Real Empress from a Noble Family

Chapter 70 My Brother Told Me

The next morning, Su He tried everything to wake Qiu Yelan up. She finally got up for dressing and washing up. Even so, she was still late when she arrived at the General’s Mansion. Ruan Qingyan had been to the Palace already.

“You are still here?” asked Qiu Yelan. Knowing that Ruan Qingyan had been to the Palace, she went to visit General Ruan. When she walked into the inner chamber, she saw Deng Yi wiping saliva for General Ruan! Xishi and others were standing far away from him, lowering their heads and keeping silence. Only two servants stood near him, acting as assistants.

Seeing the shocked Qiu Yelan, Deng Yi said coldly, “Why can’t I be here?”

“You...” paused Qiu Yelan, looking at him skeptically. “Your parents allowed you to live here? Even if your parents allowed you to do so, your brother Gu Yan would not love you anymore?”

Deng Yi said angrily, “It’s none of your business.”

“It’s my business.” said Qiu Yelan, going to her point. “As you see, my grandfather is ill. Only my brother is around serving him. He, of course, has no time for you. You have you own place to live. Why are you still here? You idiot.”

“I am here looking after your grandfather! You have already seen it.” said Deng Yi, furiously.

Qiu Yelan turned to be angry. She looked around, saying to him, “You come with me. I want to talk with you now.”

Deng Yi handed the towel to a servant standing near him. He readjusted his clothes, walking outside along with her. When they arrived at the corridor, Deng Yi asked the followers to leave them alone. Qiu Yelan said to him seriously, “Do you change your mind? You will marry nobody but me?”

Seeing Deng Yi looking at her scornfully, she laughed grimly, saying, “If not, why are you looking after my grandpa so solicitously?!”

“You are such a...” paused Deng Yi. His face turned to be red due to anger. He constrained himself because he thought that he was from an urbane family. “Looking at General Ruan reminds me of my grandpa! You really think that you are so beautiful that every men will fall in love with you?”

His words made Qiu Yelan more nervous instead of relieved. She said, “Let me tell you something. My brother won’t love you! You should know that!”

Her words infuriated Deng Yi. He jumped at her and kicked her. He said in a trembling voice, “What kind of person do you think I am? Ah? What a person!!!”

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“Oh, you have no crush on my brother and me, haven’t you?” questioned Qiu Yelan, trying to avoid being kicked. “That’s good.” said she with a relief.

Deng Yi attempted to kick her for several times but failed. He knew he could not defeat her. So, he said angrily, “You are a kid. I have no idea where you got so many dirty ideas!”

“One should always guard against the harm!” said Qiu Yelan calmly. “As you have no crush on me and my brother, I still think that you should not stay here anymore!”

Seeing Deng Yi turning to be angrier, she said with a smile, “You are the grandson of Empress Dowager Gu’s. Yet, my brother is standing on the side of Empress Jiang. You think about it. Your long-term stay over here, of course, will influence my brother’s future. He is my only dependence. How should I sit on my hands, watching you hurt him?”

“...” Deng Yi paused, saying nothing. For a while, he said, “Then, what about learning Kung Fu?”

“I used to live in the General’s Mansion for two or three days at most. I even was able to get it in such a short time.” said Qiu Yelan proudly. “You have been a Juren since years ago. Are you sillier than me?”

Deng Yi did not realize what she said was malicious. He was confident in his talent. “Let me think about it...” said he.

In a sudden, both of them heard somebody coughing nearby. They looked around, searching for the person. It was Qiuran walking toward them. She said, “Mrs. Gu is here. She said that young master Deng had not been back for a long time, She missed you. So, she came here and see what’s going on.”

Watching Deng Yi walking away, Qiu Yelan went back to the inner chamber, serving General Ruan. Within minutes, Qiuran ran into and said, “Mrs. Gu heard that Commandery Princess is also here. She invited Your Grace to her room.”

Qiu Yelan was stunned, “What did she want?”

“To meet a parent? ” said Su He, quickly. All of them gazed at her and said in chorus, “You, shut up!”

“I am not ugly! I am pretty, very pretty” screamed Qiu Yelan.

After scoffing Su He, she turned to be serious, “How did Mrs. Gu know I am here? Did Deng Yi tell her?”

“I just overheard that Mrs. Gu said we don’t have womenfolk nearby, so she asked Deng Yi out for talk.” said Qiuran, awkwardly. “I did not hear their talk clearly but I saw that Deng Yi was unwilling to proceed their talk. He might not mention you are here? It probably a doorman slipped it out before Deng Yi went there.”

“It might not be like that? I am a girl. How can I be invited to go there and talk with her? Did this doorman want to be punished?” said Qiu Yelan.

“So, will Your Grace go or not?” asked Qiuran, biting her lip.

“... I’ll go.” said Qiu Yelan. He stood up and said, “After all, she is a senior and she’s been here already — I shouldn’t keep her waiting too long. And, from my deep heart, I hope she will say no to my marriage with her son!”

Mrs. Gu did not plan to enter the General’s Mansion in the first place. She tried everything shunning publicity, so she waited for her at the side door.

Walking out the gate, Qiu Yelan saw a beautiful woman surrounded by four or five maids standing beside a carriage.

Deng Yi looked just like the woman. She must be Mrs. Gu, the niece of Empress Dowager Gu’s and Duke of Guangyang’s bastard sister. Deng Yi was handsome. So, it was safe to say that his mother must be pretty.

“You are Yelan?” asked Mrs. Gu with a smile, looking at Qiu Yelan walking closer.

“Nice to meet you, Mrs. Gu,” said Qiu Yelan politely, showing her respect to a senior.

Seeing Qiu Yelan’s pretentious action, Deng Yi who was standing behind his mother had a fake smile, grumbling, “What a fox!”

“You shut up!” said Mrs. Gu in a low voice, frowning. And then she turned to Qiu Yelan and said with a light smile, “You are so pretty. Look at you. You like a flower in full bloom before me shadowing all others.”

Hearing her compliment, Qiu Yelan said, “Thank you. You look gorgeous too.”

“I was gorgeous, but not now,” said Mrs. Gu with a smile.

A maid who was standing beside Mrs. Gu added, “Commandery Princess Ningyi is pretty. Our lord is beautiful. You two, from my point, are not like mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, more like mother and daughter.”

“I don’t think that daughter is more intimate than a daughter-in-law. As we know, the daughter will get married and then leave me.” said Mrs. Gu, looking at the future daughter-in-law kindly. “A daughter-in-law will live with me for good!”

Her words shocked Qiu Yelan. Mrs. Gu came here not only for seeing her but also mentioning from time to time that Qiu Yelan was her daughter-in-law... What was that supposed to mean? She peeked at Deng Yi. He was also in a mess.

“Thanks for your compliments.” said Qiu Yelan with a little cold voice. Her attitude made the joyful situation embarrassed.

Realizing Qiu Yelan did not want to be intimate with her, Mrs. Gu frowned. She paused for a while and said, “Well, you know what. There are no strangers up here. You, Deng Yi and I met each other in private. No need to be acting like a guest. Anyway, you will be my daughter-in-law as soon as your mourning period is over.”

“I am wondering why you invited me over here? Do you have something important informing me?” asked Qiu Yelan coldly.

After saying so, she suddenly remembered the heads-up Jiang Yashuang had said to her. She added immediately, “As we know, my brother is taking the imperial exam today. I should defer to my brother always. So, I cannot give a clear answer to your question now. I must discuss with my brother.”

“...” Mrs. Gu said nothing and then grumbled, “You discuss with him everything concerned you?”

Qiu Yelan lowered her head, looking like a tame lamb. She pretended to be a not independent-minded girl. “You are right. My brother told me I am too young to decide. I must discuss with him for everything to shun mistakes! My brother also said... My brother once told me... My brother said... My brother also said... My brother...”

Mrs. Gu finally put up with her garrulous “My brother said”. She turned angry, “You defer to your brother all the time, uh? He is not your biological brother. He even has a different family name from you. You have uncles, other brothers and aunts. Why do you a girl always be around him? If this is spread to some ulterior persons, you will be gossiped!”

“But my brother said...” Qiu Yelan wanted to proceed. Mrs. Gu. interrupted her immediately — Now Mrs. Gu became angry, “Enough! You are my daughter-in-law. Even if you cannot get help from Qiu Family, you should consult with my son, Deng Yi instead of your brother!”

Mrs. Gu took a deep breath and continued, “Now I know you are in your mourning period. How about this? I sent two maids who know the rules very well for you. You should stay in the Prince’s Mansion rather than in the General’s Mansion! If General Ruan doesn’t ask you to come back, you should not go back to visit him! Young General Ruan is still single. But you always come here playing with him. It is ridiculous. It will result in troubles for Deng Yi, you and Young General Ruan. Are we clear?”

Listening to her relentless words, Chunran and Su He were a little angry. They had to keep silent because Mrs. Gu was Qiu Yelan’s future mother-in-law.

Qiu Yelan looked at Mrs. Gu, unknowing what she must do next. “But my grandpa has been ill for a while. If I don’t come and visit him often, I don’t think it is a good manner.”

“He has been taken care of by Young General Ruan,” said Mrs. Gu.

“But my brother is a step-grandson. I am his only immediate relative in the world. My care to him is different from his.” said Qiu Yelan gloomily, biting her lip. “That is why I am here often even my brother is around all the time.”

“...” Mrs. Gu constrained her temper, adding that “If you insist on that, I will agree to what you do — but tomorrow, I will send the maids to you. They will teach you how to behave before a senior...”

“I... I have had a female teacher already...” slipped out Qiu Yelan. “I am worried that what your maids will teach is different from my teacher’s, who should I follow then?”

“A female teacher! Who is she?” asked Mrs. Gu angrily.

” Miss He recommended Miss Shao to me. She used to teach Chunfu princess.” said Qiu Yelan. “We have talked about it and I agreed.”

Mrs. Gu became indignant, she said, “Miss He and Chunfu princess are on the side of Jiang Family! But you are my daughter-in-law! How dare you to accept a teacher recommended by them rather than the ones I give you!”

Qiu Yelan was a little scared. She lowered her head saying nothing.

Mrs. Gu questioned her again. she began to grumble, “Miss He said Miss Shao is a gentle teacher. I... I heard that Miss Shao was born in Qiao Chengbo Family. I dare not to reject... And the ones you will send... I... dare not reject either. I am afraid that Miss He may be angry about the whole thing... I...”

“You are such a loser!” said Mrs. Gu disdainfully. She was tired to behave like a kind-hearted mother-in-law, so she shook her hand and walked to her carriage. Sitting down in her carriage, she suddenly remembered that her son was still standing over there. She said seriously, “Why are you still standing here? Go and pack your stuff! You want to live here forever or not?”

Deng Yi nodded like a coward. Mrs. Gu sighed, “What have I given birth to?”