Old Mrs. Shen wiped away her tears and said, "Alright, alright, it's New Year's Eve today. What kind of behavior is this, crying and sobbing? His Highness said that the army will also organize a New Year's Eve dinner at this time, so let's not worry."
"Yes, yes, I'm not worried anymore."
Lili heard everything behind her clearly. She silently placed her lantern on the river and gently pushed it away. The lantern floated away with the current.
Big brother, stay safe, we're all waiting for you to come home.
*
After the New Year, Gu Xiaoran sent Li Wu to visit him.
Gu Ziyi's return to the capital has nothing to do with Gu Xiaoran.
He was sent here by the Prince of Qi and his wife to temper his character, so he wouldn't be able to return to the capital so easily.
Ever since his fleeting glimpse of Lili, Gu Xiaoran has been looking for an opportunity to sneak into Liucheng to find her.
Gu Ziyi kept a close eye on him, considering himself his elder brother and wanting to discipline him on behalf of the Prince and Princess Qi, not allowing him to step out of the military camp.
Now that Gu Ziyi has returned to the capital, Gu Xiaoran feels free. However, he didn't forget that Gu Ziyi had ordered people to keep an eye on him. Only today did he find an opportunity to send Li Wu to deliver a letter to Lili to ease his longing.
Li Wu respectfully handed over his young master's letter: "Miss Shen, please take a look. My young master said that you must reply immediately and I will take it back to him."
Lili unfolded the letter and said, "So urgent? Does Your Highness have something urgent to attend to?"
"Miss Shen will know at a glance."
Lili had no choice but to read it carefully, her little face serious.
At first, Lili was quite serious.
But the further she went, the more Lili felt something was wrong.
Is Your Highness perhaps too lightly dressed and delirious from the fever?
"Seeing this letter is like seeing you in person. Since our parting, my longing for you has been like a vine winding around a tree, spreading and growing ever stronger. Every night, the bright moon shines on my lonely pillow, and I cannot sleep..."
Lili: "......"
What, what is all this about?
Lili patiently read through the letter, then folded it neatly and handed it back to him with a headache: "Go back and tell your young master that I appreciate his appreciation. However, it seems there is some misunderstanding between us that led him to have this idea. If I have done anything wrong, I hope the young master will forgive me."
Lili's words were no longer subtle; she simply couldn't understand why Gu Xiaoran, a teenage boy, would be interested in a young girl like her.
What is this? This kind of thinking is way too early for a romantic relationship.
Li Wu looked helpless: "Well, why don't you write a reply?"
Li Wu was actually quite embarrassed. He really couldn't understand why the Crown Prince had gone to such lengths. Wasn't it obvious enough?
Can't he figure out what His Highness the Crown Prince means?
Li Wu was certain that if His Highness the Crown Prince knew that he had secretly come to deliver a letter today, his young master would definitely be in for a good beating!
But there was nothing he could do. He had tried to persuade him, but Gu Xiaoran, who was so arrogant, didn't care at all and insisted that he was overthinking things.
Lili frowned, unsure of what to say.
A love triangle disaster?
They're so young, they shouldn't take this seriously, right?
All of them combined aren't even as big as her brothers' shoe sizes, what do they know about love and romance?
Lili cannot reply to this letter.
Although Lili thought Gu Xiaoran was an interesting person, that was all.
Lili pondered for a moment with a troubled expression, then curtsied to Li Wu with some apology, saying, "I'm sorry, Lord Li. Since His Highness has come to the border to temper his character, he should naturally focus on learning diligently from General Chu and not let momentary interests distract him. I'm afraid I cannot reply to this letter, and I don't know how to reply. Please reply instead."
Li Wu: "Miss Chen, if you don't write this down, I won't be able to explain myself... I..."
Lili turned around and became blunt: "Huang Ying, Yun Shu, see Lord Li out and personally escort him to his carriage."
Lili, who was always dignified and polite, was clearly angry. If he continued talking, he might be chased out with a broom.
Li Wu was helpless. This was quite a difficult situation. Miss Shen was very polite the whole time, while his young master was the only one having fun by himself.
Besides, although Miss Shen is still young, she is a proper daughter of an official.
Young women value their reputation most. If this is not handled properly, and Gu Xiaoran's boyish heart is allowed to grow bigger and bigger, who knows what trouble he might cause.
Miss Shen was decisive and quick to nip any potential problems in the bud.
She really is a nice woman.
Glancing at the two maids with unfriendly expressions, Li Wu silently lit a candle for his young master.
Oh, Your Highness, you can decide for yourself. I've already done my best.
Li Wu clasped his hands in a respectful bow: "It is truly presumptuous of me to come today, and I hope Miss Shen will not take offense. Our young master... is simple and straightforward by nature, and he means no harm."
Lili's complexion has improved slightly.
Yes, teenagers are the age when they first fall in love; it's normal for young boys.
Lili hesitated for a moment, wondering if what she had just said was a bit too much.
After a while, Lili said again, "I didn't mean anything by it, but His Highness is still young and his temperament is not stable. He is inevitably a bit rash and easily influenced by external factors. Moreover, His Highness is being tempered at the border. It is not appropriate for him to think about these things. When His Highness grows up, he will naturally understand."
Yes, yes, yes.
Li Wu felt ashamed. Even though Miss Shen was not as old as his young master, she saw things much more clearly than he did.
Yun Shu, with a stern face, invited him, "Lord Li, this way please."
Li Wu snapped out of his daze, not daring to linger, and hurriedly followed the others out.
After everyone left the lobby, Lili finally breathed a sigh of relief, though she was slightly troubled.
Huang Ying muttered, "This so-called prince is really interesting. He's still just a kid, yet he dares to talk about love. Our young lady is still a child, how can she be talking about such things? Most importantly, what he wrote in his letter, about flirtatious glances and affectionate eyes... Although I didn't go to the border with young lady, I can't believe it!"
Lili was also puzzled. Which foot of hers had she stepped into wrong, giving him such a misconception?
"Alright, let's just let this matter rest."
Lili sighed, patted her clothes, and went back to her room to read comic books.
A few days later, in Anding City, Gu Xiaoran was listening to Li Wu recount every word Li Li had said.
Gu Xiaoran's expression was solemn, as if he were listening to an extremely serious lecture.
After Li Wu finished speaking, he tentatively advised, "Young Master, you see, Miss Shen has already said so, so why don't you...?"
"I see!"
Li Wu looked bewildered: "Know what?"
Gu Xiaoran interrupted him, standing up abruptly: "I understand. What Lili means is that I am still too weak and immature, and not yet worthy of her."
Li Wu: "?"
“Think about it, Lili said I’m unstable and easily influenced, isn’t that because she thinks I’m not sincere enough? That’s true, a letter doesn’t mean anything, especially not to a woman like Lili. Yes, Lili is right.” Gu Xiaoran agreed wholeheartedly, and the more he thought about it, the more he felt it made sense. “Lili is so outstanding and wonderful, I am indeed not good enough for her as I am now.”
Li Wu: "???"
"Lili said we'll talk about it when I grow up." Gu Xiaoran clenched his fist and gave himself a pep talk. "Okay, starting today, I'm going to work hard and strive to be worthy of Lili. I'm going to show Lili my determination!"
Li Wu: "??????"
My lord, is this what Miss Shen meant?
Li Wu hesitated, but seeing the young master, who usually only knew how to eat, drink, and have fun, showing such a rare temperament, Li Wu couldn't say anything.
Oh well, who can predict what will happen in the future?
*
This year's cold air has been moving exceptionally slowly; even though spring has officially begun, it is still bitterly cold.
Shen Laosan has been serving as the magistrate of Liucheng County for three years, and his term is about to expire. The imperial court has already issued a transfer order, and he will set off for the capital after the beginning of summer to serve as the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.
The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was a fourth-rank official. The original Minister of the Court of Judicial Review resigned after the New Year and returned to his hometown to recuperate. The vacant position was then filled by the former Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.
The position of Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review was thus vacant.
He was promoted three ranks in one go, all thanks to the booming development of Nanlin County over the years, something that the person in the palace had been watching closely.
Therefore, after deliberation, the imperial court issued a transfer order, appointing Shen Laosan as the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, to take office before the Mid-Autumn Festival.
The happiest person was none other than Lili. The Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review, in Lili's understanding, was just the Deputy Director of the Police Bureau.
Generally speaking, the position of Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review is held by senior officials from the Ministry of Justice, the Censorate, or local officials, requiring them to have extensive judicial experience and high moral character.
Most importantly, the position of Minister of the Court of Judicial Review is almost always filled by the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review.
Lili was naturally happy that her father was so trusted.
However, it wasn't all happiness.
The Shen family had no background and were farmers for generations. Things only started to change when Shen Laosan was born.
Shen Laosan was a first-generation official, without family protection above him or connections with colleagues below him.
His Majesty's selection of such a person as the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review must have been influenced by other factors as well.
After Lili finished her analysis, Shen Laosan smiled and said, "Don't worry, Lili, your father will be careful."
How could Shen Laosan not have thought of this? However, it was both a danger and an opportunity.
Fortune and honor are sought amidst danger, and the officialdom is as deep as the sea, but no matter how deep the sea is, he still has to venture in.
"All right."
Lili thought for a while. Her father was thorough in his work, and he wouldn't cause any trouble anyway.
Since Shen Laosan was going to the capital, the Shen family naturally had to go with him.
The Shen family had only lived in their newly built house in Xinghua Village for a few years before they had to move out, and the Shen family was very reluctant to leave.
"Alright, Mother, this house is right here, it won't run away. If we get tired of living in the capital, we can always go back to our hometown."
Liu comforted Old Lady Shen, and Old Lady Shen agreed that it made sense.
So the family began preparing for their trip to the capital early on. Shen Jialu simply bought several maids and servants to live in the old house and take care of the Shen family's house in Xinghua Village.
When the villagers of Xinghua Village heard that Shen Laosan was to be transferred to the capital to serve as an official, and that the Shen family would also be going to the capital with him, they were filled with both envy and reluctance.
For most of their lives, the villagers have lost such a large family, a family that has helped them so much. No one would be sad to see them go.
But when they thought about how Shen Laosan was going to become a high-ranking official and bring glory to their Xinghua Village, they were all filled with excitement.
During this period, everyone invited the Shen family to visit, wishing them a safe journey.
The Shen family is going to go with them, but the question is, what about the Yang family?
Lili hadn't been to the village of scholars for a long time. Sitting at the table where she used to drink tea with Grandpa Yang, she was surprised to find that she had grown taller.
“Oh, last time Lili came to Zhuoyan, it touched her chest, but this time it’s down to her lower abdomen.”
Madam Guo laughed and said, "Don't you realize how long it's been since you last came? Children are growing rapidly, how can they not grow fast?"
Grandpa Yang was playing chess with Shen Jiawen when he heard this and said, "Lili just celebrated her ninth birthday, right?"
Lili smiled and nodded: "Yes, by this time next year, Lili will be a double-digit age."
Everyone burst out laughing, amused by her silly antics.
While Grandpa Yang and Shen Jiawen played chess, Lili kept Grandma Yang and her grandparents company and chatted.
After they finished playing chess, Old Master Yang asked, "Your father has been transferred to the position of Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review?"
"Yes," Lili said. "Grandpa and Grandma have decided to take everyone to the capital. I came today to ask Great-Grandfather what he thinks. Will the Yang family go to the capital with the Shen family?"
Upon hearing this, Guo and Yang Ji exchanged a glance, then looked at Old Master Yang.
The Yang family seemed to have been prepared for this, and showed no surprise.
Yang Sizong's fame is widespread, and if he were to return to the capital, he would surely cause a great stir.
"Go back." Yang Sizong paused. "But not now."
The Yang family's point was that since Yang Sizong had met Gu Ziyi back then, it meant that the Yang family would definitely get involved in this whole mess.
However, the Shen family does not have a deep foundation in the capital, so going back now is not a good time.
Shen Laosan had no background and was not among the top three in the imperial examinations. He was transferred to the position of Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review based on his achievements over the past few years, which was already quite controversial.
If Yang Sizong were to return to the forefront at this time, it would inevitably bring controversy to Shen Laosan.
“Your father is new to the capital, and he must be facing many troubles. Let’s wait until those ants have settled down before we talk about it.” Yang Sizong raised an eyebrow, a smile appearing on his face. “Also, your third brother is only thirteen. The capital is too noisy for him to prepare for the exams. I plan to have him take the autumn exams when he turns eighteen. That way, when he comes of age, he can become the top scholar. Then, the top scholar can propose to the person he admires.”
Lili realized: "So that's how it is! So that's how it is! Great-grandfather had thought of everything so thoroughly for Third Brother!"
Shen Jiawen said helplessly, "Teacher, you're teasing me again."
"Hahahaha." Yang Sizong laughed heartily.
Lili laughed along, thinking, "A dashing young scholar in fine clothes and riding a spirited horse, I'm really looking forward to it."
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