old friend
Dou Zhen was also known as a talented woman. Even her soft praise was overheard by several elegantly dressed young ladies from aristocratic families in the distance.
A young woman in purple robes, sitting not far behind Liao Yan, lightly touched the floral decoration between her eyebrows with her fingertips and said in a melodious voice:
“Zhen’er has always been good at composing poems and couplets. We are truly blessed today.”
Lin Xu had seen her twice before, and now, only a few months later, he saw that Miao Yiyun's face was even more radiant and full of beauty.
Beside her sat a woman of elegant bearing, presumably Miao Yiyun's mother who had come with her today. The woman nodded upon hearing this and looked at Dou Zhen, saying:
"Indeed, I have heard that Miss Dou once sang a song of parting, displaying her talent and charm. She was truly a woman of exceptional talent and skill. I wonder if I will be able to feast my eyes on her today?"
Now that things have come to this point, there's no way to refuse.
Miao Yiyun and Dou Zhen were both close to the princess. On the day they were in Changchun Palace, they received an imperial edict from the empress. It is said that she has now been granted the title of Princess of Shou'an County, which is a rare honor among the noble ladies.
Lin Xu glanced at Dou Zhen with concern, only to see that although Dou Zhen looked somewhat nervous, her eyes also revealed a hint of eagerness.
With delicate features, she stood up and said with a slight smile, "Since that's the case, then Yu Se can no longer back down. Fortunately, I have the opportunity to appreciate such a snowy scene today, so I will compose a poem and present it to you all."
Upon hearing this, everyone's gaze turned to Dou Zhen.
The private relationship between the Dou family and the Prince Consort was no secret, and the youngest daughter of the Dou family was well-known. Many young men from prominent families in the capital had probably heard of her. Seeing that she had agreed, everyone looked at her with great anticipation.
Dou Zhen smiled slightly, her expression gradually calming down. She gracefully bowed to the eldest princess and her husband, who were seated in high positions, and said in a gentle tone:
"I am not very knowledgeable, so please correct me if I have any mistakes."
After speaking, she stood up, cleared her throat, and then softly recited:
"The night snow falls in a chaotic flurry, the jade branches and leaves are cold. The white dress veils the new moon, the silver light reflects the blue sky. Let us watch the wind dance, and lean on the railing to play the zither. If we find a kindred spirit, let us enjoy this night together forever."
A moment later, a chorus of exclamations of praise rose and fell within the Poetry Hall. A few simple lines, elegant and refined, not only depicted the beauty of the snow scene but also subtly conveyed a young girl's hopes; understated yet flowing like a gentle stream, everything was just right.
The eldest princess raised an eyebrow, a hint of approval flashing in her eyes, and nodded with a smile: "The Dou family's daughter is indeed exceptionally talented. With you as her study companion by the princess's side, I am naturally at ease."
Liao Qian smiled and nodded, saying, "This poem is lofty in meaning, fresh and elegant, truly a masterpiece. She is indeed a talented woman in the capital."
Upon seeing this, everyone echoed the sentiment, and several scholars at the table whispered among themselves, their words brimming with praise.
Dou Zhen smiled slightly, becoming even more composed, and took her seat amidst the praise.
Several other talented young men and men from prominent families followed suit and began reciting poems. Lin Xu calmly sipped his tea and enjoyed the snacks. Dou Zhen had performed admirably, enough to bring honor to the Dou family at today's banquet. Presumably, the Bai family would be relieved to know this.
After sitting for a while longer, someone suggested going out to the courtyard to enjoy the snow. The snow had not subsided at all that day and was now knee-deep, making it a rare sight.
Seeing that everyone was in high spirits and clamoring to go together, Lin Xu wrapped his cloak tighter and followed at the back of the crowd as they walked out.
The sound of falling snow was incessant, and several pretty young girls accompanied Miao Yiyun, strutting around with pride.
One of the women, with her hair styled in a high bun, turned back and smiled at Lin Xu and Dou Zhen before continuing on her way. That was He Miaoyi, whom they had met briefly at the Princess's residence before.
Lin Xu smiled back at her, and Dou Zhen whispered in her ear, "Who would have thought that these noble ladies, who seem to get along well, are now fighting tooth and nail to marry the Third Prince?"
She lowered her head and pulled her cloak tighter over her chest, then raised an eyebrow and looked at Dou Zhen.
Dou Zhen smiled gently, her eyes filled with indifference, "Now that my sister-in-law has married my second brother, and they are in love, she should stay away from this strife."
"So, does Miao Yiyun have the upper hand now?"
The princess of Shou'an County, who was walking at the head of the procession, was exceptionally beautiful and radiant, exuding an air of triumph.
Dou Zhen said softly:
“Miao Ling was just a dejected prince in the past, but Yi Yun was favored by the princess because she grew up with the princess. Not long ago, she was granted the title of county princess. Now she is enjoying the best of times. I think it is probably... almost certain.”
Lin Xu couldn't help but recall those days at Zhiqiong Hall. The bright and arrogant Yao Suran, the gentle and boneless Yao Su'an, had attracted the attention of several princes, but now their influence had gradually faded, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of melancholy.
"—The Yao sisters were once incredibly glamorous."
A hint of coldness flickered in Dou Zhen's eyes:
"Unfortunately, his arrogance and excessive indulgence have made him a target of public condemnation."
Everyone in Mujing knew about the scandal that Yao and her siblings had caused when Lin Youcheng's daughter came of age. Presumably to appease her, Dou Zhen held her hand even tighter.
Her tone softened slightly, and she continued:
"Since I entered the academy, I have rarely seen the two sisters. Yao Su'an came twice, but with the decline of the Duke's Mansion, it is not as good as before. Presumably, she is ashamed of being entangled in these scandals. Yao Suran has not appeared even once. The professor is very dissatisfied with the two of them, and he will probably expel them from the academy soon."
Lin Xu nodded.
Now everyone knows that the Duke of Xu has fallen out of favor with Emperor Su, and the entire Duke's mansion is now just an empty shell. Although the Duke's eldest son, Yao Qijiang, still holds military power, guarding Cizhou and holding the official rank of General Zhongwu, Cizhou is too remote. He is stationed in a foreign land for many years and cannot return to the capital, so he is also unable to help his family in their loss of power.
Yao Suran used to be proud and arrogant, only wanting to marry the Third Prince. Now, she probably can't even get a glance from ordinary noble families. Given her usual temperament, her days will likely become increasingly difficult.
The two continued walking slowly and steadily, but after a short while, a loud male voice broke the silence of the snowy landscape from behind:
"Miss Dou, watch your step."
Turning around, one sees a handsome man wearing a dark, shimmering brocade cloak, standing with one hand under the hexagonal pavilion.
The two of them had been so engrossed in their conversation that they had walked rather slowly, and now, without realizing it, they had arrived at the stream where ice floes floated, and the reeds along the water's edge were completely covered by white snow.
If he hadn't spoken up in time to warn them, the two of them might have already slipped on the reeds and fallen into the icy stream.
Dou Zhen suddenly patted her chest, feeling a lingering fear, and said:
"Thank you for your kind reminder, young master, which saved our lives. But... who are you, young master?"
The man in the pavilion smiled even more brightly, yet it was a gentle smile:
“Miss Dou called me to Wuqiao.”
Seeing that he had no intention of leaving, and that the two looked at each other with a tender expression, Lin Xu understood. He bowed from afar and then made an excuse to leave.
She walked along the barely visible cobblestone path for several dozen steps before she saw a large group of people already gathered in the flower-lined corridor, reciting poems and playing music in a lively atmosphere. Miao Yiyun, arm in arm with Liao Yan, spoke with great enthusiasm.
Liao Yan looked up and saw Lin Xu standing alone in the snow. She turned to Miao Yiyun and said a few words before striding toward her.
Lin Xu smiled gently at Liao Yan, "May the Princess be well."
Liao Yan stopped Lin Xu from bowing before she could, and said reproachfully:
"I told you long ago that you don't need to be so polite in front of me. If you continue to be so courteous in the future, I will punish you."
The two of them, having not seen each other for a long time, couldn't help but feel an extra sense of closeness. Liao Yan carefully examined Lin Xu's features, "She has finally married the person she loves; her face has changed so much."
Lin Xu laughed and said, "Princess, please don't make fun of me. But I am now as ugly as a duck's nest, losing my color among a field of flowers?"
Liao Yan said earnestly, "No, it's just that you seem much more composed than before, and your temperament seems gentler. You're quite different from before."
Seeing her serious expression, Lin Xu couldn't help but think about it more carefully.
However, since everyone had come here today for an important matter, she waited until she and Liao Yan had walked a little further into the deserted, snowy field before taking out the letter she had been carrying in her sleeve and whispering:
"This is a letter Liang Zhengyuan sent home not long ago. He said that everything in the army is safe and sound, which must be thanks to the princess's secret care. That's why I'm reporting this to you."
Liao Yan took the letter and quickly read it. Liang Zhengyuan didn't mention her at all in the letter, but even so, receiving news from afar was still a joy. Liao Yan carefully examined Liang Zhengyuan's handwriting before reluctantly returning the letter to her.
"It's good that everything is alright. Although He Qijiang's southward march was arduous, they set up camp in Huidong a few days ago. The 14th Division is brave and skilled in battle. They are the personal guards that Prince Mao personally trained in his early years, so there should be no major problems."
That being said, a closer look at Liao Yan's eyes reveals a hidden sorrow that she cannot shake off. It is unclear whether she was speaking these words to Lin Xu or to herself to compose herself.
Lin Xu then said:
"The situation in Huidong is gradually stabilizing. If we wait until they quell the bandits, they should be able to return to the capital in about a month. By then, my cousin will have had a lot of experience, and we can reward him properly. Now that he's with the army, men are strong and healthy, so any hardship he suffers is just part of his growth and development."
Liao Yan nodded and said, "It's good that you think that way."
The two watched the snowflakes fall softly, remaining silent for a long time before Liao Yan finally turned to look at her: "Has the Dou family made things difficult for you?"
Lin Xu's heart stirred, and he curled his lips into a smile, saying:
"Thank you for your concern, Princess. Everything is fine now. My parents and elder brother and sister-in-law have taken good care of me at home. Life couldn't be more peaceful and stable."
Liao Yan added, "Now that Zhiqiong Hall is no longer filled with your presence, I'm actually a little unaccustomed to it. Even that old-fashioned Fu Sheng has mentioned you in class many times, expressing his regret."
Lin Xu recalled Fu Sheng's strict demeanor in the past, as well as his own diligent efforts in getting up early to study and studying late into the night, and couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions.
In her previous life, she would never have persisted in studying for so long, let alone become the object of praise from her teachers.
Things I used to hate so much can now be overcome with surprising ease, even with the same calm indifference as after a thousand sails have passed.
For some reason, what also came to her mind was the day she returned to school, when Fu Sheng looked at her answer sheet, his brows furrowed, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.
What else did this teacher, whom she once deeply loved and respected, not say to her that day?
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
