Chapter 10

Leng Xueran glanced up at the person leaving the house, then turned to look at the newly opened lotus leaves in the pond and fell silent.

Outside the second gate, a man stood at the bottom of the steps. Seeing Xi Yimin emerge, he bowed and said, "Master, these past two days someone has been carrying your portrait, searching everywhere for someone." Hearing this, Xi Yimin knew who it was. The only person who wanted to find her, and whose name and appearance she knew, was from the Leng family. She wondered if it was Leng Ying or Leng Shouqing looking for her. But it didn't matter; they would meet anyway.

When they returned to the garden, Leng Xue Ran was still staring blankly at the lotus leaves in the pond, oblivious to Xi Yi Min's arrival. The young man stood beside her without disturbing her, gazing at the girl looking at the lotus leaves. This added a touch of warmth and comfort to the garden, making her longing for home even stronger. A slight smile appeared on her lips as she asked, "What are you thinking about, Xue Ran?" Xi Yi Min paused, turning to look at the person standing beside her, and said leisurely, "The purpose of the person who invited me here is questionable. If I had truly won Young Master Xi's heart, why do I not see his sincerity? I see only two or three servants in the mansion; it seems Young Master Xi doesn't reside here permanently." "Xue Ran is mistaken. This Xi mansion is my permanent residence; I simply prefer peace and quiet. As for sincerity, you will see it in a few days."

A few days later, at dawn, a carriage stopped outside the gate of the residence. A pair of beautiful women walked out of the gate, attracting the attention of passersby. The two got into the carriage, and the carriage headed towards the Leng residence.

In the guest hall of the Leng residence, General Leng Shouqing, his face frosty, sat in the main seat. His voice, tinged with melancholy, said, "Haoshan, Godfather—" Before he could finish, Xi Yimin interrupted, "Godfather, how have you been? Haoshan has come to propose marriage." Leng Xueran, standing nearby, had stared at the two of them in astonishment when she heard her father address Xi Yimin as Haoshan. It was truly laughable; they were being toyed with like monkeys. But hearing the man propose marriage so casually only made it more ridiculous. She wanted to see how her father would respond. But Leng Shouqing looked at Xi Yimin with a terrified expression, his voice trembling slightly: "Haoshan, this is a joke, you can't just say things like that..." The young man interrupted, "How does Godfather know I'm not speaking the truth sincerely? My feelings for Xue Ran are genuine, I beg Godfather to grant my request." Leng Shouqing knew perfectly well that Xi Yimin, the former Guan Haoshan, was a woman, as confirmed by his daughter Leng Ying. How could he dare agree? How could he tolerate this ill-fated relationship? It was impossible before, but now... now he didn't know if he could control himself. "Besides, everyone in the capital saw Xue Ran and I come to the Leng residence together from the Xi residence!" Hearing this, Leng Xue Ran looked at the young man coldly. So this was your purpose. Xi Yimin looked at Leng Xueran with affectionate eyes and said softly, "Xueran, are you willing... are you willing to be the mistress of the Xi family?" Leng Xueran almost mistook his gaze for genuine affection, but how could she easily believe such superficiality? She said, "Young Master Xi, you've come to propose marriage so hastily, is this what you call sincerity?" "Xueran feels my sincerity is insufficient? In that case, I'll try again tomorrow, okay?" She hadn't meant it that way, but those were the words that came out. Hearing his words, her face flushed slightly, and she hurriedly said, "That's not what I meant. Since ancient times, marriage has been arranged by parents and matchmakers..." "How can you decide?" "That's true. I am Xi Yimin, originally from Fengcheng. I am an only child from a merchant family. Although my status is low, my wealth will surely ensure that Xue Ran has no worries about food and clothing, and enjoys endless riches and honors." Turning back to Leng Shouqing, he said, "Father, are you willing to grant Haoshan's wish?" "Haoshan, do you know your own identity? How can you marry?" Xi Yimin laughed instead, "What identity do you mean by 'my identity'? Is it that of a traitor, or a woman?" Hearing this, Leng Xue Ran looked at the person who spoke so calmly with horrified eyes. Such a shocking thing was nothing to her? Leng Shouqing exclaimed in surprise, "You, since you knew, why did you still do such a thing!" The young man smiled and said, "I suppose my godfather knows the truth about the traitor's name, so I won't explain. But what's wrong with me, a woman, marrying? You're allowed to commit the crime of deceiving the emperor, but I can't do this thing I want?" "I! I won't agree!" Leng Xue Ran cried out in alarm. Xi Yimin turned around and smiled at her, saying, "But your father will agree, right, godfather! I think Xue Ran misses her mother very much." Hearing this, Leng Shouqing looked at Xi Yimin with a look of horror. She was threatening him, but he was truly afraid of this threat. Helplessly looking at the two of them, he sighed and said weakly, "Xue Ran, I'm sorry!"

"Father! What's wrong with Mother? Why is she being threatened by her!"

"Xue Ran, your father can't tell you now, but you'll find out later. Just do it for your mother's sake and agree to her request!"

The next day, at dawn, six carriages were parked outside the gate of the south mansion of Leng. The carriages were loaded with a dazzling array of goods. A young man dressed in white, holding a folding fan, wearing a brocade belt and black boots, stepped out of the mansion and boarded the carriage at the gate with a smile on his face. The carriage slowly drove towards Leng's mansion.

In Leng's residence, inside Leng Xue Ran's boudoir, Leng Shouqing looked at the empty room. A letter lay on the table, clearly indicating that Leng Xue Ran had run away from home. His face was filled with sorrow as he looked at everything before him. How could he explain this to the person waiting in the guest hall? Helpless, Leng Shouqing returned to the guest hall. Seeing Leng Shouqing enter, he exclaimed happily, "Father-in-law, Xue Ran doesn't want to come out to see me!" Hearing the address of "father-in-law," Leng Shouqing felt extremely awkward. Should he really agree to this absurd marriage? But what about his Ye'er? He didn't want her to return to that cold palace, even if she didn't want him. Seeing Leng Qingshou remain silent, Xi Yimin chuckled again, "Father-in-law, have you changed your mind?" Leng Qingshou said helplessly, "It's not that I don't want Xue Ran to come out, it's that she's already run away from home." He then took out a letter. Xi Yimin took the letter, glanced at it, and said seriously, "She's gone, but the marriage still needs to be arranged. I'll find her myself, and the marriage will be set for next spring. Father-in-law, what do you think?" Looking at the man determined to marry his daughter, he said coldly, "Why do you have to retaliate against your adoptive father like this? Your adoptive father was forced into this situation; he couldn't disobey the emperor's orders, which is why he chased after you. Didn't he deliberately let you go? Your adoptive father is now very regretful! He should have given up this official position..." He fell silent before finishing his sentence: How could he easily give up this official position? If he did, what would happen to Ye'er? She didn't want to leave, how could he let her go!

Xi Yimin sneered, "Regret? Haha, were my men really that innocent to die so violently? How laughable! Besides, how do you know I didn't genuinely like Xue Ran?" Leng Shouqing stared at the person in front of him in astonishment and said angrily, "Father thought you were just retaliating against me by making such an absurd request, and that you would repent and realize your mistake later. Now it seems I was wrong!"

"Haha, Godfather has made more than just one mistake."

"Haoshan, your godfather was wrong. Please let Xue Ran go."

"Oh no! I risked my life for you, but I've been accused of colluding with foreign invaders and plotting to usurp the throne. The Guan Haoshan of the past is dead!"

"This charge was determined by the Emperor; how can my godfather change it!"

"Was it really the Emperor who decided this? Was there no one else involved? According to my investigation, your Leng family played a significant role, otherwise, would the Emperor have so easily convicted me of this crime?" Upon hearing this, Leng Shouqing looked at the smiling man in front of him with disbelief. How could Xi Yimin know the real reason behind this? He said in a trembling voice, "But Xue Ran is innocent. She knows nothing. She doesn't even know about her mother's affairs. Why drag her into this quagmire?"

How do you know I dragged her into this quagmire?

"Otherwise, why are you so determined to marry Xue Ran!"

"For no particular reason, just because I like it!"

"you....."

"No need to say anything more, the marriage will be set for next spring, on the sixth day of the third month!" With that, he turned and left the Leng residence.

Back at the Xi residence, Xi Yimin summoned the guard he had sent to protect Leng Xueran and asked, "Where has the eldest daughter of the Leng family gone?" The guard replied, "Your Majesty, Miss Leng rode out of the capital at midnight last night, heading south. She's about thirty li from the capital now."