Chapter 3 Dragon Phoenix

Ming Huachang's words were so abrupt that Ming Huazhang paused. He glanced at her calmly and said, "Feihong Garden is on Mount Mang, which is inconvenient to drive to. It has snowed heavily recently, so the road on the mountain is probably very difficult to walk. Since you are not feeling well, you should not go."

The young man frowned as he said this, his expression was as arrogant and cold as usual, but his pupils contained seriousness. Among all the people present, Ming Huazhang was probably the most difficult to approach, but Ming Huashang felt warm in her heart when she heard his words.

It turned out that Ming Huazhang looked at her several times when he came in. He didn't think her yawning was embarrassing, but thought she was not feeling well.

Ming Huachang had a nightmare for half the night, and even though she tried to cheer herself up, her face was still pale and she was in a trance. But she had been in for so long, and none of her grandmother, aunt, and two cousins ​​asked her any questions. Instead, Ming Huazhang, who was known for his aloofness, noticed it.

Ming Huachang was very touched. It turned out that her brother still cared about her. She was afraid of Ming Huazhang's indifference before. In addition, they were both born with a son and a daughter, but one was excellent and the other was useless. She thought Ming Huazhang would definitely look down on her, so she was very tactful and never bothered him. Now it seems that she was wrong.

Even siblings have to maintain relationships. They don't have much in common to begin with. If she doesn't take the initiative, how can the two of them have anything to talk about?

Although they are not biological siblings, they have lived in the same house for 16 years, and Ming Huachang truly regards him as a brother. If they had a better relationship, and Ming Huazhang was willing to protect her more, would the person behind the scenes not kill her if he saw this?

At the very least, she could cling to Ming Huazhang's support. Even if he really returned home with a rich daughter, she could ask Ming Huazhang to send more people to protect her and let her leave the Ming family safely.

Her grandmother, Nanny Su, was greedy and had disrupted the life of the real daughter. Even if this was not what Ming Huashang wanted, she still owed the real daughter. She had enjoyed the glory and wealth that did not belong to her for sixteen years, and she should be content. When Su Yuji came back, she was willing to give up her position and take the initiative to get out of the Duke's Mansion.

However, it was not her initiative to exchange the real daughter, and she should not risk her life for it. She did not care about the wealth and power of the Ming family, but she cherished her own life very much.

She wanted to live well and, if possible, catch her murderer.

For this, she would do anything. Compared with the safety of her life, what does a snowy road mean?

Ming Huashang gritted her teeth and said resolutely, "It doesn't matter to me. As long as I can follow my second brother, it doesn't matter where I go. My second brother won't think I'm too much of a burden, right?"

Madam Ming frowned secretly. How could a young lady who had not yet left the palace say such a thing? It was too unreserved. But considering that the two of them were a dragon and phoenix twin, and grew up together in the womb, it was common sense that they were closer than ordinary siblings, so Madam Ming frowned but said nothing.

Ming Huazhang actually still disagreed. He didn't want Ming Huachang to go to the Feihong Banquet, not because it was difficult to travel in the snow, but because the Wu family members such as the King of Wei, the King of Liang, and the King of Gaoyang would all go. Princess Taiping was extravagant and lustful, and there was no guard outside the city to watch over her. The banquet would definitely be filled with smoke and miasma, and all kinds of people would mix together. He didn't want Ming Huachang to face that.

But Ming Huachang stared at him straight, her eyes were black and round, looking at him expectantly like a little deer. Ming Huazhang couldn't say anything to refuse, so he could only take a step back helplessly: "Okay. But you have to listen to me when you get out, and you are not allowed to act alone."

Ming Huashang didn't expect Ming Huazhang to agree. She was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed: "Thank you, brother! Second brother, you are the best!"

The girl's joy was frank and passionate, she did not hide it, and her eyes were so bright that one could not look directly at them. Ming Huazhang was used to it, and was caught off guard by such a bright smile.

I'm just taking her out, is there any need to be so happy?

Ming Huazhang was used to giving orders, but this time he was the first to look away. Ming Shuo was so angry that she kept pulling at her skirt when she saw that her second brother, who was always cold to everyone, made an exception for Ming Huachang. Second wife Zhao saw that the brother and sister from the first house had a deep affection and were so affectionate, and she felt like there was a thorn in her eyes.

Only Madam Ming was pleased to see this scene. The eldest wife had only one son, Ming Huazhang, who was very outstanding, talented, both civil and military, and had nothing wrong with his character and appearance. Madam Ming was very satisfied with Ming Huazhang and had already regarded him as the next Duke. It was a pity that this child was too upright and cold. Except for Duke Zhen, he was not close to anyone else in the Ming family. It was a good thing that he was willing to talk to Ming Huachang.

Old Madam Ming would also look up to anyone Ming Huazhang liked. Old Madam Ming said slowly, "You two are a perfect match, you stayed together in your mother's womb for ten months. Apart from your father, you two are the closest people in the world. No future bride or husband can be as close as you. Twins should be closer, so that outsiders will be happy to see them. Baoqin, take the red-striped brocade with dragons and phoenixes from my dressing table and buy new clothes for Erlang and Erniang. You two are good-looking, so wear the same clothes to the banquet to bring more joy to His Majesty the Great Peace."

When Mingyu heard that Madam Ming had actually taken out all the brocade from the bottom of the box, she glared at Ming Huashang with hidden jealousy. Madam Ming had clearly said that this brocade would be kept for them to use as makeup, but now she gave it all to Ming Huashang just because of a banquet?

Ming Huashang thanked him and let Zhaocai take the cloth. She noticed that the eyes of the second and third wives were not friendly to her. She snorted secretly, thinking that they would pick on the weak ones, so why didn't they dare to glare at Ming Huazhang?

Madam Ming originally wanted Ming Huazhang and Ming Huashang to go. Now that everything went as she wished, she was relieved and said, "Although Feihong Garden is a royal garden, it is not like home after all. You will be gone for several days. Hurry up and pack your things. The second and third families, you can also take the girls back. There is no need to stay here with me."

Everyone stood up, saluted, and after greeting, they put on their shoes and left. Ming Huazhang dressed the fastest, casually picking up his cloak and leaving the room. Ming Huashang hurriedly put on his boots and chased after Ming Huazhang.

Only the second and third wives were left in front of the hall. Ming Shuo had endured for a long time, but now he could no longer bear the grievance. He pulled the sleeve of the third wife and said, "Mother, the invitation from Princess Taiping is for the Ming family, not just for the first wife. Why can't we go, but Ming Huashang can go out with my second brother?"

The Third Lady quickly glanced at the mother and daughter of the Second House, and winked at Ming Shuo: "A Shuo, don't be rude. Your uncle is a duke, so naturally the eldest house comes first in everything. It's snowing too hard outside, and you haven't recovered from the cold you caught before the New Year. Even if Grandmother asked you to go, I wouldn't let you go out. Let's go, it's time to go back and take your medicine."

Ming Shuo was dragged away by the Third Madam unwillingly. Ming Yu was the last one to leave. After the maids and servants of the Third House had all left, she sneered and said to her mother, "Mother, the Third Madam is really calculating. She thinks we are fools. She doesn't stand out, but she is urging us to stand out."

"Your grandmother is still in there, so please say less." The Second Madam said calmly, "Besides, what she said is also true. Isn't this Zhenguo Mansion owned by the eldest wife?"

They were the second wife of a concubine, the position of the first wife was stable, Minghua Zhang was well-known in Beijing, and the title would never fall on them. Mingyu had never dreamed of the status of a duke's daughter. She just wanted to prepare as much dowry as possible for herself before the family was divided.

It’s hateful that Madam Ming is biased. It would be fine if she was biased towards Ming Huazhang, but that idiot didn’t do anything. Why can he get everything just because she is Ming Huazhang’s sister?

Ming Yu was not convinced and said, "She has such a good status, but she is still uneducated. There is no more shameful girl in Luoyang than her. This lady is clearly a female, but she took the male's name."

"Alright, stop talking." The Second Madam said, "She was born from a dragon-and-phoenix fetus, and she and Erlang are connected by bones and tendons. She is naturally closer than others. Let's go, it's time to go back."

According to the genealogy of this generation, girls should be named with the character "女" on the side, such as Mingyu and Mingshuo, while boys can use the character "华". But who made Ming Huazhang and Ming Huashang born together? When naming them, the Duke of Zhen did not care about the order of the genealogy, but found "华章" and "华尚" in the Book of Songs, which means "尚尚是华, 芸其黄矣. The son I meet, he has a pattern", hoping that they will be bright and beautiful, but not lose the rules of etiquette and music.

These two names are a perfect match, full of expectation and love. Even strangers can see the love of the namer. Mingyu was very angry, stamped her feet, and followed her mother.

At this moment, in the snowy wind, Ming Huashang followed behind Ming Huazhang, not caring about Ming Huazhang's cold expression at all, and chirped: "Second brother, thank you for taking me out. Where is Feihong Garden? Is it far? What do I need to bring? Is it cold on the road?"

Ming Huazhang was annoyed by the noise. He felt helpless. This was the only person he had ever met who knew he was cold but still went up to him - the other one was Xie Jichuan. But Ming Huachang and Xie Jichuan were different. Xie Jichuan was thick-skinned and could easily turn his face away, but Ming Huachang was a woman, and Ming Huazhang couldn't really abandon her.

Ming Huazhang said: "You don't even know where Feihong Garden is, why do you insist on going? Why don't I tell my grandmother and you stay in the mansion..."

"No." Ming Huashang jumped up as if her tail had been stepped on, and grabbed Ming Huazhang's sleeve tightly, almost hanging on him, "No, no, you've already promised me, don't go back on your word!"

Ming Huashang was used to doing this kind of thing. She grabbed a small section of Ming Huazhang's sleeve with ease and looked up at him pitifully.

They were the same age, but the boy was much taller than Ming Huachang. His frame still retained the slenderness of a teenager, but his shoulders had grown, his legs were long, his limbs were slender, and when he stood under the eaves, he was as tall and straight as a bamboo shoot after rain, and he stood out from the crowd. Ming Huachang had to half-raise her head to see Ming Huazhang's chin.

She was a mess in learning the arts of music, chess, calligraphy and painting, but she was quite good at acting cute to avoid punishment, and the Duke of Zhenguo often lost to her eyes. Ming Huazhang had no idea what to do with the wet eyes that looked like an abandoned puppy, and he tried to pull back his sleeves, but Ming Huachang thought he was going to refuse, so she hugged his arms tightly and leaned against him aggrievedly: "Brother!"

Ming Huazhang felt the sudden warmth and softness against his arm, and he had no choice but to say, "I don't want to regret it. You get up first."

Ming Huashang's eyes widened as she looked at Ming Huazhang suspiciously: "Really?"

The boy almost sighed: "Really."

Ming Huashang happily let go of her hand, and Ming Huazhang secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Only then did he have time to answer her question: "Feihong Garden is in the south of Mangshan. In order to have a panoramic view of Luoyang, Princess Taiping spent millions of gold to build a manor on the highest peak. When you enter Mangshan, you can see her garden as soon as you look up. The scenery is beautiful, but the road will not be easy to walk. It is colder in the mountains than Luoyang. You should prepare thick clothes, blankets, and heaters. Don't worry about the weight of the luggage, just try to bring as much..."

"Wait, second brother, please speak slowly!" Ming Huashang turned around quickly, "Zhaocai, come here quickly and remember to bring the things you need!"

When Ming Huazhang heard the name, his eyebrows twitched uncontrollably. He glanced at Ming Huashang with a subtle and complicated expression, but finally gave up.

Never mind, let her call her whatever she likes. The name Zhaocai... is also good.

Ming Huazhang slowed down his speech and started talking about the small and soft utensils needed on the road. Zhaocai paid full attention and remembered that Ming Huachang had successfully transferred the pressure to others. She had nothing to do and looked around for things.

In the wind and snow that filled the courtyard, the most beautiful person was Ming Huazhang. The young man stood under the eaves with his hands behind his back, and his black clothes reflected the snow outside the corridor, creating a layer of brilliant color.

I knew Ming Huazhang was good-looking before. Today, seeing him up close, Ming Huachang found that it made sense that he could be the white moonlight and dream man of all the girls in Luoyang. Ming Huachang noticed that Ming Huazhang's collar was messy, which must have been messed up by her just now.

Ming Huazhang was as beautiful as a moon on a cloud, and he was also as cold and proud as the moon. Now that his clothes were torn, it really affected his beauty and temperament. Ming Huashang reached out and straightened Ming Huazhang's collar.

Ming Huazhang was startled and immediately took a step back. Ming Huachang met those cold and clear eyes and raised his hands awkwardly: "Second brother, your clothes are messed up..."

Ming Huazhang took a quick glance and straightened his collar with one hand.

His expression was so dignified and inviolable that Ming Huachang felt guilty that she was being a hooligan. She picked her fingers, feeling a little embarrassed. Ming Huazhang pursed his lips, still looking righteous and noble: "I'll have someone prepare a list and send it to you when I get back. If everything is ok, I'll leave first."

Ming Huachang was thinking of something and subconsciously wanted to ask, but when she saw Ming Huazhang's expression that he didn't want to pay attention to her, she hesitated. Ming Huazhang saw that she was hesitant to speak and asked, "What else?"

Ming Huashang bit her lip and asked shyly, "Um, will the food at the banquet be enough?"