"Is Feng Yan here?" Consort Duan called out towards the door.
Feng Yan, standing outside, said, "Your Majesty, I am here."
"Come in."
Feng Yan paused, not daring to go in without his master's orders.
Lu Xiaoyun said, "Come in."
As soon as Feng Yan entered the room, Consort Duan straightened up and bowed deeply to him.
Startled, Feng Yan knelt down with a thud: "Your Highness, I dare not."
"I did something wrong, and I should apologize to you."
"No, Your Highness, I dare not."
Lu Xiaoyun waved to Feng Yan: "You can go out now."
Feng Yan bowed to Consort Duan again before getting up and leaving.
It was already late at night when Lu Xiaoyun and Lu Yuyan came out of Yunmei Garden.
"Ah Yan, Consort Duan's legs really are..."
Lu Yuyan shook his head: "She knelt in the cold wind for five hours. I think she doesn't want to live anymore."
"You mean..."
Lu Yuyan nodded: "Although her leg was severely injured, I could have healed her because of timely treatment. But she refused. Also, elder sister, Consort Duan often harms herself, and her body is covered with cuts and wounds from knives or hairpins."
"She, how could she..."
I wonder what Zhu Yu would think if he found out.
Inside the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, Zhu Yu tightly gripped the bright yellow imperial edict. His already thin and pale hands now showed prominent veins on the back.
Li Feng carefully served her from the side, not daring to breathe too loudly.
Miss is much better now, but it must have been really tough for her.
When Lu Yucheng stepped inside, he saw Zhu Yu sitting blankly by the window, staring at the bare apricot tree outside, seemingly lost in thought.
"Xiaoyun." Lu Yucheng poured a glass of warm water and handed it to Zhu Yu.
Zhu Yu slowly turned his head, his eyes stinging, his voice hoarse: "Brother."
"Have a sip of water to soothe your throat."
Zhu Yu silently took the cup and lowered his head to stroke the rim of it.
He knew that this matter could not be blamed on Lu Yucheng at all. If he put himself in her shoes, he would think that Ruoling was being treated like this in her husband's family, and that her husband had written a divorce agreement.
He would do the same; he wouldn't be Zhu Yu if he didn't beat the other person so badly that they couldn't get out of bed for three months.
Lu Yucheng pulled up a chair and sat down in front of Zhu Yu: "Xiao Yun, this time my father and I will stay in Shengjing for half a year before returning to the Southern Frontier."
"Six months?"
Lu Yucheng said indifferently, "Yes, as you know, I will be twenty-three years old after the New Year. My father wants me to get married before returning to the Southern Frontier."
Zhu Yu looked up at Lu Yucheng, feeling that there was something else behind his words.
"Does my brother have a girl he likes?"
Lu Yucheng shook his head: "No."
"So you'll get married in six months?"
Lu Yucheng didn't look at Zhu Yu: "Anyway, it's all arranged marriage, decided by parents."
It doesn't matter who I marry.
Lu Yucheng changed the subject: "You'll come with us to southern Xinjiang then."
Zhu Yu's eyes widened in disbelief: "Brother, you mean, you're going to take me with you to the Southern Frontier?"
Lu Yucheng nodded: "Yes, Father and I are worried about leaving you alone in Shengjing."
He ruffled Zhu Yu's hair: "How is it? You can be with us every day from now on, aren't you happy?"
Zhu Yu smiled bitterly; he was happy, but he wanted to cry.
Six months later, he and Lu Xiaoyun switched back, and he would never see her again.
Zhu Yu felt an excruciating pain, as if his heart was being ripped out.
He wanted to say he didn't want to go to the southern border, but what if Lu Xiaoyun was willing? What if she wanted to be with her father and brothers?
Zhu Yu finally lowered his head and said nothing.
Two maids came in carrying something, and Zhu Yu recognized them.
Lu Yucheng said, "These are your things from the Prince An's residence. I had someone bring them to you this morning. I didn't have them bring the clothes and jewelry you bought there."
“Brother…” Zhu Yu felt a sharp soreness in his throat and his eyes reddened slightly.
Lu Yucheng smiled and patted Zhu Yu's head: "You are the eldest daughter of my Zhenguo Duke's Mansion. What kind of good things can't you have? The weather is gradually getting warmer. Listen to me, take good care of your injuries."
"Once your injuries have healed a bit, your brother will take you out for a walk to clear your head."
Zhu Yu gave a wry smile.
At the same time, Qi Shaocheng of the Yongbo Marquis's residence also learned of the news that His Highness Prince An and Lu Xiaoyun had divorced.
He was sitting in his study, holding a book, but his mind was elsewhere.
Lady Yongbo brought in a bowl of ginseng soup: "Shaocheng, you've been in the study for half the day. Come, get up and stretch your legs, have some ginseng soup."
"Mother, what brings you here?" Qi Shaocheng quickly stood up and helped his mother sit down.
Lady Yongbo glanced at him and said, "I came to see you. I brought you the book of noble ladies that Miss Lu drew for you."
"Mother, don't worry about me. I know what I'm doing."
Lady Yongbo patted his arm: "You know what's going on. If you knew what's going on, you wouldn't still be unwilling to get married!"
Qi Shaocheng lowered his head and remained silent. He would be twenty-six after the New Year, and it would indeed be unreasonable for him not to get married soon.
But he didn't want to marry a woman he didn't like.
"Although so much happened at the palace banquet yesterday, those things have nothing to do with us, so just listen to them and let it go. But I observed you carefully. Shen Shuyi, the second daughter of Minister Shen of the Court of State Ceremonial, is gentle and dignified, and her appearance and character are also first-class. Yesterday, she sat upright the whole time and did not listen to those filthy things at all. She is a very good girl."
"mother……"
Lady Yongbo said unhappily, "Don't interrupt. I've already inquired for you. Miss Shen will be of marriageable age in February this year, but she's not engaged yet. I just came to tell you so you're aware of the situation. I've sent a formal invitation, and tomorrow I'll prepare some gifts and go to Lord Shen's residence to talk to her mother. If they're also interested, then we can finalize your marriage after Miss Shen's coming-of-age ceremony."
"Mother, why the rush?"
Lady Yongbo glared at him: "Why aren't you in a hurry anymore? Good girls are like good items in a shop, there are plenty of people vying for them! If you're a step slow, someone else will snatch them up first. So many ladies and gentlemen were there yesterday, do you think only your mother has sharp eyes and no one else saw them?"
Qi Shaocheng lowered his head and remained silent.
Lady Yongbo placed the ginseng soup in front of him: "Drink it quickly. I have already discussed this matter with your father, and he also thinks it is excellent. I will not allow you to disagree. Your father also said that Minister Shen of the Court of State Ceremonial is an upright and good official, and his wife is no less so. A child raised in such a family is bound to be good."
"Get married soon, so your father and I can hold our grandson. You can do whatever you want, I can't control you anymore."
Lady Yongbo took the booklet from Zhu Yu, turned to the page with Shen Shuyi's name on it, and pushed it in front of Qi Shaocheng: "Take a look for yourself."
After saying that, he left with his maid.
Qi Shaocheng didn't look at the portrait above; instead, he stared intently at the delicate handwriting on it, lost in thought.
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