Chapter 1190: We Can't Keep Going Like This

How could an ordinary wealthy household understand the complexity and danger hidden behind the power struggles of princes and hegemons? They could see only the outward influence of rank and authority.

For this servant, every visit to the Prince's residence ended at the gate. He was not qualified to enter.

Normally, even seeing one of these three men was difficult. Now all three stood before him at once, and at such close range.

Prince Yong strode like a dragon and tiger, his voice steady and resonant.

His presence alone was imposing, and the heavy black cloak draped over his shoulders made it even more formidable.

He commanded thousands upon thousands of soldiers, was a victorious commander of the battlefield, and held the power of life and death across all Nanzhou.

Meng Shanming sat in a wheelchair.

He looked lean, but his eyes were exceedingly sharp. When his gaze swept over someone, it cut like a blade. A timid man could lose his composure from a single look.

The "Yan has Shanming" in the saying sung by the common people, "Yan has Shanming; Qi has Wuhen," referred to this very man.

Lan Ruoting was calm and composed.

Even the restrained authority that occasionally showed at the corners of his eyes could be intimidating.

He oversaw Nanzhou's civil administration. The official hats of local officers great and small throughout the province were effectively held in his hands.

The servant's mouth went dry.

Seeing all three men together, he was nervous and excited, standing beside his young master with a strong sense of reflected glory.

After some polite conversation, Shang Chaozong raised a hand and patted Fu Junlan on the back, turning him toward the gate. Then he gestured invitingly.

"Come. Let's go inside and talk."

The servant watched Fu Junlan and Shang Chaozong walk shoulder to shoulder up the steps.

His mouth remained stretched in a grin he could not close.

...

Inside the Prince's residence, Fu Junlan sat drinking tea in a reception hall, visibly constrained.

Meng Shanming had not remained with them, yet the mere presence of Shang Chaozong and Lan Ruoting placed enormous pressure on him.

The two men behaved warmly and displayed not the slightest arrogance, but the storms they had weathered and the authority they had wielded for so many years had long since seeped into every movement.

Even the flavor that escaped unintentionally from the way they carried themselves was enough to make an ordinary commoner like Fu Junlan unable to relax.

The gulf created by rank and status was simply too wide to cross.

Before these two men, Fu Junlan could find no sense of interacting as an equal.

It was not merely that he felt he was climbing above his station. He felt as though he could not even reach high enough to climb.

All he could do was respond deferentially.

He was far more natural in front of Shang Shuqing.

Shang Shuqing possessed an exquisitely perceptive nature and knew how to take another person's state of mind into account. She could adjust herself with just the right degree of accommodation.

For Shang Chaozong, meanwhile, finding anything to talk about with Fu Junlan was difficult as well.

But he could hardly dismiss the man after two casual sentences. That might look as though he despised him or was deliberately putting on airs.

So he had no choice but to hunt for things to say.

He did his best to lower the register of the conversation and ask about trivial family matters.

How were Fu Junlan's relatives?

Were they all well?

In truth, Shang Chaozong himself felt awkward all over.

Even so, he forced himself to appear approachable and tried his best not to make the other man uncomfortable.

For his younger sister's marriage, Shang Chaozong truly was putting his heart into it.

After asking one random household question after another, Shang Chaozong finally ran out of things to say.

He slapped his forehead. "I nearly forgot. Junlan arranged to meet Qing'er."

"Qing'er seems to have some business with her sister-in-law right now. Junlan, wait here. I'll go call her for you."

The moment Shang Chaozong rose, Fu Junlan, who had been sitting with barely half his backside on the chair to begin with, hurriedly stood as well.

He did not dare show the slightest arrogance or breach of courtesy.

Shang Chaozong repeatedly pressed one hand downward, signaling for him to remain seated and continue drinking tea.

As Shang Chaozong turned to leave, he gave Lan Ruoting a meaningful look.

Lan Ruoting apologized briefly to Fu Junlan, then followed him outside.

Only then did Fu Junlan, whose nervousness had left his mouth dry, lift the lid of his teacup and gulp several mouthfuls.

The maidservant in the room was highly observant and long accustomed to attending people.

The moment she saw the angle at which he tilted the cup, she immediately stepped forward to serve him, removed the lid, and refilled his tea.

Even toward a mere maidservant of the Prince's residence, Fu Junlan did not dare behave improperly.

He hurriedly stood and thanked her repeatedly.

The maidservant covered a smile and answered with perfect courtesy. "Young Master Fu need not be so polite. This is what this servant ought to do."

Servants in a great household were always the quickest to gossip among themselves.

How could they not know this man might become the future son-in-law of the Prince's residence?

Hadn't the Prince and Mr. Lan personally accompanied him?

No one dared neglect him.

Outside, Lan Ruoting followed Shang Chaozong beneath the eaves of a nearby building.

Shang Chaozong turned and murmured a series of instructions into his ear.

Lan Ruoting understood immediately and nodded repeatedly. "Prince, rest assured. I understand."

Shang Chaozong strode away.

Lan Ruoting quickly returned to the reception hall.

The moment Fu Junlan saw him enter, he hurriedly stood again.

Lan Ruoting smiled broadly and repeatedly gestured for him to sit. "Please sit, please sit. Young Master Fu, please sit and have some tea."

Fu Junlan stiffly sat back down.

Even then, he waited until Lan Ruoting had taken his own seat before daring to settle fully.

A maidservant carried Lan Ruoting's teacup to the side table beside him.

Lan Ruoting waved one hand.

Understanding, the maidservant immediately withdrew.

Once no outsider remained, Lan Ruoting smiled amiably. "A small matter delayed me. I've kept Young Master Fu waiting."

Fu Junlan hurriedly replied, "Not at all, not at all. Mr. Lan is burdened with official affairs. If there is important business, there is no need to concern yourself with this humble scholar. I would not dare disturb you. Please allow me to occupy myself."

"No disturbance at all. I happen to have some free time." Lan Ruoting smiled and waved it aside.

After taking a sip of tea, he too began asking about ordinary household matters.

Fu Junlan did not dare refuse to answer and replied to each question properly.

After finishing with family matters, Lan Ruoting asked about his hobbies and what he was good at in daily life.

In truth, none of these questions needed to be asked.

Every one of Fu Junlan's habits and preferences had long ago been itemized neatly and placed on Lan Ruoting's desk. Lan Ruoting already understood them clearly.

But the way he asked now carried a hint that he might be considering some future arrangement, perhaps even some official position for Fu Junlan.

That possibility made Fu Junlan even more uneasy.

After questioning him at length about his family and personal circumstances, Lan Ruoting finally turned to matters between men and women.

"Young Master Fu and the Commandery Princess have been spending time together for a while now. I wonder what impression you have of her?"

Fu Junlan replied, "The Commandery Princess is intelligent. She is accomplished in qin, chess, calligraphy, and painting, and versed in poetry and song. She is a rare talented woman. This humble scholar admires her greatly."

Lan Ruoting leaned forward slightly. "And what impression does Young Master Fu's family have of the Commandery Princess?"

Fu Junlan gave the proper answer. "She has the bearing of a great household and the refinement of a distinguished young lady. Everyone praises her without end."

"Heh, good. That's good." Lan Ruoting smiled broadly.

He lifted his teacup to hide a trace of cunning, then set it down and coughed lightly.

"Young Master Fu, there is something Lan is unsure whether he should say."

Fu Junlan hurriedly replied, "Whatever Mr. Lan wishes to instruct me, please speak directly. This humble scholar is listening respectfully."

Lan Ruoting tapped one finger lightly against the tea table for a while, weighing his words.

"Young Master Fu, here's the situation. Before an open man, there is no need to speak in riddles."

"You and the Commandery Princess have spent so long together, going in and out side by side. If this continues, sooner or later people will begin gossiping."

"Isn't it time some things were decided?"

"Decided?" Fu Junlan grew nervous and did not immediately understand. He cupped his hands. "I ask Mr. Lan to explain clearly."

"Ah!" Lan Ruoting slapped his thigh and leaned closer.

"Young Master Fu is an intelligent man. How can you be confused at a time like this?"

"On the Prince's side, both the Prince and Princess Consort think very highly of you. Since you and your family also think highly of the Commandery Princess, then some matters ought to be settled sooner rather than later."

"Neither you nor the Commandery Princess is young anymore. We can't keep going like this, can we?"

"Uh..." Fu Junlan suddenly understood.

At last he realized what Lan Ruoting meant.

The matter of marriage was about to enter the serious stage.

He immediately became even more deferential. "Yes, yes, yes."

Lan Ruoting asked, "Yes to what?"

Fu Junlan hurriedly changed his answer. "Good, good, good."

"Ah, you..." Lan Ruoting looked torn between laughter and exasperation.

He made the point even plainer.

"Young Master Fu, the Commandery Princess is a woman. When a woman is to marry, surely you cannot expect the woman's side to speak first?"

"Are we supposed to let people think the Prince is using his power to pressure you, or that the Commandery Princess is shamelessly clinging to you and insisting you marry her?"

"How could that be proper?"

"Your Fu family is the man's side. You ought to take the initiative."

"Find a matchmaker. Prepare the betrothal gifts. Those things should come first. Isn't that right?"

Fu Junlan was made rather embarrassed by the directness and hurriedly answered, "Good, good, good."

In truth, he was muttering inwardly.

If the Prince's residence never formally indicated its position, who would dare rashly come forward and propose marriage?

"Good what?" Lan Ruoting glared at him. "Young Master Fu needs to give a clear answer. Then the Prince's residence can make its preparations as well, can't it?"

Fu Junlan was not stupid.

He understood that this was the Prince's residence formally expressing its position.

He immediately answered clearly, "Very well. I will return and inform the elders of my family so they can begin arranging the matter."

Lan Ruoting smiled. "Now that's more like it."

In truth, this had been Shang Chaozong's intention.

The moment Niu Youdao returned, Shang Chaozong became anxious.

Before, there had been no urgency.

They had investigated several generations of Fu Junlan's ancestry and turned Fu Junlan himself inside out, confirming there was nothing wrong with him.

But then war had broken out in the west.

With the military secretly preparing during such a period, holding a grand wedding had seemed somewhat inappropriate.

They had already waited this long. Another little while would not matter.

Shang Chaozong had originally intended to wait until the situation stabilized before properly arranging his younger sister's marriage.

Who could have expected Niu Youdao to return suddenly, with the people of Maolu Annex also set to reside permanently in Nanzhou's provincial capital?

Some things could be hidden for a time, but not forever.

Once Shang Shuqing discovered the truth, who knew what a woman of her temperament might do?

Pressed by circumstance, Shang Chaozong showed the decisiveness of a battlefield commander.

He made the decision immediately: complete the marriage as soon as possible.

That was precisely what he had instructed Lan Ruoting outside.

The moment Lan Ruoting finished explaining, Fu Junlan rose to take his leave. He wanted to go home immediately and inform the elders of his family.

Lan Ruoting truly did not know whether to laugh or cry.

He hurriedly rose and caught him. "Young Master Fu, there is no need to rush quite this much."

"Didn't you already arrange to meet the Commandery Princess? How can you casually break the appointment?"

"Wait until after you've met her. Then you can return and report the matter to your elders. That won't be too late, will it?"

Fu Junlan said, "Yes, yes, yes. This humble scholar was muddleheaded."

Lan Ruoting gestured for him to sit back down and continue drinking tea. "Young Master Fu need not be anxious. The Prince has already gone to fetch the Commandery Princess. She should arrive soon. Be patient."

"No hurry, no hurry." Fu Junlan smiled awkwardly and lifted his tea to hide his embarrassment.

...

Deep within the inner residence, Feng Ruonan had sent all the relevant maidservants away.

Pretending there was no one available to help watch the child, she pulled Shang Shuqing in to lend a hand.

After helping for a while, Shang Shuqing saw that the appointed time to meet Fu Junlan was nearly upon them and wanted to leave.

Feng Ruonan held her back, saying that once Fu Junlan arrived, a servant would naturally come report it.

In truth, she was afraid Shang Chaozong's side had not yet finished handling matters and that Shang Shuqing might accidentally discover that the people of Maolu Annex had arrived.

After spending time with him for a while, Shang Shuqing knew Fu Junlan would never break an appointment.

When the appointed time arrived and still no servant came to report, she tried again and again to go see what had happened.

Each time, Feng Ruonan delayed her.

Just as Feng Ruonan was beginning to run out of ways to hold her back, a soft cough sounded.

Shang Chaozong had arrived.

Husband and wife exchanged a brief look.

Feng Ruonan immediately relaxed.

She knew her task was complete.

[End of Chapter 1190]