NABC Chapter 447 Benefactor
Chapter 447 Benefactor
The old matriarch before the Chu Emperor had white hair.
She had a light gold headscarf wrapped around her silver hair and was holding a cane shaped like a soaring crane.
The crane head on the cane gleamed with gold; it was made of pure gold and was a gift from the late emperor.
She was all alone, with only her young grandson, Ye Zinan, by her side. The old lady was Ye Zinan's great-grandmother, and came from the Luo City Royal Family.
She was the only daughter of the King of Luocheng and followed her father into battle from a young age. During the reign of the previous emperor, the King of Luocheng was severely wounded and maimed while defending against the Chu and Meng kingdoms. The Dowager Queen single-handedly took over her father's burden and defeated the Chu kingdom.
Although the casualties were heavy, it was still a victory. King Luo Cheng left with a smile, but before leaving, he told his mother to give up fighting on the battlefield. He told his daughter that he had been betrayed and that the internal situation of the Chu state was really too bad.
After burying her father, the old lady began to investigate the enemy who betrayed him. At that time, she happened to save Chu Yunu, who was being hunted down by the Chu royal family, and the two became acquainted.
The Dowager then trained her in strategy and tactics, and even found her an identity, enabling her to successfully marry Prince Chun.
Chu Yunu was no ordinary woman either; she stirred up chaos within the Great Qi and then left triumphantly.
However, after she arrived in the State of Chu, during the struggle for the throne, she still gave the old lady an answer: the person who betrayed her father was the old lady's younger brother, the emperor's brother-in-law.
In order to help the Empress Dowager seize power, the Emperor's brother-in-law did such a despicable and immoral thing.
But at that time, the Empress Dowager was in power, and the old lady was powerless. She could only tell her children not to be too greedy for power and to do some quiet jobs to survive, while always looking for an opportunity to take revenge.
But the old lady did not fulfill her wish. Who knew that Yuan Cuo would suddenly appear, bring down the old emperor's brother-in-law, and cause the death of the empress dowager.
Upon closer examination, this matter also involves a certain karmic cycle.
Regardless of whether Yuan Cuocheng admits it or not, he is Chu Yu Nu's biological son.
"I'm getting old. More than twenty years have passed, and I've been counting down the days." The old lady stared at Chu Yu Nu for a long time. "Your eyes have lost their former clarity and look very complicated."
"The Chu Kingdom has been filled with swords and shadows these past few years. To see you again is truly a surprise to this old woman."
She initially chose Chu Yunu because Chu Yunu had solemnly sworn to the heavens that she would become an empress.
At that time, she had just escaped from danger and was in a terrible state. Even her clothes were tattered. I don't know where she got such great courage.
"Therefore, one should not make grand pronouncements. If one makes a grand promise, one must strive to fulfill it. If I had not boasted to you that I would become an empress, I would not be in this state of exhaustion, and I would not have ended up disowning my own family."
Chu Yunu did not refer to herself as "I, the lonely one" in front of the old lady. For some reason, she was only willing to show some true feelings and want to act coquettishly in front of this old lady.
"There are plenty of people in this world who talk a big game, but you're the only one who stands out." The old lady couldn't help but laugh. "Although the Great Qi and your Chu Kingdom are at odds and fighting fiercely, I still have to praise you. Well done! You've stood up for women!"
"To receive such praise from you, my trip to Daqi has not been in vain." Chu Yu Nu laughed heartily, her charm undiminished even though she was nearly fifty years old, making Ye Zi Nan stare at her with wide eyes.
"So, what exactly is the purpose of your visit to Daqi this time?" The old lady abruptly changed the subject, getting straight to the point.
The atmosphere suddenly turned icy, after all, the most sensitive topic had been brought up, and she and her were still on opposing sides.
Chu Yu Nu smiled faintly and looked at Ye Zi Nan.
Ye Zinan immediately raised her hand to the sky, "I will absolutely not tell anyone, nor will I tell Yuan Cuo."
He wasn't a fool. The person in front of him was the Empress of Chu. How could he not investigate her thoroughly?
Even if she disdained to pay him any attention, Yuan Cuo was still her biological son. Not to mention the people Yuan Cuo associated with, she believed that even the dogs Yuan Cuo had fed would be investigated by this ancestor.
"I will naturally not investigate you, but you should think carefully about how you will explain things to your good brother after you leave me." Chu Yu Nu changed her tone and turned her attention to Yuan Cuo.
Ye Zinan really wanted to know; he was quite the gossip.
Upon hearing this, he wisely left first, saying, "It's a bit hot in here, I'll go out and cool off..." Curiosity killed the cat, and he shouldn't cause this big trouble just to satisfy his momentary gossip.
The old lady and the Chu emperor talked privately in the room all night.
Ye Zinan waited outside all night.
The next morning, after the Dowager Empress and the Emperor of Chu had breakfast at the Prince Chun's residence, she returned to her own residence with Ye Zinan.
At this moment, Yuan Cuo also heard the report from the secret guard.
Liu Yuechu happened to be nearby and overheard it.
"The matriarch of the Ye family? She actually has such a close relationship with the Emperor of Chu that she could talk to him alone for an entire night?"
She really didn't know about this; it seems the Chu Emperor's connections in Daqi are not to be underestimated.
Yuan Cuo wasn't surprised at all. "After returning after twenty years, how could she leave without turning the Great Qi upside down?"
“I can understand that, but I’m still quite surprised that she has a connection with Old Madam Ye. After all, Old Madam Ye is someone even the palace finds difficult to persuade.” Liu Yuechu recalled her past life, in which this old lady even went to dig up the Empress Dowager’s ancestral grave before she died.
Her temper was like a raging storm, but because she carried the cane bestowed upon her by the late emperor, no one dared to provoke her.
She had tried to encourage herself with the old lady's story countless times, but each time she failed due to weakness.
But this very person was actually a close confidante of the Chu Emperor…
"The person who saved her back then was Old Madam Ye." Yuan Cuo still managed to find out the truth.
Liu Yuechu suddenly realized, no wonder.
The Ye family has always been low-key and discreet. Even Ye Zinan, a playboy, never causes trouble among his peers and just goes along with their antics.
"Ye Zinan is really good at hiding his true intentions, and he did this on purpose to show you."
The guards just reported that Ye Zinan slept at the entrance of Prince Chun's mansion all night.
Yuan Cuo didn't seem to mind, "It's not easy for anyone..."
Just as he finished speaking, Ye Zinan's voice rang out from outside, "I'm so pleased that you're so considerate of your brother!"
He was dejected and greasy-looking. A man who was usually clean and tidy had his clothes wrinkled and disheveled, deliberately putting on this pathetic appearance for others to see.
"Isn't the breakfast at our residence as delicious as that at Prince Chun's residence?" Yuan Cuo asked sarcastically.
"You know me, I've always been greedy for food. As long as your household has it, I can eat another meal without feeling full," Ye Zinan said, trying to please him.
Liu Yuechu pouted and stopped Gu Yu, who was about to get food, saying, "Actually, you didn't need to come. You can't provide any valuable information, and our household doesn't want to provide meals."