Jiang Ruan was slightly startled and walked to Xiao Shao's side, "Why are you here?"
"If their statuses are comparable, will you really agree to marry him?" Xiao Shao did not answer her question, but instead asked an irrelevant question.
"Yes." Jiang Ruan said, "If I can be sheltered and have a plot, why not marry into the Gu family? However, the Gu family can't even protect themselves now, so it is not the best plan. "
Xiao Shao looked down at her, and a certain emotion flashed in his eyes, "If there is a suitable family, you will marry?"
"Why not?" Jiang Ruan asked.
Xiao Shao looked at her for a while, and just when he thought that Jiang Ruan thought he would remain silent, he said, "Then what do you think of me?"
Jiang Ruan was stunned.
Xiao Shao said, "Jinying Wangfu reports directly to His Majesty, so there is no need to worry about establishing a faction. The power is enough to protect you. There are no parents-in-law, no crafty servants. If you enter the wangfu, you will be the natural master. No one will dare to bully you, and only you will be respected. Is this family satisfactory? "
His words were serious, and his black robes were like the auspicious black gold Qilin at the entrance of Jinying Wangfu in autumn. His eyes were as deep as the stars, and when he looked at people, the starlight was resplendent, like the Milky Way in the ninth heaven, causing people to drown in the vast and boundless starry sky. Such a youth asked, "Is this satisfactory?"
This was the dream of countless girls in the Great Jin dynasty. At this moment, with such a serious attitude, how could one not be absent-minded?
Jiang Ruan was silent for a moment, then said, "You want to marry me, why?"
"You are clear about the situation in the palace," Xiao Shao said, "Living in Jinying Wangfu will definitely protect you."
"I don't want anyone to protect me," Jiang Ruan interrupted him, "Welcoming me into the fu is just inviting disaster."
Xiao Shao was silent, then asked, "What do you want?"
"What do I want?" Jiang Ruan repeated in a low voice. Suddenly, she raised her head and smiled. That smile was charming, and it contained a sarcasm that could be carved into the bone. She was clearly dressed in a deep black robe, but it was as if she had stepped out of a sea of fire, and her entire body was covered in flames that would perish together.
She enunciated each word clearly, "I want those who once owed me a debt of life to come to me with their hearts in front of me, and those who look down on me can only look up at me forever. I want the Purple King to shudder when he sees me, and I want to trample on Lovely Land! "
Xiao Shao looked deeply at the young girl in front of him. This seemed to be the first time that she did not conceal her hatred and hostility in front of him. He had always known that Jiang Ruan had a secret in her heart, but now he knew that this secret was not as simple as he had imagined. Each of these words was like a heavy hammer, powerful and resounding. What kind of fortuitous encounter could make her say such treasonous, yet matter-of-fact words?
"Now you understand. I am a demoness who brings calamity to a nation. Wherever I am, I will bring calamity to that place."
"You're a demoness who brings disaster to the country, and I'm a traitor." His robe was like the night, and his eyes were like cold stars. The words that came out of his thin lips were so hot that they almost burned people. "You two are a perfect match."
Jiang Ruan stared blankly at him without saying a word.
"You want revenge, you want to kill all those who betrayed you. If this can make you happy, I can help you. But you are not happy. "Xiao Shao's words drifted along with the wind, but when they reached Jiang Ruan's ears, her heart ached.
She was not happy, so how could she be happy by killing people? There would come a day when she would lose herself if she indulged in revenge, and her heart that was blinded by hatred would one day turn her into a vengeful machine. She raised her head and looked at Xiao Shao. The youth's words were sharp, and his gaze was as sharp as a knife. He had hit the nail on the head and revealed the weakest part of her heart.
Suddenly, the scene in the throne room of her previous life flashed before her eyes. She had fallen from the nine steps, and Jiang Quan's cold and indifferent gaze had been directed at her. Xuan Li had declared, word by word, that she was a demoness who brought disaster to the country. Her heart suddenly ached.
There was no turning back in hell, and there was no turning back in the Yellow Springs. If this life of hers was a gift from the heavens, giving her a chance to take revenge, even if she had to burn herself to death in the end, she would not hesitate. But … She just had to meet him in this life.
She slowly lowered her eyes, and a bitter smile slowly appeared at the corner of her lips. "I've known for a long time. Xiao Shao, I've fallen into a nightmare. "
That fragile expression disappeared in a flash, and her voice was warm and indifferent, containing a trace of imperceptible despair and struggle. "But I can't wake up."
…
Zhao Jin put the secret letter back in its original place, and quietly left the door. Coincidentally, she bumped into her eldest brother who had just returned from martial arts practice.
Zhao Qian looked at his sister and asked curiously, "Little sister, why did you come out of father's study? Didn't father not return?"
"I, I can't find my handkerchief. I went to the study to see if I lost it when I sent father some snacks yesterday," Zhao Jin stuttered a little.
"Oh." Zhao Qian did not suspect anything, and could only smile. "You're also a girl, don't be so careless and forgetful all day long. If this goes on, how can you find a good husband?"
"Eldest brother," Zhao Jin impatiently scratched her ear, and suddenly thought of something. She leaned close to Zhao Qian and said, "Eldest brother, are you, second brother, and father going to war?"
Zhao Qian's expression changed, and his tone became serious. "Where did you hear this from!"
"Why are you so fierce?" Zhao Jin curled her lips, and said nonchalantly, "Isn't there an emergency at the border? The war in Tian Jin is so tense, His Majesty will definitely send reinforcements. The General's Residence has to avoid arousing suspicion, and General Wu and General Guan are not on good terms. Since we are generals in the residence, we can't run away. "
"Presumptuous, how can you guess His Majesty's intentions so casually?" Zhao Qian reprimanded with a straight face, "Don't say these things outside, or else you'll bring trouble to the residence, and you'll be in for it!"
"Eldest brother …" Zhao Jin was not afraid at all. She held Zhao Qian's arm and said fawningly, "I won't tell anyone, and you're not an outsider. This is not guessing His Majesty's intentions, but concerned about national affairs. Just tell me, isn't it? If you guys go to war, won't I be the only one left in the residence? It'll be so boring. "
Zhao Jin was the youngest sister in the family, and her brothers doted on her very much. She spoke like this, and naturally did not take Zhao Qian's warning to heart. Zhao Qian was helpless, but he truly doted on this little sister of his. Moreover, Zhao Jin was fearless, and even if he said this, she would not take it to heart. Unable to withstand Zhao Jin's unforgiving temper, Zhao Qian finally relented and said, "You only know how to play. How old are you? Once Mother finds a good marriage for you, you'll be someone else's daughter-in-law. Let's see if you still dare to be so lawless. This time, we're going to the border to reinforce. The Tian Jin army is extremely cunning, and this trip is very dangerous. I'm afraid Father will be leaving in a few days. "He glanced at Zhao Jin and said with concern," Don't cause any trouble in the residence. "
"Got it." Zhao Jin rolled her eyes and asked tentatively, "What's the situation in front of us now? Has Deputy General Jiang really been captured like the rumors say? Is this defeat all because of him? "
"I'm afraid it's most likely, Your Majesty …" Zhao Qian suddenly realized something. Seeing Zhao Jin's concerned gaze, he shut his mouth and changed the topic, "Why are you so concerned about this matter?"
"This concerns our family. As the saying goes, know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated." Zhao Jin spoke with assurance, "Naturally, I have to understand it clearly."
Zhao Qian found it funny, "The one going to the battlefield is not you. Why do you know so much?" Without waiting for Zhao Jin to speak again, he said, "Moreover, this is all confidential and cannot be told to you." He patted Zhao Jin's shoulder, "Good girl, go back and learn more embroidery from Nanny. Yesterday, Mother said that your embroidery of mandarin ducks looks like ducks, how can you present it in the future. You'd better keep your wild temper in check. I still have some matters to attend to and will not accompany you. "
With that, he left first without waiting for Zhao Jin to ask again. Zhao Jin looked at Zhao Qian's back and felt somewhat annoyed. She could only return to the courtyard by herself. Along the way, she heard the servants talking about the emergency at the border. All of them were guessing that the War God, who had been soaring to the top and had a bright future, had now been defeated. It was likely that the best outcome would be to die on the battlefield. Her heart felt suffocated.
When she returned to her room, she sent all the servant girls away. Zhao Jin sat in front of the table and casually picked up a military book and spread it on the table. However, she was not in the mood to read it. Her mind was filled with the secret letter that she had just seen in her father's study.
The border was in an emergency and the expedition was imminent. The original War God had been defeated in one day and was despised by tens of thousands of people. They only said that he was a traitor. Zhao Jin thought of the heroic and scholarly general that she had seen at the palace banquet. She had not had the time to repay the person for saving her life when the benefactor was imprisoned. As the saying goes, a drop of water must be repaid with a gushing spring. Moreover, the daughter of a military family must value kindness and not be timid. Besides, if she stayed in the fu, who knows what kind of marriage her mother would be busy all day.
Zhao Jin touched the military book in front of her and secretly made a decision in her heart. She did not know what kind of changes this decision would bring to her life. The courage at this moment was very precious. In this world, there are gains and losses. If you want to gain something, you must lose something. The giant wheel of fate suddenly turned. Zhao Jin spread open a cloth bag and put the military book on the table inside.
…
In Jinying Wangfu, the account book in Steward Lin's hands was almost crumpled into a ball. He could not help but look into the room.
"Don't look." Jin Si casually poured a cup of tea for himself. "Master is in a bad mood at the moment. If you poke your head around like this, be careful of touching bad luck."
"What does a little girl like you know?" Steward Lin shook his head and said, "His Highness is in the prime of his youth. This time, he was rejected by a woman. This is more shameful and angry than sad. At this moment, he must be thinking of a way to save himself."
Jin Si followed Steward Lin's gaze and looked inside. He really did not see any shameful and angry expression on the face of the cold and quiet person in the room. He could only shrug his shoulders.
"Speaking of which, that Hong 'an Royal Princess is really quite capable. There is actually a woman who can reject His Highness these days." As Steward Lin spoke, a trace of disbelief flashed across his face. "But that's not right. Last time in the fu, Young Madam was clearly very vigorous. Why did she shrink back when such a good thing was right in front of her? Could it be that she's putting on a show? Mmm, women always need to be coaxed. His Highness must not know how to coax people and scared the lady away. "
Jin Si was speechless. He raised his head to look at the sky and pretended not to hear Steward Lin's long-winded words.
However, Steward Lin could not easily shut his mouth. He stroked his small mustache and sighed. "His Highness is good at everything except for his bad temper. When Master was still alive, he was like the Young Master now. He was handsome and unrestrained, and his style was unparalleled in the world. At that time, Master was famous throughout the world. No, his reputation had even spread to other countries. He was a handsome man who was praised by everyone. Master's temperament is much more lively than Young Master's, especially when it comes to women. Even if there are ten thousand flowers around him, not a single leaf will touch him. When he and Madam got married, many women wanted to drown themselves in the lake. "Housekeeper Lin was puzzled." Why is Young Master so aloof from women? It's really frightening. "
"Why are you so worried? Even if you're scared, you won't be of much help. "Jin Si finally could not help but say," Old Lin, don't worry blindly. Ah, Master is in a bad mood right now. Avoid him if you can. Be careful not to attract trouble. "
"Of course I can help." Steward Lin proudly straightened his not-so-stalwart body and said confidently, "I'm not boasting. When I was young, although I couldn't compare to Master in terms of style and elegance, I was still considered an elegant young master. At that time, there were many young ladies from aristocratic families who adored me. It's just that I couldn't take a liking to ordinary women. Until now, I still haven't met anyone who can connect with my heart. Youth is fleeting ah. "
Jin Si could only make an expression of wanting to vomit. His gaze lightly swept across Steward Lin's wrinkled old face, and he silently turned his head away.
"What kind of expression is that?!" Steward Lin felt that his self-esteem had been greatly insulted and protested.
The commotion outside naturally reached Xiao Shao's ears. He looked down at the tea in his hand. His long eyelashes gently drooped, and his posture was calm. The secret guards hidden in the dark did not dare to make a sound.
Although he was as leisurely and elegant as before, his entire body emitted a cold aura that said, "Today, the Prince is in a bad mood, you should all quickly leave." It was obvious that Master Xiao and Beauty Xiao were angry, and perhaps even a little depressed.
Within a quarter of an hour, the news of Xiao Shao being rejected by Jiang Ruan spread throughout the Embroidered Uniform Guards. The Embroidered Uniform Guards all felt injustice for Xiao Shao. With their own master's talent and appearance, how could Hong 'an Junzhu look down on him? No taste!
In reality, although Master Xiao was a little unhappy, he did not have the impulse to seek death because of this matter. Although he was very pitiful in the eyes of the Embroidered Uniform Guards, at this moment, Xiao Shao was thinking about something.
The secret guards that he had sent out had already gone to investigate, and the information they obtained was still the same as usual. However, Jiang Ruan's words still rang in his ears. The oath that was filled with hatred, the sarcastic smile, and the secrets and hatred that were hidden deep within. However, they could not find anything. It was as if a hand had completely erased all traces of Jiang Ruan's past. However, Jiang Ruan's past was so simple, as if those traces existed in another world.
In this world, there was no love or hate without reason. The Yi Bao Pavilion had all kinds of information, but they could not find Jiang Ruan's secret. Xiao Shao frowned slightly. When the Embroidered Uniform Guards saw this, they thought that Xiao Shao was still unable to get over the rejection of the marriage. Jin Er thought about it and finally plucked up the courage to jump down from the beam, "Master, Young Madam may have been frightened. Master does not need to be so depressed. Just say it a few more times and it will be fine. From what I can see, Young Madam still treats Young Master somewhat differently. As the saying goes, a good man is not afraid of failure and must try more. "
"It's nothing." Xiao Shao looked at his sleeves. The golden thread embroidered on the cloud-patterned brocade robe was hidden in the cold dark cloth, reflecting a faint luster.
"There is no need for her to agree, just directly bestow the marriage."
"… …"
When Steward Lin, who was eavesdropping through the crack in the door, heard these words, he could not help but be moved to tears. Ah, his Young Master finally had the grace of his old master. A man should be so strong! It made one's heart admire him!
… …
In the Palace of Compassionate and Peaceful, the fragrance of sandalwood rose in spirals, filling the main hall with a tranquil fragrance that could calm one's impetuous mood. On the bright red soft satin cushion, Empress Dowager Yi De's posture was languid, but her eyes were as sharp as a knife. She looked at the gentle and gentle young girl sitting on the side, and a trace of deep thought flashed through her expression.
GuGu Yang stood silently to one side, and the atmosphere in the main hall was somewhat strange.
"Hong An, I'm here to ask for your opinion. Are you willing or not?"
Just now, the words had been very clear. Bestowing Jiang Ruan to Jinying Wang as his official consort, with Jiang Ruan's background, was already considered to be climbing up the social ladder. Xiao Shao held great military power and was deeply trusted by the Emperor. It could even be said that he was more noble than the princes. Moreover, his appearance was not bad, his bearing was outstanding, and he excelled in both literary and military strategies. Wherever he went, he would be the moon surrounded by stars. Although Jiang Ruan was now a Junzhu, it was just an empty title. The Jiang family behind her was now on the decline, and the Zhao family was her maternal family.
Jiang Ruan looked at Empress Dowager Yi De. Empress Dowager Yi De's brows were still as gentle as before, but her gaze was fierce. Although her tone was that of discussion, in the end, there was no room for her to choose.
She lowered her eyes and was silent in her heart. Xiao Shao had actually used such a method of coercion, which made one not know whether to laugh or cry. However, she did not feel angry. Jiang Ruan was clear that marrying into Jinying Wang's fu at this critical juncture was indeed the best choice. At least in comparison, Jinying Wang's fu could provide her with greater protection than other places.
She smiled and said, "Hong An does not dare to climb up the social ladder. It is all up to Imperial Grandmother to decide. However, I am afraid that this engagement will bring trouble to Jinying Wang's fu."
GuGu lightly breathed a sigh of relief. Empress Dowager Yi De's eyes flashed, and she looked at Jiang Ruan with a satisfied expression, "You don't have to worry about this." If Jiang Ruan had shown the slightest bit of displeasure, she would not have agreed to this marriage. Even if Xiao Shao's opinion was important, if this marriage was not a good one, she would not carelessly act as a matchmaker. She had also lived through her youth, and knowing that Jiang Ruan was not completely unmoved. Moreover, just now, Jiang Ruan had not thought about Jinying Wang's fu, and this made her feel at ease.
Jiang Ruan glanced at Empress Dowager Yi De's expression and looked at her own sleeves. She knew that what she had said just now was correct.
Empress Dowager Yi De thought for a moment, "Speaking of which, this matter is ultimately a matter for you little girls. If you stay by my side, I know that you are a good person. Since I have promised beloved Official Xiao, I have something to give to him. Hong An, take this trip on behalf of aijia to Jinying Wang's fu. "
Jiang Ruan was slightly startled, and after a moment, she smiled and said, "Yes."
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