Xie Yun kept glancing towards the main hall’s entrance.
If not for wanting to see him, how could a newly rich family like the Lins, who had just moved to the capital, be worthy of a personal visit from her and her mother?
Madam Xie always indulged her daughter’s wishes. Hearing that she was thinking of the new top scholar Luo Shenyuan, she smiled and said, “With your status, my dear, who wouldn’t be a suitable match? I caught a glimpse of him from afar last time, and he did seem quite outstanding. He’ll surely achieve great things in the future.” Then she changed the subject, “I’ve only heard that their family has already arranged a match with the Sun family’s daughter?”
Xie Yun tugged at her mother’s hand and pouted, “That’s not true. The Sun family said they would only finalize the engagement after he passed the imperial exams. I think if he hadn’t passed, the Sun family might have reconsidered.”
Seeing her usually aloof daughter so interested in someone was rare, so Madam Xie took note.
Coincidentally receiving Lin Hairu’s invitation card, she decided to bring her daughter to visit the Luo family and see what they were like.
As Madam Xie sipped her tea, her gaze fell on Yining.
She had heard from Old Madam Xie that the Duke of Ying had brought back an adopted daughter from outside the family. She remembered the Duke’s biological daughter, Zhao Mingzhu, had been arrogant and ill-mannered. This adopted one seemed better. Standing behind Lin Hairu, she had a beautiful face. Though her background wasn’t entirely proper, such beauty was rare.
Madam Xie couldn’t help but look at her a few more times.
At this moment, Nan’er was brought out. He lay in his wet nurse’s arms, having just woken up, sucking on his little fist without making a sound. Lin Hairu took him from the wet nurse and said to Yining, “The sun is quite strong now. Why don’t you take him to play inside? Take Miss Xie along with you.”
Lin Hairu had just learned that Xie Yun didn’t enjoy watching operas either. But the opera troupe had already arrived, and what else could the ladies do if not watch the performance?
Yining took Nan’er into her arms. The child, recognizing a familiar face, snuggled against her. Xie Yun also stood up, surrounded by her servants, which added to her imposing presence. She said softly, “There’s not much to do indoors. Why doesn’t Sister Yining show me around the estate?”
Yining inwardly grumbled. It was scorching hot, and if Xie Yun didn’t mind the heat, she certainly did. Moreover, Luo Shenyuan had gone to court, so they wouldn’t run into him no matter how much they wandered around.
But since the guest had made the suggestion, there was no polite way to refuse. She could only nod in agreement, handing Nan’er back to the wet nurse before accompanying Xie Yun on a tour of the gardens.
The two walked along the corridor, passing through a moss-covered stone passage that was very quiet and cool. A refreshing breeze blew by, finally bringing some relief to Yining’s flushed cheeks. But when she looked up, she saw that Miss Xie had already walked quite a distance ahead. Just beyond the next moon gate was the front courtyard.
Songzhi held an umbrella for Yining and whispered, “Why is Miss Xie out walking in such heat? Even with an umbrella, it feels so hot… Would you like some sour plum drink?” She had specially cooled it with well water before they left, keeping it in a flask for drinking.
Yining shook her head and said, “If we let her walk any further, she’ll run into the guards at Luming Hall…” She quickened her pace to catch up with Xie Yun and said, “I remember hearing Sister Xie talking with my third brother last time. You two know each other?”
Xie Yun glanced back at her. She had wanted to come out on her own and hadn’t intended for Luo Yining to accompany her. She generally disliked girls her age, finding them childish with nothing interesting to say. So she replied coolly, “Yes, we know each other.”
“Third Brother left early for court. He probably hasn’t returned yet,” Yining looked up at her with a smile. “If Miss Xie is tired from walking, why don’t we rest in a pavilion? My maid has brought some sour plum drink.”
Xie Yun paused briefly, as Yining had already turned to instruct Songzhi, “…Go and ask someone to bring tea sets.”
The weather was indeed extremely hot that day.
There wasn’t a single pedestrian on the street, and even the peddlers in the alleyways had packed up their stalls. Lian Fu leaned against a small rosewood table, gazing at the sun outside. This house in the alley was her refuge. The vegetation outside the window was lush, and the cicadas’ chirping was endless.
Bored from waiting, Lian Fu took a pair of scissors from a bamboo basket and began cutting insoles for shoes.
A young maid with a double-loop hairstyle hurried in, bowing as she spoke, “Miss, the master sent a message… He said he doesn’t have time to come.”
Lian Fu lowered her eyes upon hearing this, biting her lip as she said softly, “He must be tired of me…”
The little maid, seeing her holding Master Cheng’s shoe pattern, felt distressed. She tried to console her, “Miss, I think Master Cheng is truly busy. He doesn’t even go to the pleasure boats anymore.”
Lian Fu seemed not to hear, continuing, “The last time I saw him, he was already impatient. He wasn’t like that before; he used to speak to me so gently. I wonder if he’s found someone else, now he doesn’t pay attention to anyone… People used to tell me not to fall for him, and I told myself the same. But now that he doesn’t come to see me… why do I still feel so hurt?”
The little maid saw her gripping the shoe pattern tightly, remembering how her mistress would often rise before dawn to help Master Cheng prepare for court. When his new shoes didn’t fit well, she immediately wanted to make new ones for him. Master Cheng didn’t like makeup, so she stopped using any… The maid said, “I’ll go and pass on the message again, Miss. Please wait!”
With that, she ran out quickly.
Lian Fu sighed, holding the pipa and leaning against the wall without a word.
Outside the palace gates, guards stood every five steps, sentries every ten, embodying imperial majesty. Under the scorching sun, the guards at the gate were drenched in sweat but stood motionless. The palace’s golden glazed tiles, vermilion pillars, and golden dragon and phoenix ornaments gleamed. Cheng Lang stood quietly, observing this display of imperial grandeur.
A servant came over and whispered to him. After listening, he said, “…In the future, if she sends someone with a message, don’t bother telling me.” His tone was somewhat cold.
The servant hesitated, “Master, didn’t you used to like Miss Lian Fu the most?”
Cheng Lang closed his eyes.
He had done many foolish things in the past. He dared not think about them anymore, nor let her know. Those reckless affairs must be put aside now, or else he wouldn’t be able to face her in the future.
Cheng Lang shook his head without speaking and dismissed the servant.
Finally, the palace gates slowly opened, and Cheng Lang went forward to greet them.
Lu Jiaxue emerged from the hall, his face extremely gloomy. Seeing this, Cheng Lang’s heart sank. For Lu Jiaxue to show such an expression, something serious must have happened.
He asked in a low voice, “Uncle, did the Emperor say something…”
Today in court, Luo Shenyuan finally presented the confession. That Luo Shenyuan was indeed formidable, managing to bring down Liu Pu. Although it didn’t implicate Wang Yuan or Lu Jiaxue, the Emperor was so enraged that he arrested over forty officials involved in Zhejiang, big and small. Now, no one in court dared to be dissatisfied with Luo Shenyuan.
Luo Shenyuan could now be considered the leader of the Qingliu faction, daring to pull the tiger’s whiskers. He had guts.
But the Emperor would never rebuke Lu Jiaxue even slightly for Liu Pu’s sake.
Cheng Lang saw Lu Jiaxue stop, and his followers immediately halted as well. Without turning around, Lu Jiaxue said, “News came last night. Wei Ling led thirty thousand troops in a surprise attack on the Oirat tribe, but they fell into an ambush outside Pingyuan Fort… Almost the entire army of thirty thousand was annihilated, and Wei Ling hasn’t returned.”
Cheng Lang found this hard to believe. Wei Ling had been campaigning for years; he wasn’t the type to act recklessly! He asked, “How could he have attacked so rashly…”
“Let’s not discuss that now. The Emperor was also shocked when he heard. Fortunately, my deputy commander is still at the frontier. I immediately ordered him to pursue it. You’re registered with the Duke of Ying’s household, so go and deliver the news to them. I still need to discuss how to respond to the Minister of War and can’t go myself. It’s unclear whether Wei Ling is alive or dead… but he’s unlikely to return alive.”
A eunuch walked over from the imperial path in the distance, bowing to Lu Jiaxue with a sweep of his duster, “Commander Lu, the Empress has sent this servant to relay a message. She and the Empress Dowager request your presence.”
Lu Jiaxue handed a letter to his subordinate before heading towards the Empress’s palace.
Cheng Lang watched Lu Jiaxue’s departing figure, a faint coldness gleaming in his eyes.
Since she was no longer the original Yining, she naturally had no connection to Lu Jiaxue. How could he possibly let Lu Jiaxue know of her existence? For years, he had suspected Lu Jiaxue of killing her and lived with the desire to avenge her. Now that he knew she was still alive… Cheng Lang wouldn’t breathe a word of it!
Cheng Lang knew that the Empress was now subtly trying to curry favor with Lu Jiaxue. She was in a fierce struggle with Noble Consort Dong. The Noble Consort’s eldest son, though born of a concubine, was the Crown Prince and very talented. The Empress, still childless, was in a difficult position. She wanted to adopt a child from Noble Consort Rong, who had two sons and sought Lu Jiaxue’s support to ensure this child could ascend to the throne in the future.
Lu Jiaxue held significant military power, and everyone wanted his support.
Cheng Lang stood silently with the letter for a moment. For the Duke of Ying’s household, Wei Ling was their pillar of support. Without him, how could the old and young members sustain the family?
…Yining must be heartbroken now!
Cheng Lang strode quickly towards the palace exit, heading first to the Duke of Ying’s mansion to deliver the news.
Though he spoke euphemistically and mentioned the possibility of Wei Ling’s survival, Old Madam Wei nearly fainted upon hearing the news. The servants rushed to revive her and help her lie down, but Old Madam Wei covered her face and wept uncontrollably, her cries resounding through the household. Cheng Lang had never seen this woman, who had lived a life of glory, cry like this before. The imperial physician he had brought along proved useful. The household was in a state of panic, and Zhao Mingzhu stood nearby, too shocked to speak. He gave some instructions to the housekeeper and immediately set off for New Bridge Alley to find Luo Yining.
The carriage sped through the streets. By the time he reached New Bridge Alley, dusk had fallen.
The lanterns under the eaves of the Luo mansion had just been lit, and the faint sound of opera singing could still be heard. Cheng Lang’s servant stepped forward to knock on the door and present a name card.
The gatekeeper looked at his name card and chuckled, bowing as he said, “I’m sorry, sir, but our Third Young Master has said that idle visitors are not to be admitted.”
Hearing this, Cheng Lang’s lips tightened into a cold smile as he flung another name card at the gatekeeper’s face. “The Duke of Ying’s household has urgent business. Dare to delay me further, and I’ll have your head. Believe it or not!”
Just then, Luo Shenyuan’s sedan chair was returning.
Hearing Cheng Lang’s voice, he lifted the curtain and said with a slow smile, “Why get angry at him, Lord Cheng? If you have a business, you can speak with me directly.”