Chapter 549 The Queen Sends Another Invitation
While they were chatting and laughing, Song Ruyan was finally coaxed and persuaded by Doctor Qian to stay in the corridor, and she could only watch Gu Junze and Chu Ruohan playing with the two children in the snow.
The laughter and joyful sounds dispelled the severe cold of winter and made the New Year in the Zhenguo Mansion particularly lively and peaceful.
In a blink of an eye, the winter snow melts and spring becomes warmer.
One day, Chu Ruohan was checking the accounts of the mansion in her room when Yuling walked in quietly.
"Madam, there's an invitation from the palace, inviting you to come in and have a seat."
Chu Ruohan's fingers did not pause as she flipped through the account book, her eyes still fixed on the densely packed numbers, and she only responded faintly.
Yuling respectfully placed a gilded invitation beside her and added softly, "This is from the Empress herself, saying that the crabapple trees in the palace are in full bloom, and she wants you to enjoy them with her."
This is the third invitation sent to Kunning Palace since the beginning of spring, since he claimed to be ill and did not attend the palace banquet on New Year's Eve.
Chu Ruohan finally raised her eyes and took a look at the exquisite post. Her eyes were calm and no emotion could be seen.
She picked up the post, without even opening it to take a closer look, and put it aside.
"Got it." She picked up the pen again, dipped it in cinnabar, and circled the account book. "Let's handle it as usual."
"Yes." Yuling immediately understood and bowed as she withdrew. "I'll go tell the messenger right away that you have to take care of the young lady and also be busy with the shop these days, so you really can't spare any time."
After Yuling left, the pen in Chu Ruohan's hand hung in the air, and she didn't put it down for a long time.
She looked at the growing willow branches outside the window and sighed softly.
It's not that she was petty or vindictive, but that time, she truly felt the coldness and calculation of the imperial family.
Su Wan was caught in the middle of it and had no choice. She could understand it, but she could no longer trust others without any reservations as before.
After all, the palace wall separated the two people.
In the evening, Gu Junze came back from the army. As soon as he entered the house, he saw Chu Ruohan sitting by the window in a daze.
"What are you thinking about?" He walked over, put his arms around her waist from behind, and rested his chin lightly on her shoulder.
Chu Ruohan turned her head and leaned against him, "Another invitation has arrived from the palace."
Gu Junze's eyes darkened. "Or is it the Queen?"
"Well, invite me to see the crabapple blossoms." Chu Ruohan's tone was a little lonely, "I asked Yuling to turn it down."
Gu Junze held her hand, placed it on his lips and kissed it, his voice low and gentle: "If you don't want to go, then don't go. The crabapple tree in our house is about to bloom, I will accompany you to see it."
Chu Ruohan felt warm in her heart, and she held his hand with her backhand, and the depression in her heart also dissipated a lot.
"I just think it's a pity." She said softly, "When the Queen lived in our house, we used to talk about everything."
"People's hearts can change." Gu Junze held her tighter, "Especially after she takes that position."
"Ruohan, you just need to know that no matter what happens, I will always be by your side. That's enough."
Chu Ruohan nodded and said nothing more.
She understood that Su Wan had her own battlefield, and she had her home to protect.
Time flies and it is March.
The whole house was filled with a joyful atmosphere, and the servants walked with a breeze, because the mistress's personal maid Yuling and the steward Qin were getting married soon.
In the warm afternoon sun, Chu Ruohan was sitting in front of a small table, holding a gift list in her hand, checking it carefully and adding one or two items with a red pen from time to time.
Yuling came in with a cup of freshly brewed spring tea, and her face blushed slightly when she saw this.
"Madam, you have been busy with the servant's affairs for several days."
Chu Ruohan put down her pen, looked up at her, a gentle smile between her eyebrows: "Girl, you are about to get married, why are you still so restrained?"
She waved to Yuling, "Come here."
Yuling walked forward as she was told.
Chu Ruohan took her hand and asked her to sit on the embroidered cushion beside her. Then she turned around and personally took out a heavy carved wooden box from a row of large rosewood boxes in the inner room.
"This is..." Yuling looked at the exquisite box, somewhat confused.
"You have followed me since you were a child, from the boudoir to the Duke's Mansion. In name, we are master and servant, but in reality, you are no different from my sister."
Chu Ruohan placed the wooden box on Yuling's lap and said, "Now that you are getting married, as your elder sister, I naturally have to prepare a decent dowry for you."
The wooden box felt extremely heavy in her hand. Yuling's hands trembled as she tried to refuse it: "Madam, this is absolutely impossible! You have already bought enough for me, I..."
"Take it." Chu Ruohan held her hand and opened the box for her personally.
The moment the lid of the box was opened, the room was filled with flowing light.
There was a complete set of head ornaments inlaid with red gold and pearls, lying quietly on the red brocade. From the necklace, earrings to bracelets and the skirt hems, all of them were exquisitely made and skillfully crafted. One could tell at a glance that they were made by a famous artist.
Yuling's breathing suddenly stopped and her eyes turned red in an instant.
She fell to her knees with a thud, her voice filled with tears: "Madam! This is too expensive! I can't afford it! I really can't afford it!"
She had seen this set of jewelry before. It was a treasure in the lady's dowry box, and she was reluctant to wear it on weekdays.
"Silly girl, get up quickly." Chu Ruohan quickly helped her up and wiped the tears from her eyes with a handkerchief. "What's there to be ashamed of?"
"This is from my dowry. I'm giving it to you as a token of my appreciation from my elder sister to my younger sister."
She held Yuling's shoulders and looked at her seriously: "Qin Fang is a good man, but if you marry him, you will also represent the reputation of our Zhenguo Mansion. I can't let you be looked down upon."
Tears flowed from Yuling's eyes like broken strings. She held the wooden box tightly, her heart filled with endless emotion and reluctance.
Chu Ruohan looked at her, and a pang of bitterness rose in her heart. She patted the back of Yuling's hand and softened her voice: "When you return to the Qin family, you must manage your life well."
"Husbands and wives should support and understand each other. If he dares to bully you, or if you are wronged, don't think about anything else, just come back."
"This Zhenguo Mansion will always be your home."
"Madam..." Yuling burst into tears and could only hold Chu Ruohan's sleeves tightly, as if she wanted to hold all the kindness and dependence of the past ten years in her hands.
"Okay, it's a happy day, no more crying."
Chu Ruohan tidied up her hair, her own eyes reddening. "If you cry any more, your makeup will be ruined, and you won't be a beautiful bride anymore."
Yuling nodded vigorously, holding back her tears, and a smile that was uglier than crying appeared on her face.
Outside the window, spring is in full bloom. The crabapple trees are full of buds that are about to bloom, as if they are also waiting for a grand happy event.
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