Chapter 5, Fragrant Sleeves

Bu Nuan nodded repeatedly: "I know, I'm not a fool. Next time I see him, I'll ask him if he is willing to marry me. That should work, right"

Lan Sheng turned around and smiled at Bu Nuan: "I am going back. The journey has been tiring, I need to rest well"

He hummed "Phoenix Seeking the Phoenix" contentedly, making his way south, gradually blending into the night.

Please, my lord, grant me your guidance

Her face was hidden behind the shadows, her tone filled with helplessness, evoking a sense of pity.

Xiu sighed and pinched her nose, saying: "You child! How many times have I told you this? If you really ask such a blunt question, won't others think you are lacking in common sense? It's still better to listen to what your uncle said."

Bu Nuan actually wanted to ask him, since he is so busy, why he could still spare time to spend half a day in this red medicinal herb garden. Upon further reflection, realizing that they were not well acquainted, she feared that her boldness might provoke his anger, so she remained silent and followed him to the bottom of the Yanbo Tower

Nothing could be better! Lansheng did not know why he had this thought, but he was indeed very happy. He heard the hidden string in his mind being plucked by her, resonating with a clear sound

Feeling embarrassed, she shyly said: "I have troubled you, my lord. It is my uncle who is too meticulous; I could have found it myself."

Lan Shengpi's head and face only smile: "Fortunately, he let me come to greet, and I got to know the lady, so this trip is not in vain. You need not thank me; if you truly feel indebted, just take care of these flowers for me! If I am unable to come and tend to them, just loosen the soil for them occasionally, and that would be a great help to me."

The wet nurse smiled and said, "Well then, this matter cannot be rushed; let us take our time! However, do keep it in mind, and do not miss a good opportunity when it arises, understood?"

He silently recited, warm... The tip of his tongue pressed against his teeth, then returned to the starting point, effortlessly... warm... He liked this word; its pronunciation was simple, yet it could invigorate a person entirely... warm... Her name.

Her words were filled with despair, and he found it inappropriate to inquire further, so he could only clumsily offer comfort: "Your uncle is a good man and would never think less of you. Just wait and see; if it truly becomes inconvenient, I will think of a way for you."

He chuckled softly, leisurely making his way along the wall. After a delay of twenty-four years, he finally arrived, but fortunately, it is not too late.

Bu Nuan glanced at him, finding him truly interesting, talking to himself yet not annoying. She looked into his bright eyes and said mischievously, "Why should I thank you? If anyone should thank you, it should be my uncle... However, I like these red medicines and will come to see them every day."

His brows furrowed slightly, and he felt increasingly that she was like a puzzle. Regarding her, Rong Yu had not revealed much; he only knew that she was the niece of the Shen family. As for whether she was a legitimate child or the daughter of some branch of the clan, he had not mentioned a word.

Lansheng was somewhat surprised: "Aren't you going home?"

To keep such a flawless beauty in this world, how much effort and thought must be expended? In a moment of carelessness, she could, like a beautiful paper kite, break free from the tether and fly far away.

Xiu begged for mercy, hurriedly waving her hand as she spoke, lifted her skirt, and left the bedroom, heading towards her own quarters

Lansheng nodded and gestured for her to come up the steps. She had only taken two steps when he suddenly felt a rush of heat in his mind and urgently called out "Nuan".

"Do not laugh it off, I have always known you, sweet-talking yet not acting accordingly." Xiu said, as she handed over a piece of lingerie and stood by to help her dry off, adding, "Take a good look, the Lan family gentleman is truly remarkable, successful in the officialdom, and quite handsome. From his manner of speaking, he does not resemble those brash men; his smile is both gentle and courteous. Currently, he is a General of the Cloud Banner, and in a few years, it is not impossible for him to be promoted to a General like Uncle." I listened to his manner of speaking, which did not resemble those brash men; his smile was both gentle and courteous. Currently, he is a General of the Cloud Banner, and in a few years, it is not impossible for him to be promoted to a General like Uncle.

I did not ask you to post him; I only asked you to pay a little more attention.

The only one who can warm the blanket is Nono: "If I encounter my beloved, you will be the first to know."

Bu Nuan pushed her out and said, "Nurse, you are getting old, truly annoying. Go rest, I will wait a little longer; if my uncle doesn't come back, I will also go to sleep."

She stood by the lakeside, nodding slightly: "I know, it is mentioned in 'Xiao Ya Lu Ming', I have esteemed guests, playing the zither and blowing the sheng"

This October, Uncle will welcome Aunt into the family, and General Lan will naturally not be lacking in guests. Bu Nuan became impatient, saying, "Why must we entangle ourselves with him? We have only met once and exchanged a few words, yet you are eager to send me off to him. My father has said that a woman should not belittle herself; if I were to cling to someone like that, what would that amount to?"

"Stop talking, it's something that hasn't even begun, yet it seems so real." Her fingers moved through the water, covering her face with a handkerchief. She heard the lonely sound she made above the water, "I know what I want. If I truly meet that person, even if separated by countless mountains, I cannot let them slip away."

He took out a towel to wipe his hands and asked, "How long have you been staying here? Is it a long-term stay or just a visit?"

The wet nurse sighed helplessly, still nagging: "You know, I have no way to help you, but you must be cautious about your lifelong matters. When we were about to leave, the lady of the house repeatedly instructed me to take good care of you. You were raised by me, and my daughter was unfortunate; she passed away at the age of two. I have devoted myself entirely to you, and when you face difficulties, it hurts me more than if my flesh were being cut. I hope you find a good home, so that all my years of concern are not in vain."

She let out a soft sound, a hint of a smile in her eyes, and turned to walk along the corridor towards the platform, the mandarin duck silk fluttering gracefully between her elbows. Lan Sheng took a step back, watching in a daze, and for a moment, he even worried that she might ascend to immortality right then and there

Bu Nuan chuckled silently; she knew they were concerned about her. However, the matter of fate is difficult to articulate. One cannot hastily seek a man to marry just to escape the current situation. At that time, she was young, and her marriage was decided by her parents, which she could not refute. Now that she is older and has experienced such events, her freedom has been earned at the cost of her reputation. She can no longer act rashly and must manage her life carefully.

The wet nurse spat several times and said: "Why is this matter being brought up again! What widow? From now on, do not mention this! Is it pleasant to talk about widows? Having never worshipped heaven and earth, never entered the bridal chamber, and with a good family, we can still marry without hesitation! Uncle is a dignified town military governor, a person of great stature and prestige. In the future, if we seek his support, it would not be impossible for General Lan to take you as his wife."

Lan Sheng said: "You should go back and rest, Rong Yu will not hold these against you." He patted his thigh, "I should also return to the yamen, it seems I will have to work late tonight. Come on, I will escort you downstairs, and when I have time another day, I will come to see... my flower"

The warmth of the cloth envelops the surroundings as the sky darkens, signaling the arrival of dusk. In the distance, the Bamboo Branch Pavilion is shrouded in a thin veil of twilight. A maid tiptoes towards the center of the lake, reaching up to hang a lantern on the mast, gradually ascending. The Bamboo Branch Pavilion's fragrant reflection shimmers on the lake's surface, becoming the sole source of light in this lonely world

The corners of her mouth lifted in a withered smile: "I cannot go back." She pointed to the water plants on the lake's surface, resembling large coins, "Just like those duckweeds, their roots do not reach the bottom of the water, only swaying with the wind."

The corners of his eyes and the tips of his brows were filled with joy: "My name is Lan Sheng, with 'Lan' meaning blue and 'Sheng' referring to music."

He considered himself a cautious person; although he was not as accommodating as to be almost harsh, he was also not frivolous or careless. Yet at this moment, he felt weary, and inexplicably, he found himself liking her, so quickly, as if in the blink of an eye, fast enough to catch him off guard

Bu Nuan straightened up and asked: "Are you and my uncle close friends?"

The jade stove nearby exclaimed in surprise: "Is it true? Is there really such good fortune? Our lady is indeed blessed with peach blossom luck; Chang'an truly is a land of auspiciousness! Oh my, that General Lan... he is truly handsome! I had thought that a military general would surely have a fierce countenance, with a robust and imposing figure, yet who would have thought he would possess such good looks? If I didn't know he was a general, I would have thought he was the son of a wealthy family! Such a person is well-suited for our lady; a match made in heaven with both talent and beauty!"

The wet nurse clearly had not considered this issue, and after a pause, she said: "How can that be! Our Bu family is, after all, a prominent clan, and it is unreasonable to engage in petty dealings with others. If the opportunity arises, we should inquire; perhaps the person is still unmarried. In the military, people tend to marry later, just like Uncle, who is already twenty-seven and still single!"

Lan Sheng wore an expression of approval; intelligent girls are always likable, even when dressed in plain gauze, they remain pleasing to the eye. Unlike those women outside, whose foolish and ignorant souls are wrapped in silks and satins.

Lan Sheng took the fan that was inserted in the belt, swaying it as he said: "I absolutely do not want to be your elder; I am three years younger than your uncle. With a higher status comes more rules, which can be quite inconvenient. It is better to be friends, to speak casually without restraint. May I ask for your name, so that in the future, when we meet, I can simply call you 'Lady' or 'Miss'? It would seem too distant otherwise"

The wet nurse was already waiting at the door, and her gaze towards Lan Sheng was somewhat unusual. She bowed and said, "Thank you very much, my lord. It is getting late, so I will not invite you in. Please return, my lord!"

"Can you think of a way for me?" She chuckled softly, "Then I would really have to call you my uncle!"

The warm quilt and the jade stove exchanged a glance, and smiled, saying: "You think he is good, and I think he is good too! Anyone with eyes in this world would consider him the best candidate for a husband; I fear he may already have a wife at home. Wet nurse, do you want me to become a concubine?"

What a person who knows how to take advantage of a situation! Bu Nuan smiled slightly, pondered for a moment, and said: "My name is Nuan, with 'Nuan' meaning warmth."

General Lan, please take care on your journey

With a sigh of warmth, it seems that Uncle did not inform him of her situation. Indeed, it is a delicate predicament that is difficult to articulate. She turned her face and said, "I don't know either, perhaps it's just a long-term stay! If one day Uncle and Aunt grow weary of me, I will go elsewhere."

"It is so late, and Uncle still hasn't returned," she murmured as she gazed at the cluster of light. "I am a bit tired and fear I may not be able to wait to greet him."

The warmth of the blanket made my cheeks puff up: "Are you planning to make it so that I can't face my uncle in the future? Rather than you beating around the bush, I might as well ask him directly."

He slightly awkwardly rubbed his forehead, feeling a headache from his own indiscretion, and after a great effort to compose himself, he said: "It's nothing, I meant to say... I've been quite busy these past two days, often returning to the residence only at midnight, and you will be doing the same when you pay your respects to him tomorrow."

Soaking in the warm water, the fatigue on my body gradually evaporated. Leaning back against the edge of the bathtub, I stared blankly at the roof tiles. After a while, I said: "Don't make wild guesses; how could he possibly have any intentions towards me? He is merely well-mannered and polite to others. Why should we indulge in such self-deception? It would only invite ridicule! If you go and talk to your uncle without thinking, and he goes to ask him, wouldn't that just escalate the misunderstanding? How would others perceive me? I am a widow, let us not forget that, nursemaid."

After dinner, the wet nurse served Bu Nuan a bath, and whispered through the screen: "In my opinion, General Lan has intentions towards you. Just look at his demeanor and expressions; as someone who has been through this, I understand. Let's consult Uncle tomorrow. General Lan is a third-rank official in the capital, which is at least two ranks higher than our master! If he truly has such intentions, it would be wise to make plans early. This is a good match, and the master's wife will surely approve."

Lan Sheng set down the shovel by the lake to wash his hands, and the tassel on his scarf floated gracefully on the water's surface. He raised his hand and swept it behind him, his movements light and somewhat languid, without turning back, he said lightly: "He and I are childhood friends, having trained together in the Youzhou military camp in our early years, going through mountains and seas, brothers who even found a single pair of trousers too loose. So he asked me to meet you at the alley, and I dropped my official duties to come here. " He thought for a moment and added earnestly, "I am quite a busy person, next time I will take you to my office to have a look, the work on my desk is piled up like a tower, and I am in quite a predicament!"