Chapter 44
As evening fell, the guests gradually dispersed, and the noisy courtyard quieted down.
Lu Liang quickly found the slightly unfamiliar figure.
Li Wan was helping Aunt Lu clear the dishes. She was quick and efficient, but remained silent. Occasionally, when Aunt Lu teased her, she would just smile faintly.
The two left the Lu family's wooden gate one after the other, neither of them speaking, only their footsteps were particularly clear on the quiet path.
Lu Liang stopped by the small river at the end of the village.
The stream wasn't wide, but the water was crystal clear, and the moonlight cast long shadows of the two people on the bank.
Lu Liang turned around and looked at Li Wan.
In the darkness of night, her face appeared even softer, her expression a blend of coolness and tenderness.
He was silent for a moment before speaking, "Awan, I'm only staying for five days this time."
Li Wan was taken aback. "Five days?"
“Well, I’ll be returning to the capital to report for duty in five days,” he said, his gaze fixed on her eyes. “Awan, would you like to come with me to the capital?”
The words "going to Beijing" struck Li Wan like a thunderclap, leaving her stunned in place.
Seeing her lowered eyes and silence, Lu Liang assumed she was unwilling. He took a step forward and gently persuaded her, "Awan, I know the capital is far away and unfamiliar, but I'll take care of everything. Once I'm settled in my position, I'll send someone to bring our families to the capital, and then we'll... get married."
marriage?
Li Wan's fingertips twitched, and she subconsciously avoided his gaze, looking at her reflection in the river.
Suddenly, I found it all laughable.
She is Li Wan, the Wan from Niutian Village. She is destined to marry Lu Liang, just as she has always hoped.
Even if she goes to the capital, who will recognize her? Besides, given her status, it would be difficult for her to see them, let alone him.
Li Wan remained silent for a long time, so long that Lu Liang began to feel uneasy, thinking she might refuse. Just as he was about to say something more, he saw her slowly raise her head, the moonlight reflecting off her eyes and making them glisten with a faint moisture.
She looked at him, nodded, and said, "Okay."
...
After traveling by carriage for more than a month, we finally entered the city gates of the capital.
The carriage moved slowly. Li Wan lifted a corner of the curtain, letting in a warm summer breeze. The shops along the street were bustling with activity, and pedestrians came and went in a constant stream, making it even more prosperous than it had been three years ago. The new emperor's governance was indeed effective.
The carriage turned into a quiet alley and finally stopped in front of a courtyard house. The plaque of the Lu residence was brand new, and the two gates were clean and tidy.
Lu Liang got off the carriage first, then turned around and reached out to help her. His palms were large and rough, bearing the marks of years of holding a knife. Li Wan paused for a moment, then placed her hand in his palm, using it to help her down.
"You rest for a bit, I'll have the servants bring your things in," Lu Liang said gently.
Li Wan nodded and looked around the house. The main house faced south, with a side room on each of the east and west sides. The house was clean and tidy with its blue bricks and gray tiles, and she was satisfied.
For the next few days, Lu Liang was busy outside, so Li Wan tidied up the house at her own pace. She didn't ask Lu Liang to hire servants, but only found Granny Zhao to help her clean. She did the rest of the work herself.
The room was simply furnished: a canopy bed, a dressing table, an eight-immortal table, and a few chairs. She carefully folded the clothes she had brought and put them in the wardrobe by the bed.
A few days later, everything was ready. Li Wan changed into a light blue coarse cloth dress and a pair of cloth shoes with thick soles. Her hair was still tied up in a simple bun. She was going out to buy some things.
Before leaving the house, she stood in front of the dressing mirror and looked at herself in the mirror.
The woman in the mirror had delicate features and her outline was seven or eight parts similar to Jiang Feiwan in her memory, but upon closer inspection, she was different in many ways.
Jiang Feiwan's features were more refined, carrying the air of a noble lady, but her eyes and brows bore the marks of hardship, lacking the spoiled innocence of her youth, and instead displaying a more peaceful and serene demeanor. Due to years of labor, her skin was not as smooth as Jiang Feiwan's, and she lacked the noble air of a noble lady. If one didn't look closely, no one would associate her with the former eldest daughter of the Jiang family.
With these thoughts in mind, Li Wan felt relieved and went out.
The weather was fine today, and sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting dappled shadows on the ground.
She strolled slowly along the street, browsing and carrying her purchases. When she reached West Street, she suddenly heard a familiar voice.
She instinctively stopped and looked in the direction of the voice.
Not far away, in front of a rouge shop, stood two figures with their backs to the camera.
It turned out to be Xiuzhu and Xiuhe.
Both of them had their hair tied up in a woman's bun, chatting and laughing as they selected cosmetics in front of a rouge shop.
Seeing that they were all well, Li Wan lowered her eyes and felt happy.
Before she decided to commit suicide in the Taihe Hall, she secretly gave them two marriage contracts, allowing them to leave the mansion and start their own families. Now that she sees that they are living well, she is at ease.
Li Wan watched them quietly for a while, until they bought the rouge and left together, before turning back to the Lu residence.
In the evening, after preparing dinner with Granny Zhao, Lu Liang also returned home.
At that moment, Li Wan sat on one side of the wooden table, while Lu Liang across from her was eating rice from a rough porcelain bowl. She picked up a piece of green vegetable with her chopsticks; the leaves were crisp and tender, with a faint salty aroma, and tasted refreshing.
Lu Liang ate a few more mouthfuls of rice, as if unable to contain his joy. He put down his bowl, picked up the rough porcelain teacup on the table, took a sip, and his laughter deepened.
"Ah Wan, good news. The border is now stable, and military officers with connections have all secured official positions in the capital. After my efforts over the past few days, I have finally obtained the position of Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard, which allows me to serve in the Emperor's presence. It is an excellent position."
Li Wan paused in her act of picking up food, a gentle smile curving her lips. "Brother Liang is truly capable; he'll definitely do a good job."
"Don't worry, I will do my job well and live up to His Majesty's trust and your years of waiting." Lu Liang said solemnly.
Li Wan looked up and met his gaze, giving a soft "hmm" in her voice: "Be careful in everything you do. Being on duty in the imperial court is not like being on the frontier; you need to be more mindful of your actions." She knew better than him the complexities of the court.
"I know." Lu Liang nodded with a smile, picked up his chopsticks and ate a few more mouthfuls of rice. "Don't overwork yourself at home. If you can't handle the housework, find a servant to help you. Don't exhaust yourself."
“There’s not much to do at home. Aunt Zhao is quick and efficient, so I can just lend a hand,” Li Wan said softly.
From that day on, Lu Liang officially began his duties at the palace. Every day before dawn, he would get up and change into the black embroidered gold official robes of the Imperial Guard, which made him appear even stronger.
Since the two were not yet married, they lived in separate rooms. Lu Liang's room was in the east wing, and Li Wan's room was in the west wing, separated by a small courtyard. Lu Liang respected her and never overstepped the boundaries.
Li Wan stayed at home, taking care of household chores, cooking and sewing with Aunt Zhao, and reading storybooks in her spare time. Her life was peaceful and comfortable.
That day, Lu Liang ate his rice while speaking softly about matters in the palace, his tone carrying a hint of reverence for the Emperor. "Today, His Majesty ordered the Imperial Guards to strengthen patrols, especially at night, and there can be no negligence whatsoever." Lu Liang put down his chopsticks, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said with a touch of solemnity, "From now on, I'm afraid I'll often be coming back later than usual. You don't need to wait for me; get some rest."
His brows and eyes showed signs of fatigue, and there were faint dark circles under his eyes, suggesting that his duties in the palace were not easy.
"Okay, be careful while you're out there," Li Wan replied softly.
Looking at her quiet demeanor, Lu Liang felt a warmth in his heart, but also a pang of guilt: "I'm sorry to have troubled you. Once this busy period is over, I will bring your parents, my mother, and my sister to the capital, and we... will get married."
Upon hearing this, Li Wan paused in clearing the dishes, lowered her eyes for a few moments, and said softly, "Okay."
Lu Liang smiled and said, "You've been feeling bored at home all by yourself. It just so happens that I'm getting married in a few days, and all of us commanders will be going to his residence for the wedding banquet. You can come with me and join us for some fun."
Li Wan frowned. "You go ahead. I don't know the rules, and I'm afraid I'll embarrass you if I go."
"How could that be?" Lu Liang grasped her hand. "Everyone else brought their wives. If I went alone, they would truly laugh at me. Besides, you are my fiancée, and it's perfectly legitimate."
Looking into his earnest gaze, Li Wan had no choice but to nod in agreement.
Four days later.
The wedding banquet at the Shen residence was in the evening. In the late afternoon, Li Wan, for the sake of Lu Liang's reputation, dressed up for once, but only lightly applied makeup, softening her slightly pale face. Her eyebrows were lightly drawn, adding a touch of gentleness. She wore a light blue silk robe with lotus embroidery at the collar, and a matching soft satin belt around her waist, which, when loosely tied, accentuated her slender figure.
"Ah Wan, are you done?" Lu Liang's voice came from outside the door, tinged with anticipation.
Li Wan stood up, took one last look at herself in the mirror, and after confirming that everything was alright, she softly replied, "Okay, let's go."
Pushing open the door, Lu Liang was standing under the eaves waiting. Today he was dressed in a blue official robe, with a jade belt around his waist, his posture upright, and his face carrying a hint of joy. When he saw Li Wan come out, a hint of amazement flashed in his eyes.
Before long, the carriage stopped in front of the Shen residence.
The gates of the Shen residence were wide open, with large red lanterns hanging in front and bright red "double happiness" characters pasted on them, creating a joyous atmosphere.
Li Wan got out of the car and looked up at the plaque above the gate, where the two large characters "Shen Mansion" were written in a powerful and vigorous style. "This is the residence of Deputy Commander Shen?" she asked softly.
“Exactly.” Lu Liang nodded. “Lord Shen is the deputy commander of the Imperial Guards and enjoys the deep trust of Commander Shen. Today is his joyous occasion, and many officials from the court have come.”
Li Wan's heart stirred slightly. After thinking about it carefully, she realized that she had never met the man surnamed Shen before, so she felt relieved.
Following Lu Liang into the Shen residence, the place was bustling with activity.
"Ah Wan, why don't you go sit at the women's table first? I'll go say hello to my colleagues." Lu Liang pointed to a table not far away, where several ladies were sitting and talking in hushed tones.
“Okay.” Li Wan nodded and walked towards the women’s section alone.
Several ladies and young women greeted her warmly when she arrived, and Li Wan smiled and nodded slightly in response before sitting down in an empty seat.
The banquet was nice. Lu Liang went with a group of colleagues to drink with the groom, and Li Wan gradually relaxed, occasionally taking a bite or two of her favorite dishes. She was quite comfortable on her own.
As the sun began to set and the banquet drew to a close, a servant rushed in, his face showing a mixture of panic and respect, and called out loudly, "His Majesty's decree has arrived."
The moment the words were spoken, the once bustling courtyard fell silent. All the guests stopped what they were doing, their faces showing surprise.
Li Wan's hand holding the cup suddenly trembled, her mind racing. She took several deep breaths to calm herself down, then quickly knelt down with the others, placing her hands on her knees, lowering her head, and looking at the ground, not daring to make the slightest move.
Soon, an eunuch dressed in a yellow palace robe entered with a group of people. The eunuch had a fair complexion and a dignified air. He walked to the center of the courtyard, stopped, and glanced at the kneeling crowd before loudly proclaiming the imperial decree: "By imperial decree, His Majesty congratulates Deputy Commander Shen on his marriage. He hereby bestows upon him a thousand bolts of brocade, a chest of pearls and jade, and a pair of jade ruyi scepters. So be it!"
"Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty! Long live the Emperor!" Deputy Commander Shen shouted his thanks, his voice booming, clearly overjoyed by the Emperor's sudden congratulations and rewards.
After receiving the imperial edict, Vice Commander Shen stood up and walked to the eunuch, saying respectfully, "If Eunuch Tian doesn't mind, you may stay for a cup of wedding wine."
Eunuch Tian smiled and waved his hand, "This old servant has other duties to attend to, Lord Shen, there's no need for such formalities." He then said a few more auspicious words before turning and leaving with his men.
Only after the palace attendants had left did everyone rise. Deputy Commander Shen still radiated favor, his face glowing with pride. To receive His Majesty's reward and imperial decree for his marriage was an immeasurable honor.
Li Wan slowly stood up. She raised her head, her gaze unconsciously glancing in the direction her father-in-law had left, a strange unease creeping into her heart. She felt that when her father-in-law was proclaiming the imperial edict, a gaze had lingered on her for a long time. But then she thought perhaps she was just imagining things.
After the wedding banquet, Li Wan followed Lu Liang to say goodbye to Deputy Commander Shen, and then they returned to the Lu residence together.
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