eurekapd Chapter 562 Mistaken Identity, Testing the Waters!
Chapter 562 Mistaken Identity, Testing the Waters!
Looking at her younger brother's pure and passionate expression, Chu Ruohan felt as if a wad of cotton was stuck in her throat, and she couldn't utter a single word.
The kind-hearted, gentle, and elegant woman described by her younger brother.
Is the Zhao Qingzhi she saw at the Begonia Banquet, the one with daggers in her eyes and scheming in every word, really the same person?
She suppressed the strange feeling in her heart, grabbed the edge of the table, and sat back down.
"Chenyu, sit down."
Her voice calmed down, carrying an unquestionable scrutiny.
"Tell me again, in detail, about the day you saw her."
"Don't overlook any detail."
Seeing her solemn expression, Chu Chenyu, though puzzled, sat down as instructed and tried to recall.
"It was nearly dusk that day, and the streets were crowded. Her carriage was very ordinary, just a regular blue cloth carriage without any insignia."
"The curtain of the carriage was lifted by the wind, and I only caught a glimpse of her profile. What she was wearing on her head... seemed to be a very simple wooden hairpin, not something made of gold or jade."
Chu Ruohan's brows furrowed even more.
At the Begonia Banquet, Zhao Qingzhi was adorned with a head full of jewels, dazzling and extravagant, as if she wanted to wear the entire dignity of the Minister's mansion on her head.
A wooden hairpin?
This was completely different from the Zhao Qingzhi she had seen.
"Did you hear clearly how her maid addressed her?" Chu Ruohan pressed, this was the key question.
Chu Chenyu thought for a moment, then hesitated before speaking: "When the maid helped her into the carriage, she seemed to call out... 'Second Miss'."
Second girl?
Chu Ruohan suddenly raised her head, feeling as if she had been struck a heavy blow to the heart.
Zhao Qingzhi is the eldest daughter of Vice Minister Zhao, a fact known to everyone in the capital.
So where did this "Second Sister" come from?
"What's her maiden name? What's the maiden name you found out about?" she asked eagerly.
"I secretly had people inquire, and they all said that the eldest daughter of Vice Minister Zhao is named Qingzhi. But I didn't hear it very clearly that day, and the maid's voice was so soft. I thought I heard... Qinghan?"
Qinghan.
Zhao Qinghan.
These two words were like a ray of light, instantly piercing through all the fog in Chu Ruohan's heart.
She understood it all.
She had a preconceived notion and naturally assumed that the "Zhao family girl" her brother mentioned was the Zhao Qingzhi who shone brightly at the banquet.
But the person he truly loved was someone else!
Chu Ruohan immediately summoned her trusted aide and whispered a few instructions.
The message was delivered in less than half an hour.
The Zhao family does indeed have two legitimate daughters.
The eldest daughter, Zhao Qingzhi, was raised by the lady's side from a young age. She was skilled in poetry and painting, and adept at socializing, making her quite famous among the noble ladies of the capital.
The second daughter, Zhao Qinghan, was quite the opposite.
It is said that the second daughter was frail from childhood and was sent to a manor in the suburbs of Beijing, where she was raised by her grandmother who had retired to her hometown. She rarely appeared in public.
Most people in the capital only know about the eldest daughter and are unaware of the second daughter.
According to rumors, this second daughter was quiet and reserved, disliked extravagance, and was quite different from her elder sister Zhao Qingzhi.
Upon hearing the report, Chu Ruohan felt as if a huge weight had been lifted from her heart, and she breathed a long sigh of relief.
It turns out she made a mistake.
What a huge blunder!
But then she thought again that it wasn't right.
Rumors may not be credible; she must see Zhao Qinghan in person before she can advise her brother on his marriage.
Three days later, Chu Ruohan found an excuse to worship Buddha, and took Qingchen and Xuan Ge'er in a carriage to Puji Temple, the most popular temple in the suburbs of Beijing.
She had already secretly found out that the matriarch of the Zhao family was a Buddhist and would be bringing her second daughter, Zhao Qinghan, to the temple today to offer incense and fulfill her vows.
The warm winter sun shines on the red walls and green tiles of the temple, making it appear exceptionally peaceful and serene.
Chu Ruohan did not rush to meet anyone, but instead took the children for a walk by the plum grove in the backyard.
From afar, she saw an elderly woman with gray hair being helped by a slender young girl as she slowly walked towards her.
The girl wore a simple light purple dress, her black hair was tied up with a simple jade hairpin, and her face was without makeup, yet she possessed a refined and elegant temperament.
This must be Zhao Qinghan.
Chu Ruohan had made up her mind. She subtly gave Qingchen, who was chasing pigeons beside her, a meaningful look.
At his mother's signal, Qingchen was seized by a playful impulse and, like a little cannonball, laughed and frolicked as he "accidentally" rushed toward the grandmother and grandson.
"oops!"
A soft cry.
Qingchen bumped headfirst into the girl, and the stack of scriptures she was holding instantly scattered all over the ground.
Chu Ruohan's heart leaped into her throat, her gaze fixed intently on the girl's reaction.
Zhao Qinghan swayed slightly, but showed no panic or anger whatsoever.
The first thing she did was turn around immediately, gently pat her frightened grandmother's hand, and softly comfort her, "Grandma, don't be afraid, it's alright."
Chu Ruohan nodded secretly at that calm and composed demeanor.
After comforting her grandmother, she squatted down and slowly picked up the scattered scriptures one by one.
Her movements were very light, as if the papers were some kind of treasure. After picking them up, she carefully brushed off the dust with her sleeve.
Throughout the entire process, he remained calm and showed no sign of impatience.
"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!" At Chu Ruohan's prompting, Qingchen ran forward and apologized in a childish voice.
Zhao Qinghan looked up and met Qingchen's apologetic face. Instead of blaming him, she smiled gently.
"It's alright, little sister runs so fast, just like a cute little swallow."
Her voice was like a clear mountain spring, pure and melodious.
She even took out a piece of plum blossom cake wrapped in a handkerchief from her sleeve and handed it to Qingchen.
"Here, have some, it's very sweet."
Chu Ruohan stood aside, taking in everything.
Zhao Qinghan's speech and behavior were worlds apart from her shrewd and calculating older sister.
That tranquility and kindness are ingrained in one's bones, and are by no means a pretense.
Grandma Zhao looked at her granddaughter with eyes full of love and satisfaction, clearly very pleased with her upbringing.
With such a knowledgeable and reasonable grandmother to guide her, how bad could the granddaughter's character be?
Chu Ruohan's feelings for Zhao Qinghan grew stronger.
If the younger brother truly loves this kind of girl, then it would indeed be a rare and wonderful match.
She was pondering how to approach the other person and smooth things over with this "accident".
Just then, a young novice monk who was in charge of receiving guests quickly walked over and bowed with his palms together in their direction.
"Esteemed guests, today Her Highness Princess Yong has prepared a vegetarian meal at the temple and cordially invites all pilgrims to join in the celebration. Please come to the dining hall."
Princess Consort of Yong?
Chu Ruohan's smile froze instantly.
Why is she here?
What a coincidence that a banquet was held in a temple on the outskirts of Beijing?