Chapter 562: The Engagement Date is Set
Chapter 562: Chapter 562: The Engagement Date is Set
Shen Ningning rode the Black Wolf King up a hillside. From her vantage point, she could see the Peach Blossom Forest. Though it was miles away, the black characters written on the colorful kites floating in the sky were startlingly clear.
One in particular, a centipede kite, was crafted so vividly it seemed to dance in the air. To her surprise, it also bore her name and Mo Lingwei’s.
Although she couldn’t make them out perfectly, Shen Ningning still recognized her own name.
A contemplative light filled her beautiful eyes.
"Brother, please don’t do this anymore..." ’It only makes things more and more difficult for me to handle.’
The Black Wolf King said, "Where’s that fat eagle when you need it? Just have it fly up there and tear all those kites to shreds."
Hearing this, Shen Ningning couldn’t help but chuckle.
Mengyi had been put under Pei Yin’s discipline long ago. Now, it was only allowed to fly out once every three days.
Besides, Shen Ningning couldn’t bring herself to do something like that.
She sighed, turning to leave with the Black Wolf King.
The Black Wolf King asked, "You’re just going to ignore it?"
"If I pretend I didn’t see it, I won’t have to respond."
For the next few days, Shen Ningning continued to avoid Mo Lingwei.
Rumors ran wild, and everyone in the Capital City could see what was happening: the Crown Prince was determined to steal Second Young Master Lu’s bride-to-be.
But Shen Ningning stayed out of sight, and the Xie family never commented on the matter publicly.
Neither the Crown Prince nor the Lu family made any further moves.
The entire Capital City was left in suspense, waiting to see how things would unfold.
Shen Ningning took care of Grandma Qin for five or six days. During that time, Lu Shaoyuan often came to visit Xiangyun Village, always bearing gifts.
To better shoulder the responsibilities of a husband after their marriage, he had taken over many of his family’s businesses from Mrs. Meng.
Through this constant tempering, Lu Shaoyuan had grown much more mature and composed.
Every time he visited, he had Grandma Qin roaring with laughter.
"Xiao Lu, you mustn’t bring so many things next time. The house is nearly overflowing with all your gifts."
"Grandma, why be so formal with me? Soon, everything I have will belong to Ningning, which means it will belong to you, too. I wish I could bring you every good thing in the world."
Grandma Qin beamed, unable to stop smiling. She looked at Shen Ningning and said, "You’ve found such a wonderful husband. It’s truly a blessing. With someone to take care of you, your grandma can finally rest easy."
Shen Ningning was pouring tea for Lu Shaoyuan. Hearing this, she lifted her beautiful eyes and gave him a look, silently warning him not to be so overly attentive.
’After all, Grandma doesn’t know the truth yet,’ she thought. ’How heartbroken will she be when we eventually go our separate ways?’
Lu Shaoyuan, however, simply returned her gaze with a smile, as if to say that making the old woman happy was what mattered most, and he had everything else under control.
So, Shen Ningning let him be.
Mrs. Meng also came to Xiangyun Village frequently to visit Grandma Qin, and to thank her for agreeing to betroth Shen Ningning to Lu Shaoyuan.
"This son of mine has been wild since he was little. No one could ever control him. I used to worry constantly about what would become of him."
"I told him to learn the family business, but he said it was too much trouble. I told him to follow his brother’s path and become a government official, but he just went through the motions. Sigh... I nearly threw him out and told him to go be a beggar, just so he’d know what real hardship is!"
Grandma Qin was delighted. "Mrs. Meng, you only say that. What mother could ever be so heartless?"
Mrs. Meng sighed. "Honestly, he’s the bane of my existence, born just to defy me. Thank goodness he has Ningning now to keep him in line. The Lu Family must have done something right in a past life for Shao Yuan to marry such a wonderful wife."
Seeing that her grandmother and Mrs. Meng were chatting happily, Shen Ningning pulled Lu Shaoyuan aside.
She lowered her voice and asked, "Has... has Brother sent anyone to make things difficult for you recently?"
Lu Shaoyuan flashed a bright, toothy smile. He had been traveling extensively for business lately, and though a hint of fatigue touched his brow, it only made his starlit eyes seem brighter and his handsome features more striking.
"Are you worried about me?"
His question left Shen Ningning momentarily speechless.
’Does it count?’ she wondered. ’I just don’t want Mo Lingwei to target the Lu family because of me.’
Lu Shaoyuan chuckled. "Don’t worry. The Crown Prince may be angry, but he doesn’t seem to be a completely unreasonable person. Business has been going very smoothly for me lately. He hasn’t sent anyone to cause trouble."
Shen Ningning finally nodded. "My father said last time that the matching of our birthdates was approved. We need to pick an auspicious date for the engagement. From the dates Mrs. Meng just listed, I was thinking... what about the sixth day of the sixth month?"
It was currently the end of the third month, so that was still three months away.
Lu Shaoyuan had no objections. "Whatever you say."
For this marriage, the Xie family’s main concern was Ningning’s wishes, and the Lu family also cared only for her opinion.
So, with a nod from Shen Ningning, the engagement was set for the sixth day of the sixth month. Both families immediately launched into enthusiastic preparations.
「When the news reached the palace.」
Mo Lingwei was helping the Emperor on a walk. The Emperor’s health had been gradually improving, and his complexion had grown rosy and bright.
"If you would just anger Us less, We would recover much faster," the Emperor said. "Ling Wei, We hear you’ve been seeing that young lady from the Meng Family for some time now. It seems you have a favorable impression of her. If there are no major problems, you should settle on it soon. Even having her enter your residence as a concubine would be good. Zichen Palace can’t be left without someone to manage it."
Mo Lingwei’s brow furrowed, his expression sinking into a cold, gloomy darkness.
’Shen Ningning is really getting engaged to Lu Shaoyuan. They’ve even set the date.’
’The kites he had flown, the restorative tonics he’d arranged to have sent to Grandma Qin in Xiangyun Village... she hadn’t responded to any of it.’
’It’s as if she no longer sees him at all.’
The Emperor’s words irritated Mo Lingwei. "Who is Miss Meng?"
The Emperor froze, stopping in his tracks to stare at him. "Meng Wanning. Even We know her name. You took her to the Shangsi Festival, are you telling Us you don’t even remember her name?"
Mo Lingwei gave a perfunctory grunt.
"I don’t recall. And I’m not interested. I don’t like her. There’s no rush to take a concubine. We’ll see."
The Emperor sighed. "You can’t still be waiting for Ningning to have a change of heart, can you? Foolish boy, stop waiting. She has already found her happiness with the man she loves. How long are you going to waste your life for her?"
The Emperor hadn’t expected his son to be so utterly infatuated.
Shen Ningning had been so resolute in her rejection, yet Mo Lingwei still refused to give up.
’If he weren’t afraid that Shen Ningning would truly break things off with him for good, he would have already made a move against the Lu family, wouldn’t he?’
The Emperor grew anxious.
’I can’t let Mo Lingwei wait around until Shen Ningning has a change of heart.’
Mo Lingwei abruptly let go of the Emperor’s arm.
"Haven’t I told you before? Stay out of my business. Especially when it comes to me and Shen Ningning."
Seeing his son’s expression change in an instant, the Emperor grew angry as well. "If you weren’t Our son, We couldn’t be bothered with you!"
Just then, Wu Fang came running up. "Your Highness, this subordinate has an update. I’ve heard that the Princess recently sent a maidservant out of the Capital City. The maidservant’s name is apparently..."
The Emperor’s expression changed, and his eyes darted toward Mo Lingwei.
’So, Mo Lingwei really did send someone to investigate.’
Before Wu Fang could finish, the Emperor cried out in pain, clutching his chest as he collapsed, his face deathly pale.
Mo Lingwei quickly caught him. "Father! Father!"
The Emperor’s eyes were squeezed shut, as if he had fainted.
The terrified Chief Eunuch cried out, "Summon the Imperial Physician! Summon the Divine Doctor! The Emperor has fainted again!"