However, as he spent the last few years recovering from his injuries, Luo Cuiwei and Luo Fengming couldn't bear to see him put in any more effort, so the two siblings shouldered many things on their own, stumbling along the way, and didn't want to mention them to him.
Xiahou Ling firmly believed that even though Luo Huai had not left the main courtyard or looked at the account books for several years, he was still the head of the Luo family who had a way to turn the tide.
Luo Cuiwei looked up at Xiahou Ling, then exchanged glances with Luo Fengming—
It seems that I have no choice but to take this last step and ask my father for guidance.
****
Luo Cuiwei, still feeling uneasy after a night of tossing and turning, felt deeply guilty towards the Prince Zhao's Mansion and the Linchuan Army.
Recalling the hungry eyes that had "snatched" five cartloads of grain from her, and thinking about the harsh winter in Linchuan, where there was little to eat in the mountains and ponds, she suddenly realized that the money she had sent to Prince Zhao's mansion was not even enough to fill a gap in her teeth.
So, on the morning of the 29th of the twelfth lunar month, Luo Cuiwei had someone pack a heavy box of gold ingots and prepare some snacks unique to the Luo family kitchen, and sent Luo Fengming and Xiahou Ling to the Prince Zhao's residence to express their apologies.
"Sister, since A-Ling and I are going there today, why don't we just apologize to His Highness Prince Zhao?"
"No, no, no, it's just... I just wanted some peace of mind for now," Luo Cuiwei smiled somewhat embarrassedly. "Besides, His Highness is busy today and probably won't have time to see you. You can just deliver the things. I feel guilty, so I'm troubling you two to make this trip for me."
Once she has figured out how to frankly tell Yun Lie about these things, she will personally visit him.
Luo Fengming and Xiahou Ling could understand her torment and self-blame at this moment, and knew that she had not yet mustered enough courage to face the Prince Zhao's mansion, so they readily agreed.
Luo Fengming quickly put his arm around her shoulder to comfort her: "Sister, I've already said this isn't just your fault. This isn't something I did on your behalf; it's the right thing for anyone in our family to do."
****
Luo Fengming and Xiahou Ling arrived at the gate of Prince Zhao's residence by carriage.
Since Luo Cuiwei usually arrived in a sedan chair adorned with seven jewels and jewels, the gatekeeper, seeing that the carriage was unfamiliar, came down the steps to greet her and, in doing so, to confirm her identity.
Xiahou Ling had come here a few times with Luo Cuiwei before, so the gatekeeper recognized her.
"How are you, Miss Xiahou? Why are you traveling by carriage today?"
As soon as Xiahou Ling came down, the doorman's smile became much more familiar, no longer showing the purely reserved and polite expression he had just displayed.
"With New Year's Eve just around the corner, our young lady is too busy, so she specially asked me to accompany Young Master Fengming to pay a formal New Year's visit." Xiahou Ling smiled and pointed to Luo Fengming, who was following behind her.
Luo Fengming, holding the heavy box of gold ingots, stood beside her with a smile.
Because Luo Cuiwei had made a very good impression on everyone in the Prince Zhao's mansion, the gatekeeper was not too formal with the Luo family. After greeting Luo Fengming, he led the two of them up the steps.
“Young Master Luo and Miss Xiahou have come at an inopportune time today,” the doorman said as he walked. “His Highness is entertaining guests right now, so you’ll have to wait a while.”
"It's alright. The young lady instructed that if His Highness is busy, we can pay our respects to Steward Chen as well." Xiahou Ling replied with a smile to the gatekeeper, but inadvertently glanced at a soft brocade sedan chair parked against the wall on the left.
Luo Fengming noticed her unusual expression and turned to follow her gaze—
"Huh, why does this look like Huang Jingru's sedan chair?"
Since Luo Huai was injured, the Huang family has been relentlessly pursuing the Luo family. Luo Fengming is furious and pays close attention to many things about the Huang family, even remembering Huang Jingru's sedan chair.
The gatekeeper was unaware of the grudges and feuds between these wealthy merchant families in the capital. When Luo Fengming recognized them, he smiled and nodded, "Yes, the Huang family suddenly sent a visiting card the other day, and His Highness asked them to come over today."
Xiahou Ling and Luo Fengming both stopped their heavy steps and exchanged a sad and dejected look.
Just last month, the Luo family had their visiting invitations rejected four or five times in a row. In the end, it was only because Luo Cuiwei "shamelessly" showed up uninvited that His Highness Prince Zhao couldn't bear to leave her waiting at the door, and he barely managed to get a chance to come in and meet her.
But the waiter said, "The day before yesterday, the Huang family suddenly sent a visiting card."
In other words, this didn't happen before; the day before yesterday was the first time.
The Huang family sent a visiting card once, and after only one day, they were received by His Highness Prince Zhao!
At this moment, Luo Fengming and Xiahou Ling were both thinking the same thing—
Thankfully, Luo Cuiwei didn't say it yesterday.
Given the stark difference in treatment between the Luo and Huang families, it would be a miracle if Prince Zhao had agreed to let her pass through Linchuan yesterday.
The doorman noticed that the two of them had stopped on the stone steps, so he turned around in confusion and saw that Xiahou Ling and Luo Fengming each covered their cheeks with one hand.
"Young Master Luo, Miss Xiahou, what's wrong with you two?"
Seeing that Xiahou Ling had no intention of speaking, Luo Fengming gave a bitter smile and answered for her, "It's nothing, it's just... my face suddenly hurts."
His Highness Prince Zhao's invisible slap was truly enough to make every member of the Luo family in Jingxi feel a pang of embarrassment.
Especially Luo Cuiwei, who was still at home feeling guilty and blaming herself.
15. Chapter Fifteen
In fact, when Yun Lie told Luo Cuiwei yesterday that he was "busy with something" today, it wasn't just because he had to meet with the Huang family.
This day was the 29th day of the twelfth lunar month. According to the custom of the Yun imperial family, princes and princesses who had titles and were in the capital were required to arrive at the inner city before noon on that day, and accompany the emperor to hold the "Sealing Ceremony" before sunset, together with the heads of various departments.
After all, someone from the Huang family had already entered officialdom, and although their official positions were not high, they still had some understanding of the rules and conventions of the court.
Therefore, Huang Jingru arrived at Prince Zhao's Mansion early in the morning. After paying New Year's respects to Yun Lie on behalf of the Huang family of Nancheng, she only stayed for a short while to chat before taking her leave.
After Huang Jingru left, Steward Chen hurriedly urged Yun Lie to have lunch so that he could change into his court attire and head to the inner city as soon as possible.
This was the first time Xiong Xiaoyi had seen Steward Chen act like this in front of Yun Lie, and he couldn't help but grin as he followed behind: "Uncle Chen, what's the rush? Didn't you say you'd arrive before 3 PM? It's not even noon yet, there are still two and a half hours left."