Lin'an Never Night

Chapter 867 Xingruo's Sorrow
As expected, Li Renxiao was beaten again.

When he was carried back by the people from the Marquis of Anshun's mansion after they removed the door panels, Ren Muyan and Wang Yunmei rushed over upon hearing the news.

The two mature women glanced at Yang Yuan with watery eyes, their gazes filled with resentment.

Yang Yuan naturally understood their complaints.

I haven't climbed over their wall since I came back.

But he's too busy; these days he's simply...unable to be in two places at once.

Yang Yuan sighed and instructed Liu Dazhuang: "Tomorrow, go and inform Ministers Chen and Ma to arrange for Marquis Anshun to be assigned to the Ministry of Rites."

Hmm... appoint a vice minister, specifically in charge of affairs concerning various vassal states and minor clans, mainly in the Western Xia region.

Liu Dazhuang readily agreed.

Such a public and decisive decision earned him the title of Vice Minister, though not a proper one.

However, Yang Yuan no longer concealed his true intentions; he had no choice but to accept his position as a powerful minister.

He was open and honest. Some people knew that spittle wouldn't do anything to him, so there was less gossip.

Yang Yuan slapped Li Renxiao and then gave him a sweet treat, while subtly giving Empress Dowager Ren and Empress Wang a meaningful look.

He hinted to the two complaining women that he would climb over the wall to deliver sweet dates to them that night, before heading back home.

The young woman surnamed Qian sat in the car, gently lifting the curtain with one hand, watching the farce come to an end.

After the people from the Marquis of Anshun's residence and the Prince of Yan's residence had left, he asked the guards who were escorting them, "Who was the one who was beaten?"

After clarifying the situation, the girl surnamed Qian asked again, "And who was that rude man who hit people?"

Upon receiving another reply, the girl surnamed Qian pouted and said, "I thought he was a refined and cultured minister because he was so enthusiastic about promoting education."

Unexpectedly, his language was vulgar and his behavior crude, behaving like a common street urchin.

The servant said nervously, "Miss, please be careful what you say. The Prince of Yan now wields immense power in the court."

"What does his immense power have to do with me?"

The young woman surnamed Qian lowered the curtain and said calmly, "Let's go back to the manor."

When the young woman surnamed Qian returned to the Qian family mansion, Qian Duanli had not yet returned. The Qian family had been busy these past few days stabilizing the situation in the capital region for Yang Yuan.

The main focus is on two aspects: people's livelihood and public opinion.

When wealthy families intervene, the efficiency and effectiveness are far greater than if the imperial court were to exert all its efforts.

Moreover, many civil officials in the court have completely turned against Yang Yuan because he has embarked on the path of becoming a powerful minister.

Even though Yang Yuan was the top scholar in the imperial examinations, achieving the highest honors in all three levels of the examinations, which should have been a source of pride for the literati, he still deserved recognition.

But from the very beginning, he had the background of a military general.

His subsequent actions, and his refusal to stand with the scholar-officials, meant that he was never truly considered one of their own.

Now, the division is even more obvious.

Those ministers dared not openly oppose him anymore, but they would definitely try to sabotage him in secret whenever the opportunity arose.

At this point, winning over the Qian family, this treacherous hydra entrenched in Jiangnan, would be extremely beneficial, almost as effective as Yang Yuan controlling the Three Military Offices.

It's just that one is the military and the other is the civilians. Once these two are controlled, it won't be easy for the "scholar" at the top to find an opportunity to cause trouble.

This young woman surnamed Qian, who called herself "Muyi Jushi," was Qian Xingruo, the youngest daughter of Vice Minister Qian.

If Xingruo was born to Qian Duanli's beloved concubine, it was a case of having a daughter late in life, so naturally he doted on her.

Moreover, the children born to concubines were raised under the name of the wife from childhood. The wife was the "mother," while the biological mother was just a "concubine."

Xingruo was a lovable child, and being a girl, she was unlike any other boy.

Therefore, the legal wife treated her like her own daughter, no less than the legitimate children.

Furthermore, given the Qian family's abundant resources, there's no reason for them to treat her differently.

Therefore, Minister Qian's precious daughter was extremely favored in the Qian family.

She returned to the Qian residence, first delivering the gifts she had prepared to her mother and "aunt" respectively, then chatting with the two women before returning to her own room.

This is not the Qian family's old residence, but Qian Duanli is now an official in the court, so he acquired this house.

Having been away studying abroad for more than half a year, I'm now back, and I need to visit the old family home to see all the elders.

However, it doesn't have to be today.

Xingruo first took a bath with the help of her maids and changed into a light and soft silk dress. Then, the maid brought out her favorite dessert.

Candied chicken head rice, crispy abalone, and cherry syrup are all served on gold plates and in crystal bowls, and their colors, aromas, and flavors are all excellent.

Xingruo scooped a spoonful into her cherry-like lips and then contentedly squinted her eyes.

The daughters of wealthy and powerful families, despite their luxurious lives, also have heavy academic burdens.

Even though Xingruo used the guise of studying abroad to follow Grandmaster Muyi to Bashu, she was still accompanied by tutors who taught her various kinds of knowledge.

For example, the management of merchants and farms, the operation of market transactions, the accounting of income and expenses, the management of household livelihoods and household necessities, etc.

They even had to learn how to interact with other powerful and wealthy families, and how to manage their servants.

The daughter of the Qian family could not possibly be just a pretty face.

Just like her older sister Qingyuan, who was not originally the empress after entering the palace, but in the end the opportunity to take charge of the household affairs fell to her.

But if she hadn't learned this knowledge from a young age, she wouldn't be able to use it even if given the opportunity.

Therefore, this rare leisure time is also a kind of enjoyment for her.

"How is Miss doing in the palace?" Xingruo asked Qingyuan after hearing from the maid about what had happened in the mansion over the past six months.

"Miss" is her special way of addressing Qingyuan.

She addressed her sisters as "eldest sister," "second sister," "third sister," and so on.

Qingyuan was only one year older than her, making her her youngest sister, hence the title "elder sister".

The maid hesitated for a moment, then stammered, "Miss... I imagine it's not going to be easy for you."

The lady missed her young mistress and wanted her to return home to visit her family, but the master scolded her for being insensible.

"Oh?" Qian Xingruo frowned immediately.

As she listened to her fellow students discuss world affairs along the way, especially the recent events in Lin'an, she became somewhat worried.

If the government is truly in a difficult situation, then... what will happen to the young lady?
Xingruo didn't want to eat anymore. She rested her chin on her hand, frowning as she pondered.

This action, if performed by another girl of the same age, would have a charmingly naive quality.

However, Xingruo doesn't have the baby fat look that women her age usually have.

Her wrists were as long and smooth as a crane's neck, and her pretty face was so white it was almost translucent.

With her hand supporting her chin, her delicate hand resting on her small jaw, she exuded both tranquility and charm, her bright, clear eyes displaying exceptional intelligence.

"I need to request permission to enter the palace to see my sister."

Xingruo was worried about her sister's situation and decided that she should go and visit her in person.

Ordinary concubines in the palace did not have much freedom.

However, while it was just as rare for high-ranking concubines to leave the palace to visit their families, it was not difficult for them to bring their relatives to the palace for a visit.

Especially since those entering the palace were women, the requirements were much more lenient than those for men.

Of course, this also requires imperial approval; one can request approval from either the Emperor or the Empress.

The maid was about to bring up Xingruo's marriage, but since neither the madam nor the concubine had mentioned it to the young lady, it was clear that they were waiting for the head of the family, Minister Qian, to return and announce it, so she dared not say anything more.

Just then, a stern voice came from the doorway: "What order do you need? Now that you're back, just stay home and wait patiently!"

As he was speaking, Vice Minister Qian walked in: "Also, from now on, you are no longer allowed to travel around and study in different places."

"father!"

Qian Xingruo suddenly saw her father, whose smiling face had changed upon hearing this. He no longer wanted to greet her and stared at him with wide eyes, asking, "Why?"

Minister Qian walked in, sat down in the armchair, and said, "It's certainly not a bad thing for you to pursue your studies, and I won't stop you from broadening your horizons."

"But you're getting married next year, so you should settle down now. It wouldn't be right for you to keep traveling around like this."

Qian Xingruo was shocked and stammered, "She...she just went to Sichuan and Chongqing for a short trip, why is she getting married as soon as she comes back? I want to stay with you for a few more years, Father."

Vice Minister Qian said irritably, "You don't need to accompany your father. From now on, you should accompany your husband."

Qian Xingruo panicked even more, as she had always been infatuated with "Mr. Muyi".

It's not a student's admiration and infatuation with a learned scholar, but a young girl's infatuation with a man.

The profound knowledge, elegant speech, and graceful demeanor of Grandmaster Muyi painted the most perfect image of a man in her mind.

In fact, she had met Grandmaster Mu Yi once.

Although, only the chin was visible.

Once, when Grandmaster Muyi was lecturing at Jianzhou Academy, the wind lifted a corner of his veil as he stepped down from the platform, revealing his jawline.

Although it was just a fleeting glimpse, it was deeply imprinted in Qian Xingruo's heart.

She felt that Mr. Mu Yi must be quite young, at most in his early thirties. Judging from his jawline, his features must be handsome and refined.

Not only must Mr. Mu Yi be extremely handsome, but when Qian Xingruo went up to ask Grandmaster Mu Yi for teachings, he also sensed the aura emanating from the Grandmaster.

Mr. Mu Yi's aura is as captivating as orchids.

But how could a young girl arrange her own marriage?

Moreover, she had already become an apprentice, and the taboo surrounding the master-disciple relationship made her hesitate.

A young girl's crush is often just a feeling in her heart, without a strong urge to act on it.

She had originally planned to take the opportunity to subtly express her feelings to her mother upon her return, and then have her mother whisper sweet nothings in her father's ear.

In any case, given Mu Yi's status as a Grandmaster, he is certainly qualified to be the Qian family's son-in-law.

result……

For a moment, Xingruo was stunned, as if struck by lightning.

Xingruo asked, distraught, "Father...who will you marry your daughter to?"

Upon hearing this, Vice Minister Qian stroked his beard and smiled.

"What do you think of the current Prince of Yan's concubine?"

The Prince of Yan?

That rude man?
Qian Xingruo immediately thought of the man who had brutally beaten the Marquis of Anshun and said he would take care of the Marquis's mother and wife.

Qian Xingruo seemed to see an old ox, which took a big bite and chewed a newly blooming peony into its mouth.

Qian Xingruo's legs went weak, and she fell back onto the chair.

Oh no! This delicate flower of mine is going to be ruined by this rude man!
(End of this chapter)