Chapter 22
Fu'er tried to explain, but Ning Shiyu wouldn't listen.
She was punished by having to repack the bundle that Granny Yu had prepared.
Fu'er was all alone, carrying only a few large bundles.
Not only were there Ning Shiyu's usual clothes, but also items for the journey, as well as gifts he would give when he returned to Chang'an.
She was busy until midnight and was exhausted.
Thinking that Ning Shiyu would be leaving for Chang'an tomorrow.
Unwilling to give up, Fu'er wanted him to take her along as well.
Every year when Ning Shiyu returned to Chang'an, Fu'er would nag him, saying that she wanted to go too.
If we were to say that obtaining a peaceful residence is Fu'er's greatest wish.
So her second wish was to visit Chang'an during her lifetime.
Like every person from Western Chu, he was filled with curiosity about the imperial city under the emperor's feet and wanted to see the prosperous capital that everyone talked about.
She stood behind the screen, craning her neck to peek into the inner room, where the lights were still on.
Fu'er mustered her courage and went inside. The bed curtains covered the room, so she couldn't see Ning Shiyu inside.
She became bolder. "Young master, I am not lying to you today. It is my eldest nephew's birthday, and Zhu Ping was invited to my home by my parents."
"I only found out after I got home."
"Please, have mercy and take this servant to Chang'an as well."
I don't know if Ning Shiyu on the bed has already fallen asleep, because he didn't answer for a long time.
Fu'er couldn't help but mutter, "This servant... is so envious of Mu Li and Zhuang Xing. They can go back to Chang'an with you every year."
Seeing that Ning Shiyu still didn't speak, Fu'er turned around and left the room in disappointment.
Ning Shiyu, who was on the bed, was not asleep at all. He woke up the moment Fu'er entered the inner room.
Hearing Fu'er's footsteps as she left, he slowly sat up, lifted the bed curtains, and looked straight at the spot where Fu'er had just stood.
The complex emotions in his eyes were clearly visible under the warm glow of the palace lanterns.
Because she went to bed late the night before, Fu'er was still woken up by Granny Yu the next day.
Fu'er sat up weakly when she saw Granny Yu's face.
Her eyes are closed again; it's obvious she hasn't had enough sleep.
"Granny, is the young master going to punish me again?"
Granny Yu hung up his bed curtains and laughed, "What punishment? The young master's men have already left."
"Your punishment will have to wait until next month."
Upon hearing that Ning Shiyu had left, Fu'er's eyes snapped open. "Young Master is gone?"
He couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, glancing at the water clock on the table; it was already Chen Shi (7-9 AM).
She jumped up and pulled down the bed curtains. "Granny, I'm leaving now. I have to go back to Songtao Garden to do the accounting."
Granny Yu reached out and handed over a bowl of milk, stopping him, "Young Master said that during his time in Chang'an, you don't need to go back to Songtao Garden, you can stay at Ning Residence."
After taking the milk and drinking it down in two gulps, Fu'er insisted, "Granny, please let me go back. I haven't finished making the pear blossom spices at Songtao Garden yet."
Granny Yu knew she was stubborn and wouldn't be able to stop her without explaining the reason.
He had no choice but to tell the truth: "The guards of Songtao Garden all went to Chang'an with the young master."
"How could he leave a woman like you there alone?"
Upon hearing the reason, Fu'er felt a warmth in her heart, thinking that her master still cared about her to some extent.
A faint smile unconsciously appeared on her face. After washing up, she began to eat the breakfast that Granny Yu had brought.
"Granny, has the young master told me what tasks I'll be doing these days?"
"Should we go back to the accounting office, or follow your orders?"
A complex emotion flashed in Granny Yu's eyes. Instead of answering Fu'er, she asked, "Did Zhu Ping go looking for you yesterday?"
Fu'er nodded in agreement, "Yes, they played with us all day yesterday."
Seeing Yu Mama's serious expression, Fu'er suddenly remembered that Ning Shiyu's expression towards the two of them was a little strange yesterday in the garden.
Her heart tightened. "Granny, has Zhu Ping also been punished?"
"He is innocent, just like me."
Granny Yu sighed, "It's not really a punishment."
"He was sent by the young master to work as an accountant at the silk clothing store."
"From now on, you can eat and live in the backyard of the shop, so you won't need to go back to the Ning residence anymore."
Fu'er said happily, "He's been promoted, and his monthly salary has increased. That's great!"
Granny Yu sighed, "What a silly girl."
Fu'er ate the soft meat pie, completely oblivious to the deeper meaning in Granny Yu's eyes.
"Granny, is the young master still only accompanied by guards, as usual?"
Granny Yu paused in her steps and replied, "Yunyou was also brought along."
The meat pie in Fu'er's hand immediately slipped and hit the edge of the bowl.
Her good mood instantly plummeted.
Heartbroken, she whispered, "It seems that the young master really likes Consort Yun."
She didn't know why she was sad. She thought that after Ning Shiyu gave her a ten-tael increase in her salary, she would feel better.
He even thought about using his own money to buy a new house later.
But hearing this news still caused a slight pang of pain in my heart.
But she quickly convinced herself that Ning Shiyu was just her master after all.
Even if she later gets the chance to sleep with him, it won't change that.
Since she couldn't love him, much less marry him, then none of this concerned her, a mere servant.
He can bring whomever he wants; it's not her money that's being spent anyway.
He didn't want to take me with him; I could go to Chang'an on my own once I had saved enough money.
Granny Yu saw that her eyes had been red just a moment ago, but the next moment she was eating her breakfast heartily without a care in the world.
They couldn't help but laugh and say, "It's good to have a carefree personality; at least you won't let yourself suffer."
As for Zhu Ping, who was assigned to the Lingyi Workshop, he seemed to know what mistake he had made.
His master came to see him out of concern, but surprisingly, he didn't notice anything unusual about him.
I feel relieved and will be able to remain calm when the time comes.
"Disciple, are you getting used to this silk garment workshop?"
"If you're not used to it, I'll plead on your behalf when you return, young master."
"No need to trouble Master. I think this place is very good. Not only has my monthly salary increased, but I've also been put in charge of the accounting."
Lingyifang initially made clothes for Ning Shiyu's private clothes, but gradually became one of the top clothing shops in Lingyang City.
In Lingyang, whenever ready-made clothing is mentioned, the first thing nobles think of is to come to Lingyifang and buy one or two pieces.
Wearing this will make you look good wherever you go, as long as people know it's from Lingyifang.
The guests who came were all wealthy people who had no shortage of money.
Not to mention a mere accountant, even the shop assistants earn more per month than those elsewhere.
As long as you have a sweet tongue, influential people won't hesitate to give you a reward.
Uncle Hong knew his apprentice well; he wasn't easily fooled. Before leaving, he reminded him, "If you still remember me as your master, then don't think about things you shouldn't be thinking about."
“Wait a while, when Xiuxiu is almost fifteen, the two of you will be a good match.”
Xiuxiu is Uncle Hong's niece. She is beautiful, capable, and promising.
She lost her parents at a young age and supported herself and her younger brother with her embroidery skills.
Many people came to propose marriage, but she only took a liking to Zhu Ping.
Zhu Ping is intelligent, a man of few words but very composed.
Last time Uncle Hong was sick for half a month, he was in charge of all the accounts in the accounting department and there were no mistakes.
Uncle Hong had long regarded him as his own son.
She often mentioned him to her family, and over time, Xiuxiu remembered him.
Upon meeting him, I found that Zhu Ping was quite good-looking.
From then on, it stayed in my mind.
She would always secretly ask her uncle if Zhu Ping was engaged.
I heard that they even went to Zhu Ping's house in Tongluo Lane to inquire about it.
Of course, Uncle Hong could not escape the notice of a young woman's thoughts.
They also intend to bring the two together.
Later, when he realized that Zhu Ping had feelings for Fu'er, he only gave her a slight reminder.
Uncle Hong had previously suggested that Lingyifang should change its accountant, and Ning Shiyu agreed, but they have not yet found a suitable candidate.
Yesterday, Zhu Ping went to Fu'er's house, and in the evening Mu Li relayed his master's decision.
Zhu Ping always listened to his master, but this time he did not agree.
“Master, I have no romantic feelings for Xiuxiu.”
"My disciple only wants to marry..."
Seeing that Zhu Ping was still stubborn, Uncle Hong immediately interrupted, "Miss Fu'er is not someone you can covet."
"Even if she's not favored by her master, she's not someone you can marry."
“The master was cold to everyone, but he kept her by his side for more than ten years.”
"We make exceptions for her in every way, how could we just treat her as a maid?"
“Even though the young master now has someone by his side, he has never neglected her.”
"We were master and disciple, I would never harm you. Think it over carefully."
With Uncle Hong gone, the accounting office quieted down, leaving only Zhu Ping alone.
He got up and walked to the half-open window, his face showing a hint of determination.
Half a month later, Ning Shiyu arrived in Chang'an.
The steward of the princess's residence, Xiwu, personally went to the dock to bring Ning Shiyu back.
He was originally a deputy general under Ning Shiyu's father.
Later, after he injured one eye, Ning Shiyu's father put him in charge of some miscellaneous tasks at the princess's residence.
After the incident involving the Eldest Princess and General Ning, he stayed by Ning Shiyu's side.
It wasn't until Ning Shiyu was fifteen that Xiwu returned to Chang'an to take charge of Ning Shiyu's business there.
Yugiri has always lived in the princess's residence and is extremely loyal to Ning Shiyu.
Every year when Ning Shiyu returned to Chang'an to pay respects to his parents, Xiwu would prepare the necessary items well in advance.
Ning Shiyu's main courtyard, Yunjin Hall, is cleaned daily.
Whenever he returned to Chang'an, the courtyard and side rooms were always kept clean and tidy.
The furnishings and items in the room, even their positions, have not changed.
This gave Ning Shiyu the illusion that his parents were still alive.
Unfortunately, once he stepped into Xuan Yue Hall, where his parents lived, he found it deserted and everything was back to square one.
The image of his father being stabbed to death and his mother, heartbroken, following him in death, would once again appear in his mind.
It instantly brought him back to the fact that his parents were no longer alive.
Therefore, every year when he returned to Chang'an, he was unwilling to set foot in Xuan Yue Hall, and even deliberately avoided it.
Everyone around them knows, but no one dares to mention it.
Ning Shiyu had just entered Yunjin Hall.
Mu Li and Zhuang Xing hadn't finished putting away his baggage yet.
Yugiri then reported, "Young Master, where should we place the young lady you brought?"
This was the first time Ning Shiyu had brought female relatives back, and Xiwu couldn't figure out what Ning Shiyu was thinking.
He didn't dare to make decisions on his own.
The princess's residence has many courtyards, but each courtyard has its own purpose.
In the past, when the eldest princess was alive, she paid great attention to this.
Ning Shiyu stood in front of the antique shelf, looking at some of the antiques he had collected in his childhood.
He said calmly, "Let her stay at Xiayue Pavilion."
Next to Xiayue Pavilion is Ziyun Hall, where Ning Shiyu's future wife will live.
It's also very close to his Yunjintang.
The eldest princess had made this arrangement for Ning Shiyu when he was very young.
Let him marry a wife of equal social standing in the future, and then take a beautiful concubine whom he desires.
After hearing the instructions, Yugiri understood that her master valued this girl.
Therefore, one should not neglect one's food, clothing, and daily necessities.
After he had a clear understanding of the situation, he reported on another matter.
"Young Master, the old lady of the Ning family specifically asked me to convey that you must visit the Ning family when you return to Chang'an."
"According to my understanding, the old lady is arranging your marriage."
“A few days ago, she used the excuse of admiring flowers to send invitations to all the unmarried noble ladies in Chang’an.”
Ning Shiyu said calmly, "It seems they are still not giving up."
Knowing that his grandmother would not give up, Ning Shiyu naturally had a plan in mind.
Then his brow furrowed slightly, and a hint of sadness appeared in his eyes.
Changing the subject, he asked, "Uncle Xiwu, is there any news about Aunt Min in the capital?"
Yugiri looked remorseful and shook her head, saying, "Replying to Your Highness, there is none yet."
"For the past year, I have been eagerly awaiting news of the young master and Miss Min."
"There was absolutely no gain."
Ning Shiyu pinched the bridge of his nose, closed his eyes to suppress the faint sorrow in them, and then instructed, "I'm going to the palace later to pay my respects to my uncle, have you prepared a gift?"
"Your Highness, rest assured, I have already made preparations."
Two days later was the anniversary of his parents' death.
Another important purpose of his return was to visit his maternal uncle, the emperor.
After lunch, Ning Shiyu rested for a while before taking only Mu Li with him into the palace.
The princess's residence was built on the fourth street of Zhuquemen Street, in Changlefang, the second street east of the imperial city.
The palace was quite far away, but the carriage arrived in less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.
Ning Shiyu was familiar with the process of entering the palace. After reporting at Chengtian Gate, he waited for a while.
However, the news that was received was that the Emperor was unwell and could not be summoned that day.
Ning Shiyu understood that this was because Empress Cui did not want him to see the Emperor.
This has never happened before.
It is likely that Empress Cui tried to reclaim the eldest princess's dowry, but failed time and time again, suffering many hidden losses at Ning Shiyu's hands.
In addition, Ning Shiyu refused the marriage proposal put forward by Old Madam Ning without any hesitation.
Two things angered Queen Choi.
If Ning Shiyu really waits patiently, he will never see his imperial uncle.
He had anticipated this outcome, so of course he wouldn't sit idly by and wait for his doom. He turned to Mu Li and said, "Bring out the second gift, and we'll go to the East Palace to meet the Crown Prince."
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