Nalan Rongruo was a famous figure during the Kangxi era, a poet on par with Li Qingzhao.
It's just a pity that such deep affection is short-lived; he died young.
Her love story with Shen Wan is also poignant and touching, but it's unclear whether this story is true or not. We should ask Thirteen whether Shen Wan was a real person or just a fabrication by later generations.
The woman in front of me, surnamed Nalan, is said to be the daughter of Nalan Rongruo's second wife, surnamed Guan.
It's obvious that someone with half of Nalan Rongruo's blood could not possibly be ordinary.
It was also because the Nalan family gradually declined after Nalan Rongruo's death and Mingzhu's downfall that the Nalan family fell from power. Otherwise, given Nalan Rongruo's background and fame, it would have been impossible for him to marry Nian Gengyao, who was only a junior official at the time.
However, the Nalan family didn't lose out. Nian Gengyao was going to be very powerful in the future. Even now, with his position as the governor of Sichuan, he was already a high-ranking official.
The dinner was relatively peaceful; it was just a simple drinking session and a few words of thanks. After all, Thirteen wasn't anyone important who needed to be fawned over anymore.
However, He Yue noticed that Nian Yuzhu kept glancing at Thirteen, her cheeks flushed and her eyes bright.
After a moment's thought, He Yue was surprised. Could it be that this little rice cake had taken a fancy to Thirteen?
Upon realizing this possibility, Heyue almost spat out her tea, barely managing to suppress her astonishment.
No, this little rice cake is Fourth Brother's woman, how could she have taken a fancy to Thirteen?
Heyue looked more closely and realized that the shy, bashful, and joyful demeanor of that young girl was none other than the first stirrings of love.
Oh no, what about Fourth Brother?
She couldn't let Nian Shi go astray before her fourth brother even met her.
Just as he was lost in thought, not knowing what to do, Nian Gengyao spoke up: "I wonder if Baoshan has any plans to stay?"
He Yue snapped out of her daze and chuckled. Was this an attempt to win over Thirteen?
That's so obvious.
No wonder he was inviting people and holding banquets. But he had miscalculated; Thirteen was actually thinking of recruiting him.
Thirteen raised an eyebrow and shook his head: "My husband and I will only stay here for a few days and will be leaving soon."
Heyue clearly noticed that Yuzhu lowered her head that year, looking very sad and heartbroken. Alas, she was truly pitiful.
Unfortunately, no matter how pitiful or gentle one may be, there will be no sympathy.
She felt extremely uncomfortable that someone dared to covet her husband right in front of her, the Thirteenth Princess Consort.
Nian Gengyao did not insist, and raised his wine cup: "Then Liang Gong wishes Baoshan and his sister-in-law a safe journey."
Nian Yuzhu suddenly raised her head, her lips trembling as if she wanted to say something, but Nalan held her hand and shook her head. Nian Yuzhu's eyes immediately filled with tears, and she lowered her head again, feeling wronged.
In short, nothing unexpected happened, and the banquet ended peacefully.
Heyue and Shisan bid farewell to Nian Gengyao and his wife and returned to their room.
Looking at his younger sister's pitiful, tear-streaked face, Nian Gengyao sighed helplessly, "Why are you so sad? Who wronged you?"
Nian Yuzhu bit her lip, reached out and tugged at her brother's sleeve, and asked in a low voice, "Brother, could you let Brother Jin and the others stay?"
Nian Gengyao rubbed her head, his eyes filled with tenderness: "My silly sister, why are you thinking about him? He's a married man. That Madam Jin is clearly not a kind person. Bao Shan is very attentive and loving towards his wife. Thinking about him will only lead to bad results."
Forgetting her sadness, Nian Yuzhu stomped her foot, both angry and ashamed: "What nonsense are you talking about, brother? What did I do wrong..."
She couldn't continue speaking and didn't dare to look up at him.
Nian Gengyao chuckled, then his expression turned serious: "Whether it is or not, give up on this idea. I will not let you become someone's concubine, nor will I let you suffer any injustice."
Nian Yuzhu twisted the hem of her dress with both hands and remained silent.
Nian Gengyao exchanged a glance with his wife, softened his tone, and comforted her: "Alright, alright, go back and rest. Not to mention that your brother wouldn't allow it, you're going to the palace for the imperial concubine selection, so even your brother and father aren't qualified to arrange a marriage for you."
"I won't hold it against you for running away this time, but you're not allowed to run away again. Stay home and behave yourself."
Nian Yuzhu responded listlessly, and Nalan escorted her back to her room.
I had a good night's sleep.
The following day, Heyue and Thirteen bid farewell to Nian Gengyao and his wife and returned to the inn.
However, I never saw Yuzhu again.
Back at the inn, He Yue breathed a sigh of relief. After all, she was in someone else's home, and Nian Gengyao was such a shrewd man, so she was still quite nervous.
"Please sit down first, I have something to do." Thirteen hugged Heyue, kissed her on the cheek, and then instructed Li Shun'er to ask the waiter for paper and pen.
After Li Shun'er returned with the things, Thirteen spread out the Xuan paper on the table in the middle and got busy.
Heyue, munching on an apple, looked at him with surprise.
After finishing an apple, Heyue felt bored, so she sat down on a chair by the window and picked up a storybook to read.
Time passed by unnoticed. When He Yue looked up again, it was almost noon, but Thirteen was still busy. She couldn't help but feel strange. She walked over and stood behind him, looking at the Xuan paper.
Upon seeing this, He Yue completely exploded, her face turning ashen. She grabbed Thirteen's ear, put one hand on her hip, and yelled in his ear, "So! I thought you were busy with something! Turns out you were thinking about women! The one you just broke up with!"
Thirteen was concentrating on his painting when his ear was suddenly grabbed. He turned pale with pain, and upon hearing Heyue's words, he hurriedly waved his hands and explained, "That's not how it is, let me explain!"
"What explanation do you have? You painted so carefully, so lifelike, how dare you say you didn't put your heart into it?" He Yue was still relentless, angrily grabbing both of Thirteen's ears.
"It really isn't! Let me explain! This wasn't drawn for me! Please explain!"
Upon hearing this, He Yue was immediately puzzled. She released his ear, grabbed his collar, and demanded fiercely, "Tell me! Who did you draw this for?!"
Thirteen rubbed his ears, looked at her pitifully, and complained aggrievedly, "You're too cruel! Don't you know what kind of person I am? Besides you, who else would I even look at?"
Hearing his words, He Yue felt a little better, but when she thought of the painting in front of her, she became angry again: "Who told you to paint her so well? You haven't even painted me yet!"
The painting clearly depicts Nian Yuzhu, but she is even more beautiful than the real person, with bright eyes and white teeth, a charming smile, and beautiful eyes. Her delicate and lovely temperament is also painted so vividly that it evokes pity in anyone who sees her.
More importantly, Nian Yuzhu was younger than Heyue and had a pitiful charm that Heyue lacked, which made Heyue extremely jealous and wished she could tear the painting apart.
In fact, Heyue is only twenty years old at the moment. In addition, she has lived a comfortable life over the years and has not suffered any grievances. She looks younger than other women of the same age, and looks like she is only seventeen or eighteen years old.
But Nian Yuzhu is younger and has a more delicate temperament.
He Yue wasn't such a petty person before, and she wouldn't have cared about these things. Before this, even knowing that Nian Yuzhu liked Shisan, she didn't care at all.
It was all because of the painting in front of her that she was provoked.
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