Chapter 30 The Double-Pupiled Beauty in the Backyard of the Deep Mansion 12
The sacrificial ceremony to Heaven was just one day away, and the capital was in a state of high alert. The entire city was placed under martial law, with only exits allowed and no entry permitted. Every household kept their doors tightly shut, as no one wanted to get into trouble at this critical juncture.
In the past, noble families who enjoyed hosting banquets would now keep their doors closed and keep their younger generations in check. If anything went wrong when the emperor went out of the palace to offer sacrifices to Heaven, they would be absolutely unable to bear the responsibility.
At this turbulent juncture, Li Xuanshu arrived at the Luo residence as usual. Grand Tutor Luo was somewhat suspicious. Li Xuanshu was not usually so frivolous, yet he came to the Luo residence at this particular time. He wondered how many people would notice him.
Indeed, after seeing Li Xuanshu enter the Luo residence, spies from all sides sent messages to their masters. Most guessed that Li Xuanshu was there to see Luo Yunyao, while a small number crushed the secret letters, annoyed by Li Xuanshu's wolfish ambition.
Among this small group were the First Prince and Wei Chengyan. Upon hearing the news, one tore up the secret letter in his hand, and the other threw down the teacup on the table.
The eldest prince knew that Luo Yunyao had treated Li Xuanshu differently in the past. Wei Chengyan had also investigated Luo Yunyao's past. Although he did not find out what connection Li Xuanshu had with Luo Yunyao, it did not stop him from disliking a man who coveted his woman.
Both men were furious and ordered their guards to keep a close watch on the Luo residence, reporting any slightest disturbance to them.
Meanwhile, Grand Tutor Luo personally met with Li Xuanshu, and the two sat facing each other in the flower hall drinking tea.
Grand Tutor Luo said slowly, "I did not expect Your Highness to have time to come to my residence today. I thought Your Highness was too busy with official duties to attend to other matters."
Li Xuanshu maintained his gentle and refined demeanor: "What the Grand Tutor says is quite true. However, I have recently acquired some trinkets, and I thought Luo Shu would surely like them, so I took the liberty of coming to bother you."
After listening, Grand Tutor Luo subtly curled his lips. Sure enough, even the most aloof man couldn't resist Luo Shu's allure.
"My daughter is currently in the backyard. Your Highness, please wait a moment while I summon her."
"No need, it was my presumption. I will go find Luo Shu myself. There is no need for the Grand Tutor to summon Miss Luo."
Upon hearing this, Grand Tutor Luo's smile widened, and he said, "Your Highness, please do as you please. Do whatever is convenient for you."
Li Xuanshu nodded, then went to Luo Shu's courtyard on his own, strolling leisurely as if it were his own home. He didn't need any servants to lead the way; he went straight to the courtyard by himself.
Grand Tutor Luo stroked his beard, watching the tall figure disappear at the end of the path, feeling even more satisfied. It seemed that the Second Prince valued Luo Shu very much.
When Li Xuanshu arrived at the courtyard gate, it happened that the gate was not closed, revealing a corner of the elegant and beautiful courtyard. Li Xuanshu straightened his clothes before pushing the gate open and going inside.
He was so focused on the person in the courtyard that he didn't notice someone watching him from around the corner not far away.
Luo Yunyao stared at the figure not far away with slightly red eyes. She had received many rare treasures from the First Prince and Wei Chengyan in the past two days and was planning to show them off to Luo Shu. However, she happened to witness Li Xuanshu coming to find her.
She hated him so much. This was Li Xuanshu, the Li Xuanshu she could never move no matter what she did. Yet now, she stood hesitantly before the door of her beloved, like a lovestruck young man.
What makes her inferior to Luo Shu? Is it her face?
Are people in the world so shallow that they only value this physical appearance?
Then Luo Yunyao isn't much less impressive than Luo Shu.
She is highly learned, proficient in poetry, literature, etiquette, and music. Isn't she far superior to that good-for-nothing?
When you tell too many lies, you often start to believe them yourself.
Luo Yunyao is a plagiarist, yet she firmly believes in her own superior talent, which is both laughable and pathetic.
Luo Yunyao clenched her fists, making her skirt wrinkle and messy. The maids beside her held their breath and dared not say a word.
Upon seeing Li Xuanshu enter Luo Shu's courtyard, Luo Yunyao immediately turned and left. Even without Li Xuanshu, she would still become the most honored woman in Daqi. From now on, Li Xuanshu would still have to kowtow to her. She was waiting for that day.
In the courtyard, Luo Shu was sunbathing. The warm sunlight framed her beautiful features with a golden edge, and the boundless brilliance burned Li Xuanshu's eyes, causing his ears to turn slightly red.
Seeing that the person in the wicker chair seemed to still be fast asleep, he quietly sat down on the stone bench next to him, looking at the clouds, looking at her.
What time do we leave tomorrow?
Luo Shu's voice was very low, but Li Xuanshu still heard it clearly. For some reason, he felt that the figure in front of him was somewhat ethereal, as if it was about to ride the wind away, and he could not grasp it.
Unconsciously, his fingers twitched slightly, and his large, well-defined hand moved towards Luo Shu. He seemed hesitant, and just as he was about to grasp her hand, he withdrew it. He then said in a hoarse voice, "After curfew tonight, go out through the side gate in the backyard. I'll be waiting for you there."
Luo Shu said, "Alright, it's still early, why don't we play a game?"
Li Xuanshu actually had many things to do, but the beauty in front of him was looking at him intently, her fantastic and beautiful eyes reflecting only his image, as if asking him to stay and play a game of chess. Who could resist that?
Li Xuanshu considered himself just an ordinary mortal, and his body moved before his mouth. By the time he replied "okay," he was already sitting upright in front of the stone table, with the chess pieces and board already set up.
After the two finished their game, Luo Shu won by a small margin. Li Xuanshu played it very skillfully, not letting Luo Shu win too easily, only allowing her to win by a small margin, making it seem like the two were evenly matched, which made the game more interesting.
There were simply too many things to do, so Li Xuanshu had to bow and take his leave. This time, however, Luo Shu was not as lazy as before. She personally escorted him to the door and waited until his figure disappeared from sight before having the courtyard gate closed and then lying back down on the rattan chair.
As the night deepened and the dew grew heavy, Luo Shu waited for a short while at the side gate before a simple carriage arrived.
As soon as the curtain was lifted, the person inside helped Luo Shu to quickly lift her into the car.
Inside was Li Xuanwei, whose face was slightly flushed. The carriage was only lit by a luminous pearl, but the small carriage was extremely comfortable, with soft fur blankets and plush cushions. A small cabinet in the corner contained various snacks and treats, which was very thoughtful.
"Luo, Luo Shu, if you're sleepy, lie down for a while. We're leaving the city with the guards now, and there are many officials' carriages behind us. We'll blend in and not be conspicuous. This road is long, and it will take a long time to get there. You should sleep for a while."
Li Xuanwei's face was flushed. In the urgency of the situation, he had grabbed Luo Shu by the waist and lifted her in. He could still feel the warmth and softness of her body in his hands. Even through her clothes, her slender waist made his heart tremble, and he was afraid that he might break her if he used too much force.
However, it's really thin and soft.
Luo Shu nodded, leaned back against the cushion, closed her eyes, and began to catch up on her sleep.
Looking at the beautiful woman before him, whose beauty shone like a pearl and whose radiance shone like a jade, Li Xuanwei grew more and more fond of her. The more he looked at her, the hotter his heart became. He wished he could hold her in his mouth and cherish her in his heart. He was so in love that he didn't know what to do.
When Luo Shu woke up again, it was already bright daylight. Li Xuanwei was nowhere to be seen. Beside her was Li Xuanshu, who was holding a book and seemed to be flipping through it.
In fact, Li Xuanshu didn't read a single word. He was only focused on the beautiful woman beside him, who was as fair as jade, so he couldn't concentrate on his book at all.
Seeing that Luo Shu had woken up, he handed her a cup of tea. Luo Shu took a sip, and her mind became even clearer.
"Where are we now?" Luo Shu asked while eating her snacks. Seeing that it was already bright outside, she guessed they should be arriving soon.
"We'll arrive in half an hour. If you're hungry, eat something to tide you over. Once we get to the altar, there won't be time to eat."
Li Xuanshu's expression was gentle. He then brought Luo Shu a cup of pastries. Luo Shu took a piece, tasted it, and found it to be quite delicious. She ate it slowly and carefully, and invited Li Xuanshu to eat with her.
When Li Xuanshu heard Luo Shu invite him to eat together, a slight smile appeared on his face. She was showing concern for him; that was truly heartwarming.
The two shared some snacks and tea before the carriage came to a swaying stop, indicating they had arrived at the altar.
Upon arriving at the altar, the emperor's carriage was placed first, followed by those of the royal family members, and finally those of the ministers.
Offering sacrifices to Heaven is a major event, and this time, the Emperor is even going to read out an edict of self-reproach, making it an even more terrifying event for the entire court.
Therefore, all the officials came this time. It wouldn't be right for the emperor to confess his crimes to the heavens under the scorching sun while an official leisurely sleeps at home.
Therefore, almost all the officials who could attend came. Even someone like Luo Yunyao, who had close ties with the royal family and was likely to be engaged to the eldest prince in the near future, came.
Even Prince Wei Chengyan of Yan came. The emperor did not want the people of Yan to come, but the country was suffering from drought and the people were in great pain. If a conflict broke out with Yan and war broke out, the country would be in trouble both at home and abroad, which would be tantamount to walking on a dead end.
So when the people of Yan strongly insisted on attending the sacrificial ceremony, the Emperor of Qi finally agreed to let only the prince of Yan go. If he was still not satisfied, Qi was not an easy country to deal with, so none of them should come.
Luo Yunyao and her father rode in a carriage. Luo Yunyao's brother, who worked in the Imperial Guard, was riding a horse and guarding the carriage.
Grand Tutor Luo asked gently with a kind expression, "Yun Yao, how are you getting along with that prince of Yan? Has he bullied my son?"
Luo Yunyao blushed, feeling a surge of joy in her heart. Wei Chengyan treated her exceptionally well, unlike the First Prince who was so rude. He would always give her romantic little gifts, acted with thoughtfulness, and was also handsome and extraordinary. She liked him very much.
But when she thought of Wei Chengyan's country, which was so far away from her, she hesitated and wavered between the eldest prince and Wei Chengyan. She really didn't know what to choose.
Her voice was somewhat shy and hesitant as she said, "He is very considerate of his daughter, but, but, the Yan Kingdom is so far away from the Qi Kingdom, and I really can't bear to leave my father."
Grand Tutor Luo patted Luo Yunyao on the back and said kindly and gently, "My daughter, you need not worry. As your father, I naturally hope that you can find a suitable husband who is truly good to you. Moreover, our Grand Tutor's Mansion has quite a bit of influence in Qi. If my daughter really takes a liking to that prince of Yan, I will put aside my old face and make sure the emperor agrees to the marriage."
Luo Yunyao was deeply moved, her eyes slightly red, and she nestled beside her father, enjoying this moment of father-daughter affection.
Grand Tutor Luo was already lost in thought, his mind racing with a thousand ideas.
If the Wei prince really wants to marry Yun Yao, the emperor will definitely compensate the Luo family. Moreover, with a royal family member of Yan as a relative by marriage, his status will be more secure and prestigious. Furthermore, the emperor doesn't want the Luo family to get involved with the eldest prince. He would be overjoyed to let Yun Yao go out for a marriage alliance.
However, Luo Shu is still in the palace. No matter which prince becomes the final victor, Luo Shu will definitely have a place in his harem.
Grand Tutor Luo sighed inwardly, "This is truly the perfect solution."
After waiting in the carriage for another quarter of an hour, Luo Shu finally followed Li Xuanshu out of the carriage. Li Xuanshu was not in good health, and his mother was favored by the emperor, so the emperor specially allowed them to watch from the side without having to kowtow. In fact, this indirectly eliminated the possibility of Li Xuanshu ascending the throne.
Luo Shu followed behind Li Xuanshu. She was dressed in the most ordinary maid's clothes, her head was lowered, and she hunched her back, just like the other servants.
Luo Yunyao saw Li Xuanshu standing to her side, followed by a servant. She was a little surprised, as the maidservant seemed somewhat familiar. But then she dismissed the thought. In such a solemn occasion, she had no interest in paying attention to a maidservant.
The deep tolling of the bells echoed through the sky, and the sacrificial ceremony to Heaven officially began.
The emperor wore a crown adorned with a dragon and pearl, and a well-tailored dark blue gauze robe with a gold dragon design, over which was a beige linen robe. A white marble four-tile bright yellow horsehair ribbon was tied around his waist, and his gray beard was neatly combed.
After completing the preceding rituals of invoking the gods, it was time for the emperor to read his edict of self-reproach.
The emperor, standing on the white jade steps, looked solemn. The previous procedures had left him somewhat exhausted. His dragon robe was soaked with sweat, and fine beads of sweat appeared on his face. His voice was even a little hoarse.
"If you have done good, I dare not conceal it; if you have committed a crime, it is my fault, I dare not pardon myself, but only let the heart of God decide. If all the lands are guilty, it is on me alone; if I alone am guilty, it is not for the sake of all the lands..."
Luo Shu gently manipulated the timeline, but still could not see the future of this world. The drought had lasted too long, and the flawed Heavenly Dao was powerless to protect the living beings under its rule. Countless lives would eventually perish soon.
"Well, it can be considered that I have a connection with this world. 5283, get ready, we're leaving."
Luo Shu straightened her hunched back, revealing her stunningly beautiful face to the world. However, the emperor on the altar was still reading his edict of self-reproach, and few people noticed this corner.
Suddenly, she moved. She stepped onto the invisible stairs and walked step by step to the emperor's presence. Everyone was watching the stunning beauty who had suddenly appeared before them.
Her jet-black hair fluttered slightly, her slender eyebrows were delicate, her eyes were captivating, her nose was elegant and straight, her cheeks were slightly flushed, her lips were luscious and luscious, her fair face was as white as snow and as clear as jade, and her skin was as beautiful as jade. She seemed to float in mid-air.
Everyone present believed that this was a deity, a true deity, for only a deity could possess such beauty that did not exist in the human world.
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