The First Weaving of Splendor
With Concubine Zhou's fall, the atmosphere within the Lu Mansion quietly shifted. With Wang's return to power, while still maintaining the dignity and reserve expected of a mistress, the long-simmering sullenness between her brows had dissipated considerably, and she became more lenient with the expenses of the Lan Courtyard. The servants, however, remained hushed and cautious, their gazes upon Miss Lu Qinglan filled with awe and a touch of unspoken suspicion.
Lu Qinglan remained oblivious to this, continuing her daily reading and calligraphy practice, managing the accounts for the property she would bring with her, and occasionally instructing Fu Yu on how to relay messages to Chen Xing. Chen's Grocery Store had quietly changed hands and was renamed "Yunshang Pavilion." While ostensibly selling groceries and needlework, Lu Qinglan secretly introduced Chen Xing to special, secretive silk threads and fabrics. These were the "threads" she was preparing for her future intelligence network.
It was a beautiful day, and Lu Qinglan was copying a painting from a previous dynasty, "Wangchuan Tu." His landscape was clear and well-arranged, yet the artistic conception possessed a melancholic and powerful quality compared to the original. Fu Yu tiptoed in and announced, "Miss, Miss Linlang from General Wei's mansion has sent a letter inviting you to relax at the racecourse outside Beijing tomorrow."
Lu Qinglan kept writing, only uttering a faint "hmm." Wei Linlang...her personality was straightforward and simple-minded. Her brother, Wei Zheng, held considerable prestige in the military, a force he could win over in the future, or at least not become an enemy. His association with her would have more advantages than disadvantages.
"Reply Miss Wei, I will be there on time tomorrow."
"Yes," Fu Yu agreed, and then said, "There's one more thing... The Seventh Prince's Mansion sent over a few rolls of soft silk, newly imported from Jiangnan, saying they're for young lady to buy some summer clothes. The eunuch who delivered the gift is still waiting outside. Would young lady like to see him?"
Xiao Jingche?
Lu Qinglan's eyes flickered, and he sketched the final strokes of the distant mountains. It was finally here. In her previous life, not long after the arranged marriage, Xiao Jingche had sent her gifts under various pretexts, both as a gesture of goodwill and a test. Back then, she was filled with the shyness of waiting to be married and yearning for the future, and she was easily moved by these gentle gestures.
now……
"Please ask the eunuch to go to the flower hall for tea. I will be there later." She put down her pen, washed her hands with a wet towel, and spoke in a calm tone.
In the flower hall, a middle-aged eunuch with a white face and no beard, smiling sweetly, was holding a teacup. Upon seeing Lu Qinglan enter, he quickly stood up and saluted, his gesture respectful but not fawning. "This servant greets Miss Lu. His Highness has been thinking of you, and recently acquired some rare fabrics, and has specially ordered this servant to deliver them to you. He says the colors are elegant and will perfectly suit your temperament."
Lu Qinglan's eyes swept over the shimmering, soft silk garments; they were indeed top-grade. She nodded slightly, her tone gentle yet distant, "Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch. Your Highness is so kind, and Qinglan is deeply grateful. However, I am still at home, and I feel uneasy accepting such a generous gift. Please inform Your Highness that I appreciate the kindness, but it would be better if I could take the gifts back to the treasury."
The eunuch's smile faltered slightly, clearly having not expected such a blunt refusal. Having served the Seventh Prince for so long, he knew full well that his master was deeply concerned about his future wife. Although Miss Lu had declined gifts in the past, she had always done so with a girlish shyness. How could this ever be... official business?
"Miss Lu, this..." The eunuch tried to persuade her again.
Lu Qinglan had already picked up the teacup, signaling he was sending the guest away. "Fuyu, please see my father-in-law off for me."
Fu Yu understood, stepped forward, and deftly stuffed a heavy purse into the eunuch's sleeve. He smiled and said, "Thank you, eunuch. The young lady has been working hard to prepare her dowry recently. If I have been negligent, I hope you will forgive me."
The eunuch held the heavy purse in his sleeve, looked at Lu Qinglan's calm face, which even had a hint of majesty, and swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue. He could only bow awkwardly and leave.
After they left, Fu Yu was puzzled: "Miss, why did you reject the Seventh Prince's kindness? Isn't this an insult to His Highness?"
Lu Qinglan looked at the soft smoke ropes that were carried away intact, and a hint of coldness appeared on the corner of his lips. "Face? If I accept it easily, in his eyes, I will still be that inner chamber girl who can be easily moved with small favors and needs to be dependent on him. I want him to know that Lu Qinglan is not interested in these things."
She turned, her gaze fixed on the newly completed "Wangchuan Tu" on the desk. The painting was vast and ethereal, with the faint sound of swords. "What he needs is an ally who can help him seize the throne, not a concubine who only serves as a pleasure. From the very beginning, the positioning must be correct."
Fu Yu seemed to understand, but seeing the young lady's determined expression, he said no more.
The next day, at the racecourse outside Beijing.
The spring breeze blew, the grass grew, and the birds sang. Wei Linlang, already dressed in a fiery red riding outfit and leading a majestic white horse, stood eagerly on the sidelines. Seeing Lu Qinglan's carriage approach, she immediately and cheerfully went to greet it.
"Sister Lu, you're here!" She affectionately took Lu Qinglan's arm, "I must have a good race with you today! They all refused to compete with me because they thought I rode too wildly."
Lu Qinglan was wearing a light green, narrow-sleeved Hu suit that was easy to move in. Her long hair was simply tied up, pinned only with a purple bead and silver hairpin, looking neat and tidy. As she looked at Wei Linlang's energetic face, the tension in her heart seemed to relax a little.
"My riding skills are very poor, and I'm afraid I can't keep up with my sister's pace." Lu Qinglan said modestly.
"Sister, why are you being so modest? I saw it at the flower viewing banquet. You are definitely not an ordinary girl!" Wei Linlang said without hesitation and pulled Lu Qinglan to a docile chestnut horse. "This horse has the gentlest temperament. Give it a try first, sister."
Lu Qinglan didn't refuse and swiftly mounted the horse. Her movements were smooth and graceful, showing no sign of unfamiliarity at all. In her previous life, she had secretly practiced riding and archery to help Xiao Jingche. Although her skills were not top-notch, they were by no means "superficial".
Wei Linlang's eyes lit up, and she praised, "Sister, you still say it's crude! This way of mounting a horse is more standard than many young ladies from military families!" She also jumped onto the white horse and pulled the reins. "Sister, how about we run around the field twice?"
"Okay." Lu Qinglan agreed with a smile.
The two horses, one in front and one behind, galloped across the vast racecourse. Wei Linlang's riding skills were indeed superb, and her white horse rode like a flash of lightning, unrestrained and uninhibited. Lu Qinglan, controlling the chestnut horse, followed behind at a leisurely pace, his posture as if he were strolling leisurely in the garden.
After a few laps, Wei Linlang was the first to rein in her horse. Her forehead was covered in sweat, but her face was filled with excitement. "It feels so good! It feels so good! Sister Lu, you ride so well. You're not impatient, and you have your own method."
Lu Qinglan panted slightly, her cheeks flushed with the red from the exercise, and she smiled and said, "It was my sister who gave in to me."
"No way!" Wei Linlang dismounted and pulled Lu Qinglan to rest under a nearby awning. A maid brought her warm honey water. She looked at Lu Qinglan, her eyes filled with genuine admiration. "Sister, I really like you more and more! Unlike those people who spend all day reciting poems and couplets, lamenting the passing of time, how boring!"
Lu Qinglan took the honey water, took a sip, and asked casually, "Sister, you have a cheerful personality. I believe you are more at ease at the border, right?"
At the mention of the border, Wei Linlang's eyes dimmed for a moment, then brightened again with a hint of longing. "Yes! There, the skies are high and the land is vast. I can ride freely on horseback and go hunting in the mountains and forests. Although life is a bit harsh, there aren't so many rules and restrictions. Unlike in the capital, I have to think twice before taking a step and weigh every word carefully, for fear of causing trouble for my brother."
She sighed, holding her chin in her hand. "My brother always says I should learn to be more calm, but I... I just can't learn those twists and turns."
Lu Qinglan's heart was moved. Wei Zheng's love for his sister was evident. And Wei Linlang's slight dissatisfaction with life in the capital was a perfect opportunity to exploit.
"The capital has its own rules, and the border has its own joys," Lu Qinglan said gently. "If you feel bored, you can come and talk to me often. Although I'm not good at riding or shooting, I have read a few miscellaneous books, so I might be able to help you relieve your boredom."
"Really?" Wei Linlang said happily, "Then it's settled! I'll definitely come and bother you often in the future!" She thought for a moment, then lowered her voice and said, "Sister, I'll tell you a secret. My brother actually..."
Before she could finish her words, she was interrupted by the sound of horse hooves coming from far away.
I saw several horses galloping over. The person leading the way was dressed in a dark suit, with a jade belt around his waist. He had a handsome face, and between his brows there was a bit of the dignity and subtle sharpness of a prince. Who else could it be but the seventh prince Xiao Jingche?
He was followed by several guards and a young man in a royal blue brocade robe, his temperament as gentle as jade. Lu Qinglan's pupils shrank slightly—Gu Zhao! He was here too?
Xiao Jingche reined in his horse, his eyes immediately falling on Lu Qinglan beneath the awning. He had heard that Wei Linlang had invited Lu Qinglan to a horse race, so he had specially brought Gu Zhao over. It was supposedly a chance encounter, but in reality, he wanted to see the future consort, who had been granted marriage by his father and had recently made a splash at the flower viewing banquet.
She was dressed in Hu clothing, her hair tied back in a simple bun, and she wore no makeup. Yet, compared to the extravagant attire she had worn that day at the flower viewing banquet, she looked even more fresh and elegant. Her eyes, in particular, were calm and composed. When she looked at him, she didn't show the shyness of a woman meeting her fiancé, but rather a calmness that bordered on scrutiny.
Xiao Jingche's heart inexplicably stagnated. He dismounted and walked forward, "Sister Linlang, what a coincidence." He greeted Wei Linlang first, then turned to Lu Qinglan, his tone deliberately gentle, "Miss Lu is here too."
Lu Qinglan and Wei Linlang stood up to greet him.
"Greetings to His Royal Highness the Seventh Prince."
"Brother Jingche!" Wei Linlang was obviously familiar with Xiao Jingche. She greeted him with a smile and then looked at Gu Zhao behind him. "Brother Gu is here too?"
Gu Zhao took a few steps forward, bowed his hands in greeting, and swept his eyes over Lu Qinglan gently, with just the right amount of curiosity and scrutiny: "Ms. Wei, Miss Lu." His voice was clear, like the sound of jade colliding.
Lu Qinglan lowered his eyes and returned the greeting, his mind racing. Was Xiao Jingche's arrival with Gu Zhao a coincidence, or was it intentional? Gu Zhao was a man of deep thoughts and wisdom; his presence at this moment was definitely not accidental.
"Just now I saw the two young ladies riding horses from afar. They looked so heroic and impressive." Xiao Jingche said with a smile, but his eyes remained on Lu Qinglan. "Especially Miss Lu. Her riding skills are elegant and calm, and she has the demeanor of a noble lady."
"Your Highness is too kind." Lu Qinglan said calmly, "I was just accompanying Sister Wei to stretch her muscles. I don't deserve the title of 'heroic'."
Her distant attitude made Xiao Jingche's prepared words stuck in his throat. He frowned slightly. This Miss Lu seemed quite different from what he had imagined. She rejected Ruan Yanluo yesterday, and today she was acting like this again...
Gu Zhao, watching all this unfold, a barely perceptible playful smile flickered across his lips. He spoke at the right moment, defusing the slightly awkward atmosphere: "I heard that Miss Lu saved my mother's life the other day at the Prince of Fuguo's residence with her compassionate hands. I've never thanked her in person, but now, having met her here, I'd like to thank her for saving my life." He then bowed solemnly.
Lu Qinglan stepped aside and said modestly, "You are too kind, Minister Gu. The old lady has been blessed with great fortune. Qinglan was merely fortunate enough to have such a chance encounter and was able to offer his humble assistance. I do not deserve such a generous gift."
"Miss Lu, you're too modest." Gu Zhao stood up straight, his eyes clear. "After my mother returned home, she praised Miss Lu highly, saying that she not only had a kind heart but also had the demeanor of a great general who remained calm in times of crisis. Now that I've met her today, I know her words are true."
His words seemed polite, but in reality, they elevated Lu Qinglan to a very high position. Xiao Jingche listened, and the strange feeling in his heart became even stronger. Gu Zhao's vision was so high that he could be evaluated like this...
Lu Qinglan was alarmed. Gu Zhao was a man of impeccable integrity, his words and actions imbued with meaning. Unwilling to dwell on him any longer, she said to Wei Linlang, "Sister, it's getting late. I should return home."
Although Wei Linlang was a little reluctant, she also noticed the delicate atmosphere and nodded, "Okay, I'll see you off."
Lu Qinglan bowed to Xiao Jingche and Gu Zhao and said goodbye: "Your Highness, Prime Minister Gu, Qinglan will go first."
Xiao Jingche watched her back as she turned and left so decisively. Her slender yet straight back seemed to contain a strength that should not be underestimated. He subconsciously said, "Miss Lu..."
Lu Qinglan paused slightly, but did not look back.
Xiao Jingche paused, and finally said, "Be careful on the road."
"Thank you for your concern, Your Highness." Lu Qinglan responded lightly and left side by side with Wei Linlang.
Looking at the figure walking away, Xiao Jingche frowned and remained silent for a long time.
Gu Zhao waved a folding fan he had taken out at some point and chuckled, "This Miss Lu is quite... interesting. She's unfazed by praise or criticism, and maintains a calm demeanor in the face of adversity. Your Highness, you are truly blessed."
Xiao Jingche glanced at him, heard the teasing in his words, and snorted: "Minister Gu seems to be talking too much today."
Gu Zhao smiled silently, his gaze once again gravitating towards where Lu Qinglan had disappeared. A flicker of genuine curiosity and interest flickered deep within his eyes. Lu Qinglan... perhaps, this battle for the throne would become even more intriguing because of this seemingly weak consort.
On the carriage back home, Lu Qinglan closed his eyes and rested.
Although this chance encounter was beyond her expectations, the result was acceptable. At least in the minds of Xiao Jingche and Gu Zhao, she was no longer the vague Lu family girl who was given a marriage based solely on her family background and appearance.
This was exactly the effect she needed—to attract their attention, to make them see her value, but still be unable to fathom her depth.
It was time to put the Jinxiu Poetry Society on the agenda. That would be her next battlefield.
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