Chapter 21: Palace Trip
"I know that the Lu family does not have deep roots in the capital, and the lady he has his eyes on may not be attracted to me. Even if she is, I will not let her suffer any injustice." Lu Xingzhi looked at Ning Fu and said seriously.
Ningfu didn't know whether the person he was referring to was herself, but her heart beat faster nonetheless.
She raised her head. The young man in front of her had distinct features. Although he was not stunningly handsome, he was as handsome as others. He was like a cup of fragrant tea that had to be savored slowly.
"Mr. Lu will definitely get what he wishes for." Ning Fu said with her eyes lowered.
Seeing her ears were red, Lu Xingzhi couldn't help but raise the corner of his mouth and said, "I have to go. The weather is cold. Fourth Miss, go back to the room. You can have fun in the palace the day after tomorrow."
It was clearly just a normal statement of concern, but for some reason, Ninfu always felt that his words were somewhat intimate, as if he was caring about her as a junior.
Dongzhu's gaze wandered between the two of them for a moment. There was nothing inappropriate about the relationship between her own girl and Mr. Lu, yet they were inexplicably a perfect match.
"Take good care of your girl." Lu Xingzhi said this and followed the guard team in front.
Dongzhu complained in her heart that if outsiders heard the way Mr. Lu ordered her around so familiarly, they would probably think that Mr. Lu was their son-in-law.
However, Master Lu is really handsome and no worse than the other young masters in Prince Xuan's Palace.
"No wonder there are many families in the capital who are trying to find out the news about the Lu Mansion. I'm afraid they have taken a fancy to Mr. Lu." Dongzhu said.
Nymph asked, "Where did you hear this news?"
"I heard it from Cuizhu who is beside the first lady. I heard that the young lady from the Rong Mansion has fallen in love with Master Lu, and Madam Rong is asking around for Master Lu." Dongzhu said.
Ning Fu knew why Rong Min hadn't been talking to her recently. It turned out that she had fallen in love with Lu Xingzhi.
She felt a little complicated. Although she also liked Lu Xingzhi, she also knew that as long as they were not engaged, even if he liked her a little, it would not stop others from falling for him.
What's more, it is uncertain whether she can choose him according to her heart. Her marriage cannot be settled before she finds Doctor Mu.
If he really worked so hard to get promoted for her... Nymph felt heartbroken and sweet just thinking about it. But in the end, she still soberly told herself not to be easily moved by a man.
New Year's Eve arrived in the blink of an eye. It can be said that all things are "welcoming the spring and bidding farewell to the last day of the year, as the year ends tonight". The Duke's Mansion has already posted new couplets, hung up red lanterns, and is smiling sweetly, just waiting to welcome the New Year.
Ning Yu also returned home the day before. Although he was feeling melancholy because his official business was not completed, he put all his worries behind him and helped out with the running errands.
The New Year's Eve dinner was held in Old Lady Ning's Qin Garden as in previous years. Except for Ning Ran who was married off, and Ning Zheng who could not return, everyone who should have come was there, including the main wife's concubines, Zhang and Mu, who also came today.
Zhang is charming, Mu is young, and both are good-looking.
It's just that Zhang is sweet-talking and flexible. Even though Wei had confined her feet for half a year, she could act as if nothing had happened in front of Ning Zhenxiu, so she has always been the most favored.
"The fourth young lady will be entering the palace later, and her festive outfit today is just right for her." Upon seeing Nyingfu, Zhang stepped forward and said politely, leaving her own daughter Ning He aside.
"I think Fifth Sister looks very beautiful today." She wore a lotus-colored silk skirt and a small bun, which made her look as pretty as a flower bud. At her age, Ning He looked very cute in this outfit.
Ning He smiled at Ning Fu and was very grateful to her.
Zhang looked down on her daughter in her heart. She thought she couldn't compare to Ning Ran in any way. She couldn't count on her anymore. She said with a smile, "Ah He is not very talented and is just a concubine's daughter. How can she compare to the fourth lady?"
Old Madam Ning frowned and said, "What's the difference between a concubine's daughter and a legitimate daughter? They are all my granddaughters. Look at Ah He, she is a beauty who dresses carefully. I have to take care of her on weekdays. If I don't ask someone to measure her size, I'm afraid she won't even have this new dress."
However, Ning He took Ning Fu's words to heart and took the initiative to go to Old Madam Ning several times and told her that she had no clothes. The old madam felt sorry for her and asked someone to prepare some for her.
Seeing the old lady protecting her again today, Ning He couldn't help but wipe away her tears.
Wei snorted in her heart, Zhang was such a fool, she didn't even protect her own daughter. But she wanted to see her continue to be stupid, so she just smiled and said nothing.
After being scolded, Zhang glared at Ning He but agreed verbally.
After all, it was New Year's Eve, and the old lady didn't want to dwell on this unpleasant thing. She only counted the happy events in the Duke's Mansion this year. One was Ning Ran's pregnancy, and the other was Ning Fu's archery performance.
This year has been relatively smooth and successful for the Duke's Mansion, and I hope the next year will be the same.
Because Ningfu had to go to the palace, the New Year's Eve dinner ended earlier than in previous years.
Zhang looked at Ning Zhenxiu and said in a coquettish voice, "Master, can you walk with me? I'm a little full."
Ning Zhenxiu looked at Wei, and he should have been accompanying his wife today.
"Master, I haven't seen you for a long time. I just have this small request." Zhang begged in a humble manner. If she didn't coax the master into her arms, how could she have a son?
Seeing this, Ning Zhenxiu no longer refused and decided to go to Wei's house tonight: "Let's go."
Wei was so angry that she almost died, but she had to appear tolerant and magnanimous and pretend that nothing had happened.
In the second house, Madam Ning and Ning Zhenyuan were on good terms. Since they reconciled, they were almost inseparable whenever Ning Zhenyuan returned home.
The two of them escorted Nymph to the carriage.
"Noble Concubine Zong and the Queen, remember not to favor one over the other." Ning Zhenyuan said sternly.
Even my father knew about what happened in the harem, which shows how much discord there is between Concubine Zong and the Queen.
But Ningfu could understand them. Not to mention in the palace, even in ordinary people's homes, everyone would fight for their sons and get hurt.
The palace was no different from what she remembered. Although it was luxurious, solemn, magnificent, and located in the very center of the capital, it was also so deep and depressing that it made people feel suffocated. Everything she did had to be done with extreme caution.
Apart from a few young men and women from Prince Xuan's Mansion, the only ones who could enter the palace and celebrate New Year's Eve with the royal family were Xie Ruyi and Ning Fu.
Xie Ruyi is a little different from Ning Fu. She has been invited several times in previous years.
Ning Fu knew Zong Si and Zong Duo. Those closer to Emperor Jingwen were the princes. Ning Fu took a quick glance and only recognized the Fourth Prince Meng Che, the son of the Queen, as well as the Third Prince Meng Yuan and the Sixth Prince Meng Ze. These two princes were both born to Concubine Zong.
Ninfu gave the snow muscle pills she brought to several ladies.
"I heard that this was Doctor Mu's prescription, so I wanted to try it earlier. Unfortunately, I never found the opportunity. I didn't expect that the fourth young lady would bring it to me today." Queen Wang smiled kindly.
Concubine Zong looked at the queen sarcastically, then looked at Nyingfu, feeling a little surprised.
Although she had heard many people say that her beauty was hard to compare to hers, Concubine Zong sneered at it. She thought that no one could compare to her in the past, no matter how beautiful she was. But when she saw her today, she realized that what everyone said was true.
If she wasn't Ning Zhenyuan's daughter, she and his third nephew would be a perfect match.
"The fourth young lady is really beautiful." Concubine Zong also praised with a smile.
Nymph bowed and said, "Your Highness, thank you for your compliment."
Emperor Jingwen said with emotion: "You are a very attentive girl. This is your first time in the palace, and you have not left out any of my concubines."
I saw the white parrot in the cage next to me. It was much thinner than before and stayed in the cage listlessly. I couldn't help but ask, "How did you raise such a good parrot into this state?"
Nymph knelt down and kowtowed, humbly admitting her fault: "My cousin, in order to take good care of this parrot, my uncle personally went to find a bird slave for me, but I really don't have the ability to take good care of a bird, so I brought the parrot into the palace, hoping that my cousin would find a way for me."
Although it was Meng Ze who asked her to bring the parrot into the palace, she couldn't mention him at the moment.
"The only one who is proficient in raising birds is Lao Liu. Let him raise them for you." Emperor Jingwen said.
"Your son obeys your command." Meng Ze stood up and saluted.
Ning Fu looked in the direction of Meng Ze and saw that he was also looking at her, with a smile on his face, but only for a moment, and he quickly withdrew his gaze, as if the matter of the parrot had nothing to do with him and it was not his suggestion.
And Zong Si, who was not far away from him, was even more indifferent, as if he had no interest in her affairs at all.
Nymph thought back to the day when he lifted her chin with his sword and felt the cold touch.
She could still remember at this moment that she thought that he might not have recognized her. But then she changed her mind and realized that if he really didn't recognize her, he would have stabbed her with the sword long ago. He would not have been merciful. Moreover, when the sword was against her chin, he was clearly holding back.
And that posture, in fact, if you think about it carefully, is more or less teasing. If it were someone else, Ning Fu would probably have thought that this behavior was flirting with her.
However, Zong Si usually had no intention of getting close to her. He even drove her away several times. He was cold and didn't talk much. It didn't seem like he was interested in her. Although she didn't understand, she didn't dwell on it. She just thought he was abnormal.
"Thank you, uncle, for coming up with a solution for me." The parrot issue was resolved, and she felt relieved. She said to Meng Ze in a gentle and grateful tone, "Thank you, sixth cousin."
The beauty's words made people feel much more relaxed. Meng Ze smiled and said, "It's just a small favor, no need to thank me, cousin."
Emperor Jingwen gave Ningfu a seat and placed her together with Princess Jingwen.
The princess was curious and asked, "You are such a good archer, are you also good at horse riding?"
"I just know a little bit." Nymph said modestly.
"Do you know how to play Cuju?" Princess Jingwen asked, "If you do, come and play with us next time."
Seeing how friendly she was, Jingwen began to feel a bit of favor towards her.
On the other hand, Meng Ze looked at her several times. Compared with her younger sister Jingwen, the fourth girl was more feminine. He had seen countless women. In another two years, Ning Fu's figure would be top-notch.
If there is a chance, it would be nice to keep her by my side, but I have to wait until Ning Zhenyuan no longer has the ability to protect her.
Zongduo frowned, he noticed what Meng Ze was thinking.
What a pervert!
He's always planning on hitting on other girls!
But he had no right to speak, so he could only drink a glass of wine in silence.
After the dinner, he drank a full pot of wine, and he could no longer suppress his unhappiness.
He didn't want Meng Ze's thoughts to be on Ning Fu.
Until Zong Si held down his wine glass and said calmly: "There will be a fireworks banquet later, do you want to lose your composure?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
