Chapter 51: Peerless Fate
Walk along the spring to the left and front, and you will see the Yilan Pavilion where Meng Lanxi lived in the gurgling water.
She heard the sound of hurried footsteps from behind. She turned around and saw Aunt Xuanji running in from the back door. Seeing her, she immediately said, "County Lady, someone is coming from the palace. I heard that it's...it's said that..."
Over the years, Aunt Xuanji has been managing the affairs of the Changhua Palace calmly and steadily, rarely looking so mixed and helpless.
"Don't worry, auntie, what's wrong?"
"The palace has chosen a new husband for the county lady. He was strongly recommended by the Si Tiantai. The new husband will come to meet the county lady soon!"
"Oh... you're here after all?"
Aunt Xuanji looked at Qiandeng's calm expression with suspicion: "County Lady, do we need to prepare a place for him to live?"
"No need. The current gentlemen all have their reasons for moving in, and it's still unknown whether this newcomer can successfully enter the palace."
Ling Tianshui was listening nearby, leaning against the rockery with his arms folded, a hint of mockery on his lips.
Qiandeng smiled at Aunt Xuanji, and they walked towards the door together.
I heard the sound of horse hooves and a tall horse was galloping towards the door.
Cui Fufeng pulled the reins, jumped off the horse, and walked inside with a serious expression. When he looked up and saw Qiandeng, he was stunned.
"Has the county lady also heard the news from the palace?"
"Yes, I'm waiting for someone to come." Qian Deng smiled at him and said, "All the mysteries have been solved. The motive, method, and aftermath of the murder are all clear. Since today is a good day, let's give everyone a big surprise."
Although it was a good day, Qiandeng was still dressed in plain silk without any makeup. She did not even open the main door to welcome the guests. She just asked everyone in the backyard to come and wait with her in front of the screen wall in the backyard.
Shang Luo peeked towards the door, pouting a bit in dissatisfaction: "County Lady, who is this new person coming in this time? Why is there such a big fuss just for him to come? Why do we have to welcome him with all of us?"
Xue Xiyang chuckled softly, his clear voice inexplicably tinged with a hint of sarcasm. "I heard that this person was fully recommended by the Si Tiantai, and his destiny is even better than Yu Guangling's. Originally, Yu Guangling was the one who was going to stand out among us, but it seems this person's reputation is even more impressive than his."
Ji Linyou folded his arms and sneered, "Impressive! You're already confident of victory right out of the gate? Hey, Brother Yan, your Taibu Bureau and Sitiantai have close ties. Do you know anything about this new candidate?"
Yan Penglai looked at Qian Deng and said vaguely, "I've heard a little bit about him. I heard he was also a student of the Imperial Academy. He was a scholar from a humble family with extraordinary talent and excellent academic performance."
Shangluo felt an ominous premonition when he heard this, and his scalp tightened. "No way, this description sounds like, like..."
Before he finished speaking, there was the rumble of carriages outside, and the groom, who was escorted by the Inner Palace Bureau, had arrived at the door.
Qiandeng slowly stood up, and the men behind her also looked at the carriage with her.
The eunuch jumped off the carriage, took out a footstool, placed it under the carriage, and asked the candidate for the county lady's husband to get off.
A pair of slender but slightly rough hands lifted the curtain, and then a thin figure got off the carriage, stepped on a footstool, and stood at the door of the backyard of the palace.
Qiandeng looked up at him. This elegant, quiet and peaceful man like a deer made her feel dazed for a moment, as if she saw the former Yu Guangling.
Some of the others knew him, some didn't, and they all looked at him carefully, each with their own concerns.
Only Shangluo was young and had no idea how to hide his thoughts, so he blurted out, "Jian Anting!"
The new person sent by the palace was Jian Anting.
He was dressed in a blue and yellow-patterned silk robe, which looked plain and calm. It was obvious that he had already prepared clothes suitable for this occasion.
Ignoring Shangluo's fuss, Jian Anting stood still and respectfully bowed to Qiandeng. He looked up at her and said in a clear voice, "Jian Anting, a student from the Imperial College, greets the county lady."
Qian Deng had seen him many times before, and his impression of him had always been that he was lonely and quiet. But today, his ancient eyes finally stirred with ripples that were difficult to conceal.
Then, he bowed to all the gentlemen behind her and said, "You all came first. I'm the last one to arrive. If there are any rules in the mansion that I should know, I hope you will be willing to teach me."
Seeing his sincerity, Shi Jingning, who had first stayed there, said, "There are no rules. We all have our own reasons for staying at the palace, and we all rely on the county lady. As long as we get along harmoniously and don't cause her any trouble, that's all."
Jian Anting nodded to him and said with a smile, "Okay, I will definitely not trouble the county lady."
Everyone was initially a little resistant to the idea of a new person entering the mansion, but upon seeing how sensible he was, they couldn't help but feel a bit of affection for him, thinking that he was much more lovable than Ling Tianshui, the audacious man who broke the rules the moment he arrived.
In this harmonious atmosphere, Qian Deng's expression relaxed, and he nodded to Jian Anting as a greeting: "Mr. Jian, the way you stand here reminds me of your close friend Yu Guangling... You two really do look alike."
Hearing her mention Yu Guangling, Jian Anting's expression stiffened slightly, then he lowered his head and said, "Yes, because of Guangling Yuze, I have also received the County Lady's favor many times. So when the Si Tiantai came and told me that my birth date and horoscope were suitable for being selected as the County Lady's husband, I decided to take good care of the County Lady on behalf of Guangling, fulfill his unfulfilled wish, and let him rest in peace in his grave."
"Mr. Jian and Mr. Yu's friendship and unwavering commitment are truly touching." Qian Deng pointed behind him and asked, "You are Mr. Yu's best friend. Since you are moving into the mansion, why don't you live in the Plum Garden where he once lived? What do you think?"
"Hanmei is as steadfast as a gentleman. Thank you, County Lady, for your careful arrangements." He responded without hesitation. "Guangling and I both came from humble backgrounds. We often encouraged each other to rise to prominence and contribute our modest efforts to the people of the world. Now that he has passed away, I will naturally live in the Plum Garden, carry on his legacy, and work hard to complete his unfinished work."
"Well said." Qian Deng saw Jian Anting's calm and composed expression, so he just smiled slightly and turned to face everyone and said, "Actually, I dreamed of Yu Guangling last night."
As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of the people in front of him suddenly changed.
Cui Fufeng looked at her thoughtfully, as if trying to discern something from her face.
Ling Tianshui twitched the corner of his mouth towards her in a mocking manner, but ultimately gave her face and remained silent.
Shangluo's eyes widened in surprise, and he kept asking, "Really? What did Brother Guangling say in the county lady's dream?"
Xue Xiyang asked with concern: "I wonder what the county lady dreamed about. Did it scare you?"
Shi Jingning stayed out of the matter, only thinking about how to make some soothing food for the county lady.
Only Yan Penglai lowered his head silently, with a slightly nervous look on his face, and looked at Qiandeng with a guilty look.
Jian Anting took in everyone's expressions, pondering the people who would soon be in the backyard with him, and said, "The county lord values friendship and loyalty, and is a blessing to Guangling."
"Then Guangling's blessing will be passed on to you." Qian Deng raised an eyebrow at him, a hint of a smile. "Let's go. He told me in my dream that Lord Yan, as the Grand Astrologer, can communicate with immortals and mortals. He and Zheng Junshan will be waiting for us at the Imperial College. When we get there, we must expose the real culprit in public."
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