◇ Chapter 73 (73) Love at first sight
This time, Bo Kang answered very quickly: "It's all up to you. Wherever you want to go, I'll follow you."
"Then you make a pinky promise with me." Lianzhi extended her pinky finger, hooked it around Bo Kang's hand, and shook it. "You swear not to forget what you said today."
Bai Kang didn't think he was being unreasonable. He said "yes" and raised his hand to swear. There was a commotion outside the car. Someone was calling for Bai Kang to get out. Bai Kang tutted his words and sighed exaggeratedly: "Listen, they can't do without me. They can't even eat a hot dumpling!"
She stuffed half a steaming dumpling into his mouth. Lianzhi said angrily, "You're such a boaster. Then you can stay in the car and eat your dumplings."
Bai Kang could hear the slight regret in his tone; it was obvious that he wanted Lian Zhi to stay with him. Since there was no one in the carriage, Bai Kang took the opportunity to give Lian Zhi a kiss on the cheek, then secretly climbed out of the carriage under Lian Zhi's surprised gaze.
The following days were sunny.
The marriage convoy had a smooth journey, and Fancheng was not hit by famine. They stayed for only a few days before leaving. On the last day of leaving Fancheng, Lianzhi lay in the carriage, drowsy.
I barely slept last night, and now I'm terribly sleepy. Unlike Qizhou, which was cold and silent, with a gloomy atmosphere, Fancheng was bustling with activity. Lianzhi was annoyed by the noise and was about to close the window tightly when he heard someone outside calling his name.
Yu Yao glanced at him, opened the window first and took a look, and said, "There are a few people who want to give you a gift."
They were no longer short of food. Lianzhi leaned over to look and saw that they were all familiar faces. During his few days in Fancheng, he often sent his men to the city to help and gather information.
Although he had other motives, he had actually done many good things along the way. By the time he reached Fancheng, many people no longer resisted him simply because of his North Sea Territory attire.
Seeing Lianzhi's expression was somewhat moved, Yuyao teased: "Do you think it was Minister Bai calling you?" She now knew Bai Kang's name.
Lianzhi glared at her, which in turn made Yuyao laugh even harder. Lianzhi had to admit that it was fortunate that Yuyao came with him to marry, otherwise he would have been bored to death on the way.
Two heavy snowfalls followed. On the coldest day of November, the convoy finally reached the capital. The journey was long and arduous, with numerous setbacks. Several officials from the Ministry of Rites fell ill, while the people of Beihai were generally full of life.
After settling the North Sea envoys at the post house, Bai Kang returned to the palace to report. Exhausted by the recent period, Lianzhi entered the post house and fell asleep. He didn't sleep for long, and with a chaotic sound around him, he opened his eyes to the sound of noisy footsteps coming from downstairs. Bai Kang's voice drowned out all the conversation downstairs.
Lianzhi rubbed his eyes and walked over. Unexpectedly, someone was knocking on the door. He suddenly opened the door, and the other party almost fell in. Lianzhi also happened to see several people outside - Bai Kang who had changed into casual clothes, Qinghe who was about to help him, and Chang Yuzhu who looked astonished.
Seeing Lianzhi with disheveled hair and wearing only a single layer of clothing, Bo Kang quickly stepped in front of him and slammed the door shut. He took off his cloak and wrapped it around Lianzhi, then asked, "Did you fall asleep again?"
"I told you I sleep six hours a day." Lianzhi glared at him. Bo Kang had just banged his head against the door, leaving a red mark on it, but it had shaken him awake. "Walk properly next time."
When no other court officials were watching, Bai Kang walked in a rather unruly manner, with no proper posture. Bai Kang nodded twice, and then there was a more intense knock on the door and Chang Yuzhu's shout: "Bai Xunrong, open the door! Open the door!"
Bai Kang was about to kiss Lian Zhi's rosy face when he was interrupted. He immediately went to open the door with a dark face and said, "Didn't you see there was someone else in the room?"
"What do you mean by someone else?" Chang Yuzhu peered into the room. Wherever his eyes moved, Bai Kang followed, determined to block his sight. Chang Yuzhu became anxious and lowered his voice, "Didn't you say your wife was sick and recuperating in the other courtyard? Who is that person in there?"
Even with just a glance, Chang Yuzhu had already seen the clothes on Lianzhi. He had a good memory and still remembered Lianzhi's appearance. Bai Kang pinched his ears and pretended to be dumb, "What?"
"Why did your wife become a Beihai person?" Chang Yuzhu was afraid that he would evade the question again, so he asked directly. He lowered his voice very low, fearing that others around him would hear him, but Lianzhi heard it anyway. She walked over and said with a smile, "Brother Chang."
After hearing this familiar name, Chang Yuzhu suddenly couldn't ask anything.
"Your sister-in-law likes to dress like this." Bai Kang came back to his senses and explained, "Isn't it pretty? No, Chang Yuzhu, why did you insist on coming to the inn with me? Didn't I send a visiting card to your house and come to see you tomorrow?"
"You're still talking?" Chang Yuzhu's eyes widened. "Didn't you say you were exhausted on the journey and almost died in Qizhou? My father rarely even said thank you for your hard work!"
He was exaggerating; how else could he explain the length of the journey? He saw that even His Majesty didn't take it seriously, yet these father and son actually did. Bo Kang grinned, a half-threatening smile on his face: "I'll explain it to you later."
After saying that, he looked at Lianzhi.
He didn't even have time to return home. After leaving the palace, he went straight to the inn. He had planned to take Lianzhi to the villa, but he didn't expect Chang Yuzhu to show up halfway and make a fuss to see if he was injured.
Lianzhi smiled and waved to him, her tone very calm: "I'll wait for you at the inn. Let's go home together tonight."
Bai Kang nodded, put his arm around Chang Yuzhu's shoulders, and hurried downstairs with him. Chang Yuzhu almost couldn't keep up. He hurried downstairs and said breathlessly, "Why are you so anxious? Are you feeling guilty?"
"Why should I feel guilty?" Bai Kang raised his eyebrows.
Chang Yuzhu looked at his expression, hesitated for a moment, and sighed: "Bai Kang, ever since you got married, I always feel that you are different from before."
To be more precise, after picking up that lotus branch, it felt like I had a lot of secrets. Although I rarely mentioned them to him, he could sense it.
But Bai Kang loved his wife very much, so he decided not to say that.
Bai Kang looked at him, sneered, and patted his shoulder, "Is it possible that you can feel the charm of a mature man?"
"I'm serious." Chang Yuzhu was also happy, "Don't hide anything from me, brother."
The Chang Mansion's carriage was parked downstairs at the posthouse. Chang Yuzhu had ridden in Bai Kang's carriage when he arrived, but now he didn't ask Bai Kang if he wanted to go with him. The servant opened the carriage door for him, and the woman inside got out and saluted to Bai Kang: "Greetings, sir."
Bai Kang took a step back and immediately returned the greeting, while looking at Chang Yuzhu.
"Can you please get out of my bed?"
Lianzhi tried to pull Yuyao off his bed. Unexpectedly, Yuyao, a girl, was stronger than him, and he couldn't move her. Yuyao lay by the window, turned her head and looked at him, her eyes sparkling.
"Who was that man just now?" she asked, "The man next to Minister Daning."
"One is his friend and the other is his servant. Who are you talking about?" Lianzhi frowned.
Yuyao couldn't tell, still clinging to the windowsill and looking down. Lianzhi followed her gaze and found that her eyes were almost glued to Chang Yuzhu. Even if he was stupid, he could see what this look meant: "Get off my bed, and I'll tell you."
"Him." Yuyao jumped down and pointed with her slender jade finger. Lianzhi smiled maliciously: "Didn't you say that you have no interest in Daning's men?"
"This one's not bad." Yu Yao finished her serious evaluation, then suddenly raised her eyebrows and pursed her lips and said, "He has a wife?"
Downstairs, a woman suddenly stepped out of the exceptionally ornate carriage adorned with the Chang family crest. After exchanging greetings with Bo Kang, the woman took Chang Yuzhu's hand.
It must be Chang Yuzhu’s fiancée.
Lianzhi said nothing. Yuyao was only displeased for a moment, then relaxed her brows: "They are friends? Then you know him too? Take me to meet him tomorrow."
Since he was a friend of Minister Daning, he must also be a noble, worthy of a princess like her. Yu Yao said she would come back tomorrow morning, and then she left happily, leaving Lianzhi stunned.
At night, when Bo Kang sneaked into the inn, he saw Lian Zhi, who looked very sad. He walked over quietly and covered his eyes: "Baby, guess who I am?"
"You are so childish." Lianzhi grabbed his hand and said unhappily, "You are Bai Kang."
"Baby is really smart." After saying this, Lianzhi glared at him and asked, "Who made you angry? Me?"
"It has something to do with you." Lianzhi said softly.
He recounted the story of Yuyao falling for Chang Yuzhu. After listening, Bai Kang was surprised: "The princess actually fell for Chang Yuzhu?" It wasn't that he thought Chang Yuzhu was bad, but both Chang Yuzhu and he had a bad reputation in the capital. Few noble ladies in the capital would consider Chang Yuzhu as a potential husband.
"She thinks Chang Yuzhu is not as tall, strong and rugged as the people from Beihai, and that's just something new." After Lianzhi finished speaking, she looked up and down at Bai Kang, and suddenly felt that Bai Kang's height was really an advantage.
Bai Kang finished mocking Chang Yuzhu silently, then said, "It's not easy. You should have seen the young lady who came here with him today, right? Chang Yuzhu said he didn't want to get married, but he was actually showing off to me. When he left, he was holding hands with Xi Niang. I should have taken you downstairs to meet her..."
Before he could finish, Lianzhi's arm around his neck suddenly tightened and she shook it twice: "Who is Xi Niang?"
"Chang Yuzhu's fiancée." Bai Kang said.
"Then why do you call her Xi Niang?" Lianzhi's wet eyes widened.
Bai Kang didn't realize what he was angry about yet, "That's her name. That's what Chang Yuzhu calls her!"
In the end, Bo Kang still didn't know what Lian Zhi was angry about. When he left the next morning, he still had a small slap mark on his neck. He had planned to secretly take Lian Zhi back to the mansion and then receive Chang Yuzhu there. Unexpectedly, as soon as the two of them went downstairs, they were stopped by a familiar figure. Yu Yao stood behind them and said, "I want to go with you."
"Greetings, Princess." Bo Kang immediately saluted.
Yuyao waved her hand and looked at Lianzhi. She hadn't come here for Baikang in the first place, and Lianzhi knew that. Baikang had said last night that Chang Yuzhu and his fiancée were in a good relationship. But he had been able to spend time alone with Baikang all this time thanks to Yuyao's protection.
Yuyao repeatedly assured them that she wouldn't cause any trouble and simply wanted to accompany them. Bo Kang was horrified, yet curious as to why the princess had taken a liking to Chang Yuzhu. After disguising themselves, the three of them returned to the Shangshu Mansion by carriage. Chang Yuzhu soon arrived, bringing his fiancée with him.
It seems that the relationship between the two is not ordinary, which makes things even more difficult.
Chang Yuzhu and Bai Kang exchanged a greeting before hurriedly entering the study, evidently to discuss matters of state. His fiancée, Xi Niang, remained in the living room, sitting anxiously in a corner, her eyes darting around.
She, Yuyao, and Lianzhi were the only ones left in the living room—Lianzhi had to stay because she was afraid Yuyao might get into a fight with the other girl in a fit of rage. The three of them sat in three corners of the room, creating a terrifyingly eerie atmosphere.
"What's your name?" Yu Yao asked suddenly.
Xi Niang looked up like a frightened deer and didn't answer. Yu Yao looked at her and commented, "What does your family do? Can you ride a horse? Can you use a sword? Do you like hunting?"
Her barrage of questions left the other party bewildered. Xi Niang was stunned for a moment, then stood up, her face flushed. She bowed, not to Yu Yao, but to Lian Zhi. She raised her head timidly, her voice weak, "Sir, my last name is Yan. Have you heard of me? I'm the daughter of General Yan, the commander of the Tiger Guards."
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