newbobooks Chapter 934 Yu Lan
Chapter 934 Yu Lan
Princess Dongyue knew that her husband had no feelings for her, nor for the son she bore; his heart and eyes were only for Chen Zixi.
Therefore, Chen was sentenced to exile, and she wanted to find an opportunity to kill Chen Zixi.
Since she cannot have what she wants, let the prince consort also lose his beloved.
Unfortunately, the people sent back then failed.
Princess Dongyue was unable to find Chen Zixi's whereabouts, and the matter was eventually dropped.
Under Wan Sheng's threatening letter, Princess Dongyue went to the Ministry of Justice to confess her crimes, but she still held her chin up.
“I am a princess, and Chen Zixi is an exiled criminal. She escaped on her own first, and I sent people to hunt her down. This is also to kill a fugitive on behalf of the court.”
To be honest, there's really nothing wrong with what they said.
At that time, wasn't Chen Zixi an exiled convict?
Even if a fugitive is killed, no one can find out the truth.
"But you good-for-nothings! That Wan fellow has the audacity to kidnap my son! How can the Ministry of Justice just stand by and watch such a villain? Why don't you arrest him and save my son?"
Princess Dongyue was filled with a fierce aura.
The Minister of Justice rubbed his forehead and looked at the threatening letter.
I think Wan Sheng shot himself in the foot. The truth is out, but it's a bit difficult to uphold justice.
He was about to instruct someone to "invite" Wan Sheng.
Outside, the princess's guards rushed in.
"Princess, the young master has returned. He was sent by Nanfeng Pavilion. He said he has been there for three days in a row and there was no kidnapping at all."
Nanfeng Pavilion is a well-known brothel in the capital.
Princess Dongyue also went there privately; it can only be said that each has its own merits.
But then she suddenly turned around, her face contorting in pain.
"What did you say?"
The guard lowered his head, but his voice still came out: "Young Master said he wants to bring Young Master Yue Lang from Nanfeng Pavilion into the manor, and wants to take a male concubine."
The phrase "male concubine" was uttered.
Princess Dongyue disregarded everything else and stormed off in a huff.
The prince consort neglected his son, and Dongyue poured all her love into him, spoiling him willingly.
Even if her son took seven or eight concubines a month, she was willing to help bring them into the mansion.
But when did her son develop a liking for men?
Male concubines? Princess Dongyue would absolutely not allow such a scandal to occur.
The Minister of Justice breathed a sigh of relief as soon as she left.
However, there are also some reflections. As the ancients said, "Spoiling a child is like killing him," which makes sense.
The Minister of Justice never expected that his idea would come true.
The main gate of Princess Dongyue's residence.
The situation is extremely chaotic.
Duan Ziming, dressed in a bright red silk robe, was drowsy and leaned against the threshold.
The two servants beside him were anxiously pacing around, trying to help the young master up.
But Duan Ziming waved his hand, his face turning ashen, his eyes filled with drunkenness.
"Don't touch me, hiccup! I'm telling you right now, today I'm taking Yuelang through the main gate, and nobody's going to stop me!"
"Yue Lang is my man, how dare you disrespect me?"
Duan Ziming threw the wine jug in his hand, lost his balance, and nearly hit the ground headfirst.
The two servants, disregarding whether their young master would be angry, quickly helped him up.
If the young master were to fall, they would be in serious trouble.
After helping the man upright, the servant knelt down with a "plop".
"Young master, please stop joking. Only your future legitimate wife can use this main entrance."
"Young master, please don't make things difficult for us. The princess will be back soon. You should go inside quickly to avoid upsetting her."
The two servants practically begged and cried; they were truly terrified.
It's one thing for the young master to be willful and mischievous, but those who serve him will suffer.
It was a rare sight to see a grand opera performance in front of the princess's residence, and many people gathered around to watch from a distance.
Fang Nanzhi was among them.
She swore she wasn't there just to watch the spectacle.
Last time, she didn't keep her appointment with Cui Shicheng and Xie Lang, but she didn't expect them to send her invitations again.
This time, a group of students from the Jiangnan Academy came to the capital to exchange knowledge.
It was called an exchange, but it was really just a friendly competition.
The group consisted of teenagers aged thirteen or fourteen, each possessing exceptional talent.
Young people with talent are bound to be arrogant.
The students from Jiangnan said a few unpleasant things, such as "Nothing special" and "You'll all be admitted to the Imperial Academy through hereditary privilege, won't you?"
It's not shameful to be admitted to the Imperial Academy through imperial favor; that just shows you come from a good family.
But saying it here sounds very disrespectful.
As for gifted young people like Cui Shicheng and Xie Lang, their family backgrounds were already more than enough.
They sought out renowned Confucian scholars as mentors, hoping to enter the Imperial Academy when they grew older, or directly take the imperial examinations, hoping for a chance to make a name for themselves.
They weren't some spoiled brats who indulged in eating, drinking, and having fun; they couldn't stand such provocation.
So the two sides drew a line and decided to have a contest.
Cui Shicheng and his group were confident, but not arrogant; they had carefully inquired about the students from Jiangnan.
There are indeed two or three people among them who are well-known and exceptionally talented.
In order to avoid losing face and making a comeback, Cui Shicheng and his group thought of Fang Nanzhi.
Fang Nanzhi couldn't keep refusing, so she went.
When they first met, she was a little "waryful." Cough cough, don't forget that the Cui family was on the list of thirteen prominent families.
What if they become so depraved that they want to take revenge on her through Cui Shicheng?
Cui Shicheng was very frank, stating that he began his education at the age of three and studied with his teacher, never participating in family affairs.
They are still young and have not yet entered officialdom. Hopefully, the grudges of the previous generation will not affect them.
Fang Nanzhi looked at him suspiciously: "Isn't Cui Qisheng your uncle? If he gets convicted, you won't blame me?"
"He died for his family, and the family will remember his contributions."
Cui Shicheng's expression was calm at the time.
These are not the emotions a teenager should have.
I wonder if all aristocratic families raise their children this way, prioritizing the interests of the family above all else.
Fang Nanzhi frowned and said unhappily, "You're wrong."
“He did not die for the Cui family. His death was his own fault, he deserved it, it was the justice of Heaven, and it was a just punishment. But he absolutely does not deserve to be regarded as a meritorious deed.”
“Cui Shicheng, you have also studied the classics, so you should know about benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and trustworthiness. When looking at this case, you should consider it from the perspective of the court and the people of the world, instead of being narrow-minded and only thinking about the interests of the Cui family.”
"Furthermore, from the long-term perspective of your Cui family, it's not a good thing to have a member who breaks the law and frames others, is it?"
The little girl stood with her hands on her hips, her watery eyes filled with anger.
She was angry. Cui Shicheng's attitude clearly showed that he didn't care about the cause and effect, right or wrong, and only cared about the impact on the family. He even used the word "merit".
Why?
Why do they show no remorse? They framed her uncle and Chen back then. Is it really so justifiable?
Cui Shicheng pursed his lips. This was the first time in his life that he had been reprimanded without any mercy.
He was somewhat displeased, but he was able to calm down quickly.
The teacher always said that he had plenty of talent, but his inspiration was getting worse and worse, and he was too utilitarian.
His family's influence may hinder his development.
Cui Shicheng didn't understand before, thinking that his teacher was making a mountain out of a molehill. He was a son of the Cui family, so of course he had to keep his family in mind.
But now, it's as if I've been hit hard.
He usually had a reputation for being kind and tolerant, but when it came to matters related to the Cui family, he couldn't distinguish right from wrong and only looked at the issue from the perspective of the interests of the aristocratic family.
He was also self-righteous, believing that his magnanimity did not affect his relationship with Fang Nanzhi.
But Fang Nanzhi was a victim from beginning to end, while Cui was one of the culprits. How could he have the nerve to talk about being magnanimous?
This was the first time Cui Shicheng had seen the ugliness within himself. He was somewhat apprehensive, but he didn't show it on his face.
He bowed to Fang Nanzhi and said, "I misspoke. I have learned a lot today."
His manners were impeccable, and he remained a model of a noble young master.
Seeing that he genuinely admitted his mistake, Fang Nanzhi decided not to hold it against him.
Xie Lang changed the subject, mentioning the matter of dealing with the students from Jiangnan.
“Wu Zhi is skilled in sophistry; I think we can leave it to Fang Nanzhi to deal with.”
Fang Nanzhi blinked, trying to look innocent: "How about I just recite poems with someone instead?"
Although she's not good at writing poetry, she's good at memorizing texts, so she definitely won't cause any trouble.
"No, I'll do the poetry."
Xie Lang objected: "You should stick to what you're good at."
Fang Nanzhi?
How come she's so good at debating?
She was clearly a calm and gentle doctor who never argued with anyone.
After discussing it, the teenagers felt that they didn't have enough manpower. What if the other side put forward a tricky challenge and they couldn't handle it?
Of course, they continued to invite people. The young men boarded a carriage and headed to the Yue residence to invite people.
The eldest grandson of Prime Minister Yue, at the age of twelve, has already entered the Imperial Academy. It is said that he ranked among the top fifty in the mid-year examination.
Don't underestimate the top fifty; his peers are all fifteen or sixteen-year-old boys, which shows how amazing he is.
On the way to Yue Mansion, we passed by Princess Dongyue's residence.
It's quite lively here. The boys, who are always restless, stopped their carriages to watch from afar.
A man dressed in white brocade, who looked to be around eighteen years old, stepped out of the sedan chair.
The man had red lips and white teeth, fair and delicate skin, and his eyes seemed to convey emotions when he looked at people, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated, which made Fang Nanzhi stunned.
The word "charming" inexplicably popped into the little girl's mind.
So, the word "charming" isn't just used to describe women.
Yue Lang stepped forward with light steps and bowed respectfully. Her eyebrows and eyes did not appear effeminate, but she had a kind of pitiful feeling.
"I am deeply grateful for your kindness, but I am of humble birth and cannot accept it, nor do I wish to put you in a difficult position."
"Duan Lang, you should go back to your residence to rest. I'm going back to my room. If you'd like, you can come and see me again later."
His words were extremely humble, and given his fair complexion, who wouldn't feel soft-hearted?
Fang Nanzhi clutched her chest, feeling that Yue Lang was pitiful, not to mention Duan Ziming.
He stood up, grabbed Yue Lang, and forcefully pulled her into his arms.
"Did I say you could leave? I said I could let you enter the manor and follow me openly and honestly, and I will definitely do it."
In broad daylight, under the clear sky, two men were embracing and hugging each other.
Fang Nanzhi couldn't help but cover her eyes, but her ears perked up.
Xie Lang and the other boys also felt uncomfortable. As men, they found it difficult to accept Duan Ziming's behavior.
I got goosebumps all over and didn't want to watch anymore.
Just as he was about to speak and tell the driver to start the carriage, the sound of horses' hooves came from afar.
A luxurious carriage came to a stop. It was covered with a layer of yellow gauze, and bells hung at the front and back, jingling in the wind.
Fang Nanzhi was astonished; they were truly wealthy.
Princess Dongyue was helped off the carriage by her maid, and saw her son holding a man in his arms. She was so angry that she almost fainted.
"Nonsense!"
"Pull them away right now!" Princess Dongyue's voice was shrill.
The servants rushed forward and forcibly separated the "mandarin ducks".
Duan Ziming was unhappy and wanted to protect his "little darling".
But he was drunk and had no strength. With the slightest movement, he fell backward and was caught by someone.
The servants were very careful around their young master, afraid that he might get hurt, but they didn't have the same concern for Yue Lang.
The man's hands were tied behind his back, pressing him down so he couldn't straighten his back.
A strand of long hair fell from behind her ear, and in her disheveled state, Yu Lan's face had a kind of messy beauty.
Fang Nanzhi had long since put her hands down and was watching intently.
Xie Lang glanced at her, then belatedly realized that it wasn't good to let the young girl see such dirty things.
But why did she seem to find it so fascinating?
His gaze naturally fell on Yu Lan, but Xie Lang quickly looked away. She had no manly qualities whatsoever and was truly unbearable to look at.
He coughed and said, "Fang Nanzhi, you are still young. You should not be tempted by beauty. A man should be virile and strong."
As a friend, he has a responsibility to bring his friend back from the wrong path.
Fang Nanzhi shook her head: "That's not necessarily true. Men should be diverse and each has its own merits."
"Cough, cough, cough!"
This time, Xie Langzhen choked on his own saliva.
Is this something a woman should say? It sounds like something a spoiled, lecherous young man would say.
And a hundred flowers...
"You, you, you... what kind of woman is like you?" Xie Lang couldn't find a way to respond for a long time.
Fang Nanzhi was about to ask how she was, but the situation changed again in the middle of the scene.
"Snapped!"
Princess Dongyue disregarded her status and slapped Yulan across the face.
"Your Highness, spare me! I will never dare to disturb Young Master Duan again!" Yu Lan pleaded immediately, her face flushed red.
His eyes were glistening with tears, and he was gently biting his lip, looking like he had endured humiliation and suffered injustice.
Duan Ziming felt a pang of heartache.
"Mother, what are you doing? Yu Lan is my man. If you hit him, aren't you slapping my face?"
Princess Dongyue looked at her son, whose face was flushed and who could barely stand.
"Someone, take the young master to rest."
"As for that bitch, strip her clothes off and throw her in the street."
Yu Lan's face turned pale.
Xie Lang and the others frowned. In public, they stripped someone of their clothes. Princess Dongyue had already done that.
But they can't control it.
"let's go."
I can't watch anymore.
If they continued watching, not only would they offend Fang Nanzhi's eyes, but they would also feel that they themselves were dirty.
"Let go!"
Duan Ziming broke free from the servant and shielded Yu Lan behind him.
"Mother, what right do you have to touch him? You've kept so many male lovers, and I haven't interfered with you. Why are you bothering me for no reason?"
“Mother, I don’t mind your promiscuity, so please don’t interfere in what happens in my room.”
That's a really audacious statement.
Princess Dongyue kept her male lovers in private; she didn't want to make it public.
Her face flushed red: "Ming'er, what nonsense are you talking about? What do you mean by your bedroom affairs? Don't you know he's a man?"
"What's wrong with men? Don't worry, Mother, I love both men and women, and I certainly won't let it interfere with carrying on the family line."
Duan Ziming let out a burp, looking completely indifferent.