Translator – Xiao He Lian
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Chapter 9.1
Early the next morning, everyone gathered in Jia’an Hall.
The old lady was holding the second branch’s new born grandson in her arms with a smile on her face.
As they were talking in this room, Old Lady Lu raised her eyes and saw the Meng family’s daughter’s eyes falling on Lu Yan.
And what about Lu Yan?
He turned sideways, talking intently to Lu Ye from the second branch and Lu Ting from the third branch, without even bothering to look.
The old lady curled her lips. Her grandson really refused to give anyone any face.
She cleared her throat and said to Meng Suxi: “Girl, you gave me the picture of a hundred cranes1
yesterday, did you draw it yourself?”
Meng Suxi stood up quickly, “Yes, I made the old lady laugh.”
The old lady nodded with satisfaction and added: “It’s great that you can have such outstanding drawing skills at your age, but in terms of charm, it’s still a little weak.”
Upon hearing this, Meng Suxi quickly answered: “I wonder if Suxi will be lucky enough to get some advice from the old lady today?”
When Old lady Lu saw her pick up the hint, she smiled and said, “When it comes to painting skills, you shouldn’t ask me, this old lady, for advice. You should ask your cousin Yan, he is the expert.” When the old lady saw that Lu Yan didn’t respond, she called him, “Yan’er!”
When the old lady called him like this, even if Lu Yan wanted to pretend to be dead, he couldn’t pretend anymore.
He turned around nonchalantly and said with a smile, “Did Grandma call me.”
Old lady Lu took a painting from the maid and handed it to Lu Yan, “This is your cousin Xi’s painting, take a look.” Old lady Lu glared at him, her meaning was very obvious. If he dared not continue…. just wait.
Lu Yan stood up and took the painting, for a long time.
Meng Suxi’s heart couldn’t help but beat as she saw her painting being held in his hands, as if what he was holding was not the painting but herself.
Who could not be tempted by such a gorgeous man?
After a while, Lu Yan raised his head and said, “Isn’t this good?”
Meng Suxi finally managed to strike up a conversation with him, so naturally she refused to let him go, “Old lady Lu just said that my painting lacked a bit of charm. I sincerely asked Cousin Yan to give some advice and will practice more in the future.”
‘Cousin Yan’ , Hearing this, Lu Yan raised his eyes slightly and looked straight at her. He said after a moment: “Miss Meng, that requires talent. You think that hard work can make up for weakness but in fact, that is not the case. Adding charm to a painting is something that many people will never seek in their lifetime.” Lu Yan truly tried to save face for this girl from the Meng family.
Otherwise, depending on his temper, it would be okay to make a girl feel ashamed and angry.
As soon as the words fell, Meng Suxi turned pale, the old lady turned livid, Lu Ting from the third branch quickly rubbed his face with his hands in embarrassment, the corner of the eldest princess’s mouth twitched slightly, only the starling in the southeast corner called out two times.
The surroundings were too cold, so Madam Wen quickly got up to smooth things over, “Isn’t it? I tell you, Xi’er is too strong. Isn’t this painting much better-looking than our sister Heng’s paintings?”
Lu Heng glanced at Madam Wen unhappily.
***
Lu Yan returned to Suning Hall and Princess Jing’an arrived after him.
“What’s the matter with you?” Princess Jing’an folded her arms on her chest.
Lu Yan frowned slightly, not expecting his mother to switch sides so quickly.
“Mother wants me to marry that daughter of the Meng family?” Lu Yan said.
Princess Jing’an raised her eyes and looked at him, “When did I tell you to marry her? But even if we don’t talk about marriage, she will always be your third aunt’s niece. It’s appropriate to call you cousin. Do you have to go that far?”
Lu Yan remained silent.
Princess Jing’an looked at his cold-hearted look and was furious, “Princess Fu’an already has a grandson, but you are not married yet. I don’t care what you think, anyway. I think the daughter of the Meng family is good and if possible, we will settle the marriage next year.”
At first, Lu Yan was planning to refuse, but for some reason, he suddenly remembered that capricious dream.
In the dream, he had no wife or children until his death.
He raised his head and glanced at the eldest princess, and suddenly remembered the way she broke down and cried bitterly in front of the mourning hall. For the first time, he didn’t say anything against it and just said coldly: “I’ll try.”
The eldest princess smiled unexpectedly.
Admittedly, she, the mother, never expected that she could get him to say this.
Lu Yan is a person of his word. Once he has said something, he naturally won’t go back on his word. Since then, he has never given Meng Suxi a cold face again, and has given her several paintings to express his apologies that day.
Wen Suxi was flattered. As the saying goes, strike while the iron is hot. Whenever Lu Yan returns home in the past two days, she will take her writing notes and paintings to ask for advice.
They even played a game of chess.
***
A few days later, Lu Yan was invited to attend the wedding banquet of Sui Yu, the Heir apparent of Xuanping Maquis Mansion.
The bride was sent into the bridal chamber amidst cheers and everyone in the room was saying auspicious words.
The Heir apparent of Maquis Xuanping, Sui Yu, was made drunk by several friends. When he came to Lu Yan, he could no longer hide the forbearing loneliness in his eyes.
He clinked glasses with his best friend and drank them all in one gulp.
In the eyes of everyone, Sui Yu was so proud that he was lucky enough to marry his teacher’s daughter. Only Lu Yan knew that Sui Yu had never let go of that person.
Speaking of that person, I have to talk about an old story.
Three years ago, Sui Yu, who was a successful candidate in the imperial examinations, was about to go to the Yunyang Marquis Mansion to propose marriage to Shen Yao, the second young lady of the Shen family. The betrothal gifts were ready and a matchmaker had been found. But at this moment, the second prince from Uighur turned up. He fell in love with Shen Yao at first sight during a hunting banquet.
The Emperor had always wanted to win over the Uighurs. As soon as he heard that the Uighurs were interested in getting married, he immediately issued an order to make Shen Yao the Princess of Yonghe, so that she could get married.
This is the emperor’s order and no one can change it.
The guests beside them drank too much and swayed leisurely, saying: “If I can live like Brother Xiao Yu2(Xiao Yu, is Sui Yu, Xiao is a prefix used before a name by closer family members and family for a sense of closeness), I will die without regrets.”
When Sui Yu heard this, he looked back and chuckled.
No regrets?
But the two major regrets in his life were when he was named on the top candidate in the imperial exam and the second was the wedding night.
Before Sui Yu entered the bridal chamber, he patted Lu Yan on the shoulder and said, “Shi Yan, actually, I envy you the most. Being unmoved and emotionless is the most free thing.”
***
