Fortunate Life of the Rural Beauty
Chapter 510 - 501: Shameless Hobby

Chapter 510: Chapter 501: Shameless Hobby

After sending the girls away, Chu Hanyan happily reported about their playtime to Chen Afu. Chen Afu listened carefully, then praised her with a smile, saying she did a good job as a hostess. He also asked her to change her clothes and prepare to visit Anrong Hall.

Although they had eaten, Chen Afu still needed to go to Anrong Hall to bring the children, especially to share the news that Qiu Yue had brought with the elders.

Later, Chen Afu listened attentively as Miao’er quietly reported that each of the girls, including Zhu Ying’er, Yang Qian, and Jiang Xiuqiu, had different personalities, but they got along well. Zhang Ziqi may be the youngest, but she seemed to be the most cautious. Princess Ying Hui was somewhat competitive and loved to argue, not getting along well with Yang Qian, who came from a business family.

In the end, Miao’er mentioned Zhang Ziqi’s "stepmother theory".

Chen Afu laughed, "People are different, just as flowers differ in their shades of red. Although the young Miss Zhang and Princess Ying Hui are a bit calculating and love to argue, that’s just their character. They’re not bad people and won’t hurt others. Let the girls interact with people of different characters more, so they learn how to deal with different people in the future."

Chen Afu then took the young girls to Anrong Hall. Seeing their excited faces, Chen Afu found it a little amusing. These young kids were nearly ready to marry.

Chen Afu thought he might be an oddity among the transmigrated women, for he actually enjoyed arranging marriages for the two children he’d brought up. He had no choice; the girls were sweet and innocent, and he feared they’d be mistreated if they married others. Shiyi was a desirable catch — a prime husband material. If he didn’t secure him early on, someone else might snatch him up.

After they finished their meal, Mrs. Li’s family left. Seeing the old man, along with the people from the main house and third house, still seated at the table, Mrs. Li rolled her eyes, realizing they had matters to discuss and were waiting for her family to leave. She shot a glance at the indifferent old man and Chu Ling’an, feeling depressed. Not only was her husband useless, her son was worthless too. She felt she’d had a hard life.

After assigning the children to play in the side room, Chen Afu explained the matter to Marquis Chu, his father, and Mrs. Li, the third wife.

"When did the Crown Prince become so agreeable?" Mrs. Li let out an astonished gasp on hearing the news. "He’s actually going to grant a marriage between Shiyi and Hanyan!" She laughed, "But with Hanyan’s kind and timid character, it’s only suitable for her to marry Shiyi."

The old Marquis Chu was not as pleased, however. Seeing his son frowning in silence, he spoke with sympathy, "The Emperor is probably compensating our Chu family in some way, isn’t he? However, as degenerate as that woman might be, you’re still tied to her..."

Marquis Chu released a long sigh, "That woman can no longer harm me now. However, I pity Mrs. Luo. She’s been in a nunnery for so many years, and I don’t know how much longer she must wait. I worry that if we wait too long, even if I can free myself from Rong Zhao, Mrs. Luo won’t want to return to society..."

Their mood became heavier at this topic. Occasionally, Chu Lingqi received letters stating that Liao Chen wasn’t settled in the Chus mansion in Dingzhou, and always wanted to go back to the Nunnery. Chu Lingqi and Mrs. Song persuaded her with kind words to barely keep her there. If the conflict in the south ended, they would be unable to detain her any longer.

After a brief discussion, they all returned to their own courtyards.

These days, many ministers submitted reports accusing Rong Zhao of once again angering the "Bird Fairy" and suggesting she be sent to a temple or demoted to commoner status. Otherwise, the battles in the southern region could end disastrously due to her bad luck.

The Emperor became irate, but complaints kept piling in. He had no choice but to send Rong Zhao to Baoguo Temple to engage in vegetarianism and recitations for another three months. Both the Dowager Empress and the Empress issued imperial decrees criticizing her.

The day before Rong Zhao was to leave, Marquis Chu sent a message to Chen Afu, asking her to visit Princess Mansion the next day to bid farewell to her. As Rong Zhao was still a princess and Chen Afu’s mother-in-law in name, it was appropriate to give her the due respect.

Chen Afu grumbled a bit, but had to go anyway.

The morning after breakfast, Chen Afu went to Princess Rongzhao’s Mansion. When she arrived at the main court, she saw many boxes sitting in the courtyard. Even when going to the temple, Rong Zhao would not deny herself luxuries.

She entered the main hall to find Rong Zhao sitting sternly on the Luohan Bed, dressed in a shining blue satin top embroidered with bamboo leaves long skirt. Her hair was adorned only with a single lotus jade hairpin, a rare sign of simplicity. She looked significantly exhausted, with her air of arrogance nowhere in sight.

Marquis Chu was sitting next to Rong Zhao on the Luohan Bed. Xue Baoyi also returned, heavily pregnant, accompanied by her husband Yang Sanye.

Yang Sanye’s father was the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites, and it was rumored that Yang Sanye would be taking the examination for the title of scholar in the upcoming autumn tun.

Yang Sanye was tall and slender, fair and handsome, but his eyes made people uncomfortable. As soon as Chen Afu entered, he started stealing glances at her.

After paying her respects to Rong Zhao and Marquis Chu, Chen Afu moved to sit at Marquis Chu’s side. Across from her were Xue Baoyi and Yang Sanye, who were seated at Rong Zhao’s side.

From the corner of her eye, Chen Afu noticed Yang Sanye’s lecherous glances, which angered her and made her furrow her brows.

As the senior member and a third-rank gentlewoman, Chen Afu should naturally be greeted with a bow from Xue Baoyi, who was younger and possessed no title. However, Xue Baoyi, riding on the fact she was a princess’s daughter, refused to pay her respects. Chen Afu, who also detested her, ignored her.

After some small talk, Xue Baoyi revealed that she truly didn’t want to part with Rong Zhao and her eyes welled up with tears.

Rong Zhao barely glanced at Chen Afu, instead focusing on instructing Xue Baoyi on her pregnancy, among other things. She also warned Yang Sanye not to neglect her daughter as she would be away at the temple. Regardless of her own circumstances, Xue Baoyi would always be the Emperor’s granddaughter. Yang Sanye quickly nodded in agreement and stopped sneaking glances at Chen Afu.

Afterward, Rong Zhao and Marquis Chu got up to go to the temple. She was going to stay there for a few days.

Chen Afu and others followed them to the front gate of the main court. As soon as they could no longer see their sedan chairs, Chen Afu had just stepped into her own sedan when she saw Xue Baoyi walking towards her, lifting her hand to slap her and cursing, "Shameless bitch, trying to seduce other women’s men as soon as your husband’s not around!"

Enraged, Chen Afu vigorously grabbed Xue Baoyi’s wrist and twisted it, causing her to shriek in pain. If Xue Baoyi weren’t pregnant, Chen Afu would have thrown her to the ground.

"I don’t have such unscrupulous hobbies as you, and I certainly don’t meddle with other people’s husbands. I do not like your despicable husband, even if he were to serve as my sedan carrier!" With the refutation, she twisted Xue Baoyi’s arm a little harder. "If you dare to continue saying indecent things next time, wait and see how I punish you!"

With that, she pushed Xue Baoyi into Yang Sanye’s arms.F