Chapter 6 The Prince of Yan: "She and you are worlds apart."

Jingluo.

The Yuan family's residence was located in the east of Luoyang's main market.

This place was once the residence of many official families, hence the numerous fine houses and towering pagodas.

A month ago, Yuan Chaolu, the second daughter of the eldest branch of the Yuan family who had been living away from home, returned to the capital.

If this were placed in a wealthy and powerful family, it would certainly cause a great deal of discussion among the people.

However, the Yuan family's current situation is no longer what it used to be.

In the past, the head of the Yuan family was the Minister of Works, one of the Three Dukes. He was honest and upright, a model of integrity among civil officials. However, he was framed by villains and unjustly imprisoned. Fortunately, the misfortune did not affect his two younger brothers. More than ten years have passed, and the two branches of the Yuan family have been struggling in the officialdom. Although they have tried their best to support the family, they have never been able to restore their former glory.

The fact that Yuan Chaolu had entered the Yuan family was like a tiny ripple on a vast river in the bustling capital, completely unnoticed by anyone.

Soon, the attention of the people of Jingzhao was drawn to the grand entrance of the Helan family's daughter into the capital.

Why would Helan Zhen arrive in the capital ahead of schedule?

In front of the Helan Mansion, fine horses and luxury cars lined the entrance, and guests, all of them prominent figures, were there to attend Miss Helan's welcoming banquet.

Not to mention that she is the future Princess Consort of Anle County, the title of "the younger sister of the General of Zhenxi" alone is enough to make people flock to her.

Among the crowds pausing on both sides of the street, a woman wearing a veil stood quietly for a long time.

He Yi's voice came from beside her: "I remember you said that He Lanzhen's wedding was still in the autumn, how come she came so early?"

Yuan Chaolu did not answer, but only stared at the magnificent carriage with its canopy and jade chariot in the distance.

A long, gilded handle inlaid with turquoise slowly lifted the carriage curtain, revealing a maid kneeling before the carriage, using her body as a step, waiting for the distinguished guest to step on it.

Yuan Chaolu said, "If I think about it, she must have set off for Luoyang shortly after I set off."

Why the rush?

He Yi sensed something was amiss. Seeing the person beside her with an unperturbed expression, she hesitated for a moment before saying, "He Lan is as venomous as a snake. In a place like Jingluo, you two will inevitably meet sooner or later. Your engagement with the Prince of Yan is not yet finalized. If she reveals your past, I'm afraid..."

"What are you afraid of? It's Helan Zhen who should be avoiding me."

Yuan Chaolu smiled slightly, her dimples barely visible on her cheeks.

"She knows me. I'm not afraid of a fight to the death, but does she dare to gamble with her reputation? If I expose her bullying me, let's see who loses face."

"And when my elder sister visited the Helan family, she didn't reveal which family in Jingluo she belonged to; she only used an alias. Can you guess—"

The light gauze billowed in the wind, revealing her beautiful, bright eyes, which shone with a gleam.

"If Miss Helan sees me in Jingluo, will she be able to keep her composure?"

He Yi thought to herself, "That's how it is."

In stark contrast to her elder sister's gentle demeanor, Yuan Chaolu acts decisively and boldly, disregarding consequences and never considering retreat, often walking on the edge of a cliff.

It's truly unsettling.

He Yi followed her gaze and saw several elegantly dressed young men and women in the distance.

"They are the young masters and ladies from the second and third branches of the Yuan family."

Yuan Chaolu chuckled lightly: "So they don't like me and make things difficult for me at every turn in the mansion. They want to favor someone else. But with all this fawning and flattery, will Helan Zhen even give them a second glance?"

He Yi whispered a reminder: "Aju, you should be careful what you say."

Discussing someone's merits or demerits behind their back is ultimately against the proper etiquette of a noblewoman.

Yuan Chaolu immediately placed her hands on her lower abdomen, bowed her head in a lotus-patterned dress, her earrings by her temples remained steady, and even the slight curve of her neck was just right, displaying the demeanor of a virtuous lady. Her voice was also gentle and quiet.

"Chaolu understands. It's getting late, let's go back and review our lessons, okay, Sister Heyi?"

Compared to her disheveled and frail appearance when we first met, Yuan Chaolu is now dressed in a bright and beautiful robe, adorned with a jade hairpin. Her face is as radiant and beautiful as a blooming peach blossom, dazzling and captivating.

Like a precious pearl that has been covered in dust, having its dirt washed away.

However, her composure was a facade; her true nature was cunning, and such ingrained habits are hard to change overnight.

Yuan Chaolu raised her eyelids, her eyes now bright and charming, her previous composure completely gone.

In truth, He Yi herself was also of limited knowledge, so how could she possibly teach her? She could only offer some persuasive advice, saying, "The female tutor who teaches you etiquette should be arriving at the manor soon, so let's hurry back."

As Yuan Chaolu turned to leave, the beaded curtain of the carriage behind her suddenly moved, and the tinkling of jade pendants could be heard. Helan Zhen gracefully lifted the curtain and stepped out.

On a summer evening, a subtle fragrance wafted through the air, the scent of gardenias filling the air, and the shadows of flowers danced on the hem of her sultry dress.

The already beautiful young woman was made even more elegant by wearing a gorgeous dress.

Helan Zhen lifted her skirt with both hands and stepped down from the maid's back, maintaining a proper smile.

Unbeknownst to anyone, a feeling of unease welled up inside her—

The matter of selling morning dew was eventually reported to her elder brother.

With the battle raging on the front lines, my brother was distracted by that woman, so he specially dispatched his trusted elite troops back to investigate.

The letter her brother wrote to her, written in black and white, was incredibly sharp, each word like a blade, seemingly carrying a murderous aura. It was unlike anything she had written before, clearly indicating that he was extremely angry.

She knew what her brother's rage looked like; those who could earn military merit amidst mountains of corpses were like gods of war.

However, he is currently tied up in the war and cannot extricate himself for the time being.

When he returns to the mansion and questions us, that will be the real disaster.

She was terrified in the mansion, and her brother's reprimand made her set off immediately. She did so almost without hesitation and immediately set off for the capital. Half of her dowry was still on its way.

She was restless when she suddenly noticed a familiar figure flash past her peripheral vision.

He Lanzhen stiffened slightly, and when she looked again, she saw a crowd of people on the street, all of them trying to curry favor. There was no sign of the person she had imagined.

The old woman beside her reached out her hands and steadily supported her.

“Miss, you have been troubled by that wretched maid all the way here. You are worlds apart from her. What merit does that wretched maid have to make you feel this way? Besides, the general’s anger was only temporary. How could he really blame you?”

"That's natural, but..."

"In Luoyang, right under the emperor's nose, that vile woman is at most hiding in a corner of the northwest, barely clinging to life. How dare she appear in your esteemed place and defile the Helan family's honor?"

yes.

The morning dew is as different from oneself as clouds and mud.

Even if she could actually climb to Luoyang and see him, wouldn't she have to kneel down and beg for mercy?

Helan Zhen grasped the old woman's arm, the gold bracelet on her hand swaying, and said to everyone with a smile and a gentle voice, "The manor has already prepared a small feast. I am grateful to all of you for taking the time to come and attend the banquet to welcome me and wash away the dust of my journey."

"Thank you, everyone, please—"

**

As the sun gradually sets, the mansions in Luoyang's East Market are bathed in the afterglow, shimmering with golden light.

As Yuan Chaolu stepped through the west gate of the Yuan residence, He Yi said, "The last time the palace eunuchs sent word, they said that news of your arrival in the capital had been presented to His Majesty, but His Majesty is always busy with state affairs and doesn't know when he will have time. Presumably, he will handle your marriage to the Prince of Yan when the time comes. But now almost a month has passed..."

Yuan Chaolu said, "In a few days, we'll find another way to ask."

He Yi hesitated before speaking, "As for money, we don't have enough right now."

The elder sister left behind a limited amount of money. When Yuan Chaolu first came to Luoyang, she bought many things. After that, she asked her father's old friends to send messages to the palace, which cost her a large sum of money.

In reality, the second and third uncles of the Yuan family held official positions in the imperial court, so it would be much more convenient to approach them.

However, when Yuan Chaolu returned to the mansion, she was met with a lot of ridicule and, in recent days, she has suffered the cold treatment of being a dependent.

The second branch of the household was extremely stingy with her expenses and allowed the servants to treat her with disrespect. The third branch was more lenient in comparison, but remained silent on the second branch's behavior.

Ultimately, she was just an outsider.

This Yuan residence was never her home.

But how can one trust someone like Yuan Fu, whose character is so questionable?

After careful consideration, Yuan Chaolu decided to spend money to ask his father, an old friend, for help. He did not need the Yuan family's assistance for now, nor did he want to have any connection with them in the future.

Yuan Chaolu said, "Let me think about what to do carefully. Sending messages to the palace repeatedly seems too hasty. Ultimately, it's because I don't know His Majesty's attitude..."

As they were talking, they came to the flower gate and saw a female servant bowing to them, as if she had been waiting there for a long time.

"Miss, the Second Madam requests your presence."

He Yi, standing beside her, subconsciously glanced at Yuan Chaolu.

The Yuan family mansion, located in a prestigious area of ​​Luoyang, occupied only a small corner, making its layout particularly compact.

Yuan Chaolu followed behind the maids, went around the narrow path, and entered the room of Madam Yuan the Second.

The first thing that catches the eye is a small and exquisite embroidered bird-shaped floor screen. The room is dimly lit, with no lights on yet, and darkness washes in like a tide.

The middle-aged woman leaned against a sandalwood armchair, her voluptuous figure wrapped in a dark blue satin skirt. In the dim light, her phoenix eyes half-closed as she swept over people, and even from a distance, one could feel the scrutinizing gaze upon her.

Yuan Chaolu bowed and greeted her with "Aunt".

"Where did you go today, young lady?" the woman's languid voice rang out slowly.

Although Yuan Chaolu entered the Yuan family mansion, she was not included in the ranking of the young ladies in the mansion. The people in the mansion only called her "Miss," which was neither high nor low, and even the way she was addressed conveyed a sense of distance, just like outsiders.

Yuan Chaolu truthfully replied: "My niece went out to the East Market today to buy some clothes and jewelry. On the way, she encountered Miss Helan's carriage arriving in Luoyang, so she stopped to watch for a while."

The maidservant beside the second mistress said, "Has the young lady been going out too often these days?"

Yuan Chaolu raised her head and met the stern gaze of the maid.

"Although the young lady was separated from her family at a young age, she may have been somewhat lacking in manners and etiquette. The household, considering her recent arrival, has not strictly disciplined her in the past few days. However—"

The maidservant drawled, "The Yuan family has always valued etiquette and propriety. Now that you have entered the Yuan household, young lady, please do not tarnish the family's reputation."

That's why I summoned her today.

Yuan Chaolu smiled slightly: "Aunt is right."

He Yi was worried that she would offend the second madam, but she did not expect her to be so obedient.

Such an attitude surprised the people above.

The maid said, "Now that you have entered the Yuan family, you should abide by the rules. Let's set aside your past neglect of proper conduct for now, and today we will punish you by making you kneel as a small punishment. From now on, you must obtain Madam's permission before entering or leaving the mansion."

"If you agree, you may leave; if you don't, you may stay at the manor."

The maidservant secretly emphasized the word "allow".

This era was a time of transition between the old and new dynasties. In the past, wars were frequent and people lived in constant fear of death. As a result, the pursuit of pleasure was prevalent and the social customs were extremely open. However, the two branches of the Yuan family were extremely conservative under the management of the second wife.

Yuan Chaolu did not respond.

Madam Yuan was in low spirits, and she smoothed her sleeves, already extremely impatient.

The maid said, “Miss, are you unwilling? You and your sister have both come to the Yuan family one after the other. Madam took you in out of consideration for our past relationship and provided you with food, clothing and lodging. She has already done more than enough. But you come from the countryside and are not good at manners. You have repeatedly offended the people in the mansion. Madam wanted to teach you with great care, but you feel wronged. Why don’t you pack your bags and leave the mansion tonight? Madam will not stop you.”

Upon hearing this, He Yi felt a surge of anger.

Yuan Chaolu was of Yuan family blood, so how could he be "taken in"?

The maid said, "In fact, when your elder sister first entered the mansion, she also followed the madam's teachings very carefully."

Yuan Chaolu's expression remained unchanged. Only after hearing the second half of the sentence did she raise her eyes and say, "Did my elder sister also kneel like this before?"

Madam Yuan Er straightened the wrinkles in her sleeves and said calmly, "Of course, this is the proper etiquette. There are many powerful and influential people in the capital. If you offend them because of your rudeness, it will implicate the entire Yuan family. Your elder sister is much more sensible than you."

The maid's lips drooped, and she said sternly, "Has the young lady thought it through?"

Either stay in the Yuan family today, be disciplined according to family rules, and obediently bow your head as a dependent in the future, or leave the mansion immediately, stop identifying yourself as a daughter of the Yuan family, and have nothing to do with each other from now on.

The former wanted to establish his authority and subdue her, while the latter wanted to get rid of the burden completely.

Madam Yuan received no response, and her expression grew cold.

Seeing this, the servant woman reached out to restrain Yuan Chao's shoulders and force her to kneel down before Yuan Chao could utter a sound.

Yuan Chaolu stepped back and laughed, "His Majesty just cleared my father's name and overturned the verdict, and my aunt is already kicking me out of the mansion. People should really admire my aunt's kindness and compassion, for not taking advantage of an orphan with no one to rely on."

Upon hearing the words "Your Majesty," the maidservant cast an inquiring glance at Madam Yuan.

Madam Yuan frowned and tapped the table lightly with her fingertips. Immediately, four rough-looking old women rushed forward. Two of them grabbed He Yi's arms behind her back and forced her to kneel on the ground, while the other two approached Yuan Chaolu's side.

The two sides are deadlocked.

Just then, a sound of footsteps approached, and a maid walked in from outside, her steps unusually hurried.

The maid asked, "What's the matter that you're in such a hurry?"

"Reporting to Madam," the maidservant knelt, panting, "it is the Prince of Yan. His Highness has sent someone to the residence, and they have already arrived at the gate."

Madam Yuan, who had been fanning herself, suddenly stood up: "The Prince of Yan's mansion has never had any dealings with us before, so why is this happening today... Quickly, invite His Highness the Prince of Yan's people to take their seats."

The maidservant stood up and hesitated before looking at Yuan Chaolu.

"The man said it was related to the young lady's marriage and requested to see her."

marriage.

The voice was neither too loud nor too soft, but just enough to reach everyone in the room.

The atmosphere inside the room froze for a moment.

Yuan Chaolu felt being looked at from all sides. She pulled her arm away from the nanny's grasp, gave a graceful bow, and said, "Please forgive me, Madam. I will go and greet the guests first."

The two figures disappeared around the screen.

The second wife's hands, which were supporting her on the edge of the table, trembled slightly, and fine beads of sweat appeared between her brows.

The Prince of Yan?

As the current emperor's younger brother and a member of the imperial family, the Prince of Yan was granted the title of a prince before he even reached adulthood. He also held important positions in the Ministry of Personnel, command of the imperial guards, and the governorship of three prefectures. Yet, he was kept in Luoyang and did not leave his fiefdom for a long time. The extent of his favor was unprecedented in the court and among the people.

How could a woman, new to Luoyang, possibly be able to befriend such a person?

It seems unbelievable no matter how you look at it, but the Prince of Yan's men were indeed in the mansion.

The second wife snapped out of her daze, her back already drenched in cold sweat. She raised her head, summoned the person beside her, and said with a slightly dark look in her eyes, "Go and find out what the Prince of Yan's men have to say to her."

"yes."

After the servants left, Madam Yuan remained seated in the dim light for a long time before finally speaking in a hoarse voice: "Go and tell the master to return to the manor early tonight, as there are important matters to discuss with him."

**

Yuan Chaolu's small courtyard is located in a secluded corner of the Yuan Mansion.

This courtyard is only a small space, but upon entering it, one can see the crabapple blossoms just beginning to bloom in the corner, the lush vegetation, and the subtle fragrance that wafts through the breeze, clearly a testament to the meticulous care of the lady of the house.

In the setting sun, a tall, slender figure stood silently in the courtyard.

The man bowed respectfully to the faintly visible figure behind the screen inside the room.

"I am Ye Shu, the personal bodyguard of the Prince of Yan. I have come today to convey a message to the young lady on behalf of the Prince of Yan."

A note from the author:

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One by one, the characters from the capital city made their appearance.