I came to protect Chu Yening and smiled: "Brother Luo, your..."
Chu Yening watched as she darted into the house.
On a moonlit night with few stars, he stood outside the gate of the Luo family mansion and bowed to Luo Ling inside.
Qin Weixi said to Luo Ling, "Brother, I bought you your favorite snacks."
Luo Ling smiled and asked, "Where did Ye Ning take you to have so much fun?"
Qin Weixi asked, "Brother, are you worried?"
She immediately came to her senses. It was only midday when she left the palace during the day, but now it was already dusk, and every household had hung up lanterns.
She actually went out with Chu Yening for most of the day.
Qin Weixi's face immediately turned crimson. She blinked and stammered, "It's a teahouse in a village on the outskirts of the city."
Luo Ling's smile deepened, and he said with a hint of mischief, "It seems my sister will be kidnapped at any time, and then I'll be all alone again."
Qin Weixi's almond-shaped eyes widened upon hearing this.
Luo Ling immediately burst into laughter: "Brother is joking with you. I don't trust other lecherous men, but I trust Ye Ning the most."
Qin Weixi chuckled upon hearing this. It was the first time she had ever heard the usually taciturn Luo Ling talk about someone else.
She smiled and said, "Brother, are you in a good mood today?"
Luo Ling nodded, carrying a lantern in one hand and several boxes of pastries she had brought back in the other, and walked with her into the courtyard.
“If my sister is in a good mood, then I am naturally in a good mood too. Have Qingyun and the others gone back as well?” Luo Ling pondered for a while: “Sister, Father has sent an urgent letter. In his letter, Father said that he had never known about this iron certificate.”
Qin Weixi nodded, and just as she was about to take the lantern from his hand, she suddenly paused. Then she smiled and told him about what Yao Zizhu had revealed that day.
Luo Ling was surprised: "Then this is true? My brother didn't know, my father didn't know, and my brother had never heard my grandfather mention it."
Qin Weixi smiled and said, "Brother, I'll carry the lantern. As for whether it's true or not, let Yao Zizhu sneak back to the Liang family to find out." She tilted her head slightly and looked at Luo Ling: "Brother, did you make roasted mutton today? Have Pu Niang and the others eaten it? I also brought them some pastries."
Luo Ling said gently, "Little sister hasn't eaten yet?"
She nodded: "I've already eaten. But I specially saved some roasted mutton for my brother. Would you like to have some with me?"
Luo Ling laughed again. He suddenly remembered something: "By the way, little sister, Father mentioned your cousin Chen in his letter this time. Mother and Grandmother have been worried about you ever since you came to Beijing, so they thought of having your cousin Chen come to Beijing to see you."
Qin Weixi smiled and said, "The capital is thousands of miles away from Jiangnan. Brother, it's better not to let Cousin Chen come. Besides, didn't you already send a letter back saying that I'm doing well?"
Luo Ling chuckled: "Grandmother says it's best to have someone watch it with their own eyes!"
Under the moonlight and with the lanterns in their hands, the brother and sister wandered through the green trees and flowers of the garden, along the winding path, towards the Listening to Rain Pavilion in the back courtyard.
Unbeknownst to her, in the dark of night, on his way back to the Jingning Marquis's residence, Chu Yening suddenly turned back halfway, carrying two jars of clear wine. He knocked on Luo Ling's door, and the two drank together again under the pale moonlight.
Luo Ling's eyes were full of smiles: "Ye Ning, it's been so long since we sat together like this. Let me think about when was the last time." He seemed to be lost in thought.
Chu Yening poured him a cup of sake: "Brother Luo, how have you been these years?"
Luo Ling looked up at the bright moon hanging high in the sky: "We'll all go our separate ways, how can things be good?" Then she drank the wine in her cup in one gulp.
Chu Yening poured him another full glass: "I will take care of everything from now on. The Luo family protected Seventh Sister first, and I will protect the Luo family next."
Luo Ling looked away and looked up at him. He smiled and said, "Brother, are you such a useless person?"
Chu Yening said, "You know that's not what I meant. The incident ten years ago involved not only the Qin family, but also my Chu family."
Luo Ling simply smiled at him, remaining silent for a long time. After they drank together in silence for a while, he finally asked, "Then what should I do?"
Chu Yening smiled and said, "Brother Luo, your world is in the imperial court."
Inside the Liang residence.
Madam Qian was extremely anxious and repeatedly sent servants to inquire about the young master's whereabouts. It was past 7 p.m. and he still hadn't returned home.
The servants searched the city three times but couldn't find Liang Lang. Just when they were at their wits' end, Liang Lang returned to the manor. The servants were surprised to see that he was carrying a book on his back and hurriedly stepped forward to ask, "Young master, where have you been? Is Madam looking for you? Young master, you have made Madam very worried."
Liang Lang pursed his lips and walked into the mansion without saying a word.
The servant kept chattering: "Young master, you should at least inform the madam before you come back so late! Young master, otherwise I would have carried your books for you."
Upon hearing this, Liang Lang quickly moved aside to avoid his closeness, and then stopped.
He looked at the servant with an indifferent expression: "Copy the book." Then he strode forward, leaving the servant behind shouting.
Liang Lang walked slowly along the corridor, the lanterns hanging under the eaves dim and faint. Suddenly, he heard a faint sound coming from outside the hanging flower gate. He stopped again and looked through the window in the wall and saw his father and brother talking quietly in the distance.
Liang Lang paused for a moment, then pondered for a while before deliberately raising his pace and making noise as he walked forward.
He bowed respectfully, but did not lift his eyelids: "Father. Elder brother."
Upon seeing the newcomer, Liang Shuwen and Liang Xu quickly fell silent, and then he nodded slightly.
Liang Xu, with his hands behind his back, frowned slightly upon seeing this: "Why are you back so late?"
Liang Lang said, "Something came up." After saying that, he was about to leave the garden and head towards his own courtyard.
"Hanyu." Liang Shuwen looked at his youngest son's back, sighed deeply, and then called out to him.
Liang Lang turned around, his eyes lowered: "What are your orders, Father?"
Liang Shuwen approached him and sighed, "Hanyu! These are turbulent times; you must think of a way to marry the princess!"
Upon hearing this, Liang Lang's hands gradually clenched into fists, and his whole body trembled slightly.
Liang Shuwen noticed his unusual behavior and quickly asked, "Hanyu, what's wrong?"
Liang Lang suddenly raised his head: "What do you mean by 'turbulent times'? The bodies of the Duke of Dingguo and his son are already cold. Is it that even the Luo family's departure from their homeland cannot put my father and brother's minds at ease? Or is it that the four swordsmen who appeared out of nowhere have disturbed my father and brother's peace of mind?" He turned his head away: "I hope Father will not mention Princess Shang again in the future."
"You, Hanyu, you weren't before..." Liang Shuwen was choked by his usually submissive youngest son. He was about to speak again when Liang Xu suddenly strode over from behind, his face dark, and said, "Liang Hanyu, what nonsense are you spouting?"
Liang Lang gritted his teeth and looked at his father and brother, then suddenly shouted, "What kind of princess are we marrying without His Majesty's decree? How can we marry a princess of the Heavenly Family as we please?" He looked at Liang Xu and said to Liang Shuwen, "If my Liang family insists on marrying a princess, then let my elder brother do it!"
"Liang Hanyu!" Liang Xu's forehead veins bulged as he made a move to hit him.
Liang Lang quickly retreated.
He continued, "Do you know what people outside are saying about our Liang family? They say that a few years ago, my brother and a girl from a wealthy family were engaged, and my mother treated her like a thief. She even tried to take back the betrothal gifts under the pretext of using them to supplement the family income. And my brother has been spoiled by my mother over the years, making him violent and prone to scolding the servants in the house for no reason." Liang Lang slightly raised his eyelids: "Now I only want to ask one question: Is my mother doing business outside?"
Liang Xu roared, "Liang Lang, are you looking for a beating today? Who told you these things!"
Liang Lang sneered: "Brother, control your temper. And don't blame others for everything. This huge Liang mansion isn't completely sealed off; I have ears too."
Before Liang Lang could finish speaking, Liang Xu slapped him hard across the face. He roared, "Fine, very well!" He laughed angrily, "You didn't say your brother was cruel? Then from today onwards, you're not allowed to leave the manor anymore. Stay home and reflect on your mistakes!"
However, Liang Lang raised his eyes to meet his gaze: "I am not a cat or dog, to be beaten and scolded at will. From this day forward, I will leave the manor to live. Whoever in the Liang family wants to be Liang Sanzi can be, and whoever wants to marry a princess can marry her!"
Seeing that he was leaving so abruptly, Liang Shuwen hurriedly called out to him, "You brat, have you gotten yourself into trouble? If you dare to leave this mansion today, I will cut off your money." Liang Lang didn't turn his head and coldly replied, "I've been doing alright these days copying books for others."
Liang Xi and Madam Qian, along with their servants, rushed over upon hearing the news. Liang Lang looked at Liang Xi and suddenly paused, saying calmly, "Don't hurt Miss Luo."
Madam Qian cried out, "Ah! My child, where are you going?"
Liang Shuwen rolled his eyes in anger: "I, the Grand Secretary, have a son who has taken up the business of copying books for others!" With that, he snatched the broom from the servant's hand and chased after Liang Lang.
Liang Lang walked away quickly.
Liang Shuwen threw down the broom, clutching his chest with one hand and pointing repeatedly at the weeping Qian Shi with the other: "I told you to let him go out and gain some experience, but you kept worrying about this and that! A doting mother spoils her son. You kept him confined to your little corner of the world, and look what kind of person you've made him! What a misfortune for the family! What a misfortune for the family!"
Liang Shuwen trembled with rage, then looked at Liang Xu: "Don't think that just because your father hasn't spoken, you know nothing. This Liang mansion is my territory, Liang Shuwen's territory. I know everything, big or small." He then angrily pointed at Madam Qian: "And what Hanyu said, you tell me the truth. Have you caused a huge disaster outside? What business? Do you know that the late Emperor explicitly forbade this?"
Madam Qian was so angry that her hands trembled: "You point at me again! So what if I'm in business! Don't make baseless accusations, that's completely unfounded."
Liang Shuwen was so angry that he was supported by the steward and felt like he was about to faint. He said angrily, "If I find out in the future, then I will punish you according to family law! And if I find a suitable young lady from a noble family to marry my eldest son, you old hag, don't you dare stop me!"
Madam Qian immediately cried out and made a move to pull his hair: "You old scoundrel, are you betraying your mother? It's only natural for a mother-in-law to mistreat her daughter-in-law!"
The two immediately began to fight. The servants looked at each other, but none of them stepped forward to stop them. Seeing this, Liang Xu sternly reprimanded them and rushed forward to stop Liang and Qian, but Qian shoved him to the ground.
Fa Cai munched on wild fruit in one hand, dusted off his bottom with the other, and quietly slipped out through the dog hole in the Liang mansion.
The Marquis of Chengyi's Residence.
Tao Qingyun lay on the drunken chair and laughed heartily: "Well done, brilliantly done!" He laughed again and again, took out some loose silver from his pocket and tossed it to Fa Cai: "Go to Shuiyunlou and buy some snacks to go with the wine! You and I, master and servant, should have a good celebration!"
"Alright!" Fa Cai grinned from ear to ear.
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