Chapter 122 Goodbye Zhuang Linan
As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall fell silent, and all eyes were focused on Su Yan, Xiao Fusu, Xiao Fuguang and Xuanyuan Jing.
The guests looked at each other and talked a lot. No one expected that Su Yan would make such a request on such an occasion.
You should know that even if they are interested, they will ask in private.
Xiao Fuguang's face turned cold in an instant. "Who dares to covet my sister?" She looked at Su Yan with a cold look in her eyes.
Xuanyuan Jing frowned slightly, obviously surprised and dissatisfied with Su Yan's proposal.
"Lord Su, you really surprised me."
"Lord Su is young and promising, and indeed worthy of admiration. However, marriage is a matter of mutual consent. My cousin is still young, and the princess wishes to stay with her for two more years. I am afraid I cannot help you with your request."
Although Xuanyuan Jing's voice was calm, there was unquestionable majesty in his tone.
Su Yan seemed to have anticipated this reaction, and he continued calmly.
"Your Highness is absolutely right. Marriage is a matter of great caution. However, Su Yan's heart is truly sincere to the Third Miss of the Xiao family, and heaven and earth can bear witness to that. If the Third Miss is willing, Su Yan will do his utmost to protect her for the rest of her life."
Xuanyuan Jing was about to say something when Xiao Fuguang reached out and held Xuanyuan Jing's hand.
Looking at Su Yan's smiling face, his eyes were indeed cold.
"Lord Su."
"I accept your kindness on behalf of my sister, but I only have this one sister, so naturally I want her to choose her own ideal husband. My future brother-in-law doesn't need to be a high-ranking official or a wealthy man. As long as my sister likes him, and he comes from a royal family or a commoner, I will arrange a good marriage for him and ensure that my sister has a worry-free life."
A life without worries? Su Yan listened to Xiao Fuguang's words and sneered in his heart, "Xiao Fuguang, wait until your beloved sister falls into my hands. I want to see how you can make her life without worries."
"Since it's all Miss Third's preference, why don't you listen to Miss Third's opinion?"
As he said this, he stood up and bowed to Xiao Fushu.
"Miss Third, as long as you are willing to marry me, whatever position I, Su Yan, reach in the future, your position among the noble ladies of the Imperial City will be the same. I know that being a mere Junior Official of the Dali Temple is too high a position for Miss Third, but true love is hard to come by in this world. Miss Third's stunning beauty today will be deeply engraved in my mind. From now on, I will definitely treat Miss Third as a goddess, respect her like a guest, and love her like my life."
Proposing in public was unprecedented, and everyone looked at the scene in surprise.
Xiao Fushu listened to Su Yan's affectionate words, but his face showed no emotion, he just frowned slightly.
She quickly glanced at her sister Xiao Fuguang and saw Xiao Fuguang nodded to her.
Then he smiled politely at Su Yan.
"Master Su is absolutely right. In this world, gold is easy to come by, but sincerity is hard to find. However, sincerity is priceless, yet it can also be worthless. After all, sincerity can easily deteriorate. Fushu is just an ordinary woman, and she can't be a goddess. I'm afraid that I will disappoint Master Su's sincerity."
A whisper echoed in the hall again.
"Whether it's a public proposal or a public rejection, it's rare."
"But it's reasonable for Lord Su to be rejected. She's the Regent Princess's biological sister. The fact that she even held her coming-of-age ceremony at the Regent Princess's residence shows how much the Princess values her sister."
"That's right. All those who came today are officials of the fifth rank or above, or their wives. This kind of pomp and circumstance is the first of its kind in many years."
"How many people who received a letter from the Prince Regent's Palace dared to refuse?"
Rejected? Su Yan's eyes flashed with resentment and anger. He naturally heard the discussions of the people around him.
"It seems that Miss Third feels that I am beyond her reach. I wonder what kind of man she considers to be her ideal husband. Could it be that Miss Third wants to marry into the royal family like the princess to feel worthy of her status?"
"So in the eyes of the Third Miss, she still looks down on those from poor families!"
Upon hearing this, Xiao Fushu remained calm and responded indifferently.
"Lord Su, you are too kind. Fushu has no such intention. When it comes to a husband, Fushu has her own standards in mind, which cannot be determined by power or status. Fushu only wishes to find a true lover and stay with him until old age."
Then he looked at everyone, then looked at Xiao Fuguang's calm smile, and continued speaking.
"My husband, Xiao Fushu, does not need to be a high-ranking official or extremely wealthy, but he must have a noble character, be well-organized, and be respectable."
He really cursed people without using any dirty words. Isn't this just saying that Su Yan has poor morals, no vision, and no sense of decency? Xiao Fuguang couldn't help but smile and picked up the teacup to cover it up.
Those present even laughed and joked.
"This Third Miss has a rather strong temper."
"The Regent Princess is gentle and virtuous, but I didn't expect she has a playful sister."
Of course, some people also talked about it.
"Is Lord Su drunk today? How could he do that in front of a girl from a stranger? Especially since today is her coming-of-age ceremony."
"That's right. Hey, those born in the underworld are a little bit..."
Su Yan's face turned gloomy, and he looked at Xiao Fusu with a hint of coldness in his eyes.
"Miss San is really..."
Suddenly a voice sounded.
"Master Su, the Third Miss has already made it clear that she has no interest in you. Master Su, please sit down and have a drink. This is the Prince Regent's Palace."
The person who spoke was actually the Fifth Prince. Su Yan came back to his senses for a moment. Damn it, he couldn't help but lose control when he saw the people from the Xiao family.
He bowed to the fifth prince.
"Thank you, Your Highness the Fifth Prince, for the reminder."
Xiao Fuguang and Xuanyuan Jing looked at each other.
"Everyone, I see that everyone has finished eating. The plum blossoms in the mansion are in full bloom. Why don't you all go and enjoy the flowers together?"
Upon hearing this, the guests stood up and responded. The hall gradually became lively. People walked towards the plum garden in the mansion in groups of three or five, talking about the little episode as they walked. The atmosphere was not awkward.
Su Yan stood up and prepared to leave.
Xiao Fuguang suddenly spoke.
"Lord Su."
Su Yan turned around and looked at Xiao Fuguang. Although he wanted to stab her to death, due to his status, he could only bow.
"princess."
Xiao Fuguang reached out and took Xiao Fusu's hand.
"Do you really think you are my sister?"
What does this mean? Su Yan couldn't help but wonder, but answered affirmatively.
"Every word Su Yan said today came from the heart, but Third Miss..."
Xiao Fuguang smiled meaningfully when he heard this.
"Master Su, sincerity is not something you can express with words. It takes time to understand a person. Why don't we go to the plum garden together?"
Seeing Xiao Fuguang's changed attitude, a hint of doubt flashed in Su Yan's eyes.
"Then listen to the princess."
As Xiao Fuguang finished speaking, several people slowly walked out of the banquet hall and headed towards the famous plum garden in the mansion.
In the plum garden, plum blossoms of various colors are in full bloom, red as fire, white as snow, pink as tender, and the fragrance is intoxicating. The ladies walking among the flowers add a bit of vitality and vigor to the plum garden.
The guests walked in groups of two or three, or alone, enjoying the rare scenery in winter. Occasionally, bursts of laughter could be heard, which was completely different from the tense atmosphere of the banquet just now.
Xiao Fuguang suddenly stopped and pointed to a blooming red plum tree not far away, with a hint of amusement in his tone.
"Master Su, look at these plum blossoms. They are not afraid of the cold and stand proudly and independently. Isn't it very similar to the backbone of a poor student who refuses to admit defeat?"
Su Yan looked in the direction Xiao Fuguang pointed, and the red plum tree indeed looked particularly tough in the cold winter wind.
"Your Highness is absolutely right. The proud spirit of the plum blossom is indeed something that students from humble backgrounds should emulate. However, I wonder what your Highness's intention is in using this analogy to Su?"
Su Yan responded, his tone a bit cautious and inquiring.
The few of them were already lagging behind the others, and at this time Xuanyuan Jing and Xiao Fushu also quietly retreated not far away.
Xiao Fuguang suddenly smiled and slowly walked towards a secluded place.
"No, this princess is not comparing anyone to someone. I am simply lamenting that flowers must bloom and fall. Even the plum blossom, no matter how gorgeous it blooms and how much it draws praise from scholars, will eventually fall to the ground when spring arrives and the sunlight penetrates, becoming the mud beneath our feet."
Is this saying that no matter how high he climbs, he will only fall down and be stepped on? Su Yan's eyes flashed with anger when he heard this.
"What the princess said today is a little confusing."
Xiao Fuguang continued to move forward.
"Lord Su is a smart man, he must understand the meaning of this, but it doesn't matter anymore. Everyone says that Lord Su is young and promising, and talented. Today, I have a question that I would like to ask Lord Su to explain."
Su Yan heard this and spoke.
"Princess, please speak."
Xiao Fuguang stopped and looked at him.
"This princess has an old friend. Because her entire family was executed and her two children died, she went insane. Because of our old friendship, this princess has raised her in a quiet courtyard in the Regent's Palace. However, she has been very restless recently, which makes this princess disgusted. Lord Su, do you think this princess should kill her?"
Su Yan became even more confused after hearing this.
"I wonder what the relationship is between the princess and this person?"
Xiao Fuguang smiled and spoke when he heard this.
"Didn't I just say that?"
"An old friend."
Suddenly a voice came from a distance.
"Chuan'er, Chuan'er..."
Su Yan's pupils dilated instantly, his eyes full of disbelief.
I saw Zhuang Linan running towards me with disheveled hair and ragged clothes...
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
