Being granted marriage?
Suppressed laughter suddenly rang out from all around. Several ladies who had always been at odds with Liu Ruyan covered their faces with their fans and whispered:
"Mrs. Ruan, did you just come down from the stage? Was the play 'Ghost Marriage' performed there?"
"Tsk tsk, I heard the Ruan family has been haunted lately. Could it be that they've been scared out of their wits?"
"If I were like this, I would have claimed to be sick and not come. Why bother to embarrass myself?"
On the other hand, Ruan Yunsheng wore only a light makeup, and her lake blue satin dress with cloud patterns made her skin look like jade. The pearl hairpin in her hair swayed gently, and her expression was bright and clear, forming a tragic contrast with Liu Ruyan's table.
Soon, she was surrounded by a group of noble ladies. The Duke of Ying held her hand and sighed, "What a smart and beautiful girl! Are you engaged? My second son just passed the imperial examination."
The wife of the Marquis of Yongchang immediately squeezed over and said, "What's the big deal about being a juren? My nephew is already a fourth-rank guard. Take a look, young lady."
Ruan Yunsheng had a gentle smile on his face, but his eyes passed over the crowd and quietly locked onto the end of the Southern Kingdom delegation.
A man in a dark grey cloak stood with his head bowed, his wide hood covering most of his face, and he exuded a cold and aloof air that kept strangers away.
Unlike the other members of the delegation who were wearing fancy clothes and jade ornaments, he was dressed so simply that he was almost shabby, with his hands tucked into his sleeves, motionless like a stone sculpture.
Just when Ruan Yunsheng was secretly guessing that this person might be a disciple of the Blood Gu Sect, the man seemed to have sensed something and suddenly looked up!
A cold green light flashed beneath the hood, and Ruan Yunsheng immediately looked away. He took the arm of the wife of the Marquis of Yongchang and said in a sweet voice, "Madam, you are too kind. Your nephew is so talented, how could someone like me be able to marry him?"
She turned sideways to cover her face with her fan, but out of the corner of her eye she saw the man slowly raise his hand.
The cuffs vaguely revealed a wrist covered with green curse patterns, and between the fingers was a wriggling black poisonous insect!
It’s true!
But Ruan Yunsheng did not say anything and dealt with the ladies calmly, as if he didn't know either.
Liu Ruyan sat stiffly in her seat, digging her fingernails into her palms. She could hear the ridicule coming from all directions, and saw Ruan Yunsheng's smug look in front of her. She felt a fishy and sweet taste in her throat and almost vomited blood.
It was not until the sound of the emperor's arrival rang out that she gritted her teeth and said to Ruan Qinghe, "Let that little bitch be proud for a while. After tonight, she will cry!"
The golden palace was brightly lit, and the luminous pearls on the coiled dragon pillars made the glazed floor tiles look like a galaxy. Officials in court robes sat according to their rank, and behind the screens, noble ladies surrounded by pearls and jade talked and laughed in low voices. The air was filled with the rich aroma of ambergris and wine and food.
The emperor sat upright on the Nine-Dragon Golden Chair. Though his crown and tassels obscured his face, his voice could be heard through the jade beads: "The envoys from the Southern Kingdom have come from afar. The border has enjoyed peace for three years, and trade has flourished. This is a blessing from Heaven on our dynasty."
The ministers immediately shouted "Long live the emperor!" and the voices of praise surged like a tide: "Your Majesty is wise and wise! The peace and prosperity of the world are due to your benevolence!"
Ruan Yunsheng hid behind the screen and looked carefully through the gap. Although the figure on the high seat was wrapped in gorgeous clothes and a golden crown, it could not hide his emaciated appearance.
He spoke with a weak breath, occasionally with a few suppressed coughs, and his voice was as hoarse as an old bellows.
How could the ruler of a country become so weak?
She was secretly frightened when she suddenly saw the prince of the Southern Kingdom stand up to toast. The prince had a sable fur patch covering his left eye, but his only remaining right eye was as sharp as an eagle.
The Southern Kingdom's Crown Prince rose, raised his glass, and spoke in a resounding voice: "Your Majesty, I congratulate you on the eternal security of your reign. I offer you the Three Treasures of the Southern Kingdom: the Azure Blood Coral Tree, the Mermaid Teardrop Necklace, and our nation's secret 'Nine-Turn Resurrection Pill.'"
He held up a jade box. Inside, a pill glowed crimson, like blood. "This pill is made with phoenix blood supplemented with hundreds of magical herbs. It can revive the dead. I heard Your Majesty is seeking immortality. This pill may help restore your body to health."
The emperor's eyes suddenly gleamed, and he stretched out his withered hand eagerly: "Quick! Present it!"
But just a moment after taking the elixir, his pale cheeks flushed and his voice became a little louder: "Hahaha, reward! I will give the Southern Kingdom ten thousand taels of gold and a thousand pieces of silk!"
After thanking him, the prince said, "My second princess, Xuan Ji, has always admired the elegance of the Celestial Empire, and has specially choreographed a dance to present to Your Majesty."
The Southern Kingdom's Crown Prince clapped his hands three times, and the candlelight in the hall suddenly dimmed by half an hour. The sound of stringed instruments arose, like the dripping of a spring in a valley. Suddenly, a snow-white figure floated down from the top of the hall. It was Xuan Ji, who lightly tapped the golden plate in the hall with her bare feet. There were nine glass cups on the plate, and the wine in the cups was not spilled at all.
She was wearing a long skirt made of peacock feathers twisted with gold threads. When the skirt was spread out, it looked like a peacock spreading its tail. Each feather was dotted with fluorite as fine as dust. When it spun, it was glittering and colorful, like a pouring river of stars.
When the dance ended, she fell to the ground, panting, with beads of sweat dripping down her neck. The whole hall was silent, and only after a long time did thunderous applause break out.
After the dance, the emperor clapped his hands and laughed heartily. "I've long heard that Princess Xuan is both talented and beautiful. Seeing her today, I can see that her reputation is truly well-deserved! What reward would you like, Princess?"
Xuan Ji bowed down, her voice soft and sweet: "I have been a virgin for three years, and have yet to find a suitable match. I have heard that the men of the Heavenly Dynasty are virtuous and worthy. I implore Your Majesty to allow me to choose my own husband."
Before he finished speaking, countless young men from aristocratic families at the banquet straightened their backs, straightened their clothes, and their eyes were full of anticipation.
The emperor stroked his beard and smiled, "I wonder which gentleman the princess has taken a fancy to? All the talented men in the capital are here today."
Xuan Ji raised her eyes, her gaze entwined like silk threads at a corner of the banquet table. "I have heard that the Prime Minister is of exceptional grace and beauty, like a banished immortal. I wonder if I may have the honor of meeting him in person?"
The whole place fell silent, everyone looked at each other in confusion, and the emperor's smile froze on his face. "Princess, you may not know, but the Prime Minister was poisoned six months ago and has been in a coma ever since. Princess, why don't you find another suitable match?"
Xuan Ji stubbornly shook her head, "What kind of poison is this? I have a sage doctor from the Southern Kingdom with me, maybe we can give it a try."
There was a gleam of determination in her eyes. The man's charm had been engraved in her heart at the first glimpse she had seen many years ago.
The emperor was overjoyed when he heard this: "If you can really cure the Prime Minister——"
"His Majesty!"
The Imperial Master suddenly stood up to interrupt, his dark Taoist robe fluttering in the wind. "I have something important to report!"
The emperor frowned in displeasure: "Master, didn't you see that I was discussing important matters with the princess?"
The Imperial Preceptor flicked his whisk and boomed, "Your Majesty! I've been observing the celestial phenomena day and night. I see the Prime Minister's Red Luan star moving, and purple air coming from the east. This woman's fate is entangled with the Prime Minister's, and she happens to be in this palace! Perhaps she can avert the Prime Minister's calamity."
The whole room erupted in an uproar! The emperor suddenly stood up and asked, "Really? Where is this woman?"
Princess Xuanji dug her fingertips into her palm, her heart pounding. Could it be her? Otherwise, how could such a coincidence happen?
However, the Imperial Master said, "Your Majesty, this girl is located in the southeast corner and was born at midnight on the seventh day of the seventh month in the year of Renxu."
Xuan Ji's face turned pale and she staggered back. It was impossible. How could it not be her?
Her poisonous gaze shot towards the southeast corner. Who on earth was trying to ruin her plans?
The women all peeked out from behind the screen, and only the Ruan family was sitting in the southeast corner!
Ruan Qinghe's cheeks flushed because of the first half of the sentence. He thought it was him who was being talked about. He was about to step forward and reveal his identity, but when he heard the second half of the sentence about his birth date, he froze as if ice water was poured over his head.
She scratched the brocade handkerchief with her nails. Why? Why did Ruan Yunsheng get all the good things?
Ruan Yunsheng, who was at the center of the vortex, was busy eating, puffing his cheeks and muttering, "This cherry meat is cooked to perfection. I wonder how much the royal chef's monthly salary is? Can we poach him?"
There was dead silence all around, and she vaguely sensed something. She looked up blankly, only to see everyone's eyes looking at her like arrows.
She subconsciously wiped her face: "What, what's wrong? Is there something on my face?"
Murong Huanyun, who was sitting beside the emperor, laughed out loud and said, "Father, it seems that this Red Luan Star corresponds to the Second Miss of the Ruan family!"
Ruan Yunsheng then realized that he was the one being talked about. He hurriedly stood up and saluted, his heart pounding. He was so busy gnawing on his pork elbow that he didn't hear the whole story at all!
The emperor beckoned her to come closer, and Ruan Yunsheng walked out slowly from behind the screen. In the candlelight, there was still some sauce on her lips, and her eyes looked particularly clear because of her confusion, which made her look a little cute and naive.
"What a beautiful girl!" the emperor exclaimed. "General Ruan is so lucky!"
Ruan Jichuan stood up hurriedly: "Your Majesty, thank you for your praise. I am marrying above my station..."
Murong Huanyun immediately responded, "Your Majesty, you don't know this, but Sister Yunsheng is the legitimate daughter of Princess Luohe! Even Master Zhou from the Hanlin Academy praised the poem 'Ode to the Plum Blossoms' she wrote at the flower viewing banquet at the Li Residence the other day!"
"Oh?" The emperor was even more surprised. "You have such talent?"
Ruan Yunsheng blinked and gave Murong Huanyun a crazy look: Sister, what are you doing?
Murong Huanyun responded with a firm look that said, "Trust me, you'll be right."
Ruan Yunsheng had no choice but to bow and say, "Your Highness, you are too kind. It was just luck."
Xuan Ji, who was standing by, had red eyes from jealousy, her nails dug into her palms until blood oozed out, and countless vicious schemes to make Ruan Yunsheng disappear flashed through her mind.
The emperor suddenly asked, "Is Miss Ruan married?"
Ruan Yunsheng shook his head honestly: "No."
"That's perfect!" The emperor laughed and clapped his hands. "I will make the decision today and grant you marriage to the Prime Minister!"
"Grant a marriage?" Ruan Yunsheng was struck by lightning. "Your Majesty, please reconsider! Your humble servant is still young..."
"If I say it's suitable, then it's suitable!" The emperor waved his hand. "Draft an edict! Ruan Yunsheng is gentle and virtuous, and she is a match made in heaven for the Prime Minister. The marriage will take place within a month!"
Even after the banquet ended and the emperor left, Ruan Yunsheng was still in a daze, holding half a piece of uneaten pork elbow.
Murong Huanyun came over and poked her cheek: "What are you staring at? Madam Prime Minister——"
Ruan Yunsheng said quietly, "Is this the good thing you were talking about?"
Murong Huanyun looked innocent: "It's a good thing!"
She leaned in closer and lowered her voice, "You have a crush on someone, but there's no need to delay!"
As he spoke, he pushed Ruan Yunsheng onto a chair and counted on his fingers: "Look, Prime Minister Wen Ciyuan was poisoned and in a coma half a year ago. He doesn't even have parents-in-law in the mansion! If you marry her, you will be the mistress of the house and you won't have to wait on anyone!"
She became more and more excited as she spoke: "I receive a monthly salary from the court, and I have the key to the treasury in my hand. How can I support your young master? I can buy him a house and land, and keep him as a beautiful woman..."
Ruan Yunsheng was stunned: "Is this reasonable?"
She suddenly grasped the key point: "Wait... the Prime Minister was poisoned half a year ago?"
"Yeah," Murong Huanyun was puzzled. "Why are you asking this?"
Ruan Yunsheng's heart skipped a beat. By this calculation, Song Tinghe appeared beside her exactly half a year ago!
She hurriedly asked, "What is the Prime Minister's personality like?"
Murong Huanyun thought she was moved and tried to recall: "Wen Ciyuan is as cold as ice! I heard that his eyes could freeze censors to death during court, and when he raided the homes of corrupt officials, he would even confiscate the New Year's money of a three-year-old child!"
Ruan Yunsheng was instantly deflated. How could her little devil, who would act like a spoiled brat and ask for candy and was so jealous that he could lift the roof off a house, be this iceberg!
She held her head in her hands in despair: "Is it too late to escape now?"
Murong Huanyun smiled and said, "Why are you running? I'm sending you a mountain of gold! Remember to give me 30% of the matchmaking fee when you support the young man~"
At this moment, Liu Ruyan dragged Ruan Qinghe around hurriedly to the back of the rockery in the Imperial Garden and urgently called out to the hooded figure in the shadows, "Sir! Why don't you take action tonight? If that bitch really becomes the Prime Minister's wife, it will be even harder to get rid of her in the future!"
The hooded man's voice was hoarse and frosted. "What's the rush? The original plan was to poison her to death, but now we have a better idea."
He chuckled sinisterly, "Letting her marry him and bringing Wen Ciyuan along, wouldn't that be killing two birds with one stone?"
Liu Ruyan took a step back in shock: "But, but if His Majesty investigates..."
"When will it be your turn to teach me how to do things?"
The man pulled out a scarlet pill from his sleeve and said, "Mix this into her diet."
Liu Ruyan took the pill tremblingly: "What is this?"
"Just do as you're told."
Liu Ruyan clenched the pills in her sleeve, she had no choice.
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