Chapter 114 Date

Ming Huashang ran away without permission some time ago and ran into a murderer. The Duke of Chengguo was almost scared to death when he heard about it. Since then, he has been keeping a close eye on Ming Huashang and basically does not let her go out. Ming Huashang was originally very sorry that she could not see the Lantern Festival in her first year in Chang'an, but she did not expect that something unexpected would happen. With the help of the Duke of Chengguo's mansion, she could actually go out.

No matter how decadent the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion was, it would not borrow guards from other families. The Duke of Zhenguo was just suspicious and was worried about letting Ming Huashang go to crowded places. Now that they had agreed to the outsiders, the Duke of Zhenguo would naturally provide them with attendants. Ming Huashang was overjoyed, and Zhaocai and his men were also very happy. They surrounded her and chattered about the clothes and jewelry for the Lantern Festival. When Ming Huashang's ears were finally free, she unexpectedly found that Ming Huazhang was missing.

Ming Huashang asked, "Where is the second brother?"

The maids looked around and said, "Perhaps Erlangjun is impatient to listen to this and will leave on his own."

Ming Huashang thought about it and thought that this was in line with Ming Huazhang's personality, so she didn't ask any more questions. The second and third rooms were talking in high spirits. Ming Shuo coquettishly asked the old lady for jewelry. Ming Huashang didn't want to say goodbye at this time, so she just listened with a smile.

Madam Ming smiled quickly at her granddaughter's coquettishness. She glanced at everyone and said, "It's OK on ordinary days, but we have to act together with the Cheng family on the Lantern Festival, and we must not bring shame to the Duke of Zhenguo's Mansion. Luqi, I have a few step-shakings at the bottom of my box, go get them and let the three ladies choose."

Mingyu and Mingshuo smiled and thanked her. Ming Huashang was not interested in jewelry, but her grandmother was so kind and she couldn't refuse her grandmother's wishes, so she pretended to like it and picked one at random.

After Mingyu and Mingshuo finally chose the jewelry they were satisfied with, a long time had passed. Ming Huashang thought she could finally leave, and just as she was about to leave, she was stopped by the Duke of Zhenguo.

Duke Zhenguo said, "Shangshang, come with me."

Ming Huashang had no choice but to put on her cloak and follow. When the Duke of Zheng saw her wearing a cloak that was too big for her, he frowned and asked, "What's wrong with your clothes?"

Ming Huashang was used to destroying Ming Huazhang's things, so she said nonchalantly, "These are my second brother's clothes. I was thinking of returning them to him, but I don't know where they went."

Duke Zhenguo frowned and looked at Ming Huashang calmly. The girl had fair skin and a beautiful smile, and was in her prime youth. She was covered in a large and heavy black cloak, like a Kunshan night light breaking out of the black mud and breaking through the ground.

This was obviously a man's clothing, but she wore it openly and naturally, as it should be, and she didn't feel anything unusual. The Duke of Zhen frowned and said, "What do you think of wearing your brother's clothes? Take them off quickly. Go get a new cloak for your wife."

They were already halfway along the road. Wouldn't it be a nuisance to change clothes at this time? Ming Huashang defended the maid: "We'll be there in two more steps. Second Brother won't care. Don't bother."

Duke Zhenguo glared at Ming Huashang and said, "You rebellious girl, you dare to confront me? Why don't you go now!"

Although he scolded the rebellious girl, he did not let Ming Huashang untie her cloak until the maid brought a new cloak. In front of them was the courtyard of the Duke of Zhenguo. Ming Huashang went in and changed her shoes. Naturally, she folded Ming Huazhang's cloak. When the Duke of Zhenguo saw this, he looked a little strange and said, "The maids will do this. You don't have to do it."

"It's okay. Second brother is very particular. He gets angry if someone touches his clothes. I'll fold them for him and deliver them to him on the way."

The Duke of Zhenguo couldn't help but frowning when he heard this: "When did you get so close to him? And you are someone else, aren't you someone else? Put it down quickly, and send it down for washing. It has nothing to do with you."

Ming Huashang pursed her lips, put down her clothes, and complained, "You always say I'm lazy. I finally got diligent for once, and you still want to hold me back."

The Duke of Zhenguo got angry when he heard this: "You are diligent in the right place. I wish you were diligent in music, chess, calligraphy and painting. After the New Year, you will be seventeen years old. It's time for you to go out of the palace. You should be more careful on weekdays and stop running to Erlang's room all day."

Ming Huashang raised her eyebrows, feeling confused by the scolding: "I went to see my brother, not to give or take anything privately, why are you scolding me again?"

The Duke of Zhen hesitated for a second before finally saying, "Just listen to me. Don't ask so many questions."

Ming Huashang snorted softly, very unconvinced, but she didn't talk back. The anger on her face was natural, but her heart was cold.

What did her father mean by this? If it were normal, Ming Huashang would not think too much about it, but she knew in her heart that she and Ming Huazhang were not biological siblings. When she listened to the words of the Duke of Zhenguo, it seemed that there was a deeper meaning everywhere.

Did the father know something? But it didn't make sense. Who would care about a daughter who was not his own when he knew that the child was taken away by mistake, and not rush to find his own child? The Duke of Zhenguo had not remarried for so many years, which showed that he had a very good relationship with his deceased wife. He would not have left his wife's bloodline to wander around and ignored it.

Or is it that the wrong child is not her?

The more Ming Huachang thought about it, the more uneasy she became. Her palms were already cold. Duke Zhen did not notice that Ming Huachang was upset. He said, "Shangchang, what do you think of the eldest son of the Duke Cheng's mansion today?"

Ming Huashang was so frightened by her own guess that she had no time to pay attention to the man. She said casually, "He is upright, steady, kind and polite. He is a good person."

It seemed like the evaluation was good. Duke Zhen felt very complicated. He didn't know whether he should be happy or not. He said sourly, "So, you are willing too?"

Ming Huashang was thinking about something. When she heard this, she was stunned for a moment. Then she realized what was going on and said, "What do you want?"

Duke Zhenguo thought Ming Huashang was embarrassed, and his mind was even more complicated: "Duke Cheng's mansion has no relationship with our family, but today the whole family came to pay New Year's greetings and asked about you many times during the meal. Don't you know what they are thinking? Cheng Dalang is a bit pedantic, but he has a good temper. He is a good match for me in the capital. Shangshang, are you willing to marry him?"

When Ming Huashang heard this, she didn't know what to say: "Father, do you dislike me so much that you are trying every possible way to marry me off?"

"I wish I could support you for the rest of my life." Duke Zhenguo said sullenly, "But a girl should get married when she grows up. You will eventually get married. If you choose someone sooner, you will get to choose him. If you delay any longer, someone else will choose you."

The world is always very harsh on women's age, but Ming Huashang has long since become indifferent to this and said, "I don't care. If I get married, it will be because I meet someone I want to marry, not because I'm old enough to get married. If I never meet that person, it's fine to be alone for the rest of my life."

"Nonsense!" The Duke of Zhenguo scolded, "You think it's easy. I can still protect you while I'm alive. If I die, who will be willing to take care of you and protect you without complaint?"

Ming Huashang replied without hesitation: "Second brother."

The Duke of Zhenguo said nothing, then said quietly, "Of course I believe that, with his character, he will not ignore you. But he will have a wife and children in the future, and it is beyond my reach. It is better for you to have your own family."

Ming Huashang found that the Duke of Zhenguo was really worried about her future life. She stopped arguing about whether to get married or not, and said with a straight face: "Father, your kind-hearted daughter understands, but Cheng Dalang may not be a good match."

The Duke of Zhenguo immediately became serious and asked, "Why? Did he do anything to you today?"

Ming Huashang quickly defended Cheng Xun: "No, I just think that he and I have different ideas and we can't get along."

Duke Zhenguo breathed a sigh of relief and glared at Ming Huashang: "I thought it was something else. You just met, so of course you can't get along well. It will be fine after you spend more time together."

Duke Zhenguo didn't think this was a serious matter at all. Ming Huashang once again said solemnly: "But I don't like him."

Duke Zhenguo didn't care at all and said, "You are still young, and you keep saying you like me all the time. When you grow up, you will know that the most important thing is that two people can live together. Whether you like me or not will fade away over time. When your mother and I first got married, we also had some difficulties. We barely said a few words to each other in a month. But later, she gave birth to you and your sister, didn't she?"

Ming Huashang frowned and said, "But, this is not the same thing..."

The Duke of Zhenguo interrupted her and said, "Don't refuse yet. Even if you don't like Cheng Dalang, you might as well get in touch with him first. Go out with him on the Lantern Festival and see how he treats people. Maybe you will think he is not bad. If you still don't want to, wait until the Lantern Festival comes back and your father will help you refuse. No matter how poor the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion is, you will not lose a single bite of food."

Ming Huachang smiled and smacked her lips, "But I want more than just a mouthful of rice. I also want to eat sazi, steamed cakes, puff pastry, soup cakes, crystal cakes..."

The Duke of Zhenguo was angry and helpless, and smiled as he watched his little daughter count the food on her fingers. He didn't know what he was thinking about, and his eyes became distant and sad. When Ming Huashang had almost finished reading the names of the dishes, the Duke of Zhenguo said, "Okay, I know you can eat, and I won't starve you to death. Someone, go to the kitchen and order the dishes that the second lady just mentioned, and send them to me. It's been a long time since the family has eaten together, go and call Erlang as well."

Ming Huashang was much more enthusiastic about ordering food than choosing jewelry. She rushed to give instructions on the food, even wanting to specify what condiments to add to each dish. She was talking until her mouth was dry, and after taking a sip of tea, she heard a greeting from outside.

Ming Huazhang walked in, his eyebrows and eyes were indifferent, his expression was as cold as snow. He took off his cloak and put it away with his own hands. When he turned around, he saw a familiar figure sitting inside.

Ming Huazhang was stunned for a moment, and asked in surprise: "Shang Shang?"

Ming Huashang, wearing a light and warm skirt, poked her head out from behind the curtain and asked, "Second brother, what's wrong?"

Ming Huazhang stared at those pearly eyes and remained silent for a long time. He wanted to say that he had been waiting for her, waiting on the way and waiting after returning home. He thought she was entangled by something, but it turned out that she just didn't want to look for him?

Well, she is so old, she has hands and feet, family and friends, and there are so many choices to spend her time, why must she be with him?

This was the first time that Ming Huazhang intuitively realized that Ming Huashang had many, many people who loved her, and he was just an insignificant one among them.

Ming Huazhang was silent. He was a cold person to begin with, so no one noticed that he was silent. Duke Zhenguo invited Ming Huazhang to sit down and said, "The Lantern Festival is a festival for young people, so you should not let it down. You brothers and sisters are seventeen this year, and it's time to think about your life. Huazhang, do you have any ideas?"

Ming Huazhang was silent, his dark eyes like black jade soaked in ice, and he glanced to the side indifferently.

His tone was still calm, and he said respectfully, "I will follow my father's arrangements."

The Duke of Zhenguo shook his head and said, "This is your business. If you don't want to, I won't force you. If you have someone you like, come to me anytime. Even if it's a fairy in the Moon Palace, I will definitely find a way to help you propose marriage."

Ming Huashang said quietly, "Father, that's not what you and I said just now."

"Shut up." Duke Zhenguo glared at Ming Huashang unhappily, then turned to Ming Huazhang and said warmly, "Huazhang, I'll have to trouble you to pay more attention on the Lantern Festival. Keep an eye on Shangshang and Cheng Dalang, and don't let her run around."

Ming Huashang snorted softly, and Duke Zhenguo glared at her, saying, "What are you snorting about? You should listen to Huazhang and go to Duke Chengguo's mansion to see the lights and come back. Don't act on your own. Do you hear me?"

Ming Huashang reluctantly responded, "I know."

Ming Huazhang's face was as white as snow. He glanced at Duke Zhenguo and Ming Huashang. He felt like he was riding a wild horse without the reins and was completely out of control.

Ming Huazhang asked, "Father, are you really planning to let Er Niang go see Cheng Da Lang?"

Duke Zhenguo did not comment, and said: "The Cheng family is a good match for us, so let's get along with each other first, and there is no rush to discuss other things."

Ming Huazhang felt a chill in his heart again. He turned to look at Ming Huashang, hoping to see resistance and opposition on her face, but he only saw a gentle and smiling face.

She didn't even look in his direction.

Ming Huazhang couldn't tell what he felt. This was the natural thing to do. He was her brother, and it was his duty to escort his sister.

Even if it's sending my sister on a date.

What is he expecting?