Chapter 34 I Have No Regrets "Which blind fool dares to block my way?"...
Since the Emperor bestowed the marriage upon Miss Meng and Lu Xiuyi, the number of high-ranking officials and nobles visiting the Meng residence has noticeably increased.
On this day, the Grand Counselor sent some fine tea under the pretext of having recently acquired some. The next day, the Chief Clerk, knowing that Meng Yanqing was fond of Lin Yunzhi's landscape paintings, sent his own collection. The following day, the wife of the Vice Minister of the Court of Imperial Sacrifices invited Madam Yuan and the young ladies to enjoy tea.
If it weren't for Madam Meng's clear-headedness, her repeated rebukes while leaning on her cane, and her explanation of the consequences, they would still be indulging in the flattery of those people.
Rarely having the opportunity to come out openly, Meng Yu first went to Xiazhen Pavilion to buy a pearl hairpin. Turning around, she heard Bei Yin's stomach rumbling, and remembered that she and Aunt Shen had eaten at Zhenhuazhai this morning. However, they were in such a hurry that when Huai Yin returned to Qingli Courtyard, she only brought back her veil and hat and did not have time to eat.
Meng Yu glanced at his purse and, seeing that there was still some money left, immediately took Huai Yin to Xunmanlou to book a private room and ordered several delicacies that they couldn't usually afford.
Seeing how much she was spending, Huaiyin quickly offered a few words of advice.
Meng Yu ignored her and pulled her to sit down opposite her. Huai Yin immediately stood up in alarm: "Miss, this is unacceptable."
Meng Yu pressed her shoulder to make her sit properly, "This place is very private, and there's no one else around. Why are you being so formal?"
Back at the opposite seat, Meng Yu leaned forward and smiled, "I just ordered half a roast goose and half a braised duck. You'd better eat more later, I can't finish them all."
Everyone in the Meng family was a sycophant who fawned on the powerful and bullied the weak. Even though she knew that every time she went to the main kitchen to collect something or to Steward Lin to apply for something, those people would always give her a hard time, she always smiled and laughed when she returned to Qingli Courtyard, never mentioning the grievances she had suffered.
Huaiyin, unaware of her true intentions, simply smiled and said, "I'll just buy some steamed buns to tide me over, why bother spending money, young lady?"
Meng Yu raised an eyebrow: "Who said it was for you? Can't I have a craving? I always heard my second sister and fourth sister talk about eating at Xunmanlou. I've been in the capital for so long, but I haven't tried the food here yet. I'll treat myself to this and use my next month's allowance first."
Huaiyin couldn't persuade her otherwise, so she could only nod repeatedly.
***
After Aunt Shen accompanied Madam Yuan and her entourage to offer incense at Lin'an Temple, Madam Yuan wanted to have a vegetarian meal there. However, Meng Shuang and Meng Yin were too full to eat, so they went off to explore on their own, leaving only Aunt Shen to accompany her.
Lin'an Temple is built halfway up the mountain, and the faint sound of bells can be heard in every corner. All the pilgrims who come and go have a devout look on their faces.
Yu Yan strolled around with Meng Shuang and couldn't help but ask, "Fourth Miss went to the Marriage Tree, why don't you go with her?"
The air in the mountains was very fresh. Meng Shuang took a deep breath and looked up to see that the sky was a clear blue. She said in a low voice, "Fourth Sister has someone she likes and is so lucky to have her wish fulfilled. She went to pray for a happy and fulfilling marriage and a loving and harmonious relationship with her husband. I don't have anyone I like, so why should I go there to try and get close to him?"
Hearing her say this, Yu Yan was somewhat confused: "Isn't Miss in love with Young Master Qin?"
Meng Shuang recalled Meng Yin's happy smile, and felt empty inside: "Qin Musui is of noble status and has a promising future, but he is only the person my mother wants me to marry. Besides, what does it matter whether I like him or not? The Chengyi Marquis's family is of high status and noble lineage, and is more worthy of me."
As they were talking, the two walked to the corner under the eaves. Suddenly, a child ran over recklessly. Meng Shuang couldn't dodge in time, and Yu Yan behind her couldn't protect her either.
Meng Shuang was knocked so hard that she fell to the ground on the eaves of the corridor.
"Hey! You little brat..." Yu Yan quickly helped Meng Shuang up and was about to scold the reckless child when he suddenly disappeared.
Meng Shuang raised her hand to adjust her hair bun, stood up and said, "It's normal for children to jump around, and they didn't bump into me anywhere. Let's go!"
After looking Meng Shuang up and down and seeing that she was indeed alright, Yu Yan finally agreed with relief.
Her master was the apple of the master and mistress's eye; if he were to be damaged or broken, she would be the first to suffer.
As Yu Yan followed behind, she suddenly noticed that the wisteria and glass hairpin on Meng Shuang's hair was missing. This hairpin was Meng Shuang's favorite. She had asked Yuan Shi to have several hairpin makers make it for her when she was in Xuzhou.
She never leaves it behind when she goes out.
Seeing that Meng Shuang was a little anxious, Yu Yan quickly walked back with her, comforting her as she did so: "Don't worry, Miss. Perhaps the child fell into the grass under the platform when he bumped into us. Let's go back and look for him. We'll definitely find him."
As soon as the two turned the corner, they saw a young man in a dark brocade robe with a dark green jade pendant with a landscape relief hanging at his waist, examining her wisteria glass hairpin closely.
Yu Yan frowned: "Miss, you wait here, I'll go ask him to get it back."
Before Meng Shuang could speak, Yu Yan lifted her foot to go over. However, since it was a sacred Buddhist place, and to show her piety, her young lady was not wearing a veil, so it was inappropriate for her to speak with a stranger.
Meng Shuang suddenly raised her hand, her gaze falling on the man in front of her: "No need, I see that he is dressed in extraordinary clothes and has a refined demeanor, so he should not be an unreasonable person."
Yu Yan: "..."
What does this have to do with being reasonable or unreasonable?
While she was still in a daze, Meng Shuang had already walked up to the man. When Yu Yan saw this, she quickly looked around and saw that all the people coming and going were unfamiliar pilgrims. She did not see Deng Mama and the others, so she hurriedly followed.
“The young lady’s hairpin gleams in the sunlight. I saw it from afar and, out of curiosity, came to take a closer look. Only then did I realize it was a hairpin. Since it belongs to the young lady, it is only right to return it to its rightful owner.” He presented the hairpin with both hands.
The man was upright and gentle, with a faint smile on his face, like a spring breeze sweeping across a barren land, carrying a touch of sweetness as it seeps into people's hearts.
Meng Shuang lowered her eyes and glanced at his broad palm, where a thin layer of calluses covered her wisteria and glass hairpin, which lay steadily on it.
She reached out and took it, tilted her head slightly, and inserted it directly into her hair bun before giving him a graceful bow: "Thank you, young master."
The man stared in a daze, and blurted out subconsciously, "The young lady's eyebrows are like spring mountains, her eyes like the bright moon, and with this wisteria and glass hairpin, she is just like a fairy princess."
As soon as the words left his mouth, the man regretted it and hurriedly lowered his head, saying with a hint of apology, "I couldn't help but speak out of turn because I saw your beautiful face. Please forgive me."
Yu Yan was about to call him a "rogue," but he reacted quickly and shut her up before she could say anything.
Seeing his elegant demeanor and refined, dignified appearance, unlike those street thugs, Meng Shuang felt no aversion to his praise and even felt a little smug.
Despite thinking this, she still smiled modestly and said, "You flatter me, sir. I dare not accept such praise."
Yu Yan really didn't want Meng Shuang to have too much interaction with the strange man. Having retrieved the wisteria and glass hairpin, she quickly leaned close to Meng Shuang's ear and whispered, "Miss, Madam and Auntie must have finished their vegetarian meal soon. Let's go back!"
Unexpectedly, the man had sharp ears and before Meng Shuang could speak, he chuckled and said, "My mother is also having a vegetarian meal at Shilin Hall. Since you're going that way, why don't we go together?"
Yu Yan was about to refuse when Meng Shuang spoke first, unexpectedly laughing, "What a coincidence! In that case, let's go together!"
Upon hearing this, the man quickly stepped aside, making way for Meng Shuang to pass first.
Yu Yan glanced at him, then quickly followed, frowning and lowering her voice: "Miss, we are traveling with a strange man. If Madam sees us, she will surely scold us."
Meng Shuang didn't care at all, and simply lowered her voice and smiled faintly: "Don't worry, judging from this person's clothes, he must be of extraordinary status. Even if Mother sees him, she will definitely not blame him. If she really does blame him, I will take responsibility for you, so what are you worried about?"
"Can……"
"Alright!" Meng Shuang gently stopped her. "There are other people following behind us. What kind of behavior is it for you and me to whisper in front of each other? Stop talking."
Meng Shuang and Yu Yan had just arrived at the entrance of Shi Lin Tang when they saw Madam Yuan coming out, accompanied by a richly dressed woman. The two were chatting and laughing.
"Mother."
"Mother."
Two distinct voices rang out simultaneously; it was Meng Shuang and the man behind her. Upon seeing this, both Madam Yuan and the noblewoman were startled, then exchanged glances and smiled at each other.
Meng Shuang and Yu Yan were also stunned. They turned around and looked at the man, who also looked puzzled.
The noblewoman quickly beckoned the man forward and introduced him to Madam Yuan: "This is my son, Lu Jiayan."
Upon hearing this person's name, Meng Shuang was slightly surprised. Madam Yuan glanced at Lu Jiayan and couldn't help but sincerely praise, "Your son is handsome and refined, with the grace of a bright moon. It's all thanks to your good upbringing that he's so much better than my dull-witted son."
Tao looked at Meng Shuang and saw that the woman in front of her was wearing a purple rush dress that reached her chest, paired with a wisteria and glass hairpin, which made her look like a fairy and a painting.
The more Tao looked at Meng Shuang, the more she liked her. She smiled at Yuan and said, "How can I compare to Madam Meng, who gave birth to such a beautiful girl?"
Meng Shuang was trained by the Yuan family, and her entire being, even the strands of her hair, were meticulously groomed.
Upon hearing Tao's words, Yuan quickly smiled and said to Meng Shuang, "Shuang'er, why don't you go and greet Madam Lu?"
Meng Shuang immediately curtsied slightly and bowed gracefully to Madam Tao, saying, "Meng Shuang greets Madam."
Tao glanced at her and saw that she was poised and elegant in speech and manner, with neither servility nor arrogance, and without a trace of pettiness. If she did not know which family she came from, she would probably think that she came from one of the most prestigious and wealthy families.
“Miss Meng, there’s no need for formalities. Please get up quickly,” Tao said, reaching out to help her up. She then glanced at Lu Jiayan and pretended to be cold as she scolded him, “You’ve already forgotten the two words of praise from Madam Meng. Why don’t you come over and greet Miss Meng?”
Lu Jiayan smiled and said, "Mother, I already greeted Miss Meng just now."
Tao and Yuan looked at each other, puzzled for a moment.
Lu Jiayan hurriedly told the two of them in detail how he found the hairpin, what Meng Shuang said when she came over, and so on.
Tao sighed repeatedly, saying that the two were destined to be together. Yuan only smiled slightly, but did not agree with her words.
The group walked out, chatting as they went. When they reached the gate, Meng Yin happened to be returning from the Marriage Tree. They exchanged a few more compliments before boarding their carriages to return home.
***
After Lu Xiuyi left the capital with Prince Yu, they traveled south for more than half a month before arriving in Yuezhou.
The group arrived in Yuezhou at dusk, when dark clouds covered the sky, thunder rumbled, and a torrential downpour was about to begin.
Magistrate Zhang arranged for them to stay at the post station and suggested that they rest for the night before checking the damage to the surrounding villages. However, Prince Yu coldly said, "You can keep an eye on the villages. We need to check the situation across the river first. Lead the way."
Upon hearing this, Magistrate Zhang looked anxious and hurriedly bowed, saying, "Your Highness, it's about to rain, and the river will inevitably rise. It's extremely unsafe to cross at this time. Please reconsider, Your Highness."
Just as Prince Yu was about to refute him, Lu Xiuyi, who was standing beside him, rebuked him: "The sooner we go to check the situation of the Yue River, the sooner we can find out the cause of the flood in Yuezhou, and the less suffering the people downstream will endure. There are priorities in everything. As a county magistrate, don't you even understand this?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Lu Xiuyi of the Yu Dynasty gave him an appreciative look, and then said to Magistrate Zhang, "I know that Magistrate Zhang is thinking about our safety. However, what General Lu said makes a lot of sense. If we risk our lives to ensure the safety of the people downstream, what harm is there in that?"
Magistrate Zhang blushed with embarrassment after hearing their words and dared not say anything more, so he hurriedly stepped forward to lead the way.
The group walked up the mountainside about ten miles outside the city. When they reached a high point, they looked into the distance and saw the Yue River churning with thunderous roars, creating swirling eddies that crashed against the rocks on both sides, sending up waves two meters high. From a distance, it looked like a thousand horses and a thousand soldiers raising dust, a sight that made people's hearts tremble.
Prince Yu frowned: "The dikes over the Yue River are better built than those elsewhere, so why is the flood so severe now? I've never heard of anything like this in the past few years."
No one dared to turn back.
Lu Xiuyi looked for a while, then suddenly frowned and pointed to a river near the southeast, saying, "I passed by the Yue River several years ago and vaguely remember that there used to be many shrubs there. Could it be that my memory is faulty?"
Magistrate Zhang hurriedly bowed and replied, "General's memory is indeed accurate. There was indeed a patch of shrubs there five years ago. However, the villagers cut it down, and it gradually became what it is today."
Upon hearing Magistrate Zhang's words, Lu Xiuyi immediately turned and walked down the mountain.
Prince Yu was taken aback and hurriedly called out to him, "General Lu, where are you going?"
"Let's go take a look over there."
The others immediately followed.
The rain fell in fine threads, and when the group reached the riverbank, the rain suddenly intensified and poured down.
The river was swift, and even at this close range, it was still impossible to make out anything. Lu Xiu turned his head and ordered, "Bring a long rope over."
The people didn't know what he wanted to do, but they still prepared a thick hemp rope as he instructed.
Without a second thought, Lu Xiuyi picked up the rope and put it on himself.
Seeing this, Chu Ze frowned and stepped in front of him, asking, "Young Master, what do you want to do?"
Lu Xiuyi had already tied himself up tightly. "Go down and take a look."
Through the heavy rain, Chu Ze's face was covered in water droplets. He hurriedly shouted angrily, "Young Master, the current is too strong here. You can't go. Let me go!"
Lu Xiuyi glanced at him: "Even a shallow river could drown you, how can you say such a thing? Get out of my way."
Lu Xiuyi shoved him aside and was about to jump into the river when his arm was suddenly grabbed tightly. He was furious and shouted, "Who is blind enough to stop me?"
He shouted angrily while looking back.
It was Prince Yu.
"General Lu..." The two looked at each other, and Prince Yu only called out to him once, without saying anything more.
Lu Xiuyi understood what he wanted to say and calmed down a bit: "If I can't get up here, please tell my uncle for me. I will have no regrets."
Prince Yu frowned slightly: "That's all? Is there anything else you want to say? Or is there someone you want to protect? Just tell me, and I will do my best to fulfill it."
Suddenly, as he spoke, a figure flashed through Lu Xiuyi's mind. He was about to blurt it out, but then shook his head and smiled bitterly: "That's all."
If he hadn't bothered her, he believed that with her temperament and abilities, she could have lived a good life.
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