Chapter 157: The rice is cooked (2/2)
That was a command, not a point of debate.
When Grand Concubine Yi finished, she shook her sleeves aside and rose to leave. Only Marquis Pingbei’s party of three were left kneeling awkwardly in place.
Wanru and the young lord, adoring each other?
“Since when have Murong Wanru and I ever…” Zhangsun Che asked in confusion before Marquid Pingbei furiously muffled his mouth.
Han Yunxi looked over with a smile. “Does the father, Marquis Pingbei, have any objections?”
Marquis Pingbei was quick to reply. “No! None! My son and Miss Wanru find each other congenial. Everyone knows how much they’ve adored each other, so many thanks to Grand Imperial Concubine for her gracious allowance to marry Miss Wanru into our estate. My wife and I can’t express our gratitude enough! Tomorrow morning we’ll definitely deliver the betrothal gifts, and I’ll drop by personally with money and gifts for the bride!”
Marquis Pingbei was indeed an intelligent man. He understood everything with one hint, saving Han Yunxi a lot of talk. She smiled in satisfaction. “Miss Wanru might be the foster daughter of the Duke of Qin’s estate, but she’s still considered one of our people. A betrothal is no small matter, so I hope the father, Marquis Pingbei, won’t have a shabby showing. Otherwise, if the Grand Imperial Concubine is offended and turns unhappy…”
Before Han Yunxi finished, Marquis Pingbei was already nodding his head. “Many thanks to esteemed wangfei for the reminder. Everything…this official knows how everything stands! He knows!”
Excellent!
Han Yunxi loved talking with smart people. She trusted that tomorrow’s betrothal ceremony would be filled with enough ostentation and extravagance to match the actual wedding procession of a bride to the bridegroom’s house. She didn’t cause them any further difficulties, but left them with a few brief words before letting them go.
At the same time, Grand Concubine Yi was trying to convince Murong Wanru in her Orchid Enclosure. Anyone standing by the door to the courtyard could hear the indistinct sounds of Murong Wanru sobbing, and her occasional outbursts against Grand Concubine Yi. Han Yunxi only spared the place a glance before she suddenly burst into a laugh.
White lotus, ah, white lotus. I’m afraid even you didn’t expect to fall into your own trap!
Once the betrothal was set tomorrow, the white lotus should be married off by the time New Year’s passed. Thinking up to here, Han Yunxi could help but yearn for her future days ahead. With no white lotus at the estate and harmonious relations with Grand Concubine Yi, her life would be much more smooth and steady. Neither would she be restricted to one corner of the Hibiscus Courtyard. When she arrived at its entrance, she paused to look at the distant, darkened sleeping quarters of a certain person and fell into thought. If I want to move out of Hibiscus Courtyard one day, Long Feiye shouldn’t refuse, right?
He’d rather I keep as far away as possible from his territory, right?
Han Yunxi thought and thought, unconsciously standing in place for a long time. It had been days since she’d seen him. Who knew what he was busy with now…
—
Early next morning, Xuanwu Street was filled with the sound of exploding firecrackers. Most families traveled ten li in red robes to take their brides home, but Marquis Pingbei’s estate was traveling ten li to bring betrothal gifts and secure an engagement. Pairs of pageboys carrying betrothal gifts between their shoulders snaked down Xuanwu Street like a vast and mighty dragon’s tail, creating a lively scene. Marquis Pingbei and his wife held hands with Zhangsun Che along the way, while a wedding nanny brought up the lead. Aside from Zhangsun Che’s somewhat unpleasant expression, everyone else was filled with smiles and happy faces.
Marquis Pingbei’s estate wasn’t far from the Duke of Qin’s, but the procession purposely took a meandering path to attract more onlookers. It could be said that the whole capital came out to watch.
As soon as they heard that Marquis Pingbei’s estate was going to ask the Duke of Qin’s estate for an engagement, rumors began to fly. Marquis Pingbei had arranged people in the crowds beforehand, so the story of Murong Wanru and Zhangsun Che being sweethearts and having secret meetings spread amongst them. Although the events at yesterday’s Plum Blossom Meet was spread around as well, they didn’t take the lead in the rumors.
It was unclear how Grand Concubine Yi had coaxed Murong Wanru, but she was present at the engagement ceremony with red eyes. She kept glaring at Han Yunxi without a trace of her useful fraility. Most likely than now, she knew that this whole thing was Han Yunxi’s idea. Han Yunxi allowed her to stare as she liked, her mood excellent. What surprised her more was that Long Feiye had shown up as well. But on second thought, she realized that it was proper for him to be here since he was Murong Wanru’s brother.
After the ceremony was finished, everyone left. Grand Concubine Yi exhaled and remarked, “Feiye, regarding Wanru’s marriage…what do you think?”
Murong Wanru hastily looked over at these words, but Long Feiye’s answer was cold. “It’s too hasty for them to marry this year. Wait until after New Year’s to set the date.”
This wasn’t the answer Grand Concubine Yi wanted, much less Murong Wanru!
After realizing that she had no more chances with the Duke of Qin in this life, Murong Wanru was filled with melancholy. Her eyes turned red again as she muffled her mouth and ran away…Everything had been caused by Han Yunxi. It was all her! She silently vowed in her heart to get back at Han Yunxi even if she got married! Looking between Murong Wanru’s state and her own son’s cool attitude, Grand Concubine Yi couldn’t help but furrow her brows. How vexing!
And yet, it was right at this moment that Gui mama came to report, “Grand Imperial Concubine, Your Highness. Princess Rongle has come to pay a call.”
-o-
[1] li (里) – Chinese unit of measurement, used often to figuratively indicate a long distance, a vast expanse.