Chapter 154
Chapter 154: You Always Admired Me
Luo Ning first told the Princess about what had happened at the Marquis of Jian Ning’s residence; then she listened as the Princess told an old story.
In the early years, there was a Beauty Cao in the Imperial Palace. She was deeply favored and enjoyed endless glory for a time.
“When Imperial Father was still the Crown Prince, the first guiding Aunt he had meant something very special to him. Sadly, she died early.
“Beauty Cao was a bit like that Aunt, not in looks, but in temper and nature. Imperial Father doted on her a great deal, so she became unbearably arrogant.
“She kept a cat. That cat lunged at Imperial Elder Brother, causing him to lose his footing and fall into the water, and it even scratched Imperial Mother’s hand. Even after such a huge mistake, Imperial Father only ordered her to stay in her quarters and reflect. He truly wanted to protect her.
“Imperial Mother has always been generous and takes good care of the favored consorts. But my Imperial Elder Brother hated Beauty Cao so much that he complained about her to Imperial Mother twice. Only then did Imperial Mother deal with her.”
Princess Ping Yang said this, then glanced at Luo Ning: “That Beauty Cao looked a little like your cousin. When I first saw her, I felt uneasy, and later I remembered why.”
The Crown Prince falling into the water and the Empress being scratched were both hidden at the time. Otherwise, the Censorate would definitely have impeached Beauty Cao and forced the Emperor to have her executed.
The Emperor would not have wanted to, but would have had no choice, and his anger would have turned back on the Crown Prince and the Empress instead.
So the Empress kept the matter a secret.
Princess Ping Yang only learned about it several years later, when Beauty Cao was already dead. So she just found Beauty Cao annoying, but did not truly hate her.
When she saw a woman with similar looks, the Princess did not think of it right away.
But Luo Ning’s heart stirred: “Your Majesty probably also dislikes women who look like my cousin, right?”
“He definitely doesn’t like them,” Princess Ping Yang said.
The Emperor hates the late emperor’s Favored Consort for two reasons. First, he saw his noble Mother get scratched on the hand by the Favored Consort’s cat, which made him both distressed and furious. Second, the Favored Consort might give birth to a son more favored than he was, surpassing his Mother and threatening his own status.
Luo Ning felt a faint stir in her heart.
Her plan to make Bai Ci Rong and the Marquis of Jian Ning’s household take the blame might go even more smoothly than she had expected.
“…Imperial Elder Sister, do you still want to go to Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple for the vegetarian banquet?” Once they finished that topic, Luo Ning finally mentioned why she had come.
“Of course.”
Luo Ning agreed on a time with her.
Then she said: “Imperial Elder Sister, I’ll go ahead of time to make the arrangements. I won’t wait to leave the city together with you.”
“There is no need to go to so much trouble.”
“I was the one who invited you. I can’t very well make your people handle it. Don’t worry, I can manage such a small matter,” Luo Ning said.
The Princess smiled and patted her hand: “When you handle things, I can naturally rest easy.”
Less than half an hour after Luo Ning left, Prince Yong arrived.
He had some business with the Princess’s husband.
“You two should arrange to come together next time. One comes right before, the other right after, and you never manage to meet,” the Princess said with a laugh.
Xiao Huai Feng’s dark eyes were calm, and not a trace of emotion showed on his face: “What did she come for?”
The Princess told him why Luo Ning had come.
Xiao Huai Feng said: “Last time at Ten Thousand Buddhas Temple, I lit an everlasting lamp for Third Sister-in-law. When Imperial Elder Sister goes, help me add some more oil to it.”
The Princess nodded: “All right. Third Sister-in-law was a woman with little good fortune. Such a good person did not live long.”
Xiao Huai Feng said nothing.
He thought for a moment, then said to the Princess: “I should go add the oil myself. Third Brother entrusted this matter to me. If he hears about it later, he’ll think I don’t care.”
“You just want to see your intended consort, don’t you?” the Princess teased him.
Xiao Huai Feng said: “Yes.”
If he did not keep an eye on her, she would start playing house with the enemy again.
Xiao Huai Feng could often hold himself back and say nothing in front of her. But afterward, he always felt a breath stuck in his chest, neither going up nor down, making him very uncomfortable.
Most of the time, Luo Ning was very good. But every time she fought back in that soft, gentle way, it made Xiao Huai Feng restless and ill at ease. It felt as if some part of his skin itched, yet she only brushed it lightly.
The itch never eased, and became even harder to bear. Xiao Huai Feng kept telling himself not to be too harsh on his servants, yet he still could not help it.
“What is it, did she make you unhappy?” The Princess studied Xiao Huai Feng’s expression carefully.
Xiao Huai Feng said: “No. She’s quite good.”
“I always thought you were thick-headed and slow to understand feelings. I didn’t expect you to know what warmth and care are after all. A’Ning really is very good,” the Princess said.
Xiao Huai Feng nodded.
“It’s rare that you don’t dislike her,” the Princess went on. “You have been picky since you were small. Imperial Mother used to worry about your marriage. But when fate comes, you really do stop nitpicking everything.”
Xiao Huai Feng stood up: “I’ll go find Brother-in-law first. I have something to tell him.”
In the blink of an eye, the day arrived. Luo Ning left the city early to meet Yu Zhuo at the plum garden outside the city.
There were a few compact, exquisite houses in the plum garden. Every winter they were used to host noble ladies who came to admire the blossoms. At this time of year, though, the place was neglected, and the courtyards were overgrown with weeds.
Among the weeds, wildflowers bloomed red or yellow. Spiders spun webs between them, and the torn webs floated like strands of silk. The scene was full of life and yet especially desolate.
Luo Ning stood alone in the covered corridor, waiting for Yu Zhuo.
Yu Zhuo strode in, dressed in a dark robe.
He saw Luo Ning standing in the corridor. Sunlight shone on only half of her body. Her silk skirt glowed under the blazing sun, but her brows and eyes were hidden in shadow.
“A’Ning, why did you try to harm me last time?” As soon as they met, this was the first thing Yu Zhuo asked.
Luo Ning seemed stunned by his question. She looked at him quietly and did not answer for a moment.
“I was really very angry,” he said, “but when I thought about how you still left me some face, I felt comforted. A’Ning, you still remember the feelings from our childhood.”
Luo Ning looked at him, the color in her eyes shifting slightly.
Yu Zhuo remembered what Qiu Shi Dong had said, that Luo Ning did not want him to marry Bai Ci Rong because he had once been the man in Luo Ning’s heart.
As long as Luo Ning refused to agree, Yu Zhuo would never have the chance to marry the young lady he loved. Luo Ning was about to become Princess Consort Yong, and she had the power to stir things up.
Yu Zhuo had Luo Ning in his heart, but even more, he had Bai Ci Rong.
Hearing Qiu Shi Dong’s words had left Yu Zhuo with very mixed feelings.
“Yu Zhuo, at the Marquis of Jian Ning’s residence, how were you and Bai Ci Rong planning to harm me?” Luo Ning finally spoke, asking him calmly.
“We weren’t going to harm you,” Yu Zhuo said, his eyes dark, as if he felt sorry for her. “It was you who harmed us instead. A’Ning, don’t you have something you want to say to me?”
Luo Ning said: “What would I say?”
“Prince Yong’s residence is like a dragon’s pool and a tiger’s den. You want to ask me for help to save you from it, don’t you?” Yu Zhuo asked her again.
If Qiu Shi Dong had not pointed it out, he would never have noticed that Luo Ning still felt so deeply for him.
Of course, she had originally been meant to marry him.
They were childhood sweethearts; no one could compare to that bond. Even if Bai Ci Rong was better than Luo Ning in every respect, when Yu Zhuo thought of Luo Ning, he still could not bear to let her go.
He had once suggested that Luo Ning become a nun, give up her good household status, and after a few years he would take her back to his home as a concubine.
As long as there was a sincere heart, what could not be compromised?
Yu Zhuo was proud of being outstanding in every way. Although he was a bit inferior to Prince Yong, he was still an excellent choice in the eyes of any fair lady.
As for Luo Ning, once she entered Prince Yong’s residence, it would not be long before she was killed by the secondary consorts and their maiden families. That was truly terrifying.
Qiu Shi Dong’s words had awakened Yu Zhuo, making him see Luo Ning’s forbearance, fear, and lasting affection.
He was a hot-blooded man, and he wanted to save her.
Luo Ning should belong only to him.
Although his feelings for her were far weaker than those he had for Bai Ci Rong, she was still a woman he kept in a corner of his heart. How could he let her suffer unrequited love?
“Am I crazy?” Luo Ning laughed. “Why would I refuse the incomparably noble Prince Yong and choose you instead?”
She smiled brightly. Her brows and eyes held a hint of youthful innocence, and she was in no way inferior to Bai Ci Rong.
Yu Zhuo felt a sour softness in his heart. “Are you still sulking, A’Ning?”
“What exactly did you want to say to me when you asked to meet?” Luo Ning asked, never losing her temper.
“I once saved a bandit. I asked him to help, and he’ll take you away.
“He will settle you in a safe place. At that time, we’ll say you died. After another year or so, I’ll bring you back. You will spend the rest of your life in my household, and no one will ever know,” Yu Zhuo said.
“So the reason you wanted to see me was to abduct Prince Yong’s intended consort?” Luo Ning asked.
Yu Zhuo said: “You are willing, A’Ning. I know your feelings. I was blind before, but from now on I will not let you down.”
Luo Ning stared at him without blinking.
Her gaze was touched with a hint of blazing sunlight, shimmering as if it might shatter, making her look especially pitiful.
“Yu Zhuo, now that you’re no longer blind, who was it that opened your eyes?” Luo Ning asked.