—Lanhua, have you suffered any grievances in the palace recently? Are you happy?
There's something I need to tell you, brother. You might be getting a sister-in-law soon. She's a wonderful person, knows martial arts, and is beautiful, but she's a bit young, a few years younger than you.
She has agreed to be with me, but she doesn't want to leave her parents' home. You've always been clever; if you know of any way to write back to your brother...
"Her Highness is reading the letter the General wrote again." Qingsong came over with nail polish, wanting to add some color to Xiao Lanhua's nails.
The beautiful woman sighed, looking at the young maidservant in front of her with concern.
"Qingsong, my brother... might be getting married."
The girl in front of her had grown up with her since childhood, and she understood her feelings. However... this matter couldn't be forced. If she didn't like someone, she just didn't like them. If Xiao Lanyi truly had feelings for her, the two of them would have been married long ago.
Upon hearing this, the maid paused for a moment, then smiled knowingly and said...
"Great! The General has finally found a sister-in-law for the Empress. When she has a baby, it will surely be very beautiful."
"you……?"
The beauty's face showed a hint of worry. She frowned slightly, took Qingsong's hand, and looked at her with heartache.
The young maid shook her head, leaned against the woman's legs, and rested her head on the woman's knees, saying...
"Your Majesty, there are always some things in this world that are more important than love and romance."
From the moment she learned that Xiao Lanhua was going to enter the palace, she decided that she would go through fire and water with this woman she had grown up with since childhood.
Qingsong liked Xiao Lanyi. When she was bullied after first entering the Xiao family, he was the one who helped her and brought her to Xiao Lanhua's side. He said...
“My sister has a strong personality, so you should usually go along with her. But she's also very protective of her own, and she'll protect you in the future.”
That's true. Xiao Lanhua protected her as she grew up. She was an unwanted child, but she was treated like the second young lady of the General's Mansion, with no shortage of food, clothing, or other necessities.
However, the matter of entering the palace...
She must stay by her side, through thick and thin.
The romantic relationship has no future; it's not as important as the bond we've built over the years.
"It's good that you've come to terms with it."
Xiao Lanhua removed her armor and gently stroked Qingsong's head.
"What kind of person is the girl the general is going to marry?" the maid asked.
“My brother should have sent the portrait with it, so we can look at it together.”
Sure enough, there was another piece of paper in the envelope, depicting a girl named Ruyi wielding a whip. She had a serene demeanor and gentle eyes, yet the nine-section steel whip in her hand was incredibly imposing.
"It's so beautiful, Your Majesty," Qingsong said, looking at the portrait.
No wonder the general didn't like me; he was attracted to this kind of beauty, a true beauty.
She looks beautiful, has a great presence, and wields the whip skillfully.
"yes."
There was a time when I could be so unrestrained and flamboyant.
"Qingsong, grind the ink."
"yes."
The little maid knew that the lady was about to reply to her brother's letter.
—Brother, that girl's idea is very good. It's best not to let her go back to the capital with you. If the emperor doesn't allow you to leave once you get there, you'll have another handle against you.
Buy a house near her parents' home, preferably next to it. If she agrees, first go to the government office to submit the necessary documents, and then hold a grand wedding ceremony when you return to the capital.
I'm bringing some small gifts for my sister-in-law, hoping you and she will cherish each other and stay together.
With a horizontal stroke, Xiao Lanhua sealed the letter and handed it to Qing Song.
"Send a secret message."
"yes."
Xiao Lanyi has been visiting Fengyue Tower frequently these past few days. Just a few days ago, he had Zhihua paint a portrait of Ruyi, and today he wants to invite her out to the temple fair.
If only she didn't have those three ancestors by her side.
The man turned around and listened to the chattering of the three children in the carriage. Ruyi stared lovingly at the girl in her arms.
"Long'er, you mustn't bully Dani'er," Ruyi said.
"Da Ni'er would never let me bully her, she just likes playing with me like this!"
If it really came down to a fight, Da Ni'er was no match for Huo Xiaolong, but this girl was incredibly cunning. In both of Xiao Tuanzi's lives, Da Ni'er was the most cunning person she had ever met.
"Sister Ruyi, what's a temple fair like? Have you been to one before?"
The girl shook her head and said
“That was a long time ago. Besides, I don’t have time to burn incense and pray to Buddha. Before you came to the brothel, when did we go to sleep every night? After you came, the sisters in the brothel started living normal lives. At least we no longer stay up all night.”
It's not just about lifestyle; women now have more free time. To put it somewhat arrogantly, even the lives of those pampered young ladies aren't much different.
I want to read or play the piano every day, and I won't go to work if I'm in a bad mood.
Even when his sweetheart asks him out, he has to get permission from his elders first.
"Aunt Cen."
Today, Cen Ang was dressed in dark red, with a black veil over her, making her even more mysterious. The woman looked up at the big, clumsy man standing beside her; he clearly wanted something. She took a deep breath and said...
"Speak, General Xiao."
The man was a little awkward and embarrassed to look up at her; even the scar on his face looked somewhat comical.
“Speak!” Mother Cen said.
It was so offensive, really, that she found it rather unappealing.
"Can I ask Miss Ruyi to go to the temple fair tomorrow?"
Cen Ang felt he had misheard and asked incredulously.
Who are you talking about?
"As you wish," the man replied.
"Xiao Lanyi, I'm giving you face by calling you General, you're my peer, and then you want to invite my daughter out to the temple fair?" The woman stood up, took out an iron fan from her waist, and pointed it at the man in front of her.
Xiao Lanyi knew that Cen Ang was angry, but she held back and didn't move. What she said was indeed true. They were of the same generation, and he had taken a liking to the other man's daughter.
Cen Ang didn't make a move, which must be because the former Crown Princess taught him well.
"This thing... right? You know what kind of person I am all these years, Aunt Cen. It's fate."
"It's all fate!? I'll make it all fate for you!"
Cen Ang almost never raised a hand in the palace. Generally, those who could fight her were not as old as her, and she would keep quiet about those she couldn't fight.
The woman slightly moved her wrist to open the folding fan, and a winding iron plate popped out with a 'ding', its sharp edge aimed directly at the man's throat.
"No! Don't hit me, Auntie! Let me explain."
Xiao Lanyi knew he was no match for her as soon as he raised his hand to block. How could this woman be so skilled!
He was, after all, the number one military general of the Great Yan Dynasty! A marshal! Yet he was being chased and beaten by a woman.
"I'll let fate decide for you! You shameless old man! You scoundrel!"
Huo Xiaolong, who was pushing Lan Tingche out to keep watch, held a peach in his right hand and looked at Xiao Lanyi flying overhead, saying...
"What is he doing with Mom? I've hardly ever seen Mom do anything."
“Mom usually doesn’t hit me except to beat me, but she did hit me once.”
Lan Tingche didn't know what to say. "So why are you still so proud even after being beaten?" Looking at Huo Xiaolong, who was watching the spectacle with amusement, the little boy said against his will.
"My aunt is very gentle and rarely hits people."
"Yeah, I think so too."
"It's just that those people died quietly," the little boy thought to himself. "That shouldn't be the case, right? He was a great general, after all."
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