Chapter 1910: Don’t Be Scared, Wanru
Zu An was puzzled. He asked, “Honored mother-in-law, what did you just say?”
“Nothing,” Qin Wanru replied, her face heating up.
If I really told you, wouldn’t you really do it?
Dream on!
…
When Zu An entered the carriage, he sensed a unique aroma. It was a mix of a young lady’s youthful scent with a mature woman’s sweetness.
Zu An sat down in a position close to the exit, making sure to stay some distance from the two of them. Even so, Chu Huanzhao was like a koala and moved closer to him on his own. She clung to his arm tightly. He could even feel her youthful and flexible body. Zu An couldn't push her away, but couldn't really let it continue either…
When Qin Wanru saw that, she gave her daughter a glare. She said, “Huanzhao, come and sit over here. You’re not little anymore. Are you trying to start a scandal by letting everyone see you act so familiar with your brother-in-law?”
However, Chu Huanzhao didn’t move at all and retorted angrily, “My relationship with my brother-in-law is good, though! I haven’t seen him in so long and have so many things I want to say to him! Also, there’s no one else here anyway.”
Qin Wanru was stunned.
Am I not a person in your eyes?
She was really about to blow her top. She had gone through so much effort to stop the two sisters from being served in the same pot to this man, and yet her own daughter was so earnestly hooking her own elbow around him, frantically giving herself out!
Zu An coughed lightly and tried to ease the awkwardness. He asked, “Ahem, why don’t I see respected father-in-law?”
“He didn’t come along to guard against everything being served,” Qin Wanru reflexively replied.
“Everything being served?” Zu An repeated, confused. Why did that phrase sound so weird?
Qin Wanru’s face heated up. Her head was so completely filled with that stuff that she ended up blurting it out! She quickly explained, “If he remains in Brightmoon City, he can command the Red Cloak Army, so both of us will still be rather safe in the capital. If he comes to the capital too and gets ambushed, the Chu clan will be without a leader, and end up being destined for doom.”
“That’s called not putting all of your eggs in one basket!” Chu Huanzhao corrected her mother with a big smile.
“Alright, alright, you’re the smart one,” Qin Wanru said, rolling her eyes.
You're the egg who's almost in the same basket as your big sister!
“Did mother-in-law come to the capital to visit the Qin clan’s state dukes?” Zu An asked.
Qin Wanru voiced her agreement. The smile on her face also gradually became serious as she said, “I heard that something happened to the Qin manor, so I was full of anxiety and rushed to the capital. Huanzhao insisted on coming, so I could only take her with me.”
“Hmph, I begged you so many times, but you wouldn’t let me come to the capital. And yet this time, you agreed immediately because something happened to the Qin manor…” Chu Huanzhao grumbled softly.
Qin Wanru was stunned.
This girl hasn’t even been married away yet, so why is she acting like water that's already been flung out?
This is only your brother-in-law, while if something happens to the Qin clan, that’s your own grandfathers who will be in danger!
“Right, I wanted to take the chance to visit Youzhao along the way, but I heard the Qin manor’s people tell me that you brought her away. I then went to your marquis manor, but Youzhao wasn’t there. After asking around, I heard that you would be at the morning court session today, so I waited by the gates. The heavens seemed to pity me and I finally found you," Qin Wanru said as she patted her chest. She asked, “Just where did you hide Youzhao?”
She suddenly thought to herself, Youzhao’s crossdressing wasn’t already exposed by him, right?
With this kid’s nature, will all three be served in the same pot?
At that point, wouldn’t Zhongtian and I die from anger…
I don’t think that’s the case! There’s no way! She has a special magic artifact on her, so unless she talks about it herself, no one else should know about it. Wasn’t she doing fine all these years in the capital? I even heard that she's grown quite close to the Murong clan’s young lady.
“I moved her to the academy’s rear mountain. She's quite safe now,” Zu An replied.
“The academy’s rear mountain?” Qin Wanru repeated as she tapped on the carriage’s wall to instruct Yue Shan to head to the academy. She wanted to reunite with her daughter first.
“The academy’s rear mountain? That's a sacred place that countless students yearn for! Brother-in-law, you actually have the skill to hide Youzhao there?” Chu Huanzhao exclaimed, blinking. Even though she was a big dummy in academic terms, in the end, she was still a student of Brightmoon Academy. She had already heard about how amazing the Royal Academy was, so much that her ears had felt as if they were about to rot.
Only some of Brightmoon City’s most outstanding disciples would have a chance to enter the Royal Academy! As for the rear mountain, only if one was appreciated by those legendary teachers would they have the qualifications to go there. Every single individual who was able to enter the Royal Academy was a genius of their own homeland. Furthermore, to enter the rear mountain, they needed to stand out among countless other disciples. They were geniuses among geniuses! Her brother-in-law could enter the rear mountain whenever he wanted, and even keep someone there?
He’s just too awesome!
Qin Wanru was also shocked. After thinking about it, she asked, “Which teacher took you in as their disciple? Could it be that Principal Jiang?”
She had learned a bit about Jiang Luofu when she sent her daughter to Brightmoon Academy in the past. For some reason, she felt that an honorable academy principal wearing black silk stockings on those long legs was a bit unacceptable.
She’s clearly a virgin, and yet she gives off more mature appeal than this married madam!
Pah pah pah, why would I care about that kind of appeal?
Only later had her impression changed, when she heard from her daughter that even though the principal always wore those black silk stockings, she was an elegant and upright person who never spoke any unnecessary words to men. Later, however, when Zu An entered Brightmoon Academy, she learned that Jiang Luofu seemed to treat Zu An quite well. When those things happened to Zu An, she had also helped him quite a bit. Now, it seemed that Zu An had likely studied under her to enter the academy’s rear mountain.
“Big sis Jiang? I am pretty close to her,” Zu An said with a chuckle.
Qin Wanru immediately became vigilant when she heard him refer to Jiang Luofu so casually.
Is my daughter not enough for this kid? He’s still causing trouble elsewhere?
You’re eating out of your plate while looking at what else is in the pot? Absolutely preposterous!
Chu Huanzhao was more concerned about something else. She said, “Right, brother-in-law, I heard the Qin manor's people say that you seemed to have offended King Jin Manor’s people.”
Hearing that, Qin Wanru couldn't be bothered with the pots and plates. When she recalled the Qin manor’s ruined appearance, she couldn't help but feel a bit broken-hearted. After all, the Qin clan had been a first-rate influential clan! And yet now, the manor was overgrown with weeds, and even its people had scattered and left. The entire place had looked bleak and miserable.
Zu An replied, “That is indeed the case. The Murong clan’s Miss Qinghe was fleeing as a refugee, so Youzhao tried to shelter her. Then, news of that leaked and King Jin Manor’s people went after them.”
“Youzhao has done well!” Qin Wanru smacked the chair and said with a proud expression. “As expected of my dau… ahem, as expected of my child, someone from our clan of warriors! Whether it is the Chu clan or Qin clan, we separate our gratitudes and grudges clearly. We should offer assistance when our friends are in trouble, let alone that this is the one he likes!”
She couldn't help but feel a bit worried when she said that. After that, Murong Qinghe and Youzhao’s feelings had probably advanced a step further. However, Youzhao was a crossdresser, so how were they going to deal with that in the future… They couldn't just have Murong Qinghe marry into the clan, right? That way, there would be no way to hide Youzhao’s identity anymore…