novelden Chapter 146 On the Eve of Ling Huanan's Wedding
Chapter 146 On the Eve of Ling Huanan's Wedding
Seeing Feng Zhao's ambiguous smile, Lin Shu knew that he was teasing her, so she turned her gaze away expressionlessly and said, "Your Highness is joking."
Feng Zhao raised an eyebrow, said nothing, and continued to watch the busy people in the main hall of the manufacturing warehouse, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
If this thing can really be made, then not to mention that tiny island nation of Japan, even the iron cavalry of the northern wilderness will be nothing to fear!
Lin Shu stayed for a while, and every now and then a muffled explosion could be heard, making the smell of gunpowder in the air even stronger.
Judging from the current progress, it would take at least two or three days to produce gunpowder, so she decided not to waste her time there and took her leave of the Ministry of Works.
……
Evening, at the Lin residence.
The afterglow of the setting sun spread out, and the golden light, like fine gold leaf, gently covered the two large characters "Lin Mansion".
Lin Shu entered the mansion as the sun set. The mansion was once again decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and servants were busy making final preparations for the wedding of the old master Xue Wen the next day.
As soon as I stepped into the main courtyard, I found Ling Huanan there as well.
She wore a dark brocade robe with gold-embroidered peacock patterns, and around her waist was a palm-width cloud-patterned belt that Xue Wencai had embroidered for her after much pleading, along with a mandarin duck sachet made by the same person...
The other person was holding Xue Wen's hand at the moment, seemingly talking about something, and looked somewhat aggrieved.
Upon seeing Lin Shu enter, Xue Wen quickly withdrew his hand and asked somewhat awkwardly, "Shu'er is back?"
"Hmm." Lin Shu nodded in response, then looked at Ling Huanan, who had regained his cold demeanor: "Why is the Prince of Dingbei here again?"
They kept coming to the Lin residence every day. If Lin Shu hadn't chased them away with a dark face, they probably would have shamelessly stayed. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought that the Prince of Dingbei's residence had moved!
Ling Huanan, with a hint of regret, rubbed the hand that had just held Xue Wen's, and said to Lin Shu with a cold face, still feeling unsatisfied:
"Ahem... I've come to see you today."
Ling Huanan was naturally aware that he had been running around too much lately, and that his unfilial daughter had openly and subtly mocked him for being like a peacock displaying its tail feathers to attract a mate.
"Oh? What brings you here, Your Highness?" Lin Shu stared at her intently, having no doubt that the other party's words were merely a spur-of-the-moment remark.
"After I marry your father, I will take him with me to Shuomen Pass."
As Ling Huanan spoke, he glanced gently at Xue Wen, then turned back to see Lin Shu with an expression that seemed to say, 'Didn't we already say that?' He continued:
"At that time, I will request that you be granted the title of Heir Apparent, and the foundation of the Royal Palace will be handed over to..."
"No need!" Before Ling Huanan could finish speaking, Lin Shu interrupted him: "Since I am an official, I will work hard on my own. I have no interest in your Dingbei Prince's Mansion."
After saying that, he paused, then looked at Ling Huanan's darkening face and continued, "If you're worried that there's no one to inherit the family business, then work harder with your father..."
After saying that, Lin Shu didn't give the two a chance to react. She quickened her pace, left the main courtyard, and went straight to Su Mu's courtyard.
Ling Huanan, looking stunned, and Xue Wen, his face flushed, were left staring at each other in bewilderment.
"This child..." Xue Wen also laughed and scolded him somewhat awkwardly.
Ling Huanan echoed her sentiments, secretly wishing she and Xue Wen could have more children, preferably well-behaved boys like Xue Wen.
As the two were talking, they were interrupted by a servant who came in from outside: "My lord, the master has sent me to light the lamp for Prince Dingbei. The master said it is too late and it is inconvenient for Prince Dingbei to walk at night..."
“How…how can this be!”
Seeing that it wasn't completely dark outside, Ling Huanan gritted his teeth. This wasn't about being worried about him walking at night; it was clearly an order to leave. They weren't even going to offer him dinner!
Hmph! After tomorrow, I will never have to suffer indignities at your Lin residence again!
Even after she was escorted out of the Lin residence, she was still somewhat resentful. The guards who were already waiting at the gate, however, were not surprised at all. This prince was never happy whenever he came out of the Lin residence.
Looking at the Lin residence before him, Ling Huanan murmured, "Awen has always been well-behaved since she was little, how could she have given birth to such a rebellious daughter!"
The guard: "..." Your Highness, look at yourself first, and tell me why.
Ling Huanan turned around to get into the carriage when he saw his personal guard looking at him with an indescribable expression. He knew what she was thinking without even thinking, and said in a deep voice with a dark face, "Why are you looking at me?"
The guard knew something was wrong as soon as he saw Ling Huanan's expression, so he quickly stepped forward to lift the curtain for her, saying, "Your Highness, please come in!"
Ling Huanan didn't pursue the matter further and got into the carriage. Suddenly remembering something, he frowned and coldly said to the guards driving the carriage outside:
"Why are you blocking the entrance today? Don't you usually wait across the street?"
The Lin residence is surrounded by a bustling market, and many vendors have already taken up a lot of space. If a carriage were to park at the entrance, it would disturb the travel of the people in the vicinity. Therefore, their carriages usually wait on the opposite side of the street.
"Your Highness, I arrived at the gate right after you," the guard reported truthfully.
"Oh? You actually know when I come out?" Ling Huanan's tone was somewhat subtle, as the time she came out each day was different.
"Hehe! Although Your Highness comes out at different times every day, I've observed for a long time that as soon as Lord Lin returns to the manor, you'll definitely be sent out within half a quarter of an hour..."
The guards didn't notice that Ling Huanan's expression was growing increasingly grim inside the carriage. They only felt a chill creep up from her tailbone, and she muttered to herself, "It's getting colder?"
Then came Ling Huanan's flat, emotionless voice: "Not bad! Since you enjoy observing so much, then don't sleep tonight. Stay in the stable and observe how many times my horse opened its eyes and how many times it relieved itself..."
"Ah? Your Highness, I know I was wrong..."
Ling Huanan ignored the guards' pleas for mercy, instead extending two slender fingers to part the side curtains. Looking at the Lin mansion shrinking in size, he muttered under his breath, "That rebellious daughter..."
She said this, but a slight smile appeared on her lips, and a hint of pride shone in her eyes and heart. This is how Ling Huanan's daughter should be!
……
Nighttime, in Su Mu's courtyard.
On the innermost side of the large bed, little Ansi was fast asleep, her little hands clenched into fists and placed beside her ears, her little mouth slightly open, and the thin blanket covering her body rising and falling with her breath, she was extremely cute.
Lin Shu watched this scene with a smile in her eyes. She couldn't help but poke Xiao Ansi's lips with her hand, which made Xiao Ansi wriggle her mouth in the direction of her finger even in her sleep, as if she was really eating.
Suddenly, Su Mu's voice rang out from beside her: "My lady, after Father gets married, I plan to take A-Yun and the others to Huguo Temple to visit Huanzhi!"
Upon hearing this, Lin Shu paused, then gently tucked the blanket around Xiao Ansi, lay back down in her own spot, and whispered, "Okay, go ahead!"
Seeing that the other party seemed a little down, Su Mu turned to the side, propped his head up with one hand, looked down at Lin Shu, and suggested, "Why don't you come along, my wife?"
Lin Shu lay flat on her back, and upon hearing this, she turned her head slightly to meet his gaze, her eyes filled with complex emotions: "No need, he certainly doesn't want to see me. Take plenty of things with you when you go..."
After saying that, he pulled Su Mu, who was half-supporting himself, into his arms, closed his eyes, kissed him on the forehead, and said, "Sleep."
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