Chapter 26
Chapter 26: Allowing Her to Share His Table
Luo Ning entered the teahouse.
At the private room at the very back of the second floor, a personal guard stood at the door.
Luo Ning walked forward. Before she could take out the command token, the personal guard called to her: “Princess Consort.” Then he said toward the room: “Prince, Princess Consort has arrived.”
Luo Ning: “…”
She felt very awkward when she heard this, because the imperial edict granting the marriage had not been issued yet.
Even if the imperial edict had already come, before the Ministry of Rites chose an auspicious date for the wedding, she would still only be his intended consort.
From inside came a man’s low voice: “Come in.”
Luo Ning lifted the curtain herself and stepped into the private room.
There were three people and one dog inside.
When Black Dog saw Luo Ning, it almost jumped up in excitement to fawn on her. The blood at the corners of its mouth had been wiped away, and with its black fur, the stains that remained could hardly be seen.
Prince Yong Xiao Huai Feng sat on the west side, wearing a plain light blue silk robe. He shot an impatient glance at his dog.
Black Dog immediately lay down on the floor, not daring to rush toward Luo Ning.
Only after pinning the dog in place with his gaze did Xiao Huai Feng look at Luo Ning.
Luo Ning felt that his air was different today. His brows and eyes were still cold and sharp, the danger and cruelty still hidden deep in them, but the light blue robe added a hint of softness to him.
Luo Ning curtsied with her sleeves gathered and said: “Greetings, Prince. Thank you for stepping in to save me just now.”
Xiao Huai Feng’s tone was very cold: “Rise.”
Luo Ning stood up and said: “Forgive me for disturbing you. Prince, I only came to pay my respects, so I will take my leave now.”
“Since you’re here, sit down and have a cup of tea.” Xiao Huai Feng said lightly.
Two men sat across from him.
One had delicate, handsome features and fair skin. He had a slight resemblance to Xiao Huai Feng. He was smiling, yet there was a trace of sorrow between his brows that he could not hide.
The other man was also strikingly handsome. He wore a bright red robe specially permitted to the sons of great houses. He seemed carefree and dissolute, his gaze like a hook, lingering the same on people and on dogs. Even when he was not smiling, there still seemed to be a hint of a smile on his face.
“This is Third Brother; this is my cousin on my mother’s side, Cui Zheng Qing,” Xiao Huai Feng said with rare patience, making the introductions. “This is the Luo Family’s eldest Miss, A’Ning, my Princess Consort.”
The two men across from them both smiled.
Xiao Huai Feng’s third brother was Prince Chen.
Prince Chen said: “The imperial edict for the marriage will only be issued in a few days. If you decide so rashly like this, I’m afraid Miss Luo will feel awkward.”
He looked at Luo Ning again.
Luo Ning was a bit nervous, but not shy at all.
Hearing Prince Chen say this, Luo Ning even took the initiative to explain: “Since Prince Yong has agreed, the marriage is already settled. As for how to address me, it is entirely up to the Prince.”
Cui Zheng Qing laughed loudly and said: “Seventh Brother, your Princess Consort is straightforward. She is from the Marquis of Zhen Nan’s household, so she counts as a daughter of a military family, doesn’t she?”
Xiao Huai Feng did not respond.
Prince Chen also said: “I saw you using the whip just now.”
Xiao Huai Feng said: “Your whip technique was clumsy and truly an eyesore.”
Luo Ning sat beside him with her eyes lowered and said: “I have only learned a little of the basics.”
“Don’t flatter yourself,” he said. “The moment you struck, someone grabbed the end of your whip. You can lash out but you cannot pull back. That is not even the basics. It does not even count as entry level.”
He probably hated foolish people.
Luo Ning answered softly in agreement and did not argue with him.
Prince Yong added: “Next time you run into a mad dog, just go around it.”
Luo Ning again said that she understood.
Seeing that she did not try to argue, Xiao Huai Feng felt a little better and personally poured her a cup of tea.
Luo Ning drank her tea and listened to their casual talk.
Prince Chen said: “Divine Physician Dong is hard to invite. We cannot find any trace of him anywhere.”
When Luo Ning heard this, she could not help cutting in: “Prince, is the Divine Physician Dong you are talking about Dong Ru, who is skilled at treating heart ailments?”
Prince Chen forced a smile and said: “Yes, him.”
“He has gone overseas,” Luo Ning said. “I met him in Shaoyang. He was about to travel far to the Eastern Isles. I heard that his younger cousin lost contact there. That cousin is his only remaining family, so he is going to search for him.”
Prince Chen’s expression changed.
Cui Zheng Qing explained to Luo Ning: “Prince Chen’s consort is not in good health.”
Prince Chen gave a bitter smile and said: “I will have to look for another renowned physician.”
No wonder there was a sadness on his face that he could not hide.
Luo Ning sat for a short while longer.
Xiao Huai Feng did not speak to her again. After Luo Ning finished her cup of tea, she tactfully got up to take her leave.
As soon as she left, Cui Zheng Qing said: “Miss Luo is very beautiful. With such a peerless face, how is it that her name is not famous?”
Xiao Huai Feng could not be bothered to answer him.
Prince Chen said: “You must not speak carelessly about Princess Consort Yong.”
Cui Zheng Qing said: “She looks quite good. Seventh Brother, are you not satisfied with her?”
Prince Yong gave him a cold glance: “Do not pry into things that have nothing to do with you.”
Cui Zheng Qing kept joking, saying that after Princess Consort Yong entered the household, he would send Prince Yong a few beauties, and they would surely suit his taste.
Xiao Huai Feng did not even spare him a glance.
He looked out the window. Someone was carrying away the shadow guard whom Black Dog had bitten to death.
Xiao Huai Feng said calmly: “The Zheng Family has raised their daughter to be even more arrogant than a princess. The Censorate only keeps impeaching the Zheng Family’s Young Master and Miss for their domineering behavior, and instead overlooks the family’s ambitions. Very good planning.”
Prince Chen said: “Madam Zheng is indeed full of ambition.”
The three of them talked for half the day before finally parting.
The teahouse was one of Prince Yong’s businesses, used specially for gathering information.
After this trip out, Luo Ning had not managed to get her zither repaired or buy a new one, and she had even stirred up a whole mess for herself.
She let out a sigh.
The Lantern Festival at the Marquis of Zhen Nan’s residence was very lively.
Bai Ci Rong sat among the Luo Family brothers and sisters, especially eye catching. Her phoenix eyes and red lips were so bright they were almost scorching, making Luo Ning’s younger half-sister, cousin, and the others look a bit ordinary by comparison.
Old Madam said: “Once the Lantern Festival is over, the year is truly finished. Another year has passed.”
The Marquis of Zhen Nan said: “Yes. Mother’s health is better than last year.”
Old Madam said with a smile: “A’Ning has come back. Seeing her makes me happy, so of course I feel stronger.”
Luo Ning said: “Granddaughter will certainly be filial to Grandmother from now on.”
When Old Madam mentioned her granddaughter, she took the chance to ask the Marchioness, Madam Bai: “…Have you found any candidates for her marriage?”
For a moment, Madam Bai could not find suitable words to answer.
She had lost her temper at Luo Ning at the New Year’s Day court audience and had been confined by the Marquis of Zhen Nan, so she had not attended any spring banquets. Where could she have gone to arrange a match for Luo Ning?
After hesitating several times in her heart, the Marchioness said gently: “We still need to look around. A marriage is a big matter and cannot be settled carelessly.”
Old Madam seemed to remember what had happened before and nodded slightly: “You are not wrong. You should pay more attention.”
Luo Ning felt that she should tell them the truth.
She stood up and walked to Old Madam’s side: “Grandmother, the Empress Dowager wishes to issue an imperial edict to choose a husband for me. The candidate has already been chosen. Once the Ministry of Rites opens its seals, the decree will be issued.”
Everyone froze for a moment in surprise.
The Marquis of Zhen Nan was both shocked and delighted: “Is that true?”
A son in law chosen by imperial edict was most likely a young man from a powerful family.
He had thought that Luo Ning no longer had much value. He had not expected the Empress Dowager to be so kind and sentimental as to take charge of her marriage.
Luo Ning said: “That is how the Empress Dowager hinted it to Daughter.”
The Marquis of Zhen Nan rubbed his hands together: “The Ministry of Rites opens its seals tomorrow. If there is really good news in the next few days, hurry and prepare more firecrackers.”
The Marchioness beamed: “A’Ning, you really are lucky. You must always remember the Empress Dowager’s great favor from now on.”
Luo Ning agreed.
However, by the sixteenth day of the first lunar month, no imperial edict granting the marriage had arrived.
The reason was simple: Prince Chen’s consort had passed away from illness.
Prince Chen’s consort was only twenty one years old and had only been mildly ill for half a year. Prince Chen was hit hard, and the Empress Dowager was also deeply grieved. At such a time, the funeral naturally came first.