Chapter 40 Qi Huan Is Getting Married

Sure enough, the wedding invitation that Marquis Chu pulled out from the envelope was indeed for the grand nuptials between Qi Huan and Princess Lanxin.

"Ha, what an absolute, monumental joke."

Madame Liu stepped forward to take a look. "My lord, Princess Lanxin's royal title has not been stripped away, so Qi Huan might actually have lucked into a massive bargain this time."

Marquis Chu sneered. "Your son-in-law Li Dan was the Grand Commandant as well, and his title wasn't stripped either, yet didn't he still meet a miserable end right inside his own estate?"

Madame Liu nodded. "That's true. But this Qi Huan is the Emperor's cousin, and the Left Chancellor is the maternal uncle of the Emperor—how can he possibly be compared to the likes of us? Just wait and see."

Marquis Chu lowered his eyes, unwilling to admit the truth in his heart.

Throughout these past few days, the only person in the Marquis's estate who remained overjoyed was Chu Yue. With her own hands, she had blocked her own brother's path back to the capital, plotting to seize the entire family fortune of the Marquis's estate for herself.

The maid Chunya hurried in to bring her some news. "Second Young Miss, the Marquis and Madame just received a wedding invitation from the Chancellor's estate. That freak Qi Huan and Princess Lanxin are about to be wed."

Hearing this, Chu Yue smiled as if waiting for a good show. "This truly is wonderful news! But is there any word yet on the Qian family's visit to the General's Manor yesterday?"

Chunya shook her head. "Not yet."

Chu Yue sighed softly, a faint, lingering premonition in her heart that something was bound to happen.

Inside the General's Manor, the Dowager Madam Mo sat alone on a Luohan bed, lowering her gaze in deep thought. Beside her, a newly arrived maid, Mother Wang, respectfully offered her a cup of warm tea.

"Old Madam, please have some tea."

Only then did Madame Mo raise her eyes and ask, "Has there been any movement over at Miss Chu's quarters?"

Mother Wang immediately replied, "Reporting to the Old Madam, Miss Chu is still unwell. I hear that every day after taking her medicine, she sits up in bed and begins embroidering a tapestry for the Empress Dowager."

"She is clever enough, at least, to know how to leave herself a way out."

Mother Wang reasoned, "Old Madam, if she is merely after money, wouldn't it be simpler to just give her some silver and send her packing? Why bother waiting for the General to return and make a scene?"

Madame Mo sighed as she looked at Mother Wang. "You don't understand. They share a deep affection from childhood, having grown up together as sweethearts. If I were to use brute force to tear them apart, I'm afraid my infatuated son wouldn't be able to bear it."

Mother Wang still found it hard to comprehend. "Matters of marriage should be decided by the command of one's parents. Where is there any reason for individuals to make their own choices?"

The Dowager Madam Mo turned her gaze toward the window and said no more.

At that moment, Chu Xi was draped in a light cloak, sitting up in bed as she meticulously embroidered the "One Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix" tapestry for the Empress Dowager.

Caiping walked in carrying a newly brewed bowl of ginseng soup. "Young Lady, please take a break and drink a mouthful of ginseng soup."

Chu Xi lifted her gaze to ask, "Have you and Wang Mu had yours as well?"

Caiping smiled. "Young Lady, rest assured. Once you have had yours, Wang Mu and I will naturally have ours."

Chu Xi admonished her, "Your bodies have also been worn down and battered alongside mine within the Grand Commandant's estate. If we are to nourish ourselves, we do it together. Don't give this kind of nourishment to me alone, or else I won't drink it either."

Caiping quickly promised, "Understood, understood. Young Lady, rest assured, we will both drink."

Only then did a hint of a pleased smile touch Chu Xi's face. She said, "Drink at ease. This ginseng soup was bought with our own silver; we don't need to look at anyone else's displeasure."

Caiping murmured, "It is precisely because Young Lady earned this through sheer exhaustion—embroidering for the Empress Dowager despite your illness—that this servant feels such heartache and pity. This is all built upon your heart's blood and toil, Young Lady."

Chu Xi, however, merely smiled. "It's no matter. After working on the embroidery these past two days, I actually feel my body has improved quite a bit, and my spirit is much better than before."

"That is good then. This servant was only terrified that Young Lady's constitution wouldn't hold out."

Suddenly, Chu Xi asked, "Caiping, during these days that I have been ill, has the Old Madam sent anyone to inquire after me, or left even a single comforting word?"

Caiping froze, biting her lip as she did not dare to speak the truth.