Real Empress from a noble family

"Kuang Qingwu and Qiu Jinzhu?" Qiu Yelan frowned, "How did they get together?"

Su He said, "I don't know either. Xiao Mu said that his servant bumped into them once. But the servant didn't think much of it. However, you helped them when they sent old Princess Qin back to Jing City. So, his servant told him about it. But his servant didn't pay attention back then and forgot what they said… He is just afraid that they may try to harm you. So, he wants to warn you!"

"It's really one good turn deserves another," Qiu Yelan thought for a while and then nodded, "I'll take precautions… Qiu Jinzhu? I'll ask her what she said to Kuang Qingwu after I go back!"

Before Su He could say anything, she changed her mind, "In that case, she and Kuang Qingwu will know that the Xiao Family told me. It'll give the Xiao Family trouble. I'd better wait. I'll ask her in a few days!"

Before she could confront Qiu Jinzhu, Sheng Shishui's matter was confirmed. Princess Yang's information was accurate. It was Jiang Yazhu who was engaged with her.

"I heard that Yong Master Yazhu was also a playboy. I didn't expect him to be infatuated with anyone."

After offering her condolences to old Princess Qin, Qiu Yelan moved back to the Ruan Family again while waiting for people to clean up the collapsed courtyard in Prince's Mansion of Xihe. Before she went to the Ruan Family, she remembered that the silver hairpins on Ruan Ciyi's head hadn't been changed for a long time. So, she went to Linlang Jewelry Store which belonged to He Shuijin. She wanted to buy some new silver ornaments for her cousin.

He Shuijin happened to be there. When they talked about it, Qiu Yelan said, "I've heard that the trip to Mount Dizi makes a few new couples every year. I thought that there was no hope this year because of the earthquake. However, there is still one."

Unexpectedly, He Shuijin smiled and said, "Jiang Yazhu did see Miss Sheng once on the Mountain. And he did say that Miss Sheng was beautiful… But it's not true that he wants to marry her because of it. When he heard that he was engaged to Miss Sheng, he made a fuss in his courtyard and smashed a lot of things."

Qiu Yelan said in surprise, "Really? Then why were they engaged?"

"You can't sell me out if I tell you." He Shuijin puckered her lips, "It has a lot to do with your future mother-in-law."

Qiu Yelan thought for a while and then said in surprise, "I didn't hear that she came back."

"How could she come back without your father-in-law?" He Shuijin said, "You know about Jiang Yazhu's origin. It's fair to say that he is a thorn in your future mother-in-law's flesh! And he doesn't do very well himself… No one in the family is willing to speak up for him. Your future mother-in-law didn't want him to marry someone good. And everyone in the family acquiesced."

"I think he must have regretted complimenting Sheng Shishui back then," Qiu Yelan sighed.

He Shuijin said with a smile, "You are really naïve! You really thought that Madame Tao was so eager to be their matchmaker because he complimented her? To be honest, besides Marquess Qin, Madame Tao only pays so much attention to one person in the entire Jiang Family. And that person is Yashuang! Yazhu got sent back before Chunfu and Yashuang. But he was still not able to be raised by Madame Tao. He was raised by Madame Tao Junior."

Qiu Yelan asked in surprise, "Then why chose Sheng Shishui?" Before He Shuijin could answer, she figured it out herself, "Madam Shao?"

"That's right," He Shuijin said, "Madam Shao recommended. Although Marquess Qin and Madame Tao didn't plan to get Yazhu a wife who was from a powerful family in consideration of your future mother-in-law, they didn't want to treat him unfairly. So, they planned to find him a woman who was from a less powerful family but had a good personality. By lucky coincidence, Madam Shao has taught Sheng Shishui for two years. She felt Sheng Shishui was good and recommended her. Otherwise, let's be honest. Considering Yazhu's reputation, how could a smart girl like Sheng Shishui let him see her face so easily?"

"Those plots are really complicated!" Qiu Yelan sighed, "Thank you. If you didn't tell me, I would think of it as a beautiful love story!"

He Shuijin smiled lightly, "How can there be so many beautiful love stories? You and Yashuang already have one. If others in the Jiang Family want to be so lucky… Too hard!"

"I heard that Yaheng was obedient to everything you say," Qiu Yelan smiled, "Doesn't that count?"

Speaking of Jiang Yaheng, He Shuijin's look became ferocious at once. She sneered after a while, "He needs discipline. He needs way more attention than Yashuang."

They chatted for a while and then Qiu Yelan left with the silver ornaments she bought.

When she arrived at the Ruan Family, she went directly to the backyard like always. She didn't expect to see Xue Chang and a man who looked like Xue Nongying standing in the hallway when she arrived at the courtyard. They were both in casual clothes and looked worried.

"Prime Minister Xue and Master Xue!" Qiu Yelan didn't expect that Xue Chang would come here in person. Judging by the age of the man who looked like Xue Nongying, she thought that he should be Xue Fangchao. It was inappropriate to avoid him at that moment. So, she greeted them.

"Your Grace, you are here." Seeing her, they smiled reluctantly. They approached and thanked her, "If Your Grace weren't so generous…"

Qiu Yelan had been tired of hearing Madam Sun and Xue Nongqing's grateful words in these days. She heard it one more time when she went to Prince's Mansion of Puyang to offer her condolences. She interrupted at that moment, "Why treats me like a stranger? You guys are here. How about Young Master Xue?"

She thought that Xue Nongying was dying. However, Xue Chang and his son looked less worried after hearing the question, "Thanks for asking. Ying'er revived just now and talked to us for a while. Although he is still having a fever, Dr. Qi said that he was most likely going to survive."

Qiu Yelan said in surprise, "In that case, why do you guys look so worried?" Didn't they trust Qi Shuluo's medical skills? Shouldn't be like that. Qi Shuluo's medical skill was not the best in Darui. But he was one of the best doctors in the Imperial Academy of Medicine. Otherwise, Jiang Yashuang wouldn't recommend him when Qiu Jinglan was attacked back then. He was good at treating traumas and nursing people.

As expected, Xue Chang smiled bitterly, "Because Ying'er told us who did that to him and why."

"Oh?" Qiu Yelan was about to ask who the killer was. But she heard a cough behind her at that moment. Qiu Jinglan went in with Ruan Yi. He interrupted her, "Prime Minister Xue and Master Xue, you guys just came back from Mount Dizi. How about having some tea in the study?"

"Okay," Xue Chang nodded. He and Xue Fangchao said goodbye to Qiu Yelan and left with Qiu Jinglan.

"It looks like there is something wrong with the reason!" Qiu Yelan realized that Qiu Jinglan coughed to stop her from asking the question. Besides, Xue Chang and his son just heard about the killer from Xue Nongying who just revived. But Qiu Jinglan wasn't there. He obviously avoided that on purpose, "Or does my brother not want to get himself into this? It's reasonable. Considering Xue Chang's status and behavior, those people still wanted Xue Nongying dead. Who knows their backgrounds?"

She went to check on Madam Sun and Xue Nongqing. And then she stealthily asked Ruan Ciyi who was keeping them company out, "I bought silver hairpins and some other stuff. I don't know what you like. So, I bought a few of everything."

Ruan Ciyi was a bit surprised and said, "Why did you suddenly buy me all these?"

Although she couldn't dress herself up in the mourning period, it was women's nature to love beauty. Although she said like that, she still went with Qiu Yelan to see the new jewelry excitedly.

They tried all the jewelry. When they saw it was getting late, they sent people to ask about the situation. The person said that Xue Chang and his son had left and Qiu Jinglan was in his study.

Ruan Ciyi said, "I'll go ask Madam Sun and Miss Xue about dinner."

"Then I'm going to see my brother!" Qiu Yelan also stood up.

They went in different ways. Qiu Yelan asked the moment she went into the study, "Who hurt Xue Nongying?"

"You can't even imagine it." Qiu Jinglan put down the book in his hand and then said, "He caught Noble Consort Gu and Qiu Dian's nephew Qiu Shen having an affair. So, Qiu Shen wanted to kill him!"

Qiu Yelan said in surprise, "The Empress is so fierce. How could this kind of thing happen in the Imperial Harem?" Jiang Yadan's situation was different. He was able to get a job in the Imperial Army because of his father and aunt. He went in and out of the palace every day. He had the geographical advantage and the Empress wasn't on guard against her nephew. So, he was able to hook up with that Fair Concubine.

However, although she hadn't heard of Qiu Shen, she knew that he wasn't on the Empress's side when she found out he was Qiu Dian's nephew.

Especially, Noble Consort Gu was different from the former Fair Concubine. The former Fair Concubine gained favor because of her beauty. The Empress who concerned about the whole country didn't take her seriously at all. Even Jiang Yadan considered her as a plaything… As for Noble Consort Gu, just because she was Empress Dowager Gu's niece, the Empress would never neglect her.

Qiu Shen was able to hook up with her even so. And they hadn't been caught by the Empress until now?

Qiu Jinglan glanced at her and said, "Qiu Shen was dispatched to another place since Noble Consort Gu went to the palace. He came back recently. Xue Nongying was not in the best of spirits. He talked fitfully. I wonder if he was more specific when he talked about it with my teacher… I assumed that there was something going on with them before. Empress Jiang just went into the palace back then. And she hadn't got well established which gave them an advantage. And they rekindled lost love on the Emperor's birthday."

"Xue Nongying told you about the killer in advance?" Qiu Yelan was stunned. And then she was enlightened, "That makes sense. He still may not survive. Of course, he needs to tell people about it right when he revives. How could he wait for Prime Minister Xue and others… Speaking of which, aren't they still searching on Mount Dizi? Why did they come?"

Qiu Jinglan said with a smile, "First, there are a lot of rumors because of the earthquake. Something is simmering inside the government. Considering Prime Minister Xue's position, he surely can't stay outside for long. Second, Xue Nongying was dying two days ago. So, I took the liberty of sending them a message… After all, we hide the fact that he was healing his wound here mostly because we don't want him to be attacked again. But if he is dying, it's pointless for them to keep staying on Mount Dizi as a cover-up."

"Then what do they want to do now?" Qiu Yelan thought for a while and asked excitedly, "It's good for the Jiang Family. Prime Minister Xue values Xue Nongying so much. He definitely won't let Noble Consort Gu and her gang off the hook, right?"

Qiu Jinglan sneered, "You are too naïve thinking like that! First, it was Qiu Shen who made the move. It wasn't even Noble Consort Gu. Empress Dowager Gu definitely didn't know about it if the Gu Family chose not to tell her! Otherwise, even Empress Dowager Gu wants the Emperor to be a puppet, she definitely won't allow her niece to have an affair! So, the Xue Family will get even with Qiu Shen first and then the Noble Consort! Second, Xue Nongying is alive until now. And he probably is going to survive. Prime Minister Xue doesn't have to put up a desperate fight for him!"

He exhaled, "Do you think it's easy to go after Empress Dowager Gu? It's such a big deal which puts his whole family at risk… Even Prime Minister Xue needs to think it over."

"No wonder I saw their woebegone faces when I went in," Qiu Yelan wasn't disappointed, "But his most beloved junior suffered so much after all. Even he won't put up a desperate fight with Empress Dowager Gu right now. He only needs to speak up in the future at the crucial moment…"

"The problem is that it'll be over if Xue Nongying is dead. But if he survives," Qiu Jinglan reminded her calmly, "will Noble Consort Gu tell Empress Dowager Gu in a moment of desperation? Will Empress Dowager Gu strike first because she worries that she may not be able to appease Prime Minister Xue?"

Qiu Yelan was stunned and then said, "They were worried about that? Isn't it simple? Just ask Xue Nongying to pretend to have amnesia. Since Noble Consort Gu and her gang chose to kill him, how dare them tell the Empress Dowager that they cheated on her son unless absolutely compelled?"

Qiu Jinglan mused.