Part 3
Zhao Yiyi said, “Aside from losing the title of the Manor’s Heir, my brother is now a commoner. If your Qin family does not disdain him, naturally it counts.”
“But…” Qin Yanyin’s face looked even worse, her eyes darkening a few shades. She whispered, “If that is so, Miss Zuo has been living in Niangniang’s home for so long. She came of age last year; isn’t it time she was married off?”
Zhao Yiyi was slightly stunned, then smiled. “You are not unaware of her situation.”
Because of Lady Xu, Zuo Lianzhi was not favored by the noble ladies in the capital. Consequently, although there were some young gentlemen from noble families pursuing her, her marriage prospects could be considered rocky.
Qin Yanyin drank a few mouthfuls of tea, barely suppressing the anger in her heart. “I climbed West Hanging Mountain a few days ago. I saw the Shizi—your brother—in front of Lanruo Temple. I intended to go up and say a few words, but I saw Miss Zuo get off the carriage right after him. The two entered the mountain temple one after the other. Miss Zuo is already at this age; this is perhaps somewhat improper, no?”
Zhao Yiyi instantly understood; she had come to assign blame.
Qin Yanyin had a big temper. Judging by her posture today, she clearly wouldn’t let it go without an explanation.
She rubbed the center of her brow, feeling somewhat vexed for a moment, yet still smiled warmly. “Madame Xu is cultivating in the mountain temple; he was escorting Miss Zuo to visit Madame Xu. As for the specific details, wait until I ask him to see what exactly happened.”
“If there are any changes, I will certainly send someone to inform you. Your family can discuss it directly with my father.” Zhao Yiyi threw this hot potato to Zhao Weimin. She was being a perfectly good Empress; how desperate would she have to be to touch these thankless tasks?
If there really was something between her eldest brother and Zuo Lianzhi as Qin Yanyin claimed, then she would pretend she didn’t have this brother. Don’t even think about making her responsible.
Qin Yanyin said helplessly, “It is precisely because Niangniang’s father is not present that I had to ask Niangniang today.”
“Father is also cultivating in Lanruo Temple,” Zhao Yiyi said lightly, as if the matter had nothing to do with her.
Qin Yanyin was stunned, finding this somewhat strange. But seeing that she didn’t want to say more, she could only sigh, “Today, it was I who was too impatient and disturbed Niangniang.”
“No harm.” Zhao Yiyi smiled. Glancing out the window at people playing pitch-pot, she crooked her finger at her. “Come, the two of us haven’t competed for a long time either.”
Qin Yanyin followed her out, only to hear her say, “We must set a wager today.”
“Niangniang, I really don’t understand pitch-pot, I…” Qin Yanyin immediately regretted it and begged for mercy repeatedly.
Zhao Yiyi didn’t give her a chance to back out, dragging her out directly while laughing. “Let’s go. Being cooped up in the room all day, my bones are about to fall apart.”
The banquet didn’t disperse until the afternoon.
As soon as it dispersed, Zhao Yiyi ignored the time and sent someone directly to urgently summon Zhao Yuan into the palace.
The moment Zhao Yuan entered the hall, a teacup was thrown at his feet. The cup shattered abruptly, leaving several marks on his leather boots woven with cloud patterns.
“Niangniang.” He bowed before Zhao Yiyi, unable to figure out for a moment why his sister was angry.
Zhao Yiyi calmed down a lot after throwing the teacup. Her expression was slightly solemn as she questioned, “You escorted Zuo Lianzhi to Lanruo Temple?”
Zhao Yuan nodded slightly. “In reply to Niangniang, yes.”
“What did you send her there for?” Zhao Yiyi’s eyes darkened, and she was about to grab another teacup to throw, but was held back by a female official.
The female official fed tea to her lips, coaxing warmly, “Niangniang, quell your anger.”
Zhao Yiyi did not quell her anger, simply staring at Zhao Yuan with a dark gaze.
Zhao Yuan paused, then replied, “Miss Zuo wept several times at home, speaking of missing her parents. She begged me to take her to Lanruo Temple for a look, so I took her.”
Zhao Yiyi was dizzy with anger, then asked, “Where is she?” As she spoke, she made to send someone to summon Zuo Lianzhi.
Zhao Yuan hurriedly replied, “Miss Zuo stayed at Lanruo Temple. After seeing Father and Madame Xu, she cried so hard she couldn’t catch her breath. It was too heartfelt, so I took the liberty of letting her stay at Lanruo Temple.”
Zhao Yiyi: …
After a moment of silence, she asked, “Do you think she wanted to stay there?”
“Naturally she wanted to. Miss Zuo misses Father and Madame Xu; how could she not be willing to stay in the temple to accompany them?” Zhao Yuan replied without hesitation. “Although life in Lanruo Temple is a bit bitter, Miss Zuo said that day that being with her parents, she would be willing even if she had to eat chaff and swallow vegetables. This way, their mother and daughter can be reunited.”
Life in the temple was impoverished. Zuo Lianzhi only had to take one look to know what time Lady Xu and Zhao Weimin got up to chant scriptures and what time they went to sleep every day.
She didn’t think for a second that Zuo Lianzhi would want to stay there.
Looking at her eldest brother’s stiff and formal appearance, Zhao Yiyi couldn’t tell for a moment if he really thought so or if he did it on purpose.
Thinking of this, she waved her hand somewhat weakly, frowning as she said, “The matter of you escorting her was seen by the Qin family. The Qin family now wants an explanation. If you still want to keep this marriage, go explain it to the Qin family yourself.”
Zhao Yuan was stunned, then immediately replied, “Yes.”
After several days of continuous rain, the sky finally cleared.
Zhao Yiyi chose this day to set out.
She wanted to enjoy the scenery along the way, so she didn’t travel under the banner of the Empress. Even the people in the capital didn’t know the Empress was leaving.
Gu Zhen brought Zhao Xiaobai over to see her off. “When you return, I fear he will have grown bigger again.”
The Ferghana dog had a docile temperament and would circle around anyone it saw. Coming out now, it circled Zhao Yiyi’s crimson skirt several times.
Hearing Gu Zhen talking to the Prince of Yan on the side, she turned her head impatiently and called out stiffly, “Zhao… Xiaobai.”
What kind of broken name was this?!
Following her sentence, the Prince of Yan turned his head to look. This was the first time he knew what this small dog was called.
Hearing her call, Zhao Xiaobai wagged his tail even more happily and trotted in several circles.
“If war starts with Rouran, Royal Brother still needs to preside over it personally,” the Prince of Yan said in a low voice.
Gu Zhen nodded and said indifferently, “We know.” The first war since his ascension—a good opportunity to establish authority inside and outside the court—he naturally wouldn’t miss it.
Palace servants checked the carriage and luggage on the side. After confirming everything was correct, they invited the Empress to board the carriage.
Only when the carriage drove out of Changxia Gate and left Luoyang City did she feel a sense of unreality.
Quietly lifting the carriage curtain to look back, the spring scenery of Luoyang was fully in view. The towering city gate was several zhang high, with the three words “Changxia Gate” written on it. It grew further and further away, becoming less and less distinct.
The scenery on both sides changed. Suddenly, a young attendant in green rode up and said by her carriage window, “Niangniang, Prince of Yan says that since we only left Luoyang today, he fears Niangniang’s body cannot bear it and we should not go too far. Would it be alright to rest at the relay station near Mianchi?”
Zhao Yiyi toyed with a jade pendant in her hand, her mood good. “Go tell Prince of Yan to arrange it as he sees fit.”
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