Phoenix Astonishes Heaven 057 Upper Yuan Happy Festival

  Looking at the team of twenty-four guards in front of him, Yuan Wuyou didn't seem too surprised, as if it was a matter of course.

  The Emperor saw her like this, and his eyes flashed slightly. He looked at the general standing at the front and said: "Mu Yu, I appoint you as a fourth-grade imperial guard general who wears a sword in front of me. You will serve as the leader of Princess Wu You's personal guard team. The safety of Princess Wu You is now in your hands."

  "I will definitely not disappoint the Emperor's expectations, I will devote myself to protecting the princess, even if it means sacrificing my life. I am willing to die for this." Mu Yu knelt down on one knee respectfully.

  As he spoke, the twenty-four guards standing solemnly in a row all knelt down in unison and shouted: "Your humble servants will devote themselves to protecting the princess, willing to die for her, Long live Her Highness, long live, long live!"

  The emperor got up, satisfied, and walked a few steps before seeming to remember something: "I have already ordered the renovation of Wuyou Palace. Wuyou, go take a look, and if there's anything you're not satisfied with, speak out. From now on, Wuyou Palace and your personal guard will be under your management. Your father emperor won't interfere."

  "The son thanks the Emperor." Yuan Wuyou bowed respectfully.

  Qing Emperor seemed very satisfied and left, Yuan Wuyou saw him off all the way until he could no longer see the figures of Qing Emperor's entourage. Only then did Yu Zhu and Yu Cui come forward to help her up. Although their faces were calm, they couldn't hide the excitement in their eyes.

  The Worry-Free Palace is so deeply etched in their memories that now the palace's grand gate is reopened, they are ecstatic!

  Yu Worry slowly walked to the railing of Ya Pavilion, looking at the imperial garden in sight. The wind blew up her sleeves and fluttered, like a fairy who had mistakenly entered the mortal world, so ethereal and otherworldly. Yet, there was a hint of melancholy and confusion in her eyes, making people feel as if she might suddenly disappear into thin air the next moment.

  On one side, Mu Yu led a team of imperial guards who knelt down with their heads bowed and eyes cast downward in reverence.

  Yu Zhu glanced at them and slightly moved her thoughts, then stepped forward and gently reminded: "Princess, it's getting late."

  Yu Cui was slightly surprised in her heart. She and Yu Zhu had always quietly followed behind the princess, never speaking out, but why did Yu Zhu remind the princess today?

  Yu Worry's eyes slightly closed, a faint smile: "Get up, all of you!"

  "Thank you, Princess." The uniform movements and uniform voices were enough to show that they were no ordinary guards.

  Yu Wu You seemed to have no idea what was going on with them, nor did he notice the aura around them. Instead, he muttered to himself as if asking: "Will the Worry-Free Palace change?"

  For such a question, Yu Zhu did not make a sound. Yu Cui wanted to speak up but saw that Yu Zhu was silent, so she also remained silent.

  "Let's go and take a look."

  Just out of the Imperial Garden, she ran into Third Princess Yuan Xizhen and her entourage. Looking at the line of personal guards following behind Yuan Wuyou, a hint of jealousy flashed across her pretty face, but it was gone in an instant. She smiled sweetly and stepped forward to curtsy slightly: "Third Sister greets Imperial Sister."

  Yu Wuyou gently nodded and smiled lightly: "Third Imperial Sister wants to go to the Imperial Flower Garden?"

  "No, the Worry-Free Palace has been renovated. I was thinking that Second Sister has been staying in the Prince of Huai's residence for days and hasn't gone to take a look herself, so I thought I'd come with you to take a look."

  "The Third Princess has made up her mind."

  Yu Xian Zhen asked with a hint of tension: "Imperial sister, do you still remember how we used to play together when we were young?"

  Yu Wu nodded: "I remember."

  Upon hearing this, the Third Princess smiled: "I was worried that Imperial Sister had forgotten, but since Imperial Sister remembers, may I accompany her to Wuyou Palace for a visit?"

  Yu Worry hesitated for a moment, but still nodded: "Okay."

  "That's great!" Yu Xizhen walked up with joy, warmly holding Yu Wuyou's hand, and walking side by side with her.

  Yu Worry looked at her with some daze, holding hands with San Gongzhu who was walking alongside her.

  Yu Zhu, who was standing beside her, moved her lips as if to say something, but seemed hesitant and swallowed her words instead.

  Jade's heart suddenly lit up, and she felt like she knew what she had to do now.

  "Third Princess, according to the rules, you must yield half a step."

  Yu Cu's words came out, Yuan Xizhen's fox-like eyes narrowed in doubt, and she immediately became somewhat uneasy, her face flushing red and then pale as she hastily let go of Wu You's hand and took a step back, not daring to walk alongside him again.

  "Yu Cui, how dare you be so rude? Don't you quickly apologize to the Third Princess?" Yuan Wuyou's gentle rebuke was like a soft breeze on a spring day, and her voice was so gentle that it didn't carry even a hint of anger.

  Yu Cui bit her lip, looking somewhat wronged, but still stepped forward obediently: "I know my fault, please punish me, Third Princess."

  Yu Xian chuckled and said magnanimously, "Yu Cui has always been like this, I know she wouldn't be blamed for it. Besides, what she said wasn't wrong either. The princess was momentarily carried away and lost her composure, which was indeed improper. I hope the empress won't take offense."

  A brief interlude seemed to have passed lightly, and after walking for about a moment, Yuan Xizhen glanced back with the corner of her eye and said softly: "Imperial sister, is that the personal guard given to you by Father Emperor?"

  Yu Worry turned his head and glanced at Mu Yu, nodding slightly.

  Yu Xian chuckled: "Father Emperor still dotes on Imperial Sister just like before."

  Like these princesses, they only have eight attendants when they get married, unless the deeply favored and enfeoffed princess has eighteen private guards. However, this guard of honor had twenty-four people, unprecedented, her uniqueness existed from the moment she was born.

  Yu Wuyou smiled and didn't continue the conversation.

  The two continued walking forward, and soon Wuyou Palace came into view before everyone's eyes.

  Looking at the solemn and beautiful Worry-Free Palace in front of her, Yuan Worry-Free stood on the steps below for a long time before slowly walking up the steps with Yu Zhu's gentle support.

  "Long live Her Royal Highness Princess Worry-Free, may she live for a thousand years, ten thousand years, and forever!"

  Deafening shouts accompanied Yuan Wuyou as he slowly walked up the stairs, wave after wave.

  Yu Xian Zhen was dazed for a moment, such nobility was the longing of everyone in the imperial palace, from a very young age, such a picture had been imprinted on her heart, just like today, she followed behind Yuan Wu You, secretly fantasizing that she was Yuan Wu You, so she liked to follow behind her.

  Five years ago, she suddenly woke up from her dream and realized that even if someone was called "thousand years old" thousands of times, it wasn't entirely a good thing.

  She thought she had forgotten all of this, but at this moment, she suddenly realized that such scenes, such images, had long been etched in the deepest part of her heart, only to be submerged, hidden, and... never forgotten!

  Compared to Yuan Wuyou's stunning beauty, she envied and resented even more her noble birth and this kind of dignity that could only make everyone look up to her.

  Jealousy was driving her nearly mad, yet she still had to keep a straight face and not reveal even the slightest hint.

  ……

  After slowly walking through every palace in the Worry-Free Palace, Yuan Wuyou finally sat down in the main hall of the main palace, and the sky was already near dusk.

  She put down her teacup and only then did she raise her eyes to look at Mu Yu, the leader of the guard squad who had been following her like a transparent person all afternoon. The rest of the guards were strictly guarding the Worry-Free Palace.

  "General Wood."

  "I dare not, Your Highness may call me by my name, Mu Yu." Mu Yu stepped forward and said respectfully.

  Yu Wu You smiled faintly: "Fourth-rank imperial guard general Mu Yu?"

  Yes

  "Raise your head and look at this princess."

  Mù yǔ huǎn huǎn de tái qǐ le tóu, mù guāng zhí shì zhe tā, zhí shì zhe yǎn qián yǒu zhe měi mào wú bǐ de wú yōu gōng zhǔ.

  Translation:

  The wooden feather slowly raised its head, its gaze fixed on her, fixed on the peerlessly beautiful Princess Worryfree in front of it.

  Yu Worry raised an eyebrow: "Has anyone ever said that General Mu has a pair of beautiful eyes?"

  Mu Yu lowered his eyelashes: "Return, Princess, there was none before today." Because all those who had said it were killed by him.

  Yu Wu You smiled and said: "Is that princess the first one?"

  "Yes, it is the princess."

  "How old is he?"

  "Returning to the princess, I will be eighteen years old this year."

  "At eighteen, you were already a fourth-rank imperial guard general, with a promising future ahead of you. But Father Emperor gave you to me as my personal bodyguard, so now you can only protect me and no one else. I'm sorry to have wronged you like this."

  The heavily armed kneeling figure said: "Your Highness is seriously injured, I dare not."

  Yu Wu You smiled and said: "Tonight I'll be attending the Lantern Festival, so security will be left to General Mu."

  "Yes, I will obey."

  ……

  The melodious sound of the Xiao was like the heavenly music, floating above a elegant bamboo pavilion in the Lin's residence, and it unexpectedly attracted hundreds of birds flying in mid-air, forming a neat queue, dancing with the rhythm.

  Lin Weiting leaned against the window with her hands clasped around her chest, admiring the dance of a hundred birds outside.

  The people stopped moving, but the sound seemed to linger, and the birds were still flying.

  Two casual claps rang out, and the birds that were still in a daze suddenly became frightened, flapping their wings and chirping as they dispersed.

  "Flawless younger brother, thank you for your kindness. From now on, Xuanji Pavilion belongs to me."

  Wen Wuxia played with the jade flute in her hand: "As long as Brother Biao is happy."

  Lin Weiting's mouth curved into a smile that was not quite a smile, and he said: "Since my younger brother is so generous, I feel uneasy as an older brother. So I've decided to accompany him tonight to appreciate the Lantern Festival in Beijing."

  Wen Wuxia raised an eyebrow: "Accompanying me to admire the lanterns is just a formality, but wanting to investigate the truth is what's real. The rumors in town all say that Princess Wuyou is a peerless beauty who can topple cities and states."

  "I wonder if your younger brother is interested in going with me to broaden his horizons?" Lin Weiting raised an eyebrow.

  "What's wrong with that?" A princess who was said to have the blood of Yuan and Liu families flowing in her body, a chess piece placed at the forefront of the storm? Or is she actually the one holding the chess pieces? He was very curious.

  Lin Weiting sat down in front of the piano, and with a slender white jade finger, she plucked a string, producing a clear and ethereal sound. She smiled and said: "Brother sent Xuanji Pavilion to exchange for Lin family's young master identity, won't it be too disadvantageous?"

  "It's a bit of a loss, but what can you do when your brother-in-law is a businessman? Businessmen prioritize profits, it's common knowledge." The light footsteps quietly approached, and neither of them spoke again.

  A moment later, Lin Yingying walked into the bamboo building, smiling at the two of them with a curtsy: "Greetings, elder brother, greetings, cousin."

  Lin Weiting's hands were pressed on the strings of the guqin, while Wen Wuxia was playing with a jade flute, both of them remained silent.

  Lin Yingying seemed to be used to the silence between them and didn't think much of it, instead directly stating her purpose: "Far West Gu's family's Gu Ling Gu Gongzi has come to visit, mother asked me to ask brother if he is interested?"

  Lin Weiting smiled and said: "Please ask Mr. Gu to wait for a moment in the main hall, I will be right there."

  "By the way, Mother also said that if Brother Yuru has interest, he can go together."

  A faint smile was her only response.

  "That's all for now, I'll take my leave." After walking a few steps, she seemed to have thought of something and turned back to the two men: "Tonight's Lantern Festival banquet, I wonder if you two gentlemen are interested in going with me to appreciate it? I've already booked a private room at Wangjiang Pavilion."

  Lin Weiting smiled: "Since Rongrong has invited me, how can I, as her elder brother, not go?"

  Lin Yingying smiled softly: "Thank you, Brother Shang, for your compliment."

  "Mother often said that the two women she admired most in her life were Aunt and another woman. Today, looking at you, I think I can understand Mother's feelings back then."

  Men fight for external rights, women struggle in domestic affairs, unchanged throughout history.

  "My younger male cousin laughed and said, 'Even if Mother is clever, she still can't beat her aunt.' So Auntie married into the prestigious Wen family, which was on par with the Fifth Family, while Mother lost out and married a crude and unrefined small merchant who only had a good-looking face."

  This time, he truly laughed. The battle between his mother and aunt back then must have been spectacular. He just didn't know that one day, when he faced off against this charming and profound cousin in front of him, what would happen? Being able to encounter such an opponent in life was also a great joy. And he had the heart to try it out, perhaps this day wouldn't make him wait too long.

  Lin Mansion's grand hall, Gu Ling elegantly savored the tea carefully brewed by the maid, and a discordant feeling arose in her heart once again.

  Just as they were having a cup of tea, footsteps came from outside the hall.

  Listening to the footsteps, Gu Ling slightly raised an eyebrow, a hint of unexpectedness flashed in his eyes.

  "Lord Gu's esteemed presence is a great honor for Lin."

  The man who came in was a middle-aged man, with a rather outstanding appearance. A pair of slender and narrow eyes like those of a woman made him think of a fox, but the fox in front of him was clearly a sentimental and lustful one for women.

  "Master Gu, this is our family's old master Lin Yanshan." The steward of the Lin estate said to Gu Ling.

  Gu Ling stood up and slightly bowed his head towards Lin Yan Shan: "I am Gu Ling from afar."

  "Mr. Gu is too polite, come, come, come, Mr. Gu, take the seat of honor."

  "Mr. Lin is being polite, Mr. Lin please take a seat."

  After exchanging pleasantries, Lin Yanshan carefully asked: "I don't know what brings you here today, Young Master Gu. Is there something on your mind?"

  Gu Ling smiled slightly: "Last time I left without saying goodbye, it was really impolite, today I came specifically to apologize in person"

  Lin Yanshan furrowed his brow and subconsciously looked at the butler standing beside him, seemingly very puzzled.

  Gu Ling's eyes flickered slightly. If Lin Yanshan's shallow and sentimental nature was a disguise, then he had truly achieved perfection, without revealing even the slightest hint of his true self. Even Gu Ling couldn't help but admire him wholeheartedly.

  A gentle and beautiful female voice came, and a graceful figure also appeared at the entrance of the hall: "Father, it was the banquet held by daughter and brother in the plum blossom garden in the suburbs last year. The daughter sent someone to invite father to go, but Young Master Hou had something important to attend to and left early."

  Gu Ling stood up and cupped his hands: "Gu Ling has seen Miss Lin."

  Gu Ling had a misconception, thinking that Old Man Lin relaxed completely after seeing Miss Lin arrive. He suddenly came to his senses and said: "Oh, oh, it was the last time at Mei Lin's banquet, haha, I remember, I remember, Mr. Gu is too polite, it's just a small matter, not worth mentioning, how dare you let Mr. Gu come in person to apologize?"

  Lin Yingying returned the courtesy to Gu Ling, and respectfully greeted Lin Yan Shan: "Daughter greets Father!"

  "Quickly invite our lovely daughter."

  He sat back down in the living room, and just as he raised his eyes, he saw Old Master Lin somewhat absent-mindedly pick up the tea by his side, and then... with a gurgling sound like a cow drinking water, he drank an entire cup of tea in one gulp. He really felt that this Lin Manor was becoming more and more eerie.

  Lin Yanshan wiped away the water stain at the corner of his mouth, looked at his beautiful daughter, and then looked at Gu Ling, with a hint of intention in his eyes.

  "Master Gu, how old are you today?"

  "It's been eighteen years." Gu Ling replied politely.

  "Does Mr. Gu have a wife?"

  "Not yet."

  "Great, my home..." Lin Yanshan's excited eyes lit up, just as he was about to enthusiastically recommend his beloved daughter to Gu Ling, when a smiling voice interrupted him.

  "My father has made a fool of himself in front of Master Gu."

  Lin Yanshan saw the two people walking in and immediately straightened his body on the main seat.

  He caught this subtle change, and looked up to see the two people who had walked in quietly with the dusk. His eyes locked onto them, and he felt that the person in front of him was the one who fit the impression Lin's family had given him.

  These two people have different impressions on others and also look different.

  The young master in purple robes is charming and unrestrained, while the youth in white clothes is pure and outstanding. Whether it's their demeanor or aura, each has its own unique charm, neither surpassing the other. "Hearing about someone is not as good as meeting them in person," said Lord Yu, "This young master is elegant and refined, with a handsome face, truly a dragon among men, and Lin Wei is the only one who can compare to him."

  Gu Ling stood up and returned the courtesy: "Young Master Lin is too polite, Gu Ling came uninvited, I hope Young Master Lin will forgive me." Was the man in purple robes that person from the Lin family, whose name he had only heard but never seen before?

  "Mr. Gu is being polite, by the way, this is my maternal cousin." Lin Weiting said casually.

  "It turned out to be Young Master Lin from the Lin family."

  The words were flawless and faintly familiar, yet he hadn't uttered a word of self-introduction.

  Seeing Lin Weitan and Wen Wuyi both arrived, Lin Yingying smiled and said: "Since brother and cousin are here, I'll accompany Father back to Mother first."

  Lin Yanshan hurriedly smiled and said: "Right, right, Tong Er, I'll leave it to you to entertain Mr. Gu."

  Lin Weiting nodded, and Lin Yanshan saw him and hastily went out.

  Gu Ling calmly faced the strange scene in front of her, seemingly not finding anything unusual about it.

  Lin Weiting lazily sat down in the opposite position: "The case that Mr. Gu recently cracked is truly wonderful."

  Gu Ling's heart skipped a beat, but he smiled calmly and said: "Lin Young Master is joking."

  "Wei Tang is not joking, this is a heartfelt words. Last year in the capital city because of Gu Gongzi, it was indeed a stormy rain, everyone was in danger and didn't know what to do."

  Gu Ling held his tea and lightly swept it, smiling faintly: "I'm just doing what I should."

  Lin Weiting smiled, just doing his part, indeed just doing his part.

  "Last time Young Master Gu came and went in a hurry, I didn't have the chance to treat you well, it's really regrettable. It's better to invite you on short notice than to miss the opportunity. Today happens to be the Lantern Festival, and in just one more hour, the capital city will welcome the grandest lantern banquet of the year. I've reserved a elegant table at Wangjiang Pavilion, please do me the honor of attending."

  "Gu Ling had just arrived and hadn't had the chance to make friends, so Lin Shao Ye's enthusiasm was more than he could ask for. However, Gu Ling still had an unrequited love."

  "It doesn't matter what Master Gu says."

  Gu Ling smiled and said, "The second son of the Minister of Justice, Liao Qingyun, also known as Young Master Liao, happens to have an appointment with me. If Lin Shao doesn't mind, I'd like to invite Young Master Liao to join us for dinner."

  Lin Wei's eyebrows seemed to smile but not quite, his expression was clear and careless, yet when he did things, he wouldn't make people feel disrespected or neglected.

  "Wei Tang had sought him out but to no avail, Liao Gongzi was a big name, like thunder in one's ears. It was just that Liao Gongzi rarely accepted invitations from anyone. Today, Gu Gongzi not only granted me an audience but also gave me such a grand gift, leaving Wei Tang both surprised and delighted."

  Digression

  I don't know if it's a network issue or the system is down, but I just can't log in to the backend no matter what, it's such a waste of effort.