Chapter 293: Decided
The day after Li Xiaonan received Gu Yan’s message, she received a formal invitation from Prince Rui’s Mansion, inviting her to visit the following day to admire lotus flowers.
Wan Jing, Yu Ting, and A Wu gathered around the invitation.
Wan Jing looked directly at the invitation and suddenly turned to Li Xiaonan, “You haven’t even learned the proper etiquette for a gift!”
Yu Ting hugged her arms, “A Nan only has us two with her…”
“Miss!” Wan Jing glared at Yu Ting.
“Miss, miss! Miss! I remember now, I really remember this time. With only us two with Miss, I have to go, right?”
Seeing Wan Jing nod, Yu Ting hugged her arms even tighter.
“I’ve also learned to exchange glances!”
A Wu let out a laugh: “Exchange glances? You haven’t even learned to read glances! I have to go too, right?”
“You’re a man, why would you come?” Yu Ting retorted unceremoniously.
“That’s true.” A Wu said sheepishly.
“What should we do?” Wan Jing asked Li Xiaonan.
Li Xiaonan was also worried, “Admiring lotus flowers means going to the lakeside, right? It’s so hot, what if I keep sweating and soak my clothes? You said last time my sweat smelled strong.”
Wan Jing glared at Li Xiaonan, Yu Ting looked back and forth between Wan Jing and Li Xiaonan, A Wu looked at the three of them, slapped his thigh, and burst into laughter.
……………………
On the day of the lotus flower viewing, the four of them arrived at Prince Rui’s Mansion, each with their own worries.
It was Li Xiaonan’s first time seeing Prince Rui’s Mansion.
On the first day of arriving in Jianle City, Li Xiaonan wanted to come and see Prince Rui’s Mansion, but Wan Jing stopped her.
If Li Xiaonan came to see Prince Rui’s Mansion, no matter how stealthily she did it, she couldn’t hide it from the sharp observers in Jianle City, and it would become a joke.
This time, Li Xiaonan didn’t dare to look around too much; there would be plenty of opportunities to see it later.
The cart stopped inside the second gate. Wan Jing got out of the cart, and upon hearing the steward nanny’s extremely enthusiastic greeting of ‘Miss Wan Jing,’ she suddenly realized she would be the head maid by the Young Lord’s Consort’s side from now on!
This realization startled Wan Jing so much that she forgot to reach out to help Li Xiaonan.
Yu Ting was the most nervous, staring at Wan Jing and not daring to take a single step out of place. When Wan Jing stopped, she also stopped, standing behind Wan Jing and watching Li Xiaonan gather her skirt and nimbly jump off the cart.
The steward nanny seemed to be waiting specifically for Li Xiaonan and personally led her inside.
Li Xiaonan wanted to look back to see if there was anyone else waiting inside the second gate, she hesitated and hesitated, but decided against it; it wasn’t the time to be curious.
The steward nanny walked quite quickly ahead. After a few turns, Wan Jing realized they were heading towards the Princess Consort’s main courtyard! Wan Jing felt she had to tell Li Xiaonan, but before she could find an opportunity, the Princess Consort’s main courtyard was already in sight.
Seven or eight old women stood with their hands down at the entrance of the main courtyard. The steward nanny, who was walking at the front, stopped and looked at everyone with a stern face, saying, “Are these all urgent matters that can’t wait? Must you come to discuss them at this time?”
“It’s not that urgent.” The old woman closest to the steward nanny smiled apologetically and quickly stepped back.
Li Xiaonan met the gazes of the old women and smiled.
These women weren’t here to discuss matters; they were here to see her.
But today, their mansion was hosting guests for lotus flower viewing; shouldn’t they be busy?
Wan Jing and Yu Ting were stopped outside the hanging flower gate, while Li Xiaonan followed the steward nanny into the main house.
Li Xiaonan was beginning to understand; this visit to admire lotus flowers was just an excuse, or perhaps she was the lotus flower.
As Li Xiaonan entered the main house, she wanted to quickly scan the room. Her eyes immediately fell upon Princess Consort Wei. Princess Consort Wei sat regally in an armchair, her expression stern, her gaze cold as she looked at Li Xiaonan. Li Xiaonan quickly lowered her eyes and bowed respectfully.
“The Young Lord said your scholarship was good enough to pass the Imperial Examination for Children, which is excellent. At least you can understand what I say.”
Princess Consort Wei’s voice was as cold as her gaze. Li Xiaonan stood with lowered eyes, listening.
“I heard you intend to forgo the Young Lord’s Consort’s Imperial Grant. This might earn you a reputation for virtue, but what about others? What about other families? The rules and propriety of the court are interconnected, one family linked to another, a single move affecting many. This is ignorance and recklessness.”
Li Xiaonan lowered her head.
“The wedding date is set for the twelfth lunar month. Go back and pack your things. You should depart in the next two days to prepare for your marriage. You may go.”
“Yes.” Li Xiaonan replied, not forgetting to bow.
The steward nanny took Li Xiaonan directly to the second gate and saw her into the cart.
When Wan Jing was stopped outside the hanging flower gate, she felt a bit uneasy. Before her unease could fully set in, Li Xiaonan came out with the steward nanny. This sudden shock overwhelmed Wan Jing’s unease. She followed them out to the second gate. As Li Xiaonan got into the cart, Wan Jing saw her dejected expression, adding a chill to her shock and panic. Peeking through the curtain of the cart, she wanted to ask Li Xiaonan something as the cart left the mansion’s side gate, but by the time the cart turned a corner and merged into the bustling crowd, Wan Jing still hadn’t figured out how to ask, nor how to comfort Li Xiaonan afterward.
Yu Ting wasn’t as panicked as Wan Jing, but her heart felt much colder. From the looks of it, A Nan wouldn’t be able to become the Young Lord’s Consort. She wasn’t good with words; if she said something that inadvertently hurt A Nan, it would be like a knife… It would be better to wait for Wan Jing to ask clearly first.
The inside of the carriage remained silent. Outside, A Wu, who was driving and straining his ears to hear, couldn’t help himself. He lifted the curtain and asked, “Why so soon? Did something happen?”
“Nothing, just need to pack up and return to Pingjiang City.” Li Xiaonan replied.
“Ah?” A Wu’s eyes widened. He looked up at Yu Ting, who was frantically signaling him with her eyes. A Wu quickly retracted his head.
“Master and Master Hong have both gone to the Ministry of Rites for the ceremony. According to protocol… Sigh, try to look on the bright side. Marrying into a Prince’s Mansion isn’t necessarily a good thing. Pingjiang City is so good, and in the future, we…” Wan Jing tried to comfort Li Xiaonan.
“The wedding date is set for the twelfth lunar month, we need to hurry back and prepare for the wedding.” Li Xiaonan slumped her shoulders and waist, wanting to sigh.
Wan Jing was right, marrying into a Prince’s Mansion wasn’t a good thing, but now there was no turning back.
The carriage curtain was lifted with a ‘whoosh,’ and A Wu poked his head in again: “Is this a good thing?”
“Of course it’s a good thing! Hurry up and drive!” Yu Ting pushed A Wu out and looked at Wan Jing, asking doubtfully, “This is a good thing, right? Look at her?”
“Was the Princess Consort very angry?” Wan Jing leaned forward to look at Li Xiaonan.
“It’s alright, she was unhappy, but not exactly angry. It’s not because of that, it’s because it’s too soon. It’s nothing.” Li Xiaonan let out a long sigh.
“It is a bit fast,” Yu Ting nodded.
“Don’t think too much about it for now. Let’s pack up and go back. Preparing for the wedding is a troublesome matter, and you don’t even have your dowry yet. Worry about the Princess Consort after you marry into the Prince’s Mansion. Thinking about it now is useless,” Wan Jing consoled her.
“Right, right, right! We’ll deal with it when the time comes. One step at a time. That’s how A Wu and I were back then, and look how good things are now? Don’t overthink it,” Yu Ting quickly chimed in.
“I’m fine, I’m not overthinking it. A Wu, go find Eldest Uncle later and tell him we need to go back quickly.” Li Xiaonan straightened her back and cheered up.
As soon as Li Xiaonan and the other three arrived home, Shi Gun arrived, conveying Gu Yan’s message: Fourth Mistress Wei also needed to return, and they would travel on Fourth Mistress Wei’s boat. Also, he would come over after he finished his business, as there were a few minor matters.
After hearing Shi Gun’s message, Wan Jing let out a very, very long sigh of relief.
The Young Lord was so good to Miss; she didn’t need to worry unnecessarily.
……………………
Li Xiaonan had almost no luggage. Wan Jing directly skipped the packing part and discussed with Yu Ting what gifts to buy for the Li family members, what gifts to buy for her villa’s young lady friends, and what to buy for Yu Ting and A Wu’s brothers. The two of them discussed, first making a long list of names, then an even longer list of gifts. There were many things to buy, and time was tight. Given that Prince’s Mansion guards were stationed at the entrance, Wan Jing, Yu Ting, and A Wu went out together to purchase items.
When Gu Yan entered the second gate, Li Xiaonan was sitting under the corridor writing a letter.
Gu Yan stopped and frowned slightly.
Li Xiaonan, sitting on a small stool and leaning over a high chair to write, looked lonely and forlorn. A subtle sense of low spirits and melancholy permeated the entire small courtyard.
Li Xiaonan heard the movement and looked up.
Gu Yan smiled, strode forward, passed Li Xiaonan who was coming to greet him, picked up a few sheets of paper from the high stool, glanced at them, and chuckled, “By now, your Eldest Sister should already know.”
“Did you send someone with a letter?” Li Xiaonan asked casually.
“Your Eldest Uncle and Master Hong, before they left for the Ministry of Rites, they first dispatched three people to rush back and report the news. One of the routes was definitely to inform your Eldest Sister,” Gu Yan said, putting the letter back.
Li Xiaonan hummed in response. The other two routes were likely for Tang Weng Weng and Old Master Hong.
Gu Yan put down the letter, bent down slightly, and carefully examined Li Xiaonan, “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong, I’m fine.” Li Xiaonan put away her paper and brush, turned the chair around, and gestured for Gu Yan to sit.
“What did Mother say to you?” Gu Yan didn’t sit. He descended one step and examined Li Xiaonan again.
“She said I shouldn’t refuse the Imperial Grant, and that the wedding date is set for the twelfth lunar month,” Li Xiaonan said with lowered eyes.
“Mother has a stubborn temper. This marriage was a bit of a push for Mother to agree, so she must have been upset. Please bear with her a little,” Gu Yan explained.
“She is an elder; one cannot use the word ‘bear with’.”
“Why are you so unhappy?” Gu Yan asked again.
“I’m not unhappy…”
“A Nan, you are marrying into Jianle City alone, marrying into the Prince’s Mansion. The only person you can rely on is me. You should tell me anything that happens,” Gu Yan said word by word.
Li Xiaonan looked up at Gu Yan. Meeting his focused gaze, a wave of grievance surged from the bottom of her heart, bringing tears to her eyes.
“It’s just… because I’m alone,” Li Xiaonan lowered her head, looking at her toes.
“You are alone, and I am alone. After we marry, we will be two people. You have me, and I have you,” Gu Yan said gently.
“Mm.” Li Xiaonan reached into her sleeve for a handkerchief but didn’t find one. Just as she was about to turn to look for it, Gu Yan handed her a handkerchief.
“I have to depart north shortly due to urgent military matters. There are a few things. First, Fourth Mistress will return with you, just like when you came. The Wei family will arrange and handle everything along the way, so you don’t need to worry about it,” Gu Yan instructed.
Li Xiaonan nodded. She had anticipated this.
“Second, when you arrive home, the decree for the Imperial Grant, along with the officials from the Ministry of Rites, should arrive in Pingjiang City before you. The female relatives of Jiangnan officials will surely come to pay their respects. This involves propriety. I have asked Aunt to select two experienced nannies who understand etiquette and propriety to attend to you. As for matters outside, you have the villa’s people. For any administrative matters, just give instructions to He Chengzhe.”
Gu Yan paused, “Speaking of the third matter, Liu Jingting, that is, Foreman Liu, has requested to become your disciple. I have accepted on your behalf.”
Li Xiaonan froze for a moment before reacting, her eyes widening.
He wants to become my disciple and approached him instead of me? I didn’t know anything about it, and they just had one request and one acceptance?
“After the engagement, you will be the Young Lord’s Consort. Many people will want to become your disciple,” Gu Yan said, looking at Li Xiaonan’s wide eyes and smiling.
“That’s not what I mean. To become my disciple, he approached you?”
Gu Yan chuckled, “Of course, he approached me first. Don’t rush. I don’t mean that. As husband and wife, I’m not trying to manage things for you. Liu Jingting came to me first because military matters were involved.”
Li Xiaonan gave Gu Yan a sideways glance.
“Although the Liu family originated from Da Qi, they have lived in Nanyang for three or four generations and are not considered citizens of Da Qi. He approached me because he wants to use the opportunity of becoming your disciple to join forces with us. Firstly, to clear the maritime trade routes, and secondly, to revive the Liu family’s influence in Nanyang,” Gu Yan explained with a smile.
“Then he should have become your disciple.”
“Why should he become your disciple? I asked him that. He said it’s your destiny with the Liu family. You can ask him carefully when you meet him later,” Gu Yan said with a smile.
Li Xiaonan nodded.
“I have to go now. Relax.” Gu Yan looked at Li Xiaonan’s expression again.
“Okay.” Li Xiaonan followed Gu Yan, watching him leave the courtyard, mount his horse, wave to her, and gallop away.
