Translator – Xiao He Lian
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Chapter 95
It was the eighth month and the Mid-Autumn Festival was just around the corner.
However, after Shen Zhen changed from the daughter of a criminal to the daughter of a fourth-rank official, those relatives and friends who had once stayed away from her began to visit her one by one, as if they had lost their memories overnight.
For example, her old friends came to her house to invite her to go outings, flower viewing banquets, chrysanthemum viewing banquets, Cuju[mfn](ancient game of kicking a ball)[/mfn] competitions, etc.
Contrary to October last year, the second and third aunts who had treated her coldly seemed to have changed their souls and called out “Zhen’er, Zhen’er” in a familiar manner.
These things may seem absurd and ridiculous, but in fact everyone has their own calculations. If lowering your head can bring you benefits, it was really the most cost-effective deal in the world.
The reason why they were willing to give up their pride and re-establish relationships was simply because they knew that once Shen Wenqi returned to the court, the position of Chief River Defense Commissioner would only be the beginning.
At the same time, Shen Zhen’s East market tea house business gradually improved. Everything was going well for her as if giving a pillow to someone who is sleepy[mfn](is a colloquialism, which means getting exactly what you need)[/mfn].
Those people’s faces changed faster than the storyteller’s.
But apart from that, there was another headache. That was, Shen Zhen who was once again targeted by the sons of nobles.
But this time, no one mentioned the word “concubine” again.
——
Jingzhao Prefecture, inside the office room.
Yang Zong silently handed over two envelopes and whispered, “Master, these were intercepted at the gate of the Shen family.”
Lu Yan frowned slightly, pulled out the letter expressionlessly, read it from top to bottom, and suddenly sneered.
[Enter my lovesick door and know my lovesickness pain. Everlasting longing means everlasting remembrance, short term lovesickness is endless…]
[mfn]
(From Li Bai ‘s ” Three, Five, and Seven Words ” in the Tang Dynasty – Only those who have truly missed others can understand the pain of missing them.
Eternal missing brings eternal memories, and short-term missing is endless. )
[/mfn]
[Her silk dress is fluttering, and her light skirts are swaying in the wind., her gaze leaving behind a radiant glow, the wind rustling behind her resembling the breath of an orchid…]
[mfn]
(From ” Beauty ” by Cao Zhi of the Han Dynasty – The silk and gauze fluttered in the spring breeze, and the light gauze swirled in the wind.
Her every glance left a charming glow, and her long, light fragrance was like that of an orchid.)
[/mfn]
Okay, Shen Zhen.
Within two days, you got four love letters.
It does not in the least disgrace your title as the most beautiful woman in Chang’an.
Lu Yan slammed the letter on the table and said in a stern voice, “Burn them all.”
After finishing his shift in the evening, Lu Yan returned to the Duke of Zhenguo’s Mansion.
The autumn wind was cool, the leaves rustled, and occasionally one or two leaves fell, bringing a hint of bleak chill. The branches stand upright between heaven and earth, towering into the clouds.
The old butler bowed and led Lu Yan to Mingrui Hall.
Recently, there were two more guests in the Duke of Zhenguo’s Mansion, so Old Madam Lu specially set up a banquet in Mingrui Hall, and all three branches of the Lu family gathered together.
As soon as he entered the room, The old lady next to the Old Lady Lu smiled and said, “I haven’t seen you for many years. Third boy seems to be more elegant than before.”
Then, a tall girl with a rather proud look stood up and called out “cousin”.
After their eyes met, she immediately avoided his gaze and spoke in a calm tone.
Lu Yan nodded and walked forward to greet them.
The first person to speak was Old Lady Qin, Old Lady Lu’s cousin. The two of them had a deep relationship and used to visit each other frequently. It was not until the Qin family moved to Henan a few years ago that their visits became less frequent.
The slender and tall girl next to Old Madam Qin is the youngest daughter of the current governor of Henan Province, the Sixth Miss Qin Luo.
According to seniority, Qin Luo really has to call these men of the Lu family cousins.
Anyone with a discerning eye could see what Old lady Lu meant by inviting her sixteen-year-old girl to her house.
To put it bluntly, the intention was to have the two families get married.
There are three branches in the Duke of Zhenguo’s Mansion. Lu Ye from the second branch has already married and has children, so he is naturally not under consideration. Therefore, Lu Yan from the first branch and Lu Ting from the third branch were the purpose of the Qin family’s trip.
After the banquet, Lu Yan, Lu Ting and Lu Ye walked out of Mingrui Hall one after another. The moonlight was floating, and the three men sat quietly in the pavilion and drank a few glasses of wine.
Lu Ye shook the cup in his hand, drank it all, and said with a smile: “Seeing the old lady’s meaning, the Duke of Zhenguo’s Mansion is going to hold a wedding soon.”
Lu Ting said to Lu Yan: “Congratulations to my third brother first.”
Lu Yan raised his lips and said with a smile: “If anyone wants to congratulate, it should be me who should congratulate you.”
Although Lu Yan could not be said to have slept with countless women, he had seen countless women. He saw very clearly the look that the cousin from the Qin family gave him just now. It was seven parts of resistance, two parts of unwillingness, and the remaining one part, which was respect for the time being.
In short, she did not have any admiration for him at all.
Lu Ting hissed, expressing his dissatisfaction, and knocked on the table casually, saying, “How about a bet?”
Lu Yan took a sip of wine and said, “What’s the bet?”
“Let me think about it…”
As they were talking, Yang Zong slowly came over and whispered, “Master, the old lady and the eldest princess asked you to go to Jia’an Hall.”
Hearing this, Lu Ting laughed out loud and said, “I should have made a bigger bet earlier and got all those treasures hidden in your study.”
Lu Yan smiled confidently, “You won’t be able to take any of them away.”
Lu Yan approached Jia’an Hall and lifted the curtain to enter the room.
Old Lady Lu sat upright on the couch, Princess Jing’an sat on a round stool beside her, and on the incense table, a blue-and-white glazed double-handled three-legged incense burner[mfn]
[/mfn] was emitting curls of green smoke.
Seeing him coming, the old lady waved, “Come here quickly.”
Old Lady Lu looked at her most beloved grandson and couldn’t help but sigh. The smile on her face that had been hanging on her face at the table was now gone.
She wanted to speak several times, but when the words came to her lips, she eventually swallowed them back.
“What does Grandma want to tell me?”
Old lady Lu raised her hand and patted his shoulder, “Sit down first.”
After a while, she praised him, “At your age, you are able to reach this position today. I am very proud of you.”
Lu Yan smiled bitterly.
Eh..
After hearing this opening remark, he knew there was something to come.
As expected, Old lady Lu continued, “But our ancestors also have an old saying that a man should get married first and then start a career. You have also met Qin Luo, a very talented girl with impeccable looks. I originally wanted her to marry you, but I just asked and found out that her family was interested in Ting’er.”
Lu Yan smiled, “Isn’t this a good thing?”
“It’s a good thing, but don’t you want to ask why?”
Lu Yan frowned and said, “What’s so good about asking this? Everyone has their own preferences when it comes to clothes and hats.”
Princess Jing’an glared at him from the side.
“The Qin family is bothered by the fact that you linger in the red-light districts all year round, and your love affairs are all over Chang’an!” At this point, Old lady Lu was furious and took a deep breath and said, “But you were not like this before!”
Old Lady Lu knew that her grandson was picky. She once thought that Lu Yan wanted to marry a fairy before he would give up. However, as he grew older, this bad habit of men suddenly emerged.
He actually kept a courtesan outside…
“Grandmother knows that the court is full of twists and turns, and the Governor of Jingzhao often has to do things that offend people. And when you are stressed, you need to relax. But Pingkang brothels are not a good place after all. If the historian were to add these, then it will ruin your reputation!”
Lu Yan rubbed his brows. Listening to these words, he couldn’t help but think of the person who actually “attracted bees and butterflies” all day long.
In order to protect her reputation, his reputation was completely ruined.
Not only was it completely destroyed but there is also no room for him to argue.
It was the first time that he had to swallow his anger.
Princess Jing’an crossed her arms over her chest and refused to say a single good word on his behalf. Seeing his clenched fists, she raised her eyebrows slightly.
The words “you deserve it” were clearly written on her face.
“Do you understand?” Old Madam Lu asked earnestly.
Lu Yan’s adam’s apple slid up and down and he nodded.
Seeing him like this, Old lady Lu took out a handkerchief from her chest, covered her mouth, and started coughing lightly.
As a descendant of the Lu family, he knew very well that this was a sympathy card at play.
“Ahem.” Old Lady Lu raised her head and rubbed her chest. Then she tremblingly took out a medicine bottle and shook it twice. The eldest princess handed her a glass of water.
Lu Yan lowered his head and turned his white jade ring.
Before Old lady Lu could speak, Lu Yan suddenly looked up and said, “This grandson was unfilial and I have to trouble my grandmother with everything, in that case, in two months, I will finalize my marriage.”
Upon hearing this, Old lady Lu almost choked on the water.
“What two months?”
As the saying goes, if you don’t do it , don’t stop[mfn](originally emphasizes the determination and persistence of doing things. If you don’t start, don’t give up. If you have started, don’t give up until you finish it.)[/mfn]. Having said that, Lu Yan simply said directly: “I have someone I want to marry.”
Old Lady Lu stared at him and asked in disbelief, “Which family girl is this?”
“The third daughter of the Chief River Defense Envoy.”
Old Lady Lu straightened her back and tapped her temples with her fingertips. She tried hard to think, the Chief River Defense Envoy… Who is the Chief River Defense Envoy?
“Jing’an, are you familiar with this Chief River Defense Envoy?”
Princess Jing’an took a deep breath and whispered, “Not only am I familiar with her, you too are familiar with her. The third lady of the Chief River Defense Officer is the former third lady of Yunyang Marquis’s Mansion, Shen Zhen. Shen Wenqi was appointed as the Chief River Defense Envoy two days ago and is now assigned to East Henan to control floods. It will probably take two months for him to come back.”
Old Lady Lu had lived her whole life and had seen many things. When she heard Princess Jing’an’s tone, she immediately understood something.
“Did you know about this?”
Princess Jing’an and Lu Yan looked at each other and finally nodded.
After leaving Jia’an Hall, the mother and son walked through the corridor together and headed towards Suining Hall. The moon was high in the sky, and the long shadows of the tree branches had already extended to their feet.
“Mother, if you have time, how about going to the palace?” Lu Yan suddenly asked.
He wants to marry Shen Zhen, and even if he didn’t care about other people, he cannot hide it from His Majesty, nor can he hide it.
Princess Jing’an paused, looked into those always cold eyes, and said softly, “I have already met His Majesty.”
