Lin Runan arrived in the capital five days ago.
Starting from the beginning of February, Lu Xiangfeng specially sent people to guard outside the city gate every day, but they waited and ...
Lin Runan, her hair tied up with a blue scarf and dressed in men's clothes, had a slender figure, bright eyes and white teeth. She jumped off the horse in an upset state, walked around several carriages, and leaned against a tree stump by the roadside to sulk.
She was seventeen years old this year, and she had younger siblings like her. She was extremely helpless. But it was not all her father's fault. He was implicated and exiled, and the old man suffered with him and went to Lingnan. Lin Runan dismissed all his father's concubines on the grounds that the family was ruined. Unexpectedly, the hard and difficult days did not wear away the old man's desire for a grandson. He sold the few valuable items he brought with him, and first bought two women back. They were not used as maids, but directly given to Lin Runan's father as concubines. Without saying anything, he asked him to give birth to a son to continue the incense of the Lin family. Lin Runan had several quarrels with her grandfather, but to no avail. Her mother, for some reason, actually helped her grandfather to persuade her, saying that without brothers, she would be alone and have a hard time in the future... Lin Runan just refused and tried her best to prevent the two girls from approaching her father, but it was proved that the old man's authority was more intimidating than her coquettishness and recklessness. Amid the quarrels, the two girls' bellies gradually became visible, and it was inevitable that their father would take a concubine.
When younger brothers and sisters were born one after another, their mother was surprisingly happy and helped take care of the children. Lin Runan was heartbroken and had to admit that the two little ones were indeed related to her by blood, so she called their mother aunt.
Since she accepted it, she would protect it with all her heart. During the hard days, Runan did her best to take care of the old and young in the family. She admired martial arts. Her father hired a martial arts master to teach her martial arts since she was a child. Her mother came from a scholarly family and did not dare to let her neglect her needlework and virtues. She also instilled in her all the rules and upbringing that a lady from a noble family must learn. Lin Runan did not disappoint her mother. In addition to practicing martial arts, she read, wrote, painted, and played the piano. She learned everything that a lady should learn, especially needlework. She was very good at it. Her embroidery and knitting skills were comparable to those of the embroiderers in the mansion. What she did not expect was that this skill she had accidentally practiced could one day solve the hunger and starvation of the whole family. Her father was dismissed from his post, all his property was confiscated, and the whole family was exiled to the poor area of Lingnan as border residents. In that ghost place where oil, salt, rice and tea were extremely scarce, they could only drink porridge and pickled vegetables for three meals a day. It didn't matter if she suffered, but she felt distressed when she saw the old man and his parents starving to a pale face and thin body. After wandering around the market for a few days, she learned a local embroidery technique from a local cloth shop. It was just threading a needle, so she was familiar with it. She just needed to embroider flowers. She tried to take some work home. After a few days, her family life changed. Later, her mother followed her and later, she had an aunt, Runan, to lead them. Although the family was not rich, they had no problem eating and dressing warmly.
Life is not afraid of hardship. As long as the family lives in harmony, there is no obstacle that cannot be overcome. Before she followed her father into exile, she asked someone to find Duke Dingguo. Although there was no response, she tried her best to do this for her grandfather and parents, showing her filial piety.
My father was not the culprit, but was implicated. His crime was not punishable by death. My grandfather missed his ancestral temple and graves, but was reluctant to part with his son. He cried like a child when he left the capital. At that time, Runan was thinking, how can I get my grandfather and father back to the capital
She never expected that before she had the ability to do so, the emperor's pardon order would come down. The county magistrate personally delivered it to her father, gave them some money, and sent them back to Beijing.
Grandfather was so happy that he almost had a stroke. Lin Runan was worried at first and supported him, trying to comfort him. But after the old man recovered, he asked his aunt to give his half brother to him. He smiled and touched his half brother's forehead with his hand and said, "Men are still useful. You are a blessing! Our ancestors have blessed our family to return to our hometown in Kyoto. In the future, you will study hard, strive for fame, bring honor to your ancestors, and become a pillar of the country..."
He looked at Aunt Wei who had given birth to his half-brother, nodded and said, "I have good eyesight, and I am blessed. Take good care of your little grandson, and let him fight for a title for you!"
Lin Runan looked at her mother who had a calm expression beside her and rolled her eyes in anger: Fighting for a title for a concubine mother? Where would the legitimate mother be placed? The old man was getting more and more confused. She threw the old man's hand away and left, causing her father to quickly chase after him to comfort his daughter.
Lin Runan was in a daze on the side of the road for a while. Seeing that the sky was getting darker and darker, he gathered his thoughts and was about to take his family to a nearby market town to find an inn to stay in. Suddenly, he saw a young man in white riding a fast horse, galloping from a distance. When he arrived at the city gate, he reined in his horse and shouted, "Who is on duty on the city wall? Please open the gate!"
Zhang Jingyun came out of Guiyun Villa and entered the city before dark. He had a badge granted by the emperor, which allowed him to enter and exit the city gate at any time. While waiting for the soldiers on the city wall to come down and open the gate, Lin Runan quickly ran up to him and tried to get close to him:
"Greetings to you, sir! I just came back from another place with my seriously ill grandfather and a hungry child in my car. Could you please take my family into the city? I would be very grateful!"
Zhang Jingyun glanced at the carriages on the road and looked at Lin Runan: "Just came back from abroad? What's your name, sir?"
"No need to bother, my surname is Lin and my given name is Runan!"
Zhang Jingyun smiled slightly: "Lin Runan? Do you know Cen Meimei?"
Lin Runan was stunned for a moment: "Cen Meimei? I don't know her!"
"What about Qin Mei Niang?"
Lin Runan looked at Zhang Jingyun suspiciously: "Who is this young master? How do you know my... cousin's maiden name?"
Zhang Jingyun dismounted and bowed to Lin Runan: "I have heard of Mr. Lin's great name for a long time. Today I am honored to meet him! I... know your friend Qin Mei Niang, she is now called Cen Mei Mei - this is a long story, please follow me into the city first. Miss Cen has been waiting for you and has already chosen a place for your family to stay. It is in the east of the city, not far from the city. The old servant guarding the house has also been informed. I will take you there and see the patient by the way."
Lin Runan returned the greeting, still puzzled: "Sir, what is your last name? Did you make a mistake? My friend, she is already married..."
Zhang Jingyun was a little embarrassed and said, "That's right, Qin Meiniang, she is the wife of Weiyuan Marquis. My last name is Zhang, and my name is Zhang Jingyun."
The city gates were wide open. Even if Lin Runan had a hundred questions in her mind, she could not care about them at this time. She did not expect that as soon as she returned to the capital, she would be the first to get news from Qin Meiniang, and Qin Meiniang could even arrange accommodation for her. In addition to being happy, she couldn't help but sigh a lot.
That year, when they were outing in the suburbs, they saw Qin Meiniang, who was as beautiful as a fairy, with only two little girls, being blocked by some playboys. They could not get away. After a while, her brother came hurriedly, but he was also weak. The playboys pushed and pulled him and sent him to roll in the mud. Lin Runan could not stand it, so he led the servants to beat him up and drove the playboys away. Qin Meiniang saw that she was dressed in men's clothes and thought she was a boy. She called her "Young Master" and wanted to kneel down to her. The timid and admiring look made Lin Runan sweat, but he was also very happy. He laughed and soon exposed the truth. Qin Meiniang's shy and annoyed expression made people love her even more. Qin Boqing was polite and courteous, while Qin Meiniang was dignified and gentle. The pure and elegant temperament that naturally exuded from the brother and sister attracted Lin Runan. From that day on, she, a spoiled and arrogant young lady from a third-rank official's family, became friends with Qin Meiniang, a weak and delicate girl from a small family.
Qin Meiniang married Xu Junying because of her. She forced Meiniang to go boating on the lake and wanted to listen to her playing the piano. The sun was scorching and the breeze was blocked outside the curtains of the pleasure boat. She asked the maids to draw up all the curtains. A big boat passed by and Xu Junying, who was standing on the side of the boat admiring the scenery, saw Qin Meiniang playing the piano with a smile.
There is no man who doesn't like the beauty of Mei Niang. Lin Runan understands this truth. Xu Junying is quick, but she is even quicker. She has people find out that the young man who stared at Mei Niang in a daze is the Marquis of Weiyuan, who has made outstanding military achievements. He is unmarried and has no concubines. When the Qin family received the imperial decree granting marriage, Mei Niang was somewhat frightened and her face turned pale. She comforted Mei Niang and told her all about Xu Junying, thinking that he should be considered a good match.
Qin Mei Niang was full of worries: "I never thought of marrying a... a military commander! He is a hereditary marquis, and his family is noble. I am just a girl from a poor family, how can I be worthy of him? Such a deep mansion is probably not a place for a girl like me to settle down!"
Lin Runan said, "Don't be afraid. Marquis Weiyuan likes you so much that he would ask the emperor to grant you marriage. He doesn't even need to go through his elders! He is a famous and victorious general. The emperor is favoring him and he is very popular. How could he not keep you safe and wealthy?"
When Mei Niang got married, she stayed by her side from beginning to end, watching the bridesmaids dressing her up. The phoenix coronet and bridal robe made Mei Niang look as beautiful as a fairy concubine. When the big red silk scarf was covered on the bride's head, Mei Niang looked at her for the last time. Lin Runan clearly saw the uneasiness and hint of tears in Mei Niang's eyes.
Lin Runan held Mei Niang's hand and comforted her, "Just marry well. After the wedding, I will visit you at the mansion from time to time!"
She never expected that the day after Qin Meiniang married into the Hou Mansion, her father was implicated in a corruption case and was detained. His father and everyone in the Lin Mansion were imprisoned and had no contact with the outside world. It was not until more than ten days later that her father was convicted, his property was confiscated, and even his mansion was taken away by the government. The family could only pack a few pieces of luggage and squat under the eaves of their own house. When it was dawn, they would get on a carriage and be taken out of the city by officials to the south.
What has Mei Niang become now? Has she grown taller? She should not be so timid anymore and cry easily, right
And the one in the deep palace. Lin Runan intuitively believed that the family was able to return to the capital so quickly because of her help. When she was a child, she picked flowers and gave them to him. She said: Don't abandon each other in poverty and don't forget each other in wealth! (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for recommendations and monthly tickets on Qidian. Your support is my greatest motivation.) (To be continued)