Volume 1: The Initial Appearance of Beauty Chapter 9: The Young Master of Luo Hua

  Shen Yu personally supported Lin Xian's heart to sit down beside Ruo Chen and Yan Shu Ya. Naturally, she hoped that they could get along well with Ruo Chen and Yan Shu Ya. After a day of contact, Shen Yu also understood that although this little princess was not close to people, she was not difficult to get along with, and Yan Shu Ya was the best example. If Lin Xian's heart could get along well with the princess, future things would be much easier to handle. Unfortunately, Lin Xian's heart did not feel Shen Yu's kindness at all, and from beginning to end, she looked timid, holding onto Shen Yu's sleeve. Yan Shu Ya saw it in her eyes and frowned, but didn't say anything, turning her head to talk to Ruo Chen instead.

  If Dusty shook her head, Lin Xian's words that she couldn't get on stage were really not wrong. That pitiful appearance was good for private comparison, but it was also the case in front of so many outsiders. Dusty really wanted to suggest that Shen Yu consider or take a look first to see if there was any eye disease. The wife of the national guardian general had such behavior, which was a shame to the country.

  As the group of people stood up to leave, the commotion below had almost dispersed. Xuan Yuan Ling was the first to stand up and bid farewell, and as he left, he smiled at Ruo Chen and said: "Today's matter is Xuan Yuan Ling's fault, Princess, if you have time, don't hesitate to come to my place as a guest, I'll make amends." Ruo Chen smiled and replied: "Sixth Prince is being polite." Who would have thought that this Xuan Yuan Ling was only twelve years old?

  Then, the Yan family siblings also stood up and bid farewell. Yan Shu Han still warmly invited Ruo Chen to play at the Yan's house. In a short while, only three people were left. Ruo Chen herself jumped down from the chair and said: "Let's go, let's go back." As she walked to the door, she saw Qin Shu Yan waiting there, ran over and stretched out her hand, "Shu Yan, carry me on your back." She didn't dare expect Shen You to carry her back now, but walking back with her small arms and legs would take who knows how much time.

  Shen Yu supported Lin Xian's heart as they walked out the door and saw Qin Shuyan crouching down, letting Mo dust climb onto his back to carry him.

  "Princess... there is a horse-drawn carriage outside."

  He shot a glance at Shu Yan, "You should've said so earlier. I thought we had to lug it back ourselves." "Shu Yan, hurry up!"

  The wind was clear and the moon was bright outside the building, and sure enough, several horse-drawn carriages and sedan chairs could be heard. Shen Yu asked, "Sir, do you want to take a sedan chair or ride in a carriage?"

  "Of course, take the carriage!" Wouldn't sitting in a sedan chair be enough to get her killed? She wasn't one for self-torture. Qin Shuyan helped Ruocheng into the carriage of General's Manor and Ruocheng herself lifted the curtain to enter. She tossed out a sentence, "Shen gege, come keep me company." Shen You smiled wryly and shook his head, supporting Xinting as he got onto another carriage. Only after entering Ruocheng's carriage did he see her propping up her chin on the soft cushion inside, staring at him. "Does the princess have something to say to Shen You?"

  "Can't you just call me if nothing's wrong? Yanxin sister is 18 years old. Isn't it said here that men and women should not be intimate?" Shen Yu's face turned slightly red, "I and Yanxin are different, we grew up together since childhood." Ru Chen's eyes rolled, "Have you two done something intimate already?"

  "Cough, cough..." Shen Yu almost choked on his own saliva, staring at the innocent-looking little princess in shock. "Princess... don't talk nonsense." Ruoxuan sat up, puzzled. "Don't you have one? Then I just so happen to have a suggestion for you to consider?" Shen Yu tried to ignore the little princess's previous question. "Please speak, Princess."

  "Why don't you consider marrying Yan Shuya?"

  Shen Yu was taken aback, "I don't know what Your Highness means by these words?"

  If dust gets in her eyes, a smile appears in Shen Yu's eyes, which seems somewhat dangerous: "Brother Shen, you're guarding against me?"

  Shen Yu was taken aback, and suddenly smiled faintly as he shook his head: "It seems my intuition wasn't wrong, the princess is indeed not an ordinary person." Ru Chen pouted her small mouth, with a hint of dissatisfaction, saying: "Why does the general say that? What does the general think I am?" Shen Yu smiled: "The princess is a clever person, and might even be a formidable opponent."

  At these words, she lowered her face and said in a wronged tone: "You want to bully me!"

  "Am I bullying you?"

  "Isn't it? I'm so young, and you still want to treat me as an opponent. Isn't that bullying?"

  Shen Yu smiled bitterly.

  "Alright, let's not discuss whether the princess is a good match or not. The princess asked me what it means to marry Xuan Shu Ya?" Ruo Chen said with an air of certainty, "Don't you all say that one should marry someone virtuous? Xuan Shu Ya is more suitable for you than Lin Xian." Shen Yu said seriously: "Shen Yu only likes Lin Xian. Princess, don't interfere." Ruo Chen hummed and pretended not to hear.

  "Why is the princess so enthusiastic about Shen Yu's marriage?"

  "Because I don't want to marry you," said Ruo Chen. Shen Yu was taken aback, "Why?" He didn't want to marry her was one thing, but hearing that the girl didn't want to marry him, even if she was just a little girl, Shen Yu still felt a bit unhappy. Ruo Chen smiled and looked at him, saying: "You're very old!"

  "Am I old?" He's only nineteen, how can he be old?

  "I was only six years old, and you were nineteen. By the time I'm twelve, you'll be thirty-nine, just like Father Emperor. Isn't that old?!" Shen Yu was taken aback for a moment before bursting into laughter. Ruoxuan rolled her eyes and looked away, of course knowing she had miscalculated, but did he have to laugh so hard? "I don't want to marry you, so someone else will have to marry you instead. However, your cousin isn't suitable, and Father Emperor won't agree either. Yan Shuya is the easiest person to get Father Emperor's consent."

  Shen Yu remained silent, as if Dust had said it right. The Yan family has been loyal for generations, and the current Prime Minister Yan is even more a trusted minister of the Emperor. What's most important is that the Yan family has always held great power but never clung to it. For three generations, the Yan family has served as prime ministers, all of whom retired at the most suitable time. Only by marrying into the Yan family would the Emperor not worry about officials forming cliques or favoring any particular imperial son.

  "What's the difference between this and marrying a princess?"

  Ru Xuan smiled, "Shu Ya jiejie is willing to marry you, but this princess is not."

  Shen Yu smiled but did not speak.

  Back at the General's Mansion, news came that Madame Shen had summoned Shen Yu. Shen Yu apologized to Ruo Chen and left with Lin Xian. In the small courtyard where Ruo Chen lived, Qing Hong was already waiting with a group of servants. Seeing Ruo Chen return, they busied themselves attending to her. After a busy half-day, Ruo Chen finished bathing and changing, and sat in the noble chair by the window reading a book. Qing Hong spoke softly: "Did the Princess have fun playing with General Shen today?"

  While flipping through a book, he said lightly: "I'm so bored. But I did meet two interesting people."

  "What kind of princess would find this amusing?"

  "The words of the prime minister's son and daughter."

  "It turned out to be Mr. Yan and Miss Yan. Mr. Yan was a friend of General Shen, who had grown up together since childhood, but had not entered the imperial court as an official. He often composed poetry and literature with others in the capital, and was quite carefree. It's said that Miss Yan has been infatuated with General Shen since she was young." Yu Chen put down her book, gazing at Qing Hong with a hint of a smile: "Your information network is not only effective within the palace, but also outside. You've only just left and you've already figured out all these things. I saw you this afternoon outside the Clear Wind Bright Moon Building... Who were you in such a hurry to meet?"

  Qian Hong was taken aback, looking at Ruochen with a difficult expression.

  Ruoxue smiled and said: "If you don't want to say it, then pretend I didn't ask."

  "Ah, no, Princess, forgive me. Actually... you'll find out about these things sooner or later anyway. I originally planned to tell you when you were a bit older, but now that we have the chance to leave the palace, tonight... Qing Hong will take you to meet some people."

  In the dead of night, Ruoxuan sat up in bed, "Qing Hong."

  Princess.

  Qing Hong entered from outside, already wearing a black night-traveling outfit. Ruo Chen himself lifted the quilt and jumped off the bed, putting on his clothes while saying: "Are you sure we can come and go freely to the General's residence?" Shen You, this Guardian General, wasn't someone to be trifled with. Qing Hong's lightness skills were pretty good, if she had her previous physique it wouldn't have been a problem, but now her body was really too small.

  "Your Highness, please be at ease, General Shen is not currently in the mansion."

  "Oh?" Yu Xuan was slightly surprised, "Where did he go?"

  Qing Hong said, "Lin Gong Nang seems to be unhappy about what happened during the day, General Shen took her out." Ru Chen smiled and said, "Going out for a midnight stroll, General Shen is indeed in high spirits."

  It is said that General Shen has been extremely fond of Lin Gongzhu since childhood.

  "Since you said it's no problem, let's go."

  Light red hugged Ruo Chen out the door, lightly swept over the roof, and soon arrived at the back door of General's Mansion. Except for the alley behind General's Mansion, hugging Ruo Chen, they turned over two intersections, and before long, they had already reached the back door of a courtyard.

  She lightly knocked on the door three times, and before long, someone came to open it.

  "Who is the girl looking for? Did she come to the wrong place?" The person who opened the door looked cautiously at Qing Hong and the figure in her arms with a covered face, Ruo Chen. Qing Hong took out a token and waved it in front of him. He immediately retreated with a respectful expression, "Please enter, miss." Qing Hong entered the courtyard, and Ruo Chen moved slightly in her arms. The courtyard was quiet, but there were distant sounds of noise and commotion. By the time Qing Hong put her down, they were already inside a house, where several men and women, old and young, stared at her alone.

  "Long time no see, young master!"

  If dust reason also does not care about the person in front of him, he just quietly gazes at Qing Hong. Qing Hong steps forward and says: "Your Highness, have you ever heard of Luohua Palace?"

  Ruò chén shook his head.

  "The Luohua Palace is the largest gang in Jianghu, with influence spanning across the five nations of today." Ruo Chen said: "What does this have to do with me?" Qing Hong said: "The former master of the Luohua Palace was your maternal grandfather, the renowned Luohua Gongzi Xiao Yi from thirty years ago. The Empress Dowager is his only daughter. And you, Princess, are the heir to the Luohua Palace." Ruo Chen raised an eyebrow and said: "You're saying that my mother is the current master of the Luohua Palace?" How is this possible? It's truly remarkable that the Luohua Palace can still survive under her rule until now.

  An old man stepped forward and said, "Reporting to the young master. The Luohua Palace has been without a master for ten years. Ten years ago, the palace master ascended to immortality, and the eldest miss did not pass the palace master's test. Now the Luohua Palace is leaderless, with most of its power in the hands of six elders. The Luohua Palace is now fragmented and at odds with itself, which is unacceptable to the righteous path..."

  Dust wrinkled his brow in distaste, "So it's still an evil sect? I'm not interested, you can find a palace master on your own. Qing Hong, let's go back." Shaking his head, an organization on the rivers and lakes, still a divided and evil sect, what use could it be? Moreover, he didn't want to venture into the jianghu at all. It was more important to go back and think about how to negotiate with Shen Yu, to obtain a peaceful and happy future.

  Another red-clothed youth with a heroic air stood up and said: "How can the young master say such things?! Our Luohua Palace is not some evil sect!"

  "I know I know, generally heretics don't admit their own evil."

  "You!"

  "Shut up! Yan Yang, you can't be rude to the young master." The old man glared at the young man. Ruocheng turned around and saw that behind him, except for the old man and Qinghong, everyone else had an angry expression. The old man cupped his hands and said, "Young Master, please forgive us. Yan Yang is still young and speaks without thinking." Ruocheng waved his hand and said, "No need to be polite, we'll meet again someday." With that, he didn't even care if Qinghong was following him or not, and walked away on his own.