Chapter 146 She Can’t Be Moved by Xie Guanlan

Hundreds of ancestral tablets quietly watched everything that happened in the ancestral hall.

The family rules on the black lacquered cloud-patterned four-legged desk were so long that they dragged onto the floor tiles.

Wen Xingluo lowered his eyes and looked at the words written by the young man on the rice paper. The words were written with iron strokes and silver hooks, densely packed with discipline and self-control.

The snow light shone through the clamshell window, like countless pear blossoms in full bloom.

Wen Xingluo stretched out his hand to hold it, but failed to grasp the snow light.

So she lowered her head and began to sort and collect the boxes.

It's so cold.

I forgot to put on my cloak when I went out.

It’s so cold tonight.

If she had known it was going to snow, she wouldn't have come.

She began to tremble all over, and her shaking fingertips could hardly hold the box.

It was unknown how long it took before she finally finished packing.

She raised her head and smiled gently and brightly at Xie Guanlan, "Brother is right. You are the prince of the Zhenbei Palace. The elders have devoted their efforts to you and have high hopes for you. I know that you have responsibilities and must not damage your reputation and go astray. Brother will definitely be able to... achieve your wish."

The girl tried hard to open her almond-shaped eyes wide and round, looking innocent and naive.

In the snow, a layer of crimson quickly spread over the corners of her eyes and the tip of her nose.

When she was about to cry, she lowered her head, stood up, and bowed deeply to Xie Guanlan.

She was carrying the savings box and walked past Xie Guanlan with light steps.

But the moment he stepped out of the threshold of the ancestral hall, his knees went weak and he almost fell to the ground.

She held on to the door frame tightly, tears rolling silently down her cheeks.

She knew that the man had excellent hearing, so she bit her lips tightly and dared not make any sound. She stumbled with every step and struggled through the snow.

The guilt she felt towards her grandmother was even stronger than the wind and snow tonight, almost bending her back.

She likes Zhenbei Palace very much.

I love my grandmother and mother very much, and I love my father and my brothers very much.

Xie Guanlan is their hard work and hope.

She couldn't destroy him.

Don't be tempted.

Don't cross the line.

Don't ruin his reputation.

No, it would become a stain on him...

After walking for an unknown distance, the girl finally collapsed to her knees in despair as the snow and hail blew towards her face.

The cakes in the box were scattered all over the floor.

She clutched her clothes tightly and cried out loudly in the snowy night.

When I live my life again, I always think that everything is under my control. After experiencing wealth and glory, I want to taste the taste of love unscrupulously.

I only realized tonight that the thing was a medicine wrapped in honey. When I swallowed it, once the honey melted, all that was left was a bitter taste that was more piercing than the wind and snow.

The shadows of the trees sway.

Mu Zhiqiu stood in the corridor holding a lunch box, staring coldly at Wen Xingluo in the distance.

Mu Dong stood behind her and asked in surprise, "Why is she crying?"

"Of course I cry because I can't help myself, because I can't get the love I want." Mu Zhiqiu smiled. "This brother and sister in the Zhenbei Palace are really interesting. One is copying the family rules in the ancestral hall, and the other is crying in the snow. They really look like a pair of... star-crossed mandarin ducks."

Mu Dong was shocked. "Sister, what you mean is that the two of them..."

Seeing Mu Zhiqiu smiling but saying nothing, Mu Dong also smiled, "I see! I thought the Zhenbei Palace was so noble and clean, but it turns out it's a filthy place! Sister, are you still going to send the chicken soup you made yourself to Xie Guanlan?"

"He's in a bad mood tonight, why should I bother myself?" Mu Zhiqiu smiled and walked back, "Let's go back to the room and sleep."

Walking through the corridor, she looked back at Wen Xingluo through the snow.

It seems that the old concubine has already known about their dirty deeds.

If she could use the charity sale to publicize the affair between Wen Xingluo and Xie Guanlan, the Zhenbei Palace would surely be anxious to arrange a marriage for Xie Guanlan in order to cover up the scandal.

Shu County is a border area.

How could the noble ladies here compare to Mu Zhiqiu, who was both knowledgeable, talented and beautiful?

By then, it might be a good opportunity for her to marry Xie Guanlan...

Heavy snow fell for several days in a row.

Wen Xingluo claimed to be ill and could not go out until the sky cleared and Nanny Chen came to invite her personally. Then she dressed up again and went to Wansong Courtyard to pay her respects to the old empress dowager.

When she was feeling anxious, the old concubine's attitude was still kind and compassionate. She gently stroked the back of her hand and said, "Ningning has lost weight."

Wen Xingluo lowered his head.

The old concubine embraced her in her arms and comforted her, "Your eldest brother is a scoundrel who has never cared about your reputation. From now on, Ningning should avoid him. Next spring, when the flowers bloom, grandmother will personally choose a good one for you."

Wen Xingluo buried his head in her arms.

She wanted to tell the old man that she was the one who was moved, the one who crossed the line, and the one who was reckless.

But when she met the old woman's helpless gaze, and saw her temples had turned mostly white in just a few days, Wen Xingluo finally swallowed everything and just nodded obediently.

Mu Zhiqiu came in from outside, took off his cloak and handed it to the maid.

Glancing at the much thinner Wen Xingluo, she smiled meaningfully and said, "Sister Wen, why have you lost weight?"

Wen Xingluo sat down on the armchair and picked up a cup of hot tea. "I've been ill and bedridden lately. Sister Mu lives in the palace, but you've never heard of her? I thought Sister Mu treated me like a real sister, but I didn't expect you to not only not visit me, but you didn't even know I was sick."

Her tone was coquettish, like the teasing between two sisters.

However, Mu Zhiqiu's cold-heartedness was clearly revealed to the old concubine.

Mu Zhiqiu choked and subconsciously glanced at the old concubine.

Seeing that the old man looked normal and showed no sign of anger, she smiled and said, "I've been very busy organizing the charity sale recently and haven't been able to think about Sister Wen. Since I met you here, I'm going to hold a charity sale at Jinweizhai tomorrow. Sister, you must come and support me."

After a pause, the smile on her face deepened. "There's a very special Kongming lantern at tomorrow's charity sale. I think my sister will like it very much."

Wen Xingluo skimmed the foam from the tea, a cold look on her lips, "Since it's a good thing, I naturally won't miss it."

What happened between her and Xie Guanlan must not be known to outsiders.

No matter what the cost, she must keep this secret, not to damage the reputation of Zhenbei Palace and Xie Guanlan, and not to make her grandmother sad at her age.

Coming out of Wansong Courtyard, there was a thin layer of snow in the courtyard, and the branches were all crystal clear.

Wen Xingluo turned around the blue brick path, but met Xie Guanlan at the corner.

She subconsciously looked up at him.

He looked a little haggard, with two dark circles under his eyes.

When she met his dark gaze, she immediately lowered her head again.

She bowed and said softly, "Hello, brother."

Xie Guanlan looked at her.

"Ningning has lost weight, you should eat well." These words came to her lips, but were swallowed silently again and again.

He walked over in silence.

When they passed by each other, Wen Xingluo saw that the amulet she had given him was still fastened on his jade belt.

I don’t know how long it had been touched, but the words on the talisman had become a little blurred.