Chapter 120
Translator: NovelMultiverse | Editor: NovelMultivers
Yu Linglong sat at the table. Her white jade-like face glowed with a cold radiance, her fan-like eyelashes hanging motionlessly on her eyes as if she hadn’t heard Yu Qianyun’s words.
Yes, there were only two of them left in the huge Yu house.
Yu Linglong had no feelings towards the Yu house. Although the Yu Mansion was her only residence since her journey, except for Lady Yu who had brief contact with her, the other people and her body were only things related to her. There had never been a trace of family affection.
This was a cold mansion, and she had no feelings for it.
After a long time, Yu Linglong slowly raised her eyes and looked at Yu Qianyun.
Yu Qianyun did not see a trace of the enthusiasm for her life on Yu Linglong’s face, but only felt the infinite coldness, and she couldn’t help but shiver slightly.
“Yu Qianyun, you have to remember what she said just now,” her cherry lips slightly opened, and Yu Linglong’s voice had a bit of warning, “You should also make some plans for your future.”
Yu Linglong had never believed in Yu Qianyun’s appearance on the surface. She knew that Yu Qianyun’s true temperament could never be gentle, otherwise she would not secretly fight for power with Concubine Mei. This woman was more scheming than Yu Qianfang and Yu Qianliu, and better at disguising than Concubine Mei.
Now there were only two of them. Who was she pretending to be?
In the eyes of others, they were now women without parents and relatives. Yu Linglong didn’t care, but Yu Qianyun? Was she planning to guard the Yu house like this, alone? Without parents, who would determine her future?
Although Yu Linglong’s words were a warning, they were also a reminder. As long as Yu Qianyun didn’t bother to provoke her, she was not willing to kill her.
Yu Qianyun only felt that her appearance was torn apart by Yu Linglong mercilessly, and her heart slowly fell down, as if she had fallen into an ice cave, without a trace of heat.
Watching Yu Linglong get up and leave, Yu Qianyun’s face gradually showed a hint of uncoordinated gloom.
Yu Linglong, do you really think you are omnipotent?
…
This New Year’s Eve, there was no moonlight. With the light reflected by the snow, Yu Linglong slowly walked on the slate path in the garden. The people in the house probably all went to drink and celebrate, and there was a thin layer of snow on the ground that no one cleaned yet, which made a creaking sound under the feet, which was especially clear in the silent night.
There was a cold breeze behind her, mixed with the faint mint scent that she was already familiar with. Yu Linglong remembered the troubles of the day, she couldn’t help but darken her heart, and said without looking back, “What are you doing here?”
Lord Xu’s voice echoed in the dark, with a slight smile, as if he was in a good mood.
“Nothing, I just miss you and wanted to come and see you.”
The long black shadow wrapped in the refreshing fragrance of mint swept toward her. Yu Linglong impatiently patted his hand, and said coldly: “What the h.e.l.l is going on with you?”
Was what she said not clear enough? Why did this guy want to stalk her, and kept pulling her and not letting go? There were so many girls in the capital, why did he have to pester her?
The figure of Lord Xu appeared beside Yu Linglong. He was still dressed in black and looked particularly dazzling in the snow. Following his footsteps, the silver eagle under the black robe swept up a thin mist of snow, as if soaring into the air.
“Are you unhappy?” In the darkness, Lord Xu’s inky eyes were reflected with the snow all over, appearing bright and innocent.
Seeing the concerned look on his face, Yu Linglong couldn’t help but tighten her pink lips. This kid knew what he was asking, right? Did he think she would be happy when she received the imperial decree of marriage? Why was she upset? Was it not obvious enough!?
The night was very cold, and the atmosphere was very depressing.
Feeling the alienation of Yu Linglong’s rejection, Lord Xu became a little uneasy.
“Are you angry? Do you blame me for not seeing you?”
Yu Linglong was completely speechless. Was this kid a peac.o.c.k? Why was he so pa.s.sionate? Did he think she was arguing with him?
Her silence made Lord Xu think that his guess was correct. He immediately explained: “I want to ask my father to make an order. I have been busy these days—”
“Yu Lieyang!” Yu Linglong couldn’t help it anymore and immediately interrupted him.
She knew he had a plan, otherwise, how could the emperor point them to marriage? No matter from what side you saw it, Yu Linglong was forced to become Princess Xu!
This guy was really troublesome!
She turned around quickly and looked up at him. Her voice showed an irritation that could not be suppressed: “You must immediately ask the emperor to take back his decree!”
Lord Xu paused. His expression instantly became cold, and his voice became tough: “Impossible!”
How much effort did he take to get the emperor to agree to this marriage, and now that he finally succeeded, how could he just give up like this!?
Yu Linglong gritted her teeth and said fiercely: “How many times have I told you that I won’t marry you—”
Before he finished speaking, Lord Xu had already taken her over. He imprisoned her in his arms domineeringly, and said word by word: “How many times have I said it, I only want you!”
Falling into his solid embrace again, and being held tightly by him, Yu Linglong was angry and upset.
Knowing that she couldn’t convince him, Yu Linglong simply gave up this effort.
The little face was forced into his chest, and Yu Linglong’s voice sounded a little dull: “No one can force me to do anything I don’t want!”
Hearing her words, Lord Xu’s movements were slightly stagnant.
He slowly raised his big hand, and stroked her smooth long hair with a slight pity, and said helplessly: “Linglong, do you always have to be so stubborn?”
Yu Linglong was almost out of breath when she was hugged and said angrily: “Then let me go first!”
Unexpectedly, Lord Xu really let go. Even though the strength of his arms relaxed a little, he still wrapped her around his chest, as if afraid that she would run away once he let go.
His dark eyes stared at her steadily. The coldness on his face gradually became milder, and he said as a reminder: “Linglong, have you forgotten what I told you last time?”
Yu Linglong’s mind flashed, thinking of the few words he had said that time, and she couldn’t help being even angrier.
“Could it be that you used this method to solve the Gan family’s problem?”
He said that if she wanted to get rid of the troubles of the Gan family, the only way was to marry him. She didn’t take it seriously at the time, and she didn’t expect him to make his own way and ask the emperor to marry him.
What kind of solution was this? She was so angry. If she wanted to marry, would she still need his help? What a mess!
Lord Xu sighed slightly: “If you refuse to marry, I can only do this.”
Yu Linglong smiled with anger: “Your Royal Highness, don’t you think you are making things difficult for you?”
Hearing her words, Lord Xu actually laughed.
“If it was someone else, I could easily force them. But since it’s you, I can’t do too much.”
Yu Linglong couldn’t help but get angry when she heard his words that made him sound like a rascal. What kind of s.h.i.t logic was this? Did he even want face?
Seeing that Yu Linglong was still angry, Lord Xu couldn’t help sighing: “You don’t know how many times I begged my father before he agreed to this marriage. I know that my father sent someone to check your details…I have really wronged you these days.”
The emperor sent someone to see her? Yu Linglong suddenly thought of the dark shadow on the roof that day, and the flames in her heart immediately jumped upward again.
“That Jin Wuwei was sent by the emperor last time? Sneaky, you and your dad are really alike!”
This father and son acted so secretly. It was really annoying.
Hearing her rebellious remarks, Lord Xu just smiled slightly and didn’t seem to care about it.
“Father was just wondering why I would ask you to marry me, so he was a little curious about you.”
Yu Linglong said angrily: “Curious? Does he look down on my ident.i.ty?”
Whoever it was, knowing that someone was peeping in the dark didn’t make her mood any better.
The emperor was afraid that the commoner’s daughter of the Yu house would not be worthy of his son, so he sent someone to see her. She was enough, so he thought she must marry Lord Xu?
What kind of princess did he look down upon!
Lord Xu’s arm tightened, and he smiled lightly: “What do you want to do? I won’t look down on you.”
Yu Linglong said angrily: “I don’t need you to not look down on me!”
Seeing her having a small temper in her arms, Lord Xu looked to be in a very good mood, and a cheerful smile appeared on his handsome face: “Don’t be angry, I will protect you from now on and not let anyone bully you. Okay?”
Yu Linglong frowned her eyebrows and looked up at this arrogant guy: “Who wants you to protect them?”
She can take good care of herself, but what else do you want a man to do?
Lord Xu looked at her with a little helplessness on his face, and asked seriously: “Tell me, what do you need to marry me?”
Yu Linglong shook her head coldly: “Yu Lieyang, I don’t need you.”
She was a selfish person and had no time to consider other people’s feelings. All she wanted was her own peace. She didn’t want or need the rest.
Pushing Lord Xu’s arm away, Yu Linglong turned around and left without looking at him.
Behind her, a calm and determined voice echoed: “But you need status to get out of here.”
Yu Linglong’s footsteps stopped.
Lord Xu’s voice followed immediately, beating her heart sentence by sentence: “…Do you still want to stay in this Yu house? Do you want to live here forever? Linglong, you are not an ordinary person.”
He knew her. This condition was indeed very tempting to her now.
Seeing that the Yu house had come to an end, she would not stay here and wait for death. It was only a matter of time before she left.
Yu Linglong was silent for a while, and said coldly: “I want to leave, and I don’t have to marry you.”
As if guessing that she was going to say this, Lord Xu immediately said: “But marrying me is the best way. You will have a distinguished ident.i.ty and more freedom—”
“Freedom?” Yu Linglong said sarcastically, turning around slowly, facing Lord Xu, “You said that marrying you would give me more freedom?”
Although she didn’t understand the ancient rules very well, she also knew that if she really became Princess Xu, this n.o.ble status would give her countless restrictions, not to mention having to deal with the man in front of her.
His dark eyes darkened, and Lord Xu said: “…Don’t worry, after marrying me, except for needing to live in the palace, I will never force you to do anything.”
Yu Linglong looked at him suspiciously: “Are you sure?”
A complex expression flashed across Lord Xu’s eyes, and his voice was low: “I can give you a year to wait for you to change your mind.”
After a pause, he moved away his eyes to look at her, as if suppressing his inner emotions and said firmly: “If you refuse to stay with me in a year, then I will let you leave. It’s just that during this year, you must promise to allow me to protect you.”
Looking at his handsome and resolute face, Yu Linglong’s heart moved slightly.
She was not a fool, she knew exactly what Lord Xu meant.
Now she was facing three crises. The first was Gan Lin. Yu Linglong understood that this still childish son of Gan was very stubborn. If she did not agree to him, there will be a lot of entanglements in the future. The second was the Blue Lotus Cult. It was also a big trouble for her to provoke them. The third was the crumbling Yu house. This mansion was no longer a place for her to settle down.
Lord Xu knew these things, so he went to ask the emperor to marry her. In this way, he forced her to be by his side and used his own power to protect her.
In the dark, the two stood relatively silent, one thinking and the other waiting.
Suddenly a gorgeous firework exploded in the silent night sky. After a moment of blooming, it slowly fell down, and the figure of Lord Xu stood under the firework, looking so desolate and depressed.
With this firework, more colorful fireworks gradually floated in the night sky of the capital. The sound of firecrackers one after another indicated that midnight had arrived.
Lord Xu looked up at the sky, and the fireworks reflected in his eyes. It seemed that his starry eyes were so bright, even more dazzling than fireworks.
He seemed to be talking to himself, and he seemed to sigh: “It’s New Year’s Eve again…”
The big hand stretched out slowly and gently grasped Yu Linglong’s hand. The man’s gentleness was pa.s.sed over from his palm, and it was so warm on this cold night.
“Linglong, do you remember that oath?”
Yu Linglong did not withdraw her hand, but she did not hold it back either. She stood quietly on the spot, letting Lord Xu hold her little hand.
Sometimes, a person who is lonely and strong for too long will be greedy for the warmth and companionship of that moment, even if they were strong like her. It was inevitable.
His mellow voice came over in a low voice, with a little sadness: “I didn’t break my promise that time, did I? Shouldn’t you believe me?”
Of course, she remembered that night. He made a loud promise, and he did what he said.
The lively firecrackers resounded across the sky, but they stood silently in the snow, separated from the rest of the world, as if the noise of the outside world had nothing to do with them, and could not make any waves between her and him.
After a long time, Yu Linglong said slowly, “Okay.”
With a soft promise, an overwhelming joy appeared on his face. He held her big hand and unknowingly grasped it, and the calm voice had a bit of excitement: “Linglong—”
Quietly pulling out her hand, Yu Linglong turned her head and stopped looking at him. Her voice was as indifferent as before: “You should go.”
His hand froze in the air in a strange posture, as if he wanted to hold something but squeezed it. Lord Xu paused, then withdrew his hand.
A pair of brilliant eyes looked at her deeply, and Lord Xu whispered: “Linglong, I’m waiting for me to marry you.”
Suddenly turning around, Lord Xu disappeared suddenly, as if he was afraid that he would be unable to control his emotions if he stayed for a while.
Yu Linglong raised her head and looked at the fireworks still rising and falling in the night sky without moving.
The colorful fireworks reflected her pretty face indefinitely, and no one could see her true thoughts.
To say nothing of trusting a man again, why would you agree to him this time? Were you moved by his unwilling dedication or his infatuation?
Doing this by yourself, how was he different from the mean man before—
Her slender figure shook unconsciously, and Yu Linglong suddenly turned around and walked quickly towards Pinlan Garden.
The sound of firecrackers saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the new gradually disappeared.
The night was dark.
…
This New Year can be said to be the most deserted New Year in the Yu house’s history.
Now there were only two mistresses left in the Yu house, both of whom were illegitimate daughters. Some people secretly covet the Yu house’s family property. Fortunately, Yu Linglong was famous for being a fierce lady, and there was also her ident.i.ty of being a future princess.
At the beginning of the new year, many officials and family members came to the Yu house with gifts to pay a visit. They all wanted to see the future Princess Xu. They were very busy with Yu Qianyun, but Yu Linglong refused to see them, and just politely asked them to leave.
On the fifth day of the Lunar New Year, Shi Huiru came to visit. Yu Qianyun also heard that Lady Shi’s relationship with Yu Linglong was exceptional, so she allowed her to go in. As expected, Xuan Cao came out in person within fifteen minutes, and Shi Huiru was welcomed in.
Looking at the backs of Shi Huiru and Xuan Cao, a complex expression was drawn across Yu Qianyun’s face.
It was also a shame. Why was Yu Linglong’s life so good? Not only could she get everyone’s flattery, but she could also marry a talented and handsome man.
But she was still like a piece of floating duckweed, and she didn’t know when she would find her home.
Here, Xuan Cao took Shi Huiru into Pinlan Garden. As soon as he entered the door, Shi Huiru smiled and said, “Congratulations, congratulations!”
Yu Linglong was wearing a silver, red, and gold embroidered jacket, with a sash and a jade-colored tie tied around her waist. Underneath was a floral dress with b.u.t.terflies. Leaning against the chaise couch under the window, it looked like beautiful flowers shining in the water, graceful and glamorous, beautifully stunning.
Hearing Shi Huiru’s words, Yu Linglong just nodded slightly: “Sit down.”
Shi Huiru sat on the couch, her face full of joy: “As soon as I heard the news, I wanted to come and congratulate you, but my mother refused, saying that an engaged girl has thin skin… Oh, I just said Linglong is not the kind of person! This time you finally got your wish. That’s great!”
Seeing Shi Huiru was happier than she was, Yu Linglong smiled slightly and said, “It’s nothing.”
Shi Huiru sighed: “You are really calm. Last time I told you that Lord Xu was going to be married, you also looked indifferent. Did you know the result a long time ago, or did you really didn’t take it seriously?”
Yu Linglong pointed to the teacup in front of her and said, “After walking for a long time, you don’t even drink water, you just ask questions about it, and you’re not too tired.”
Shi Huiru smiled, took a few sips of the tea, still couldn’t help but say with envy: “Then Lord Xu must have taken a lot of thought for you, you are really blessed.”
Yu Linglong didn’t want to continue discussing this topic, so she asked: “How about you, how are you doing?”
Shi Huiru’s eyes dimmed, and she said with a mockery: “What else, the prince is still not and cold, he is not young anymore, so logically he should—”
After all, Shi Huiru was still a young lady who hadn’t yet married. She suddenly stopped talking. Her cheeks were a little red, and she whispered, “I don’t know what he thinks. If he really settles on someone else, I will die. …”
Yu Linglong shook her head helplessly. If Yang Huanian really proposed to someone else, Lady Shi would be very sad, how could it be so easy for her.
Asking what love is in the world was one thing. When it came to feelings, even the open and free Shi Huiru was affected.
Seeing that the atmosphere was a little dull, Shi Huiru reluctantly smiled and said: “Look at me! Obviously I am here to congratulate you. What are you doing? I have another reason to come to you!”
She leaned forward and said, “Don’t blame me for troubles. Now you have no aunt, your father has gone to Southern Xinjiang again, and will not come back for a while. I want to ask you, what do you plan to do about this dowry?”
Yu Linglong was a little startled. Dowry? She really hadn’t considered this issue.
But she also knew that the etiquette for married women in ancient times was very complicated, not to mention that she was going to marry into the palace and become a princess. Although it was only a stopgap measure, it was probably a good deal, right?
The thought of these messy things made Yu Linglong’s head hurt. She was not afraid of anything, but she was afraid that these trivial things would give her a headache.
Would she let Yu Qianyun arrange for her? Not to mention whether Yu Qianyun was willing or not, could she do this with a young girl who grew up in the country?
Seeing Yu Linglong’s face was gloomy, Shi Huiru also guessed a bit and said: “Or, I’ll help you. I have to let you marry gracefully.”
Yu Linglong raised her head and looked at Shi Huiru with surprise: “You?”
It’s not that she didn’t trust Shi Huiru, but she didn’t expect that Shi Huiru would be willing to give so much for her.
Shi Huiru misunderstood her meaning, and looked very hurt: “Why, can’t you trust me?”
Yu Linglong said, “That’s not true.”
Shi Huiru laughed: “That’s good. I’ll go to your fifth sister in a while to discuss your dowry, so you can rest a.s.sured.