marry
Even though she prided herself on having read countless books, she had never seen anything like this before.
Xie Lingxi turned around, blushing, and mumbled, "No, I don't need this."
Seeing this, Cui Yi took the books down without saying a word and pushed them into Xie Lingxi's hands. "How could you not need them? Lingxi, think about it, how cunning are men in this world, even the closest ones. You don't know Liu Xuzhen's true colors, so you naturally have to be careful."
Xie Lingxi's hand trembled, and the book fell to the ground with a clatter. "It's too hot."
Cui Yi sighed and picked up the books: "In that case, I'll send a maid with you home to retrieve these."
“Perfect,” Cui Yi said, taking out a dusty wooden box from the side and choking a few times. “If we send one more guard, we can return this bundle of books to Xie Heng as well.”
When Xie Lingxi saw the box of books, after removing the dust, they were brand new and looked like they had been rarely read. Sure enough, the covers were filled with books such as "Mingli Jing".
Xie Lingxi: "He's really stubborn..."
Cui Yi turned around, a cup of floral tea now in her hand, and said with a cold laugh, "I don't think there's any need to persuade him anymore. Let him take this pile of books with him!"
...
"What...book?"
Meanwhile, inside the Willow House, Wang Jinyuan asked incredulously in a low voice.
Liu Xu found it difficult to say: "It's that thing sold in the market... the art of controlling a husband."
He had just returned from the Xie residence when he happened to meet Xie Lingxi hurrying towards him at the gate, accompanied by several maids and servants carrying stacks of books, all looking flustered.
He stepped forward with delight, straightened his clothes, and was about to greet her when Xie Lingxi saw him. Her eyes widened in surprise, and she looked flustered. She immediately turned her face away and left.
"Why--"
Due to an accidental bump, the top book that the maid was holding fell to the ground.
Seeing this, Liu Xu bent down and picked it up. The little maid bowed her head and thanked him softly before following Xie Lingxi into the house.
"That's the one?"
Liu Xu nodded heavily.
Wang Jinyuan stretched out his body and put his legs up on the table on the couch. When he saw Liu Xu staring at him, he slowly put his legs down. "Why are you looking at me? I'm not the one getting married."
Liu Xu continued scratching his head, "Why do you think she bought that book?"
Wang Jinyuan: "I'll deal with you then!"
"Brother, these are my heartfelt words. None of the women in noble families are simple characters. I've heard that quite a few of them bully their husbands. You must be careful!"
Upon hearing this, Liu Xu immediately stood up, pointed at him, and said, "Get down."
"I was just joking, don't be angry."
Wang Jinyuan dared not joke around anymore and looked at him cautiously: "Why are you getting married all of a sudden?"
Liu Xu: "That's not what I'm discussing with you right now."
“Oh, that book,” Wang Jinyuan rolled his eyes, “If she doesn’t mention it, you shouldn’t either. Or why don’t you go buy a copy now and deal with whatever comes your way?”
Liu Xu thought to himself, "Am I sick?"
"How's that thing I asked you to do coming along?"
Since he arrived in the capital, there have been two cases: the attack on students at the banquet and the tragic death of a palace eunuch. Neither case has been solved, but fortunately, few people have been affected. It has only caused a minor disturbance in the Mingguang Hall.
I heard that His Majesty was furious and ordered the entire Judicial Department to work day and night to capture the mastermind behind this.
However, things haven't been going well for the Imperial Guard lately. Lu Wei was impeached by Grand Tutor Du some time ago, and the matter involved the newly appointed top scholar. A thorough investigation also uncovered several "flaws" related to aristocratic families, causing him to lose favor and put him under considerable pressure.
Although Liu Xu held a sinecure in the Hanlin Academy, he was cautious and careful, weighing every word carefully to avoid giving others cause for gossip.
This young man surnamed Wang was a fellow townsman who had come to the capital with him to take the imperial examination. Now he was a minor official in the Ministry of Revenue, so he asked him for some information.
"I did find out about him, but I heard that he recently got involved in this unsolved case and is now imprisoned in his own home, not having a good time."
Liu Xu was startled: "Where is his residence?"
"Hey!"
Wang Jinyuan warned, "Don't be foolish. The area is surrounded by Imperial Guards. Be careful not to lose your head."
Thank you.
...
After much deliberation, he went up to Xiaoyao Tower.
Xie Lingxi was also here.
With an auspicious day chosen and their wedding imminent, how could newlyweds never see each other again? Xie Lingxi thought to herself, deliberately ignoring the awkward books, and smiled, "Liu Lang."
Liu Xu, without prior agreement, exclaimed: "Third Sister!"
Upon hearing this, the two were taken aback, then exchanged a smile.
"Do you have any clues about that person?"
"I already know where that family lives."
Another unanimous voice rang out. Xie Lingxi clenched her fingers sheepishly. Hearing Liu Xu say that he already had a clue, she raised an eyebrow and laughed heartily, "Liu Lang, you go first."
“My friend in the Ministry of Revenue helped me find Tang Zexue’s whereabouts. However, he is very low-key and doesn’t have many friends. Apart from exchanging official business, no one knows what he is doing.”
Not to mention that Xie Lingxi only remembered his name and didn't know anything else about him.
After careful investigation, everything finally became clear...
"However, he's been in some trouble lately—Third Sister, what brings you here?"
Xie Lingxi couldn't very well tell him directly about her past life, so she made up a story: "I had a dream a while ago. In the dream, a high platform collapsed like a mountain, and my father was swept away by the waves. Then this person appeared—"
"Tang Zexue. They said he could save the day, but unfortunately he died later."
Xie Lingxi's voice trembled, and when she got emotional, a few tears welled up in her eyes. After she finished speaking, she paused, and tears streamed down her face.
"ah……"
She was flustered and quickly wiped her eyes with her sleeve, saying, "I've lost my composure."
Upon seeing this, Liu Xu suddenly recalled the doctor's diagnosis from their first meeting—"This is hysteria!"
At this moment, Xie Lingxi looked distressed, tears falling like broken beads, her slender, white fingers unconsciously twisting her clothes, and with her half-healthy, half-damaged body, she looked exactly like Xi Shi clutching her heart.
He didn't care about the reasons or the background anymore. He hurriedly took out a clean and elegant handkerchief from his sleeve, decorated with a few osmanthus flowers, and handed it to Xie Lingxi, saying, "Wipe it off."
Liu Xu looked on with heartache: "Don't be afraid, don't be afraid. The person has been found, and your uncle will definitely be alright."
Xie Lingxi was unaware that she had shed tears, only thinking that she had been so engrossed in her acting that she had fooled herself. She had not yet calmed down and choked out, "Where is that Tang Langjun?"
Liu Xu looked at her with concern, "He's at the Dali Temple."
"What?"
Xie Lingxi stopped crying altogether. She dropped the handkerchief, her fingertips trembling slightly, and revealed an indescribable expression. "The Dali Temple?!"
Could it be that something has happened in this life that has exacerbated Tang Zexue's tragic fate? Didn't he die in the Dali Temple in his previous life?
It would be a lie to say that Liu Xu wasn't surprised. That person was still at home this morning. Shortly after Wang Jinyuan left, he had to go to the Hanlin Academy on business. His colleague stopped him and mysteriously told him that the person he had inquired about earlier had been found.
"Do you know about the attack on the students? This is the one who did it!"
"...Evidence? There is evidence. I heard that the person has just been taken to the Dali Temple."
Then the man added, "Lord Liu, no matter what your relationship with him is, please don't get involved!"
...
“I’ve inquired about it. Tang Zexue is from Meixian. She doesn’t like socializing, but she always sends a letter home on the first day of every month, rain or shine.”
Xie Lingxi: "He had no brothers or sisters, so the letter was written to his mother."
“I’ve already had someone investigate. He comes from a humble background, doesn’t associate with others, and is very modest. Those students who were attacked have absolutely no connection to him. How could he be a suspect?”
The result was self-evident; someone must have been behind it all. Whether it was coercion, manipulation, or using someone else to do her dirty work, she had to get to the bottom of it.
But what does this have to do with Liu Xu?
Xie Lingxi looked at the handsome young man sitting opposite her. His clothes were spotless, and he looked like an immortal. Once he stepped into the inkstone washing pool, he had to endure countless hardships and freezing cold before he could finally get ashore.
Xie Lingxi's life is very precious. She is not afraid of great disasters and must have a long and blessed life. If her husband were to die suddenly while sailing, wouldn't it be a shock to her good years?
Suddenly the sky darkened, clouds swirled and thunder roared, and a storm raged. Xie Lingxi frowned, "Why is it raining?"
That night at Langtaotai, it was also a dark night, with ghosts running rampant and torrential rain pouring down.
Before she could close the window, a few drops of rain fell into the cup in front of the window, causing the tea leaves to leap up. Xie Lingxi shivered involuntarily. Just then, a warm green bamboo robe was suddenly placed on her shoulder.
Liu Xu appeared behind her without her noticing, put his hand on her shoulder, and said softly, "Don't be afraid, I'm here."
...
Each with their own thoughts, they kept their mouths shut and went their separate ways, meeting again in quiet silence.
A grand wedding naturally requires the presence of elders and the proper rites. Liu Xu wrote a letter home that day, but his parents had just gone out to do business, leaving only his second brother, Liu, at home.
Liu Erlang is a rough man who didn't like studying when he was young. Now he works as a butcher at the entrance of the village.
However, having learned a few words under his father's oppression since childhood, he saw the words "marriage" and "nobleman" in the letter and assumed that his younger brother had been forced to become a son-in-law by a corrupt official. That very night, he packed his bags, took a knife, and went to the capital.
Poor Liu Xu was still anxiously waiting for a reply from home, unaware that the letter he had sent had been torn to shreds by his enraged son, Erlang.
He waited until He'er peeked out from under the lotus, and a red lotus quietly bloomed. He and Xie Lingxi knew perfectly well that the marriage could not be delayed any longer.
A teacher is like a father. Du Min's wife died early and he had no children. After learning that he was a top scholar, he taught him endless books and, upon hearing about his family situation, temporarily took on the role of his caregiver, taking care of everything for him.
Liu Xu was grateful and wrote letter after letter, but still received no response.
Before Liu Erlang even arrived in the capital, the wedding day arrived.
...
Since becoming a compiler in the Hanlin Academy, the Emperor bestowed upon him a residence. He had already added many new items, which, while not extravagant, were extremely warm and comfortable. He also selected several clever maids to guard the residence, and the house was decorated in a completely new style. The courtyard was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and red lanterns were hung all over the trees in front of the gate.
The Liu residence and the Xie residence were not too far apart. A red silk road was laid between the two places. As dusk fell, lanterns were hung on both sides of the long street, accompanied by a splendid sunset. It was said that "a foot of soft red on the horizon and ten miles of red makeup on the ground".
When Xie's daughter was about to get married, the procession was naturally grand. Many people who had received favors from Xie spontaneously lined the road, creating a bustling scene. Deep in the long street, a handsome young man wearing a red ribbon rode by on horseback.
Liu Xu was radiant, his eyes filled with tenderness, even taking in the sunset glow on the horizon.
He was on his way to the Xie family to fetch the bride. When the goose-shaped wedding procession arrived, it recited a poem to urge the bride to get ready. Soon after, a large red sedan chair wrapped in gold thread came out of the door, and inside sat his beloved girl.
"First bow to Heaven and Earth—"
"Second bow to the parents—"
"Husband and wife bow to each other—"
Xie Lingxi covered her face with a round fan, the flower ornament on her forehead was lively, and the rouge covered the blush on her face. She was gently led by Liu Xu and finished this last bow.
"The ceremony is complete—they are escorted to the bridal chamber—"
In the early summer of the eighteenth year of Deshun, another path of fate for Xie Lingxi began to shine brightly.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
