Chapter 20: The story begins.
Just like now.
After entering the city, Wu Shi still had things to do, so she told all the women to return to their respective courtyards. Bai Xuerou followed Ling Zheng, who came to pick her up, and slowly walked into the Zhiwei Courtyard of the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion in Chang'an.
After sitting down on the soft couch inside the room, she couldn't help but let out a long sigh of relief. All the fatigue she had been suppressing along the way burst forth at this moment, and she almost wanted to lie down and relax for a few days.
No, Ling Zheng was still looking at her tenderly, telling her about his longing over the past two years.
Bai Xuerou forced herself to stay alert and gently snuggled into his arms as she spoke.
Fortunately, Ling Zheng wasn't entirely oblivious; after his initial excitement subsided, he gently told her to get some rest.
"Okay." Bai Xuerou smiled, pulling him away with a hint of reluctance, and said, "Let's have a good talk after I've had a good sleep."
Ling Zheng couldn't help but smile. Bai Xue Rou's reluctance made him happier than anything else. He personally took a handkerchief to wipe her clean, then took her to the bed and personally lowered the bed curtains before leaving.
The room was warm and cozy from the underfloor heating, and red curtains with lotus flower patterns hung down. As the maids left, the room became quiet.
Bai Xuerou lay in the soft brocade quilt, her body so tired that she almost fell asleep immediately, but her mind kept flashing with thoughts.
There seemed to be a subtle distance between the brothers Ling Xun and Ling Zheng.
It's not that the two were particularly close before; Ling Zheng had always been wary of Ling Xun, but he hid it very well. If Bai Xuerou hadn't been his bedmate, he would hardly have noticed.
But this time it was more obvious.
Sure enough, as Ling Xun's reputation soared, it became difficult for Ling Zheng to remain indifferent...
However, this was a matter between them, and Bai Xuerou didn't care too much about it. Compared to these things, she was more concerned about the plot that would begin in six months.
Aside from the initial confusion when she found out, Bai Xuerou didn't have much wariness or worry in the years that followed. She continued to enjoy life freely. She knew very well that it was impossible to prevent someone from changing their mind. Even if the events in the story hadn't happened, who knew if Ling Zheng would be attracted to someone else over the decades?
Bai Xuerou had always prepared for the worst. Life isn't just about love; if Ling Zheng fell for someone else, she would naturally live her life well, just as she had all these years.
But this does not include the plot points in the novel.
The thought of being deceived after losing her memory, having her memories altered, and being immersed in false happiness sends chills down Bai Xuerou's spine.
Is that still her?
But now that you know, it's hard not to mind.
Bai Xuerou disliked the feeling of things remaining unresolved, so as the start of the story drew closer, she found herself somewhat looking forward to it.
I look forward to the end of everything.
Or rather, the beginning.
The next morning, after settling everyone in, they went to Huiyin Academy to pay their respects.
Several years later, Bai Xuerou saw the Prince of Zhenbei again and was immediately taken aback.
She still remembered that before the march, the Prince of Zhenbei, though thinner, was still tall and spirited. But now, this man was so weak that he could no longer stand upright and was almost hunched over...
Bai Xuerou lowered her eyes and stepped forward to greet him.
Chang'an is located in the heart of the Central Plains. Whether it is the cold of Yandu or the humid heat of the south, it is largely isolated by mountains. It would be an exaggeration to say that it is like spring all year round, but it is undoubtedly much more comfortable than Yandu.
When they first arrived, the women of the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion were somewhat unaccustomed to their new surroundings. However, these feelings quickly dissipated at the banquet held after Madam Wu took over the household, where they were treated with courtesy and adoration by the people of Chang'an.
These were once just heard-of high-ranking officials of the imperial court and well-known noble families. Although they did not completely abandon their arrogance under the power of authority, they learned to lower their heads and look at others with respect.
At a banquet, Bai Xuerou met many women from various families, and their flattery almost made her feel like she was the most beautiful woman in the world.
However, she knew very well that it was all because of Ling Zheng.
Of course, there are exceptions, such as those aristocratic families from previous dynasties to the present, like the Lang family, who are only polite to each other.
Bai Xuerou just smiled and didn't seem to care much.
She also knew that the arrogance of these aristocratic families was ingrained in their bones, and that they might even feel humiliated by the current situation.
Speaking of prominent families, one cannot help but mention Lang Chiying, a daughter of the Lang family.
She is the one who is married to Ling Zheng in the novel.
The Lang family is a century-old family. In the three hundred years since the founding of the Great Qi Dynasty, it has produced three prime ministers and five ministers.
The contemporary prime minister, Lang Cheng, has countless disciples, making his family the most prestigious in the land.
The daughter of the Lang family was naturally precious.
Lang Chiying was Lang Cheng's granddaughter, dignified and beautiful, elegant and approachable, a very likable girl. Especially after June, when she met Bai Xuerou only twice and felt a little guilty, Bai Xuerou, who liked her, sighed even more.
It's hard to imagine what will happen when the two meet again in a few months.
If Bai Xuerou was particularly popular among the women, then the two brothers, Ling Zheng and Ling Xun, were almost equally popular.
Bai Xuerou watched quietly, knowing that Ling Zheng must not be in a good mood at this moment.
Ling Zheng was fine when he was young, but after he grew up, he always stood out among his brothers. He was meticulous and thoughtful in his work, which earned him praise from everyone. The Prince of Zhenbei's fondness for him was also very clear.
But now, all of these have been divided in half by his younger brother, who is seven years younger than him. How can he be willing to accept this?
Sure enough, after the banquet ended, Ling Zheng's eyes became even more gloomy.
Bai Xuerou felt a little annoyed after seeing this. Seeing that Ling Zheng and Ling Xun were about to clash, she was caught in the middle and couldn't help but feel troubled.
Even though Bai Xuerou initially took care of Ling Xun with the intention of fulfilling a promise, over the years, Ling Xun became sensible and considerate, and that initial three points of affection turned into eight points.
She naturally wanted Ling Xun to be well.
Ugh, so annoying.
Fortunately, although Ling Zheng harbored resentment, he did not tell Bai Xuerou not to get close to Ling Xun. Bai Xuerou felt relieved and understood after a moment's thought.
Seeing that the Prince of Zhenbei was getting worse and worse, Ling Zheng was too busy showing brotherly respect to stage a scene of brothers fighting each other.
After the banquet, everyone in the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion began to busy themselves with New Year's preparations. During this time, they also attended two other banquets, one for the Lang family and the other for the Xu State Duke's family.
The two men, one a scholar and the other a warrior, were both important officials in the court. It was Duke Xu who had previously resisted the Prince of Zhenbei from allowing him to enter the capital.
This banquet was also intended to ease tensions with the Prince of Zhenbei's residence.
As for other banquets, invitations arrived in droves every day, but people just glanced at them to familiarize themselves with the guests and didn't attend.
However, the fear of the Prince of Zhenbei's power expressed in these posts inevitably made everyone in the mansion feel somewhat smug.
Bai Xuerou repeatedly reminded herself and tried to restrain herself, but she still couldn't help feeling a little restless. While reflecting on herself, she couldn't help but sigh at how poisonous power was. If she, a woman in the inner quarters, felt this way, what about Ling Zheng? She could feel Ling Zheng's increasing excitement almost every day. She had thought of reminding him, but Ling Zheng just ignored her and brushed her off with a few words.
Ling Xun, however, remained calm throughout, which surprised her somewhat.
Bai Xuerou couldn't help but sigh inwardly. Putting aside everything else, in terms of temperament alone, Ling Zheng was clearly inferior to Ling Xun.
With such intense heat and the fumes making people so excited they felt dizzy and disoriented, it seemed like only yesterday that the New Year had arrived.
On New Year's Eve, the emperor issued an edict inviting all officials to the palace to celebrate the New Year, and the Prince of Zhenbei's residence was no exception. Bai Xuerou accompanied Ling Zheng to the Hanyuan Hall for the banquet.
The young emperor was placed on the throne by Chen Bing at the age of six, and he is only nine years old this year. There are no female relatives in the harem, and Empress Dowager Chen also passed away recently. Therefore, there are no noble ladies from the harem at the banquet.
The most sought-after were naturally the women of the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion.
The lively banquet lasted from New Year's Eve until the next day, and didn't end until New Year's Eve.
Then it's time for my family to celebrate the Lunar New Year.
Back in Yandu, the New Year celebrations at the Prince's Mansion were already lively enough, but now that they were in Chang'an, it was even more so. Bai Xuerou felt like she was never idle, and it wasn't until after the Lantern Festival that things started to get a little better.
But the banquets continued one after another, clearly indicating that the country was heading towards its decline. However, these aristocratic families at the top of the country seemed completely unaffected, continuing to live their extravagant and decadent lives.
Bai Xuerou sometimes watched quietly, finding it somewhat absurd, before being drawn back into the commotion.
The women in the family didn't have as many thoughts as she did; they were simply enjoying themselves.
But this enjoyment didn't last long—
Just as March began, the Prince of Zhenbei caught a cold. The doctors treated him with great care, but the situation only worsened.
After more than ten days, Ling Zheng sent someone to invite a famous doctor.
These commotions could not be kept secret from those who were interested; inside and outside the Prince's mansion, a sense of unease and panic quickly spread.
The Prince of Zhenbei possessed unparalleled power and naturally had many enemies. Now that he had finally shown weakness, everyone naturally wanted to quietly kill this sick tiger and divide up his power.
But with Ling Zheng there, there's also Ling Xun.
The two men, one skilled in literature and the other in martial arts, stabilized the Ling family's situation by working together both internally and externally.
This turmoil also gave outsiders a good understanding of the two brothers, such as Lang Cheng.
This renowned prime minister had never given up on keeping an eye on the Ling family, but this time he did not act rashly. The two Ling brothers gave him a pleasant surprise.
Whether there was more surprise or more joy is a matter of opinion.
Ling Zheng is indeed a rare young talent. If nothing unexpected happens, he can stabilize the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion. But what makes him look at Ling Xun even more highly is that even Lang Cheng can't help but sigh at this young man's unparalleled talent.
This is a more troublesome character than his brother.
If one could find flaws in Ling Zheng, such as greed, ambition, and stubbornness, then Ling Xun was like a stone. He had no interest in fame, fortune, gold, silver, or women. He spent his days either in the military camp or in the Prince's mansion, and there was not a single flaw to be found in him.
This discovery had been on Lang Cheng's mind for a time, until one banquet when he happened to see Ling Xun and Bai Xuerou together. The young man always had a smile on his calm face, which was so calm that it was hard to tell whether he was happy or angry. He was almost obediently listening to the people around him.
"Who is that?" Lang Cheng asked.
"The third daughter of the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion, surnamed Bai."
Lang Cheng suddenly realized that this was the woman who, according to rumors, had the discerning eye to keep Ling Xun by her side and raise him.
It turns out that Ling Xun wasn't without flaws after all.
The Prince of Zhenbei's illness dragged on for a month. The already emaciated man lay in bed, looking like nothing but skin and bones. Bai Xuerou was always horrified when she occasionally saw him.
He lay there in a daze, occasionally waking up for a short while, but she rarely saw him. Then, one day in early April, the Prince of Zhenbei suddenly awoke and summoned his men to give instructions on his final affairs. Afterward, this ambitious and ruthless ruler, who had once vied for the throne, quietly breathed his last on his bed.
He died emaciated, showing no trace of the extraordinary life he had once led.
Bai Xuerou looked at him, but then thought of Aunt Ge.
Perhaps, she will do the same thing as Aunt Ge.
Aunt Ge succeeded, but what about her?
Following this, Ling Zheng, surrounded by the generals of the Zhenbei Army, inherited the Zhenbei Army and the title, becoming the new Zhenbei King.
In June, the Lang family hinted that their retainer, Hou Feng, had proposed a marriage alliance.
The story begins
A note from the author:
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