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Chapter 485 The Scenery Picture Sent to the Empress Dowager

Shao Wanru sat cross-legged on the mat and poured Chu Liuxin a cup of tea. She pushed the cup across to him and said calmly, “I don’t have any good tea leaves here in the mountain residence. Your Highness Prince Xin, please pardon me!”

Chu Liuxin picked up the tea next to him, took a sip and tasted it. “It is not bad. At least it is not like what I thought it will be, using firewood to brew the tea.”

“Your Highness, what brings you here?” Shao Wanru grinned, picked up the teacup by her side, took a sip and put it down.

“Of course, I am here to see an old friend. Shao Wu, you have been here for more than two years. Is it time for you to go down the mountain?” Chu Liuxin said this directly and spontaneously addressed Fifth Miss Shao as Shao Wu.

“About six months or so to go!” Shao Wanru said calmly, “How did you know I am here, Your Highness?”

“I went to the wrong place before this. A woman is living there alone. She said she has been living there for five years. Are there a lot of such ladies living in the Yuhui Nunnery for years?”

Chu Liuxin felt that this was really strange. Shao Wanru had lived here for almost three years and that was already quite shocking. But now some people had been living here for five years, did they really intend to become a nun and stay here?

“You mean, Miss Mo directed you here?” Shao Wanru lowered her head and thought for a while. Her long eyelashes, which were like butterfly wings, fluttered twice as she said this slowly.

“I don’t know if it’s Miss Mo or Miss Chou. Anyway, it is a small courtyard with three rooms inside. I lost my way just now. I wonder why the nun of the Yuhui Nunnery directed me to the wrong place!” Chu Liuxin complained and took another sip of the tea.

“Miss, it should be Miss Mo!” Yujie thought about it and confirmed it. Miss Mo lived here before they came. She had a cold personality, and in these two years, they hardly had any contact. She only knew that her family name was Mo and she had lived on the mountain for four to five years.

It was said that she was related to a nun from Yuhui Nunnery, which was why she was brought here. But sometimes, she would help the Yuhui Nunnery to do some things. However, she did not intend to become a nun, yet she stayed here and showed no signs of leaving.

“Well, don’t bother about that Miss Mo. Shao Wu, do you really not want to leave yet? You have lived here for so long. Although the scenery is beautiful, you can’t stay here forever, no matter how beautiful it is. You are the Miss of an aristocratic family, the daughter of Duke Xing’s Mansion and the granddaughter of Great Elder Princess. You are even my cousin and I am showing my concern!”

Chu Liuxin said this naturally.

“Prince Xin, I am staying here to meditate and observing my filial duty for my father. Please don’t bother me, Prince Xin!” Shao Wanru said solemnly.

“Ah, Shao Wu, how have I disturbed you? We are considered old friends, right? When you climbed over the wall, I was the one who looked out for you. But now, you are turning me away! This is not how you should treat me, we have a good relationship and we are cousins…”

Chu Liuxin blabbered, looking as if Shao Wanru had failed him, given his concern for her. His grievance gave Shao Wanru a painful headache.

She reached out and pressed her hand on her forehead twice, as a cue for him to shut up.

When Chu Liuxin finally stopped, Shao Wanru asked, “Your Highness, may I ask why you came to Yuhui Nunnery for this trip?”

She had been in Yuhui Nunnery for more than two years and had never seen Chu Liuxin coming here before. However, she knew that he had been here several times recently. She knew that although she had not seen him with her own eyes, the story of Chu Liuxin going up to the mountain was well-known.

She had not shown up in public, but Qu Le and Yujie went out from time to time to gather pieces of information.

“I did not intend to come here, either. But I heard that the scenery in the depths of the Yuhui Nunnery was beautiful, so I came here to have a look. Then, I recalled that you were meditating here, so I decided to pay you a visit.”

Seeing that Shao Wanru no longer chasing him away, he was in a good mood, so he smiled and explained. Then he leaned closer to Shao Wanru and said, “Your Big Sister has been in the limelight recently. Even my Imperial Grandmother praised her for her talent and beauty, and that was said in front of many people.”

“What kind of limelight?” Shao Wanru’s heart jolted. Why was Shao Yanru making a name for herself at such a timing?

“She painted a picture and it was based on the scenery here.” Chu Liuxin jumped up and walked to the big window. He pulled the parted curtain a little wider. Looking at the mountains outside, he nodded repeatedly and said, “Her drawing is perfect, it is stunning out here. It is said that she painted it in her secluded room. She had outlined it at an early stage, but it had not been colored. After she applied the colors to it, it was so beautiful that even my Imperial Grandmother wanted to come here and take a look!”

“The Empress Dowager is coming?” Shao Wanru’s eyes darkened a little.

“Of course, she can’t come here right away. But my Imperial Grandmother is interested and will definitely come. Today or tomorrow, or it could be ten days or half a month, or even in one or two years.” Chu Liuxin laughed as he thought it was very amusing.

“Why did my Big Sister take the painting out?” Shao Wanru asked calmly. Her shimmery eyes blinked twice to hide her thoughts within.

No wonder there had been more and more people recently, it turned out that such a thing happened.

Chu Liuxin reached out and tapped the window, then he answered without looking back, “It is a tribute to my Imperial Grandmother who is said to enjoy the scenery. So your Big Sister dedicated her painting, which she had painted for many years, to Imperial Grandmother. It happened on the day when the Imperial Grandmother issued the Royal Mandate of the aristocratic family, so many Old Madams came.”

Sometimes, the Empress Dowager and the Empress would get in touch with the Madams from the aristocratic families and they would ask them to visit the palace on specific dates. In her previous life, Shao Wanru already knew about this.

However, only Madams with the Royal Mandate could go into the palace. The Empress Dowager would host all the Old Madams of the various families, while the Empress would host the younger Madams.

“My Big Sister is not old enough yet, isn’t she?” asked Shao Wanru, lowering her head. No matter how famous Shao Yanru was, she would never show up on such an occasion.

“The Old Madam of your mansion brought her, Miss Shao did not attend by herself. After that, grandma was so happy that she sent someone to summon her and I happened to be at the scene, so I witnessed the whole event.” Chu Liuxin answered proudly as he had also seen the painting then.

On the one hand, he felt that Shao Yanru was beautiful and so was her painting. On the other hand, he felt that he had to find a chance to take a look, which was why Concubine Ming Queen asked him to go on a blind date and deliberately set the venue in Yuhui Nunnery

Of course, Chu Liuxin thought that he could also try to find Shao Wanru, but he could not find her no matter how hard he tried before.

“Does the Empress Dowager know that I am now living at Big Sister’s place?” Shao Wanru’s long and curly lashes fluttered as she asked lazily.

“Imperial Grandmother probably did not know as I did not know either. It was only after arriving at Yuhui Nunnery and asking the nuns in the nunnery, that I found out that you were using Miss Shao’s secluded room. I was told you paint too. Shao Wu, are you sure? Only someone like your Big Sister can draw so well. You are not imitating her, aren’t you?”

Chu Liuxin turned around and asked curiously.

He had never heard of Shao Wanru being good at painting. How could she suddenly say that she wanted to paint and thus used Shao Yanru’s room to do it?

“Oh, I see. You just said that on purpose so you can occupy this beautiful place! It is a good idea. If I were on the mountain, I would choose a good place too. Even if someone had occupied this good place, I would find a reason to snatch it back!”

Chu Liuxin suddenly seemed to understand. He looked at the beautiful scenery outside the window and then at Shao Wanru, who was leisurely drinking tea on the mat. He then burst out laughing.

Shao Wanru glanced at him out of the corners of her eyes and asked, “Your meaning is that I want to fight with Miss Shao on purpose?”

“I did not say that. I don’t know whether you’re competing or not, but you have at least managed to occupy Miss Shao’s secluded room. However, the scenery here is beautiful and the room is empty anyway, so why not take advantage of it?”

Chu Liuxin laughed and walked back to sit on the mat again. He imitated Shao Wanru and sat cross-legged. When he saw Shao Wanru drinking tea just now, he suddenly felt hot and thirsty. He picked up the teacup at his side and drank more than half a cup at once. It was only then that he felt his thirst had been quenched a little.

He showed the cup to Shao Wanru, gesturing that it was empty.

Shao Wanru reached out to lift the teapot elegantly and filled half of his cup for him. Then, she also added a little for herself, “What did Big Sister say after she entered the palace?”

“Nothing much. She just flattered my Imperial Grandmother and made her happy. My grandmother even awarded her and said that she was a blessed and kind Young Lady who treasures the sisterhood!”

“Sisterhood?” Shao Wanru had an idea and held her teacup even more firmly. She looked up at Chu Liuxin curiously and asked, “How did my sister show that she valued sisterhood?”

“Will you celebrate your birthday soon?” Chu Liuxin asked with a smile.

“Was that information given by my Big Sister?” Shao Wanru guessed in a lazy manner.

“Well, well, your good Big Sister did say that it will be your birthday soon and since it is your last birthday in Yuhui Nunnery, she wants to come and accompany you.”

Chu Liuxin said, “On that day, I will come too. Anyway, I have nothing to do!”

Although Chu Liuxin now had a position, it seemed to be an idling job to him. His father had appointed his elder brother and second elder brother to take up the positions and if he were not assigned a position as well, it would not look good. Therefore, Chu Liuxin had his job, but he did not take it seriously. He still played the way he used to.

“Please continue talking about my Big Sister, Your Highness. I want to know how she intends to celebrate my birthday for me.” A hint of seriousness flashed across Shao Wanru’s eyes as she realized that she had neglected something. She thought that she would only act after she had been forced to leave the mountain. However, she did not expect Shao Yanru to start her move first.

She said that in front of everyone in the Empress Dowager’s palace, which attracted many people’s attention and also made others think that she stole Shao Yanru’s secluded room just to learn from her. As the saying goes, the wild goose’s learning became uglier and uglier and that was describing her current state!

Not only did she learn to walk, but she was also domineering enough to have stolen her Big Sister’s secluded room. She made it impossible for her to come back. This should be another reason, right?

Shao Yanru could not wait any longer to launch her move.

Birthday, her birthday will be in half a month’s time!

If she were to prepare now, she should still be able to make it in time…
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