First visit to the palace
In the autumn of the fourteenth year of Jinghe, the Lu residence was decorated with lanterns and colorful banners. Lu Qinglan's wedding date had finally been set, for the following spring. As the wedding date approached, all the turmoil that had surrounded the arranged marriage seemed to subside, transforming into a surging undercurrent beneath the established reality.
On this day, the Seventh Prince, Xiao Jingche, came again, this time following the customary rules, inviting Lu Qinglan to his house to "see the mansion and familiarize himself with the surroundings." This move was reasonable and logical, so Lu Wenyuan and Wang Shi had no reason to refuse.
The carriage entered Chengqingfang, the site of the Seventh Prince's residence. The vermilion lacquered gate slowly opened, revealing a glimpse of the pavilions and towers within. Unlike the elegant and refined Lu Mansion, the Prince's residence was grand and imposing, its soaring eaves and brackets exuding the majesty of the imperial family. The eunuch leading the way lowered his brows and walked briskly, passing through numerous ceremonial gates and winding corridors. All the servants he encountered held their breath, observing strict protocol.
Xiao Jingche personally greeted him at the stone steps outside the main hall. He was dressed in indigo blue casual attire, his hair tied up with a jade crown. He looked less formal than at a palace banquet and more cheerful. However, the hint of a prince's dignity and subtle sharpness lingered between his brows.
"Miss Lu." He stepped forward, his tone gentle, his gaze fixed on Lu Qinglan more intently than ever before. After the birthday banquet and the subsequent rumors, he could no longer consider the woman before him an ordinary marriage partner.
"Your Highness." Lu Qinglan bowed with his clothes lowered, his posture impeccable and his expression calm, as if he was just visiting a garden house that had nothing to do with him.
"The house is shabby, so please feel free to look around. If you find anything unsatisfactory, feel free to tell me." Xiao Jingche led her in sideways. His words were polite, but with the sense of control that only a master could give.
The main hall was spacious, its furnishings elegant yet luxurious. Lu Qinglan's eyes swept over the carved rosewood chairs, the antiques and jade displayed in the treasure chests, and the famous paintings of the past dynasties hanging on the walls, without a single ripple in her heart. She was already accustomed to these external manifestations of wealth and splendor.
Xiao Jingche observed her reaction. Seeing her clear eyes, without the usual surprise or awkwardness of a woman entering a royal residence for the first time, his curiosity deepened. He casually introduced the layout of the residence: the outer study, the inner storehouse, the various courtyards...
Xiao Jingche stopped in front of the most spacious and well-positioned courtyard on the central axis. The plaque on the gate was blank. "This is the residence reserved for the principal wife," he said, his tone slightly tentative. "It hasn't been named yet. I wonder what hobbies the young lady has?"
In her previous life, this courtyard was named "Qihuang Pavilion," a place she had longed for and agreed upon with him. Qihuang, Qihuang, but in the end, it became a cage that imprisoned and buried her.
Lu Qinglan raised her eyes, gazing at the blank plaque. Sunlight fell on her long eyelashes, casting a faint shadow. Her voice was soft, yet every word was clear: "The Book of Songs says, 'Under the Heng Gate, one can rest for a while.' Why not call it 'Hengwu Courtyard'?"
Hengmen, with a horizontal wooden door, refers to a simple dwelling. Wu, with its weeds. Hengwuyuan—a weedy courtyard with a horizontal wooden door.
Xiao Jingche was slightly startled, a flicker of astonishment flashing across his eyes. He had expected her to choose a colorful name like "Jinhua" or "Zhaoyang," or something elegant like "Qingyin" or "Jingsi." He had never expected her to choose a name so seemingly modest, yet actually conveying a sense of aloofness and aloofness. This seemed somewhat... contradictory to the Miss Lu he had known, a brilliant and even capable political advisor.
He pondered for a moment, then smiled and said, "'The Hengmen dwelling is so quiet, the Mizhi is so magnificent'. Does this mean that Miss is content with poverty and seclusion, and lives in seclusion? It is indeed a noble character. But..." He paused, "After all, this is the residence of the prince's wife. Isn't it a little too simple?"
Lu Qinglan said calmly, "A residence is just a place to shelter yourself. Where the heart is at peace is a blessed place. Empty names and splendors only attract dust. If Your Highness feels it is inappropriate, you can choose another name." She threw the right to choose back lightly, as if she didn't care at all.
Xiao Jingche looked at her calm profile and suddenly felt that he had never truly understood her. He smiled and said, "As long as you like it, Miss, I will have someone make a plaque and send it to you tomorrow. Hengwu Courtyard, very good."
He secretly wondered if this woman's thoughts were deeper and more unfathomable than he'd imagined. Was she expressing a lack of vain ambition? Or was there something else going on?
Xiao Jingche then led her to the mansion's accounting office and warehouse, ostensibly to familiarize her with the chores she would be responsible for. The stewards were already waiting, and after a round of greetings, they presented her with thick account books. Lu Qinglan casually flipped through a few pages, her eyes glancing over the complex list of income and expenditures, a cold sneer in her heart. These were merely the public accounts; the true core industries and the hidden financial flows would never be easily revealed to her, a not-yet-married concubine.
She didn't point out anything, just a few brief questions about the farm's harvest and the store's operations. Her questions were all within the scope of the scope, and she seemed diligent but not overly shrewd. Occasionally, she would point out one or two seemingly insignificant ambiguities in the accounts, her tone gentle, but it made the manager's forehead sweat slightly.
Xiao Jingche listened from the side, his astonishment growing even greater. She seemed quite familiar with household affairs, not completely ignorant of economics. This ability, in the rear house, would make her a good wife; but on a broader scale...
After the tour, Xiao Jingche invited Lu Qinglan to the waterside pavilion for tea. The pavilion overlooked the lake, and the cool autumn breeze brought the faint fragrance of withered lotus leaves.
"I benefited a lot from talking with you last time." Xiao Jingche held the pot and poured tea for her with a very humble attitude. "Recently, there has been endless debate in the court about the issue of grain transport. Jingche thinks that it coincides with what you said that day about the 'sparse and dense approach'. I wonder if you have a deeper understanding of the current predicament of grain transport?" He finally turned the topic to court politics, and this time, he was more direct.
Lu Qinglan knew this was his real reason for inviting her to his house today. To test her, or rather, to seek her help.
She picked up the teacup, feeling the warmth of the white porcelain with her fingertips, but didn't answer immediately. Her eyes swept across the shimmering lake. In the distance, several servants were clearing away the withered lotus leaves.
"Your Highness, do you know how to clear the lake of fallen lotus leaves?" she suddenly asked.
Xiao Jingche was stunned, not understanding why: "Of course we send people into the water to retrieve them one by one."
"If we only remove the fallen leaves visible on the surface without cutting off the tangled rhizomes beneath the water, next spring, the fields will once again be filled with lotus leaves," Lu Qinglan said calmly. "The drawbacks of the canal transport are like these fallen lotus leaves in the lake. On the surface, it's due to slow transport and increased losses, but underneath, there's a complex web of conflicts of interest and personal strife. If Your Highness simply wants to be a 'virtuous king' who clears the fallen leaves from the water, that's naturally not difficult. But if you want to cut off the roots and eliminate the source..."
She paused, then looked up at Xiao Jingche, her gaze as clear as a cold autumn pond. "You'll need drastic measures, and even more importantly, the willingness to be entangled by roots and dragged into the mire. Your Highness, are you determined?"
Her words were like an ice-cold dagger, peeling off the tender outer layer of the canal transport system's corrupt policies and pointing directly to the cruel struggle at its core.
Xiao Jingche's fingers tightened slightly around the teacup. He naturally knew the depths of the canal transportation, but he hadn't expected Lu Qinglan to see things so clearly and speak so sharply! Not only did she see the problem, she also pointed out the cost of solving it! This was definitely not the insight a woman in seclusion should have!
He was shocked in his heart, but his face showed no sign of it. Only his eyes became particularly deep. "Miss, where do you think we should start?"
"The boil will eventually burst." Lu Qinglan put down the teacup with a crisp sound. "It's better to drain than to block. Instead of investigating secretly and alerting the enemy, it's better to... let the boil burst on its own when the time is right. Then, it will be clear who is a mediocre doctor and who is a skilled one."
Her words were still cryptic, but Xiao Jingche understood. She was advising him not to rush into being the "honest minister" who exposed the problem, but to guide the conflict to erupt, then clean up the mess as a savior and seize the greatest political capital!
Such a scheme... Xiao Jingche looked at the beautiful face of the woman in front of him, and a chill arose in his heart, which was then replaced by great excitement. If he could get this woman's sincere assistance, why would he worry about not achieving his great cause?
"Young lady's words are like enlightenment." He took a deep breath and said solemnly, "Jing Che has learned his lesson."
After tea, Lu Qinglan said goodbye. Xiao Jingche personally escorted her to the gate of the mansion, his attitude more respectful than when she came, even with a hint of fear.
The carriage drove away from the Seventh Prince's Mansion. Lu Qinglan leaned against the wall of the carriage, closed his eyes, and gently rubbed his eyebrows with his fingertips.
Hengwuyuan... was her destiny in this life. Amidst the overgrown weeds, she remained true to herself and accumulated strength.
Today's confrontation with Xiao Jingche had made her realize that the foundation for cooperation had been laid. He saw her value, but also her uncontrollability. This delicate relationship was exactly what she needed right now.
Back at Lan Courtyard, Fu Yu whispered, "Miss, there's been some movement from Censor Han. He...he submitted a secret memorial the day before yesterday, directly accusing the Grand Canal Transport Commander, Qiu Sheng, of condoning his subordinates and withholding food and wages. He also co-signed with several other censors."
Sure enough, it moved. Lu Qinglan's lips curled slightly. The knife was already unsheathed. Although it was only pointed at the outer generals, the flames had already ignited.
Next, let’s see how the fire will burn.
She spread out her paper and pen and began to write to Chen Xing. Yunshang Pavilion, it's time to contact some specific "merchants." Those caravans that ply the canal, dissatisfied with the current situation but struggling to find a way out.
The wind has risen within the palace and is about to blow to the wider world.
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