Chapter 48 The Prince of Pingnan In early autumn, the reeds on both sides of the river were already...
In early autumn, the reeds on both sides of the river have sprouted downy, feathery flowers that sway gently in the wind.
As they approached Pingnan, Xiao Zheng's injuries had healed considerably, and Liu Hu helped him out onto the deck for some fresh air.
Shen Tieniu happened to encounter a ship bound for the capital the day before yesterday. Zhao Linzhang gave him silver and asked someone to take good care of him and help him return home.
On the day they arrived in Pingnan, officials lined both sides of the river to welcome them, and Jiang Xinyan's father was among them.
Such a grand occasion frightened Xiao Ruoyu so much that she burrowed into her father's arms and dared not peek out.
Zhao Linzhang, who hadn't smiled for days, was amused by his daughter's adorable expression: "Ruoyu, don't be afraid, they've all come to welcome us!" Of course, whether they were truly sincere or not is another matter.
Zhao Linzhang was unwilling to deal with these matters and had no mood for socializing. He went directly to the temporary residence of the Prince of Pingnan, which was a villa of a wealthy merchant.
The Prince of Pingnan's mansion is under construction and will probably take two or three years to complete.
The villa is quite different from the grand and imposing Prince Zhuang's Mansion. It has more of the characteristics of Jiangnan, with pavilions, winding paths, rockeries, and flowing water. Compared with the mansion, it is more like a delicate and charming girl from Jiangnan.
Jiang Xinyan said goodbye to them at the ferry. Shen Yunrong spent most of the day packing her things at the villa. It was the change of seasons, and she needed to take out her thick clothes. There was also her mother, who had been busy for so many days and could finally get a good night's sleep.
Zhao Linzhang received officials of all ranks from Pingnan in the front hall. No matter how displeased he was, he still had to show his face.
When he returned to the backyard, he heard a silvery laugh, a daughter's unique, sweet, and endearing voice that could melt anyone's heart.
Before anyone could see him, a smile had already appeared on his usually tense face.
"Mother, hurry, hurry, hurry!"
Shen Yunrong saw the swing while taking a walk in the backyard, so she held her child and swung it. Unexpectedly, Ruoyu liked it very much and kept urging her to swing faster.
"What are you playing?" Zhao Linzhang naturally took the swing rope from the wet nurse and gently pushed them.
"Daddy, push!" Little Ruoyu can say many words now.
"Any faster and we'll fall!" Zhao Linzhang gently pushed his wife and daughter and started to swing them.
I played with them until dinner. The dishes from Jiangnan were exquisite and sweet, which Ruoyu liked very much. She even continued eating while dozing off.
The little head nodded slightly, startled awake. It quickly took a few bites of the pastry in its hand, but before it could swallow, it nodded sleepily again.
"Ruoyu, let Mommy hold you to sleep, we'll eat tomorrow!" Shen Yunrong picked up the child, wiped her little hands clean, and coaxed her to sleep with a mix of heartache and amusement.
Just as he handed the baby back to the wet nurse, Steward Tan reported this from the doorway.
"Your Highness, a letter has arrived from the capital!" Steward Tan presented the confidential letter with both hands.
Zhao Linzhang took the letter and rushed to his study.
When Shen Yunrong returned, Zhao Linzhang's face was dimly lit by the candlelight.
She was somewhat uneasy; the letter from the capital was probably not good news.
"Your Highness, you must be tired today. I'll have the maid fetch water for you to soak your feet!" Shen Yunrong stepped forward and massaged his shoulders.
The wrinkles on the man's brow hadn't relaxed in a long time; she knew that this trip south had overturned his previous understanding.
Autumn in Jiangnan is not as cold as in Beijing, but there is a chill in the air in the mornings and evenings.
Shen Yunrong was about to serve Zhao Linzhang a foot bath when he pulled her onto his lap: "Guess what the Emperor said in his letter?"
"What did you say?" Zhao Linzhang was visibly pleased.
"The magistrate of Shanhai County was dismissed from office, the magistrate of Ci'an County committed suicide out of fear of punishment, and the monks of Ci'an Temple and those masked men were also arrested and brought to justice. Dozens of able-bodied men, like Shen Tieniu, who had been tricked into mining, were rescued." Zhao Linzhang recounted them one by one, still feeling somewhat regretful that he could not witness their execution.
"Heavens, heaven has eyes!" Shen Yunrong clasped her hands together. Dozens of strong men, not counting those who died silently, even the burly Tie Niu was driven mad by the torment. One can imagine how terrifying it had been for many years.
"Also, after our wedding, the Emperor will bestow upon Ruoyu the title of Princess Pingnan." Zhao Linzhang gently bit the small earlobe in front of him.
"What?" Shen Yunrong couldn't believe it. The Emperor not only recognized Ruoyu's bloodline but also bestowed upon her a noble status. All of this was done secretly by the man in front of her. His love for the child was far more far-sighted than her, the mother, who only wished for the child's safety and well-being.
"Now you don't have to worry anymore. If you can't give birth to a son, just have Ruoyu find a son-in-law to live with you." Zhao Linzhang wasn't satisfied with just licking her earlobe; he slowly kissed her collarbone.
The child is not even two years old yet, and he can't imagine that she will grow up, get married, and leave him. Having her live with him is a good idea.
"She's so young! What are you talking about taking her in as a son-in-law!" Shen Yunrong was reluctant to push him away. The man's hot breath sprayed on her neck, and her nose was filled with his deep masculine scent, making her feel hot all over. Her mouth was inexplicably dry, and she couldn't help but stick out her tongue and lick her lips.
The man happened to see this scene. He had only wanted to rub against her scent, but after days of traveling, he didn't want to bother her tonight.
The delicate pink tongue made him immediately change his mind, and he pulled her into the bed with him.
The surging tide rises and falls, this is his warmest harbor. All those powerless struggles and lonely vulnerabilities are now transformed into a burning passion, deeply devoted to her. No matter how difficult the road ahead, as long as she is there, his chest will beat warmly!
The next day, Zhao Linzhang always got up early, as if he wasn't the one who had worked hard the night before. Looking at the woman sleeping on the bed with her cheeks flushed, he couldn't help but want to tease her again.
Shen Yunrong was exhausted, but a large hand was still roaming over her body. She struggled to open her eyes and glanced at him, but she didn't have the strength to push him away, so she let him do whatever he wanted.
After having another snack, Zhao Linzhang went out feeling refreshed, and specifically instructed the maid not to wake her.
Sunlight filtered through the treetops and fell onto the bed. Shen Yunrong's eyelashes trembled slightly. The room was still filled with the lingering scent of the night. Her face flushed, and she pushed open the window. Only after the cool morning breeze dispelled the heat on her face did she call for her maid.
Meixiang and Lanxin brought in hot water; these two maids had come with her from the Prince's mansion.
"Where is the prince?" Shen Yunrong vaguely remembered that the man had gotten up early in the morning.
"The prince went to see a guest and instructed me not to wake the young lady!"
Mei Xiang wrung out a hot towel and offered it to her with both hands.
Shen Yunrong was still a little unaccustomed to being served these small things, but Zhao Linzhang said that these were things that maids should do, and if she didn't appreciate them, then they would lose their jobs, so she gritted her teeth and endured it.
"To receive guests!" Indeed, Zhao Linzhang had just arrived, and officials from all over Pingnan were eager to show their loyalty to him.
"Miss, Miss Jiang has arrived and requests an audience!" Lanxin heard a few words from the maid at the door and came in to report.
"Miss Jiang, didn't she go home?" Please invite her to the back hall.
The front hall was where Zhao Linzhang received guests, while the back hall was generally where the female relatives received guests.
Jiang Xinyan sat in the back hall, a place usually reserved for the mistress of the house to receive guests, and she was turning a handkerchief in her hand.
"What brings you here, little sister?" As soon as Shen Yunrong stepped across the threshold, she warmly pulled Jiang Xinyan, who had just stood up.
"Thanks to Your Highness for saving me that day, I told my father, and he brought me here to thank Your Highness for saving my life!" Jiang Xinyan said, then secretly glanced up. The woman in front of her wasn't exactly a beauty, but her features were delicate and gentle. Listening to her soft voice, she vaguely understood why Zhao Linzhang liked her. Seeing the red marks on her neck, she realized that he must like her very much.
Seeing Jiang Xinyan staring at her neck, Shen Yunrong awkwardly adjusted her collar: "There are so many mosquitoes in Jiangnan. I just took a walk in the backyard last night, and I don't know what kind of insects rubbed against me. I was itchy all night!" It wasn't just itchy all night; the man was tireless and insatiable.
"I have some deworming medicine; I'll have someone bring it over tomorrow!" Jiang Xinyan suppressed the bitterness in her heart.
"No need, no need, there's medicine in the manor!" Shen Yunrong chatted with her for a few more minutes, but she could tell that Jiang Xinyan was distracted.
"Is something troubling you, little sister?"
"No, I probably just had trouble sleeping in my new bed last night!" Jiang Xinyan quickly sat up straight, realizing she had almost been seen through.
"Sister, you can come back in a couple of days. The Prince is not an unreasonable person!"
"Father said that we must personally visit the Prince to express our gratitude for his great kindness!" Jiang Xinyan couldn't help but look at the marks on Shen Yunrong's neck.
Her father had another intention: he wanted to test the waters with the prince. She was actually looking forward to it. After planning for so long, she hadn't even had a chance to be alone with the prince. When her father heard this last night, his eyes were filled with hatred.
"Sister Chen, it's getting late, Father should be heading back soon, so I'll take my leave now! I'll come to bother you again another day!" Just thinking about what answer her father would bring her made her restless.
"Since you came with Lord Jiang, I can't keep you here. Come visit me more often when you have time!" Shen Yunrong had her maidservant present several bolts of delicate pink gauze.
“I don’t know which nobleman presented these to the prince, and the prince gave them to me. I don’t usually wear these, but the color suits my sister. If my sister doesn’t mind, I’ll have them made into a few outfits!”
Jiang Xinyan's eyes widened. How could she dare to complain? This one horse was worth her father's annual salary and was extremely rare. Shen Yunrong either didn't know its value or was too extravagant to care, as she gave away three or four horses at once.
A bitter taste mixed with jealousy welled up in Jiang Xinyan's heart. She quickly thanked her and left. If she stayed any longer, she was afraid she would be unable to resist begging her. She begged her to do something to get the Prince of Pingnan to look at her more. She was a woman like her, so why did the Prince of Pingnan never even look at her properly?
Her father was waiting for her outside the mansion. The first thing he said to her was, "Useless thing!"
Despite using so many connections to get her to be by Zhao Linzhang's side, she still couldn't win a man's heart.
"Father!" Jiang Xinyan held back her tears, not daring to say another word outside Zhao Linzhang's residence.
"Hurry up and go back, you're making a fool of yourself!" Jiang Jinghai said angrily. He tried to subtly thank the Prince of Pingnan for saving his daughter, but the Prince of Pingnan didn't even lift his eyelids and ignored him. Jiang Jinghai swallowed back his words about sending his daughter to the mansion.
Of all his daughters, this one was the prettiest. Upon learning that the Prince of Pingnan had returned to his fiefdom, he went to great lengths to send this daughter to his side, but to his surprise, the Prince of Pingnan showed no interest whatsoever.
Jiang Xinyan clutched the cloth Shen Yunrong had given her tightly. If the Prince of Pingnan didn't want her, to whom would her father give her? A huge sense of panic enveloped her.
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