Real Empress from a noble family

It was just past the Lantern Festival. And it was still a few days left till their spring outing day. So, they still had time to prepare.

With the help of Chunran and Xiaran who were older and more sophisticated, Su He only needed to focus on serving Qiu Yelan. While she was grinding the inkstone for Qiu Yelan, they talked about Princess Yang's request, "They always have evil agendas against you. They try so hard to make you take the sixth Commandery Princess with you this time. I think they may be up to no good!"

Qiu Yelan was looking at the ink. She nodded and said, "The ink is enough." Su He put down the grinding rod in a hurry and wiped her hand clean. And then she rolled up Qiu Yelan's sleeves for her.

Qiu Yelan picked a purple calligraphy brush and started to write. And then she said, "I hate them too. However, since they brought up Kuang Qingwu and got Marquess Zhang into this, if I still refused, even I didn't take Qiu Jinzhu with me, I still might not be able to avoid the trouble. I may as well follow through and see what they are really up to."

Su He was stunned, "I really can't figure it out. Young Master Ruan has nothing to do with Marquess Zhang's son. How could he get into this kind of trouble?" although Su He's grandmother went to Prince's Mansion of Xihe as a dowry of Ruan Family, she was just a maid after all. She knew nothing about the grudge between Kuang Shihan and General Ruan.

Qiu Yelan didn't want to explain it to her. She said while writing, "So, it's useless to guess. We may as well follow their plan."

"Then please be careful." Su He said seriously, "Marquess Zhang is also emperor's son-in-law. His son is the grandson of Empress Dowager."

"What are you so scared of? Chunfu Princess is Empress's niece!" Qiu Yelan squinted, "Kuang Qingwu hasn't arrived in the city yet. Even if he did, as a man how could he go to our outing place and pick on a little girl like me? If he could be so shameless, as the host Chunfu Princess would kick his ass no matter how good her temper was! I'm more worried about my cousin."

While they were talking, Chen Shui came in to report with a happy face, "Young Master Ruan sent someone to deliver a message. The message is that Deng Yi and his mother were seen at the foot of Pingshan. They were on the way to the city. Young Master Ruan has been assembling people to greet them!"

All of Qiu Yelan's servants and maids knew that she wanted to break off her engagement now. Everyone knew that Ruan Qingyan was looking for Deng Yi and his mother because he wanted to talk to them about breaking off the engagement. Chen Shui was being considerate to use the word "greet".

Hearing this, Qiu Yelan and Su He were both happy. Qiu Yelan stopped writing and threw away the purple calligraphy brush. She asked, "Is the information accurate? It was said two years in the letter back then. How could it be so soon?"

"I don't know either. But it's really them. It seems that Mrs. Gu fell over on Pingshan. So, they can't continue to travel. They have to come back to see a doctor!" Chen Shui said with a smile, "I think even God doesn't want them to waste your youth on purpose!"

Qiu Yelan was very happy, "It's true that one good turn deserves another! I told you guys that you guys should keep an eye on Whitey. So, the birds would feel safe when they ate cereals on the ground. See, the universe will repay you somehow, right?"

Su He and Chen Shui looked at her gloating face which showed "I knew I was a good person". They didn't know they should laugh or cry. They just echoed. Then Su He reminded, "Aren't you going to ask Young Master Ruan?"

"Of course I will!" Qiu Yelan stroked her hair and instructed cheerfully, "Bring Whitey with us. In case he bullies the birds while I'm gone. Also, sweep the snow. Make some space for the birds!"

Obviously, she really thought her feeding birds for a few times had something to do with the tide turning in her favor.

Su He and Chen Shui were speechless. But they didn't want to argue with her about something so trivial. They tidied up and got in the carriage with her.

In Ruan Family, not just Ruan Qingyan, even Ruan Ciyi who always paid no attention to affairs was disturbed.

When Qiu Yelan just walked in, she heard Ruan Ciyi saying in a happy tone, "If… A talented girl like Yelan deserves to marry someone nice."

"You are right." Ruan Qingyan answered with a smile. Seeing his cousin coming in, he waved at her and asked her to sit, "I'm talking to Ciyi about Deng Yi and his mother showing up. Since you are here, let's talk about it."

"I heard that Mrs. Gu fell over on the mountain? Really?" Qiu Yelan saluted and then sat beside Ruan Ciyi. She could hardly wait to ask.

Ruan Qingyan said with a smile, "They say so. True or fake… Not to matter, I just want right person."

"I wonder whether they are willing to break off the engagement or not." Ruan Ciyi raised her hand and touched Qiu Yelan's hair. She thought about how beautiful her cousin was. No need to mention other aspects. Just her hair, her hair felt like silk and shined like a diamond. If she really married Deng Yi who was well known for liking men, everyone would consider it as a waste, "However, Deng Family is not that rich. It should be negotiable if we promised them a lot of money, right?"

Seeing his cousins' simultaneously anticipated looks, Ruan Qingyan said with a faint smile, "The man I sent this time is very persuasive. I suppose it will be okay."

Only Ruan Ciyi would believe that. She lived in Hezhou for decades and didn't have information about Jing City after all. After she went back to the city, she had been recovering from her emotional wound in these two years. She didn't know the recent political situation at all.

Qiu Yelan knew very well that Gu Family wouldn't let Deng Yi agree to break off the engagement. Because she offended Empress Dowager Gu back then, and she became closer and closer to Empress Jiang's clique in these two years. Qiu Yelan couldn't believe that Ruan Qingyan could be so sure of it, because the man he sent was some kind of senior negotiator.

After a while, Ruan Ciyi's maid persuaded her to go back and have some nutritious soup. Seeing Ruan Ciyi walking away, Qiu Yelan lifted the corner of her dress and jumped in front of Ruan Qingyan at the next minute. She pulled at Ruan Qingyan's sleeve and said fawningly, "Who did you send? You sound so reassured."

"Qiu Feng has already given him a chance. Since he didn't take it, I think it's better to let Tianya go this time." as expected, Ruan Qingyan said flatly, "Women remarrying is not forbidden in Darui. Especially that you haven't married into Deng Family. I have thought about it. The securest way is for them to die!"

Cousin was still awesome!

Qiu Yelan sighed with emotion. But she was worried, "Yang told me earlier that Marquess Zhang's son the one in the Western Army seemed to have the intention to mess with you. It's said that Yang Tao got this information and sent it back at top speed. The minute this rumor spread Deng Yi and his mother came out of hiding. Do you think these two things are connected?"

"Kuang Qingwu?" Ruan Qingyan muttered to himself. Qiu Yelan detected immediately that Ruan Qingyan had been paying attention to Kuang Shihan or paid attention to him.

Otherwise, there were many powerful and rich people in Darui. Kuang Shihan wasn't in the city all year round. Ruan Qingyan didn't just know his name but also his son's name. Ruan Qingyan must have paid special attention. Because Kuang Qingwu wasn't famous. Even if he were, he certainly weren't famous in Jing City. At least Qiu Yelan never heard of him until Princess Yang mentioned him.

"Yes." Qiu Yelan was a little worried, "I don't know what got into him. He wants to go against you!"

Ruan Qingyan attentively thought for a while and then said with a faint smile, "I suppose someone instigated him to do so. I never met him. I don't know why he wants to go against me. It's not a big deal. When I see him, I will talk to him and make it right."

"You are lying to me again!" Qiu Yelan might believe what he just said in the old days. But now she realized at once that he was beating around the bush. Qiu Yelan knew that she couldn't make him tell her things which he didn't want to via fawning on him or throwing a tantrum. She sighed and complained, "I'm not a kid anymore. Why do you keep everything from me?"

Just like what she thought, hearing what she said, Ruan Qingyan just smiled, "It's really nothing. Don't be paranoid."

Qiu Yelan wanted to badger with him. But Ruan Qingyan asked her about the outing instead, "You need to be careful if you are going to take Qiu Jinzhu with you. She is Qiu Mengmin's daughter. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Don't let her trick you! Or simply I just make her not be able to go out on that day."

"I expect to find out what Qiu Mengmin is up to through her!" Qiu Yelan objected, "Besides she is just a little girl. How could I let her trick me?"

Ruan Qingyan also knew that Qiu Jinzhu wouldn't be able to do anything to Qiu Yelan by herself. So, he said, "Anyway, just be careful."

"Okay, okay, okay. I will. However, you, on the other hand, Kuang Qingwu…" Qiu Yelan feared his nagging the most. She wanted to redirect the topic back to Marquess Zhang's son. However, Ruan Qingyan didn't give her the chance. He pretended that he didn't hear her. He took a sip of his tea and asked about Jiang Yashaung instead, "How is he?"

Qiu Yelan was alert at once. She said seriously, "I don't know. I haven't seen him recently!"

Ruan Qingyan sneered, "Tell me the truth!"

"Just like that!" Qiu Yelan said sulkily, "Don't you agree last year?"

Ruan Qingyan asked with a faint smile, "He didn't speak ill of me, did he?"

"Spoke ill of you?" Qiu Yelan asked in surprise, "How is it possible? Speaking ill of you in front of me, does he have a death wish?"

"That's not necessarily true. You have been complaining about me being too strict with you for a long time," Ruan Qingyan took another sip of his tea. He said slowly, "He catered to your pleasure. Speaking ill of me in front of you could be a good way."

Qiu Yelan pledged her loyalty in a hurry, "How dare he! You are strict to me for my own good. I was just kidding about you being strict with me. How can I let others judge you?"

Ruan Qingyan squinted and looked at her, "Really?"

"As sure as fate!" Qiu Yelan said with dignity and honor, "Even he is my future husband, how could he compare to you? I can have another husband. But how can I find another cousin? He doesn't have a say in how you treat me!"

Ruan Qingyan fixed his gaze on Qiu Yelan for a while. There seemed to be tears in his eyes. After a long time, he sighed. He touched the top of her head and said in relief, "After hearing what you said, I'm willing to die for you!"

Qiu Yelan who was waiting for him to praise her for being loyal to her own family said with shock, "Don't say that! We both need to be safe and sound. If not, what about Ciyi?"

Why did it sound so ominous? Did Kuang Qingwu have super evil agendas? And Ruan Qingyan didn't know how to deal with him at all?

"Even Kuang Family is less powerful than Jiang Family, they still have huge power in the army. Besides, Kuang Qingwu is the young prince…" getting out of Ruan Family, Qiu Yelan couldn't hide her worries, "I need to ask Yashuang about this immediately!"