" Reporting... Master... Master... Second Young Master has returned to court. The army has reached the city gate..." A servant boy of Ao Mansion ran into the reception hall happily and kowtowed to report to Ao Bai.
"Lang 'er, my Lang' er is back.”Oboi had been discussing business with Bumble Shan, and when he heard that the victorious army of Aolang had arrived in the capital, he was overjoyed and quickly got up to welcome them.
"Congratulations, Lord Ao. Second Young Master is brave and good at fighting. This time, he has won a great victory over the Torhu tribe and even arranged a marriage alliance with a Mongolian princess for our royal family. Lord Ao is indeed like a tiger father, like a dog son!" Bumble was overjoyed to see Oboi, so he took the opportunity to flatter him.
"Hahaha! Come, prepare a feast to welcome Lang 'er and the soldiers!”Oboi was even more overjoyed when he heard what Bumble said.
"Yes, Master!" The servant went downstairs to prepare.
"Reporting…Minister Lu Xingzu of the Ministry of Works has come with his daughter.”Another servant came to report.
"Lord Lu?" Oboi couldn't help but think.
"Lord Ao, Lord Lu Xingzu has just been promoted back to the capital by the Grand Empress Dowager. He is the Qixin Lang of the Ministry of Works. This person had been the Governor of Guangdong and Guangxi for a few years. He was rich and had a huge family. He could not be underestimated. Today, he brought his daughter to visit. Presumably…Hehe, Lord Ao should be well aware of this.”Bumble saw that Oboi did not know this person, so he hurried forward and whispered.
"Is it for Yu 'er?" Lord Ao asked.
"I think it's not for Eldest Young Master, but for Second Young Master.”Bumble smiled kindly.
"Oh? Hehe, is it for Lang 'er?" Ao Bai stroked his beard and laughed." Lang 'er is over eighteen years old, and he has made great achievements. It's time for him to start a family. It seems that I, Ao Bai, have been so focused on government affairs that I've been delayed. Haha!" That's good. Hurry up and invite him in!"
"Yes, Master." The servant hurriedly went down to invite Lord Lu and the daughter of the Lu family.
"Lord Ao, looks like this Lu has come at the wrong time. Haha." Lu Xingzu, with a big belly, greeted him with a happy expression and bowed.
"No, no, Lord Lu came at the right time. It happened that my son returned to the capital and was preparing to welcome him. Lord Lu was promoted back to the capital, and Obai was busy with government affairs, so he had no time to visit him. Unexpectedly, Lord Lu came personally. Hehe, please take a seat.”Ao Bai asked.
"Lord Ao, please." Lu Xingzu gave way.
"This must be Lord Bumblehill. Nice to meet you.”Lu Xingzu greeted Bumble Shan and gave in humbly.
"Lord Lu, there's no need to be so polite. Please take a seat.”Bumble said kindly.
Lu Xingzu and Ao Bai made way for a while before taking their seats. Miss Lu stood silently behind her father.
"The person behind Lord Lu must be Lord Lu's daughter, right? His appearance was like a blooming flower, and his eyebrows were like a painting. Lord Lu was really blessed, hehe.”said Bumble, smiling.
"No, no. Houndhead is ugly. I'm afraid it will taint the eyes of all the lords.”Lu Xingzu said modestly.
Oboi looked carefully at the beauty standing behind Lu Xingzu. She had a moderate figure, a face like a goose egg, eyes like grapes, lips like cherry spots, and skin as thin as gauze. She stood there timidly, looking very pitiful. Oboi remembered what Bumble Shan had said. If Lu Xingzu really had the intention of marrying Lang 'er, then this beauty and the Lu family's background would be the best. Moreover, Oboi needed to consolidate his power in order to better control the government and monopolize power. At this time, Lang 'er returned to the capital with a great victory. He would definitely be promoted again. If he were to marry again, hehe, wouldn't it be double happiness? Great, great!
When Ao Bai thought of this, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly. He stroked his beard and smiled." Lord Lu, you don't have to be too modest. Don't delay such a dignified beauty." Lord Lu, have you promised a marriage?" Ao Bai had always been straightforward, so he asked this question.
"My daughter hasn't married yet. Haha, she's still young, so there's no rush.”Lu Xingzu smiled.
" Hehe, that's great…" Ao Bai was about to mention marriage when another servant came forward to report.
"Old Master, Second Young Master has returned to the residence!" the servant said happily.
"Lang 'er is back. Milords, this Ao will excuse me for a moment. Please make yourselves at home.”Overjoyed, Ao Bai stopped paying attention and hurried out.
"Lord Lu, let's go and congratulate him as well.”Bumble said to Lu Xingzu.
Everyone walked out of the hall and passed through the door. As expected, Ao Lang was wearing armor and looked valiant. He was riding a tall horse, with a red tassel iron spear in one hand and a reins in the other. He stood at the entrance of the Ao Residence with a " whoosh…" sound, looking valiant and unrestrained.
The servant hurriedly went forward to pull the black horse. Ao Lang handed over the spear and jumped off the horse to greet his father.
"Ama." Ao Lang stood in front of the horse and bowed.
"Lang 'er, you're worthy of being my son! Haha! Good! Good fight!" Ao Lang couldn't contain his joy.
"Second Young Master Ao pacified the Torhuts, expanded the territory of the Qing Dynasty, and subdued the Mongol King. He is truly a young talent and the pillar of the country! Your future is limitless." Lu Xingzu stepped forward and praised.
"Ao Lang has helped the Qing Dynasty kill enemies and protect our territory. This is only natural. Fame and power are like floating clouds to me." Ao Lang said indifferently.
"This…Haha, Lord Lu doesn't know. My son has always been unrestrained in his words and deeds. I hope Lord doesn't take offense. Please come in.”Ao Bai groaned.
Ao Lang caressed the warhorse and led it into the manor without greeting the guests. Lu Xingzu was slightly displeased by his rebuke, but because of Oboi's face, he reluctantly entered the banquet.
After the dishes and wine were served, Ao Bai, Lu Xingzu, Bumble Shan, and the other lords who had come to pay their respects began to raise their glasses and chat. As they toasted, they talked about the imperial court, the border, the military, and so on.
Miss Lu gradually felt that the atmosphere was stuffy and noisy. She complained that she was uncomfortable and left the reception hall to stroll around the residence alone.
Unknowingly, she wandered into the backyard of the Ao Mansion. At that time, most of the servants in the mansion were busy with the banquet to reward the soldiers or serving the adults. There were few people in the mansion. Miss Lu happened to find it quiet and pleasant, so she enjoyed the sunset scenery of the Ao Mansion alone.
Walking to a small bridge, she looked up and found that not far away, flowers were blooming like brocade, floating in the wind. It was beautiful. She couldn't help but walk slowly towards the flowers. The beautiful figure of the setting sun was as beautiful as the sunset that was about to disappear.
"So beautiful." A man suddenly emerged from the bushes.
Miss Lu was shocked and blushed. She stood rooted to the ground.
With a rustling sound, a tall man stood up from the flowers. His hands were covered in soil, like a gardener in the residence. The gardener in front of him was tall, sturdy, and tanned. However, he had a silly expression on his face and looked like an honest servant.
"Young lady, you are so beautiful." The gardener rubbed his hands and chuckled.
" You..." Miss Lu couldn't help blushing. She had never stepped out of the house since she was young. She was brought up very strictly. Other than the servants and teachers at home, she had never seen any other man, let alone any man who had praised her appearance so bluntly. She could not help but rub her handkerchief shyly, not knowing how to answer.
"Miss, you are so beautiful, even more beautiful than my flowers.”As the man spoke, he bent down to pluck a flower and handed it to her.
"For me?" Miss Lu asked with her eyebrows lowered.
"This is hibiscus, my favorite flower. I'll give it to you. Only you deserve to wear it.”the man said seriously.
"Thank you." Miss Lu carefully took the hibiscus flower, but her handkerchief accidentally fell to the ground.
"Hehehe." The man looked at her side profile reflecting the setting sun, which was as beautiful as the silhouette of a hibiscus, and smiled at her foolishly.
"Thank you for the flowers. Ma is still waiting for me.”Miss Lu left shyly.
" Hey…Miss…You left…left something…" The man stuttered, but Miss Lu had already run far away.
He stared at her back with slight disappointment. After a while, he came back to his senses and silently picked up the handkerchief on the ground. He unfolded it and saw the word " Jin " embroidered with light-colored silk thread.
The Emperor was rescued from the water by Cao Yin and was temporarily moved to the warm pavilion to recuperate. Xie 'er and Rong Ruo bid farewell to Qiyue first. When they left the manor, it was already late.
"Biao Younger Sister, in the future you cannot be so competitive.”Rong Ruo pulled her over and said angrily.
" I'm sorry, cousin…" Xie 'er felt uneasy.
"Alright, the physician has already seen it. Young Master Huang is fine, so there is no need for Biao Younger Sister to blame herself.”Rong Ruo saw her pitiful expression and could not help but comfort her.
"Yes." Xie 'er was perfunctory and did not say anything along the way.
The two of them walked and soon returned to the Ming Residence. Before he returned to the flower cottage, a servant came to report.
"Young Master, Old Master has invited you." the servant said.
"Master is back?" Rong Ruo said in shock.
"Yes, Old Master returned from the Lu Residence early in the morning. Now that the room was waiting for the young master to talk, the young master should go quickly.”The servant said with a troubled expression.
"Yes, I am. Alright, you can leave first." Rong Ruo said.
"Cousin, go quickly." Xie 'er said tiredly and left in a hurry without looking back.
Rong Ruo's heart was stuck, but there was no other way, she could only find Ma first. Stepping into Mingzhu's room, he saw that Mother was also there. Rong Ruo bowed.
"Sit down. I have something to talk to you about." Ming Zhu said.
"Ma, why did you find Rong Ruo so late at night?”Rong Ruoyi asked.
"Ruo 'er, after thinking about it, I still feel that you should start a family soon.”Ming Zhu said earnestly," Only the Qi family can govern the country and pacify the world. Haven't you always admired the Han culture? You should know this better than me.”
" But... Rong Ruo wants to wait for cousin..." Rong Ruo did not know what her father meant. Just as she wanted to explain, she was pushed back by Ming Zhu.
"I know. It's not too late to talk about Xie 'er in the future. Moreover, with her talent and temperament, she might be chosen by the emperor very soon. At that time, as officials, how would we dare to snatch a woman from the emperor, right?”Ming Zhu said seriously.
" But Ama... Didn't you just promise Rong Ruo..." Rong Ruo said anxiously.
" The situation is different now. The Lu family is powerful and has a high status. The Empress Dowager has been transferred back to the capital and placed in an important position. I want to seize this opportunity…Today, I saw that Lord Lu brought his daughter here. I'm afraid that he wants to discuss marriage with Second Young Master Ao. However, Second Young Master Ao is not very agreeable…Therefore…" Ming Zhu paused. He suddenly remembered that Rong Ruo did not like fame and power since he was young. It would be useless to persuade him with such words. He thought for a while and continued," The Lu family has a daughter. She's sixteen years old, about the same age as you. She's unmarried, well-educated, and has a strict upbringing. She's gentle and docile, and she matches your personality very well…"
Before Ming Zhu could finish, Rong Ruo stood up angrily." Ma, if there's nothing else, Rong Ruo will take her leave first."”
"Unfilial son!" Ming Zhu said angrily," What kind of attitude is this? When I speak, you can just leave like that?”
" Rong Ruo..." Madam Jue Luo saw that Mingzhu and his son were in conflict again and quickly went forward to stop Rong Ruo.
"Mother, you know your son's feelings. Rong Ruo's determination towards her cousin could be seen by heaven and earth, how could he have any other thoughts?”Rong Ruo's determined face made Madam Jue Luo's originally prepared persuasion feel ashamed.
"Marriage has always been decided by parents. You children can't mess around.”Ming Zhu suppressed her anger and said.
"A man without faith does not know what to do." Rong Ruo raised her head and laughed.
"You!" Ming Zhu slammed the table and pointed at Rong Ruo. She was so angry that she could not speak.
"You only think about yourself. Have you ever thought about our Yates family? What have you done for our family? You still have the guts to quarrel with your father. Ama has worked hard for the peace and strength of my family all his life. The wealth and honor you are enjoying now, which one of them is not obtained step by step for my father?”Ming Zhu said angrily.
"Hehe, wealth and splendor. If I didn't mention it, Rong Ruo wouldn't have wanted to mention it. Now that I've said it, forgive Rong Ruo for being blunt. Rong Ruo has been ashamed of this since she was young!”Rong Ruo turned around and replied," I don't want to be rich. He was pampered and might be willing to accept other people's children, but to him, it was the heaviest shackle. "Since I was young, I had to put in ten times or a hundred times more effort than others in order to obtain the recognition of others. Otherwise, people would say that he was the son of the Ming Zhu family and relied on his father. Otherwise, what could a profligate son like him do? Enough, Rong Ruo had already had enough. Ah Ma did not understand this kind of pain, but Rong Ruo felt like it was stuck in her throat for the rest of her life. Rong Ruo would rather be born in a house of coarse cloth, relying entirely on her own efforts, but she won freedom.”
"Unfilial son!" Ming Zhu could not take it anymore and slapped him. His face twitched and he could not speak for a long time.
"Hehe, Rong Ruo is an unfilial son, but he has gone against your foolish dream of wealth and splendor!”Rong Ruo covered her face and laughed. She flung her robe and opened the door without looking back. Unexpectedly, she bumped into Xie 'er.
Rong Ruo was shocked." Cousin?!"
Xie 'er pushed Rong Ruo and ran away crying. Rong Ruo was shocked at first and quickly chased after her.
Ming Zhu, who was left helpless, sat in the room in a daze, looking at Rong Ruo's gradually disappearing back. The flickering candlelight reflected his slightly aged face, and a trace of silver hair was faintly discernible.
Madam Jue Luo sighed deeply and stayed by his side silently.
Both father and son were equally stubborn.
In the evening, the Emperor had returned to the palace safely. Cao Yin followed fearfully, afraid that if today's matter was leaked, not only would he lose his head, but his family would also be implicated. It was already late at night. The Emperor was sitting in the study reading the memorial. Seeing Cao Yin depressed and unhappy the whole night, he stopped reading the memorial and turned to Cao Yin, who was standing behind him." Cao Yin, are you still worried about today's matter?"”
"Replying to the emperor, this official doesn't know if I should tell the empress dowager about today's matter.”Cao Yin stammered.
"You know what happened today, and I know. As long as I don't say anything, no one will blame you.”The Emperor dismissed the memorial in his hand and said disdainfully.
" But…" Cao Yin sighed.
"It's fine. Isn't I fine now? Moreover, I am indebted to you, Cao Yin, to be able to appreciate today's grand occasion, to be able to get to know so many talented scholars, to be able to see the famous Nalanxing virtue of Jingdou. Isn't it a pity that these people are wandering in the martial world? In the future, when I truly grasp power, I should put them in an important position, hehe.”The Emperor said happily.
"Haha, it is the fortune of the Qing Dynasty that the Emperor loves you so much.”Cao Yin said.
"Flattery is not something you, Cao Yin, can say.”The Emperor stood up and stretched himself before continuing," Oh right, Cao Yin, I saw the fairy when I was sleeping in the water pavilion today.”
Cao Yin's heart thumped. He was frightened by the Emperor's words and quickly asked," Emperor, did you catch a cold? Should we call the imperial physician?"
"Cao Yin, you don't believe me. When I choked on the water, I clearly saw a fairy lying on top of me and blowing immortal energy for me.”The Emperor's expression was intoxicated and somewhat infatuated.
Cao Yin was puzzled.
"You still don't believe me. She was crying for me. That appearance was naturally refined and probably not something that could be found in the mortal world. "Sigh…" The Emperor's joy turned into regret.
Cao Yin was shocked again, and his face turned ashen.
"Cao Yin, if you continue to look so frightened, zhen will really be angry. I speak to you so seriously, but you look like you don't believe me. What crime do you have?”The emperor was slightly angry.
"No, Emperor, Cao Yin is just…just thinking, could it be Miss Qiyue or some other woman in her residence?”Cao Yin thought about it carefully and guessed.
"Zhen is certain that it is not. Qiyue was thin and tight, while the fairy's brows seemed to be furrowed. Chu Chu felt pity for her and was more than stunning. It was even more impossible for her to be a servant girl. Shui Yun Hongyi, who was beside Qiyue, was already considered a high-class woman in the residence. She did not have a refined temperament and was definitely not a servant girl. I'm sure that it's a fairy who descended to the mortal world and saved me from the sea of suffering.”The Emperor said happily.
Cao Yin clasped his hands tightly, his heart growing more and more worried. The Emperor in front of him must have caught a cold and his brain was fried. What should he do if the Empress Dowager blamed him?
"Zhen saw that the fairy actually had a familiar face, as if I had seen her somewhere before. "But I just can't remember," the emperor muttered to himself.
"Hehe, I'm afraid there's a need to bring forward the date of the draft.”At this moment, the Empress came in from outside the door.
She bowed solemnly and said," Your Majesty, this is ChenQie and Consort Tong's younger sister's preliminary draft of the election regulations. Please take a look and make your decision."”
The Emperor picked up the list and glanced over it, feeling very excited.
"Didn't zhen entrust it to the empress? The Empress can decide everything. There is no need to ask me.”The Emperor asked faintly.
The Empress was slightly embarrassed, but she smiled and said," I sincerely hope that Your Majesty can choose a woman who suits you…"
However, the Emperor said," It's already late. Zhen still has some memorials to read. Empress, you should go and rest first."”
"Yes, Your Majesty. Then ChenQie will kneel in peace." The Empress had no choice but to leave worriedly.
Cao Yin looked at the empress's back as she left in embarrassment, and his heart was filled with indescribable sorrow.
Rong Ruo chased all the way out and finally stopped the sobbing Xie 'er in the Green Water Pavilion.
" Cousin... Rong Ruo's heart, even the parents of the world do not know, but you, why are you like this..." Rong Ruo said sadly.
"Cousin…I've thought about it. Actually, you don't have to wait for me. It is said that if we take a wrong step, the sea will be behind us. However, the world is unpredictable and we have no choice. Whether they waited or not, they could not escape the hands of fate.”Xie 'er leaned against the railing and cried.
"Biao Younger Sister, you've changed. In the past, you were always competitive…How could you be willing to be manipulated by others?”Rong Ruo sighed.
"Cousin told me not to be competitive in everything, so I learned. It's not that I've become faster, it's that I understand.”Xie 'er also sighed deeply." I don't want to accept my fate either. However, other than love, there are many other emotional ties in the world. I can't be selfish. You, Rong Ruo, are not mine alone. You have parents, friends, and a limitless future. In the future, you will have a wife and children who love you…"
"No, Biao Younger Sister. I don't care about any of this." Rong Ruo said anxiously.
"Waiting for me is a hopeless and endless abyss. And when you look back, you will have a stable and prosperous life, kind parents, like-minded friends…You are still you, just pretend that I have never appeared in your life.”Xie 'er said resolutely.
"It was clearly engraved in my heart. How can I forget it just like that?”Rong Ruo looked into the distance and sighed.
"Why must you fall out with your parents for a woman who is about to enter the palace? They are all thinking about your future. It's not worth it for me.”Xie 'er said sadly.
"Future, future. If I lose you for my future, that would be Rong Ruo's greatest regret!”Rong Ruo was also determined.
Looking at the withering lotus leaves under the pavilion, Xie 'er couldn't help but think of the saying," Leave the withered lotus to hear the sound of the rain."”
"Eleven years, can you wait?" She raised her eyes faintly, as if she was asking the heavens.
"Meeting you, Rong Ruo has already prepared her entire life.”Rong Ruo came up behind her and said earnestly.
"They say that they can withstand the wind and rain, but they can't withstand the plain. " Sometimes, life is really ironic. One turn can mean a lifetime…" Xie 'er looked indifferent.
"A flashy life is gone in an instant. If I'm lucky enough to meet you at this time, it's already God's mercy. It was not easy to get to know each other. Moreover, they knew each other and cherished each other. In comparison, eleven years of waiting was nothing.”Rong Ruo said.
" Cousin…" Xie 'er was slightly moved.
"What's there to be afraid of?" Rong Ruo pulled Xie 'er over and looked at her affectionately.
" I'm afraid that from now on, the small mat and light quilt will be cold on their own…Sigh…" Xie 'er sobbed and turned her head away.
She knew that these days, the haze of entering the palace had been shrouding both of them and had not disappeared for a moment. She was afraid to see Rong Ruo's deep and desperate eyes. She was afraid to see his lonely and strong back. She was most afraid to see Rong Ruo forcing a smile. Her heart was crushed, but she still had to pretend to be happy on the surface.
She had already prepared for the worst. If she was chosen by the Emperor, she would be a white silk. If they were lucky enough to not be selected, they would have to wait for eleven years. However, these eleven years were easy to say, but it would definitely be long and hopeless. A palace wall had isolated her from the world. In these eleven years, she did not know what would happen to Rong Ruo. Rong Ruo also did not know how she was doing in the palace. Could she really persist?
Rong Ruo would fall in love with another woman, and someone would take her place. As for her, after eleven years of separation, she had long become the background of Rong Ruo's life, so vague that she no longer attracted anyone's attention.
Or, if Rong Ruo was raped and married a woman he didn't like, he would see her every day without saying a word. He missed her the most in his heart, but what was the use? Eleven years was enough to change everything, let alone people.
Or perhaps, I don't know when I will die in the palace and no one will know, leaving Rong Ruo to wait for me and spend her life in the Cottage of Flowers.
The world envied the rich and glorious life in the palace, but they did not know the pleasures of ordinary men and women. To look at each other, to look at each other, to look at each
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