That watch was, of course, no ordinary electronic watch but a disguised listening device.
With earphones on, Yang Ruo Ning could hear everything happening on Luo Yuan’s end. She heard his carriage pass through the morning streets on his way to court; she heard the ministers airing their views in court and Qing Ye’s unusually cold and aloof voice; she heard Luo Yuan discussing state affairs with ministers after court; she heard him walking home through the bustling streets. Luo Yuan's life was a monotonous cycle, so regular it was almost tedious.
For the past two months, besides helping out at Jiang Xian Pavilion daily, she occasionally snuck out of the city to see Jiang Yue Feng. Yue Feng had been staying at the temple, devoted to Buddhism. Qing Ye had told her that the imperial physicians believed the Empress Dowager’s heart-burning ailment seemed to have worsened, so she needed to stay in the temple for a period of recuperation.
She couldn’t always see Qing Ye, and it was inconvenient for her to visit the palace frequently. The palace was rife with gossip and spies, and she feared attracting more rumors. Yang Ruo Ning brought a pair of walkie-talkies, giving one to Qing Ye. Thus, she and Qing Ye often had long conversations in the dead of night when everyone else was fast asleep.
Jiang Qi would also visit occasionally. Besides seeing Yue Feng, he came to inquire about Luo Yuan’s news from Yang Ruo Ning. Yang Ruo Ning told him there was nothing noteworthy. Jiang Qi stared at her, his gaze sharp, as if it could pierce through her. After a few seconds, Jiang Qi looked away and said, “Miss Yang speaks the truth.”
A month ago, in an unassuming chapel on the outskirts of the city, witnessed by a foreign missionary, she and Luo Yuan were married.
Before the ceremony, she saw the wedding dress that Kinsey had prepared for her in a small room within the chapel.
It was a beautiful wedding dress, looking like an expensive haute couture gown from some designer. Kinsey said it was custom-made when he and his wife got married. His wife had ordered several wedding dresses, and this was one of them.
This seemed to be her dream wedding dress. The layers of white tulle were adorned with pearls, and as she walked, the white fabric floated ethereally, making her look like a fairy. Yang Ruo Ning stared at the wedding dress in a daze for a long time before finally putting it on.
In the small chapel that day, under the gaze of Jesus on the cross, the foreign pastor in his Christian robes; Luo Yuan in his deep black robe; and Yang Ruo Ning in her pure white, trailing wedding dress, formed perhaps the strangest scene in this time and space.
Under the pastor’s guidance, Yang Ruo Ning and Luo Yuan exchanged rings. Then the pastor said, “Before God, I, Yang Ruo Ning, take you, Luo Yuan, to be my husband. From this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, till death us do part.” Yang Ruo Ning saw the sparkle in Luo Yuan’s eyes as she answered, “I do.”
And at this moment, the voice in her ear told her that Luo Yuan’s court session had ended early today, and he had already left the palace.
Yang Ruo Ning tidied up her work, bid farewell to Su Su, and headed towards the manor. She first detoured to the west of the city to buy some pastries before proceeding to the manor.
When she entered the courtyard, Luo Yuan had already changed into casual clothes and was sitting in the study. They chatted for a few sentences, then Luo Yuan asked, “The palace is holding a banquet for the Dragon Boat Festival. Will my wife attend?”
Since the wedding, Luo Yuan had started calling her "Niangzi" in private. Yang Ruo Ning knew it meant "wife," but for some reason, she was resistant to the term. She also disliked calling Luo Yuan "Fujun" or "Xianggong"; she called him "Dear."
However, when others were present, he still called her "Ruo Ning," and she called him "Luo Yuan."
Last night, while talking with Qing Ye, Qing Ye had also mentioned the Dragon Boat Festival banquet. Qing Ye said that Jiang Qi seemed to be planning to settle the matter of the Empress during this occasion. Qing Ye found this extremely distasteful but also knew that he didn't really have the power to choose in this matter. Yang Ruo Ning sighed and said to Qing Ye, “You actually still have a choice. You can consider the option I gave you.”
Yang Ruo Ning placed the pastries on the desk and then sat opposite Luo Yuan. Outside the window, the setting sun shone through the windowpane, dyeing the papers on the table pink. She said, “Okay.”
As Luo Yuan wrote, he looked up at her and said, “I thought you didn’t like these social engagements.”
“Of course I don’t. But it’s good for Jiang Xian Pavilion’s business, and it’s a chance for some advertising.”
“You don’t seem to mention the Emperor much lately,” Luo Yuan said casually, without looking up.
This seemingly casual remark startled Yang Ruo Ning. “Yes, I haven’t contacted him in a while. Perhaps this is a chance to see him.”
Before noon on the Dragon Boat Festival, Yang Ruo Ning entered the palace with Luo Yuan. The imperial palace in early summer was entirely different from how it was during the first snowfall; it was vibrant with greenery everywhere. Palace maids in delicate pink gauze hurried to tie mugwort on the various halls for warding off evil. Yang Ruo Ning picked up a stalk of mugwort, crushed it, and smelled it, realizing it was citronella, used for repelling insects. She thought that, apart from legends and superstitions, the Dragon Boat Festival customs actually had some scientific basis.
They, along with other officials and their family members entering the palace, passed through layers of palace gates and finally arrived at the imperial garden. The Emperor was holding a banquet in the imperial garden today. The imperial garden was already very lively.
Yang Ruo Ning saw that the young ladies from various families, all elaborately dressed, kept turning their heads. Some used fans to cover half their faces, shyly bowing and calling out "General Luo" in sweet voices; others leaned forward, bowing deeply with glimpses of their chests; some bold ones even handed over love letters, but Luo Yuan smiled and politely refused.
That girl, however, was not deterred. After Luo Yuan turned around, she quietly slipped a letter into Yang Ruo Ning’s hand, who was walking behind him, and whispered her request for Yang Ruo Ning to pass it to General Luo.
Yang Ruo Ning paused when she received the letter, which carried a faint floral scent. She had intended to refuse, but seeing the pleading moisture in the girl’s eyes, she couldn't bear to reject the beautiful girl.
However, this opened the floodgates, and other girls began to emulate her.
So everyone had written love letters in advance, Yang Ruo Ning mused inwardly.
She felt she couldn't just accept these love letters for nothing, so she handed out the small flyers for Jiang Xian Pavilion, which she had asked Su Su to prepare beforehand, to these girls one by one.
Before she could distribute many, Luo Yuan, who was walking ahead, suddenly turned around. He took the flyers from her hand and began distributing them himself. “Our shop is in Jimo Alley, behind the main street of the West Market. Misses, if you have time, please grace our shop with your patronage,” Yang Ruo Ning heard Luo Yuan say softly. With Luo Yuan’s help, the flyers seemed to be distributed exceptionally smoothly, and they were gone in no time.
At this moment, a small eunuch suddenly appeared. After stating his purpose, he led Yang Ruo Ning and Luo Yuan further into the garden.
On the way, Luo Yuan looked at the pile of small slips of paper in Yang Ruo Ning’s hand and asked, “Why do you have so many small slips of paper?”
Yang Ruo Ning laughed heartily and tucked the slips into her sleeve. “Just the names and contact details of pretty young ladies.”
Luo Yuan frowned. “What do you need these for?”
“Hey, why can’t I ask for contact details? I want to establish good relationships with beautiful young ladies, okay?”
Luo Yuan was speechless. “Beautiful young ladies? You’re old enough to be their mother!”
“Age discrimination? I’m still a young girl at heart, okay!”
The eunuch ahead turned back. “The two of you should hurry in to pay your respects!”
Thus, they stopped bickering. They entered a luxurious, grand water pavilion by the lake. After paying their respects to the Emperor, Luo Yuan sat down by a small tea table on the right. According to his status, Yang Ruo Ning naturally stood behind him in the position of a maid.
After standing, Yang Ruo Ning looked at Qing Ye. Qing Ye winked at her, signaling that they had greeted each other.
Meanwhile, ministers lined up outside the water pavilion, bringing their daughters from the inner chambers to pay their respects one by one. The Empress Dowager had already proclaimed to the world that she would select consorts for the Emperor. And at this very moment, it was the moment that decided the fate of those girls and their families. Those favored by the Emperor and Empress Dowager would embark on a high-speed train of destiny and become consorts to the Emperor of Da Song, and the luckiest among them would soar to the highest branches and become the head of the harem.
And today, Luo Yuan, the most sought-after and promising diamond-grade son-in-law in the capital, was also present. Everyone immediately understood. The Empress Dowager seemed to wish for a double celebration. It was rumored that the Empress Dowager was unwell, and perhaps she intended to use this occasion to bring good fortune. Even the most foolish person would know that even if they couldn’t enter the harem, being betrothed to General Luo would be hitting the jackpot. Thus, the families became even more eager to introduce their daughters.
Qing Ye sat expressionlessly on the dragon throne in the center. He watched the people passing before him, but his mind was elsewhere. Yang Ruo Ning felt that as an Emperor, he was not good at hiding his emotions. This was a characteristic of their Yang family, but certainly not a quality a wise ruler should possess. She had to admit that Luo Yuan was more suited to be Emperor than Qing Ye in every aspect.
Yang Ruo Ning looked at Qing Ye and sighed softly.
After a while, all the introductions were completed. When the ministers withdrew, only Luo Yuan, Jiang Qi, the Emperor, and Yang Ruo Ning remained.
Qing Ye suddenly asked, “Does General Luo have anyone he fancies?”
Luo Yuan put down his tea and replied respectfully, “Replying to Your Majesty, this humble subject is already betrothed.”
“Oh? Is it your cousin?”
Yang Ruo Ning looked at Luo Yuan’s back and suddenly felt a sense of nervousness. She did not want Qing Ye to know about her and Luo Yuan. She did not want Qing Ye to worry.
Luo Yuan replied, “Yes, Your Majesty.”
Jiang Qi suddenly said, “General Luo, if you fancy anyone, there is no harm in taking them as a concubine.”
Luo Yuan, “Thank you for your kind offer, Prime Minister. However, this humble subject promised my cousin that he would not take concubines for the time being.”
Qing Ye felt somewhat annoyed. He waved his hand, indicating he did not wish to continue the conversation. As he was leaving, he suddenly turned and asked Luo Yuan, “Will you participate in the Cuju competition this afternoon?”
He was asking Luo Yuan, but Yang Ruo Ning, standing behind Luo Yuan, knew he was actually asking her. Although she didn’t know what Cuju was, it sounded interesting. She subtly made an OK gesture to Qing Ye.