Chapter 231: Night Conversations in the Desolate Garden
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As expected, as Empress Dowager Min said, although the room used by Yuwen You to welcome the new bride was freshly decorated, some of the furnishings seemed lacking to Mingzhu. Even compared to her previous life and the furnishings in her and Yuwen Chu’s new room, there was a significant difference. Even if it was the same items, when distributed to different people, there would be variations in quality, craftsmanship, and weight, akin to covering up horse manure with a shiny exterior.
Yuwen You had grown up in luxury, so he knew these items weren’t good. They were merely handed out by the Six Ministries to appease and dismiss him. But even if he were furious, he had no choice but to endure it.
After the group had taken a stroll, each person had different feelings. Those who had fallen out of favor could only accept such treatment. Even though Empress Dowager Min wanted to support Linan Wang’s image, it was only superficial support. As long as the attitude of the Great Empress Dowager didn’t change and Linan Wang didn’t have proper duties, there would be no glory for him. So, offending Mingzhu and thereby losing this marriage was really not worth it.
Speaking the truth would offend a lot of people, but they couldn’t ignore it completely. After considering for a while, Qi Wangfei turned to Dai Wangfei to discuss, “In my opinion, we have all the essentials as per protocol. It’s just that the arrangement of the decorations isn’t very pleasing. Let’s instruct someone to rearrange them. As for the deficient items, I heard that the Wusun County Princess also brought many dowry items. Let’s have them bring a list for us to see, and we’ll make up for what’s lacking. How about that?”
Dai Wangfei was even less likely to get involved in such a tricky matter, so she readily agreed. As the two eldest and most senior in rank, their words carried weight, and none of Mingzhu’s entourage had any objections. So, Qi Wangfei called the Changshi, Ruan Qingshang, over and carefully pointed out each detail to him. Mingzhu stood boredly, habitually walked to the white wicker rocking chair by the window, and sat down, rocking it back and forth a couple of times. It was only after she finished rocking that she remembered that in her previous life, there was also such a white wicker rocking chair placed here. In the summer, a layer of sky-blue silk cushion was laid on it, while in winter, it was draped with white bear fur. She would nestle in it, holding a golden studded warm stove in her arms, basking in the warm sunshine streaming in from the window, feeling as comfortable as a cat.
No matter how bad her mood was, as long as she sat here for a while, she would gradually relax. Occasionally, she would also squeeze into the rocking chair with Yuwen You. He always found her annoying, grumbling and complaining, but he wouldn’t leave, insisting on squeezing with her. It often ended in a big argument…
In fact, in front of the window of the Yinghui Hall, Yuwen Chu also placed such a white wicker rocking chair, but she instinctively didn’t like to sit on it, and it was Yuwen Chu who sat on it most of the time. He always held a book in his hand, reading for a while before looking at her, as if he couldn’t get enough of looking at her. Mingzhu thought of this and felt a bit lost for a moment. Unable to resist her wandering thoughts, she wondered if this white wicker rocking chair was a standard item in all major mansions, so everyone had one?
Yuwen You stood far below the flower wall, expressionless as he looked ahead. Through the cracks of the already somewhat withered ivy, he could just see Mingzhu sitting on the white wicker rocking chair by the window. She had her head half-tilted, looking heavily burdened with thoughts. The lines of her profile were so tender that one might want to close their eyes and gently trace from her smooth forehead down her nose, lightly brushing past her plump lips, gliding over her delicate jawline, all the way down to her slender neck, and then… Yuwen You shuddered, his face contorted with a grim thought: then he would grab that slender, fragile neck and squeeze the life out of her, so she could no longer cause him harm like this!
He covered his face, slowly crouching down, burying his head in his knees, trembling silently. He cursed himself fiercely, “Yuwen You, you despicable man! There’s no one more despicable than you! She’s the daughter of your sworn enemy! Her Father and aunt killed your Royal Mother! They left you with no way out, living worse than a dog! She started trouble and abandoned you in the end, heartless and callous. Why do you still think about her? Go die! All of you, just go die!”
But she wasn’t his anymore. He remembered the day she married Yuwen Chu, standing among his brothers, watching them walk towards the ancestral temple. He thought he would do something, but strangely, he just stood there indifferently, doing nothing. It wasn’t until now that he realized how unwilling he was.
The head guard of Linan Wang’s Mansion, Shen Nan, approached, hesitating for a moment before speaking, “Your Highness…”
Yuwen You didn’t want to move, but felt embarrassed, so he maintained his posture and coldly said, “Speak.”
Shen Nan awkwardly rubbed the back of his head and whispered, “Second Miss Jiang sent someone over, saying she’s arrived and asking when you’ll bring the people over.”
Yuwen You impatiently responded, “Given the circumstances today, do you think we can leave?”
Shen Nan rubbed the back of his head again and whispered, “This was already agreed upon. Although Qi Wangfei and the others are here, you are a man and are receiving guests outside. It’s okay to leave for a while.”
They called it his engagement day, but were there really any congratulatory guests? It was just officials from the Court of the Imperial Clan and the Ministry of Ceremonies, as well as those in charge of the ceremony, coming and going. Ruan Qingshang’s earlier suggestion that he go greet the guests was just a lie to avoid the awkwardness of him facing Mingzhu directly.
Who didn’t understand this fact? Whether they understood it or not, he was who he was. Could he expect others to be polite to him if he wasn’t polite to them? Yuwen You stood up, smoothing out the wrinkles on his robe, and said expressionlessly, “You’re right. I’ll leave for a while then. If they leave before I come back, let He Tong tell them that I’m not feeling well and got drunk.”
Shen Nan was happy, “Yes, Your Highness, I’ll go tell Steward He.” He paused and asked, “Does Your Highness need to change clothes first?”
After taking a last glance at Mingzhu in the distance, Yuwen You decisively turned around and strode forward.
Half an hour later, Yuwen You, wearing a plain blue robe and cloth shoes, accompanied a young, handsome man into Xizizhai, the largest bookstore in the capital. The shopkeeper of Xizizhai quickly came out, smiling warmly, “It’s Young Master Jiu. What can I do for you?”
Yuwen You looked at his companion and smiled, “Brother Liao?”
This companion, whom he referred to as Brother Liao, was none other than Liao Guang, the newly appointed top scholar destined to be matched with Jiang Shanshan by the Empress Dowager. Liao Guang nodded lightly, “I dare not, Young Master Jiu, you can just call me by my name.”
Yuwen You wasn’t angry and directly said to the shopkeeper of Xizizhai, “I want a copy of Mr. Bao’s ‘Night Conversations in the Desolate Garden’. I know you have it.”
The shopkeeper exchanged a glance with him and pretended to be hesitant, rubbing his hands, “Well, you see, sir, that, that… you’re a bit late. It was just bought by someone.”
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