Chapter 171: Consort Selection at the Palace Banquet

Under the sunshine, the magnificent palace with its tall, cinnabar-colored buildings exuded not only a golden glow but also the divine aura of the noble royal family.

The Empress Dowager's Palace of Benevolent Peace was filled with guests, all scattered across its courtyard. It was one of the central palaces of the Imperial Palace, second only to the dwelling of the Emperor and the Empress.

Many young ladies from esteemed families were here, dressed to the nines. They were bashful and graceful. Though they were admiring the view, it would be more accurate to say that they were the view instead.

That was factually true. It wasn't explicit, but the young ladies who entered the palace knew that they had joined the selection of official consorts and concubines for the princes. Thus, all of them were red in the cheeks.

Earlier, some of them had already spotted Prince Yue and Prince Zhou. Both princes were extraordinarily handsome. If they could marry any of the two, not only would they be promised a life of glory and splendor, but also the chance of attaining the noblest of statuses among women. This excited them immensely and made their every gesture become all that more bashful.

Everyone knew their true purpose in coming here today and yet they had to feign ignorance out of fear that the princes wouldn't take a liking to them.

Chu Liuchen looked up lazily as he leaned against the chair. He said weakly, "Grandmother, I don't like them." A leopard cat with snow-white fur rested on his knees. Its seductive blue eyes, with its vertical slits for pupils, lent it a mysterious beauty. It lay languidly in his embrace.

The Empress Dowager, who was over sixty years old, was seated next to him. She caressed her grandson's forehead and said kindly, "We have so many young ladies from esteemed families here; they're the noblest ladies in the capital. What displeases you?"

They were seated in a high building in the Palace of Benevolent Peace. Veiled curtains were hung outside the balcony, pulling double duty in blocking the wind and letting the sunshine in. Moreover, it didn't obstruct the view. It was a good observation spot.

The building wasn't far off the ground, allowing them a good view of what was happening below. They could even clearly see the faces of the ladies. Empress Dowager was pleased with several incredible beauties that she spotted.

"Imperial Grandmother, my body... who'd be willing to marry me?" Chu Liuchen smiled wryly. He opened his eyes, revealing a beautiful pair of pupils that resembled a galaxy of stars. His harmlessness and frailness immediately softened Empress Dowager's heart. She wanted nothing more than to give him all the best things in life. This child was one born with a hard fate, she thought.

"Nonsense. You're my grandson; naturally, you're both noble and dignified. How can you say no one would be willing to marry you? Not only would you be married, but you'd also marry the best. If someone dares to look down on you, I'll send someone to deal with her!" Empress Dowager said, deliberately putting on the face of a tigress.

"Imperial Grandmother, she'll just be a widow if she marries me. Let's leave these ladies alone." Chu Liuchen lowered his head with a visibly downcast look. The corners of his thin, pale lips curved to form a wry smile.

This time, the Empress Dowager was truly furious. Her brows knitted tightly as she said coldly, "Hogwash! Who told you that? My dear grandson will live for a hundred years!"

"Imperial Grandmother, do you believe in your own words?" Chu Liuchen forced a smile. The young man who looked as handsome as a pretty boy who had stepped out of a painting carried a gloomy frailness and yet he would invariably draw the affection of others. In particular, his star-like pupils looked so limpid that there didn't seem to be even a speck of impurity in it.

"Chen'er, don't think like that. Your Emperor Uncle and I will definitely cure you. We'll never let something like that happen!" Even though she sounded powerless, the Empress Dowager nevertheless tried to assure her grandson. Pain filled her heart like the burst of spring water.

The current Emperor was her son; the late Emperor was also her biological son!

Chu Liuchen was quiet. He gently caressed his white cat and said after a pause, "Imperial Grandmother, I don't think they're here for me."

He looked serene as if he was talking about someone else. His fan-like lashes fell against his cheeks. When he sat still, he looked like a painting—a painting of a man without expression.

The Empress Dowager was heartbroken. She looked at the noble young ladies outside and found that many of them whom she was pleased with had become a thorn in her eye. She wouldn't forget Chu Liuchen's subtle excitement earlier. He even inspected a few ladies. But ever since Chu Liuyue and Chu Liuzhou entered the courtyard, his expression dimmed and he was unable to summon any enthusiasm.

When Chu Liuyue and Chu Liuzhou walked past the courtyard, the dignified and graceful-looking ladies smiled as prettily as flowers. There were quite a few who stole looks at them behind their handkerchiefs. Everyone's gazes were concentrated on them, and they really wanted them to stop walking around.

Several of the more remarkable-looking ladies went as far as causing a little incident, drawing the attention of Chu Liuyue and Chu Liuzhou. What an absurd lack of etiquette, she thought. How could such a lady dream of marrying into the royal family?

"These ladies are no good. I'll find you better ones next time." Even though the Empress Dowager didn't look too pleased, she was nevertheless gentle toward Chu Liuchen.

"Imperial Grandmother, I don't want any of them. I want another cat. Something similar to my current one," Chu Liuchen said gently, caressing the cat in his embrace.

"But this is the only one of its kind!" the Empress Dowager said softly.

This cat was a tribute from a foreign nation. It had come as part of a pair. Since he liked them, both were gifted to the Prince Chen's Mansion. One unexpectedly died, leaving just the other. Thus, the cat was priceless.

"Imperial Grandmother!" Chu Liuchen raised his head to look at the Empress Dowager.

"Alright, alright. We'll do as you say. We'll give you whatever you want." Her heart instantly softened after seeing such a gaze. She decided that she would ask the foreign nation if they had a similar cat.

"Imperial Grandmother, then I'll excuse myself. I haven't had my medicine when you summoned me," Chu Liuchen said somewhat bashfully. He was a bit embarrassed.

"This neglectful child. You're all grown-up now, but you're still not thoughtful enough. Well, you might as well return since you're uninterested in these ladies. I'll find you even better noble young ladies next time," the Empress Dowager said, feeling heartache.

She thought the ladies out there were a little too frivolous. Her plan was to find a good fiancee for Chu Liuchen so that someone would take good care of him. Who knew all the ladies would be so weak towards the charm of Prince Yue and Prince Zhou? How irritating!

Her grandson was such a good one; how could she let the ladies look down on him?

"Yes, Imperial Grandmother!" Chu Liuchen nodded. He leaned on the back of the chair and the quick-witted Xiao Xuanzi pushed his wheelchair to the stairs.

When they reached the head of the stairs, Chu Liuchen walked down the wheelchair and slowly made his way down the stairs. Xiao Xuanzi carried the wheelchair down and put it back down on flat ground. Only then did Chu Liuchen return to his seat. Then, he allowed Xiao Xuanzi to wheel him out of the side door.

Chu Liuchen left quietly, so the young ladies who were "admiring the flowers" or "waiting to be admired" didn't notice him. When he arrived at the side entrance of the Palace of Benevolent Peace, the corner of his eyes twitched and the gentleness and frailness in his pupils were replaced by coldness. "Where has she gone to play?"

"The main street. I've asked around. It seems like Second Miss is interested in buying a store, but she doesn't have so much extra money for it. So she's putting her new shop as security for a loan from the bank," Xiao Xuanzi hastily answered.

He knew who Chu Liuchen was referring to.

"Let's have a look then," Chu Liuchen said emotionlessly as he inattentively caressed his white cat on his lap.

"Yes! I'll take you there immediately," Xiao Xuanzi immediately said.

Qin Wanru had no idea that Chu Liuchen was keeping an eye on her whereabouts. Right now, she was indeed away from the manor and was at the shop that she had her eye on. Today was the day that she had chosen.

Recently, Madam Di and Qin Yuru were terribly well-behaved. It was peaceful inside Qin's Mansion.

Not only the landlord, Young Master Xu, was at the shop, but Wen Xichi was present as well. On Qin Wanru's side, Nanny Dong was standing on one side with all the necessary items already prepared.

Both sides had reached an agreement, so the next step was dealing with the surety. Wen Xichi was rendered rather helpless by Qin Wanru's unfathomable trust. To be honest, he wasn't at all interested in dealing with such things but he couldn't help giving in after seeing the expectant look on Qin Wanru's delicate face.

She was a girl who was still growing up!

Though still a child, she gave off an intelligent impression. Even Wen Xichi's close friend, Young Master Xu, couldn't stop praising her intellect in their private conversations. Young Master Xu kept commenting that the Second Miss of the Qin family was a sharp-eyed person. She was able to pinpoint Wen Xichi at first glance. Wen Xichi was indeed the best candidate to be the guarantor.

Wen Xichi of the Deputy Prime Minister's Chambers was well-known in the capital for being a promising lad. However, it was said that he was a quiet and easily contented person. Otherwise, with his talent and learning, he would have long earned his officialdom.

Thus, it was surprising to Young Master Xu that someone like him would agree to be a guarantor for a girl he had met only once.

Even though he didn't think Qin Wanru would be cheating him, Wen Xichi's conduct still startled him. After going through the ownership transfer, he stayed behind with plans of watching a show. His ornaments, embroidered girdles, and the like weren't sold off, anyway. He had every right to stay here.

Could it be the gifted scholar and the beautiful lady had fallen for each other? But... she was a little young, wasn't it?

The manager of the bank was invited to the shop as well. After Qin Wanru signed off the papers and stamped her fingerprint, she pushed the document to Wen Xichi. They had pored over every line of the contract earlier and she had pointed out several conditions that she didn't quite grasp. Perhaps owing to her many questions for Wen Xichi in the past, it felt natural for her to ask questions this time as well.

Wen Xichi accepted the document and read it. His gaze fell on a fingerprint so small that he couldn't help smiling. To think such a young child would be stamping a document like an adult. How interesting, he thought. But with this shop acting as surety, no one would be worried that she would run away. Moreover, she was the daughter of Qin Huaiyong, the newly appointed Ningyuan Army General of Jiangzhou.

But rumors had it that this girl's birth was problematic.

While contemplating this issue, he gently pressed his finger on the document, leaving a fingerprint. Then, he signed his name.

He looked up and handed the document to the bank manager.

The bank manager picked up the document and gave it a look. With a bright smile, he asked, "Third Young Master, how should I deal with this money?" Even though the borrower was Qin Wanru, the one that the manager addressed was Wen Xichi.