Chapter 175 Returning the Pearl to the King
Shangguan Yu and Su Ruojin arrived leisurely. Princess Yuehua and Zhao Lan had already stood in the courtyard at some point. Su Ruojin turned around and saw them, then turned around and saluted them.
"Your Highness the Princess, the little prince..."
Shangguan Yu also followed suit and saluted.
At dusk, when the sun sets, the evening breeze blows, bringing a hint of coolness. The small courtyard, the fence, the vegetable seedlings, and the vibrant flowers and plants are reflected in the sunset, looking gorgeous and colorful, like a dream.
Yuehua and Zhao Lan looked at the young commoner. His fate was unfortunate and he was barely alive after being hit by the world, but he didn't care. He accepted everything and struggled to survive. He seemed to be sympathetic everywhere, but he was weak and arrogant.
Perhaps these are what attracted Su Yanzu!
When Zhao Lan turned around and was about to persuade his aunt to leave, Su Dekai came out, supported by his two sons' arms.
The doctor came to the princess and the young prince and said, "Princess, I have done my best. As long as the patient stops getting excited and rests for a while, he should be fine."
Everyone looked at Su Dekai.
Half a year ago, when Su Ruojin met her adoptive grandfather, he was still a wealthy man who had not been affected by the years. Unexpectedly, half a year later, he became a tired and haggard old man.
She couldn't help but look at Su Yanzu. A love that could not tolerate worldly affairs not only made him tired, but also exhausted the people around him.
Su Dekai saw the disgusting man at first glance and was about to lose his temper when Su Yanli stopped him, "Father, this is the princess, and this is the youngest son of the Prince of Jin - the Prince of Pingyang..."
Princess? Prince?
Even though the wealthy gentry of Pingjiang Prefecture were knowledgeable and experienced, Su Dekai had never seen an official above the fifth rank, let alone a princess or a duke, so he struggled to come over and salute the two of them.
He knelt down with a thud: "Cao...Cao Minsu...Dekai greets Her Royal Highness the Princess...Little Prince..."
Yuehua glanced at him carelessly: "Master Fusu, please get up!"
Brother Su Yanli quickly helped him up.
Su Dekai pointed at Shangguan Yu excitedly, his lips trembling: "Please...Princess..."
Princess Yuehua interrupted his anger and said, "Mr. Shangguan is the painter I invited. I asked him to live here. What objection does Mr. Su have?"
Everyone was shocked...
Zhao Lan frowned and then relaxed his brows.
Su Yanzu also looked at Princess Yuehua in disbelief.
Yuehua said calmly, "This princess has always valued talented people, Shangguan Yu..."
Shangguan Yu came over and saluted, "I... I am here..."
"From now on, donate at least one painting every month."
"This..." It was not Shangguan Yu's turn as a commoner to refuse. He bowed respectfully and replied, "Yes, Your Highness."
Princess Yuehua raised her eyes and looked at the sky full of sunset glow, the distant mountains, nearby trees, and the farmhouses with curling smoke. It was like a vast landscape painting full of life, which made people linger.
"Unparalleled——"
"I am——"
"Pay Master Shangguan an advance."
"Yes, Your Highness."
After saying that, the senior palace maid named Wushuang took a small box from the little girl and handed it to Shangguan Yu.
Shangguan Yu declined, "It is my honor to serve Your Highness."
The eldest girl stuffed the box into his hands indifferently, then turned around and waited on her master to leave the simple farmyard.
With the princess protecting him, no matter how unwilling Su Dekai was, it was of no avail. He angrily asked his son to carry him away.
Madam Su, who was standing behind, wanted to eat Shangguan Yu, but with the princess' protection, she could only suppress her hatred and leave. Before leaving, she glanced at Cheng Yingzhen and her son, feeling the same resentment.
Su Ruojin: ...
It's not me who asked your son to love a man. What's that look? It's as if the whole world owes you something. It's really...
Zhao Lan's eyes darkened.
Shuang Rui signaled the two guards to hold the resentful Madam Su back, and was about to teach her a lesson, but was stopped by Su Ruojin, "Young Prince..."
"There's no place for her to run wild here."
Qian Muxiu, who was used to being domineering at home, was held by the palace guards like a horse. She was trembling with fear. When she heard that the young prince would not spare her, her legs went weak and she knelt down, "Please spare my life, my lord... Please spare my life..."
Su Yanzu looked at Su Ruojin for help.
She sighed secretly. She had never intended to argue with her. She raised her head and said, "Young Prince, please be kind. She is just an old lady in the inner house."
Zhao Lan always listened to the young lady and his expression relaxed.
Shuangrui received the signal and then told the guards to release Su Qianshi.
Qian Muxiu collapsed to the ground in fear.
Su Yanzu bowed and said, "Thank you, young prince." He helped his mother up and carried her away. Before leaving, he glanced at Shangguan Yu and saw that he was fine. He nodded slightly, telling him to take care of himself and come to see him again in a few days.
Shangguan Yu was about to respond, but when he saw Mrs. Su's eyes, he lowered his head.
Su Ruojin sighed and called out, "Mom, Sanlang, Silang, let's go back."
Zhao Lan followed the Su family mother and son, protecting them as they left the courtyard.
After a while, the crowded courtyard was empty, leaving only Shangguan Yu's lonely figure. As if all his strength had been drained, he fell down on the stone bench and subconsciously opened the small box given by the princess.
It turned out to be a pearl.
Pearl?
There is a poem that says: I return your pearl with tears in my eyes, and I regret that we did not meet before I got married.
"The princess..."
He quickly got up and chased after it, all the way to the official road. The carriage moved forward, gradually becoming smaller and smaller in the twilight until it disappeared from his sight.
Su Dekai did not live in Su's Courtyard as he was late for the trip into the city, so they stayed at Dongsheng Restaurant. They returned to the city early the next morning, and his uncle Su Yanzu also followed them. As for his relationship with his family, his romance with the princess, and his story with Shangguan Yu, they left Su Ruojin's life as they did. She did not specifically or deliberately inquire about them, and she did not seem to have heard any rumors.
Of course, since it involved Her Royal Highness the Princess, it was difficult for ordinary people like them to hear about it. After the three-day holiday, Su Yanli returned to the capital with his wife and children, and life in the Su family returned to normal.
Before long, Su Ji's Morning Tea Shop at the foot of Dongshan Academy became a gathering place for the rich and idle people in Beijing, where they came to have fun, buy calligraphy and paintings, or get together with friends. It became a unique place.
Madam Yang from next door came over to cooperate with Su Ruojin again, "Second Madam, we have been working together for so long, and you have never missed out on the share of the milk tea shop!"
That's true.
Su Ruojin nodded and smiled, "Of course."
"So what do you think?"
Mrs. Yang suggested expanding the existing Su Ji breakfast restaurant to become one like the one on Wenshan Street, and she would pay for the expansion.
Su Ruojin shook her head.
"Why?" Madam Yang was anxious. "If 70% to 30% doesn't work, then 80% to 20%. I'll take 20% and you take 80%."
Su Ruojin smiled and said, "Before you came to me, two other families had already come to me."
Mrs. Yang was about to ask which two shops, but when the words came to her lips, she already knew which two shops they were, "Okay." Su Ji Breakfast Shop had too much profit, and it was not the turn of a small censor like her, so she had to give up.
(End of this chapter)
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