In the palace.
The ministers were chatting in low voices in small groups. Lord Chen Xuan frowned as he listened to his colleague beside him. "Your Majesty is becoming more and more muddle - headed. He has been procrastinating on the border issue. Lord Liu presented a memorial a few days ago but was scolded back. It's really..."
As he said this, he heaved a heavy sigh.
Chen Xuan's brows knitted into a frown. He said in a deep voice, "I'll go to see His Majesty after tonight's banquet. At least the rations and forage should be sent to General Mao first. Otherwise, how can they survive this winter?"
"Father." Chen Tingfeng appeared out of nowhere. Seeing the colleague looking over, he bowed and said, "Lord Tong."
Lord Tong then stopped his topic and said with a smile, "Shao Chuan is here. You're getting more and more handsome. I heard that you're going to take the provincial examination next year? Good lad! You're really worthy of being Chen Xuan's son. You're as amazing as your father back then!"
When he was young, Chen Xuan had followed his father to fight against the enemy. He led a hundred - man army through the enemy's rear and directly captured a city. That battle made him famous in the capital!
Chen Xuan snorted with a laugh. "This lad still has a long way to go." As he said this, he patted Chen Tingfeng on the shoulder. Seeing that he didn't even flinch, he then withdrew his hand in satisfaction.
Lord Tong pointed at him, showing disgust in his eyes. "If you don't want your son, you might as well give him to me. I've been longing for your Shao Chuan for a long time. He's young, promising, and elegant, much better than my unfilial son!"
Chen Tingfeng stood silently by the side, just listening to Chen Xuan and Tong Youwei chatting casually. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the Second Prince waving at him from afar in a dark red robe.
By the time he bid farewell to Chen Xuan and reached the Second Prince, the bell in the palace rang. The eunuch's singing voice sounded, and all the ministers walked into the main hall one after another.
Xie Yan leaned back against the white jade railing, with a blade of grass in his mouth. He looked slovenly and had no proper posture.
Chen Tingfeng stood beside him without saying a word, just watching the bustling scene inside the hall.
Xie Yan suddenly let out a soft laugh. "If my mother were still alive, seeing me like this, she would have grabbed my ear and scolded, 'Xie Ruogu! You naughty brat!'"
Chen Tingfeng retracted his gaze and straightened his sleeves. "There's no use thinking too much about some things."
Xie Yan knew this truth well, but people were inevitably at the mercy of their emotions at certain times and places.
He stared at Chen Tingfeng meaningfully. "Sometimes I wonder what you would be like when you lose your mind."
Chen Tingfeng glanced at him and changed the topic. "Are the arrangements ready?"
"Of course," Xie Yan said. A glint of cruelty flashed in his eyes. "Tonight, I'll teach that venomous woman a good lesson!"
*
"Zhen Zhen, there's going to be a lantern festival in the east of the city tonight. Do you want to go and have a look?" After dinner, Lady Bai and Fu Zhen were sitting on chairs to digest. She took a sip of warm tea and asked.
Fu Zhen had just rinsed her mouth and was gently wiping the corner of her mouth with a handkerchief. "A lantern festival?"
"Yes. Every New Year's Eve in the capital, there's a lantern festival in the east of the city. Those lanterns are made by ordinary people. They're not very delicate, but they're quite ingenious. It's quite fun to play with them in your hand."
There were often lantern festivals in the capital, which were mainly for the common people to have fun and were very lively.
Lady Bai thought that Fu Zhen might not have seen such a scene very often when she was in the countryside, so she wanted to take her out to have some fun and prevent her from getting bored staying in the mansion all day.
Fu Zhen was a bit tempted. "Are you going, Aunt?"
She looked at Lady Bai eagerly, as if she wouldn't go if Lady Bai said no.
Lady Bai found it funny. She was still a child. She dared not go out to play without an adult accompanying her.
"Go, go. Aunt will go with you!"
On the last day of the year, after a year of hard work, the common people finally stopped to take a rest. The streets were brightly lit, and there were people everywhere. Occasionally, a few children ran past, wearing brand - new clothes, with toys or snacks in their hands, running wildly on the street.
Fu Zhen strolled slowly. She was also infected by the lively and festive atmosphere and showed a bit of a smile on her face.
Lady Bai was even happier. When she saw something novel and interesting on the way, she would ask the maid to buy it and give it to Fu Zhen. At this moment, she was holding a little rabbit lantern. She lifted it up and compared it with Fu Zhen, joking, "Our Zhen Zhen really looks like this little rabbit lantern. She's so fair and clean. She's really lovable!"
Fu Zhen blushed and quickly took the lantern. She pouted and said, "Aunt, you just like to make fun of me!"
Lady Bai laughed heartily. Just as she was about to say something, a well - dressed woman suddenly appeared in front of them, followed by a young and slender girl.
The woman fawned over them. "Oh, I wondered why the magpie was chirping when I got up today. It turns out that I'm so lucky to meet you, Lady, tonight!"
Fu Zhen saw the genuine smile on Lady Bai's face fade away, replaced by the fake smile she usually wore when entertaining guests.
"Sister - in - law Four, you're flattering me." Lady Bai said politely. She was always impatient with such flattery. After interrupting the woman, she turned her eyes to the girl beside her and said with a smile, "Is this Huan Yun? I haven't seen you for a few years. You've grown more and more beautiful. Are you engaged yet?"
Chen Huanyun lowered her head, blushing. Her voice was as soft as a mosquito's. "N - no, I'm not engaged yet."
The woman secretly nudged her daughter to step forward a few steps. On her face, there was still that fawning look. "Her father dotes on her and wants her to stay at home for a few more years. So he's been reluctant to find a good match for her. Alas!"
She sighed. Lady Bai knew there was more to her words, but she was too lazy to pick up the conversation. She just said, "Fourth Brother always dotes on his daughter."
Seeing that Lady Bai didn't follow her train of thought, the woman's smile froze for a moment. She was secretly annoyed at Lady Bai's arrogance, but she quickly adjusted her mood and continued, "I naturally understand his feelings. But a woman's youth is only a few years. I'm always afraid that if it's delayed, Huan Yun won't be able to find a good husband."
Fu Zhen understood. This woman wanted to use the name of the Marquis Mansion to find a wealthy family for her daughter to marry into.
She couldn't help but take a look at Chen Huanyun. Although her face was red, her eyes flickered. Fu Zhen knew that she was aware of her mother's plan, and she couldn't help but sneer in her heart.
Wealth is really blinding.
Then she thought of her own plan, and the look of contempt in her heart disappeared without a trace.
Well, there's nothing wrong with pursuing wealth.
In a woman's life, there are only two times when she can change her destiny. One is at birth, and the other is when she gets married.
She has no control over her birth, but she can control her marriage.
She lowered her head, covered her mouth with a handkerchief, and listened carefully to Lady Bai's reply.
"Your concern comes from a mother's love, and it's reasonable. Why don't you go back to the mansion and have a good talk with Fourth Brother? There's no overnight feud between husband and wife. Once you resolve your differences, everything will be fine."
Lady Bai could tell what the woman meant, but this kind of underhanded plan really disgusted her. If the woman had come to her openly and asked for help, she might have been willing to help.
So, with a few words, she silenced the woman and also subtly satirized the fact that the couple had a bad relationship.
Fu Zhen couldn't help laughing while listening. Fortunately, she covered her mouth with a handkerchief, or the woman would have really been embarrassed.
She looked up. She originally wanted to speak up to ease the situation and take Lady Bai away, but at that moment, she saw Chen Huanyun glaring at her fiercely.
Fu Zhen was completely confused.