Su Rong recalled the many files belonging to the Duke Residence that she had viewed in the Crown Prince’s secret compartment, including Lu Weiran’s. She pondered him specifically.
She asked, "Is the Lu family from Chuānxī actually descended from the Capital’s Duke Residence?"
"Yes. They are of the same origin." Duanhua said, "The lineage of the Capital had been granted the title of duke for their meritorious service in rescuing the emperor in the previous reign. Although it wasn’t the hereditary rank that the Duke Residence hold, it was still quite rare to be granted the title of duke, especially as their family members are literate along with their sharp insights. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have been granted the title of duke simply for their rescue service. The Chuānxī lineage is the original one, and while the one in the Capital has developed better, they never forgot their roots and often support the original lineage. This gained them a good reputation. The current Lu Fengyan, who came to the Capital to take the exam, belongs to the Chuānxī Lu family. If it weren’t for the power struggles within the Duke Residence these years, Lu Weiran’s official position would have been higher, not just an insignificant official at the Ministry of Housing."
Su Rong nodded, she had seen Lu Fengyan. Earlier, before she saw the files of the Duke Residence, she didn’t realise how connected they were and had wanted to recruit Lu Fengyan into the Eastern Palace. Now it seems, the Duke Residence with all its intense internal struggles is simply too chaotic and things could easily go wrong. If possible, it’s better to not get involved with them. Of course, if necessary, a talented person like Lu Fengyan should align with the Eastern Palace.
Before the exam, she had sent Fen Ling to lurk around Lu Fengyan’s house for several days and couldn’t find out much. Lu Fengyan was very diligent in his studies every day and didn’t hang around with any untidy people. He only stayed with a man named Zhao Shu and didn’t live in the Duke Residence. This implies he probably knew about the chaotic situation in the Duke Residence and was afraid of getting implicated, which might affect his exam. He is intelligent.
Duanhua added, "I heard that Lu Fengyan is quite handsome. I haven’t met him yet. One day, let’s go and see him." She considered for a moment, "On the day when the results are out, there will certainly be a lot of people trying to snatch him as their son-in-law. Let’s join the hustle and see who will get caught this year."
Su Rong laughed, "Sure."
Of course, she loved to join in the fun.
After telling Su Rong about Lu Weiran and Lu Fengyan, Duanhua mentioned some other people from the Duke Residence. However, she didn’t seem very interested in them and brought them up briefly.
After talking about the Duke Residence, she took a sip of tea, ready to talk about the unmarried sons of other families. At this moment, she heard footsteps outside the courtyard. She turned her head to look and immediately stopped talking, saying to Su Rong, "Fen Ling is back."
Su Rong also heard the footsteps and turned to look, indeed she saw Fen Ling entering the courtyard.
Duanhua looked at him carefully, "He doesn’t seem injured, he looks quite well. He went out fine and returned the same."
Su Rong nodded, "It seems there wasn’t much danger this time and he wasn’t silenced."
Duanhua: "..."
Why does it feel so wrong to hear Su Rong reiterating her words?
While talking, Fen Ling entered the room, and the two walked out of the room and went to the drawing room.
When Fen Ling saw Su Rong, he asked, "Did your trip to the Duke Residence go smoothly? Did you finish what you set out to do?"
"It went smoothly, the matter is settled." Su Rong wasn’t in a hurry to share the details with him, but asked him, "Who is that person? Did you find out?"
"I found out. Not only that, I have found out very clearly." Fen Ling sat down, he took three cups of water in one breath and drank them down, wiping his mouth and glanced at Duanhua.
Duanhua was puzzled, "Why are you looking at me? Do you want me to leave? Can’t I listen?"
Fen Ling understood upon hearing this, realizing that Su Rong must have talked to her. He immediately smiled, "Why not? You can listen, I am looking at your ladyship because I am hungry."
The implication was to ask if they could finish eating before continuing the talk.
Duanhua was speechless, "You and your sister are undoubtedly cut from the same cloth." She ordered the servants, "Serve the meal."
Someone answered and hurried to the kitchen to convey the message. Soon, the kitchen started bringing out a large table of delicacies, one after the other.
The three of them finished their meal. After the maid cleared the dishes, Fen Ling leisurely said, "The man’s name is Ye Guixue, he is the Second Young Master of the Ye Xiang Residence in Nanchu..."
"Ah! Ye Guixue, I know him." Duanhua exclaimed.
Su Rong was also familiar with Ye Guixue. Surprised, she looked at Fen Ling, having not expected that the man in the carriage was Ye Guixue.
Rumors circulate that the Second Young Master Ye Xiang of Nanchu Country is brimming with talent, his fame shaking the entire world.
Fen Ling nodded, continuing, "Many years ago, the old lady of the Duke Residence married into the Ye Xiang Family, becoming Lady Ye Xiang. She bore two sons, the second of whom is Ye Guixue. The little girl that came with him is his elder brother’s daughter, Ye Qiuying. Because her mother passed away, and her father married again, her stepmother, with her high family status, had a domineering nature. So, the old lady decided to send her granddaughter to the Duke Residence to live for a while."
Duanhua widened her eyes, "The old lady got married in Nanchu a long time ago, she probably had some misunderstanding about the current Duke Residence. How did she come to believe that a later marriage could be stronger than the Duke Residence sort of vicious characters? Can she really take care of her granddaughter?"
Su Rong seemed contemplative.
Fen Ling continued, "The eldest son of the Ye Family was promised in marriage a month ago by the Nanchu King. He is to marry a young lady from the Nangong Family. That lady of Nangong is known to be arrogant and capricious, with a notoriously terrible temper. Furthermore, she’s killed someone before. The Prime Minister’s wife, after thinking it through and feeling extremely unsettled, wanted to seek help from her family, the Duke Residence in Daliang. She had her second son send the girl here for a few years of guidance. Even if the Duke Residence is a den of wolves, they probably wouldn’t make life difficult for Ye Qiuying, a young kin from outside, given respect for the House of Ye Xiang. After all, the Ye Xiang Residence holds a significant standing in Nanchu."
Duanhua sighed, "So, it turns out that he’s to marry a daughter from the Nangong family. Their people are extremely domineering. That’s very frightening."
Su Rong looked at her and said sincerely, "Princess, people outside say the same about you, that you’re domineering."
Duanhua glared at her, "My domineering nature is different from that of the Nangong family. The women of their family are truly ruthless. For example, they have indeed killed before, and that’s not an exaggeration. I heard that two years ago, a woman from their family took a liking to a scholar who was on his way to take the imperial examination. She demanded that the scholar marry into their family, but the scholar adamantly refused. Consequently, they tied him to a horse and dragged him to death. Later, however, they just paid some money to settle the matter with the victim’s family, and the perpetrator went unpunished."
Fen Ling took over the conversation, "Indeed, the woman who is set to marry the eldest son of the Ye Family is this famous old lady from the Nangong Family, Nangong Le."
Duanhua: "..."
Mumbling, she said, "I suppose that makes sense. Compared to Nangong Le, the wolves of the Duke Residence seem more affectionate. If she becomes the stepmother of this little girl, who knows how she will torment her to death. Even if she doesn’t dare to be overtly cruel, she might resort to covert means."
She curiously asked Fen Ling, "Is the second young master of the Ye Family really as good-looking as reputation says?"
Fen Ling nodded, "Yes, he’s quite good-looking. Otherwise, my sister wouldn’t have asked me to investigate him after catching a glimpse of him from afar in the carriage."
Duanhua seemed intrigued, "Just how handsome is he? Is he as handsome as Zhou Gu?"
Fen Ling pondered for a moment, then nodded, "Yes, he’s very good-looking. Comparing him to Young Master Zhou, it’s difficult to decide who is better. If you’d say Young Master Zhou is like a spring flower dazzling in the sunlight, then Second Young Master Ye is like red plum flowers blooming in a snowy landscape. Both are immediately eye-catching."
Duanhua: "..."
She turned to Su Rong and said, "I think you better give up the idea. The threshold of Ye Xiang Residence in Nanchu is also high. If you feel Zhou Gu isn’t suitable for you, then you and Ye Guixue are even less compatible. Not to mention the great distances, he’s from a noble family too. At least Zhou Gu is from Daliang, which is only a thousand miles from Jiangzhou. But what about Nanchu? It’s ten thousand miles away."
Su Rong thought to herself, you’re wrong. In terms of family status and future prospects, he is indeed suitable. Because sooner or later, I will go to Nanchu.
Fen Ling blinked her eyes, "It’s said that after the second young master of the Ye Family sends off his niece here, he plans to stay in the Duke Residence for a while. He’ll leave once his niece has adjusted to living in the Duke Residence."
Duanhua made a face when Su Rong remained silent, "The imperial examination in Nanchu was two years ago, if my memory serves me right. Ye Guixue also participated in the exam when he was sixteen. It’s been two years. As of now, he holds a position as an Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Personnel."
"Yes, he’s a high-ranked official wearing a crimson robe of the fourth rank." Fen Ling nodded, "This second young master of the Ye Family is really impressive. Joined the imperial court two years ago and is already a fourth-rank official. His rapid promotion is not only due to his family background but also his merits. After just three months in court, he handled a major case that pleased the Nanchu King greatly, leading to his immediate promotion by three ranks. During the past two years, he has solved several significant cases, and he was recently promoted to the position of an Assistant Minister in the Ministry of Personnel. I’ve heard that he took a three-month leave of absence because of his niece. He’ll return to his official duties in the Ministry of Personnel three months later."
"The Nanchu King must like him a lot, or else why would he grant a three-month leave of absence to a court official? And it’s not even a bereavement leave.", Duanhua confirmed with Fen Ling, "He hasn’t gotten married, right? And no news of any engagement either?"
"Correct, no engagement, and not married." Fen Ling replied.
Duanhua sighed, murmuring, "It’s just too far away."
Su Rong took over the conversation, "It indeed is a bit far, but it’s said that Nanchu has excellent weather, and the land there is fertile. People born there are usually not too ugly. None are horrifically ugly, at least. Overall, in the whole of Nanchu Country, there aren’t many exceedingly ugly people. If you can’t marry Zhou Gu in Daliang, and Zhou Gu has made it impossible for you to find anyone appealing, you might consider looking in Nanchu?"
Duanhua: "..."
This doesn’t seem impossible.
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