Chapter 94 if·Shangguan Yun (1)
"Take him back first, then invite Old Master Sun over. This is the only heir left in the Luo family, so we should help him if we can."
"Thank you very much, my benefactor."
As the conversation subsided, someone soaked a handkerchief in hot water and wiped Luo Yan's forehead and palms. She gradually regained consciousness and opened her eyes to the rumble of the rolling wheels.
The first thing you see is a kind face with graying temples, looking at least fifty years old.
Seeing Luo Yan wake up, the woman's eyes lit up with joy, and she turned to ask the doctor, "Is my young lady fully recovered?"
The doctor pressed on several acupoints on Luo Yan's body, fed her a bitter pill, and encouraged her, "Good girl, move around a bit."
Luo Yan felt weak all over, but her eyes could still move. She quickly looked around and found herself lying in a carriage, with two people in front of her dressed in ancient costumes, just like a movie set.
It must be a side effect of the general anesthesia. The moonlight was cool and clear, and the octagonal sandalwood palace lanterns hanging from the eaves of the magnificent palace swayed gently in the breeze. The palace was silent, and the air seemed to stand still. By the bright candlelight, a beautiful woman in luxurious attire leaned against the couch. A palace maid gently fanned her, but the woman's brows were tightly furrowed, and she rubbed her temples with the hand supporting her head.
The woman slowly opened her lips, her voice deep and calm: "How is Ying'er?"
"Does Your Highness not understand the princess's temperament? Although the princess is making a big fuss now, she will understand Your Highness's good intentions in loving her daughter in a few days, and won't she come to you to apologize immediately?"
Consort Qiong slightly opened her phoenix eyes and looked at the palace servants.
The palace maid's hand trembled as she fanned herself, and she quickly said, "Yingxue means that the princess will surely understand Her Highness's kindness towards her."
Consort Qiong chuckled lightly: "It was just to tell her not to associate with that girl from the Luo family, and she threw such a tantrum. It seems I've been too lenient with her all this time. Yingxue, tomorrow morning, take the aunt from the Imperial Ceremonial Bureau to the Princess's palace. The Princess is about to get engaged, so it's time for her to settle down."
Yingxue responded.
"Tomorrow, take some men to the storeroom and select the thousand-year-old ginseng that His Majesty bestowed last time, along with some other precious tonics, and send them to the Xie residence along with that peony hairpin with kingfisher feather inlay."
Yingxue agreed, "Does Your Highness agree to the eldest young master's request?"
Consort Qiong sneered, "Can we not agree to him? If we agree, there's still a chance to keep it a secret. If we don't agree, the marriage alliance between the Chu and Xie families will definitely be ruined."
As she spoke, a hint of anger appeared between the woman's brows, and her tone unconsciously became heavier: "How could my Chu family raise such a good-for-nothing who doesn't know his place!"
Yingxue comforted her, "Your Highness, don't worry. Didn't the eldest young master just promise you that he would break off his relationship with that concubine's daughter?"
"Do you think that's possible? With his philandering nature, he even went after his fiancée's half-sister. Would he really listen to me obediently? It seems I need to urge His Majesty to arrange the marriage as soon as possible. Once the marriage is done, I'll have less to worry about."
"What marriage?"
The deep male voice coming from the doorway startled both the master and servant.
Almost instantly, Consort Qiong put on a charming smile and gracefully stepped forward to pay her respects.
"Greetings, Your Majesty."
The emperor was over forty, but he did not look old. He walked with a steady gait and was full of strength. With a stretch of his long arm, he embraced the woman's slender waist.
Consort Qiong subtly gave Yingxue a look that betrayed her guilt, and then calmly sat down on the couch with the Emperor.
The emperor gently kneaded Consort Qiong's waist and casually asked, "What were you talking about earlier? Was it for Ke'er?"
Consort Qiong chuckled, “You really can’t hide it from His Majesty, can you? Just now, Ke’er came to the palace and asked me to ask His Majesty to set a wedding date for them. In my opinion, Ke’er was heartbroken when Miss Xie accidentally fell into the water today, which is why he can’t wait to bring her back to his mansion.”
The Emperor hummed in agreement. "How is the investigation into Miss Xie's fall into the water today, my beloved consort?"
Consort Qiong showed some self-reproach: "It was my fault for not disciplining my servants properly. One of the palace maids on the boat lost her balance and accidentally knocked Miss Xie into the water. Your Majesty, please rest assured, I have already taken care of the matter."
Seeing her blame herself, the emperor comforted her tenderly: "How can this be your fault? If you were to manage everyone, wouldn't you exhaust my Qiong'er?"
Consort Qiong playfully slapped the Emperor's arm, saying, "Your Majesty is used to spoiling people. Now that I have the power to assist in managing the six palaces, I should strictly restrain myself."
The emperor smiled and stroked her hair. "I know you've always been strong-willed. By the way, I heard that the one who went into the water to save people today was Madam Zhu's niece?"
Consort Qiong looked at the Emperor and met his usual gentle and loving gaze. He seemed to be asking a question casually.
"Yes, Miss Luo is brave and resolute. I'm just thinking about how to reward her. Does Your Majesty have any ideas?"
The emperor smiled helplessly: "How could I possibly understand a young woman's preferences? But Miss Luo took the initiative to go into the water to save someone, unafraid of getting hurt or not being able to look her best. Such a courageous and kind-hearted girl deserves to be rewarded."
"What does Your Majesty mean?"
“Let her go with us during the summer hunt in a few days. I’ve heard she’s from Ningzhou, so I suppose she’s never ridden a horse to hunt before.”
Consort Qiong leaned against the Emperor's chest and laughed, her bright face showing a hint of admiration for the man. "Your Majesty is truly kind and wise. I hadn't considered this aspect. For Miss Luo, gold and silver jewels are indeed not as precious as the experience of accompanying Your Majesty on a summer hunt. Tomorrow I will send someone to convey Your Majesty's favor."
The Emperor was pleased with her admiration and gentleness, and his smile deepened. "No need," he said. "I will have Zhu Shenzhi deliver the message after court tomorrow. There is no need for my beloved consort to send someone."
Consort Qiong's smile froze almost imperceptibly for a moment before she quickly concealed it, softly expressing her gratitude for the Emperor's thoughtfulness, her delicate hands reaching towards the Emperor's jade belt.
Night deepened.
The fog at dawn gradually dissipates as the sun rises higher, and the summer morning sunlight is not yet scorching, but rather carries a pleasant warmth.
Zhu Yun had just finished court and hadn't even stepped into the fragrant courtyard when the conversation inside reached his ears on the breeze.
The woman's voice was clear and cold: "Has Yuan Ling's outer robe been starched and washed?"
"I have already given the instructions as you instructed, Miss. Commander Yuan's outer robe is made of new silk satin produced by the Zhunan Weaving Bureau this year. It needs to be washed gently with warm water, otherwise the fabric will be damaged."
Luo Yan gave a satisfied "hmm," her usually sweet voice now calm and clear, reaching the ears of the man outside the door:
"We can't delay seeing him. Once the clothes arrive, we must immediately set up a carriage and head to the Yuan residence."
She decisively closed her eyes to rest, ignoring the two women, and silently recalled what had happened before she was wheeled into the operating room—she seemed to have read a terrible novel that made her so angry that she couldn't sleep, made harassing phone calls to her brother in the middle of the night, and then pulled out Christmas cards to write and draw.
So, it was because of that novel with a martial arts background that her brain constructed the illusion of ancient style?
Before Luo Yan could figure it out, she heard the doctor's puzzled voice: "The cold has subsided, so there should be no major problem."
“My young lady has been frail since childhood. She has been soaking in the water tank for so long. I’m afraid she’s become delirious from illness.”
"It's not that bad." The doctor patted Luo Yan's head. "Stop pretending to be asleep and tell me, what's your name?"
She opened her eyes a crack: "Luo Yan."
"It matches up." The woman smiled through her tears, covering her completely with her cloak. "Good girl, do you still remember this old woman?"
The overwhelming warmth made Luo Yan momentarily lose her composure, and her tone softened unconsciously: "I don't remember."
The woman looked at her with affection and recounted, as if telling a story, how she had been granted a place in the Luo family by virtue of her kindness, how she had rushed back to the city upon hearing the news, and how she had met several masked knights.
Luo Yan listened intently, stretching her limbs under her cloak, and muttered, "It really is the plot of 'The Legend of Wu Yang'."
Isn't she playing the role of the beloved cousin? A man dressed in gorgeous clothes and wearing a flamboyant golden crown barged in, carrying a pot of wine. "Cousin, it's good that you're not asleep. By the way, I've run into some trouble lately and would like to ask you for help."
Xiao Zheng leaned back on the couch, nodded impatiently, and gestured for him to continue.
Chu Ke smiled ingratiatingly and said, "Well, it's just about me and that illegitimate daughter of the Xie family, isn't it? I promised my aunt that I would break up with her, but these past few days she's been secretly sending me letters. You know your cousin is a man of deep feelings, and he really can't bear to see his delicate young lady heartbroken. So I wanted to ask my cousin to put in a good word for me with my aunt."
"What's so good about that illegitimate daughter?" Xiao Zheng sneered. "Is an illegitimate daughter with impure intentions worth all this trouble? My cousin comes from the Chu family, has a noble status, and is handsome and dashing. He deserves a better match."
Chu Ke's face lit up with anticipation: "Oh? From what my cousin is saying, you've found a beauty for me?"
Xiao Zheng smiled meaningfully and said, "Didn't you see her yesterday too? It was Madam Zhu's niece, whose surname is Luo."
Chu Ke instantly remembered; once he had seen that beauty, he could never forget her. A hint of regret crossed his face: "But doesn't Miss Luo already have a fiancé?"
Xiao Zheng walked forward, fiddling with the rabbit, his voice low and seductive: "Cousin, you are the eldest son of the Chu family. How dare a mere sixth-rank official in charge of the Imperial Academy compare to you? He obediently handed over the person at your command."
Upon hearing this, Chu Ke couldn't contain himself: "Then I'll summon that supervisor when I return to the capital."
“Hey—” Xiao Zheng raised his arm to stop him, “That may be true, but it’s beneath your dignity for my cousin to personally step forward to demand someone for the daughter of a lowly official.”
"In my opinion, cousin, you should start with Luo Yan."
"It's just a hallucination anyway, why think so much?" Luo Yan was too lazy to dwell on it, rested her forehead on the woman's knee, and gradually fell asleep.
When I woke up again, the scene was still in ancient Chinese style.
After discussing the matter of meeting Yuan Ling, the courtyard fell silent again. Luo Yan sat under the flower trellis, holding a book in her right hand, and continued reading. Suddenly, she caught a glimpse of someone walking into the courtyard gate.
Luo Yan looked surprised: "Cousin?"
He seemed to have come straight to her courtyard after court, without even changing out of his official robes. This was the second time she had seen him in purple robes. Even in such a vibrant color, his aloof and detached demeanor remained unchanged, instead adding to his air of nobility.
His face was expressionless, perhaps because he was wearing an official robe, which gave him an air of authority that was more pronounced than usual.
Luo Yan couldn't tell what he was up to. "Cousin, what brings you here? Lilan, go brew a pot of Junshan Yinzhen tea." She smiled and said, "I heard that you love Junshan Yinzhen tea, so I asked my aunt for some more."
Zhu Yun's eyes were as calm as a lake, unmoved by her attentiveness, and he said indifferently, "It's thoughtful, but there's no need. I'll leave after I finish speaking."
Lilan, ever the perceptive one, withdrew, leaving only the two of them in the courtyard.
Luo Yan's watery eyes sparkled with anticipation: "Cousin, what do you want to tell me?"
"His Majesty has ordered that you accompany him on the summer hunt."
Luo Yan paused for a moment. She had originally planned to go on the summer hunt with her aunt. After all, although Zhu Yun was the most outstanding among her choices, he was also the most difficult to kill. She had to prepare a backup plan for herself. Even if she had to kill Cheng Feng in the end, it would be beneficial to maintain good relations with the aristocratic families.
However, after the incident at the Lotus Banquet where Eunuch Xu took action, she decided to give up this summer hunt after weighing the two options.
Luo Yan's smile vanished instantly: "Why would His Majesty specifically ask me to accompany him?"
Zhu Yun relayed the emperor's words: "His Majesty heard about your rescue of Miss Xie yesterday and has specially granted you a reward."
Is it really that simple? Luo Yan secretly observed Zhu Yun's expression. He clearly had other guesses, but he refused to say them directly.
Luo Yan bit her lip. "Cousin, can I pretend to be sick?"
Zhu Yun's dark eyes held a hint of seriousness. "I'm afraid that won't work."
The emperor personally ordered that if feigning illness seemed too deliberate, she would have no choice but to go on this summer hunt.
Luo Yan's thoughts shifted: "Cousin, the Xia Shou people are a mixed bunch, and it's in an open mountain forest, wouldn't that make it easier for Eunuch Xu and his men to take action?"
Her voice softened suddenly, with a hint of pleading: "Can I come with you then?"
"Eunuch Xu is not on the accompanying list this time."
Luo Yan was slightly taken aback. Eunuch Xu wasn't there? It must be that the other party was afraid she would realize that the person who pushed her into the water was Eunuch Xu, so they specially replaced him.
Then he said, "It is impolite for you to follow me."
It's all about etiquette.
Luo Yan scoffed inwardly, about to try again, when she heard him say, "I sent someone to secretly follow you."
There was a hint of helplessness in his tone, as if he hadn't intended to tell her the arrangements he had made long ago, and that telling her now was simply to get rid of her as soon as possible.
Well, it's barely satisfactory.
Luo Yan smiled gratefully: "Thank you, cousin."
To ask someone like him, who has been raised with strict moral principles and never makes a mistake, to abandon the constraints of propriety is an incredibly difficult task.
However, Zhu Zhaoyue once revealed that he had done something outrageous that violated etiquette, and if he did it once, he would do it again.
"Cousin, will you stay at home today?"
"What's up?"
As if afraid of being overheard, Luo Yan took a step closer, lowered her voice to make it even softer, and a hint of ambiguity rose in the atmosphere.
“My cousin carried me through the slippery mud for so long yesterday. If he got hurt, I would be truly responsible. So I stewed some nourishing food for him…”
Zhu Yun's Adam's apple bobbed slightly as he interrupted her directly: "No need, I'm leaving now."
Luo Yan wasn't surprised. She blinked her long eyelashes, revealing a hint of grievance: "But my cousin has helped me so much. Apart from my aunt's family, only my cousin has been helping me all along. How can I not thank him?"
Only him? Is it really only him?
Zhu Yun slowly opened his lips: "My cousin is indeed sincere, but it's not necessary."
Luo Yan didn't know why he suddenly turned cold, and she felt that there was something hidden in his words, but she couldn't figure out what she had done wrong just now.
Before she could figure it out, he spoke again, his deep voice carrying a strong sense of pressure, "Don't mention yesterday's events again."
His sudden change in attitude was strange, and Luo Yan was even more puzzled, but she still replied, "Luo Yan understands."
The man nodded slightly, turned and left deftly, seemingly determined not to step into her courtyard unless he was on the emperor's orders to deliver a message to her.
Luo Yan watched his figure disappear with a calm gaze, then sat back down under the flower stand and continued flipping through the books, her posture calm and leisurely, as if nothing had happened.
Lilan only came back in after Zhu Yun had completely left.
"When did you say you wanted to stew some tonics? Should I tell the kitchen?"
Luo Yan's fingertips traced the pages of the book, her voice calm: "No need, it was just a casual remark. He wouldn't eat my food."
Junlan tapped her eldest son's forehead: "What are you going to do? When you were five, you encouraged Xiao Jing and the others to set fire to the medicinal herb fields; when you were eight, you cut off Old Master Sun's beard while he was sleeping. Now you're a young prodigy, third on the Star Ranking. Are you going to take over Medicine King Valley?"
The boy turned his face away angrily, his gaze meeting that of the gloating Old Man Sun. The latter quickly suppressed his smile and pretended to drink his tea.
He stood back beside Luo Yan, speaking with a straight face: "Sister Yan Yan doesn't know martial arts and is afraid of snakes, insects, and rats, so I have to take care of her."
Luo Yan was originally just feeling sad about parting, but upon hearing this, she felt a chill run down her spine and hid behind him.
Junlan suddenly realized something, and considering that her son always monopolized the little girl, and even her younger brother was often sent away...
Could it be that he's just starting to fall in love?
"Absolutely not." Shangguan Wenyuan's face hardened after hearing this. "His Highness entrusted his sister to us, but Yun'er wants to abduct someone to be his wife. Where do I put my face?"
“Tell your son yourself.”
Shangguan Wenyuan then looked at his eldest son.
The boy was frowning when the little girl quietly pushed a pastry towards him, and he immediately smiled without any anger. The two looked at each other again, and within a few moments, the corners of their mouths were curved into smiles.
They're a good match.
“Children are innocent and pure-hearted, so it’s best if we don’t interfere too much,” Junlan decided. “As long as Grandpa Sun agrees, Yun’er can go if she wants to.”
With the agreement settled, Luo Yan's mood improved, and Shangguan Yun couldn't hide his joy. Only Shangguan Chang realized he was left out and burst into tears, crying, "I want to go too!"
"..."
A grown son cannot be kept at home.
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