Chapter 476 - Lost in the Unchangeable Fate (1/2)

The grand consort selection banquet soon ended.

It turned out that nobody was eligible. Many ladies went there hopefully but left disappointedly. It was said that some of them even cried so badly that they couldn’t walk out their mansion.

Hearing that no lady was selected, Empress Dowager and the Queen made a decision that they would hold the selection again in the next few years, which meant that no lady of the right age from those aristocratic families was chosen this time.

The result of not being selected meant that these ladies would miss the chance of marrying princes. Even though one or two ladies might be able to stay here, the majority had lost the final chance and had to rearrange their marriages. Several ladies who were from those grand and high-ranking families had not accepted any engagement before this banquet was held just because they attempted to marry these princes.

Since most ladies had to marry other men, there had emerged an engaged boom after the consort selection. As these ladies knew they had lost the chance, they couldn’t wait any more. As a result, many of them had decided to marry others, while those who were unwilling to marry were forced to get married by their family. Those who had not been engaged were still very young.

Some still decided to wait around as the imperial examination in the spring was around the corner. Moreover, it was popular for those wealthy and influential families all over the country went out to choose those who passed the exam as their sons-in-law when the result was released. Thus, these mansions thought they still had time.

The examination this time had become many mansions’ focus.

Soon, the examination which had been expected by many people started and then came the result. Those who passed the exam were in great excitement while those who failed were downhearted and were bemoaning their fate.

The best and the third scholars were acquaintances.

The result was exactly the same as Shao Wanru’s memory that Qi Tianyu ranked third. She was informed this message when she was parading the street on a horse that day, which made her anxious and she looked spiritless.

Walking into the yard and heading to Shao Yanru’s silence room with Yujie, she suddenly hesitated when her hand just touched the door.

“Come in.” A refined voice sounded inside.

Pressing her hand silently on the door and pushing it after a pause, she beckoned to Yujie not to follow her into the room.

When Yujie knew who was in the silence room, she felt reassured. Then, finding Xiao Xuanzi appeared at the corner, she walked to him consciously and stood outside the room with him together.

Chu Liuchen was sitting on a mat close to the window lazily, leaning against a little table on the mat. He said without looking back, “Come here.”

On the table was a pot and two steaming cups of tea. A haze of smoke coming from the cups made his handsome face look much more mature. The person who was in front of her seemed a little bit different!

They had not seen each other for a long time. Although Mingqiu Nun was in charge of Chu Liuchen’s body conditioning, she had to always go to Prince Chen’s Mansion. There was a saying that Prince Chen’s health was not good and he seldom left his mansion now while he had used to visiting Empress Dowager in the imperial palace in the past.

However, now Empress Dowager would go through the side entrance of the imperial palace to visit him in Prince Chen’s Mansion when she missed him so much.

There were even rumors telling that this Prince Chen’s time was running out as he was badly ill and was unable to get up, which meant that he would die soon.

However, the rumored Prince Chen, who should be gravely ill and unable to get up, was leaning against a table near the mat in a leisurely manner which looked perfectly well.

Checking his countenance, Shao Wanru found he was good even though he still looked a bit sick and his lips were pale, making him look like the Adonis who looked elegant and refined in the ink wash painting.

But he looked gloomy, seeming that somebody offended him.

Walking to the other side of the table near the mat, Shao Wanru took a seat. She picked up the cup and sipped gently, raising her eyes and saying, “Shouldn’t you be in recovery in your mansion?”

No matter who was the one he wanted to puzzle, he should be inconvenient to move since he had done so. However, if some people saw this, some plans would be made snakingly.

Looking at Shao Wanru, Chu Liuchen answered gently with a smile and his bright eyes, “My health condition today changes abruptly so I asked people to bring me here to see Mingqiu Nun.”

Shao Wanru was in a black robe which she had worn since she arrived at Yuhui Nunnery. Her unfitted dress, her face without any makeup, her hair without ornament and her look, which seemed that she felt at ease as if she were at home, made her fair face tenderer as curd while her shimmery eyes were as clear as a crystal-like pool.

There was another charm beyond this simple but elegant appearance while a seductive appearance and attractive manner were discovered in her shining eyes.

He had not seen her for just a few months but Shao Wanru did surprise him.

“Why are you here then?” Shao Wanru asked impatiently as she now was depressed when knowing Qi Tianyu ranked third in the exam. She picked up the cup and played it for a moment with a bitter look.

Couldn’t she change her fate? Qi Tianyu ranked third, which was exactly the same as the result in her last life. Was she doomed to face the tragedy in her last life? Would the result always be the same however she tried?