53 Fate
◎He wouldn't be a homosexual without a reason.◎
After hearing her daughter's faint words, Mrs. Meng realized what was happening and laughed.
But she only has this one daughter, and she always hopes that Xier can find a suitable husband.
All parents share the same feelings. Madam Meng asked, "His Majesty and the Empress held a banquet today to select a concubine for Prince Zhao. Has anything come of it?"
Gu Ningxi said honestly, "I don't know."
Madam Meng was surprised: "All the most outstanding ladies in Kyoto who are unmarried are in the palace today. How could His Royal Highness Prince Zhao not take a fancy to any of them?"
Gu Ningxi thought for a moment. He had spent all his time admiring the flowers playing chess with himself. Later, during the banquet, Prince Zhao hadn't paid any special attention to anyone.
The nobles were very picky, and Madam Meng said that this was normal, but she felt more and more that His Royal Highness Prince Zhao was not a good match.
Mrs. Meng, a seasoned woman, spoke from the heart to her daughter: "When you marry, if you're not destined to be in love with someone, you must choose a husband who loves you, not just someone you like. The former will respect and love you more."
A favored son of heaven like His Royal Highness Prince Zhao, an invincible General of Heavenly Strategy, could easily attract the hearts of women in the boudoir. But if she were to marry him, how much sympathy would she receive from a husband so busy with government affairs? Only she herself knew the pain of marrying into a higher position.
"His Royal Highness Prince Zhao is not a heartless person, and..." Gu Ningxi hesitated for a long time, but couldn't help but ask, "Mother, do I really have to get married?"
Do I have to rely on my husband's conscience and compassion for my whole life?
"This..." Madam Meng was speechless for a moment, and could only say habitually, "How can you not get married? Having children is a natural human desire."
Mrs. Meng sat up straight. She had originally thought that Xi'er had only been unwilling to get married for the past two or three years. Could it be that—
Madam Meng said, "Don't worry. Your father has left you a way out."
The Marquis had told her the truth some time ago. When she gave birth to Xi'er, the Marquis's Mansion also sent a baby girl to the villa outside the capital.
When Xi'er wants to change her identity back someday, she can say that she gave birth to twins, a boy and a girl. However, because her daughter was weak, and the fortune teller said that raising two children together would be incompatible, he sent the legitimate daughter to the outskirts of Beijing for safety.
"really?"
Madam Meng nodded: "After all, your father still loves you and has made every possible effort for you."
Gu Ningxi held back her words. Many eyes were fixed on the Gu family. With such a risky excuse, she didn't think her family would take such a risk for her identity change.
She only hopes that the day will come when her identity will never be changed back.
Gu Ningxi had no intention of arguing with her mother at home; it would be useless even if she won.
Besides, she also knew that she was lucky to be able to study in the Imperial College and experience a different world.
Gu Ningxi sighed. There were not many options for women in the world, but she had been dressed as a man since she was young. She passed the imperial examination and became an official. She had the opportunity to find a new path.
Even though Gu Ningxi had discussed this with her mother several times, how could she change her mother's lifelong obsession with it with just a few words? The conversations usually ended on a sour note.
Ironically, the opportunity to go to school when she was young was rare for her, but such a smooth path was common for men, who seemed to be born with superior qualifications.
Why?
It was late at night, and Gu Ningxi didn't want to have a long speech with her mother. What she had seen and learned shouldn't be used in arguments with her mother.
She only said, "I understand. I will think about it carefully. Don't worry, mother."
…
The next morning, Lu Jing, who had stayed overnight in Ruihe Palace, was summoned by his father to the Taiji Palace to pay his respects.
Empress Yao was also there, and Lu Jing had breakfast with the emperor and the empress. Emperor Mingde then ordered someone to go to the side hall to summon the diviner to come and question him.
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Lu Jing had to summon the fortune teller for no reason and thought it was because of the unusual astrological signs.
Empress Yao smiled and said, "Your father wants to calculate your destiny. I heard that Master Li's divination is very accurate."
Emperor Mingde instructed him: "Your marriage fate has not yet been determined, please have someone tell your fortune later."
The Crown Prince is married, and Chengyu has also chosen a wife for the Huai Prince, and they will be married next year. Only Qi'an has remained alone. If Yiwen knew about this, he would probably be heartbroken that he was partial to one and unfair to their Qi'an.
The emperor had made up his mind, and Lu Jing had no choice but to obey.
Soon, Li Ji welcomed Li Taibu into the hall.
The old man was over seventy years old, with white hair and beard, and he did look a bit like an immortal.
He had been serving in the palace since the previous dynasty, and had gone through three dynasties. No matter how the political situation changed, he always sat on the position of Taibu.
Emperor Mingde exempted Li Taibu from all formalities and told him to start calculating directly.
The attendants brought forward a ceremonial plate. It consisted of two plates, one for heaven and one for earth: the heavenly plate was round, the other for earthly, square. Inscribed upon it were astronomy, geography, and the calendar. Next, there was yarrow, said to be a spiritual medium. The tortoise shell, which Li Taibu always carried with him, had patterns of varying depths and a faint luster, a testament to its age.
Such a scene makes people believe it at first.
Lu Jing watched Li Taibu's fortune-telling. In fact, no matter what the hexagram said, his marriage had already been determined.
But if my father knew about this, he would probably have to kick him out of the house.
Li Taibu was concentrating on his calculations, and Emperor Mingde waited patiently without urging him.
After an unknown amount of time, Li Taibu gathered the things in his hands and carefully placed the tortoise shell back into the box.
After a while, his aged voice rang out, "Your Majesty, I have observed the Qian Xiang (Emperor's celestial image) and the Kun Yu (Emperor's chariot) above, using the patterns burned on tortoise shells and deduce with yarrow stalks. The hexagram 'Xian' appears in the sixth line, which reads, 'Xian's tendons are ominous, but auspicious in the center.' This is a sign that a good match has arrived. I boldly assert that Your Highness Prince Zhao's ideal partner must be in the capital. Furthermore, Your Highness has already met your ideal partner. You only need to wait patiently for time to fulfill your match made in heaven."
Thinking of Yuan Le, Lu Jing's words made some sense. Emperor Mingde asked, "Then who is Prince Zhao's ideal partner, and where is she in Kyoto?"
"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I have no way of knowing such secrets."
Empress Yao wanted to console the Emperor, telling him not to rush into things, but considering his deep love for his son, her position prevented her from speaking.
Li Taibu sat down and saluted: "Your Majesty, I have one more thing to say."
"speak."
"The hexagram indicates a 'returning soul' situation, with the black tortoise and the soaring snake entwined, a sign of karma from past lives."
After these words were spoken, not only did Lu Jing's expression become more focused, but Emperor Mingde and Empress Yao also listened attentively.
"In a previous life in Kyoto, Your Highness and your beloved were childhood sweethearts. However, fate played tricks on them, hindering them from encountering war or being separated by the Yin and Yang. Their deep love was short-lived, leaving only a half-song of parting. In this life, the Red Luan star has reappeared, a testament to the unfinished bond. All that remains is for Your Highness to follow the destined breath, continue their unfinished earthly bond, make up for the regrets of their past life, and finally fulfill their promise of growing old together."
The cause and effect of the past life... Lu Jing looked thoughtful. Was there any previous connection between him and Yuan Le?
…
After respectfully bidding farewell to the Empress and His Royal Highness Prince Zhao, Li Ji, on the Emperor's orders, summoned Li Taibu back to the Taiji Palace.
This time, His Majesty did not leave a third person in the palace. Li Ji closed the palace door and personally guarded outside the palace.
Emperor Mingde said in a deep voice, "You just divined for Prince Zhao, but did you figure out his fate?"
Li Taibu remained respectful and said, "Your Majesty, please allow me to report."
The tortoise shell is hidden in his sleeve. His Royal Highness King Zhao received the mandate from heaven, established his rule over the country, and brought benefits to the world. It seems that he has the destiny of a true dragon.
But how could Li Taibu dare to say such words? He observed the celestial phenomena and also read the hearts of the people. Your Majesty is in the prime of life, and has a crown prince as the heir. How could he be willing to see a third person with the appearance of the supreme ruler?
Even his most beloved son might not be able to tolerate it.
If his divination caused a great uproar in the court, I am afraid he would not live long.
Li Taibu said, "Your Highness Prince Zhao has an extraordinary destiny, like a green pine standing in the snow, a pristine jade hiding its brilliance. His achievements will be outstanding, and he will surely protect the peace of the country and become a legend for generations to come."
The seemingly correct answer made Emperor Mingde ponder for a long time: "What else does the hexagram mean?"
Li Taibu broke out in a cold sweat on his back as he could hear the dissatisfaction in the emperor's words.
He said respectfully, "Your Majesty, please forgive me for being so bold. Your Highness seems to be facing a life-or-death crisis after reaching the age of thirty."
"What did you say?" Emperor Mingde immediately put aside his distracting thoughts and asked, "What calamity is this, and how can it be resolved?"
Li Taibu was apprehensive: "My training is limited, and it is difficult for me to discern the divine secrets. But the tortoise shell is magical, and Your Highness Prince Zhao can avert this calamity. The key lies in that good man."
He knelt on the ground with trembling knees. "I am a mere mortal, extremely dull, and cannot possibly understand the mystery of destiny. I beg Your Majesty to forgive me."
Emperor Mingde ordered him to calculate again. Fate might not always come true, but regardless, Qi'an's marriage should be carefully arranged.
…
"Your Highness, urgent news from Hebei."
In the study of Prince Zhao's mansion, Lu Jing read the secret report and passed it down.
Xie Qian, Zhen Yuan, and Qin Yu took turns reading it, all with frowns on their faces.
The Hebei battlefield was cleared by Qin Yu, who was most familiar with the local military situation.
Your Majesty initially ignored Your Highness's request and beheaded Zhao Jian'an before Your Highness returned to the capital. However, the people of Hebei were known for their loyalty, and Zhao Jian'an, known for his benevolent administration and compassion for the people, enjoyed deep popular support there. Even after his death, some of his trusted generals refused to surrender to the Jin Dynasty and defected. Over a year later, they regrouped the remnants of the Xia army and threatened a comeback.
"And order someone to keep a close watch and report back any news."
Qin Yu accepted the order. As there was no news at the moment, it was inconvenient for His Highness to ask for permission to send troops.
The Hebei issue was assigned to Qin Yu, and Xie Qian was given the secret report. Your Highness is in the capital, and Your Majesty and the Crown Prince have worked together to seize Your Highness's military power. If anything were to happen in Hebei, we'd see how the Emperor would decide.
There was no rush for this matter. Lu Jing asked, "How is the Imperial Master beside Zhao Jianan?"
Qin Yu then said, "He knows how to handle current affairs. Your Highness can rest assured."
This national teacher is quite famous among the people. No one can tell how old he is. Everyone says that he is half-immortal and has the ability to reach the sky.
Zhao Jianan believed his words without a doubt and treated him as a guest of honor.
According to His Highness's orders, Qin Yu deliberately hid this person after conquering the Xia Kingdom's capital. If Your Highness were to start a rebellion in the future, he could use this Imperial Master to build momentum.
Now, Master Song is being taken care of in a villa outside the capital, devoting himself to cultivation.
"Okay." Lu Jing said lightly, it was a good opportunity to test his abilities.
After discussing the military affairs in Hebei, the next topic was the secret expansion of the Huaiwang Mansion's troops.
Prince Huai acted in secret in this matter, and I'm afraid even the Eastern Palace doesn't know the whole truth.
"Can you tell me approximately how many people there are?"
Xie Qian said, "It will take some time, and we're afraid of alerting the enemy."
On the surface, the Huai Palace is a supporter of the Eastern Palace, but Lu Jing guessed that the character of this sixth brother might not be completely without ill will towards his elder brother.
After all the political affairs were discussed, it was already dusk.
When Xie Qian and the other two were about to take their leave, they discovered that His Highness had also ordered his men to prepare a carriage to leave the palace.
"What else does Your Highness want?" Zhen Yuan asked curiously.
Lu Jing spoke in a relaxed tone, not worried about the afternoon's political affairs: "I'm just going to see someone, it's okay. You can go back home and rest."
…
It was already pitch dark, and the lights along the palace road lit up one by one, swaying slightly in the cold wind.
Gu Ningxi left the Ministry of Works' duty room and gathered her cloak. The weather had become noticeably colder after the snow had melted. She turned the first palace lane and saw a familiar carriage approaching.
Lu Jing opened the window and met Gu Ningxi's eyes. Sun Jing invited Master Gu to get in the car, but Gu Ningxi disrespectfully refused.
Her carriage was still parked outside the distant palace gate. She felt very lucky to have met His Royal Highness Prince Zhao and to have walked a long way less in the freezing weather.
"Your Highness is leaving the palace at night?"
"Yes, I happened to meet you." Lu Jing handed her a hand warmer. "Why are you disbanding at this hour?"
The mud-gold hand warmer was at just the right temperature, warming Gu Ningxi's palms comfortably. He said, "I've only been promoted a few months ago, so I still have a lot to get familiar with. The Lunar New Year is just a few days away, and I want to finish my work quickly."
After these two busy days, she will be able to relax for a while.
Lu Jing looked at the man's slightly tired face, but his eyes were clear and full of hope for his career.
He couldn't help but want to reach out and touch the fair cheek of the person in front of him, but it was too rude at the moment.
There was no need to rush, Lu Jing thought. He and Yuan Le were destined to be together in their previous life, and their relationship continued into this one.
He said that he would not be gay for no reason.
It turned out that Yuan Le was reborn into the wrong womb during reincarnation and was not born as a girl, which led to so many mishaps.
But fortunately, they met after all.
The carriage passed through the palace alleys, and Gu Ningxi chatted with His Royal Highness Prince Zhao.
When talking about the fifteenth day off during the New Year holiday, Gu Ningxi's tone was not without joy.
The distance from the Ministry of Works' duty room to the palace gate seemed long to Gu Ningxi, but to His Royal Highness Prince Zhao it was too short.
After thanking His Royal Highness Prince Zhao for the ride, Gu Ningxi was about to get off the carriage when Lu Jing called her, "Do you have time on the seventh day of the first lunar month to accompany me to the temple to burn incense?"
Gu Ningxi laughed and said, "When did Your Highness start to believe this?"
She thought about it and agreed, and decided not to attend the social events at home where she would visit relatives and friends.
There was a smile in Lu Jing's eyes. After making an appointment with Yuan Le, he watched Yuan Le leave.
He closed the carriage window and ordered to return to Prince Zhao's mansion.
On the seventh day of the first lunar month, Lu Jing took Yuan Le to see the Imperial Preceptor Song. Hearing that he was also the master of the palace divination master Li Taibu, Lu Jing wanted to test Imperial Preceptor Song's ability and have a chance to predict Yuan Le's marriage.
【Author’s words】
As I was writing, I suddenly became curious: why didn’t Xiao Lu think that it was because he didn’t get a girl?
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