Yi Ling stood up and reached out to help her adjust her cloak, which had fallen loose from running. His voice was gentle. "What's the rush? Aren't you afraid of catching a cold?"
Gu Yan lowered her head, her messy hair brushing against the side of her ears. She felt a tingling sensation and her fair ears turned bright red. "I didn't expect there to be outsiders."
Yi Ling wrapped his large palm around her waist and brought her into the room. "There are no outsiders here."
After entering the room, Yi Ling pointed to the two men and introduced them. "This is Xie Xuan 'an and Taichang Shaoqing."
The man on the right was dressed in a green robe. He stood up and bowed to Gu Yan. "Greetings, Madam." His movements were scholarly.
Gu Yan returned the greeting. "Your surname is Xie. Are you from the Xie family of Chen County?"
Xie Xuan 'an nodded.
The Xie family of Chen County had been a prominent family before the split between Hokuin and Nan Hua. Although they gradually disappeared after the founding of Hokuin, their status among the people was unshakable. They were deeply loved and respected by the people.
The man on the left had the air of a major general. He had thick eyebrows and big eyes. He was dressed in shining armor and looked very valiant. Yi Ling pointed to him and said, "This is our army's lieutenant, Jiang Xun."
Gu Yan greeted him. Then Yi Ling turned around and picked up a letter from the table and handed it to her.
Gu Yan took the letter and saw her father's familiar handwriting. It said, "To My Son." Tears welled up in her eyes. Her fingertips trembled and she forgot to move.
Gu Yan suddenly felt a strong grip on her shoulder. She looked up and saw Yi Ling say, "Go back and read it. I'll come see you when we're done here. "
Gu Yan quickly nodded and turned to leave the study.
There was fresh snow in the courtyard. The servants had already swept it clean. Newly written couplets were pasted on both sides of the porch and small red lanterns were hung everywhere.
Gu Yan did not feel the cold wind at all. She walked two steps out of the study and sat down on a bench in the porch. She opened the letter.
His father's familiar handwriting was full of greetings and concern. The letter only talked about trivial matters. Gu Yan skimmed through the thin piece of paper very quickly. Then he began to read it carefully, as if he wanted to find something useful from between the lines.
She sat in the corridor and stared at the letter for a long time until Yi Ling saw her out and found her still at the door.
"Why are you sitting here?" Yi Ling came to her side and asked.
Hearing this, Gu Yan suddenly looked up, and the tears in his eyes crashed into Yi Ling's.
"Homesick?" Yi Ling asked, glancing at the letter in her hand. Gu Yan just shook her head and didn't say anything.
Yi Ling sighed and reached out to her. "Get up. It's cold outside. I'll send you back."
Gu Yan looked at his outstretched hand and hesitated for a moment. Yi Ling acted as if she didn't know anything and just reached out to look at her. Gu Yan lowered her eyes and placed her hand in his.
— — —
The New Year's Eve banquet finally began.
Yi Ling led Gu Yan up the stairs of Kunlan Hall step by step.
His palm was as warm and broad as his father's. Gu Yan was held tightly by him. Suddenly, she felt at ease as if she was still by her father's side.
Yi Ling looked at her sideways. Her slender figure was wearing a heavy palace dress. Her hair was tied up in a simple cross bun, and her neck was as white as snow. Seeing her dazed expression, he asked in a low voice, "What's wrong?"
Gu Yan came back to her senses and her eyes met his. She couldn't help but feel hot behind her ears. She was a little annoyed at herself for comparing him with her father. She shook her head and said, "Nothing."
He smiled slightly, and his chiseled face softened. "Don't be distracted later."
Gu Yan nodded and walked into the hall with him.
Kunlan Hall was built on a small island in the middle of a lake. There were floor-to-ceiling screens on all four sides. Although it was winter, there were charcoal fires everywhere in the hall. Thick cotton brocade curtains kept the cold outside the hall.
Gu Yan and Yi Ling had just sat down when they heard the sound of announcing the arrival of the Emperor. All the officials in the hall bowed their heads in greeting.
The Emperor came with the Imperial Consort Yi. There was no master in the central palace. The Imperial Consort Yi's jade desk was placed next to the Emperor. She had already become the Empress. The Emperor raised his hand to dismiss the formalities and sat down. Only then did the officials get up and sit down.
After the ceremonial officer read the praises, the Emperor announced the start of the banquet. The sound of drums spread leisurely, cutting through the silent night of the Imperial City.
The sound of musical instruments and slow dance weaved a charming and gentle night.
Gu Yan calmly sat next to Yi Ling and watched as he was toasted by people. At first, she didn't care, but as more and more people toasted him, she couldn't help but worry. She reached out and gently pulled on his sleeve.
Yi Ling looked back at her with a smile in his eyes. He leaned slightly to her ear and whispered softly, "I'm fine."
His hot breath mixed with the fragrance of wine blew on Gu Yan's ear. It was a little itchy. She unconsciously shrank back, but she didn't know that her entire ear was red. When Yi Ling saw this, his heart rippled. He couldn't help but reach out and pinch her ear.
Gu Yan was startled by his sudden intimacy. She turned her body in a panic, but her heart couldn't help but beat wildly. Even with Muran, she had never been so intimate in front of everyone. Yi Ling's low laughter sounded in her ear.
When the song ended, the dancers left the hall. Cheng Wang came forward with wine and congratulated the Emperor. The Emperor drank the wine in his cup and said, "It's hard for my son to be so considerate. Reward him with a thousand taels of gold."
Cheng Wang didn't thank the Emperor. He bowed his head and said in a clear voice, "Imperial Father, this son asks Imperial Father to reward me."
The Emperor smiled and said, "What, do you think it's too little?"
Cheng Wang bowed and said, "This son doesn't dare. This son has passed the age of twenty. This son asks Imperial Father to grant me a marriage."
The Emperor was stunned. After a while, he laughed and said, "I was wondering what the matter was. It turns out that my son came to ask for a wife." All the officials laughed, and the atmosphere became cheerful.
"Well, tell me, which family's young miss have you taken a fancy to?"
Cheng Wang replied, "This son wants to marry Chen Shangshu's daughter, Chen Qiong."
As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere suddenly froze. Everyone was already calculating in their hearts. Not to mention that Cheng Wang had a powerful Xiao Clan behind him. If he married Madam Chen's daughter, it would be like adding wings to a tiger. The Duan Of Silla would have no hope.
The Emperor stroked his beard and said, "My son's taste is really good. But a few days ago, Chen Shangshu wrote a letter saying that my daughter already has someone she loves. He asks Zhen to grant her a marriage."
When Gu Yan heard this, the corners of his mouth slightly smiled. He knew that Chen Shangshu treasured his only daughter, but he didn't expect that Chen Qiong would be able to persuade Chen Shangshu to come forward.
"Dare I ask Imperial Father, who is Chen Shangshu referring to?"
"Huan Zhuo, come out." The Emperor waved his hand and beckoned Huan Zhuo to come out.
Huan Zhuo stood up and bowed in the middle of the hall, "Greetings to Imperial Father."
"Zhen asks you, are you willing to take Chen Qiong as your wife?"
As soon as the Emperor's voice fell, Imperial Consort Yi opened her mouth and said, "Emperor, this is against etiquette. Xuan 'er is the eldest son of the Emperor and has not yet been married. How can he grant Zhuo' er a marriage first?"
Consort Xiao's brother, Prime Minister Xiao Ze also stepped out and bowed, "Consort Yi is right. The Emperor still has to follow the etiquette of the late Emperor."
As soon as these words came out, the Xiao Clan's henchmen all stepped out to stop them. The Emperor also showed a difficult expression and hesitated.
"Emperor."
A crisp voice interrupted the noisy persuasion in the hall. Everyone followed the voice and saw Xiao Rong stand up and bow.
When the Emperor saw her, he asked, "Xiao Rong, what do you want?"
Xiao Rong often saw the Emperor at Imperial Consort Yi's place, so she wasn't afraid. She stood up and bowed in the middle of the hall, "Xiao Rong asks the Emperor to grant her a marriage."
Xiao Ze didn't expect his daughter to come out and make trouble at this time. He shouted, "What are you doing? Why haven't you left yet?"
The Emperor stopped her and said, "Official Xiao, let her finish."
When Xiao Rong heard this, she became even more fearless, "Rong 'er has admired His Highness Cheng Wang for many years. I ask the Emperor to grant my wish."
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