Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 499 - 490: Let Go

Chapter 499: Chapter 490: Let Go

As soon as mid-May arrived, the weather continued to be oppressively hot. Without rain for many days, many elders and children with poor health fell ill, and quite a few even died. Yet, Rong Zhao, severely ill though she was, did not die, but instead recovered.

Chen Afu thought to himself, this was what people from his past life called a calamity that lasted a thousand years.

Now, Marquis Chu didn’t spend much time at the Marquis’ Mansion. Even when he returned, he wouldn’t stay the night, preferring to reside earnestly in the Princess Mansion. According to the Marquis, the Emperor had already retracted his previous promise. When the Emperor had originally arranged for Marquis Chu to be Rong Zhao’s prince consort, he said that as soon as the Ninth Prince took power, Rong Zhao would be forced to leave due to her crimes of persecuting important court officials.

But now, not only did the Emperor refuse to let Rong Zhao leave, he even pleaded on her behalf.

Marquis Chu deduced that despite the Emperor still treating him as a prince consort on the surface, he actually did not want Marquis Chu to wield any power.

Ever since the Crown Prince was injured, Marquis Chu had been managing almost all his affairs behind the scenes. This included arranging medical treatment, personal protection, and cultivating various influences. As such, the Crown Prince’s affection for Marquis Chu was beyond that of a ruler and his servant. He felt grateful, respected, and even dependent on Marquis Chu.

At that time, although Marquis Chu was a prince consort, he technically had no real power. But with the support and approval of the Emperor, he secretly managed and developed a lot of influence. In addition to the military power Mr. Chu had and the rapidly growing Chu Lingxuan.

The Emperor, he grew wary.

During this period, Marquis Chu had already relinquished the hidden forces under his control. He announced that due to his poor health and distaste for life in the official circle, even when the Crown Prince took over in the future, he would no longer hold any official positions. Thus, the title he held would eventually be passed on to Chu Lingxuan once he returned from battle. Then, the Chu family would depend on Mr. Chu and Chu Lingxuan.

Chen Afu thought Marquis Chu was a true man. When he should not hold on anymore, he swiftly let go without hesitation. How many men could afford to let go of power so freely?

Although Marquis Chu chose to retire at a relatively young age, at least this eased the Emperor’s apprehension and preserved the Chu family.

Considering these, Chen Afu felt sorry for Marquis Chu. Despite being a man of great ability and charisma, his loyalty to the Emperor had caused his career, love, and family to be unsmooth. In the end, the Emperor still didn’t trust him.

When someone has held the profession of Emperor for a long time, it will distort their psychology. The Crown Prince now may be commendable, but who knows if he will change after being an emperor for too long? The answer was, of course, affirmative.

However, there was also some good news that cheered Chen Afu up. Chen Alu had passed the examination and earned the title of a first-class scholar. He managed to get admitted to the Imperial College without seeking help from the Chus.

Chen Yulan was also a first-class scholar, but Chen Shiying didn’t let him enter the Imperial College, preferring to personally teach him at home with private tutors.

Chen Afu had already asked Luo Fang to buy a three-story house in Capital City for Chen Ming and Mrs. Wang, which had been recently refurbished. Now they could come to Capital City and stay for a while when they were free, to see their daughter and son, as well as their grandchildren. However, since it was a busy farming season, they were currently preoccupied in the countryside.

In early June, news came from the south about the first battle at the end of May, where casualties and injuries occurred in equal measure. The Wangs had been operating in Southern Province for several decades, and due to the numerous forests, it was extremely challenging to attack.

Besides, the Second Prince and the Wangs claimed that they were rising up under the banner of "Clearing the Emperor’s Side". They stated that the emperor had been severely ill and was coerced by the Ninth Prince and the treacherous Chu family to appoint the Ninth Prince, who was neither the eldest nor the legitimate son, as the Crown Prince. They argued that their actions were a just cause.

Chen Afu learned about the news of war in the south the next day, as Jin Yanzi had been there for a day.

The Emperor found out about it ten days later. Tremendously angered, he dragged his sick body to court and demoted Queen Wang to commoner status, even granting her the death penalty by silk. In addition, Consort Shan was crowned queen. Once again, he conscripted two hundred thousand soldiers to quell the rebellion in the south.

Now the empress was Mrs. Shan. The Ninth Prince was given birth by the central palace and was legitimate. Therefore, the Second Prince and the Wangs were undoubtedly rebellious.

On the tenth of June, a very auspicious day, the coronation ceremony for the empress was held. Since it was a period of crisis and the Emperor was gravely ill, the coronation was not very festive. Only noble ladies above the third rank in Capital City were ordered to kowtow to the Empress and partake in a palace banquet.

Mrs. Chu and Chen Afu both attended. They left early in the morning, entered the palace in the morning, stood in the scorching sun to queue up and kowtow to the empress, then waited to eat at the palace banquet. By the time they returned home, it was already 3 p.m.

Chen Afu was both hot and tired, utterly exhausted. She bitterly complained in her mind about the suffering inflicted by mass events held in summer in ancient times. The stifling heat outside the room combined with no air conditioning inside, filled the room with a nauseating blend of sweat and various perfumed powders. Several old women fainted and were specially permitted by the empress to rest in the side hall.

The moment Chen Afu stepped foot in the entrance of the Bamboo Pavilion, she heard the sounds of laughter, chatter, and dogs barking. She could also discern the voices of Marquis Chu and Mr. Chu.

Chen Afu chuckled to herself about the father and son duo. Each now found their greatest joy in doting on their grandchildren.

As she entered the garden, she saw Mr. Chu at play with his two grandsons and Animal House under the tree, while Marquis Chu was holding little Yu’er with great interest. Little Yu’er laughed so loudly that Chen Afu could hear her even from the door.

Chen Afu went over and bowed to Mr. Chu and Marquis Chu. Then she went inside to freshen up. Seeing her not pick her up, little Yu’er immediately started crying.

Marquis Chu quickly comforted her, "My sweet granddaughter, don’t cry. If your mother doesn’t dote on you, your grandfather does, your grandfather dotes on you very much."

Upon hearing Marquis Chu’s voice from behind, Chen Afu couldn’t help but twitch a smile. For the sake of winning the children’s affection, Marquis Chu would say and do anything.

Marquis Chu would return to his mansion after every five or six days. Apart from having secret talks with Mr. Chu, he would often bring his three grandchildren along. He tried every trick in the book to please these children, even humbling himself by serving as a horse.

After Chen Afu had bathed and felt refreshed, she first took Yu’er into her room to feed her some milk, then bent down to kiss the two little guys who had latched onto her legs. Turning to Marquis Chu, she smiled, "I’ll go to the kitchen to prepare some snacks that grandfather and father-in-law would like. Then I’ll invite the third aunt and her son over, and we can have a casual dinner at Bamboo Pavilion this evening."

Both Mr. Chu and Marquis Chu voiced their approval. Every time Marquis Chu returned, he would usually have a meal at Bamboo Pavilion.

After Chen Afu went to the back yard, she prepared a menu and instructed Mrs. Hua and her staff to prepare the dishes while she sat under the trees in the backyard, taking cool breaks and sipping tea. She was not willing to go to the front yard for the children were too lively and would pester her whenever they saw her idle. As long as Marquis Chu came to compete for the children, Chen Afu would always concede willingly. In her view, now that Marquis Chu had neither a career nor a love life, the grandchildren could at least comfort him.

In the evening, the Third Lady led Chu Lingzhi to Bamboo Pavilion. Chu Lingwei was currently studying at the Imperial College and only returned home once a week.

Together, they enjoyed a lively dinner.