Вдовствующая императрица Сяосюань

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Upon meeting Ru Feng's gaze, the two quickly looked away, their smiles freezing on their faces.

Ru Feng then let them go, picked a seat, and immediately someone brought him a cup of hot tea.

Ru Feng glanced at her and saw a pretty woman in a pink dress who seemed familiar.

Ru Xue, who was standing nearby, quickly spoke up: "Brother, this is my personal maid Xiang Ling, don't you remember her?"

Ru Feng smiled and said, "Girls change a lot as they grow up, and they become more beautiful, so of course I don't remember them."

Ru Xue quickly interjected, "Little brother, Xiang Ling isn't even eighteen yet; she's still an unmarried young lady."

Ru Feng glanced at Ru Xue with a puzzled look, then simply nodded and said nothing more.

Xiangling blushed and stepped back, standing behind Ruxue.

It was a rare occasion for them to get together. All six of them were young and had common topics to discuss. Zuiyue and Ruxue were in a group, while the others gathered around Rufeng. They talked about many things and shared their feelings.

Soon after, Yuchi Huaiyang returned, a rare smile on his face. He then called Rufeng into his study.

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Volume 3, Chapter 31: Entering the Palace (Description of the Path of Ruthlessness and Compassion)

"Grandpa, is there something you need?" Ru Feng casually found a chair and sat down. Few people could enter Grandpa's study, at least not his parents and sister. That's why he was able to dress up as a man so well. If it weren't for Wen Chen, he would have liked to keep dressing up forever.

Yu Chi Fengyang smiled, a rare sight on his face, and said, "Ru Feng, there's a victory celebration banquet tonight. Why don't you come with me?"

Ru Feng nodded, knowing that he still had something to say.

"Ru Feng, you're eighteen now. Although you haven't had your coming-of-age ceremony, in the Yuchi family, you're considered an adult. So you need to start planning for your future. I've observed you; although you're young and inexperienced, and sometimes act too emotionally, with a little training, you're sure to achieve great things. Our Yuchi family will rely on you in the future."

Upon hearing this, Ru Feng hurriedly said, "Grandpa, isn't there still you? You're still going strong, and we can rely on you for several more decades."

Yu Chi Fengyang immediately stopped smiling, glared at Ru Feng, and said, "Your grandpa is old, I'm already sixty years old, just let me have a few days of peace! Ru Feng, there will definitely be rewards after the victory banquet. I don't know if you will go to Luoyan City in the southwest or to the Western Frontier? I've thought about it and there won't be any war with Chun Teng Kingdom for the time being, so you can go to the Western Frontier, where you will face Fan Lu Kingdom."

Ru Feng's face immediately fell. She looked at Yu Chi Fengyang sullenly and said, "Grandpa, I don't want to be a general or an official. It's not like my family can't afford to support me. Besides, even if no one in my family becomes an official, I can still take good care of you all." As she spoke, she revealed a smile.

"How dare you! You think you're all grown up now? If you don't want to be a general, what do you want to do? Go into business? Or write poetry? Or spend your days doing nothing, like a woman strolling around, chatting, and embroidering? A true man should protect his country and defend his home. How can you think about escaping all day?" Yu Chi Fengyang immediately flew into a rage as soon as Ru Feng finished speaking, throwing a pen holder at him. His chest was still heaving.

Ru Feng turned her head away, pursed her lips, and remained silent. Really, it was rare for her to speak the truth, and this was the response she received? It seemed that the path of Grandpa was a dead end.

Sighing inwardly, Ru Feng realized that there was no other way but to take a shortcut.

Thinking of this, Ru Feng quickly raised her head and smiled, "Grandpa, I was just saying. It was Father who told me to say it. He told me today that he doesn't want me to join the army." Father, I'm sorry, Grandpa is too difficult to deal with. I'll use you as a shield for now.

Upon hearing this, Yu Chi Fengyang knew it wasn't Ru Feng's intention, so he breathed a sigh of relief and frowned, saying, "Sigh, your father is really something. He hasn't given up even after all this time. It's quite pathetic for a man to act like that. He spends all day reciting poems and letting his wife ride roughshod over him. He's really disgraced us men."

Ru Feng pouted and retorted loudly, "I think Father is a good husband. He doesn't philander and is gentle and considerate to his wife. He's very good and can be a role model for husbands in the world! Father, the opportunity to repay your kindness has come. I'm speaking well of you now."

"Are you even a man? How dare you speak up for your father?" Yu Chi Fengyang raised a thick eyebrow and glared at Ru Feng.

Ru Feng raised an eyebrow, mimicking his gesture, and said, "Don't I know whether I'm a man or not? Besides, I think my father is quite good. At least your son hasn't committed any violent acts, drunken brawls, or caused you any trouble. He's always stayed at home quietly, so you don't have to worry about him. More importantly..." Ru Feng suddenly pulled out a fan, waving it with an air of elegance, and said, "More importantly, he gave you a fine grandson, the famous, handsome, and accomplished in both literature and martial arts, Yu Chi Ru Feng, which is none other than myself."

After saying that, he struck a cool pose, which made Yu Chi Fengyang both amused and exasperated. He could only wave his hand and laugh, "You little rascal, you're so cunning. Your mouth is as sweet as honey. But you only use it to praise yourself, not to do your job properly."

Upon hearing this, Ru Feng quickly put away his fan, moved to his side, and said with a fawning smile, "Grandpa, it's easy for you to want me to praise you. I'll immediately rattle off a bunch of good things about you, and I won't repeat myself. It'll be enough to make you laugh in your sleep tonight."

"No need, no need, I can't beat your silver tongue." Yu Chi Fengyang walked to the table, took out a stack of papers, and laughed, "Come, come, these were given to me by many people on the way back. I took a look and they seem pretty good. I thought about it, and you're almost twenty. Two years is a very short time, so I plan to have you get engaged first, and then get married as soon as you turn twenty, so that my Yu Chi family can have more descendants."

As he said this, his face was filled with melancholy. He continued, "Alas, ever since your uncle died in battle, our Yuchi family has become much quieter. I think with your character and family background, you'll definitely be able to marry several or even dozens of wives and concubines. Then our Yuchi family will be full of children and grandchildren, and your grandfather will have lived a fulfilling life. I'll also have the face to face our ancestors in the afterlife." He sighed deeply as he spoke, looking at Rufeng expectantly.

Ru Feng was immediately on high alert. He glanced at the pile of papers, his finger trembling as he pointed at them and asked, "Grandpa, I've only been in the capital for a short time, how come you've received so many portraits?" This is too fast!

Yu Chi Fengyang was in a good mood and continued, "Yes, it seems that after showing up at the city gate, everyone knows that our family has a handsome young man, so they all came to act as matchmakers. I couldn't refuse, so I accepted them one by one. Alas, your grandmother is gone, and your mother doesn't care whether you are married or not, so this kind of thing can only be handled by me, your grandfather." He seemed quite aggrieved at the end.

Ru Feng was dumbfounded, and had to admire the people of the capital for their excellent information network. However, when it came to the matter of marriage, Ru Feng quickly asked about her long-standing doubts, saying, "Grandpa, I've heard that there's a princess in the court who is of noble birth and of high status. Do you think I might be betrothed to her by the Emperor?" Based on the plots Ru Feng had seen on television in her previous life, generally speaking, the Emperor preferred to have meritorious officials marry their daughters or sisters. She didn't want to be a prince consort, but being a princess was something she could consider. Ru Feng thought happily, determined to see Mu Wenchen tonight.

The longing is unbearable! That wretched old man, it's been hours and he hasn't come to see me even once!

Yu Chi Fengyang paused in his hand holding the portrait, and said casually, "In the hundreds of years of our Yu Chi family, no one has ever married into the royal family, nor has anyone ever married into the royal family."

"Why?" Ru Feng blurted out, this was too unexpected!

“You don’t need to know that.” Yu Chi Fengyang remained silent, handed the portrait to Ru Feng, and said, “Take a good look at it, and I’ll speak for you if you see one you like.”

Upon hearing this, Ru Feng temporarily put aside his doubts, made a pained face, and clutched his chest, saying, "Grandpa, my wound is suddenly very painful, so I'm going to rest for a while. You can enjoy those beauties yourself; I won't keep you company." Before he finished speaking, he had already dashed out, leaving behind a loud shout from Yu Chi Feng Yang.

Ru Feng returned to her room, where her parents were already waiting.

"How did it go? What did your grandfather say to you?" Lin Yilan asked hurriedly.

Ru Feng lay limp on the bed, saying weakly, "What else could it be? He asked me if I wanted to go to Luoyan City or the Western Frontier. Sigh, he got angry as soon as I said I didn't want to join the army, so I didn't dare to mention it again. It seems that it won't work with Grandpa unless we tell him the secret on our own."

Yu Chisong frowned and said, "Father has always been very stubborn. Once he's made up his mind about something, he won't listen to anything anyone says."

The three of them sighed together, their faces filled with worry.

Ru Feng clutched her chest; she had just run a short distance, and her wound was starting to hurt. Looks like she'd have to apply medicine again soon. Sigh, she missed the way Mu Wenchen would apply medicine for her; his blushing face was so adorable. Unfortunately, good times don't last forever; that guy got increasingly shameless, always trying to take advantage of her while applying medicine.

Thinking of this, Ru Feng's face seemed to be getting hot again, so she quickly buried her face in the quilt and said in a muffled voice, "Father, Mother, it's almost time. I should put on my court clothes and go to the palace with Grandpa."

So Yu Chisong had no choice but to leave, leaving Lin Yilan to help her get dressed.