old Madam from getting angry in case things went out of control.
âNo matter how different Marquis Xingâs Mansion is, itâs the mansion of an official. Even if Prince Chenâs Mansion has declined, itâs still the mansion of a prince. I heard that Duke Yongâs Mansion got into trouble because it colluded with princes,â Shao Wanru said with a smile.
Not only Old Madam but also Chu Qing showed a scared face after hearing her words. Although they didnât know what on earth had happened in Duke Yongâs Mansion or what Duke Yong had done, they understood that it was related to the two princes and the Emperor flew into a rage because of it.
âDuke Yongâs Mansion was punished because its case implicated both Prince Yue and Prince Zhou. So, what will the Emperor think if he finds Commandery Prince Qing and Marquis Xingâs Mansion are related to Prince Chen?â Shao Wanru continued to say after she saw them change their expressions at the same time.
Old Madam could hardly take a breath and panicked in her heart.
Prince Chen and Commandery Prince Qing were both princes too, and they were the sons of the Former Emperor! If Marquis Xingâs Mansion built a relationship with both of them, people would think that the Shao Family had ulterior motives, wouldnât they? Even if they had no ulterior motives, incidents might happen anytime. Then it was hard to say that the Emperor would not be suspicious of Marquis Xingâs Mansion.
If it were in the past, Old Madam wouldnât be afraid of the Emperorâs unreasonable suspicion! but now Marquis Xingâs Mansion could not withstand any storm. At this time, she should be humble, as any high-profile action could bring disaster to Marquis Xingâs Mansion!
âCommandery Prince Qing, this is also your marriage. What do you think? Do you accept to take a different bride? Whether you accept it or not, you must have a reason! You are a prince! It is not a good idea that you donât express your own views and let Marquis Xingâs Mansion decide everything, isnât it?â
Before they came to their senses, Shao Wanru raised her watery eyes to look at Commandery Prince Qing and questioned him!