Chapter 57: Get Along
When the palace maid on night duty came in to add more charcoal, she saw the Crown Princess hugging the Emperor's eldest grandson and humming a Jiangnan tune softly.
The candlestick in front of the antique cabinet cast the shadows of the mother and son on the "Landscapes of a Vast Thousand Miles", which vaguely looked like the silhouette of the late crown prince reflected on the window paper when he was writing.
…
News soon spread in the palace that the welcoming banquet for Princess Jieyou and Princess Liuyang was scheduled for the 28th day of the twelfth lunar month, and the location would be in the Imperial Garden in the southern suburbs.
There was originally a palace banquet at the end of the year to bid farewell to the old and welcome the new, but this time the two banquets were combined, and the scale was grander than in previous years.
The Imperial College started its winter vacation on the 26th day of the twelfth lunar month, and the young men in the capital city rushed back home like sparrows out of a cage.
The young people who had been cooped up for nearly a year called their friends over and the streets were filled with people drinking, writing poetry, listening to operas and visiting gardens. The whole capital was as lively as a boiling oil pan.
Working for the Wucheng Bingmasi is indeed hard work. When others are happily celebrating the holidays, it is their busiest time.
This year's palace banquet was to last from ten in the morning to nine in the evening, but Xie Wuqi still took a leave - his status as the legitimate son of General Wuwei was there, and no matter how much rumors spread that they were not getting along, as long as they had not officially severed their relationship, he would have to take a seat at such occasions.
Before the bronze mirror, Xie Wuqi carefully adjusted his jade-inlaid belt. His moon-white, cloud-patterned brocade robe accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist. His dark cape, embroidered with a kirin pattern in silver thread, gave him the air of a military prodigy.
Liu Yueli, perched on an embroidered stool by the window, watched him from behind, a smile on her lips but a glint of icy light in her eyes. She knew she couldn't attend the welcoming banquet: firstly, her status was awkward, and secondly, the scandal at the Prince Duan's flower viewing banquet had caused such a mess that Miss Feng would surely cause trouble if she saw her.
She had anticipated all this, but she didn't expect Xie Wuqi wouldn't even offer a word of comfort this time.
Since returning from the General's Mansion last time, Xie Wuqi had been much colder towards her. Liu Yueli bit her handkerchief and secretly hated her: Madam Xie, that idiot, had clearly copied Luo Jince's handwriting for her and even taught her how to frame Luo Zhaohan, yet she still managed to mess it up.
Now, Xie Wuqi probably knows that she is behind this and is disgusted with her vicious methods?
The sunlight filtering through the diamond-shaped window hurt her eyes. Who wants to take advantage of someone and yet finds the means dirty? If Madam Xie's plan had worked, he would have been secretly gloating over the inheritance to the General's Mansion, not caring how the advantage came about.
"Yueli." Xie Wuqi suddenly turned around. She quickly put on a gentle expression and looked up. He looked guilty, "I'm sorry for putting you through this."
Liu Yueli had heard these words so many times that her ears were callused. Ever since she followed him and left the Luo family, the word "grievance" had long been chewed to pieces. But she still stood up with a smile on her face, her hairpins swaying slightly. "Wuqi, don't say that. I know you're not going there for pleasure."
Xie Wuqi looked into her watery eyes, his heart softening, and he reached out to pull her into his arms. Liu Yueli pressed her face against his brocade robe, smelling the deep fragrance of the fumigated clothes, and a sneer appeared on the corner of her mouth.
Of course, she knew what this man had been investigating recently. The two maids said they were poor people bought from a matchmaker, but how could a newly bought wild girl know the rules? However, now was not the time to tear each other apart. They had to wait until that matter was done!
As his warm palm caressed her hair, Xie Wuqi recalled his mother's question that day: "You really didn't know that Yueli deliberately pushed Zhaohan into the water?"
At that time, he threw the teacup and rushed out, but he watched coldly these days. How could the method that Yueli taught the maid to pass on the message be something that a weak girl in the boudoir could think of?
The warmth and softness in his arms suddenly became irritating, but he didn't push her away after all - if even Yue Li was fake after his rebirth, wouldn't the past three years of his life have become a joke?
As dusk fell, Xie Wuqi carefully tied the cloak around Liu Yueli's shoulders and asked gently, "Yueli, is there anything you want to take with you? I will definitely bring it back for you."
Liu Yueli lowered her head and twisted her handkerchief. Suddenly, she looked up and said, "I heard that the wintersweets in the Southern Suburbs Imperial Garden are in full bloom..." Before she finished speaking, she shook her head and chuckled, "It was just a casual remark, Wuqi, don't take it seriously."
"But do you want a wintersweet branch?" Xie Wuqi looked at the silver hairpin in her hair, and thought of the grievances this girl had suffered following him. His heart ached. "I will definitely pick the most fragrant wintersweet for you tomorrow."
As she watched Xie Wuqi turn around the screen wall, the gentle expression on Liu Yueli's face instantly faded. She quickly closed the courtyard door, her fingertips stroking the newly cut Shu brocade on the stone table - this piece of floating brocade, which was supposed to appear at the welcoming banquet, now lay quietly in the secret compartment in the backyard.
In the west wing of General Fuyuan's mansion, Luo Jince was pacing back and forth around a mahogany clothes rack. "Sister, are you really not bringing any guards? That Liu Yueli is always using shady tactics. Last time, she almost got us both killed."
"If you keep turning it, the blue brick will be worn through." Luo Zhaohan put the diamond-shaped mirror on the dressing table, quickly took off all the pearls and jade on her hair, and finally stared at the gold filigree inlaid with rubies and hesitated for a moment before finally stuffing it into the bottom of the dressing box.
Seeing this, Luo Jince hurried to open the jewelry box: "This is the treasure left by my mother."
"How can I climb over the wall with it on?" Luo Zhaohan slapped his brother's hand away and casually pulled a piece of plain silk ribbon to tie his long black hair into a high ponytail.
The bronze mirror reflected the girl's heroic eyebrows and eyes, which seemed more vivid than when her hair was covered with pearls and jewels.
Seeing her brother still frowning, Luo Zhaohan suppressed her smile and said seriously, "Why do you think Liu Yueli suddenly wanted winter plum blossoms? The winter plum forest in the Southern Suburbs Imperial Garden is right next to the martial arts training ground. At this time..." She dipped her tea in the water and drew a simple diagram on the desk. "If Xie Wuqi really went to pick plum blossoms, he would definitely run into the guard change."
Luo Jince gasped: "Then the surname Xie is..."
"Walking into a trap." Luo Zhaohan's fingertips traced the water stains, and when he raised his eyes, a sharp light flashed: "The emperor hates military generals secretly forming alliances with the imperial guards. This fool Xie Wuqi thinks it's just a romantic affair."
Three quail calls were heard outside the window, and Luo Zhaohan suddenly pushed open the carved window.
But the evening clouds were hanging low, and the lead-gray sky pressed down on the continuous glazed tiles of Zhuque Street, just like the knife hanging over her heart since her rebirth.
"Jin Ce, do you remember what father said?" She suddenly turned around, the silver armor on her wrist clanging against the window frame: "The most feared thing on the battlefield is not the open attack, but the self-righteous hidden arrow."
The young man gripped the tasseled sash of the sword at his waist as he listened to his sister continue, "Liu Yueli's trick of using a knife to kill someone is indeed brilliant, but it's a pity that her cleverness backfired!"
Luo Zhaohan took out half a tiger talisman from his sleeve and threw it on the table. The sound of metal collision startled Luo Jince so much that he jumped up.
"The commander of the Imperial Guard lost his left arm while suppressing bandits last month. The acting deputy commander—" Luo Zhaohan's lips curled slightly, "is the secret agent we've been planting for five years."
Luo Jince stared at the familiar dark patterns on the tiger talisman, and suddenly an idea struck him: "So, sister, you've been pretending to be sick these days just to give Liu Yueli the opportunity to take advantage of you?"
"That's right." Luo Zhaohan pushed open the door, and the night wind blew in snow particles. "Since the prey will bite the bait, we must sharpen the hook more." She threw the black cloak over her shoulders and suddenly paused as she tightened her waist. "If I don't return by midnight..."
"I will lead the Red Shadow Guards to destroy General Wuwei's Mansion!"
"Wrong." Luo Zhaohan flicked his finger against his brother's forehead. "You must immediately take the tiger talisman to Deputy Commander Chen and tell him that the Imperial Guards have infiltrated the Dongling spies."
She thought for a moment and added, "Remember to change into a pair of thick-soled boots. Tracking in the snow wears out your shoes and socks the most."
In her past life, she'd relied too much on foresight, only to be outmaneuvered by Liu Yueli. Now that the chessboard had been reset, she wanted to see if the woman, accustomed to hiding behind the scenes, could pull off this charade of luring the enemy into a trap when all the pieces had moved out of their predetermined paths.
Luo Jince looked up at his sister. The determination in Luo Zhaohan's eyes was like a fire, burning his heart. The stone that had been weighing on his heart for days suddenly cracked - he was really obsessed with it!
The Luo family's previous life's execution was like a thunderclap, shocking the previously heartless young master. These days, he's been busy trying to match his sister with the Dali Temple's Shaoqing, ultimately because he's afraid of repeating the same mistake.
But now, looking at his sister's back as straight as a green bamboo, he suddenly felt embarrassed: he only thought about finding a backer for his sister, how could he forget that his sister was the one who could hold up the sky?
"Jin Ce understands." The young man's voice still trembled a little, but his eyes lit up. "From now on, I will learn from you, and we will protect the Luo family together!"
Luo Zhaohan watched his younger brother finally come to his senses, and a smile formed in the corners of his eyes. Just as he was about to say something in praise, the boy suddenly jumped on his lap, knocking the chair against him and making it squeak.
"Sister, you are the sun in the sky!" Luo Jince banged his forehead on the corner of the carved table without complaining about the pain. He tugged at his sister's apricot skirt and shouted, "I'm serious! The rabbit lantern you made for me during the Mid-Autumn Festival two years ago was brighter than others!"
"cough!"
A stifled laugh emanated from the doorway. Luo Jince turned with a stiff neck, only to be met with Ye Yiheng's shoulders, which were shaking like a sieve. Chunxi, the nagging girl, was hiding behind a pillar, sticking out her tongue. "Young Master Cousin was in such a hurry, I didn't have time to pass on the message."
"Ye! Yi! Heng!" Luo Jince nearly knocked over the embroidered cushion as he jumped up. "If you dare tell anyone, I'll break off all ties with you!"
"No, no," Cousin Ye agreed, but his eyes glanced at the sparrows outside the window. "When you become a grandfather one day, I'll tell your grandson..."
Just as the two were about to start a fight, Luo Zhaohan grabbed his brother by the back of his collar and pulled him away: "What's the fuss? It's time to leave." Chunxi took the opportunity to rush in, holding up her golden hairpin and stomping her feet: "Young lady, you stole jewelry again! The Butterfly Love Flower hairpin that Madam specifically asked for."
"It's heavy to wear." Luo Zhaohan dodged while pushing the two teenagers out. "If mother asks, just tell her I'm wearing it."
As the three of them passed through the hanging flower gate, Xia Huan caught up with her skirt in hand, "Miss, please wait! Princess Yinzhen's carriage has arrived at the door, and she wants you to go with her."
Outside the vermilion lacquered gate, a four-horse carriage dazzled in the sun. The brocade curtains swished aside, revealing Chao Yinzhen's bright face. "Zhaohan, come quickly! I just got some Western Region rose pastries, perfect for trying on the way."
Luo Zhaohan's eyes curved into crescents as she climbed into the car, skirt in hand. A warm aroma filled the air, and on the small table, there was indeed an eight-treasure box.
Chao Yinzhen pulled her to sit next to him. The crimson hem of her skirt was covered with moon-white brocade, like a red camellia blooming in the snow.
"See you later!" Luo Zhaohan leaned out of the car window and waved to his brother who was standing there in a daze.
Luo Jince looked at the carriage that sped away and scratched his head: "When did my sister get so close to the little bully?"
Ye Yiheng hooked his neck and dragged him to his carriage: "Your sister dares to touch a tiger, and she can't deal with a little princess?"
…
Amid the clatter of the carriage rolling across the bluestone pavement, Chao Yinzhen lifted a corner of the gilded curtain, his eyes reflecting the gradually lit lanterns along the street. "Zhao Han, do you know Princess Liuyang? She wields her twin swords with even more valiant grace than a man. You'll definitely be attracted to her."
Luo Zhaohan was warming his hand stove from the other side when he heard this, raising an eyebrow: "Since you get along so well, why don't you ride with her?"
"Zhaoyang is being held captive in the imperial carriage by the princess." Chao Yinzhen lowered the curtains, the gold-inlaid jade bracelet on his wrist jingling against the window frame. "I can't stand those three kneelings and nine kowtows."
As she spoke, she suddenly leaned closer, the pearl hairpin in her hair almost brushing the tip of Luo Zhaohan's nose: "I heard that the emperor is going to grant Zhaoyang a marriage."
The wheels of the cart just rolled over a pothole. Luo Zhaohan held onto the swaying incense ball. Looking up, he saw Chao Yinzhen holding his chin and sighing, "How can you tell if he's your soulmate after just a few glances through the screen?"
"Is the prince going to find someone for you?" Before Luo Zhaohan finished speaking, he saw the girl opposite him crumpling up the brocade cushion embroidered with lotus flowers.
"Father even prepared twenty portraits!" Chao Yinzhen threw the brocade cushion in the corner and suddenly looked over enviously: "General Luo isn't rushing you?"
"Maybe they've seen me encounter a Zhongshan wolf before," Luo Zhaohan fiddled with the tassels hanging from the incense ball, a self-deprecating smile on his lips, "Maybe they're afraid I'll make the same mistake again."
Chao Yinzhen hurriedly tried to cover her mouth, but Luo Zhaohan turned his head away and said, "Engagements can be cancelled, and marriages can be divorced. What's the big deal?"
"You say that so easily." Chao Yinzhen leaned back against the carriage wall, the wings of the golden filigree butterfly hairpin on his temples trembling slightly. "A daughter of the royal family, even crying should be done with restraint and tears."
The soft Wu dialect of the flower girl could be heard from outside the car. Luo Zhaohan lifted the curtain and looked out, and saw the Suzaku Street was covered with canopies like clouds.
In her previous life, she was trapped in this heap of splendor, watching helplessly as her father and brother died on the battlefield. Only after her new life did she realize that if a woman wanted to gain a foothold in this world, she had to wield the knife that could split the thorns.
"What kind of man does Zhaohan like?" Chao Yinzhen asked suddenly, startling Luo Zhaohan so much that his fingertips trembled and the incense ball almost fell out of his hand.
In the warm yellow candlelight, the girl frowned and pondered for a long time: "Is he perhaps... an upright, polite, and open-minded person?"
"Aren't you talking about Pei Shaoqing of the Dali Temple?" Chao Yinzhen slammed the table and stood up, nearly hitting the jade bell hanging from the roof of the car. "Last month, he investigated the Ministry of Revenue embezzlement case and, despite the pressure, he recovered 800,000 taels of silver."
The words stopped abruptly. Chao Yinzhen stared at the tips of Luo Zhaohan's ears, which had suddenly turned red, and narrowed his eyes suspiciously: "Could it be that you have already taken a fancy to him?"
"What nonsense!" Luo Zhaohan interrupted hastily, knocking the jade bracelet on his wrist against the small rosewood table. "That man always has a stern face, just like the clay statue of the judge in the temple. He is so boring."
Chao Yinzhen counted on his fingers: "On the Lantern Festival, he led people to investigate the fire, and on the Dragon Boat Festival, he personally supervised the dragon boat race..."
"Stop, stop, stop!" Luo Zhaohan stuffed the cold heater into her arms. "Since you're praising me so highly, why don't I ask the emperor to grant you a marriage?"
"I don't want to marry a stone!" Chao Yinzhen angrily lifted the curtain to breathe.
Luo Zhaohan followed her gaze to look at the scenery, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the secret pocket in his sleeve - there was half a tiger talisman that could mobilize the Luo family's secret guards.
"I heard that Pei Shaoqing will also come to the banquet tonight." Chao Yinzhen suddenly spoke softly, and successfully saw that Luo Zhaohan's hand paused as he was adjusting his collar.
"What does it have to do with me?"
Luo Zhaohan threw his black cloak over his shoulders and winked at her: "As for you, if you really like a young man from a certain family, just tell me directly and I will arrange it for you!"
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