Nan Jiu saw Xia Tian Meng's casual appearance and didn't mind, he lifted his hem and sat down on the stone chair opposite her. The 'guard' following behind him hadn't even had time to put down the cushion when he saw this and his teeth ached, Sir, is your butt cold?
Nan Jiu paused for a moment, then looked at the book in her hand with a normal expression, slightly raising an eyebrow: "Poetry?" He had some understanding of Xia Tianmeng's talent, after all, she was the only one who had made it to the imperial examination questions at the age of 13 and was praised by the emperor as the "Female Number One Scholar"! If not for the precedent that women had never served in office, perhaps the emperor would have even appointed her as a Female Grand Scholar!
Xia Tian Meng stood up and handed him a book, smiling: "Gu Ben. Mei Feng Yuan" is a collection of poems left by a famous poet of the previous dynasty. Due to his unjust death during his lifetime, very few of his poetry collections were preserved.
Nan Jiu looked at her up close and inexplicably felt that she was more beautiful than usual, his throat itched and he coughed: "I heard Er Ge say yesterday that he wanted to come see you, why didn't I see him?" In fact, when the housekeeper led him here, he had already said that Nan Yi Xing had come early in the morning, but he was not good at speaking and didn't know what to say.
Sun Guanjia, who led the way, glanced at them quietly and motioned to Chong Chenyu and Luo Yan to follow him. He retreated to the entrance of the courtyard with Nan Jiu's 'guards'.
"Perk up your ears, the master has given orders and you haven't heard anything!" Sun the housekeeper urged, seeing the two nod in response before turning to leave. He couldn't help but mutter to himself, why did he feel that the Ninth Prince had taken a liking to their young mistress? Shaking his head, these were matters of the princes and nobles, not something a lowly servant like him should be thinking about. Besides, looking at the Emperor's intentions, it seemed clear that he intended to betroth the young mistress to the Crown Prince...
Just then a servant came running over in a flurry, his face stern: "What's the meaning of this sudden commotion? Are you trying to startle the master to death?"
That family servant, as soon as he saw him, hastily let out a breath of relief and nodded his head, saying: "It's an honor to see you, Grandfather Sun! The gatehouse has come to report that the Crown Prince and the Second Imperial Son have arrived! Also arriving are the foreign king and Miss Ye San!" As soon as he heard the news, he rushed to the back courtyard to find Steward Sun, fearing that if he was slow, he would be held responsible for delaying the noble guests.
Sun Guanjia was shocked by the words and immediately asked, "Has someone been sent to inform the master?" He was just a steward, having some status in the Taishi Mansion didn't mean he still had face in front of the imperial princes and grandsons!
That servant hastily nodded and swallowed his saliva: "Someone has already gone to the study to look for Master when I came!"
Sun Guan hastily ran out, almost out of breath. It's strange that the Crown Prince doesn't often come to Taishi Fu, but today he came with the Second Prince? And why did Wang and Ye San also come? Could it be...?
Sun Guan's family, with the same doubts as him, arrived at the main gate just in time to see Xia Ying Shen chatting with the Crown Prince. He hastily paid his respects: "Your humble servant greets Your Highness, Second Imperial Son, and King of a different surname!"
Jian Nan Qi nodded before getting up and hastily retreating behind Xia Ying Shen.
Xia Yingchen usually had a cold face and didn't like to smile, looking serious all the time. At this moment, he just nodded at Nan Qi: "The little girl's body is fine, thank you for your concern!" Even if the emperor intentionally hinted at Mo Mo and the crown prince, he could see that the crown prince had no other thoughts about Mo Mo in his heart, and even treated her like a stranger.
Nan Qi smiled and nodded in response to Gongzi's words. He slightly bowed his head to show respect: "May I ask if it is possible to see Miss Xia?"
"Your Highness has summoned me, and I shouldn't refuse. However, the young lady had just taken her medicine and is probably resting now. If it's not inconvenient, I'll bring her to the prince's mansion to thank you in person when she recovers."
Nan Qi respected his elders and naturally wouldn't go against their wishes, so he simply nodded. Just then, Ye Ruxue sneered from behind: "This young lady just heard the gatekeeper mention that the Ninth Prince has arrived. How is it that Miss Xia can see the Ninth Prince but not the Crown Prince?" Who knows if it's not Old Man Xia wanting his daughter to entice several princes? Moreover, in ancient times wasn't there a strict separation between men and women? How could a lone man and woman be alone together privately?
Although Ye Guang knew that Ye Ruo Xue's words were disrespectful to Xia Ying Shen, he could only laugh and brush it off: "Elder Xia, we've known each other for many years, surely you won't mind a child's jest?"
Xia Ying looked at Ye Ru with a serious expression, but then shifted her gaze away after a brief glance. Seeing Ye Guang's indifferent smile, she nodded slightly: "Since Wang said that Miss Ye's words were childish, I naturally won't pursue the matter further."
Always swaggering with his legs, Nan Yi Xun suddenly looked at Ye Ru Shuang with a serious expression, his eyes gleaming like torches: "Miss Ye doesn't know what it means to respect one's teacher and the Tao because she hasn't read any books?" In the Imperial Summer Palace, the Emperor was first, so the teacher was second! Although he had never received personal instruction from Xia Ying Shen, he still held him in great esteem as his father's and older brother's teacher. Could someone who even made the Emperor and his older brother show deference dare to bully her?
Ye Ru Frost didn't expect Nan Yi Xie to say something like that, and she couldn't help but turn cold, her eyes gleaming like a sword: "What does it have to do with the Second Prince what I said to Summer Taishi?" Isn't it just because Summer Taishi is his heart's father that he 'stood up' for him? Otherwise, shouldn't the Crown Prince who should be standing up be silent?
Nan Qi didn't know why the normally strict and rule-abiding him would not show a single thread of anger when he heard Ye Ru Xue being disrespectful to Xia Tai Shi, and instead even made excuses for her in his heart, thinking that it was only because she had just regained her clarity. Although there was a momentary panic in his heart, he discarded other thoughts and saw Nan Yi getting agitated, hastily stopping him: "Xiao Er!"
Nan Yi was taken aback, seeing Nan Qi's face with a smile but his eyes were filled with seriousness. He opened his mouth to speak but still didn't say anything, and instead turned away with anger in his eyes. He couldn't understand why his usually gentle older brother would be so serious about this idiot treating him like that! Since he could remember, his older brother had only been serious a handful of times!
Nan Qi saw his appearance and knew he was furious in his heart, but could only helplessly shake his head.
It was Xia Yingxin who noticed something and looked at Ye Ruxue, asking Sun Guanjia, who was standing aside: "Has the young lady rested?"
Sun Guanjia bowed his head and replied: "I just went there a moment ago, Miss was about to rest, but the Ninth Prince arrived and didn't rest. Now they are talking in the courtyard."
Xia Ying nodded slightly and bowed slightly to Nan Qi: "Please, Your Highness, move to the reception hall. I'll have someone bring the little girl over." It's not suitable for so many people to enter the inner courtyard of the girl's residence.
Nan Qi saw Xia Ying's expression and understood that she was dissatisfied with him, but could only smile and agree.
Ye Feng's voice was low and cold, she seemed to understand Xia Yingxin's position, but her heart was not pleased. In the 21st century, who dared to look down on her like this? Was it because they thought their lives were too long?
She couldn't help but glance at Nan Qi's gentle smile, pursing her lips. She could feel the subtle difference in Nan Qi's attitude towards her. As a newcomer to this unfamiliar environment, despite her ambitious heart, she was still just the daughter of a foreign king, and had yet to establish her own territory. The fear that lingered within her was soothed by Nan Qi's warmth...
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When the housekeeper was sent to call Xia Tian Meng's home, he saw several people standing at the gate and hurriedly ran over to them with a flattering smile: "The two sisters are waiting here? The master has sent me to call Miss to the front yard, the Crown Prince and the Second Prince have both arrived!"
Chen Yu looked at him and nodded: "I'll go in and say a word."
"Thanks, Sister Lao!" The Ding family hastily nodded and thanked her. Although it was a matter of course for the maid to serve as a lady-in-waiting, there were no female relatives in the entire Taishi Mansion. Even though the young lady didn't like to manage the back courtyard, she still had the final say! Chen Yu Luo Xue was also the young lady's trusted maid, and after getting familiar with her face, it would be easier for him to handle matters in the mansion.
"Miss." When Chen Yu entered, she saw Xia Tian Meng and Nan Jiu sitting opposite each other reading books. Although the two had no conversation flowing between them, the atmosphere was very gentle, making it difficult for others to interrupt. She knew that speaking now would disturb Miss's nature, but couldn't help but go forward and break in, "The Crown Prince and Second Imperial Prince have arrived, they are in the front hall of the main courtyard, Master wants you to go over there."
As soon as he heard the words "Crown Prince", Nan Jiu Yi subconsciously looked towards Xia Tian Meng, only to see her slightly raise her face, gently close the book in her hand and ask him: "Where is the Ninth Prince?"
Nanjiu didn't know where the inexplicable joy in his heart came from, but he softened his facial expression a bit and nodded: "Of course." Xia Tianmeng's words were just a courtesy, he knew that his two older brothers had arrived, and he couldn't avoid seeing them, could he?
As he walked with Xia Tian to the front yard, Nan Jiu occasionally glanced at her. Without wearing any jewelry and having a plain face, she looked even younger than usual, completely unlike her usual majestic appearance on the snowy mountains. It was only then that he remembered, she's only 15 years old! Even though in Imperial Summer, many girls get married at 16 or 17, but he is still two years older than her, and looking at her petite and delicate figure made him feel like she was even younger.
Xia Tian Mo seemed to be unaware of his gaze, and smiled slightly: "I've always thought that the Ninth Prince was skilled in martial arts, but had no interest in literature. Today's conversation has made me realize that the Ninth Prince is actually well-versed in both."
He slightly straightened his back, and his expressionless face showed a rare hint of excitement. He looked ahead as if the scene of battle was already unfolding before him: "A good man should go to war, defend his home and country, even in death there is honor!" Although several princes had learned martial arts since childhood, they were inclined towards literature, including Nan Yi Xie who didn't like martial arts much. Only he, who rarely spoke, loved martial arts. At the age of 13, he volunteered to go to a soldier's camp for training. At 14, he followed the army onto the battlefield. At 15, he was appointed as the commander of the military camp and led an army of 50,000 to defeat an enemy army of 80,000, driving them back 50 miles. At 16, as the main general, he defeated the enemy army, capturing 10,000 enemy soldiers!
Xiatian Meng seemed to have sensed his passion and slightly turned her face towards him.
He, who faced forward against the light, had an unprecedented charm.
That is the persistence and yearning for loyalty and righteousness!
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渣鱼 apologizes here, typing was delayed! Also thank you 浮生若梦 for your affirmation!
