Real Empress from a Noble Family

“I found out about it just now.” Jiang Yashuang smiled bitterly, “Earlier, a servant said that my aunt heard that I hadn’t seen you for a few days, so she especially gave us a chance. But when I was on the way, I felt that something was wrong. The servant didn’t tell me about it until I forced him.”

He apologized, “How about I accompany you back? This is Jiang Qisheng and Cousin Tao’s fault. They shouldn’t make you leave just because they don’t want to see you.”

“You are also the one to blame!” Qiu Yelan angrily said, “With the news, I’m being polite not to beat you. But you wanted me to kiss you.”

“I know that you might beat me after I have said it, so I wanted you to kiss me before I told you.” Jiang Yashuang coughed with embarrassment, “So what now? Shall we go back?”

Qiu Yelan kept her face sullen for a long time before saying, “Most of your family want me to leave, right?”

To be the ghostwriter of Prince of Qi should have been arranged suddenly. Then she was asked to pick flowers in the middle of the banquet. But this was arranged by Jiang Qizheng. At that time, it was Madame Tao Junior who helped hold Princess Yang so that Jiang Qizheng could deliver the word. Obviously, they wanted to make her go away so as not to irritate Jiang Qisheng and Tao Peibin!

Jiang Yashuang sighed, rubbed her temples, and said gently, “They are not standing by Jiang Qisheng and Cousin Tao. They just think that Jiang Qisheng and Cousin Tao will leave Jing City anyway, so they don’t want to make it complicated. They are definitely not targeting at you. Especially for Jiang Qizheng, you are her sister-in-law, how could she not be standing by you?”

Qiu Yelan looked sullen for a long time before snorting and walking towards somewhere.

Jiang Yashuang hurriedly caught up with her, “The Hall is that way!”

“Your family is working together to make me leave. They even made you come here to lie to me. Why should I go back!” Qiu Yelan turned her head and shouted angrily, “I won’t go back! I’ll go to Green Villa!”

“You won’t be able to open the door you walked through when you came here.” Jiang Yashuang knew that she was furious now. He stretched out his arm to put his hand on her waist and whispered, “Come on, I will take you through the side door.”

Qiu Yelan tried to get rid of his hand with a sullen face, but Jiang Yashuang was so strong that he coaxed and pulled her to an inconspicuous side door on the palace wall. The gatekeeper apparently knew him, so he paid a salute from a distance and came closer with a smile, “Are you going out?”

“Yeah.” Jiang Yashuang said to him while pulling Qiu Yelan, “Send someone to tell my eighth brother later.”

“I’ll let him know!” The gatekeeper said, letting his men open the door.

After leaving the Summer Palace, Qiu Yelan’s expression didn’t change much. Jiang Yashuang led the way and they walked on a winding mountain path, “We’ll be here soon.”

The scenery outside this door looked very unfamiliar to Qiu Yelan. But she was so angry that she didn’t pay attention to it. Finally, Jiang Yashuang stopped and said that they arrived. Qiu Yelan took a look, “This is not around Green Villa! Why do you bring me here?”

“Cousin Zhuang and Cousin Xin have been talking to you all the time at the table. I’m afraid you haven’t had time to eat.” Jiang Yashuang pulled her into the pavilion shaded by a poplar tree not far away, “Get in and have a seat. Someone will bring food here soon.”

Qiu Yelan said angrily, “I don’t want to sit here with you. I want to go back!”

“It’s the Emperor’s Birthday Festival,” Jiang Yashuang dragged her to stop her from leaving and persuaded, “Don’t let your good mood be ruined by others. Why bother to go back with anger? There will be tons of Palace banquets in the future. By the way, there were so many people and it was noisy. Isn’t it good to be here with just the two of us?”

Qiu Yelan sneered, “You are not the one who was deceived and coaxed out!”

“I’ll give you an explanation for this matter!” Jiang Yashuang shook his head and said, “I won’t let you be deceived for nothing, but if you run back now, your brother and sister will ask. At that time, they will also be angry. I’m not afraid that they will scold me. It’s just that you are disappointed on such a good day. How can I not feel bad?”

While he was coaxing Qiu Yelan with sweet words, the banquet in the Summer Palace became more casual.

Empress Dowager Gu was aged, so she went back after a few drinks. The Emperor and the Empress were still there, but there were fewer people here. Someone went to change clothes, some were grooming, some were doing makeup, some were chatting at the moment, and some were even enjoying the flowers outside as they drank too much and wanted to sober up…

Xue Nongying left late. He was mainly worried about his grandfather Xue Chang.

After all, Xue Chang was aged but had a high status. In the Emperor’s birthday feast, besides representing other officials to drink at the beginning, he also got up and proposed toasts to the Empress Dowager and the Empress. Then he drank with two vice ministers and a few loyal subordinates. He was not good at drinking. Up to now, he had gone to toilet twice and had taken “stay sober” pills, but still had sweat on his forehead.

“Go out and talk a walk.” Xue Chang wiped his face with his handkerchief. He was about to take a sip of tea when he saw that his grandson had already held the cup in his hands. He was pleased to take a sip and said softly, “The youngest daughter in the Cheng family, who named Guo Xi, just went out. She came with her sister-in-law today and was wearing a light-yellow dress. But I don’t know if she has changed it just now. However, her sister-in-law had a red mole on the corner of her mouth. It was easy to recognize.”

Xue Nongying blushed and whispered, “This matter… It’s all up to you, grandfather!”

“Well, I’m not sure yet. I just think that as Cheng Jin is a gentleman, his daughter must have been taught well.” Xue Chang smiled and patted the back of his hand, “Go and take a look first. If you like her, I’ll go visit them. If you don’t like her, pick another girl. It’s okay for a man to get married late. I’m still tough and I can wait!”

Hearing what his grandfather said, Xue Nongying, who was curious about his future wife, hesitated for a while, and finally nodded, “OK, I’ll go out and take a walk.”

“Go!” Xue Chang watched his usually smart grandson quit with a little shyness, and couldn’t help but smile, “A young man!”

Suddenly he remembered another young man who was not here at this moment. The cheerful mood was gone, “Qiu Jinglan… Chunjun… It’s a pity that the situation is like this in the court, otherwise, he and Ying’er could support each other. How many people would be able to compete with him in the Darui court if it weren’t for the incident?”

He let out a sigh. Then Xue Chang focused his attention on singing and dancing and stopped thinking about those bothering things.

Meanwhile, Xue Nongying came out of the Hall. When he looked around, he saw some figures in the sea of flowers near and far. But none of them was wearing light-yellow clothes and he didn’t see anybody with a mole on the corner of the mouth.

He was too embarrassed to ask others and stare at the womenfolk, so he continued walking while searching, pretending to admire the flowers.

After walking for a while, he saw a figure, who was in a light-yellow dress, in the distance. His spirit suddenly lifted.

He quickly tidied up his clothes and straightened his chest. Xue Nongying pretended to look at the flowers and followed the woman quietly. Xue Chang told him that he was considering the youngest daughter in the Cheng Family, Cheng Guoxi, before entering the palace today. However, the male and female seats were not in the same place during the feast. Xue Nongying followed his grandfather, and their seats were the most respected among the hundred officials. Every move of them was watched by the crowd. It was not convenient for Xue Nongying to pay attention to womenfolk. So, he had never seen what Cheng Guoxi looked like.

Now he followed just to find out more about her.

But he followed her further and further into a bamboo forest!

“What is the young lady of the Cheng family doing in this place?” Xue Nongying was suspicious, and then remembered that the figure in the light-yellow dress seemed to be alone. He didn’t see her sister-in-law and maid who led her into the palace, whom his grandfather Xue Chang had mentioned. So, he doubted, “Have I followed the wrong person?”

Thinking of it, he stopped.

But at this time, a depressed cry suddenly came from the bamboo forest.

“Has she been wronged? So, she got away from her sister-in-law and maid, crying here.” Xue Nongying immediately thought of this possibility. He hesitated but then tiptoed into the bamboo forest out of concern and curiosity about his potential fiancée.

After he entered the forest, the weeping sound became clearer. It seemed to be filled with endless grievances.

Xue Nongying subconsciously walked a few steps quickly, and soon, he saw the person weeping. The moment he saw her, Xue Nongying felt so regretful that he even wanted to commit suicide!

The woman in the light-yellow dress that he followed all the way here was indeed not far away. She was packing up a small medicine bottle. But she was not the one who was crying. The person crying was Noble Consort Gu, who was in a gorgeous dress and a jade crown.

If he just saw Noble Consort Gu crying, it would be okay and it would be at most embarrassing.

The problem was that Noble Consort Gu was now crying in the arms of a man. And this man was not the Emperor.

He was not Prince of Yan, Prince of Zhou, or a man from the Gu Family. Anyway, he was not anyone who could hold the crying Noble Consort Gu in his arms without being punished.

Xue Nongying vaguely remembered seeing the man in the Hall just now. It seemed that his last name was Qiu, and his first name was Shen. He was deployed elsewhere and went back to Jing City last month. He hadn’t officially taken a position yet. Also, he seemed to be the nephew of Censor-in-chief Qiu Dian.

Seeing this scene, he dared not to stay here anymore. He turned around quietly and was about to leave.

However, due to his rush, his jade pendant around his waist snagged on a bamboo nearby after he took a few steps.

His jade pendant struck the bamboo and made a clear sound. Xue Nongying was shocked. Before he could hide, Qiu Shen’s angry voice came from behind, “Someone is nearby!”

“What?” Noble Consort Gu’s cry stopped abruptly!

Although Xue Nongying learned some kung fu skill from his bodyguard, he was not very talented. Besides, his mind was not on it. So, his kung fu skill was not good. However, having been taught by Xue Chang, he could tell whose kung fu skill was good. Noble Consort Gu was crying as if she was broken-hearted just now, and Qiu Shen was obviously upset. In this case, he could still hear the sound made by his jade pendant and the bamboo. It was obvious that Qiu Shen’s kung fu skill was really good.

He couldn’t escape anyway. Then he thought that the Neutral Party never took the initiative to make trouble and he was Xue Chang’s most favorite grandson. If he was really found, they might not dare to do anything. Thinking of this, Xue Nongying simply stopped and turned to the person who was chasing behind him, “I…”

Unfortunately, he had no time to finish his words. Qiu Shen took advantage of the Emperor’s birthday to meet Noble Consort Gu in private. What a rebellious thing it was! Once it was discovered, not only would they be finished, but also the Qiu Family, the Gu Family, including Empress Dowager Party, Prince of Yan, Prince of Zhou… It was not sure how many people would be affected.

Therefore, even though Qiu Shen embraced Noble Consort Gu, he was keeping an eye on the surroundings vigilantly.

Not unexpectedly, he noticed someone peeping at the moment. Xue Nongying was frightened when he saw them, but Qiu Shen felt much worse when he discovered that the affair was exposed.

So, he let go of Noble Consort Gu and chased into the forest. After seeing Xue Nongying running away, without much thinking, he cut off a bamboo about the size of a man’s arm and almost exhausted all his energy to throw it at Xue Nongying, “Want to escape? Go hell!”

“Whoosh!”

With a dull sound, the green bamboo thrown by Qiu Shen with all his strength pierced through Xue Nongying easily as if it was cutting through tofu! If it weren’t for Xue Nongying’s instinct to avoid it at the critical moment, his heart would’ve been pierced.

However, he was carried away by the strength of bamboo and was nailed to the ground, spitting blood.

“Was he sent by the Empress?” With tears on her face, Noble Consort Gu hurriedly came over from behind. Qiu Zhen, who was about to kill Xue Nongying, hurried to hold her, “I don’t know, but I have already stopped… ”

Before he finished speaking, Xue Nongying struggled and turned his head to look at them, and happened to make eye contact with Noble Consort Gu. Noble Consort Gu suddenly felt dizzy. She grabbed Qiu Shen’s arm with great strength. All of a sudden, she skinned his arm, “Oh my! It’s Xue Nongying! Prime Minister Xue’s favorite grandson!”

Qiu Shen, who just breathed a sigh of relief for successfully preventing the peeper from escaping, almost felt his heart stopped beating, “What?”

Everyone knew that although Xue Chang had several descendants, his most favorite one was Xue Nongying. If the other descendants of the Xue Family were dead, Xue Chang would be sad but he might still let it go. But if Xue Nongying died, Xue Chang would definitely find out what had happened by all means!

For someone of Xue Chang’s age, there was nothing more important than having a successor.

“What should I do now?” Noble Consort Gu and Qiu Shen, who were sweating heavily all of a sudden, looked at Xue Nongying not far away and were caught in a dilemma that they had never faced before.