Chapter 47 Chapter 47 "Just on the way."
At the beginning of the Chen period, the sky was bright.
Sheng Puzhu woke up from his dream. The candle outside the tent had gone out. Only a faint ray of morning light shone through the half-open window into the room, casting a hazy shadow on the screen.
The inner room was unusually quiet. When Sheng Puzhu sat up, hugging the brocade quilt, she made a very slight noise.
"Madam, are you awake?" Jin Li quietly lifted the curtain, holding a handkerchief, wrung dry but still warm. "It's frost-ridden outside today, so a cold handkerchief won't do. Please use this to wake yourself up."
The slightly scalding handkerchief fell into her palm. Sheng Puzhu slowly shook it open and covered her face with it. With a dull nasal voice, she asked, "Did my husband go out last night?"
"Yes." Jin Li nodded. "I heard from Madam this morning that my husband left home not long after my wife went to bed last night. He seemed to have something urgent to do."
She thought for a moment and added, "The lights in the old lady's Yishou Hall were on for half the night. I could faintly hear the sound of teacups breaking. Before daybreak, Nanny Wang from Tingtao Residence hurried out to fetch a doctor."
The hot steam on the handkerchief blurred his eyes and eyebrows. Sheng Puzhu paused when he heard this.
Xie Zhiyan has always been a dignified and calm person. Unless it was a big deal, he would never disturb the elders at home in the middle of the night. She frowned and couldn't guess for a moment what was going on that required him to be so ruthless and decisive.
When Sheng Puzhu stepped into Yishou Hall, he heard the sound of teacups being placed heavily on the table.
She walked in and just as she turned around the screen, she saw the tall and straight figure standing in front of the flower hall, with broad shoulders and a straight back, which made the elegant crimson official robe look a bit fierce like a military general.
"Niece-in-law pays her respects to uncle." Sheng Puzhu lowered her eyes and saluted respectfully.
Xie Juyuan turned around slowly when he heard the voice. Coming from a family of military generals, and being the only civil official in the family, the elegant demeanor he had acquired through years of self-cultivation had largely reduced the oppressive feeling brought about by his own tall image.
"Sanlang's wife." Xie Juyuan's eyes moved slightly, and he looked at Sheng Puju deeply, with undisguised sharpness in his eyes.
After all, he had to maintain his dignity as a scholar. Even though he was dissatisfied, he suppressed his anger and raised his hand to nod lightly.
"Mother, I will personally go to the Chief Priest Sheng to discuss the promised marriage."
"It's the parents' orders and the matchmaker's words. Even if you value Zhiyan as much as you can, he's still a junior. Even if he's the eldest princess's biological son and your majesty's nephew, there's no reason for you to arbitrarily decide my son's marriage while I'm still alive."
"So please think twice, mother."
"Son, take your leave."
Xie Juyuan had a cold expression on his face. After respectfully bowing to the old lady, he left without looking back.
The flower hall is so quiet that you can hear a pin drop.
Nanny Jiang, who was guarding the outer room, came in. There was something strange in her eyes, and she forced a smile on her face. "My lady, please have breakfast. The kitchen has prepared your favorite glutinous rice cakes."
Sheng Puzhu shook his head and refused. Who would have the heart to eat snacks after being given the cold shoulder so early in the morning?
"Good boy, did that evil creature scare you just now?"
The old lady leaned on the couch, her eyes were blue, and she looked not very energetic. She could not hide the disappointment in her eyes and sighed, "It's not a big deal. It's just that Sanlang came to me last night and directly rejected Ji Yan's marriage with the Sheng family."
Sheng Puzhu was visibly stunned: "Last night?"
The old lady sighed: "Hmm."
"Your aunt was so angry that she fell ill. She said that since she injured her leg, her temper has become dull. He followed his brother's wishes and said that he and your second sister are not suitable, and there is no need to mention marriage in the future."
Sheng Puzhu could never have imagined that what made Xie Zhiyan act so decisively was actually because of Xie Jiyan's marriage.
Looking at the conflict between the eldest and second houses of the Duke of Jingguo's Mansion, I'm afraid it's not as simple as it seems on the surface.
The two of them exchanged verbal comments and stopped talking. Sheng Puzhu did not feel it was a pity, but instead felt inexplicably relieved.
"Forget it. Since he obviously agrees with his brother's proposal, we'll just pretend the marriage never happened. I'll trouble you to find a chance to tell my family."
The old lady said in a low voice, "Mingshu has a good temper and is a rare lady among thousands, but she has always said that she is not that lucky."
Sheng Puzhu pondered for a moment, and when he raised his eyes, there was a look of determination in his eyes.
She bowed to the old lady and said softly, "Grandma, my granddaughter-in-law wants to go back to the Marquis Mingde's Mansion."
"Alright." The old lady nodded with a smile. "It would be best if you could go back now and explain things to the elders."
"You don't have to worry about what's going on in the meeting room. Since it's rare for you to go back home, just stay at home for a few more days. I'll take care of everything at the Duke's Mansion. Just be at ease and spend more time with your elders at home."
Sheng Puzhu knew the importance of the matter. She smiled and nodded, saying softly, "My grandson's wife has had lunch at home and will be back around noon."
The front hall of Mingde Marquis Mansion.
Sheng Puzhu sat upright on a rosewood armchair, with snacks and hot tea at her sides, which were her favorites.
"Why did you come back suddenly?" asked Mrs. Sheng.
Sheng Puzhu smiled and said softly, "My granddaughter came back today because of what happened to my second sister the other day."
"What do you mean?" Mrs. Zhuang, the second wife of Sheng, asked nervously.
Sheng Puzhu took a deep breath and looked at Sheng Mingshu who was sitting beside her: "What do you think, second sister?"
"Mr. Xie, the Fifth Prince, do you really like him?"
Sheng Mingshu was slightly stunned, lowered her head, and said in a mosquito-like voice: "I...I don't know either."
She tugged at the handkerchief in her hand tightly, and after a while she continued, "I'm just not too scared of him because he has difficulty moving."
"Apart from this, is there nothing else?" Sheng Puzhu asked calmly.
Sheng Mingshu shook her head.
"Grandmother, Auntie," Sheng Puzhu said solemnly, "I don't think my second sister's personality is suitable for marrying into the Xie family."
"I mentioned this to Saburo last night, and he also felt it was inappropriate."
"Besides, Second Sister's feelings for Xie Jiyan are at most due to his disability. The difference in their personalities is simply too great."
At this point, everyone naturally understood what he meant.
Mrs. Sheng felt disappointed. She had originally thought that her eldest daughter would marry into the family and become a sister-in-law to the eldest sister. At least the eldest sister would take care of her in everything. Although the young man from the Xie family could not be called perfect, at least they could live in harmony.
Compared to Zhuang's loss, Sheng Mingshu seemed to be suddenly relieved, and her pale little face became a little more red.
She couldn't describe how she felt, but at least the pressure that had been weighing on her shoulders like a mountain was gone.
Madam Sheng's eyes fell on Sheng Mingshu without revealing any expression, and she nodded after a while: "In that case, let's not mention it in the future."
"Mingshu is only seventeen, there's no rush."
Zhuang was about to speak but stopped herself. However, when she met her daughter's smiling deer eyes, she was stunned for a long time and said helplessly, "Forget it. There's no rush for marriage. Your father and I won't force you."
"Whether you marry or not is nothing compared to your health."
"Even if you stay at home, your sister-in-law is kind and your brother is ambitious. They will never let you suffer any injustice."
Sheng Mingshu smiled and nodded. She didn't care about the presence of the elders. She took Sheng Puzhu's hand and said hurriedly: "Mother, Grandma, I haven't seen my elder sister for a long time. I want my elder sister to accompany me to talk to me."
Madam Sheng waved her hand and said, "Go ahead. Your elder sister has to be back before curfew. Don't make any noise."
"Yes, yes, my granddaughter knows."
In the boudoir, Sheng Mingshu saw the nanny and the others retreat. She then took Sheng Puzhu's hand and whispered, "Big sister, did you hear that Xue Hanwen was blocked in an alley and beaten half to death on my birthday?"
"Really?" Sheng Puzhu raised his eyebrows.
"This kind of thing can't be fake."
"I thought my sister had someone do it secretly to vent her anger on me." Sheng Mingshu was dumbfounded.
Sheng Puzhu had never done such a thing, so of course he wouldn't admit it. "Why would I beat him up for no reason? He's been detained in the Dali Temple for so long, and the Marquis of Changxing's reputation has been ruined. I'm so busy every day, how could I have the energy to hire someone to beat him up?"
"Could it be that my second brother did it?"
Sheng Mingshu shook his head: "I asked privately, it's not my second brother."
"I heard that he was beaten badly and was discovered by the Dali Temple. Then the Dali Temple Minister did a good deed and had his subordinates throw Xue Hanwen back to the Changxing Marquis Mansion."
Sheng Puzhu immediately frowned: "Then have you ever thought that the Dali Temple Minister was stealing from the court, and he personally beat the person and then sent him over?"
Sheng Mingshu's face was full of an expression as if she had seen a ghost.
"How is that possible?"
"Sister, don't talk nonsense. You scared me to death."
"Master Lu, he is the Minister of Justice! He is in charge of the prisons."
Sheng Puzhu spread his hands and said as a matter of course: "Yes, just because he is the Dali Temple Minister, it would be more convenient for him to beat people."
Sheng Mingshu felt goosebumps all over her body and shuddered inexplicably: "Sister, he is the famous Lu Siqing in Chang'an City who can stop children from crying at night."
After hearing this, Sheng Puzhu nodded seriously: "Yes, I know."
"Didn't I ask you to marry me privately?"
"It's reasonable for me to vent your anger."
Sheng Mingshu suddenly became anxious, her cheeks flushed red, and she looked like she was about to cry: "That doesn't count, I was just asking in private."
"Besides, I refused."
"Xue Hanwen was beaten, and Liu brought people to ask for an explanation. Fortunately, his two brothers had not left the house. Liu couldn't find any evidence and was frustrated. This matter only came to my ears, and it was Puyao who told me quietly."
Sheng Puzhu frowned slowly and shook his head helplessly: "Puyao plays with the raccoon slave all day long, where on earth did she hear so much news?"
"Fourth sister has a good temper and is friendly with everyone in the mansion. There is nothing she can't find out."
At this point, Sheng Mingshu reached out and gently tugged at Sheng Puzhu's sleeve, then quietly asked, "Sister, how many days will you be sentenced to if you're caught hitting someone?"
Sheng Puzhu laughed: "He shouldn't be sentenced. After all, he is Lu Siqing. He can't lock himself up, right?"
"Sister, I didn't say Lu Siqing."
"Who are you talking about?"
Sheng Mingshu blushed and hesitated: "Will my sister be afraid of Xie Jia Sanlang?"
Sheng Puzhu looked at her like she was a fool: "He's good-looking and doesn't eat people, so why should I be afraid of him?"
"I'm not afraid."
"I always feel that my husband is tall and might be scheming. I can't fight him or run away from him, which would be terrible."
Sheng Mingshu pinched her fingers and said embarrassedly, "Ever since I rejected Lu Siqing's proposal, I've been having dreams all the time. I'm always afraid that he'll find an excuse to have me locked up in the Dali Temple."
“Woo…”
"Then I am the most pitiful girl in Chang'an City."
Sheng Puzhu laughed as he heard this, and with a glance he noticed that all the poems and songs on the bookshelf in the room had been put away and replaced with a pile of storybooks.
He nodded helplessly at Sheng Mingshu's head and said, "If you read less storybooks, you won't have nightmares at night."
Sheng Mingshu was dissatisfied: "But didn't my sister ask me to read more storybooks to improve my brain?"
Sheng Puzhu refused to admit it even if he was beaten to death.
"When did I ever say such nonsense?"
"Maybe you were sick before and have a fever and are confused."
After thinking for a while, she added, "Forget it, you should read more storybooks."
Sheng Mingshu nodded seriously: "I don't want to get married anymore. Anyway, my brother is ambitious and can support me. When my health gets better in a few years, I will follow my sister's example and open a shop in Chang'an."
"Okay, whatever you say."
Before the sun set, Sheng Puzhu prepared to go back.
The setting sun dyed the two lions in front of the steps of Mingde Marquis Mansion into a warm gilt color.
Sheng Puzhu said goodbye to his elders at home and was dazzled by the rosy clouds in the sky as soon as he stepped out of the house.
In the light golden light and shadow, a slender figure stood quietly in front of the carriage.
Xie Zhiyan's crimson official robe was blown up by the evening breeze. When he saw her come out, his eyes suddenly turned darker and he slowly stretched out his hand.
"Madam." A deep voice mixed with the sound of evening drums. The man had broad shoulders and long legs. The knuckles of his palms facing upwards were distinct, and the cuffs of his sleeves were embroidered with precious patterns in silver thread, which were gorgeous and exquisite.
Sheng Puzhu looked at the hand and seemed a little distracted.
"Why is Langjun here?"
"Just on the way."
Xie Zhiyan stared at her, his fingertips moving half an inch forward. He had gentle eyebrows and a straight nose. A light dusk mist fell, giving his usually stern expression a layer of warmth.
He really was born with a handsome face that is one in a million.
There were maids surrounding the mansion, and the sisters were hiding not far away and laughing secretly. Sheng Puzhu's cheeks flushed slightly, so she had to lower her eyes and gently put her hand into his palm.
The moment their fingertips touched, Xie Zhiyan suddenly closed his five fingers, with a force that was neither too strong nor too weak, just enough to pull her forward and take a step towards him.
"Is it over?"
He asked in a low voice, his other hand already lifting the curtain.
"Yeah." Sheng Puzhu met his gaze, smiled faintly, lowered her head and got into the carriage.
Xie Zhiyan followed him in, and the moment the curtain fell, the twilight was blocked out.
In the small space, he still held her hand tightly, his voice low.
"good."
"Then let's go home."
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