Chapter 547: I Wish to Grant You a Marriage
Chapter 547: Chapter 547: I Wish to Grant You a Marriage
Lord Lu stiffened, clasping his hands in a salute. "They did not go alone. The Princess’s close classmates and friends all went as well."
The Emperor said nothing. Mo Lingwei took the opportunity to stride in, and the Emperor acted as if he had just noticed him.
"Ah, my son, you’re here?"
"If I hadn’t come, how could I have heard you say such things on purpose?" Mo Lingwei’s tone was faint, his sharp eyes holding a clear, dark gaze.
The Emperor looked sheepish. "You brat, spouting nonsense. How dare you try to anger me?"
Mo Lingwei waved his hand, dismissing Commander Lu for the time being.
Then, he sat on the edge of the Dragon Couch.
"Plenty of people will tell me what Shen Ningning is up to. There’s no need for you to go to such lengths, Father. Just focus on taking your medicine. That’s more important than anything."
The Emperor glanced at his son’s face and saw that he wasn’t about to lose his temper.
He let Mo Lingwei help him sit up.
"It’s the Matchmaker Festival today. You’re not angry that little Ningning went to see the lanterns with someone else?"
"It’s just Lu Shaoyuan, isn’t it? I heard about it beforehand."
The Emperor found his attitude very strange.
Suddenly, it dawned on him. "Pei Yin’s sudden request for leave... that was your doing, wasn’t it?"
Mo Lingwei arched a sharp brow. "Who else?"
’No wonder the boy is so composed,’ the Emperor thought. ’He planted an informant near Shen Ningning!’
Mo Lingwei knew, of course, that Lu Shaoyuan wouldn’t do anything inappropriate.
The Emperor wanted to stir up a little more trouble, but he quickly realized it was a futile effort.
He could only shake his head and sigh. "I’m getting old. You’re even cleverer than I was at your age."
Mo Lingwei smiled, but the smile vanished before it could reach the depths of his sharp eyes.
"Your health has been poor recently, Father, so I won’t argue with you. But it would be best if I don’t hear such inflammatory words a second time."
The Emperor glared at him. "If I don’t start taking care of myself, you’ll be the death of me! From now on, I’m staying out of your business."
"That would be for the best." Mo Lingwei scoffed, a sneer on his thin lips.
He had been keeping a close eye on the Emperor these past few days, precisely to prevent him from making any poor decisions while muddled by his illness.
When he thought about it, he realized he hadn’t seen Shen Ningning for several days.
Fortunately, after hearing the Emperor’s words, Mo Lingwei felt a little more at ease.
Just as Mo Lingwei was about to leave, the Emperor couldn’t resist adding, "Ningning has come of age, and you’ve been a man for some time now. When I was your age, your mother was already with child."
"You’re nagging," Mo Lingwei said, glancing sideways with a hint of revulsion. "I know what I’m doing when it comes to our affairs."
With that, he left.
A deep, dark look filled the Emperor’s eyes. He stared at the canopy of the bed for a long time before finally closing his eyes and drifting off to sleep.
...
Not long after the Matchmaker Festival, Mo Lingwei sent Wu Fang to deliver something to Shen Ningning.
It was a Seven Treasure Lantern, identical to the Lamp King.
Shen Ningning was astonished. "Where did Brother get this?"
Hadn’t her third brother already given the Lamp King to Ye Shangyi?
Wu Fang said with a smile, "His Highness the Crown Prince said he was very busy those past few days and regrets that he was unable to accompany Your Highness to the Matchmaker Temple to see the lanterns."
"Upon learning how brilliant and beautiful the lanterns were that day, His Highness found the lantern maker, gave him ten thousand taels of gold, and had him create an identical one."
Shen Ningning felt a rush of emotion. ’He’s so extravagant,’ she thought, but she couldn’t suppress the joy bubbling up inside her.
Her slender, pink fingertips traced the painted glass panels on the lantern, which were adorned with auspicious patterns. She gave one a gentle nudge, and as it spun, it refracted the light into seven different colors.
’It really is beautiful!’
Wu Fang decided to strike while the iron was hot. "Your Highness, please forgive my impudence, but when the Crown Prince learned that Third Young Master Xie won the lamp and didn’t give it to you, he immediately said, ’That will never do!’ So he personally took it upon himself to make up for it. The way I see it, Your Highness holds a special place in the Crown Prince’s heart."
"Please thank Brother for me. Do you know if he’s finished with his work yet? If he’s free, I’d like to invite him for an outing in the bamboo garden." Shen Ningning batted her long, lush eyelashes.
Wu Fang was overjoyed to hear this.
"Of course. I will return and inform His Highness the Crown Prince at once. Once the hour has been set, I will come back to let Your Highness know."
With that, Wu Fang hurried back to the palace to relay the good news to Mo Lingwei.
As it happened, Mo Lingwei wanted to see her too.
Regardless of the Emperor’s plans, it was indeed time for him to ask Shen Ningning what she wanted.
’At the very least... I have to let her know my feelings first.’
A few days later, Shen Ningning received word that Mo Lingwei had asked to meet her in the bamboo garden in three days, at 7:00 AM.
On the day of the outing, Shen Ningning dressed with special care, putting on her favorite Smoke and Mist Immortal Skirt. Her waterfall of black hair was styled into a maiden’s chignon, decorated with a brilliant pearl hairpin.
The effect made her skin seem fairer and her features more beautiful, like a fiery hibiscus exuding a subtle, hidden fragrance.
Perhaps because she hadn’t seen Mo Lingwei in days, Shen Ningning had not only dressed in her finest but also arrived at the bamboo garden early. As she waited, her heart fluttered with irrepressible anticipation.
She also felt a strange sense of nervousness.
She kept asking Wanchun, "Is my hair a mess?"
Wanchun beamed. "Not at all. Your Highness is stunning today. So many young masters stopped to stare as we were coming over. If I may be so bold, Your Highness is even more beautiful than the Nine Heavens Profound Lady herself."
Shen Ningning lowered her lashes, a soft smile gracing her pink cheeks.
A moment later, a guard arrived, but it wasn’t Wu Fang. The man clasped his hands in a salute.
"Your Highness, my master invites you up the mountain to the pavilion."
Shen Ningning looked up. Behind the bamboo garden was a small hill, and atop it sat a four-cornered viewing pavilion that offered a view of the brilliant sun and the silhouettes of half the Capital City.
She gathered her skirts to head up, but the guard unexpectedly stopped Wanchun behind her.
"My master invited the Princess alone. They have matters to discuss. I must ask you to remain here, miss."
Wanchun frowned. "His Highness the Crown Prince has never made such a request before."
Shen Ningning simply assumed Mo Lingwei had something important to tell her.
So she told Wanchun to wait for her at the bottom of the hill.
"It’s all right, Sister Wanchun. Just wait for me here."
Wanchun could only watch as Shen Ningning followed the guard up the slope and into the pavilion.
From a distance, she could see a tall figure standing across from Shen Ningning.
Wanchun assumed it was the Crown Prince, so she thought nothing of it. Overcome with boredom, she found a place to sit and wait quietly.
However.
When Shen Ningning saw the figure inside the pavilion, she froze.
"Uncle Emperor?"
The man who had been standing with his back to her, hands clasped behind him, turned around. It was the Emperor, his face wreathed in smiles.
His face still held the pallor of his illness. Shen Ningning instinctively glanced around but saw no sign of Mo Lingwei.
The Emperor, dressed in simple robes, said, "Little Ningning, I’ve come today because I have something to discuss with you. That’s why I had the guard move your meeting time forward by two hours. I hope you don’t mind."
Mo Lingwei had arranged to meet Shen Ningning during the Si hour, but the Emperor’s men had told her to come at 7:00 AM instead, which was why she was early.
The Emperor invited Shen Ningning to take a seat. The girl’s beautiful eyes were filled with confusion.
"Uncle Emperor, did you seek me out for an important matter?"
The Emperor poured her a cup of tea, his expression strangely calm and serious.
"Ningning, I wish to decree a marriage for you."
Shen Ningning’s brow twitched in shock. "To whom?"
The Emperor pressed his lips together. "What about Lu Shaoyuan? The Lu family are my trusted retainers. His brother, Lu Fu, is the head of the Imperial Guards, and their family is the only clan of both officials and merchants. Their future prospects are immeasurable."
"If I decree this marriage, you will be Lu Shaoyuan’s principal wife. With me as your backer and Lu Shaoyuan’s sincere affection for you, your life together will surely be a harmonious one."