Chapter 172 Sheng Shulan
When she was a child, whenever Ding bullied her, she liked to look at the jewelry left by her mother.
Those jewels embody her longing for her mother.
However, these jewellery were always lost inexplicably, and after so many years, there were only a few pieces left that her mother left her.
At first Yu Yanran thought that it was a maid who stole it, but later she found out that it was her stepmother Shang Ding who did it.
In order not to embarrass her grandparents, Yu Yanran never said anything.
Now that Ding said this, it means that he is willing to return it.
"Humph!" Old Madam Yu said coldly, "Yanran lost more than just some jewelry. Her mother's dowry is almost all lost. I don't know when we can find it back."
"Someone will deliver the jewelry later. Mother, you talk to Yanran, I'll go to the kitchen to keep an eye on it." After saying this, Ding stood up, bowed, and left in a hurry.
She could hand over those jewellery, but how could she possibly hand over the dowry that had come into her hands?
Ding's family background was much lower than Yu Yanran's mother's, and she was married as a second wife, so her dowry was not much.
These were what she was going to give as dowry to her daughter when she got married.
After Ding left, Yu Erlang and Yu Yanhong felt very uneasy and found an excuse to leave as well.
"Grandma, don't be angry." Yu Yanran hurriedly comforted her.
"You!" Old Madam Yu sighed, "You are too kind-hearted. When His Highness has many concubines in the backyard in the future, I am really worried whether you can survive."
"Grandma, His Highness is very kind to me." Yu Yanran said with a smile.
Old Madam Yu shook her head slightly. It might be good now, but not necessarily in the future.
But she didn't say anything else and asked about Yu Yanran's situation in the East Palace.
…………
"It seems that after going back, I feel much better."
In the evening, Zhao Xing learned that Yu Yanran had returned and came to her yard.
As soon as I entered the room, I heard Yu Yanran humming a little tune.
"Your Highness!" Yu Yanran quickly put down the jewelry in her hand and bowed.
"No gift."
Zhao Xing came up to Yu Yanran, looked at the small wooden box and some old jewelry on the table, and said, "Are these all given to you by Old Madam Yu? I've had people give you so many jewelry, but I haven't seen you so happy."
"No... no, I like the jewelry that Your Highness gave me very much. It's just that these are the relics of my deceased mother. I lost them before, and I found them when I went back this time, so I am so happy." Yu Yanran explained hurriedly.
"I see."
Zhao Xing had forgotten about this matter. What Yu Yanran said about losing it must have been taken away by her stepmother.
Now that Yu Yanran has entered the Eastern Palace, he wants to please her, so he comes back?
You may say that Yu Yanran is very kind. If she had directly explained the reason, Zhao Xing might have helped her vent her anger and dealt with her stepmother.
But she still said that it was lost and found, and did not mention her stepmother.
"Are you happy going home today?" Zhao Xing asked as he pulled Yu Yanran to sit down.
"Yeah." Yu Yanran nodded.
"I will go to the palace during the Mid-Autumn Festival to watch the moon with my father, mother, and civil and military officials. I can't accompany you. You can go back to Yu's house then." Zhao Xing said.
During the Mid-Autumn Festival, he definitely couldn't take Yu Yanran with him, as she would be bored alone in the East Palace.
No, there will be Sheng Shulan by then.
Zhao Xing had forgotten about the Mid-Autumn Festival before and asked Liu Sanshi to tell Sheng Wei that after Sheng Changwu got married, Sheng Shulan should come to the East Palace.
The words have been spoken, and it is difficult to change them.
When the time comes, let Sheng Shulan go back to her parents' home to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival. We should treat them equally.
…………
In the blink of an eye, it was early August. After Wang Anshi had inspected the counties, he returned to report to Zhao Xing.
Now the land inventory in various counties is almost coming to an end.
According to rough estimates, the amount of hidden farmland identified is nearly two million mu.
After listening to Wang Anshi's report, Zhao Xing said, "The next step is to distribute the land. I'll leave this to you to supervise. Make sure all the land is rented out to the people before the winter wheat is planted."
"Your Highness, rest assured. I will complete it before the winter wheat planting and will not delay the planting of winter wheat." Wang Anshi said seriously.
"Yes." Zhao Xing nodded and said with a smile: "You have worked hard these days. Go back and have a good rest for a few days. The Mid-Autumn Festival will be here soon. The land rental will be done after the Mid-Autumn Festival."
"Yes, Your Highness. If you have no other instructions, I will take my leave." Wang Anshi saluted.
"Go ahead." Zhao Xing waved his hand.
After Wang Anshi left, Zhao Xing asked someone to call Sheng Changwu in.
Seeing Sheng Changwu, who had become much darker, Zhao Xing almost didn't recognize him.
Although Wang Anshi was also tanned, it was not serious.
Sheng Changwu is almost turning into a black man.
Come to think of it, Wang Anshi was a civil servant and always traveled in a horse-drawn carriage, so he had few opportunities to bask in the sun.
Sheng Changwu was a military officer and always traveled on horseback.
"Your wedding date is in a few days. I will give you a month's leave. After the marriage, you can stay at home and spend more time with your wife." Zhao Xing said.
Only in ancient times did the groom not need to do anything when getting married, otherwise Sheng Wei would have come to him to ask for the person.
I just don’t know if Sheng Wei will be able to recognize Sheng Changwu after he returns.
Sheng Changwu had no idea what Zhao Xing was thinking, so he thanked him and left.
…………
On the tenth day of August, Sheng Changwu got married.
Although Sheng Wei is just a businessman, he has been managing Zhao Xing's business in secret over the years.
Although this relationship is known to almost everyone, civil servants are too noble to curry favor with him just because of his status.
However, Sheng Wei also made friends with many businessmen, and some people came for Sheng Hong's sake, so the wedding was still quite lively. Even colleagues like Gu Tingye took leave to attend the wedding.
On the morning of the second day after Sheng Changwu's wedding, Sheng Wei personally sent Sheng Shulan to the Eastern Palace.
Zhao Xing did not show up, but let Liu Sanshi take charge of the matter.
"Mr. Sheng, you can leave the noble man to our family." Liu Sanshi said with a smile.
"Eunuch Liu, my daughter doesn't understand the palace rules, so I'd like to trouble you to give her some advice." Sheng Wei said as he took out a banknote from his sleeve and stuffed it over without leaving a trace.
"Mr. Sheng, what are you doing?" Liu Sanshi quickly refused, "Maybe I'll need your help in the future."
He had followed Zhao Xing for a long time, and after all these years, Sheng Shulan was the first woman that Zhao Xing took in on his own initiative.
Whether it is Zhang Guifen or Yu Yanran who has now entered the Eastern Palace, they were both chosen by the emperor and the queen.
"Don't worry, Eunuch Liu. I know the rules. It's just about paying for the tea." Sheng Wei said.
Liu Sanshi accepted it after hearing this and said with a smile: "Don't do this again in the future."
"sure."
Sheng Wei looked at Sheng Shulan and said, "Daughter, Dad will go back first."
"Yeah." Sheng Shulan nodded.
Sheng Wei took a last look at his daughter, bowed to Liu Sanshi, and turned to leave.
Sheng Shulan looked at her father's departing back, standing there at a loss.
"Please follow me, my lord." Liu Sanshi said with a smile.
"Thank you for trouble, Eunuch Liu." Sheng Shulan bowed.
"My Lord, I am sorry to bother you. Please come this way."
Liu Sanshi led Sheng Shulan to the harem and introduced her to the various palaces of the Eastern Palace along the way.
"This is the courtyard where the nobleman lives. His Highness had it cleaned up some time ago, and all the servants are ready."
Liu Sanshi took Sheng Shulan into the yard, where eight palace maids and four eunuchs were standing.
"This is the distinguished person you are going to serve. Why don't you come over and pay your respects?" Liu Sanshi said.
"Greetings, Your Excellency!" the palace maid and eunuch bowed.
"No... no need to be so polite." Sheng Shulan waved her hand quickly.
"Willow Warbler!"
Liu Sanshi waved to the oldest palace maid.
"Your Excellency, it's Manager Liu!" Liu Ying stepped forward and bowed.
"Sir, this is Liu Ying. She is in charge of all matters in your courtyard. Just tell her if you need anything." Liu Sanshi said.
"Yeah." Sheng Shulan nodded.
"Then I will take my leave!" Liu Sanshi said with a bow.
After Liu Sanshi left, Liu Ying bowed and said, "Please come in, sir."
Sheng Shulan nodded and walked in.
…………
When Zhao Xing heard Liu Sanshi's report and learned that Sheng Shulan had been settled, he let him leave and continued to deal with the matter.
In the evening, Zhao Xing came to the yard where Sheng Shulan was.
Sheng Shulan, who had received the notice, waited at the gate of the hospital to greet them.
"Greetings to His Royal Highness the Crown Prince!" Sheng Shulan bowed.
Sheng Shulan's voice is very similar to Yu Yanran's, soft and gentle.
She was dressed differently today than the last time we met.
Last time she had her hair tied up like a woman, but today her hair was down.
After a divorce, a woman can either tie her hair up like a woman or let it down like a girl. It is entirely up to her wishes and there are no restrictions.
"No need for formalities." Zhao Xing said.
After hearing this, Sheng Shulan stood up, but lowered her head slightly, not daring to look at Zhao Xing.
Zhao Xing walked in and Sheng Shulan followed behind him.
After entering the room, Zhao Xing sat down on the couch. Sheng Shulan stood there at a loss, not knowing what to do.
"You all go down." Zhao Xing waved his hand.
"Yes!" Sanshui and Liuying bowed and retreated with the rest of the maids and eunuchs.
When only Zhao Xing and Sheng Shulan were left in the room, Sheng Shulan became even more nervous and her hands unconsciously pinched her sleeves.
Zhao Xing looked at Sheng Shulan. She was wearing a light pink tube-top skirt inside and a gauze blouse of the same color outside. Her arms were faintly visible under the gauze.
She wore a red belt around her waist, which made her waist look slimmer but also highlighted her bust.
Perhaps she felt Zhao Xing's gaze, the skin on her nervous neck turned pink.
"Come forward." Zhao Xing said.
Upon hearing this, Sheng Shulan looked up at Zhao Xing in confusion. Seeing that she was looking at her, she quickly lowered her head.
"I said come forward." Zhao Xing repeated again.
This time Sheng Shulan heard it clearly, took a few steps forward, and then stopped.
"Move forward a little further." Zhao Xing said.
Upon hearing this, Sheng Shulan moved a few steps forward and was now very close to Zhao Xing.
Zhao Xing stretched out his hand, lifted Sheng Shulan's chin, and asked her to raise her head and look at him.
(End of this chapter)