Xie Ming

"Singing and dancing under the willows in the courtyard, sisters on swings among the flowers."

As they walked along the waterfront promenade, Chen Wanying hesitated for a moment, then started talking again.

“I remember when we were little, Wanying and her sister would often play house in the garden.”

"My eldest sister is proud and has always dressed like an empress since she was a child, saying that she will enter the palace sooner or later."

"Now, I am of the highest rank and honor, that's enough."

When Dan Ti spoke, whether intentionally or unintentionally, he kept circling around his sister Chen Wanxuan.

As soon as the conversation shifted, her watery eyes dimmed slightly.

Xiao Jiang, observing her expression from the side, also understood the second young lady's intentions.

It is difficult to say whether one is rich or poor. For a young lady from a noble family, if she is chosen to enter the palace as empress, she will naturally be the mother of the nation and enjoy the greatest wealth and honor.

However, life is unpredictable and fate is often unpredictable. Often, when one prays to the Bodhisattva, one is met with indifference from the Heavenly Venerable.

Good fortune and misfortune always come from the same source. Whether it's good or bad, the taste of it all is something that sometimes only the person involved can truly experience.

Take Chen Wanxuan for example. Once chosen to serve by the emperor's side, she was destined for great wealth and honor.

However, Emperor Hongguang was ill and passed away in less than two years.

Since the Chen family had no children, although Xiao Jingchuan strongly advocated for the support of the faction and helped establish the Empress Dowager, they were able to raise the young emperor together with Yuzhen.

However, this widowed empress dowager, powerless and without influence, is confined to the Forbidden Palace. Just thinking about how difficult her days will be in the future is enough.

Fate is indeed unpredictable.

"Ugh"

"Life is unpredictable; everyone has their own destiny."

Xiao understood her heart, spoke kindly, and had always been known for her beauty and charm.

Upon hearing this, Wanying stole a glance at him from the side, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

"Yes, who can predict that?"

"I"

"Given the elder sister's situation, it remains to be seen what will become of Wanying in the future."

Thus, the sisters are of one heart, and the daughters' feelings are truly tangled and difficult to unravel.

After hearing this, Xiao Lang, who was standing to the side, also felt sorry for him and started asking questions.

"kindness?"

"What are Miss Chen's plans for the future?"

"Entering the palace for the imperial concubine selection is probably no longer appropriate, I wonder..."

Xiao simply went along with it.

However, upon hearing that the Duke had something to say to her, Wanying answered quickly.

"No, that's not true!"

Upon hearing these words, Xiao Nan was taken aback and raised his eyebrows to examine them closely.

Seeing that these words were abrupt, Miss Chen could not stop in time, so she simply continued to fold the pleats.

"Ah, no, no."

"What I meant to say was that Wanying's beliefs from a young age were quite different from her sister's."

"I... I have never liked palace walls."

"I want to marry a great general, and ride alongside him through the golden armor and iron horses, across the Gobi Desert and yellow sands."

It was a veiled meaning, a hidden message.

Chen Wanxuan mustered her courage, her eyes filled with panic, and finally managed to express what was on her mind.

"My sister often says that Wanying is a strange girl; she's usually mild-mannered, but her mind is quite wild."

To hide her nervousness, the second young lady covered her face and pretended to laugh.

Every word she uttered, every frown and smile, her eyes were fixed on Xiao Chu with a hint of fear.

The pause was also a deliberate act of waiting for a reply.

However, it was clear that Xiao Lang was also caught off guard and embarrassed in the awkward situation.

"Oh?"

"I see."

"Hehe, what's so strange about that?"

"Does that mean that generals who come from the ranks are unworthy of beautiful women?"

He was simply trying to stall for time and devise a plan for a safe retreat. "Ah, no."

“That’s not what I meant.” Wanying smiled shyly, her eyebrows curving upwards, and nodded, fiddling with her slender fingers.

"Haha, it's alright, it's nothing."

"If the Second Miss truly intends to do so, my command is filled with valiant generals."

"Entrust this matter to my wife and me. It's absolutely the right thing to do. We guarantee you a perfect husband. A beauty deserves a hero, right?"

"That would be quite a pleasant story, Miss. What do you think?" Xiao Yuhua asked, her words revealing her affections.

This is utterly foolish and a stupid slip of the tongue.

Or is it that the spring breeze is unintentional, pretending to be confused even though it knows the truth?
It doesn't matter now.

He was like a wooden prefect, stronger than a foolish lord.

Asking about the east only leads to an answer about the west; it's like playing the lute to a cow—a waste of energy.

If you teach him to do romantic things, you'll only be waiting for the Yellow River to flow backward!

Xiao Jiang's words were tactless, leaving Wan Ying feeling cold and heartbroken.
"you"

"Forget it, this is so boring."

"My daughter misspoke and had no such intention. Your Excellency should save your mind."

As expected, the second young lady stomped her foot in anger, choked back a sob, and refused to speak to him again.
And so it goes, and so it continues forward.

After chasing for a few steps, the two arrived at the Hibiscus Water Pavilion, a pavilion near the water, but then they realized that the dream of the water pavilion and covered bridge had just ended.

Sullen and sulky, Chen Wanying bit her lip, trying her best to control herself.

After Xiao followed, he composed himself and focused his mind, finally bringing up the important matter at hand.

"My lord, my daughter has already troubled me quite a bit today."

"The reason I came here this time to invite the Duke to meet me is because my grandfather asked me to treat the troops to a meal."

After waiting and waiting, Xiao Jingchuan breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this, finally managing to get around to this point.

So he verbally agreed, but Ye only responded with a sound.

“Oh, hehe, Hongyu told me about it.”

Unexpectedly, these words sounded out of place when spoken in front of the beautiful woman.

"red?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Wanying held back her words, her eyes growing even dimmer.

"understood."

"It is inappropriate for a young lady like Wanying to show herself in public and rush to see me like this."

No wonder.

The words were tinged with annoyance and a hint of bitterness, and Xiao, who was listening in a daze, didn't really know how to respond.

"Uh," Xiao Kuyan said awkwardly, scratching his head.

"I am grateful that the Duke has not minded accompanying a mere maid for so long."

"To be frank, my grandfather repeatedly told me before I came here."

"It is said that the current situation in the lower regions is one of quelling the chaos and the affairs of the nation are fraught with difficulties."

"We, the local gentry, already feel the times are bad, let alone the imperial court and you, Duke."

"On horseback, we fight in the north to defend against the enemy; on foot, we govern the court."

"The cost of military horses and salaries is enormous."

“My Chen family has lived in the south for generations. Although we are a small family, we can’t be of much help.”

"But family matters, national affairs, and world affairs are all matters of concern. As a citizen of the Ming Dynasty, when I see the country in trouble and the public in distress, how can I not repay the kindness and do my best to help?"

"Now, the clansmen have reached a consensus and pooled together the money by pawning and selling various items, raising more than five million taels of silver."

"The Duke is a peerless hero and a pillar of the court. Whether the Ming Dynasty can survive this calamity depends entirely on the Duke."

"At this critical juncture, the Chen family, out of a sense of duty to reward the troops, presents this silver."

"We hope that the Duke will not refuse our request, so as to satisfy our gratitude and desire to follow his example."

"Grandpa also said that in the future, if the Duke ever needs anything from our Chen family, all members of the Chen family, young and old, will do their utmost, even at the cost of their lives."

Chen Wanxuan recited the text verbatim; without a doubt, these words were all in accordance with Chen Xuanli's intentions.

However, I sent this granddaughter as a token of my sincerity.

Xiao Lang knew the Chen family's intentions; they had been waiting for these words, and their business was all about money.
Thinking about it, it really is a waste of such a beautiful view. (End of Chapter)