sjar Chapter 554 Someone with such character cannot enter the Chu family.
Chapter 554 Someone with such character cannot enter the Chu family.
The light in Su Wan's eyes dimmed, but was then concealed by a polite smile.
She stopped pressing the issue and instead started chatting about interesting things in the palace, as if the earlier probing had never happened.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, a palace servant came in to announce that the banquet in the Imperial Garden had been prepared and that all the ladies of the household had taken their seats.
In the Imperial Garden, hundreds of flowers bloom in competition, with the crabapple blossoms being the most abundant, creating a magnificent and fragrant spectacle.
Noble ladies and wives gathered in small groups, their elegant clothes and graceful bearing, chatting and laughing.
Chu Ruohan immediately spotted the focus of attention in the crowd.
Lin Jingchuan was dressed in a moon-white brocade robe today. His face was handsome, but his expression was as cold as ice.
No matter how much the Princess Consort Yong tried to persuade him, he just kept his eyes down, looking like he couldn't be bothered with anyone.
Under a crabapple tree not far away, I spotted an old acquaintance.
Lin Xingyao's gaze was fixed on her brother, carrying a gloomy look that outsiders couldn't understand.
When she saw any young lady lingering on Lin Jingchuan for too long, her eyes would become sharp as needles.
Chu Ruohan withdrew her gaze; this Prince Yong's mansion was indeed a murky swamp.
She soon found her target near another flowerbed.
Lady Zhao, the wife of Vice Minister Zhao, was talking with the wives of several colleagues. Standing beside her was a young girl, dressed in a light blue dress, with delicate features and a slender figure.
That was Zhao Qingzhi.
She was listening intently to her friend beside her, nodding and smiling occasionally, her demeanor elegant and graceful, appearing gentle and charming.
Chu Ruohan nodded inwardly. Judging from his appearance and demeanor, Chen Yu's judgment was quite good.
Just as she was pondering this, Xuan-ge gently tugged at her sleeve.
"Mother, His Highness the Crown Prince has arrived."
Chu Ruohan looked up and saw a grand eunuch leading a little boy dressed in bright yellow casual clothes over.
The prince was only five years old, but his little face was taut, his eyes were calm, and he had a maturity beyond his years.
The ladies around them all rose and bowed.
"Your Highness, this humble woman pays her respects." Chu Ruohan, along with her two children, also curtsied.
The Crown Prince raised his little hand and said in a childish but clear voice, "Madam of the Duke of Zhenguo, you may rise."
His gaze swept over Xuan-ge'er, who was standing upright to the side, and he nodded slightly before finally settling on Gu Qingchen.
Gu Qingchen couldn't stand such dull occasions and being stared at so seriously. She pouted and, taking advantage of Chu Ruohan's inattention, quickly made a face at the Crown Prince.
For a fleeting moment, the prince's serious little face cracked.
His eyes widened suddenly, as if he hadn't expected anyone to dare do this to him.
Chu Ruohan caught a glimpse of her daughter's little movement out of the corner of her eye, her heart skipped a beat, and she subtly pulled Qingchen behind her.
Fortunately, the Crown Prince did not make a fuss. He only gave Gu Qingchen a deep look before being led by the eunuch to pay his respects to the Empress.
Chu Ruohan breathed a sigh of relief. Just as she was about to observe Zhao Qingzhi a little longer, she heard a low, excited whisper coming from the other side.
It was Zhao Qingzhi and her best friend.
The woman with the handkerchief said enviously, "Qingzhi, look, that's the young prince of the Yong Prince's Mansion. He's truly a man of dragon-like bearing and phoenix-like grace. It's just a pity..."
The words were left unsaid, but the meaning was self-evident.
Chu Ruohan thought she would hear Zhao Qingzhi say a few shy or evasive words.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Qingzhi raised her eyes and her gaze fell precisely on Lin Jingchuan in the distance, a cold smile that was completely different from her gentle temperament curling up at the corner of her mouth.
She said firmly in a voice that only the two of them could hear, "I am determined to get the position of the Crown Prince's Consort."
That resolute voice, like a fine needle, pierced Chu Ruohan's ear.
She subtly took two steps, feigning admiration for a cluster of peonies in full bloom beside her, her figure mostly obscured by the lush foliage.
Zhao Qingzhi's close friend, the daughter of a Vice Minister of Revenue, tugged at her sleeve, her voice lowered, revealing barely concealed disgust.
"Qingzhi, are you crazy? What kind of wonderful place is the Yong Prince's Mansion?"
"The Lin siblings' dirty deeds are known throughout the whole city. Aren't you disgusted that you're going to marry into that family?"
Chu Ruohan held her breath.
Zhao Qingzhi let out a very soft, cold laugh, a laugh chillingly cold, completely at odds with her gentle and beautiful face.
"nausea?"
She raised her hand, plucked a crabapple petal, and slowly crushed it between her fingertips.
"What are you afraid of?"
"As long as I can marry into the family, I'll have plenty of ways to deal with that Lin Xingyao."
"With her withered and faded appearance, how dare she covet her own brother? She always pretends to be a weak and pitiful vixen. Bah!"
"As for the young prince..."
She paused, then disgustedly wiped the crushed red petals onto her handkerchief.
"No matter how despicable he is, he is still the heir of the Yong Prince's Mansion, the future Prince of Yong. Do you think I'm after him for who he is?"
The woman was stunned speechless by her words, and after a long while, she stammered, "But...but what will happen to you in the future?"
"What should we do?" Zhao Qingzhi's tone revealed a chilling arrogance and calculation. "With power in hand and the status of the Crown Prince's consort, what can't I have?"
"He's just a man. If we jeopardize his future, why would he disobey us?"
Chu Ruohan felt a chill run down her spine.
She originally thought Zhao Qingzhi was just a little ambitious, but she never expected her to be so vicious.
This scheming, this cold-bloodedness, is truly chilling.
She couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat for her younger brother, Chu Chenyu.
Chen Yu is an upright person who has worked his way up through thick and thin and has seen all sorts of monsters and demons. How could he have misjudged Zhao Qingzhi?
It seems that all he saw was that gentle and charming appearance.
A woman like that should never enter the Chu family.
Just as I was pondering this, a gentle voice sounded from behind me.
"What is Sister Ruohan looking at so intently?"
Chu Ruohan turned around, and Su Wan had already stood next to her at some point, her gaze fixed on Zhao Qingzhi.
"The daughter of Vice Minister Zhao looks quite dignified and elegant."
Su Wan's tone was casual, as if she were just mentioning it offhand.
"Just now, I noticed the way Princess Yong looked at her, and she seemed quite satisfied."
These words carried a hint of probing, brushing past like a feather.
Chu Ruohan smiled faintly, just the right amount of smile.
"The marriage of one's children is ultimately decided by the parents and arranged by the matchmaker."
She lowered her eyes, looking at the cloud pattern embroidered on the hem of her skirt. "This humble woman is just casually looking at it on behalf of the elders in the family. It shouldn't be taken seriously."
Her words were impeccable, neither affirming nor denying, yet in her heart she had already completely erased the name Zhao Qingzhi from her mind.