Chapter 4, Unpredictable Winds and Clouds

Oh? The original lady did not seem angry or forced; she calmly weighed the silver coins in her waist pouch and said with understanding, "Then forget it, I will go myself"

Yuezheng shuddered all over; her mother spoke in such a serious tone that she truly did not have the courage to run away. Instead, she obediently walked with her to the grape trellis at the corner of the courtyard

Ah?! Yuezheng was taken aback. The Governor Sun is essentially my father's direct superior. Madam Sun enjoys inviting the members of the Yuan family to the residence for a chat, boasting about the authority and insights of the Governor's wife. "I don't want to go!" Yuezheng declared firmly.

Last night, Scholar Yuan composed a rather proud long poem. Coincidentally, his children returned home, and the increased audience made him particularly happy. Eager to share his work, he presented it at the breakfast table. He recited with intonation, while Yueque, who practiced early in the morning, enjoyed breakfast more than others and did not wish to listen to his father's harsh voice. He deliberately slurped his porridge loudly, creating quite a racket. Madam Yuan and Yuezheng ate their meals peacefully, not feeling that Yueque's noise disrupted the atmosphere, as they were completely unaware of what Scholar Yuan was reciting.

Yue Zheng has already packed a small bundle, "Father, I am going back to my master."

Madam Sun had just returned from the capital and summoned many subordinates and their families to "respectfully listen" to her travelogue. By the time Madam Yuan and Yuezheng arrived, the small back hall was already adorned with a considerable number of ladies.

After raising their children for over ten years, the original bachelor is not surprised by any of their actions, merely asking: "Aren't you waiting for your brother?"

Haha, "Yuezheng is intentionally laughing, the Empress is indeed very cautious. The Crown Prince and I are just children who enjoy playing together. He probably doesn't even remember who the original Yuezheng is now!" Mother has digressed; her target has never been the Crown Prince.

"Zheng'er, why did we come to Guangling in the first place?" The original lady smiled faintly, her tone calm.

This statement is quite unpalatable, leaving the interface silent, and the atmosphere suddenly became a bit awkward

"Zheng'er is still understanding," the original lady seemed to be pleased, "Quickly get dressed properly, and then go with your mother."

Yue Zheng gave a bitter smile and nodded; she indeed planned to bid farewell to her master and return to the capital.

The general's wife immediately felt more satisfied with the girl; she was beautiful and had a pleasant voice

When mentioning King Liang, Sun Xuan'er momentarily lost her thoughts, smiling softly as she murmured: "To be able to marry him, even if not as the crown princess... it would still be worth it"

Yue Zheng could not be bothered with him, her expression solemn. Unfortunately, she was quite delicate in appearance, and when she was angry, her lips would slightly pout, making her look like she was being petulant. "Even if I am ungrateful, I will not go!"

Upon hearing this, Yuezheng seemed to shyly lower her head even further, her lips twitching slightly in a manner known only to herself. Madam Sun praised her, truly enough to cause her distress

Miss Sun was also observing this girl of similar age, succinctly and accurately summarizing the original Yue Zheng: a vixen! A peach blossom spirit!

"Go on, go on." After finishing dinner, Yueque found the room quiet. He smiled mischievously as he persuaded his sister, reveling in her misfortune, with a rather shameless expression. "Mother wants to take you along, but it's just to let you suppress Miss Sun's arrogance, to bring some glory to Mother’s face. Isn’t that a way for you to repay her for raising you? Miss Sun..." Yueque stroked his chin, his thoughts drifting far away. "She looks quite good, but her mouth is a bit big. Every time I see her, I always feel hungry, as if she has taken all the food away from me."

Yue Zheng let out a cold laugh, "Isn't the Crown Prince even worse? Paying money to let his younger brother visit prostitutes!"

Madam Yuan lowered her head, lost in thought, as if she had not heard Madam Sun's sarcastic remark.

The wife of General Guangling took a close look at the moon zither, and the more she looked, the more she liked it. This young lady was beautiful, but that was secondary; her silence and demeanor made her appear truly gentle and pleasing. Her own son was at the right age for marriage. Although her family had no power or influence, they were a scholarly family, and she was satisfied with them in every aspect.

The original bachelor, with a stern face, asserted his father's authority: "How can writing and painting, such elegant pursuits, be regarded as mere labor?"

The moon zither trembles gently, Wang Liang

Fortunately, the others in the original family do not take it to heart and live their days happily. When Mrs. Yuan is in a good mood, she gently advises her husband, saying, "In life, what matters is peace and joy." When she is in a bad mood, she scoffs lightly and says, "It is no different in the capital; you have not experienced any significant ups and downs, so why lament unnecessarily?"

Have him chase after me immediately upon his return. With the speed of the moonlit path, it will take less than one hour to catch up to her

Regardless of the zither, she knew that her eagerness was quite laughable. No matter how fast she ran, she could not see the person she had longed for over the past six years. Yet, she just wanted to run, to run with all her might, transforming the boiling emotions within her chest into sheer physical exhaustion. As she dashed into the courtyard, the wind she brought with her sent the manuscript papers that the original scholar had placed on the stone table flying in all directions. The original scholar, seated on the stone bench, steadied his fine beard and calmly asked the back of his daughter rushing into the room, "What are you busy with?" As she dashed into the courtyard, the wind she brought with her sent the manuscript papers that the original scholar had placed on the stone table flying in all directions. The original scholar, seated on the stone bench, steadied his fine beard and calmly asked the back of his daughter rushing into the room, "What are you busy with?"

Yue Zheng was busy researching various methods to achieve talent with less effort. Yue Que was inherently someone who only cared about trivial matters, and the original scholar's depression went unanswered, leading to even greater despondency. As he suppressed his feelings, he gradually became accustomed to it. The landscapes of Guangling were exquisite, and the original scholar, accompanied by his wife, roamed around, producing writings that began to exhibit some spirit, no longer stale and hollow. Gradually, he became well-known in Guangling, and after getting drunk, he even started to speak of wandering through the mountains and waters, expressing a sense of leisurely contentment.

Father, you have surpassed yourself again. " Yuezheng did not even lift her head.

"Madam Yuan, please take a seat, please take a seat." On the surface, Madam Sun was still very warm and welcoming. After the Yuan mother and daughter were seated, she clicked her tongue in admiration, "Madam Yuan, your daughter is truly beautiful, and compared to the young lady of the Du family, she is not lacking in any way."

Indeed, the originally lively small hall suddenly fell silent, as everyone intently gazed at Miss Yuezheng. Her beauty was well-known among the official families of Guangling.

"Alright, my lord." The former lady also finished her meal, "If she doesn't want to write, then so be it; after all, I still need to take her to visit the magistrate's residence."

"Zheng'er, please write this poem on behalf of your father, as he wishes to hang it in his study." The scholar was still impressed by his daughter's calligraphy; her small regular script was elegant and exquisite, while her running and cursive scripts were grand and free-spirited. He felt ashamed of his own abilities.

As Yuezheng rose to bid farewell, she remained as graceful as ever, yet her demeanor upon turning to leave was resolute. It was not until she swayed elegantly out of the back hall that everyone regained their composure. Mrs. Sun smiled meaningfully at Mrs. Yuan and said, "Your daughter—truly remarkable."

Hearing her daughter suddenly exclaim in a lovesick manner, Madam Sun felt her face flush with embarrassment. Without further thought, she interrupted loudly, "How can the Liang Wang be compared to the Crown Prince? The northern frontier is barren, and the Liang Wang is young and reckless!" The nature of spreading gossip prompted the governor's wife to glance around at the ladies present, their wide-eyed expressions of eagerness to know were quite encouraging to her. "As soon as the Liang Wang returned to the capital, he was captivated by a famous courtesan and wanted to redeem her. The famous courtesan, Hongxian, is worth ten thousand taels of gold! It’s laughable, really; this Liang Wang has the audacity to only offer two thousand taels himself, while the courtesan contributed two thousand, and he even asked His Highness the Crown Prince to lend him the rest! A dignified prince of a vassal state, unable to produce even ten thousand taels, yet trying to imitate others..."

Madam Yuan looked at her daughter and said, "Although your father is an official subordinate to the governor, he still holds a fifth-rank official title. If we consider the selection of a consort for the Crown Prince, daughters of officials ranked sixth or above are all qualified. Why has the Yuan family not received any imperial decree?"

Yuezheng merely lowered her head slightly, seemingly oblivious to the gazes of everyone around her. The delicate hairpins in her long hair swayed gently with her steps, and her long eyelashes hung low, appearing both shy and gentle. She seemed to be enveloped in a faint moonlight, and her already exquisite features were made even more captivating by her delicate demeanor. ... Not only is she beautiful, but she is also enchanting, enchantingly elegant, and enchantingly evoking a sense of pity ...

"Stop." Mrs. Yuan called to her daughter, who had already stepped over the threshold, "Come with me."

The moonlight casts shadows on her eyelashes, she is already sixteen years old, no longer an innocent child. Reflecting on the past... Only the original scholar would believe that Her Majesty the Empress harbors resentment towards the Yuan family because of Feng Lin.

In response to Lady Sun's feigned ignorance, Lady Yuan smiled calmly and said, "In the humble abode of the Yuan family, how could we possibly have the qualifications to seek connections with the powerful?" Lady Yuan chose to withdraw gracefully, no longer engaging in a sharp confrontation.

Madam Sun was extremely unwilling to accept her defeat in the first battle, so she had no choice but to take a different approach, pretending to be very aggrieved for her daughter: "No matter how beautiful Xuan'er is, she ultimately loses out because of her family background." The words "family background" were pronounced with great emphasis. "The selection of the Crown Prince's consort is imminent. Even if my family receives the notice of being shortlisted, the position of Crown Princess will likely still fall to Miss Du. By the way, Madam Yuan, has your family received the notice to come to the capital for selection? I heard that you were quite familiar with the Crown Prince back then." By the way, Madam Yuan, has your family received the notice to come to the capital for selection? I heard that you were quite familiar with the Crown Prince back then.

Madam Sun, seated at the head of the table, observed the Miss Yuan dressed in a light blue summer dress, following closely behind her mother with graceful steps. Instantly, she felt a twinge of displeasure. The Miss Yuan, who seldom stayed at home due to her apprenticeship, unexpectedly accompanied her mother today, which inevitably overshadowed her own daughter.

Once these words were spoken, who could rival her? Everyone stared in astonishment at the beauty who had just moments ago been as radiant as a flower and as gentle as water. The shock experienced by the general's wife was particularly profound, as she felt that a certain beauty within her heart had collapsed.

The distance from Duhua Mountain to Guangling Prefecture is merely a day's journey. The Yuan siblings return home every month to visit their parents—conveniently indulging in shopping at the bustling market in the city. Scholar Yuan deeply feels that this is the true reason for their eager return home

Madam Yuan smiled and said, "How can my daughter compare to the daughter of Minister Du? Even if Miss Du is renowned in the capital, she is still worlds apart from someone as famous as Miss Sun from Guangling."

After the original lady finished speaking, Lady Sun, feeling quite pleased, did not intervene to smooth things over. She turned to the general's wife, who seemed to have a protective inclination towards her ideal in-laws, and said: "It seems that Lady Sun has made a mistake. I heard my husband say that this time it appears to be for selecting a princess for His Highness the Liang Wang."

Yuezheng had just finished the last bite, and she looked up at her father with a gentle gaze, her expression obedient and charming, yet her tone was cold and resolute: "During break time, no work is to be done"

The unpredictable winds of royalty are not something that ordinary women like us should involve ourselves in. Zheng'er, your mother only hopes that you can live a safe and happy life

The moon zither hurriedly approached, nearly colliding with her mother who was returning home at the entrance.

Madam Sun had just returned from the capital and, feeling quite pleased, responded authoritatively: "I have returned to the capital, where everyone is talking about him. When Xuan'er and I had an audience with Her Majesty the Empress, we were fortunate enough to meet her in person"

The queen harbored suspicions towards the Liang King, and it was only natural that even the Liang King's tutor would share this sentiment. The former scholar had once lingered in the beauty of the flowers and the moonlight, expressing his feelings with a few sips of light wine, lamenting with phrases like "time does not favor me" and "my aspirations are hard to express," as if he had once enjoyed a moment of glory.

"Zheng'er, how does this poem fare for your father?" The former scholar chuckled as he stroked his beard.

A beautifully dressed young girl was running wildly down the street, attracting the attention of many passersby. Her graceful figure flashed by in an instant, prompting a flurry of discussions among the crowd, speculating that she might be a young lady fleeing from a marriage or escaping from danger

Yuezheng's long eyelashes fluttered rapidly up and down for a moment. She certainly knew that the clinking sound in her mother's purse was the pocket money for the next month. Taking a deep breath, Miss Yuan looked at her mother with utmost sincerity and said: "Mother gave me life and raised me; her kindness is as heavy as a mountain. How could I bear to let my mother suffer alone? I will surely share both joy and hardship with her"

The Yuan family residence in Guangling Prefecture is not particularly spacious, and there are only a dozen or so servants. The Prince of Guangling was reassigned to the position of the Prince of Liang and was sent far to the northern frontier. Scholar Yuan no longer served as a military officer for the prince and was appointed as the deputy secretary in Guangling Prefecture, responsible for assisting with official documents. This position is even more nominal than that of a Hanlin scholar; it is merely a title for someone supported by the court in Guangling Prefecture, whose duties consist of drafting official document formats and guiding the junior clerks in their writing.

Yuezheng pursed her lips and remained silent

Mother—"Yuezheng lowered her head, feeling apologetic for making her mother embarrassed in front of so many female relatives, yet she could not tolerate Lady Sun speaking of Fenglin and the Crown Prince in such a tone. "I will return to my master first." Given her mother's temperament, any delay would surely lead to trouble.

Mother, if I do not try, I will not have a peaceful and joyful life!" Yuezheng did not want to listen to her mother any longer; she understood the reasoning her mother was expressing, which made her even more reluctant to continue listening.

Yue Zheng truly feels a bit of sympathy for Miss Sun, as even she feels embarrassed listening to her mother praise her. Guangling Prefecture is the capital of Guangling County, and the city walls are not very large. Saying "famous throughout Guangling Prefecture" is akin to saying someone is well-known in their own backyard, which is quite nauseating.

The people below understood the situation and did not follow. The former lady, with her back turned to her daughter, asked, "Are you returning to the capital?" Although it was a question, her tone was quite certain.

The ordinary woman? Yue Zheng raised her eyebrows and smiled gently. For the past six years, she has persevered in order not to become an "ordinary woman." In the cold winter, she repeatedly plucked the strings with her frozen fingers, and in the sweltering summer, she practiced her dance steps tirelessly, drenched in sweat. Hearing her mother say this, she felt unwilling, very unwilling!

Looking at her daughter's sparkling eyes, the former lady's tone remained as calm as water, "You said that the Crown Prince's feelings for you were merely those of childhood, but what about the Liang Prince? The Liang Prince may not even remember who you are."

May I ask, the original Yuezheng, who had not raised her head, suddenly spoke, "Has King Liang returned to the capital?"

"No way." Lady Sun felt a bit awkward, as the edict indeed only summoned the daughters of officials to the capital for selection, without explicitly stating that it was for selecting a consort for the Crown Prince. "His Highness the Crown Prince is older and of higher rank than Prince Liang; it is impossible that the elder brother has not chosen a wife and is allowing the younger brother to choose first."

A lady from a minor household was eager to assist the wife of the governor and somewhat indiscreetly remarked: "What Lady Sun said makes sense; we should first choose the Princess of Liang. Is it reasonable to select from what is left to become the Crown Princess?"

Yuezheng suddenly looked up, realizing that mother knew everything

The choice in the Queen's heart had been settled several years ago, but it was delayed due to General Du's two-year assignment to the northern frontier. This selection of a consort is merely to grant the Crown Prince the honor he deserves in front of the world, and even more so to bestow upon the future Crown Princess the supreme title of 'outstanding among the chosen.' In this grand performance, Her Majesty the Queen will not allow any mistakes, and even you, who have not seen the Crown Prince for six years, will not be taken lightly by her