Rebel's Springtime Adventures by Ji Li

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The Rebel's Springtime Adventures (賓儿嬉春)

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Ji Li's "The Rebel's Springtime Adventures"
Male Lead: Leng Ditian Female Lead: Yang Pan'er
Synopsis:
He is the son of the cold prince of Dongcang Garden.
He is the son of the benevolent Yang of Xihu Garden.
For twenty-eight years, whenever they met, they would quarrel and dislike each other.
It is said that when two tigers fight, one will be injured.
However, when there is a real "injury or death," the consequences are so severe and the price so high
that the parties involved cannot undo or make up for it with the words "I regret it now"!
An accident caused the West Tiger Garden to lose its only heir,
yet the cold-hearted young master insisted on marrying the culprit during the Yang family's funeral.
He originally intended to neglect her, leaving her alone in her empty chamber, but she greatly surprised him.
Not only did she verbally provoke him, but she also directly claimed to be the deceased Jade Willow Prince
. After their wedding night, the young woman seemed addicted to matters of the heart
, saying "I want it now," and then leaning in for a kiss and teasing him. He
felt conflicted feelings towards her and his deceased nemesis.
He even thought her sharp tongue resembled his proud, deceased enemy!

Prologue:
The bright moon is not always full; waking and drunk, drunk and waking, I wish to be a butterfly, but all my thoughts are dreams; beautiful flowers are hard to see, the person in my heart, the person in my heart, try writing the words "mandarin ducks" upside down.
Damn man! A thousand cuts! No! Even if she cut him into a thousand pieces, it wouldn't quell the hatred and anger in her heart!
Now, just thinking about their lovemaking last night made her blush crimson, like a boiled shrimp. That man... he dared... Heavens! How shameful!
Yang Pan'er pouted, slowly raising her head to look at her exquisitely beautiful face reflected in the ornate bronze mirror. It seemed beauty was a heinous crime; she frowned, narrowed her bright eyes, and began to cry ugly.
"I don't want to look like this! Leng Ditian, you stinking man! You'd better die—" she cried and screamed at the mirror, looking like the most beautiful—madwoman in the world!
"Madam..." A maidservant timidly hid behind the door, afraid to approach, seemingly frightened by her mistress's frenzied expression.
"Get away!" At this moment, she didn't want to pay attention to anyone; the burning shame and anger within her body seemed to still be deeply imprinted on her entire being... Heavens! Who can tell her what's going on?!
"But...the young master requests that the young mistress go to Jianshan Tower immediately, otherwise...otherwise..." The maidservant's throat tightened from Yang Pan'er's glare, and she couldn't utter a single word.
"Otherwise what? I won't go, I won't go, I just won't go! Let him kill me if he dares! I don't care!"
Yang Pan'er covered her head with her small hands, screamed, and grabbed the rouge and powder from the dressing table, throwing them out. Instantly, the room was filled with fragrance and flying powder.
"Young master, mistress..." The maidservant also started crying incoherently along with Yang Pan'er. What a misfortune! How could she have such a hysterical master!
What a misfortune! Yang Pan'er thought sadly to herself, back then, a handsome young man should have had three wives and four concubines, living a happy and fulfilling life. I never thought that heaven would be so blind, and now she, Yang Pan'er, would become his cold and cruel wife!
"Little Tooth! Little Tooth! Get out here right now! Let me turn back into a man! Did you hear me? I want to be a man!" After last night's passionate lovemaking and physical entanglement with Leng Ditian, she realized her reputation was ruined!
"Young Madam?! You—" the maid exclaimed. Had she heard correctly? Was the Young Madam speaking human language? She couldn't understand a word!
Amidst the fragrant powder, Yang Pan'er couldn't help but sneeze. Her eyes and nose were red, adding to her disheveled appearance. Seeing her reflection in the mirror filled her with rage, and she finally couldn't help but shout, "That's right! I'm a man, at least I was a man three months ago! Leng Ditian, I, Yang Pan'er, will never forgive you in this life, did you hear me?!"
Unfortunately, her roar went unheard by Leng Ditian, but it was clearly heard by all the servants of Wuzhu Youju, sending chills down their spines.
Yang Pan'er? The maidservant was so frightened that she stopped crying and fell silent. Looking at Yang Pan'er's slender white figure, she shared the same thought as everyone else in Wuzhu Youju—
their young mistress had gone mad! Utterly mad!
Just then, the little boy who had been peeking into the door chuckled, withdrew his delicate and adorable eyes, and hid by the wall, laughing mischievously. His soft whisper revealed a hidden meaning: "Mandarin ducks, mandarin ducks, hehe, who says Heaven can't randomly match lovers?"
01
Tender caresses evoke a stirring of the soul, a blissful, intoxicating, and numbing sensation that lingers in the heart.
There is one thing that every citizen of the capital knows: two gardens occupying the heart's most prestigious location, known as Dongcang Garden and Xihu Garden. The owner of Dongcang Garden is the powerful and influential Prince Leng, while the owner of Xihu Garden's family has been merchants for three generations, accumulating immense wealth that their descendants could squander for ten generations.
Strangely enough, everyone says that entering a wealthy family is like entering a deep sea, where ordinary people can hardly glimpse the extravagance and splendor. This principle also applies to Dongcang Garden and Xihu Garden, although this might require some discussion between the two families themselves.
Three generations ago, the owners of Dongcang Garden and Xihu Garden were inseparable, their relationship incredibly close. So, at the beginning of their gardens' construction, to facilitate viewing, the wall between the two adjacent gardens was deliberately built very low, about half the height of an average person, making it easy to see what was happening in each other's gardens.
The two patriarchs thought that this would make it easy for their descendants to meet, and fostering a close relationship would be effortless—a win-win situation.
Their good intentions should have been flawless, but unexpectedly, their grandsons seemed to be born with a grudge. From a young age, they would argue incessantly whenever they met, and then accidentally punch each other, as if they carried a deep hatred between them from birth. They
were like natural enemies!
Afterwards, because the Leng family had been a martial arts family for generations, every man in the Leng family had to learn superb martial arts. So, on a cold morning, Leng Ditian was sent away. Apart from the old prince, no one knew the whereabouts of this young prince. That year, the two little rivals were only ten years old.
Twelve years passed in the blink of an eye. The old masters of both families passed away one after another. It was at this time that the two little rivals met again. Without the dissuasion of their grandfather's authority, and with them both grown up, this storm was beyond description!
Carrying a simple bag, a tall and slender man dressed as a wanderer and covered in dust walked into Willow Shade Street. His jet-black hair was tied back messily with a faded crown rope. His expressionless face was not handsome, but his resolute and handsome features were so striking that they were deeply imprinted in people's hearts. Even his shabby clothes did not diminish his captivating and arrogant demeanor.
Leng Ditian had long been accustomed to the strange looks he received as he walked. Reaching a vermilion gate, he stopped, lazily raising his dark eyes to glance at the plaque above the gate.
West Tiger Garden!
Seeing these three words made Leng Ditian feel uneasy. He couldn't help but think of a perpetually arrogant little face, sharp-tongued and utterly unappealing.
Looking back on those childhood days now, it felt like an endless nightmare, a terrible nightmare!
Just as Leng Ditian was lost in thought, a small sedan chair slowly approached from the other end. Inside sat a handsome young man in white, his features delicate, his skin like jade, seemingly untouched by the sun. He looked languid, leaning back in the chair, almost dozing off.
"Young master, be careful not to fall. We're almost home," the servant accompanying the young man said worriedly, watching his drowsy master. He should have sent a carriage instead; it would have been quicker and more convenient, allowing his master to sleep soundly in the carriage.
"It's alright, I can manage," the young man yawned lazily, shifting his position to make himself more comfortable.
Leng Ditian turned his gaze and happened to see the white-robed man stretching lazily. For some inexplicable reason, his mind seemed to have been struck a heavy blow. In an instant, his long-dormant temper flared, and he completely forgot his years of cultivated composure. He simply couldn't stand the white-robed figure before him.
Suddenly, a fast horse followed the sedan chair into Willow Shade Street. The man in black brocade on horseback reined in the reins and slowly followed beside the sedan chair, smiling at the white-robed man, saying, "This time, we really owe a debt of gratitude to Young Master Yu Liu for your great help. Otherwise, how could this old grudge have been settled so early this morning!"
"Brother Chen, you're too kind. My family is in business, and we've received many favors from the Grand Canal Transport Commissioner! If you really want to thank me, perhaps you could give Xihu Garden a little more face in the future, making things easier for us." Young Master Yu Liu smiled faintly, jokingly asking for a favor.
"No need for further explanation, brother. It's what I, Chen, should do."
"Thank you, Brother Chen." Young Master Yu Liu couldn't help but yawn wearily, turning his gaze back to the road ahead. However, upon seeing Leng Ditian, his expression suddenly changed. "Wait!" He excitedly raised his hand to stop the sedan chair. The group stopped right in front of the gate of Dongcang Garden, gazing at a tall, slender man standing in front of the gate of Xihu Garden.
"Young Master?" The servant glanced at his master in confusion.
"Young Master Yu Liu, what's wrong?" The man in black on horseback was also startled, confused by the strange expression on his handsome face.
"Nothing! Brother Chen, please go back first! I suddenly realized I have some private matters to attend to." His tone was indifferent as he stared directly at Leng Ditian, coldly dismissing his guest.
Chen Changyong hesitated for a moment, realizing that he seemed to no longer exist in Young Master Yu Liu's eyes, becoming insignificant. He could only touch his nose and wisely turn his horse around and leave.
A long, heavy silence hung in the air, almost unsettling, as everyone wondered what would happen next. Then, a sudden gust of wind blew the oil-paper umbrella from Young Master Yu Liu's hand, the sound of its ribs lightly striking the ground breaking the silence.
"I didn't expect you to still be alive. What a pity! So many years have passed; I thought you'd died out there!"
Young Master Yu Liu sighed softly, a malicious sneer playing on his lips as he raised an eyebrow and glanced sideways at Leng Ditian.
He recognized Leng Ditian almost instantly. Even though Leng Ditian's tall and imposing figure now bore no trace of his former boyishness, he still seemed just as irritating to him.
"I'm truly sorry to disappoint you. It's actually quite surprising that you, this frail young master, haven't perished!" Leng Ditian shrugged and chuckled.
"How dare I leave before you, my little brother? Humph!" Young Master Yu Liu gestured for the sedan chair to lower, picked up his robe, stood up, and arrogantly strode towards Leng Ditian.
Although both the Dongcang and Xihu gardens were quite large, their main gates were conveniently located on Willow Shade Street. It was said this was for feng shui reasons. It's likely that the two families' owners never anticipated their grandsons would be so incompatible. Otherwise, even if this feng shui arrangement guaranteed prosperity and lasting wealth, they probably wouldn't have dared risk lives by allowing their grandsons to share the same street.
At this moment, an old man in Dongcang Garden peeked out and noticed something amiss. He recognized Leng Ditian as somewhat familiar, and although not entirely certain, he hurriedly ordered someone to inform the Prince and his wife.
"Look at your tired face, I wonder which brothel you were in last night until this morning? My dear brother, be careful not to catch a venereal disease!" Leng Ditian scoffed disdainfully, speaking sarcastically.
"I didn't—" Young Master Yu Liu tried to protest, but Leng Ditian was too lazy to pay him any attention. He flickered past him and disappeared into the gates of Dongcang Garden in the blink of an eye.
At this moment, several old servants rushed out of the Dongcang Garden mansion. Upon seeing Leng Ditian, they all exclaimed with delight, "Young Master? It really is the Young Master who has returned!"
Leng Ditian's face was ashen, completely ignoring the servants' ecstatic joy. He strode straight into the mansion and roared, "Guards!"
Just then, Young Master Yu Liu, not to be outdone, stormed into his own house, forcefully flicking his snow-white robes, and loudly called out, "Afu!"
"Young Master—"
"Young Master!"
"Sprinkle salt to exorcise evil spirits!" The two men, both burning with anger, spoke in unison, word for word, which only fueled their rage.
Very well, we'll see! The same thought crossed their minds.
Strangely enough, it was almost unbelievable that two people who disliked each other could think so similarly.
Later, the turmoil of twelve years ago resurfaced, and the two men engaged in a fierce battle, arguing incessantly whenever they met.
This argument, unwittingly, lasted for six years, wasting the prime of their youth on each other.
It wasn't until half a year ago, amidst the ashes of their conflict, that the elders of both families suddenly remembered a grave matter—a matter so serious it could lead to the extinction of both families' lineages.
That was—both of them were of marriageable age, yet neither had agreed to be married! (
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"Sigh..."
Sighs echoed throughout the Leng family's main hall. The Leng Prince and his wife stared at a letter spread out on the brocade table, unable to hold back their sighs.
"My brother is truly something, sending such a letter, isn't he deliberately trying to cause us distress?" The Leng Prince couldn't help but shake his head and sigh again.
"It's not his fault. Our two children are just naturally incompatible, and Tian'er's Wuzhu Secluded Residence and Xihu Garden's Xiaocanglang are separated by a low wall. These two children will run into each other as soon as they step out of their respective courtyards, and they'll start arguing the moment they see each other. Sooner or later, even if they don't bring up the matter of building the wall, we will bring it up first, won't we, Your Highness?"
The elegant and graceful Princess Leng's words were quite insightful.
"What you say is true, but if Father knew about this in the afterlife, I'm afraid he would be heartbroken along with our deceased Uncle in the netherworld!" Prince Leng was a filial son and didn't want to see such a thing happen.
"There's nothing we can do about it, Your Highness. We should be thankful they weren't born a boy and a girl. Otherwise, according to the agreement between my father-in-law and my uncle, if the children were a boy and a girl, our two families would become in-laws, strengthening our ties. If things had really turned out that way, Your Highness, would we ever have a peaceful day?" Could there be
anything more tragic in the world? Princess Leng found herself unable to imagine.
Prince Leng calmed himself and considered his wife's words, then couldn't help but shudder. "My lady is absolutely right. Let them build the wall! Our relationship with my uncle and his wife is so deep; it won't change because of this, will it?"
"Hmm." Princess Leng nodded with a smile, picking up the letter with her slender hand. She continued, "My brother is very thoughtful; he's come up with a good way to remedy the situation. In the letter, he said that in two or three days, a beautiful guest will be coming to the West Tiger Garden. That young lady is a distant relative of theirs, named Du Xiangning. It just so happens that Tian'er is not yet married. If he marries this Miss Du, our two families will be related by marriage. In this way, if Father-in-law knew in the afterlife, perhaps he wouldn't be too heartbroken over the discord between his two grandsons."
"That's a good idea, but I'm afraid Tian'er's stubborn temper..." Prince Leng didn't think his son would obediently be manipulated and follow his parents' arranged marriage.
He had heard that Tian'er had another fight with his brother's child yesterday, scaring the servants half to death. As for the reason for the fight, well, he, as the father, was too lazy to ask.
"Your Highness, don't worry. Perhaps Miss Du, with her beauty and intelligence, is just what Tian'er desires!" Princess Leng wasn't worried at all. She and her husband weren't against their son having multiple wives and concubines. As long as Du Xiangning remained the principal wife, fulfilling their brother's good intentions, they would let their son take as many concubines as he wanted.
"Alright! Let me write a letter back to my brother, saying that we also agree to this marriage." Prince Leng summoned servants to prepare writing materials, carefully drafted a letter, and had it sent to Xihu Garden.
As the saying goes, "Men should marry when they are of age, and women should marry when they are of age." Their children were both getting on in years; it was time for them to marry and have children!
No one may use this work for commercial purposes without the original author's permission; otherwise, they will bear the consequences. (The
last sentence is a poetic expression and doesn't directly relate to the preceding text.)
Every day at the break of dawn, when the sky was still dark, Leng Ditian would practice his sword and fist techniques in the courtyard of his own residence, day after day without interruption.
Then, always after he finished practicing and his energy was released, thanks to his profound internal strength, he could clearly hear movement coming from the Xiao Canglang courtyard in the West Tiger Garden. The effeminate man living there, who went to bed early and woke up late, seemed to have a terrible temper when he woke up, and would always fly into a rage at the slightest thing.
"Enough, enough, all of you get out of here! Half an hour later, have Wanchun bring over a bowl of eight-treasure porridge, the bowl should be eight-tenths full, not a fraction more or less!"
This morning seemed to be no exception! With a "let's see what happens" attitude, Leng Ditian walked out of Wuzhu Youju and saw three or four maids resignedly leaving Xiao Canglang. They seemed to be used to their master's temper, knowing that after the morning, their young master would turn into a very considerate and elegant gentleman again.
"He only eats one bowl of Longevity Eight Treasure Porridge again, no wonder he never gains weight!" Leng Ditian casually toyed with the hilt of his sword, letting out a dismissive sneer.
"Have you seen enough, Leng Ditian?" Wearing a blue-purple outer robe over his thin inner garment, Young Master Yu Liu stepped out of Xiao Canglang with an unfriendly expression, as if he had known all along that Leng Ditian was coming to watch the show.
"What are you looking at? You? Don't flatter yourself. Is it against you to walk around in my own garden? You sissy." Really! Can't he eat more than just eight treasure porridge? Didn't anyone tell him that he looked as pale as a ghost when he woke up?
"Don't call me a sissy, you muscular, violent man! All you do is play with your fists all day, can that feed you?" Young Master Yu Liu covered his mouth and yawned disdainfully, turning his handsome face away, too lazy to look directly at Leng Ditian's resolute face that he disliked.
"Didn't I tell you? In two days, the Emperor will issue an imperial edict officially appointing me as a general. Then I'll be leading troops into battle all the time, and we won't be able to see each other every day like this anymore. Don't miss me too much!"
Leng Ditian teased.
"Missing you?" Young Master Yu Liu's tone was relaxed on the surface, but a sudden thought struck him. He turned to look directly at Leng Ditian and said, "I don't need to wait until you lead your troops into battle. Has His Highness forgotten to tell you that we will never see each other every day again? I've already asked my parents beforehand to raise this low wall, and His Highness has agreed. Since this is the last time I'll see you, I'll let you be arrogant to your heart's content today! Say what you want to say; there won't be another chance like this!"
Hearing this, Leng Ditian frowned, his thick, imposing eyebrows furrowing. He retorted, "You want to build a low wall? Why didn't anyone tell me?"
Stunned by Leng Ditian's question for a moment, Young Master Yu Liu shrugged and smiled, saying, "How would I know? Perhaps His Highness thought that given our irreconcilable differences, you probably wouldn't object to my good idea, so he didn't tell you, intending to give you a surprise!" "A
surprise?" Leng Ditian's dark eyes narrowed sharply. Indeed, this news was both surprising and delightful for him, completely unexpected!
"You seem a little unhappy?" Strange, this was clearly great news for both of them, so why did he look so sullen?
Leng Ditian scoffed, a haughty smile playing on his lips, and said, "How could I be unhappy? Just thinking about not having to see you again makes me incredibly grateful, thank God for this blessing!"
"Is that so? That's good, because I feel the same way!" Seeing Leng Ditian's beaming face, Yu Liu Gongzi felt a pang of discomfort. Couldn't he show even a little reluctance to part? Was never seeing him again really something to be happy about?
A silence fell between them, neither able to think of anything to say, not even what to say to each other to argue. Leng Ditian pressed his thin, masculine lips together, staring intently at Yu Liu Gongzi's handsome features, while simultaneously gripping his furtive glances.
Only now did they truly see each other's faces clearly!
"I never imagined we'd be arguing for twenty-eight years. Do you remember what we were arguing about?"
Leng Ditian asked calmly.
Hearing this, Young Master Yu Liu paused for a moment, then shook his head and smiled bitterly, "I don't remember. We seem to argue about everything. It's only been twenty-six years. My mother said our relationship was pretty good before we were two." "
Is that so?" Leng Ditian saw a group of burly men carrying bricks and tools approaching them from afar, and the lines between his brows deepened. "The wall builders are here." "
I asked them to come early this morning so the wall could be built quickly." He was about to achieve his goal, so why did he feel so depressed?
"As expected of a merchant's son, you can't bear to waste a single moment." Leng Ditian's voice was soft and indifferent, only audible to Young Master Yu Liu.
"I—" Hearing this, Young Master Yu Liu's beautiful eyes widened, glaring angrily at Leng Ditian. Why did he still have to argue with him even at the very end!
"Young master, please step aside so we can all get to work!" The foreman spoke up, urging the dazed Young Master Yu Liu to move aside.
Young Master Yu Liu was momentarily stunned, staring blankly at Leng Ditian until a cold laugh shattered the tense atmosphere. "Never again, you sissy. Eat more breakfast from now on, so your face doesn't always look as pale as a ghost and scare people."
Young Master Yu Liu ignored Leng Ditian's provocation and asked angrily, "Why do you say never again? Our two families live on the same street. Maybe...maybe we'll bump into each other by chance someday!" He seemed to have forgotten that he was the one who said he would never see each other again!
The workers brought more and more bricks, piling them higher and higher in front of them, but they didn't notice, staring at each other in a daze, until the workers applied mortar, and the bricks turned into a gray wall separating them.
"Want to have another argument when we meet?" Leng Ditian said indifferently, turning and walking into the secluded Wuzhu Residence, not wanting to see the cold gray stone walls piled up in front of him again.
"Leng Ditian—"
"Young Master, the Eight Treasure Porridge has arrived!" Wan Chun brought over a gilded tray, filled with a bowl of purple rice eight treasure porridge, about eight-tenths full, and greeted her master with a smile.
"Leave it there! I'm going inside now." Young Master Yu Liu stared intently at the newly built gray wall, then suddenly shook his head, shaking off his anger, and walked into Xiao Canglang. He thought that once this wall was built, everything in the past would be over! Whatever!
However, if Leng Ditian knew that this was truly their last meeting in this life, perhaps he would have stayed longer, allowing them to see each other more clearly! But when he returned victorious from leading his troops to conquer the north, he discovered that it was all too late!
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Not long after dawn, a considerable commotion arose at the front gate of Xihu Garden, drawing out many curious people from inside the house to watch, all eager to catch a glimpse of their new darling.
"Young Master! Young Master!" Wan Chun excitedly ran from the front yard into Xiao Canglang, thankful that her master had feigned illness this morning and hadn't gone out on errands, otherwise she would have missed this lively scene.
Inside the room, Young Master Yu Liu looked displeased, his face grim and silent as he leaned against the couch, casually flipping through a book.
That brat! Hadn't he told her not to disturb his rest? Her shout made his head start throbbing again!
"Wan Chun, get out. If anyone wants to see me, tell them I'm dead. Please come early tomorrow." His tone was languid, devoid of any energy.
"Young Master, what nonsense are you spouting?" Wan Chun giggled, snatching the book from her master's hand and forcefully pulling him to sit up. "Please go to the front hall and take a look! We have a guest visiting our manor today, and I think you'll be very interested in him!"
Hearing this, he narrowed his eyes suspiciously and said in a deep voice, "Don't tell me it's Leng Ditian! This man must have had a deep-seated grudge against me in a past life, otherwise why would I get a headache whenever I see him, and a headache whenever I don't see him!"
So, the person her master is most interested in now is that bickering nemesis! Wan Chun was clever, but dared not reveal her thoughts.
"Heh, Young Master, although not the heir apparent, he's not far off!" Wan Chun feigned mystery, helping her master get up to change his clothes and shoes, and half-pushing him out of the front hall.
"Wan Chun! Explain yourself clearly, you've confused me!" Not far off? Could it be the Prince Leng and his consort? He had known these two elders intimately since childhood, so why would he be interested in them?
But then a thought struck him: since he was already out in the world, he might as well go and see them! He wouldn't want to be cooped up in his room all the time, feeling suffocated.
He could hear lively voices coming from the Magnolia Hall in the distance. Xihu Garden always received family members who had come from afar in that small hall. Often, these were people who weren't related to him by blood, but had a long list of kinship ties, which often made him dizzy.
"Father, Mother!" He lifted the hem of his robe and stepped briskly into the Magnolia Hall. He saw his parents sitting in the front hall, surrounded by a bunch of idle servants. Standing in the hall were two unfamiliar figures, a young woman and a boy, but they were standing with their backs to him, so he couldn't see them clearly.
Upon seeing her son, Madam Zhao was overjoyed, as if she had seen a precious treasure. She quickly stood up, took his hand, and asked worriedly, "The servants said you weren't feeling well this morning. Are you feeling better? Should I ask a doctor to come and examine you?"
"No need for you to trouble yourself, Mother. I just felt a little better, which is why I thought of going out for a walk." He understood that his mother only had him as her son, and naturally doted on him.
"That's good! By the way, you've come at the right time. Come and see Xiangning, the daughter of your grandfather's distant nephew. Our two families haven't heard from each other for several years. It wasn't until a few days ago that I received a letter and learned that their whole family had moved to Luoyang!" Madam Zhao took her son's hand and led him to Du Xiangning's side, softly calling, "Xiangning!"
Hearing this, Du Xiangning slowly turned her head, timidly raising her small face, looking curiously at her cousin. Suddenly, two unusual blushes appeared on her pink cheeks, and she hurriedly looked away, not daring to look at him again.
With delicate, arched eyebrows, clear, bright eyes, and rosy lips, her skin was smooth and translucent—she was an absolutely stunning woman who could captivate anyone's heart! Aside from that, Young Master Yu Liu didn't feel anything special for Du Xiang Ning, and he couldn't understand why she had suddenly turned her head away. Did she clearly dislike him?
If that were the case, she would be incredibly foolish. If she wanted to gain anything from the West Tiger Garden, she had better not offend him, or she'd be in deep trouble!
"Young Master, don't stare at that young lady like that. Can't you see she's too embarrassed to lift her head?" Wan Chun carefully reminded him from the side.
"No, no, nothing at all..." Du Xiangning blushed even more upon hearing Wanchun's words, her ears turning red. "I... I just thought... my cousin's name is quite famous in Luoyang, and I felt like I was getting some recognition too, so I was happy."
In fact, it was because she had never seen such a handsome and refined man before, fair-skinned and scholarly, with a tall and well-proportioned figure. His deep eyes held the shrewdness of a businessman, which made her flustered.
"Of course!" Zhao was overjoyed, extremely proud. "Our Xihu Garden has so many businesses all over the country, and now it's all managed by my son. Although my husband is very learned, he lacks business acumen. If it weren't for my son's talent, my husband and I wouldn't be living such a carefree life, spending our days reciting poetry and watching plays, detached from worldly affairs. Don't you think so, sir?"
"Enough, Madam. You always have so much to say about our son, and you haven't even mentioned marriage yet!"
"Married? Father, did I hear that right?" His father's words made him wary. Did they want him to marry this Du Xiangning? No!
"Don't rush," Madam Zhao smiled kindly, patting her son's hand. "You're not young anymore, it's time for you to get married, but long before Xiang Ning came to the capital, we had already betrothed her to that boy, Leng Ditian. Xiang Ning comes from a respectable family; her grandfather was once a third-rank official in the court. Marrying into the Prince's mansion won't be a loss of status for her. We've already agreed with the Du family that Xiang Ning will be married off from Xihu Garden, and we'll treat her as our daughter. The Prince and the others have also agreed to the marriage, and they'll send someone to present the betrothal gifts in a few days." "
Does Leng Ditian know about the marriage?" For some reason, his head throbbed even more!
"He already knew! The Princess said that Di Tian was quite obedient this time and didn't argue back, so he must have tacitly approved of the marriage! I thought to myself, you two have been arguing since you were little, so if Di Tian gets married, you won't back down, will you? Go find a good girl, as long as you like her, I won't object. Leave the marriage to me, and you'd better hurry up and give me a few grandsons so I can hold them!" Zhao Shi smiled broadly, seemingly already envisioning a lively scene of a house full of children and grandchildren.
Listening to his mother's joyful tone as she dreamt of her future, Young Master Yu Liu's eyes grew increasingly cold. Leng Di Tian wanted to get married before him? No way!
At this moment, the little boy who had been standing beside Du Xiangning reached out and tugged at her sleeve, trying to get her attention, and whispered, "Sister Du, have you forgotten about Xiaoya?"
The boy's clear, bright voice, tinged with a hint of mischief, strangely caught the attention of Young Master Yu Liu. He looked down at the boy, dressed in a clean blue shirt, his little face smiling as he gazed intently at him. Their eyes met, and an inexplicable sense of foreboding washed over them.
"No, I haven't forgotten!" Du Xiangning blushed and hurriedly clutched her handkerchief, saying, "Cousin, his name is Xiaoya. I met him on the way to the capital. I saw that he had no parents, so I let him come to the capital with me. He's very well-behaved and won't cause any trouble, so cousin..." "
We at Xihu Garden have always been hospitable. We don't mind having two more sets of bowls and chopsticks. You're welcome to stay. My kind and good-hearted cousin Xiangning!" Xu Dan's male voice was filled with an unfathomable smile. After speaking, he smiled, his expression mysterious, and turned to leave Yulan Hall.
"Leng Ditian, with me here, you'll never get to marry Du Xiangning as you wish!" Hmph!
02
"That unfilial son!"
The roar of Prince Leng echoed from the main hall of the Leng Prince's mansion. It was another letter, but this time the sender was his son, Leng Ditian.
Leng Ditian had sent a letter from the perilous northern border to declare his unwillingness to marry Du Xiangning. If his father forced him, he would rather die than submit.
"Your Highness, please calm down. Getting angry will only harm your health!" Princess Leng hadn't expected her son to resort to such a tactic. No wonder when she explained the marriage to him that day, he only responded with a cold laugh and said nothing more.
"How can I not be angry? The betrothal is tomorrow, and he dares to say he won't marry her at this crucial moment! How am I supposed to explain this to my brother?" Prince Leng was furious, his face red and his neck bulging, his anger finding no outlet.
What a cunning and treacherous son! He wouldn't even let him scold her to her face, making him, as a father, lose face. Staring at the thin book, he was so
angry he felt like he was about to suffer internal injuries. Princess Leng remained good-natured, thinking that no matter what, it was her own son who had caused the trouble, and finding a way to calm her husband's anger was the most important thing now. "Your Highness, please don't worry, I have an idea that's feasible. We can proceed with the wedding as planned. If Tian'er still doesn't want to marry, we can find an excuse to have someone bring the bride into the family in his place. Then, we two old folks will recognize her as our daughter-in-law, and Tian'er won't have a say in it!"
"But our son is stubborn and arrogant. He might very well make Miss Du live a life of widowhood!" Prince Leng's concern was quite practical.
"Then we'll see! We'll see how things develop." Princess Leng's noble and elegant face held a slight smile, knowing that her husband was no longer so angry with their son.
Prince Leng's anger had indeed subsided by half, but he couldn't help but feel puzzled. He frowned, his domineering and dignified expression hardening, and said, "I really can't understand it. Weren't our two gardens built according to feng shui principles? Father and Uncle both said that the feng shui was destined to bring many children and grandchildren to both families, and now we only have a tiny bit of blood left in both families. Not to mention that the two children fight like cats and dogs whenever they meet, even getting them married is a headache. Sigh!"
"I've heard from outsiders that our sons are both charming and philandering, with many beautiful women around them. Our Tian'er is quite good with women; even his grandmother, the Empress Dowager, has been won over by him. As his mother, I'm puzzled. So many noble ladies are waiting to enter our family, there's no reason why he doesn't even look at one of them!"
Princess Leng thought carefully and realized that her son's heart was hard to fathom.
"Who knows? Just do it your way. The wedding will proceed as planned. I'll bring the bride over tomorrow to formally propose marriage. I don't care what Tian'er does, but he must understand that the Leng family line cannot end!" Prince Leng had made up his mind and
no longer cared about his son's thoughts. The man's laughter echoed continuously in the high-roofed hall, sounding smug and arrogant, as if he had already taken everything in the world for himself, looking down on everyone. However, for some reason, his arrogant laughter was not jarring at all; on the contrary, it sounded like music carried on the wind, making people marvel and want to listen again and again.
"Good, good, excellent! If Leng Ditian knew, he'd be furious! If possible, I'd love to see his livid face, livid with rage. That would be so satisfying!"
Just last night, Yu Liu Gong finally got Du Xiangning to swear she wouldn't marry Leng Ditian. His recent attempts to win her over with his aloofness and manipulative tactics had finally paid off.
"Young Master, if Prince Leng and the others find out about this... it's not a good idea!" Uncle Cheng, whose hair was already gray, looked quite robust. As a servant, he naturally didn't dare say too much, but he knew it was wrong and couldn't keep quiet. As the saying goes, "Why did Heaven create both
Zhou Yu and Zhuge Liang?"
At this moment, Leng Ditian must be thinking the same thing! For some reason, they just couldn't stand each other, and now he's even stealing his fiancée!
"Shut up! I just don't want Leng Ditian to get married before me! Enough talk, go and prepare a carriage, I want to take Xiang Ning on a picnic in Tianxiang Valley!"
"Young Master, let's do it another day! Your Uncle Bing isn't home, he knows the roads in Tianxiang Valley well, and an ordinary coachman wouldn't be able to handle the winding paths there, it's easy for something to happen!"
"Then let's go somewhere else. Uncle Cheng, don't always treat me like a child, I know how to behave." Young Master Yu Liu smiled gently, gesturing for Uncle Cheng to do as he said.
"It's good that you know your limits, Uncle Cheng is all alone, I've only ever watched you grow from a boy to this age, better safe than sorry, you mustn't get into any trouble, otherwise Uncle Cheng will either die with you or become a monk to eat vegetarian food and chant Buddhist prayers for you, young master!" Uncle Cheng said half-jokingly.
"Uncle Cheng!" Hearing the old man's teasing remark, Young Master Yu Liu couldn't help but smile and lightly scold him. He casually picked up a purple cloak from the rack, and as soon as he stepped out of the room, he saw a little boy hiding by the door. The boy had delicate features and a gentle smile; it was Xiao Ya, who had come into the mansion with Du Xiang Ning.
"I heard that you're going on a picnic in Tianxiang Valley with Sister Du?" Xiao Ya asked with a grin.
"Yes, are you coming with us too? The carriage is spacious and can accommodate a little kid like you." Was he being too suspicious? He always felt that Xiao Ya's clear eyes revealed hundreds of years of vicissitudes, yet sometimes he seemed as playful and childish as an ordinary child, which was quite confusing!
"No, the scenery in Tianxiang Valley is beautiful. You guys have fun." Xiao Ya put his little hands behind his back, smiled obediently, and said with a double meaning, "There are many fun things in the world!"
For some reason, seeing the sly smile on Xiao Ya's face made Young Master Yu Liu feel uneasy from the bottom of his heart. It seemed that a bad premonition was about to come true.
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At the entrance of Changxing Hutong in the capital, there was a Desheng Inn, bustling with activity and laughter, as if a momentous occasion had occurred. Everyone's face was beaming with smiles as they whispered among themselves, sharing gossip.
"Good news! Did you know? I just heard from an old acquaintance, a constable, that he's on his way to the Leng Prince's residence. The Emperor wants him to deliver a message that General Leng Ditian has achieved a great victory in the northern campaign and will be returning to the capital in a few days. Hearing of this great victory, the Emperor is overjoyed and will bestow upon General Leng the title of Marquis of Jingyuan. The Leng Prince's residence is truly in high spirits now!"
An old man stroked his goatee and said with a smile.
"Old Liu, you're mistaken. The Leng Prince's residence has always been powerful and prestigious, never a day without its glory! I hear all the officials in the court are trying to curry favor with them!"
"That's only natural, given the Leng Prince's residence's current imperial favor—" The group chatted happily, enjoying liquor and melon seeds, making the atmosphere even more lively.
Just then, a thin, elderly man rushed into the inn in a panic. He seemed to have known his drinking companions would gather there, and he almost choked on his breath. He exclaimed repeatedly, "Something big has happened in the capital! Have you all heard?"
"General Leng has returned in triumph! Old Xin, look at you, so anxious! We've all heard it!"
Old Liu said with a nonchalant smile.
"What?! General Leng?! This just happened! Young Master Yu Liu of Xihu Garden is dead!" Old Xin shouted angrily.
"What?!"
A deathly silence fell over the inn. Dozens of eyes turned to look at Old Xin, wide-eyed as if they were copper coins.
"Old Xin, please don't joke with us. This isn't funny at all!" Old Liu's deep voice trembled slightly. Xihu Garden had always spared no effort in building bridges and roads, and in doing good deeds and helping the poor. Heaven wouldn't be so blind as to let such a virtuous family die out.
"I, Old Man Xin, wouldn't joke like that. He's really dead! That handsome young master of West Tiger Garden,
the one affectionately known as Young Master Yu Liu, Yang Pan'er, fell off his carriage and died today in Tianxiang Valley!" The echo reverberated through Desheng Inn, shaking everyone to their core. They couldn't believe it, yet they couldn't deny it—such a promising and handsome young man as Yang Pan'er had died so young!
Impatient!
Leng Ditian spurred his horse out of the capital, unaware of the reason for his urgency. Perhaps he simply wanted to return to Dongcang Garden as soon as
possible, hoping to unexpectedly encounter Yang Pan'er. He should have heard about the conferment of a marquisate by now! He knew deep down that Yang Pan'er would never sincerely congratulate him on his triumphant return; he might even try to mock him! Leng Ditian couldn't wait to see that handsome face with its slightly cold smile, to engage in a war of words with him—that was truly an exhilarating prospect!
Leng Ditian rode his black steed swiftly into Liuyin Street. His attendant, struggling to keep up, was constantly left far behind. Moments later, the two horses came to a halt at the gate of Dongcang Garden.
"Young Master!" The people of Dongcang Garden had long heard of Leng Ditian's return and had made all the necessary arrangements.
Leng Ditian nimbly dismounted, handing the reins to a welcoming servant. His sharp eyes noticed something unusual about the furnishings; it seemed a wedding was in progress, with red brocade and cloth hanging everywhere. However, he saw several workers removing the red brocade from the walls and pillars.
"What's going on? Is someone getting married in the family?" Leng Ditian narrowed his dark eyes suspiciously, staring intently at the double happiness lanterns hanging on either side of the gate.
Leng Ditian thought to himself, if his father forced him to get married, he would turn around and leave immediately. Anyway, the emperor intended to build a Jingyuan Marquis's mansion for him next to Jingyuan Garden. Originally, he wanted to refuse, but seeing the situation before him, he might agree!
"Young Master... no, no... this servant should call you Marquis now! Please come into the mansion first! A lot has happened these past two days! It's hard to explain in a short time. This servant only knows that these red brocades with the character 'double happiness' on the wall are no longer needed. The Princess ordered the craftsmen to take them down quickly, saying that our two families are old friends and we cannot hold a wedding and a funeral at the same time, otherwise we will not be able to explain it to Young Master Yang Pan'er!" "
A funeral? What happened at Xihu Garden? Yang Pan'er—" A breath of cold air stuck in Leng Ditian's throat. He suddenly turned his head and looked at the other end of Liuyin Street. The snow-white funeral banners fluttered in the wind in front of the gate of Xihu Garden, as if a thin layer of snow covered the eaves, making it look gloomy.
At this moment, the sounds of conch shells and bells echoed from the West Tiger Garden, along with the deep yet incredibly clear chanting of Buddhist mantras for rebirth in the Pure Land. The sounds, each phrase, were so jarring they were almost unbearable to Leng Ditian!
The servant, hearing the drums, sighed softly, "I never imagined Young Master Yang would be so unlucky, passing away at such a young age..."
"Nonsense! Yang Pan'er cannot die! I won't allow him to die like this!" Leng Ditian's expression was agitated, as if struck a heavy blow to the heart. He turned and rushed towards the West Tiger Garden, his sudden action catching everyone off guard.
"My Lord!" The servant and his attendant, Chai Rong, were startled by their master's actions. Just then, the Prince and Princess, who were in the East Cang Garden, learned of their son's return and came out to greet him, only to find him in a frenzied state.
"Tian'er! What are you doing?" Seeing the situation was dire, the Prince led his servants and hurriedly chased after his son; the Princess, supported by her maid, slowly followed.
Leng Ditian paid no heed to the group chasing after him. His nimble figure froze at the gate of the West Tiger Garden, his gaze fixed on the pale funeral banners fluttering menacingly before him. The vermilion gates were locked tight. Without a second thought, he pounded on the door and roared, "Yang Pan'er, come out here! I haven't finished speaking, and you're not allowed to die before then!"
Losing all sense of propriety and reason, Leng Ditian let his frenzied rage control him. He had never imagined that Yang Pan'er would die without warning! He would rather see a maliciously provocative angry face than pound on the door in his rage, only to find Yang Pan'er's cold, empty body inside!
"Tian'er! Don't be so presumptuous." Hearing his son's delirious ramblings, the Prince Leng was startled and hurriedly ordered his men to pull him away.
"General!" Chai Rong rushed up the steps first, grabbing Leng Ditian with brute force, but found that even with all his strength, he couldn't stop the enraged man.
"Let me go! Open the door! I want to see Yang Pan'er! I want to see him!" He wanted to rebuke him for his charade, and to confirm that he was still alive!
Several servants rushed forward, surrounding Leng Ditian, pulling and shoving him, creating a chaotic scene.
At this moment, someone from the West Tiger Garden heard the commotion outside and opened the door a crack to see what was happening, but unexpectedly, Leng Ditian burst through the gate like a ferocious beast.
"Yang Pan'er!" Leng Ditian's roar echoed through the sky, chilling to the bone.
"Stop the young master! Don't let him cause any more trouble!" Prince Leng shouted angrily, watching his son's retreating figure helplessly.
The servants in the West Tiger Garden were on high alert, as if a formidable enemy had invaded. However, when they saw that the newcomer was none other than Prince Leng Ditian, they were all stunned, staring in disbelief at the scene before them.
"Yang Pan'er! Come out here! Stop hiding!" Leng Ditian's heart was filled with a burning, scorching fire, a fire that had nowhere to go, threatening to consume him. He hoped someone could stop his madness, and that person would be Yang Pan'er, the living, breathing Yang Pan'er!
However, what he saw when he looked up was a snow-white altar, white candles with red flames, chrysanthemum offerings, and the priest performing the ritual had stopped chanting scriptures due to the chaos. Before the wooden fish and the ringing bell, there stood Yang Pan'er's memorial tablet, solemn and dignified, with the red flames of two white candles burning continuously, emitting wisps of smoke.
"No! Impossible—" Leng Ditian murmured absentmindedly, taking another step forward, only to be stopped by a stern female voice.
"Wait!" Madam Zhao emerged from the inner hall, her haggard face contorted with extreme displeasure, tears welling in her eyes. "Your Highness, please return! My son had many disputes with you before his death. I don't believe he would want to see you. Let me, his mother, beg you to return!"
"I want to see him! Let me see him one last time!" Leng Ditian fiercely shook off the servants' attempts to hold him back, muttering passionately, and took another step forward.
Leng Ditian felt a burning heat in his chest, which instantly turned icy cold. What filled his heart now was not pain, not sorrow, but a near-death despair.
Just as he approached the mourning hall, a slender figure suddenly rushed forward and knelt down before him with a thud. Wan Chun, her face streaked with tears, looked up and pleaded, "Please, Young Master, return to the manor! Don't make things difficult for Master and Madam anymore! We are already heartbroken enough; we can't bear any more blows!"
Hearing this, Leng Ditian stared calmly at the three characters "Yang Pan'er" branded on the memorial tablet. His heart suddenly calmed, and he asked in a cold voice, "Tell me, how did he die?"
Everyone sighed in silence. After a moment of silence, Wan Chun sobbed softly, "It was all that woman, Du Xiangning, who caused it! It was because she insisted that Young Master take her on a picnic in Tianxiang Valley that the carriage fell off the mountain, and Young Master just..."
"Wan Chun, don't talk nonsense!" The steward of Xihu Garden couldn't help but speak up and scold her softly. He stole a glance at Master and Madam, who were speechless and choked with sobs, unable to utter a single word.
"Wan Chun didn't say anything wrong, it's just the truth! The person I hate to death isn't that woman, but that traitorous young master!" Wan Chun said bitterly.
Upon hearing Wan Chun's words, Leng Ditian's expression changed drastically. He bowed respectfully, apologizing to the Yang couple for his rudeness, "Please forgive my rudeness, elders. I'll take my leave now. I've disturbed you!"
Under everyone's watchful eyes, he calmly turned around, stood motionless before a bronze screen for a long while, then, unexpectedly, paused, slowly moved the screen, and walked away from the West Tiger Park without looking back. Behind him, the screen hummed incessantly.
Gazing at the pair of slender, jade-like fingers before her, delicate as jade, their tips tinged with a faint pink, slowly moving at her will—what had happened? Looking
down, she saw a pair of long, jade-like legs hidden beneath her skirt. Her slender hands timidly lifted the hem of her skirt, catching a glimpse of small, delicate feet, and a sense of foreboding washed over her.
Suddenly, a long, soft strand of black hair slid down her slender shoulder. She casually brushed the hair behind her, but her gaze inadvertently fell upon her waist-length cleavage, cascading onto the bedsheets.
As her gaze shifted, she caught sight of her two full breasts. She raised her slender hands, but dared not touch her body; her fingertips trembled slightly, and her heart pounded with a tight, anxious feeling.
Suddenly, she gritted her teeth, forgetting to put on her shoes, and ran barefoot to the dressing table. She closed her eyes tightly, took a deep breath, and forced them open. In the bronze mirror, she saw a delicate face reflected, with slightly curved crescent-shaped eyebrows that gracefully framed her round, clear eyes. Her nose was small and delicate, its nostrils flaring with her heavy breathing. Her tender lips were half-open, and words of surprise choked in her throat.
What was happening?
She opened her small, red mouth, moving her lips as if trying to find her voice, to voice the question that filled her with panic: It shouldn't be… it shouldn't look like this…
Finally, she found her voice. No! It was a delicate, refined voice, beautiful and melodious, yet it felt as cold as hell to her.
"God! I... how could I..." In an instant, all she wanted to do was scream, and that was all she could do! She couldn't find a better way to express the utterly bizarre situation before her.
Staring at the familiar yet strangely unfamiliar pretty face reflected in the bronze mirror, hysterical screams burst from her throat.
"Ahhhhhh—"

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