Everyone in the court would think that Wen Yuanning had been promoted this time, but only they knew that with Lan Miao in the picture, could Wen Yuanning get along well under his future superior, Lan Cengui?
The emperor was both warning and restricting him.
Moreover, this move would also draw countless praises for the emperor's magnanimity and tolerance.
They had their grievances but couldn't voice them.
Wen Hongxin's face alternated between rage and calm. For a moment, he couldn't come up with a good solution.
He and Wen Yuanning exchanged a look, and finally saw a glimmer of helplessness in each other's eyes.
After a while, Wen Hongxin patted Wen Yuanning on the shoulder and forced a reassuring smile on his face.
"Don't think too much. If the emperor really knew about your feelings for Lan Miao, with his great favor for her, you might have lost your life long ago. Now that you're going to the Supreme Court of Judicature, as long as you work hard, you can be transferred to the Ministry of Justice in the future. It's better than being a civil official with only an honorary title in the Imperial Academy all the time."
"Second brother..."
Wen Yuanning was about to say something else when Wen Hongxin interrupted him again.
Wen Hongxin waved his hand and said firmly, "Yuanning, stop talking. Anyway, you have to forget about Lan Miao. You two will never be together."
Wen Yuanning's expression froze.
One wrong step, and every subsequent step would be wrong. In the end, they'd missed each other for a lifetime.
He was about to say something else when there was a sudden commotion at the entrance of the Marquis Mansion. The steward of the mansion also hurriedly walked over to report.
"My lord, third master, Concubine Lan... Her Highness has come. Her carriage will soon arrive at the main gate of the mansion. The eunuch from the palace asks us all to go out and greet Her Highness."
Wen Yuanning's eyes suddenly widened, and then a helpless and cold smile curled up on his lips.
She finally came.
Was this being true to her word?
"Let's go and greet them. Don't forget the etiquette, Yuanning."
Wen Hongxin sighed. What was meant to come would come. He patted Wen Yuanning on the right shoulder. "Pull yourself together."
Wen Yuanning's face was ashen. He forced himself to cheer up and went to the main gate with Wen Hongxin.
The female relatives of the Marquis Mansion, including the birthday star today, the old lady Wen, were also going to the main gate to greet Lan Miao's entourage.
Since receiving the imperial edict of Lan Miao's ennoblement as a concubine, the old lady Wen's face had been as black as the bottom of a scoured pot. Now that Lan Miao came to celebrate her birthday, it was simply adding insult to injury.
The imperial edict was hard to disobey.
Even though she was extremely reluctant in her heart, she could only, supported by Nanny Li, lead everyone in the Marquis Mansion to the gate to greet her.
The whole mansion's people and guests knelt in a vast expanse in front of Lan Miao and Xue'er.
Dressed in grand attire, Lan Miao slowly got off the carriage with Xue'er. From afar, she saw the people kneeling on the ground. The once - familiar people were now kneeling and crawling at her feet. Her heart was pounding.
This was nothing less than a reminder that her current identity was that of the emperor's concubine, and she had to be careful in everything.
Lan Miao held Xue'er's little hand and gracefully paced up to them. When she saw the old lady Wen, who had always loathed her extremely, kneeling in front of her shakily, her heart was completely calm.
There was no sense of gratification, nor a feeling of all grievances disappearing. There was only calm.
Everyone said in unison, "We welcome Concubine Lan."
"Get up."
Lan Miao had no intention of making things difficult for them here. She quickly let them get up. She didn't want to put on airs either. She still felt as if she were in a different world.
"Xue'er, go and help your grandmother up."
In front of all the guests, Lan Miao did enough to show her courtesy.
Xue'er staggered up to the old lady Wen and smiled brightly at her. "Grandmother, let Xue'er help you up. In the future, when Xue'er is not by your side, you must take good care of your health."
The old lady Wen, whose arm was being held, trembled and looked at this little good - for - nothing in front of her with annoyance.
She clearly knew that she disliked her the most, but she still clung to her every time. She was clearly deliberately annoying her.
"Good, good. Xue'er is filial."
The old lady Wen could only force herself to put on a show while suppressing her annoyance.
Xue'er smiled even more happily. She stepped forward and presented a long wooden box. "This is the birthday gift that Xue'er and mother prepared for grandmother. Please accept it, grandmother."
"Okay..."
The old lady Wen could only reluctantly accept the gift.
Originally, she was thinking that in front of so many people, if Lan Miao made things difficult for her, she could play the victim and say that Lan Miao was bullying her, an old mother - in - law, and make both this mother and daughter unhappy.
But what Xue'er said had put her in a difficult position.
How could she still play the victim?
"Let's all go in. Don't stand at the door for too long. Today is the old lady's birthday. If someone catches a cold in this cold wind, wouldn't it be my fault?"
Lan Miao's extremely beautiful face carried a faint smile as usual. Her eyes flashed, and she calmly glanced at the old lady Wen.
At this glance, the old lady felt that her intention had been seen through.
Lan Miao didn't look at her anymore. After a faint sweep over everyone present, she took the lead and walked into the main gate of the Marquis Mansion, holding Xue'er's hand.
The train of her palace dress trailed on the ground, and the pendants on her headdress swayed behind her. Without the plain clothes of the past, Lan Miao was like a porcelain vase after being polished, showing an inalienable celestial air.
Wen Yuanning followed the crowd in. His mind was still lingering on that faint glance of Lan Miao's just now.
Did she see him?
He really wanted to think so, but a voice in his head told him that Lan Miao might never have seen him in her eyes.
He never thought that one day Lan Miao would become a concubine, someone he could never reach in his lifetime.
He thought that after Lan Miao divorced and left the Marquis Mansion, and there was no longer the nominal relationship of sister - in - law and brother - in - law between them, he still had a chance to get close to her.
An imperial edict had cut off all his thoughts.
Wen Yuanning suddenly remembered the scene when he met Lan Miao in the Elegant Hall yesterday. Why was it that after he met Lan Miao yesterday, the imperial edict of her ennoblement as a concubine suddenly arrived at the Marquis Mansion today?
Was Lan Miao willing?
Was it the emperor who forced her to marry?
He suddenly had a bold speculation.
If the emperor had taken a fancy to Lan Miao long ago, then would the emperor have heard his conversation with Lan Miao yesterday, which was why there was such a sudden imperial edict of ennoblement today?
He seemed to have understood many things.
Wen Yuanning let out a long sigh.
All this was just his speculation after all. The real situation could only be asked of Lan Miao, but she never wanted to answer him.
With deep doubts in his heart, Wen Yuanning followed the crowd into the Marquis Mansion.
Lan Miao did enough to save face in front of everyone. She stayed in the front hall until the guests started the banquet. Then she whispered a few words to Han Bi beside her and slowly went to the back hall.
Han Bi came in front of Wen Hongxin.
She first saluted, and then said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "My lord Marquis Wen, Her Highness has something to discuss with you. Please go to the back hall to see Her Highness with the old lady Wen."
Wen Hongxin, who was still greeting the guests, was stunned. The steward beside him was still talking to him about the affairs of the mansion, and it was obvious that he couldn't leave.
Seeing this, Wen Yuanning volunteered.
"Second brother, I'll go and talk to her."
"You?"
Wen Hongxin highly suspected that Wen Yuanning might lose his composure on the spot.
However, Wen Yuanning's expression was extremely calm, as if he had made up his mind. He avoided the people around him, leaned over to Wen Hongxin's ear and whispered, "Second brother, don't worry. I understand the situation of the Marquis Mansion. I won't let down the expectations of the one in the palace."