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  Chapter 12

  In front of Yu Ge Lou, a red plum tree was planted, proudly standing in the snow, blooming alone.

  Ming Xuan thought that Mrs. Zhu liked plum blossoms, so she ordered the maid to cut down a few branches and sent the young girl to deliver some to each of the rooms. She also planted the two best branches in a sheep fat jade vase and personally carried it to An Tai Yuan.

  Madam Zhu lay listlessly on the large kang by the window, her spirit very much depleted.

  She whispered to Shun-sheng, "On the first day of the New Year, when I went to the palace for the New Years ceremony, I saw the noble consort. Although she was heavily pregnant, her face looked rosy and healthy. On the way back in the carriage, my eldest daughter-in-law said that after the eldest son agreed to marry the princess of Jianan, the marquis of Jianan immediately replaced all the guards in the palace with his own people. Now the palace is heavily guarded, not even a fly can get in."

  The words were spoken in a low and melancholy tone, without a hint of joy.

  The old lady replied cautiously, "Its a blessing for our Hou Mansion that the Imperial Consort is safe and sound."

  Madam Zhu let out a long sigh, "Yes, thats right. The Imperial Concubines safety is the good fortune of our manor."

  But it was obtained at the cost of Xiangs sisters life...

  Yans mother didnt know how to respond, just then Qiu Tao came in and reported, "Madam, Seventh Young Miss has come to give you some red plum blossoms."

  Madam Zhus expression hesitated for a moment, "Let Xuan sister come in."

  Ming Xuan pushed open the warm curtain and entered the house, wearing a golden fox fur coat that was very dazzling. She handed the bottle to Qiu Tao while greeting Old Lady Zhu, noticing her gloomy expression, she said with concern, "Grandmothers complexion doesnt look good, should we send someone to invite the imperial physician to take a look?"

  Since the day Madame Hou came, Old Lady Zhus spirit has not been good. On New Years Day, as a lady of rank, she had to enter the palace for New Years greetings; her body was still unwell and she was exhausted after a day of activity. From the second to the seventh day, she had to receive ladies and misses who came to pay their respects, not having a moments rest, until today, the eighth day, Old Lady Zhus complexion has become worse with each passing day.

  Madam Zhu forced a smile and said, "I just didnt sleep well, its nothing."

  She caught sight of the golden pheasant cloak on Ming Xuans body. "Is this garment a gift from your elder aunt?"

  Ming Xuan nodded, "Its said to be a gift from the Imperial Concubine, I dont dare not wear it."

  Her face flashed with a few strands of hesitation and struggle, but she finally couldnt help asking, "Grandmother, theres something that the granddaughter doesnt quite understand. Why did the noble consort give me such precious clothes for no reason? None of my other sisters have them."

  The golden thread is easy to see, and the sparrows feathers are not difficult to find either. However, weaving the sparrows feathers into brocade with the golden thread is no easy task. Such a perfectly crafted garment like this, even in the imperial treasury, would not exceed five pieces. It is indeed a treasure that is hard to come by, worth a thousand gold coins.

  Madam Zhus face suddenly turned solemn, originally intending to keep it a secret for the time being, at least until after the new year. Ruyus body was not doing well, and the imperial physician said she could still hold on until March. Before Ruyu closed her eyes, this matter would not be brought up. As long as the engagement was not formally settled in black and white, there was still a glimmer of hope, no matter how faint, it was better than letting Xianger worry now.

  She had clearly instructed him, but she didnt expect the imperial concubine to be so impatient.

  Madam Zhu waved away her attendants and pulled Ming Xuan to sit beside her, saying with a heart full of guilt, "Xuaner, Grandma owes you an apology."

  She knew Xuan Jie was clever and since she had already started suspecting, there was no need to hide it from her anymore.

  Ming Xuan heard the words and her body stiffened, she opened her mouth, wanting to ask something else, but those words reached the tip of her tongue, yet not a single sentence could be asked. Since Grandmother had said so, this matter was almost settled, questioning would not make any difference, its better to think about how to respond.

  She didnt respond and hung her head in silence.

  Madam Zhu felt increasingly guilty upon seeing this, but things had already come to this point and she was actually powerless to turn things around.

  She thought for a moment, then reached out and pulled Ming Xuan into her arms, speaking in a low voice about the situation when Madame Hou came that day. Her tone was choked with sobs as she said, "Grandmother has a kind heart to protect you, but living in this world is not always easy. Originally, when Cai sister had an accident, even if Wu sister couldnt take her place, Grandmother would have thought of a way to keep her safe. Although the reputation of the Duke of Jianan was slightly tarnished, he still held a noble title and was a member of the imperial family. The girls from the side branches of the clan must have been fighting over this marriage... But Big Aunt said that the Duke of Jianan had specifically asked for..."

  Ming Xuans eyes widened in surprise, "The Duke of Jianan specifically asked for me?"

  She shook her head violently, "This is impossible!"

  Three years ago, Gu Mingxuan was lively and charming, but she had an engagement. According to Yùans sister, her ex-fiancé Han Xiou was already a second-grade official at the time. Therefore, Liang Jun, the Marquis of Jianan, could not have had any intentions towards her. In these three years, she did not leave the house or step out of the gate, and has never seen the world outside the Yongning Hou Mansion, let alone having any contact with the Marquis of Jianan.

  For no reason at all, why would he specifically want her?

  Madam Zhu nodded heavily, "I didnt believe it at first either. Later, I asked my nephew Zichun to personally go and test the Duke of Jianan, who would have thought it was actually true..."

  Her eyes were red, and tears fell from the corners of her eyes. "The future of the noble concubine is not only related to the rise and fall of our family, but also affects the entire court. Its a big deal, and one sentence cant be said against it! Xiang sister, its grandmas fault that she couldnt find a good marriage for you, its all grandmas mistake!"

  Ming Xuan took out a handkerchief and gently wiped away Old Lady Zhus tears, forcing herself to say, "Its not your fault, Grandmother."

  She raised her head and said, "Grandma and granddaughter, what kind of person is Jianan Bo?"

  Its as if theyve accepted this fact.

  Madam Zhu saw the situation and didnt know whether to be happy or sad. She thought for a moment and said, "Those rumors outside must also be known. Although Jianan Bo is one of the emperors trusted ministers with great power in the court and controls the palace guards, he has no self-control when it comes to women and is said to be cruel and violent towards them..."

  She gently pinched Ming Xuans hand, "But sister Xuan, rumors are not necessarily equal to facts."

  Ming Xuan nodded, "Rumors are often exaggerated, its hard to avoid distorting the facts, Sun girl understands this principle."

  Madam Zhus eyes showed a relieved expression, "Ive seen the Marquis of Jianan several times, he seems to be very polite and gentle, not like that kind of cruel person at all. Ruzis body is not good, I thought it was because her foundation was too weak. Eldest sister had a serious illness when she was young, and never fully recovered. After marrying into the Marquis of Jianans household, she became pregnant again and gave birth to two children without properly resting during her confinement, inevitably damaging her health...".

  She paused for a moment, "Grandmother didnt like this marriage at first, not because Jianan Bos reputation was bad, but she just didnt want to be a concubine, thats one of Grandmothers private thoughts."

  Ming Xuan knew that Old Lady Zhu was telling the truth, and at this time, her grandmother wouldnt say nice but false words to comfort her. But what made her uneasy was that she didnt believe in courtesy and warmth, Jian An Bo might not be as terrifying as rumored, but she absolutely didnt think he was a good person.

  His wife had not yet passed away, where is there a husband who has already selected a candidate for his own successor?

  Just because of this, Jianan Bo was already determined as a scumbag in Ming Xuans heart.

  She thought for a moment, then asked, "Grandmother, now its just an oral agreement between Eldest Uncle and Jianan Bo, the betrothal gifts have not been exchanged, the wedding letter has not been sent, is it possible that this marriage may still fall through?"

  Madam Zhu frowned slightly, "The eldest aunt has sent a letter to the two uncles in Beiling Wudenghou Mansion to discuss this marriage, but the road to Beiling is far and now its winter, the snow is blocking the mountain, so Im afraid the reply will not come back for a while. But when our parents passed away, the Lu family didnt take care of us, this time with the engagement, they certainly wont intervene either."

  She sighed long and hard, "It would be better if Fourth Brother were at home."

  A man without a house and a family of his own would be led by the nose, but if Yuan Jing were here, he would strongly oppose this marriage, what could Eldest Brother do then?

  Gu Mingxuans eyes flashed with a hint of light, and she repeated, "If Fourth Brother were at home, that would be best!"

  She really didnt want to marry Jianan Bo, he was her sisters husband and a widower, his character must be extremely cold-blooded, even if he wasnt the kind of man who enjoyed torturing women as rumored, just those two points already touched her sore spot. She had prepared herself for a blind marriage, but that didnt mean she had to accept an unsuitable match with equanimity.

  Having tried hard but still cant change, by then she will learn to accept it.

  Madam Zhu stroked her hair, her face as gloomy as the sea. "Fourth Brother was conscripted as a soldier and sent to the Western Frontier battlefield. At first, our people who went there would often send back letters, but later on, as the war situation became more intense, even those we sent to gather information couldnt return, and all news of him ceased. However, his name has never appeared in the imperial reports of casualties, so weve been assuming hes still alive. But Xiang sister, dont hold too much hope."

  Whenever she thought of Gu Yuanjing, her heart would knot up.

  Yuan Jing, although born out of wedlock, was the only male heir of the third house. His birth mother died in childbirth, and he was raised by Lady Lu from a young age. He had always been extremely filial. Otherwise, he wouldnt have risked his life to clear his fathers name. Unfortunately, this act of filial piety ultimately harmed himself. There has been no news from him for three years now...

  Ming Xuan nodded, "Granddaughter knows."

  She then accompanied Old Lady Zhu in Antai Courtyard for a while before bidding farewell to her grandmother and returning to Xiyue Pavilion.

  Ling Yue had just returned from Li Shao Qis place. She said she would stay in Jingdu for a while, but Shao Qi had something to attend to and set off the next day to return to Longxi. For the past few days, she had nothing to do, so she went to help with packing at Ji Song Temple.

  Ming Xuan saw her and hurriedly pulled her hand, asking, "Has Brothers luggage been packed?"

  Lin Xue smiled and nodded, "Mm, actually I was also worrying for nothing. With the servants busy at work and people helping out in the manor, where would I need to personally lend a hand?"

  Ming Xuans grip on Lin Yues hand suddenly tightened a bit, and she asked, biting her lip, "Lin Yue, can you help me with something?"

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