Break
Flowers sway gently, leaves sway gracefully.
A few days later, the King of Qin rode his horse through the street, startling a crowd of pedestrians. The black-maned steed lost its bearings and suddenly went berserk, crashing head-on into the carriage of the Marquis of Yongyi. The redwood exploded with a thunderous roar, and both sides lost half their lives.
The Crown Prince is in poor health and remains unconscious. Even with divine medicine, there is no way to save him. After the Prince of Qin fell off his horse, he was trampled by the horse's hooves. Amidst his cries of agony, both his hands and feet were broken.
The emperor's eldest son was thus rendered useless.
This incident shocked both the government and the public.
Although no one has died, at this critical juncture, with two distinguished people dying in early spring and now another person suffering misfortune, it is truly worrying.
The Marquis of Yongyi's residence was in an uproar.
Although Princess Jing'an disliked her own son, he was, after all, the only heir to the title of Marquis, and would inherit it in the future. If he were to become a spoiled brat like the sons of the Pei family, then so be it. But now—
Zheng'er has been unconscious for several days. How could she not be angry?
Marquis Yongyi's temples have turned a few gray recently because of this matter. Seeing the princess pacing back and forth, he became even more irritable and scolded, "What's the use of pacing back and forth?!"
The princess sat down heavily as instructed, trying her best to suppress her anger, "Of all people to hit, why did the Prince of Qin have to hit my son!"
Seeing that the Marquis's crimson court robes were still on, she frowned, as if thinking of something, and asked slowly, "What did His Majesty say at the morning court session this day?"
How can I put it?
Jing'an understood that it was just like when the Seventh Princess had injured Xie San Niang before—a perfunctory expression of condolence and sympathy, followed by some insignificant gifts…
What's the use? Will it wake Li Zheng up in the next instant?
Sure enough, Marquis Yongyi sighed, "His Majesty has not attended court."
...
Why?
Princess: "His Majesty's health is not as good as before."
In contrast to the gloomy and desolate scene at the Marquis's residence, the Princess's residence was filled with blooming flowers, like brocade and silk in spring, exuding fragrance and beauty.
At this moment, three people were sitting in the pavilion, leisurely appreciating the red flowers and pouring wine. Yan Ying leaned against the soft cushion and slowly said, "This is the second time this month that I have vomited blood. I must be suffering from both qi and blood deficiency and am at my last gasp. I will soon pass away."
"His Majesty has ruled for more than twenty years, which is enough."
Xie Lingxi glanced around at the surroundings, then lightly covered her mouth and whispered, "Be careful, the walls may have ears."
Now that the King of Qin has been deposed, the Lu family cannot help but feel sorrow and regret.
With the Emperor seriously ill, countless people are watching the every move of everyone in Chang'an. Although the princess is a woman, she probably cannot remain indifferent.
Yan Ying smiled and said, "What's there to be afraid of? Isn't that General of the Imperial Guard already planning to 'collude' with us?"
That muscular military general...
Thinking of him, Xie Lingxi cautiously reminded the person before her, "He has not revealed his feelings to Your Highness."
The matter of the accounts, along with the unearthed case from twenty years ago, was, as Liu Xu said, swept under the rug. The Emperor was displeased, and no one dared to bring it up again to provoke him.
Even so, getting the commander of the Imperial Guard to defect was not an easy task.
Yan Ying, however, disagreed: "Lord Chu is not a pedantic person. He should be able to figure out what is right and wrong, and what is most beneficial to him."
In times of dynastic change, everyone wants to serve a virtuous ruler and hopes not to have chosen the wrong side. She didn't believe that Chu Liying didn't have such a plan in mind.
Xie Lingxi, however, found that man to be extremely pedantic.
“A good ruler is a good ruler, and a princess is a princess; these are two different things. A man like him, who has risen to such a high position in the government, still wholeheartedly wants to overturn his father's case, placing his hopes on a vague and illusory ‘justice.’ What is that if not pedantry?”
Does Chu Liying's uprightness and pedantry leave room for the princess?
Too lazy to think, she simply brought up the matter of the King of Qin, stating bluntly: "Losing hands and legs doesn't necessarily mean losing one's life... Did Your Highness tamper with the King of Qin's horse?"
Speaking of this, Yan Ying was also amazed. She leaned forward and picked a flower. "If I said that this matter has nothing to do with me, would you believe me?"
After saying that, the two looked at Liu Xu at the same time. The latter shook his head innocently, with a pure and innocent look on his face.
After a long pause, Xie Lingxi said, "...Could it be that he really brought this upon himself?"
—No.
The King of Qin was arrogant and domineering, and the Crown Prince was extravagant. According to insiders, the two had met briefly in Zuiyan Alley before their collision.
Since the reopening of Qilou, many exotic treasures have been moved in, and even the two carved gold and white jade doors with flying swallow designs are so captivating that people linger there.
At that time, a beautiful woman danced and played the zither in the courtyard. The glazed tile roof shimmered in the sunlight, causing the King of Qin's wine cup to sway.
On the pavilion, a nobleman spent a fortune.
Li Zheng sought out the courtesan for a night, and as he affectionately led his wife into the side room, he happened to brush past the Prince of Qin. The corners of their golden silk robes intertwined, causing the mermaid curtain in front of the screen to rustle.
A faint scent of incense wafted towards them, causing the two to sway and fall together into the room filled with red curtains.
...
"What are you doing?!"
With the Flower Festival approaching, the news spread throughout Chang'an. It was said that several miles of streets in Zuiyan Lane were reserved for each household to display different kinds of flowers and plants, and in the Qilou Pavilion, a flower-viewing banquet lasting for half a month was held.
Xie Lingxi dressed up, tying her hair into the most fashionable flying cloud bun in Chang'an, and wearing a light blue ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), like the moon reflected in the water and clouds. Just now, she was standing in the courtyard with Liu Xu when she was suddenly pushed and stumbled a few steps, not knowing which of the qin se zai yu's rooms she entered.
She clung to the screen to steady herself, but before she could utter an "I'm sorry," Liu Xu covered her mouth from behind.
"?"
Her husband leaned close to her ear, his warm breath turning her ears blush. "There's someone in the house."
Someone... yes.
She had just closed her eyes and ears, trying to embellish the situation, but she didn't realize that the people in the room were raising their cups to drink, and their voices were not those of a romantic couple.
The two of them moved a little behind the screen, and at that moment, the wind pulled the door and the gauze curtain shut, completely covering the couple.
The person inside the house clearly heard the sound, turned to look in this direction, and breathed a sigh of relief: "...It's just the wind."
Judging from the voice, it sounded like a young woman. Xie Lingxi didn't know her well. She glanced at Liu Xu, who shook his head, looking as if he was holding his breath.
Just as the two were meditating, another person spoke up: "The wind rises and the clouds fly, our might extends across the land and we return to our homeland... Ah Luan, a strong wind is rising and a storm is brewing. Why don't we fly away together and ignore all this turmoil?"
He grew increasingly anxious, "Pack your things, we're leaving tonight!"
A series of clinking and scraping sounds rang out. Ah Luan smashed a porcelain cup and yelled, "I'm not leaving! My home is here, my family and friends are here, why should I leave?!"
Just now, this person kept talking about "leaving Chang'an," adopting that affected, poetic tone, trying to act like a refined gentleman. Now, upon hearing these words, he immediately flew into a rage—
"Smack!"
A slap landed on the wife's fair and delicate cheek.
"You think you're so great, huh?" He grabbed Ah Luan by the collar, pulling her down onto the tea table. "Are you coming or not? Huh? Are you coming or not!"
The spilled tea soaked Ah Luan's hair. Her eyes were bloodshot, and she shouted hoarsely, "I won't leave! I won't leave...! After a few days of sweet affection, this is how you treat me? If I go with you, how can I survive?!"
"..." The man seemed stunned by those words.
After a long silence, he let out a long sigh, then shamelessly helped Ah Luan up and gently stroked the handprint. "Ah Luan, I was too impatient... but you know I love you the most."
“My family has offended His Highness Prince Jin, and we will soon be moving out of Chang’an to avoid trouble. Fortunately, we have ten thousand taels of gold and silver, so we have no worries about food and clothing. But what if Prince Jin comes to power in the future and finds out about your affair with me?”
He said softly, "Will the Prince of Jin... let you go?"
Ah Luan cried out in surprise, "Prince Jin?!"
She buried her face in her hands and murmured, tears streaming down her cheeks, her makeup smeared all over her face. "It's over...it's over, he must know...it's all over..."
How could Duan Lang's family, mere cloth merchants, have suddenly offended the Prince of Jin? It must be because he frequented brothels and removed her nameplate, which angered that unpredictable nobleman!
She was muttering to herself, but she couldn't hear Duan Shike's words anymore.
Little did they know, the man curled his lips into a wicked smile and went out, leaving behind the words, "At the entrance of Zuiyan Alley at 7 PM, see you there."
The door slammed shut, closing tightly once more, as still and quiet as morning dew, as if no one had ever been there.
Ah Luan lay there for a long time, then straightened up and was looking for a handkerchief to wipe away her tears when she saw a slender, pale hand reach out from the table and pick up a blue, fragrant handkerchief—
"Give."
She looked up, her eyes widening suddenly.
!
At the same time, Xie Lingxi was also startled!
The woman in front of me, viewed from the side, really resembles her by seventy percent. Even the curve of her lowered eyes makes it no exaggeration to say that they are biological sisters!
After being subjected to two waves of stimulation, Ah Luan was numb. Instead, she calmed down, her eyes as still as a deep well, and said affirmatively, "Thank you, Madam."
Xie Lingxi raised an eyebrow slightly, remaining calm and collected. "You know me?"
Ah Luan took her handkerchief, wiped away her tears and makeup, revealing her true face, which was very pretty. Her deliberately painted features, now that the lead powder was washed away, didn't look so much like her.
"The famous Third Lady Xie, with countless suitors in Chang'an, how could I not know her?"
Xie Lingxi: "My dream lover?"
She looked at A-Luan quietly. "Let's not talk about that. What is your relationship with Prince Jin?"
Why did A-Luan panic so much when she heard the man surnamed Duan mention Yan Ji? Why was Yan Ji dissatisfied with A-Luan's romantic relationships with others...?
It's no wonder Xie Lingxi was suspicious; the woman's face was so similar to hers that it always made her heart race.
Sure enough, Ah Luan suddenly flew into a rage and threw a pillow at me, saying, "Why should I tell you? Who are you to me?!"
"Seeing is believing" is truly an excellent proverb. After meeting Xie Lingxi today, she understood why she had won the Prince of Jin's favor simply because of her face, even if it meant being his mistress in secret...
She, Ah Luan, is skilled in eight different arts and crafts.
Playing the zither, chess, calligraphy, painting, appreciating poetry, listening to music... but these are all just superficial experiences. How can they compare to the dignified and noble lady nurtured by a family with a long history of officialdom?
She was born into a lowly life and shouldn't have been begging for God's mercy, but she has survived to this day through her own abilities. Why can't she fight for a way out for herself?
Duan Shike, Prince Jin... they're all bad people!
Lady Xie has already married and done nothing wrong. She has been favored by a vile woman. What is wrong with that?
She clutched the silk handkerchief, casting her gaze upon the beautiful woman before her and the man silently embracing her from behind. Her tone remained restrained: "My lady, you've seen my face, haven't you? Don't you understand? He uses me as a substitute; who is he truly in love with?"
Xie Lingxi paused for a moment, then said, "I understand."
She spoke calmly, "If there's anything else, please tell me everything, my lady."
This indifferent attitude reignited the nameless anger in Ah Luan's heart. "Who do you think you are! What gives you the right to order me around? Lady Xie, put away your airs of wealth, I don't like them!"
The next moment, Madam Xie handed over a contract of indenture—
"I redeemed you from your servitude; I am your benefactor."
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