Chapter 43 Cause and Effect

  Thank you for the rewards from Rolling and Angel Nono, thank you, Xiaozui asks for collection, thanks for your support.

  Hearing Li Ziqing return to the mansion, Shu Yao curved her smiling eyes and said, "E Niang, you guessed wrong, Eldest Cousin is back."

  Gua Lijia was stunned, Shu Yao pushed her and asked: "Mother."

  "Yao'er, from now on, stay away from your cousin, don't get dragged into her mess." Gua Erjia's expression was serious. She didn't directly order Shu Yao what to do or not to do. Gua Erjia knew that her daughter hated trouble and would straightforwardly tell her the important things, then explain the reasons, so as not to waste time. But for small matters, Gua Erjia would slowly guide Shu Yao to make the right judgments and choices.

  Guaerjia thought that Li Ziqing being sent back to the Duke's mansion by the Empress Dowager was a big deal, so she secretly calculated and then directly let Shu Yao stay away from Li Ziqing. Guaerjia's move was more in line with Shu Yao's appetite, as there were too many variables in front of Li Ziqing, seriously affecting Shu Yao's comfortable life. In the Qing Dynasty, where spiritual life was severely impoverished, apart from sleeping and enjoying fine clothes and food, Shu Yao had no other entertainment activities. She hid aside and watched Li Ziqing approach the Fourth Prince, using her mysterious space to gain fame and fortune, which was more exciting than a TV drama.

  Shu Yao liked watching plays, but didn't like being an actor. Shu Yao nodded her little head repeatedly, "Mother, I won't go up there."

  Guarjia asked her daughter, "Have you ever thought about why Li Xiangqin returned to the Duke's Mansion at this time? The Empress Dowager had just woken up for less than two days. According to reason, Li Xiangqin should be in Cining Palace, but now she has returned to the Duke's Mansion. Can you figure out the reason?"

  Shu Yao furrowed her unpainted eyebrows and shook her head in distress: "Could it be that my sister got lost in the palace?"

  Guar Jia raised her arm, giving Shu Yao a choice to cultivate her husband as soon as possible. Now that she can take care of herself, in the future it will depend on Shu Yao's husband. Guar Jia also thought of another problem: the son-in-law cannot be too incompetent and cannot always watch Shu Yao. What is lacking beside her daughter is a wise and far-sighted nanny. Shu Yao pulled at Guar Jia's sleeve and said happily, "Mother, I've thought of it."

  "Say it." Guajia was hopeless, and sure enough, Shu Yao smiled slyly and said: "Elder sister must have offended the Empress Dowager to be sent back ahead of time."

  Guarjia's eyes lit up, and her daughter wasn't stupid either. She asked: "Yao'er, did you guess that Li Ziqing offended the Empress Dowager?"

  "Uh-huh, uh-huh." Shu Yao smiled even sweeter. "Eldest Sister is not someone who serves others, even if she has the heart to do so, she can't compare to the imperial concubines and palace maids by the side of the Empress Dowager."

  Guar Jia sighed, and indeed couldn't hold too much hope for Shu Yao. One nanny might not be enough; it would be better to have two at once. Guar Jia chose a husband for her daughter who was far away from the imperial family's princes, with a noble family background and few brothers being the priority. It would be best if she didn't need to set rules for her mother-in-law. However, Guar Jia wasn't worried that Shu Yao would be bullied by her mother-in-law, but rather that her mother-in-law would be driven to death by Shu Yao. This girl had inherited Zhiyuan's temperament and sometimes spoke words that pierced people's hearts, yet she had a serious expression, making it impossible to blame her.

  "Your cousin won't be serving anyone," said Guwalgiya calmly to Shu Yao. "Since the Empress Dowager has many palace maids serving her, and your cousin is a contributor of ginseng, would the Empress Dowager let her serve?"

  Shu Yao suddenly remembered Li Zhiqing's strong possessiveness and resentment towards the Fourth Prince, and slapped her forehead, saying: "Mother, I've got it! Eldest Sister must be clinging to the First Prince."

  "Although not entirely correct, it's not far off either." Guajia smiled. Her daughter was a bit confused, but she wasn't stupid; she just didn't want to think about it that way. As long as she chose a good husband in the future, Shu Yao could live without worries or cares. Shu Yao seemed simple-minded, but Guajia knew that she was actually heartless and emotionless, always keeping people at arm's length except for those close to her; seeming near yet actually far away.

  Gual Jia said that it's hard to say whether Shu Yao's attitude is good or bad, but at least she thinks before acting and doesn't rush into things without considering the consequences. Gual Jia sometimes wonders if Shu Yao's future husband will be able to break through her defenses and get close to her. Shu Yao being aloof might actually be a good thing, as it makes her less likely to get hurt by emotions.

  Gua Lijia knew that her daughter couldn't become like her. Gua Lijia had thought of teaching her methods to her daughter, but Shu Yao's personality was different and she couldn't learn them. Gua Lijia couldn't guarantee that Shu Yao's future husband would only have her as his wife, just like how Zhiyuan wasn't the only one when they first got married - didn't he still have a mistress given by his mother? However, she was later driven away by Gua Lijia. After several years of being together, Zhiyuan realized that his wife Gua Lijia was very good and no longer had thoughts of taking a concubine. All of this was something that Gua Lijia had achieved step by step, but her daughter Shu Yao couldn't learn.

  "The current emperor ordered all the princes to go to Cining Palace to pay their respects and nurse the illness. Your cousin is considered a lifesaver of the Empress Dowager, so she has a lot of face in front of the Empress Dowager. The princes are afraid that they will treat your cousin as a sweet pastry."

  "You mean they all care about my cousin?" Shu Yao opened her mouth wide, "My cousin doesn't know how to choose?"

  "Are you kidding? You should remember that the princes are not people who judge by appearance, what do women count as in their eyes? Li Ziqing is good-looking, but she won't make all the princes infatuated with her. What they value is the thousand-year-old spiritual root in Li Ziqing's hands, what they value is Li Ziqing's lifesaving favor to the Empress Dowager."

  "Oh." Shu Yao nodded, "Apart from the prince, there are also concubines and palace maids attending to her illness. I suppose they must have tried to win over my cousin as well."

  Clever.

  "The Empress Dowager must have found out, so she sent my cousin back to the manor. After my cousin returned to the manor, Madam will be relieved, the master is back, and the noble guest can ask my cousin for the Millennium Spirit Root."

  Shu Yao wants to see just how many ginseng Li Ziqing can give away, and who she gives them to. Even if her space is amazing, it's not possible for ginseng to be mass-produced, right? And the more she gives away, the more suspicious people will become. That medicine merchant that Li Ziqing saved won't be able to serve as a shield for much longer. Let's see what you do now.

  Gua Lijia said: "I guess your sister is not a fool, she won't be indecisive, otherwise she wouldn't have been sent to the palace, and would have been given a bowl of poisonous wine instead. How could the prince be infatuated with two women at the same time? The emperor and the prince's mother would not allow the existence of a femme fatale, I just don't know which prince your sister has set her sights on."

  Shu Yao almost blurted out that Guwalgiya was the fourth prince Yinzhen, but she couldn't explain how she knew. There were many things that even a clever mother like hers couldn't say, and many good things that couldn't be brought up. Shu Yao's space had already grown tomatoes, which she thought was great progress compared to when she first grew radishes. Of course, she never compared her space to Li Qinger's ability to grow ginseng. "Your second aunt has taken a liking to the crown prince, and I think Li Qinger will have a chance with him."

  "Why?"

  Guarjia touched Shu Yao's cheek, "The emperor's most beloved grandson is the crown prince."

  Shu Yao curved her eyes, could it be that Li Zhiqing was going to perform a deep and abiding love tragedy, marrying someone she didn't love? This play was so melodramatic, yet also quite thrilling. Would Li Zhiqing be like Second Aunt, only wanting love and not wealth? Giving up the crown prince, stubbornly choosing the fourth prince... In her past life, she hadn't watched many melodramatic TV dramas, but this life had made up for it. Shu Yao decided to munch on melon seeds and watch the show, when could she plant sunflowers in space?