In the cold winter at the end of the year, the roads outside the city can be seen on both sides of the road with decaying grass and a cold wind.
The mountains in the distance are also shrouded in heavy mist, as if their pale color is covered with a layer of gray.
Ruan Yueli walked in the long escort team. She had walked this road countless times, but she never thought that one day she would walk in this way again, leaving the imperial city where she had lived for more than ten years.
Perhaps because they knew that if they took this step, their future lives would fall into hell, both men and women in the team couldn't help crying.
Ruan Yueli didn't cry. The tears streaming down her face and being blown by the cold wind only made her feel even more uncomfortable.
The situation was already like this, and she didn't want to cause any more trouble for herself.
There were several people standing on the roadside not far away. Ruan Yueli didn't pay attention to them at first, but the woman who was the leader walked towards the leader of the policemen. The two said something unknown, and the woman quickly led the people towards Ruan
Yue Li walked over.
"Miss Ruan."
Ruan Yueli was slightly startled and said, "You are..." She had the impression that you were from the Regent's Palace.
The leading woman said respectfully: "This servant is the maid of the regent princess, Fengjian. The princess said that the winter is bitterly cold and the journey is long, so please take care of yourself." After saying this, Fengjian turned around and took a package from the person behind him and sent it to Ruan Yue with both hands.
Li held his hand and said, "This is sent by the princess's servant. Please don't dislike it, girl."
Ruan Yueli took the package, which was a little heavy and didn't know what it contained, "Thank you very much."
Feng Jian whispered: "Inside are some commonly used medicines and things that girls need. The escort has already taken care of them. Take care of yourself, girl."
Ruan Yueli nodded, "Thank you very much, thank the princess for me."
Feng Jian agreed and left without any hesitation.
The team soon began to move forward again, and the escorting officers were indeed much more polite to them.
Even the other Ruan family members in the team looked at Ruan Yueli with a bit more attentiveness. Although the Ruan family was in decline, Princess Taihua and even the regent princess still thought about Ruan Yueli. As long as the nobles don't forget them,
The Ruan family may not return to the capital one day.
Once people have hope, the pain before them seems to become less unbearable, and the sobbing and complaining in the team also becomes much quieter.
Ruan Yueli walked forward slowly holding the package in her hand. She looked calm and lowered her eyes slightly, hiding the emotions in her eyes.
In the cold wind, her thoughts gradually returned to two days ago.
When the Ruan family's decree had just come down, she wrote to the regent after thinking about it all night.
In fact, it hasn't been long since the last time I saw Xie Yan, but in Ruan Yueli's mind, it seemed like it had been a long, long time ago.
A few months ago, she arrogantly believed that she was the most suitable woman for the regent. Now, a few months later, the regent is still aloof, but she has become the daughter of a guilty minister kneeling on the ground.
It can only be said that things in the world are unpredictable, and no one can guarantee that they will have a smooth and worry-free life.
Ruan Yueli could only rejoice in her heart that she didn't have too many personal feelings for the regent, so that kneeling in front of him now would not make her feel so painful and embarrassing.
"The daughter of the guilty minister, please bow to His Highness the Regent."
Xie Yan looked at her but didn't speak. Ruan Yueli didn't rush to say anything either. He just knelt there quietly with his eyes lowered.
After a long time, I heard Xie Yan say: "Miss Ruan has really decided to go into exile with you?"
"Yes, please make it happen, Your Majesty." Ruan Yueli said.
Xie Yan raised his eyebrows slightly and said: "You should know that your engagement with Prince Ji Rong is a talisman for you now. As long as you are still the future prince and concubine of the Qi tribe, the court will not do anything to you."
Ruan Yueli smiled, shook his head and said: "Although I have never had contact with the Ninth Prince, I still have some speculations. Compared with becoming the prince and concubine of the Qi tribe, I think exile may not be the worst way."
Xie Yan said: "You may die on the road to exile."
Ruan Yueli was silent for a moment and said: "Since the regent is willing to see my daughter, it proves that in the prince's heart, my daughter has the value of redeeming her sins, doesn't it?"
Xie Yan calmly looked at the girl in front of him. Although he did not exert pressure deliberately, Ruan Yueli's face was still a little pale.
But she still knelt there without saying a word, refusing to lower her head and looking at Xie Yan steadily with her eyes.
After a moment, Xie Yan withdrew his gaze and said, "Are you sure? Maybe no matter what you do, there will never be any hope of returning to Shangyong in this life."
Ruan Yueli said: "Yes."
"Perhaps you will die because of this." Xie Yan said.
Ruan Yueli said: "As long as the prince keeps his promise and gives my daughter a chance, even if I die, I will die without regrets."
Xie Yan snorted lightly and asked, "What do you want?"
Ruan Yueli looked directly at the man on the throne and said in a deep voice: "I want the Ruan family."
"..." Xie Yan was silent, seemingly not understanding what Ruan Yueli meant.
Ruan Yueli also thought that he did not understand her appeal, so she said in a deep voice: "I want to become the head of the Ruan family."
The hall became quiet again. I don't know how long it took before I heard Xie Yan chuckle and say: "Yes, as long as you have the ability."
Ruan Yueli leaned over solemnly, put his hands on the ground and touched the back of his hands with his smooth forehead, "Thank you, Your Majesty."
Xie Yan finally seemed to be somewhat interested in her. He lowered his head and looked at her carefully as if he was evaluating something.
"You should know that Ruan Ting may not die, and your brother is still outside. If they come back one day, can you still hold your position as the head of the family?"
Ruan Yueli said calmly: "They have abandoned the Ruan family and are no longer qualified to be the head of the Ruan family."
Xie Yan said: "Those people in the Ruan family are a drag on both Ruan Ting and you. Abandoning them will only make your life better."
"Then what's the difference between me and other women? A fake princess who is marrying for the imperial court?" Ruan Yueli said, "The Ruan family needs me now, and I also need the Ruan family. No matter what the outcome is, I will not regret it.
, please make it happen, Your Majesty."
This chapter is not finished yet, please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content! Xie Yan nodded and said: "Go ahead, someone will look for you when you get there."
"Yes, my lady, please retire." Ruan Yueli kowtowed respectfully again, stood up and retreated.
When leaving the Regent's Palace, Ruan Yueli saw Luo Junyao sitting in the garden holding the little emperor and laughing.
There were a few children playing nearby, and even though it was winter, the garden still felt full of life.
She only glanced at him for a few seconds before following the steward out.
In the past, she would have felt unfair and disliked the second girl of the Luo family for not being worthy of the position of Princess Regent.
But now there was only peace in her heart.
Individuals have their own lives, which cannot be compared.
At least the path she takes now is her own choice.
No matter how far she goes, she will never regret it.
After coming back to his senses, Ruan Yueli took one last look at the towering city wall behind him.
She didn't know if she would ever come back here one day, maybe she would never come back.
After one glance, she quickly turned around and looked forward, leaving the previous ten years of her life behind her.
In the small Tianlao room, Ruan Ting was still lying quietly on the bed, making people wonder whether he was in a daze or asleep.
This cell is a bit quieter than before. Prince Ning was given poisoned wine and committed suicide a few days ago. Xue Ya had been taken away long ago and gone to unknown places. So the cell that could have held four people now became Ruan's cell.
Ting has it all to himself, although his range of activities has not expanded at all.
The serious injury not long ago cost Ruan Ting almost half of his life, and he still has not fully recovered until now.
He also lay motionless in bed all day long, as if he had resigned himself to his fate.
The cell door was opened from the outside, and a steady set of footsteps walked in.
Ruan Ting didn't pay attention and still half-closed his eyes to rest.
After a while, no one spoke, and Ruan Ting felt something was wrong. He turned his head and looked outside, only to see Xie Yan standing in the corridor outside the cell, looking at him.
Ruan Ting smiled reluctantly and sat up with his hands on the bed, "Why is the prince here?"
Xie Yan said calmly: "The Ruan family has been sentenced to three thousand miles of exile, and we have just set off."
Ruan Ting was stunned for a moment. He had known about this verdict for a long time, but when he heard Xie Yan talking about it, the look on his face was still a little stiff.
After a long while, Ruan Ting said slowly: "Your Majesty, now you can be regarded as a dictator in the court? Congratulations, Your Majesty."
Xie Yan looked at him clearly, "You still don't want to say it."
Ruan Ting smiled and said, "I have nothing to say. I was confused and followed that good-for-nothing Prince Ning. I am willing to admit defeat."
Xie Yan nodded and said, "Ling Ai, please let me bring you a message."
Ruan Ting was startled and quickly reacted: "Ali?"
Xie Yan said: "Ling'ai said that you and Ruan Yuelou have abandoned the Ruan family, and she will have the final say in the Ruan family from now on."
Ruan Ting was stunned and looked at Xie Yan with a more suspicious look. He didn't seem to think that his daughter would say such treasonous words.
Xie Yan had no intention of explaining. He turned around and walked out. He just left a faint sentence and said: "Xiang Ruan, I think that compared to you and Ruan Yuelou, she may be more capable of becoming the head of the family."
people."
Ruan Ting sneered and said: "The head of the family? Your Majesty, it seems that in the past two months, he has been showing off his tricks, but in fact, he has quietly held the power of Da Sheng firmly in his own hands. I admire this ability. I admire him very much.
I didn’t expect that the prince would have such naive ideas. Without me, Ruan Ting, where would the Ruan family be?"
There was a hint of arrogance in his voice, but no one in the world could say what he said was wrong.
Before Ruan Ting, the Ruan family was an ordinary poor family that had to sell its sons and daughters to survive. It was Ruan Ting who relied on his own ability to rise to great heights, and led the Ruan family to become rich and prosperous.
Ruan Ting did not regret being sold out by his parents. Instead, after he became prosperous, he took his parents and brothers with him to enjoy the blessings. This is one of the reasons why Ruan Tingfeng has been well regarded by the government and the public over the years. Most people think that he is generous and filial.
Only remember gratitude and not grudges.
Xie Yan shook his head and said: "Your life and death now only depend on the thoughts of others, but the Ruan family still has to live."
As for how the Ruan family will live, it is Ruan Yueli's or the Ruan family's own business. No matter how they live, Xie Yan will not sympathize with them.
Xie Yan glanced at Ruan Ting for the last time and said: "I will not be coming in the near future. If Ruan Xiang has anything to say, you can have someone send it to me. If Ruan Xiang does not die here. In addition, if Xue Ya
Young Master thought of it before you did, so it’s useless to say anything else you want to say.”
Ruan Ting shrank his eyes and stared at Xie Yan, as if he wanted to see if he knew something.
I heard Xie Yan finally ask: "The secret that Prime Minister Ruan refused to tell no matter what...is related to your ability to successfully ascend to the position of prime minister back then? I don't have time to deal with these old things now, so don't be in a hurry."
Ruan Ting's eyes did not move for a moment, and his face remained expressionless.
Xie Yan didn't seem to be interested in knowing what his expression was now. He had already stepped out of the cell door. Soon the door was closed from the outside and silence returned to the cell.
Luo Junyao, Su Rui and others parted outside the teahouse, and walked slowly to the meeting with Ling Lan.
Pedestrians were coming and going on the streets, and the damage caused by the recent riots seemed to have been repaired.
The vendors on the street were selling their products enthusiastically, and the expressions on the faces of passers-by were calm and peaceful. Everything seemed to have returned to its original state.
Luo Junyao leisurely walked and ate a bunch of sugar-coated haws that she had just bought. Ling Lan, who was following her, also had several bunches in the paper bag she was holding, ready to take back to her children.
"It's time to celebrate the New Year." Luo Junyao said.
Ling Lan smiled and said: "Yes, the New Year is coming soon."
Luo Junyao was a little curious, "Ling Lan, you used to follow your eldest brother. How do you celebrate the New Year at the border?"
This chapter is not over yet, please click on the next page to continue reading! Ling Lan thought for a while and said: "Bianguan... is naturally not as lively as the imperial city, but there are many people under the eldest son's command, so it's almost enough for everyone to get together and have a good meal.
?As for the general's mansion, if the general has time, the family will live together. In the early years, the general was always unavailable, and it was mostly the eldest son and the second son who lived together. Later, when the two young masters grew up, it depended on luck.
If you're lucky, the three of you will spend the New Year together, but if you're not lucky, there won't be a single master in the General's Mansion during the entire New Year."
"That's quite boring." Luo Junyao said, "Wang Yong is actually not interesting at all. It's just a cold meal for the whole family, and then stay up until the end of the year. I'm so sleepy that I can't open my eyes before going to bed."
In the memory of the original owner, there were no good memories of the New Year.
The whole family is not very harmonious because they are all women, so there is certainly no sense of celebration during the New Year.
But this year should be different, Luo Junyao thought.
There have been too many things going on these past few months. Now that I have some free time, I must have a happy New Year.
"When did the imperial court first seal the deal?" Luo Junyao asked.
Linglan thought for a while, "On the 27th, the Lantern Festival falls, and the office opens on the 16th day of the first lunar month."
Luo Junyao was a little happy, "It's been nearly twenty days, not bad."
Ling Lan was about to say something when the words came to her lips. She suddenly paused and whispered: "Princess, it seems that the cousin and Mr. Xuan Yu are in front of me."
Luo Junyao was startled. He looked up and saw two familiar figures walking out of an alley not far ahead. It turned out that they had wandered all the way from near Ruan's house, and unknowingly they had arrived not far from Prince Mu'an's palace.
.
Since King Mu was officially imprisoned in Jinshui Village, Xie Jun wisely stopped using the name of Prince Mu's Palace and called it Prince Mu'an Palace to the outside world.
In addition, many people in the palace have been injured, so Prince Mu'an's palace has been very low-key recently.
Luo Junyao was a little surprised, "I remember Xie Chengyou was seriously injured, right? Is he jumping around again?"
Ling Lan shook her head and said: "Princess, look, they... seem to have been driven out."
Luo Junyao looked over and realized that it was not just Xie Chengyou and Shen Lingxiang who were walking out of the alley behind Mu'an Palace. Behind them were a group of men, women and children, all carrying large and small bags in their hands.
Shen Lingxiang supported Xie Chengyou with some difficulty. The two seemed to be arguing about something as they walked. Xie Chengyou turned his head and Luo Junyao and Ling Lan happened to see his disfigured face.
On that originally very handsome face, a scar penetrated most of the face, which looked shocking.
"Why would Prince Mu'an drive them out now?" Luo Junyao was a little curious. Wouldn't it be bad for Xie Chan's reputation to act so quickly?
Although they didn't have much contact, Luo Junyao could tell that Xie Yan didn't pay as much attention to his reputation as Xie Yan did. Now that the palace and the title were his, he didn't seem to be a person who couldn't hold his temper.
Ling Lan also shook her head. Everyone is very busy during this period. Who has time to take care of the affairs of Prince Mu'an's Mansion?
"Slave, could you please ask someone to inquire about it?"
Luo Junyao said: "Go back first. Prince Mu'an will definitely come to tell Ayan personally about such a big matter."
Ling Lan nodded in agreement, and the two of them turned to leave.
Although she was really happy to see Xie Chengyou in this state, there was no need to run up to him and beat him up.
Anyway, Xie Chengyou will become more and more miserable in the future. People who are too pretentious will always have a harder life. The longer he lives, the more miserable he will feel when he thinks about his past glory.
They didn't want to step forward, but Xie Chengyou and Shen Lingxiang on the other side had already seen Luo Junyao.
The moment he saw Luo Junyao clearly, Xie Chengyou's face was particularly ferocious, with a bit of embarrassment and shame.
When Shen Lingxiang saw Luo Junyao, his eyes lit up. He didn't even care that he was still supporting Xie Chengyou, and he let go and ran towards Luo Junyao, "Shake!"
Ling Lan took a step forward and stopped in front of her, staring at Shen Lingxiang with warning eyes.
The smile on Shen Lingxiang's face froze. She lowered her head and looked a little embarrassed. After a while, she raised her head again and smiled reluctantly: "I have met the princess."
Luo Junyao raised his eyebrows slightly. This was the first time that Shen Lingxiang saluted her calmly. He was not pretending to be calm before, but felt really calm.
"I heard from elder brother that you insist on staying with Xie Chengyou?" Luo Junyao asked.
Shen Lingxiang lowered his head, smiled and said: "I am like this now... Even if I leave Xie Chengyou, what hope can I have? I made it like that, and regretting it now is not a joke. Although... in your eyes Maybe I was already a joke."
Luo Jun was noncommittal and just said: "It's up to you. Where are you going now?"
Shen Lingxiang said: "Prince Mu'an... gave us a two-bedroom house in Nanxi Fang, and we want to move there."
Luo Junyao glanced over there. Concubine Fan was being supported by someone. She looked as if she had grown a lot older all of a sudden, and her hair had turned gray.
She suddenly lost her husband, son, and grandson. Apart from Xie Chengyou, Dafang only left a young grandson, several younger great-grandchildren, and a group of female dependents.
Although they were carrying large and small bags, they actually didn't have much luggage. It was obvious that the big family didn't get anything. The family was old, weak, sick and children, and they looked a little down and out.
"Why are you moving at such a time?" Luo Junyao asked.
Shen Lingxiang smiled bitterly and didn't reply. Luo Junyao didn't care, waved his hand and said: "Take care, I'm leaving."
After that, he ignored Shen Lingxiang, turned around and left with Ling Lan.
Shen Lingxiang stood there and watched the two people leaving, without speaking for a long time.
She didn't know how she had fallen to this point. It seemed that she had already been like this by the time she came to her senses.
Occasionally she would still think of the days she had spent in the Luo family. Compared with now, those days were indeed magical days.
Do you regret it? Shen Lingxiang smiled bitterly in her heart, she didn't know.
Maybe if she is asked to choose again, she will still choose to do that, right?
Luo Junyao said that she chose to stay with Xie Chengyou.
It's not that she doesn't want to leave, it's not that she doesn't want to start a new life. Although it's only been a few months, her original feelings for Xie Chengyou have already been worn away.
She couldn't leave, she couldn't go back to the Luo family.
She knew that if she dared to return to the Luo family, Luo Jinyan would never let her go!
When she thought she could make a deal with Luo Jinyan, it was probably the worst mistake she had ever made in her life, second only to choosing Xie Chengyou.
Luo Junyao was born with a better fate than her. She had two good brothers and a good father, so she didn't have to worry about anything she did.
"What? Do you regret it?" Xie Chengyou walked over slowly, his voice a little sinister.
Shen Lingxiang glanced back at him, turned around and said calmly: "Let's go."
－－－－－－Digression－－－－－
Mmm~ The scenes between Xie Chengyou and Shen Lingxiang are basically over, and there is basically no plot behind them. Even if they appear, they are brushed aside~ But Xie Chengyou's tragic life has just begun~~
