bestowed marriage

Fu Sheng then simply waved his hand without saying anything more, and began looking at the exam papers for the students who were behind him.

Lin Xu glanced back at the doctoral student buried in the various answer sheets. She had just clearly seen a scrutinizing look in Fu Sheng's eyes, as if he had been pondering his words for a long time before finally letting them slip away.

At that moment, she had no idea what was going through the mind of the usually strict professor in the classroom.

It was an unspeakable secret that, even when a thousand words came rushing in, had to be completely buried in one's heart.

Seeing that Fu Sheng didn't say anything more, she didn't think about it anymore. She just tidied up the writing brush and ink on the table and stepped out of the main hall.

"Excuse me, ma'am, please wait a moment."

She hadn't gone far when she heard a soft, quiet female voice calling from behind. Turning around, she saw Dou Zhen, dressed in a simple white silk robe, with beautiful features, smiling as she walked towards her.

The eyebrows and eyes clearly bore a five-tenths resemblance to that person.

Lin Xu smiled gently at Dou Zhen, who was walking towards her leisurely.

The youngest daughter of the Dou family and the eldest son, Dou Yanzhou, are born of the same mother, Lady Bai. She is only a teenager, yet she is renowned in the capital for her exceptional talent. In the past, when Dou Huaisheng was not in power, it was this young girl who amazed everyone with her song of parting at the Spring Banquet, thus securing some opportunities for her father's political career.

Rumor has it that this young woman not only possesses literary talent but is also extremely kind-hearted. She regularly spends a month in quiet contemplation at Guangfo Temple on the outskirts of Beijing, where she also generously donates to charity to help the poor. Over time, she has earned the reputation of being a "Jade Bodhisattva."

Before she met Dou Zhen in her previous life, she had a strong dislike for him. At that time, she was an ignorant and incompetent person, and she could never say she liked people who were famous for their erudition. She felt that those literati were all a bit pedantic, and that their so-called lofty talk and erudition were nothing more than a means to gain fame and reputation.

But even when Lin Xu was publicly humiliated at the noble ladies' banquet that day, Dou Zhen showed no restraint whatsoever. Instead, she smiled gently as she handed Lin Xu a handkerchief. It was that kind smile that softened Lin Xu's heart instantly.

Perhaps there really are such pure, kind, and virtuous people in the world.

However, looking back now, with the elder brother of the Dou family being exceptionally handsome and the younger sister being beautiful and full of wisdom, the carefree and willful illegitimate son Dou Yanxun was simply out of place in this family.

She recalled that day, in the dimly lit alley, the complex expression on that person's face.

Seeing her smiling yet silent face, Dou Zhen parted her lips slightly, her eyes brimming with affection as she looked at her:

"I had the good fortune to meet you at the Princess's residence that day. It has only been a few days since I last saw you, and you have become even more beautiful and charming."

Lin Xu snapped out of her daze, gently helped Dou Zhen, who was bowing, and smiled faintly: "Why are you being so polite? You are now the princess's companion, and we are both students in the academy. We should be closer."

Dou Zhen smiled and said, "That may be true, but I heard that you had your coming-of-age ceremony a few days ago. Although it is a bit late now, I still have to congratulate you."

A pretty young maidservant followed beside her, taking the cloak from Dou Zhen's hands. She looked very proper and honest. Dou Zhen straightened her clothes; perhaps from her hurried journey, a few stray hairs had fallen from her temples. Her eyes were full of affection.

“I once heard my father say that when he was still working in the Secretariat, he was just a minor clerk. However, thanks to Uncle Lin’s recommendation, he was fortunate enough not to be buried in obscurity. My father often praised Uncle Lin at home, saying that he was honest, capable and upright, and truly a pillar of the court.”

Lin Xu's heart stirred slightly, and taking advantage of the rising wind, she half-closed her eyes and carefully observed Dou Zhen's expression. She saw that Dou Zhen had a serious face and spoke with great praise, which seemed to come from the bottom of her heart.

...Would Dou Huaisheng praise his father when there were no outsiders in his own home?

He was the one who submitted a memorial to Emperor Su, falsely accusing his father of participating in cheating in the imperial examinations, which led to the deaths of more than a hundred members of the Lin family in his previous life.

Moreover, it was precisely because she was fortunate enough to live again that she knew the ending of her previous life and was filled with the desire for revenge. She also deduced from Dou Yanxun's strange expression that the Dou family had already made up their minds to kill him and that they had planted a spy in the Lin family. But if even the unfavored illegitimate son Dou Yanxun knew about this, how could Dou Zhen, the beloved legitimate daughter, have been completely unaware of it?

Or perhaps Dou Huaisheng had not yet decided to kill him, and still felt grateful for Lin Fu's past patronage?

In an instant, her mind raced, yet she couldn't find the reason. On the surface, she remained outwardly calm and continued chatting with Dou Zhen. However, in just a few words, she sensed something about Dou Zhen...

They do seem quite naive.

This was only their second meeting, yet Dou Zhen treated her with the warmth of an old friend. They chatted about schoolwork and the latest brocade patterns in the capital, walking together for a few steps when they suddenly heard very light footsteps behind them.

"Miss Dou, please wait a moment—"

A palace attendant approached, bowing low. He glanced at Dou Zhen and Lin Xu before speaking in a high-pitched voice:

“My master is having tea at Changchun Palace today. He has some free time now and would like to invite Miss Dou to come and sit for a while.” After saying this, he glanced at Lin Xu standing to the side and then said, “Is this Miss Lin, who is also studying at Zhiqiong Hall? If you have time, please come along.”

Lin Xu glanced down at the eunuch, who was wearing a white round-necked robe with five-leaf cattail patterns embroidered on the cuffs. He was from Princess Duanhe's residence.

Dou Zhen is now Liao Yan's study companion, and she often visits Liao Yan's residence. Because of the Dou family's relationship, it is only natural for her to be close to the princess. But for some reason, she was also invited to go.

Moreover, even though she was previously illiterate, she knew that the place she was invited to was the most luxurious and elegant place in the Mujing Imperial City, the Changchun Palace where the Empress resided.

.

She was extremely cautious as she walked, only vaguely seeing the red walls and green tiles along the way, heavily guarded at every turn. The eunuch led the way, guiding the two of them through several palace gates before finally stopping outside the Changchun Palace.

The eunuch approached and whispered a few words to the palace maids waiting on both sides of the hall. The maids, dressed in light purple palace attire, glanced at the two of them indifferently, then turned and disappeared behind the vermilion palace gate.

A moment later, with a creaking sound, the vermilion gate was pushed open again, and the palace servant who had been there earlier smiled faintly at Lin Xu and Dou Zhen, and said softly, "Please come in, both of you."

Lin Xu and Dou Zhen followed the palace maid gracefully into the hall. Inside, towering vermilion pillars embroidered with dragons and phoenixes stood tall, with palace lanterns and candles hanging high above them. Golden glazed tiles stretched out in a continuous line, reflecting starlight as bright as day, leading straight into the depths of the hall.

The beaded curtains and jade screens draped gracefully to the ground. Behind the layers of curtains, one could vaguely see a dazzling array of jade ornaments scattered across the rosewood antique shelves. A gentle breeze swayed them, and in the four corners stood incense burners with gilded and painted red double-eared auspicious beasts. Below, white sandalwood was piled up like a mountain, and wisps of incense smoke swirled around like clouds, filling the hall with fragrance.

Behind the three screens depicting the auspicious seasons, two elegantly dressed noblewomen sat peacefully on a high platform. Below them, several graceful young girls were laughing and talking. Hearing the noise, everyone turned around.

The woman seated in the main seat wore a soft, emerald-green gauze dress embroidered with several peonies. Her hair was tied up high and adorned with a gold hairpin with five phoenixes facing the sun and pearls. On each side, a gold tassel hung down to her shoulders. Her eyes and brows exuded a gentle and dignified air.

Seeing that the two of them had performed the grand ceremony and knelt on the jade bricks, he gently raised his hand and said, "Get up quickly."

Another woman sitting gracefully to the side wore a seven-colored phoenix hairpin in her hair, her face exquisitely sharp, exactly as rumored to be stunningly beautiful. Princess Duanhe merely glanced at Lin Xu and Dou Zhen before looking at Liao Yan and saying, "Are these the two noble ladies who are studying with you?"

Princess Kunrou sat down behind a purple lacquered table with gold trim and a begonia design, and said very respectfully, "That's right."

Two equally elegantly dressed young women sat beside her. One of them looked familiar; today she wore a light blue brocade dress with dark floral patterns, her hair styled in a cross bun, and a pair of red jadeite drop earrings that jingled as she spoke. Compared to her bright purple dress at the Princess's residence that day, she appeared more lively and charming.

A beautiful palace maid gently helped the two of them onto their seats. Lin Xu sat opposite Liao Yan, and when their eyes met, a fleeting glint flashed in Liao Yan's eyes.

She suddenly understood why she had been summoned here today.

Sure enough, after half a cup of tea, the eldest princess took a sip and said, "I once heard Kunrou say that there were two students in the school who were good friends with her and got along very well. Today I finally get to meet them."

Her gaze swept over the serene-faced Dou Zhen and went straight to Lin Xu, who was holding a teacup, and said, "I have long heard that your father, Lin Youcheng, is honest and upright. You are indeed beautiful and elegant, with a remarkable temperament."

Lin Xu quickly put down her teacup and said softly, "This humble woman thanks Your Highness for your praise."

Compared to the Princess's sharpness, the Empress was much kinder and gentler. She had been sipping tea and chatting softly with a gentle expression, the smile never fading from her lips, as she spoke slowly:

"Zhiqiong Hall has always been a place where talents are nurtured in our Dayu. Throughout the ages, outstanding scholars and sages have emerged one after another. Although you two are still young, it is already clear that you will surely become great talents in the future."

Dou Zhen bowed gently and said softly, "Thank you for your kind words, Your Majesty. I am fortunate to serve Princess Kunrou at the academy. Although I have not been here as long as Sister Lin, I have already gained a lot from the careful instruction of the professor. Moreover, Princess Kunrou is exceptionally beautiful and talented. I will strive to improve myself so as to help her make further progress."

Upon hearing this, the eldest princess laughed heartily: "I told you that today it was just Her Majesty the Empress being considerate, chatting with you young ladies to relieve your boredom. There's no need to be so formal."

After speaking, the princess adjusted the phoenix hairpin by her ear and looked at the girl with her hair in a cross-shaped bun, asking, "You've become even more beautiful in just a few days. Yiyun, are you sixteen years old now?"

Upon hearing this, the girl named Yiyun blushed slightly and said shyly, "It's all thanks to you, Princess, that I'm remembered. I celebrated my birthday at the beginning of the year and I'm now sixteen years old."

The eldest princess laughed and said, "You and Kunrou grew up together since childhood, and you and I have been close since we were little. You have always been very informal with your elders, so why are you so shy in front of the Empress today? It makes the Empress laugh at you."

Upon hearing this, the Empress simply smoothed out the floral pattern on her cuffs and said gently, "Miao Ling is well-educated, and Yi Yun has always been raised by your side. She has been especially close to you since childhood and can be considered half a daughter of yours. Speaking of which, it's time to bestow a rank upon her after all these years, but it has been put on hold all these years."

Upon hearing this, Miao Yiyun's face immediately lit up with undisguised joy, and she hurriedly knelt down to express her gratitude:

"I am very grateful for Your Majesty's grace."

The eldest princess also smiled and picked up a small piece of the pink lotus-shaped glutinous rice cake, chewed it for a long time, and then covered her mouth with a smile:

"Speaking of which, I heard that Miss Lin just had her coming-of-age ceremony a few days ago, and she's now a beautiful young woman." Her gaze fell back on Lin Xu, and after a long while, she slowly said, "I heard that you already have someone you like?"

Upon hearing this, Lin Xu hurriedly stood up and bowed deeply to the Princess and the Empress. Her pale face was lowered and hidden in the shadows, making it impossible to see her expression. Only her ears were slightly red, the shyness of a young girl just beginning to experience love.

"Your Highness, I do indeed have someone on my mind."

Rumors of various scandals and intrigues circulated endlessly in the capital. The Empress, now wielding immense power and accustomed to the treacherous intrigues of the palace, rarely encountered such tender sentiments from a young girl, and her tone softened considerably.

"Since you already have someone, then tell me. If it is someone of equal social standing, I will bestow a marriage upon you today, so as to make a good match."

Upon hearing this, the girl kneeling in the hall moved slightly, and after a moment, her voice trembled as she said, "This humble woman is deeply in love with Dou Yanxun, the second son of the Grand Historian, and I beg Your Majesty the Empress to grant my wish."

The already spacious and quiet hall became even more silent after she finished speaking.

Lin Xu knelt on the ground, feeling a chill creep up from the thick jade bricks to her knees. After what seemed like an eternity, she finally heard the Empress from above speak slowly:

"Dou Huaisheng is quite talented in literature, and his daughter is also very gifted. It is evident that they come from a family with a strong literary tradition, so they are quite a good match. Today, since the autumn wind is gentle and the sky is clear, it is an auspicious day. I will gladly play matchmaker and grant your wish."