No. 1 Girl in the Imperial City

Chapter 373 I Want the Ruan Family! (two more)

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 the wind is bleak.

The mountains in the distance were also shrouded in heavy mist, as if they had cast a layer of gray on the pale color.

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 this way again and leave the imperial city where she had lived for more than ten years.

Perhaps it is because they know that if they take this step, they will fall into hell in their future lives. Both men and women in the team can't help crying.

Ruan Yueli didn't cry, the cold wind would only make her feel more uncomfortable when the tears flowed down her face.

The situation was already like this, and she didn't want to make trouble for herself.

There were several people standing on the side of the road not far away, Ruan Yueli didn't pay attention to them at first, but the woman who led them walked towards the leader of the guards.The two of them didn't know what to say, and the woman quickly walked towards Ruan Yueli with someone.

"Miss Ruan."

Ruan Yueli was slightly taken aback, and said, "You are..." She had the impression that this was someone from the Regent's Palace.

The leading woman said respectfully: "The servant girl is the maidservant next to the regent princess, Feng Jian. The princess said that the journey is far away in winter, please take care of yourself." After finishing speaking, Feng Jian turned around and took a package from the person behind him and sent it to Ruan Yue with both hands. Li Shou said: "This is sent by the servants ordered by the princess, please don't dislike it."

Ruan Yueli took the package, feeling a little heavy and didn't know what it contained, "Thank you."

Feng Jian said in a low voice: "It contains some commonly used medicines and things that the girl can use. The escort has already taken care of it. Take care, girl."

Ruan Yueli nodded, "Thank you, thank you Princess for me."

Feng Jian agreed, and took his leave without any fuss.

The team soon started to move forward again, and the guards escorting them were indeed much more polite to them.

Even the other Ruan family members in the team looked at Ruan Yueli with a little more hospitality.Although the Ruan family is down and out, Princess Taihua and even the regent princess are still thinking 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 in front of them seems to be less unbearable, and the sobs and complaints in the team are much smaller.

Ruan Yueli walked forward slowly with the package in her hand, her expression was calm and her eyes drooped slightly, hiding the emotion 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 a night of thinking.

In fact, it wasn't too long since I saw Xie Yan last time, but in Ruan Yue's heart, it seemed that it was a long, long time ago.

A few months ago, she thought that she was the best match for the regent.Now, a few months later, the regent is still aloof, but she has become the daughter of a criminal minister kneeling on the ground.

It can only be said that the world is impermanent, no matter what kind of person can guarantee that he can live a smooth and worry-free life.

Ruan Yueli could only rejoice in her heart that she didn't have much personal affection for the regent, so that kneeling in front of him now would not feel so painful and embarrassing.

"Daughter of the guilty minister, please greet His Royal Highness the Regent."

Xie Yan looked at her but did not speak, and Ruan Yueli was not in a hurry to say anything, but just knelt there quietly with downcast eyes.

After a long time, I heard Xie Yan say: "Miss Ruan has really decided to follow her into exile?"

"Yes, please help me, my lord." Ruan Yueli said.

Xie Yan raised his eyebrows slightly, and said: "You should know that the engagement with Prince Ji Rong is a talisman for you right now. As long as you are the future prince and concubine of the Qi clan, the imperial court will not treat you like this."

Ruan Yueli smiled, shook her head and said, "Although I have never had contact with the Ninth Prince, I still have some guesses. Compared with becoming a prince and concubine of the Qi clan, 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 while, and said: "Since the regent is willing to see the courtier's daughter, it proves that in the heart of the prince, the courtier's daughter has the value of redemption, doesn't it?"

Xie Yan calmly looked at the girl in front of him. Although he didn't exert pressure deliberately, Ruan Yueli's face was still a little pale.

But she still knelt there without saying a word, insisting on refusing to lower her head and look at Xie Yan with fixed eyes.

After a while, Xie Yan withdrew his gaze and said, "Are you sure? Maybe no matter what you do, there is no 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 lord keeps his promise, give my daughter a chance. Even if she dies, she will die without regret."

Xie Yan snorted softly and asked, "What do you want?"

Ruan Yueli looked directly at the man in the main seat, and said in a deep voice, "I want the Ruan family."

"..." Xie Yan was silent, as if he didn't understand Ruan Yueli's meaning.

Ruan Yueli also thought that he didn't understand her request, so she said in a deep voice, "I want to be the head of the Ruan family."

The hall became quiet again, and it took an unknown amount of time before Xie Yan chuckled and said, "Yes, as long as you have the ability."

Ruan Yueli bowed solemnly, touching the back of her hands with her hands on the ground, her smooth forehead, "Thank you, my lord."

Xie Yan finally seemed to have some interest in her, and looked down at her carefully, as if evaluating something.

"You should know that Ruan Ting may not die, and your elder brother is still outside. If one day they come back, will you still be able to sit as the Patriarch?"

Ruan Yueli said calmly: "They have already abandoned the Ruan family, and they are not qualified to be the head of the Ruan family anymore."

Xie Yan said: "Those people from the Ruan family are a drag on both Ruan Ting and you. Abandoning them will only lead to a better life for you."

"Then what's the difference between me and other women? A fake princess who is married to the court?" Ruan Yueli said, "The Ruan family needs me now, and I also need the Ruan family. No matter what the result is, I won't regret it , please complete it, my lord."

Xie Yan nodded and said, "You go, someone will look for you when you get there."

"Yes, my daughter-in-law is leaving." Ruan Yueli kowtowed respectfully again, got up and retreated.

When leaving the Prince Regent's Mansion, Ruan Yueli saw Luo Junyao who was sitting in the garden hugging and laughing with the little emperor.

There are a few children playing around, although it is winter in the garden, it still feels full of vitality.

She only took a few glances and followed the steward out.

In the past, she would feel injustice, and would dislike the second daughter 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 current path was chosen by herself.

No matter where she can go, she will never regret it.

When she came back to her senses, Ruan Yueli took one last look at the towering city wall behind her.

She didn't know if she would come back here one day, maybe she would never come back.

After a glance, she quickly turned around and looked forward, leaving her life of the previous ten years behind.

In the small room of the prison, Ruan Ting was still lying on the bed quietly, making it difficult to know whether he was in a daze or fell asleep.

This cell is a bit quieter than before. King Ning committed suicide a few days ago with poisoned wine, and Xue Ya was taken away long ago.As a result, the cell that could hold four people is now exclusive to Ruan Ting, although his range of activities has not expanded at all.

The serious injury not long ago cost Ruan Ting almost half his life, and he still hasn't fully recovered until now.

He also lay motionless in bed all day, as if he had resigned himself to his fate.

The door of the cell was opened from the outside, and a steady footstep came in.

Ruan Ting didn't care, and still kept his eyes half closed.

Ruan Ting didn't hear anyone speak after a while, then Ruan Ting felt that something was wrong, turned his head to look outside but saw Xie Yan standing in the aisle outside the cell and looking at him.

Ruan Ting smiled reluctantly, sat up with his hands on the bed, "Why is the prince here?"

Xie Yan said calmly: "The young and old of the Ruan family were sentenced to exile for three thousand miles, and they have just set off."

Ruan Ting was taken aback, he knew the verdict a long time ago, but at this moment when Xie Yan said it, the expression on his face was still a little stiff.

After a while, Ruan Ting said slowly: "My lord is now a dictator in the court? Congratulations, lord."

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 followed that trash of King Ning in a moment of confusion, and I am willing to bet and admit defeat."

Xie Yan nodded and said, "Ling Ai, please let me bring you a word."

Ruan Ting was startled, and quickly reacted: "Ah Li?"

Xie Yan said: "Lingai said that both you and Ruan Yuelou have abandoned the Ruan family, and she will have the final say in the future."

Ruan Ting was stunned, looking at Xie Yan with a little more suspicion.She didn't seem to think that her daughter would say such outrageous words.

Xie Yan didn't mean to explain, turned around and walked out, but left a faint sentence, saying: "Ruan Xiang, this king thinks that compared to you and Ruan Yuelou, she may be more likely to be the head of the family." people."

Ruan Ting sneered and said: "The head of the family? The prince seems to have seen the tricks in the past two months, but in fact he firmly held the power of Dasheng in his own hands. I admire this ability. I I didn't expect the prince to have such naive thoughts. Without me, Ruan Ting, where would the Ruan family come from?"

There was a hint of arrogance in his voice, but no one in this world could say that what he said was wrong.

Before Ruan Ting, the Ruan family was just an ordinary poor family who couldn't even make ends meet and wanted to sell their sons and daughters.It was Ruan Ting who relied on his own ability to rise to the top, so that he brought the Ruan family to follow the prosperity and wealth.

Ruan Ting didn't remember being sold by his parents at the beginning, but took his parents and brothers with him to enjoy the blessing after he became prosperous.This is also one of the reasons why the ruling and opposition parties have given good reviews to Ruan Tingfeng over the years. Most people think that he is generous and filial, and only remembers kindness but not grudges.

Xie Yan shook his head and said, "Your life and death are only in the thoughts of others, but the Ruan family still has to live."

As for what the Ruan family can live like, that is Ruan Yueli or the Ruan family's own business.No matter how they live, Xie Yan will never sympathize with them.

Xie Yan took one last look at Ruan Ting and said, "This king will not be coming anytime soon. If Ruan Xiang has something to say, someone can send a message to this king. If Ruan Xiang didn't die here. In addition, if Xue Ya The young master thinks about it before you, so it's useless for you to think about it."

Ruan Ting narrowed his eyes and stared at Xie Yan, as if he wanted to see if he knew something.

I only heard Xie Yan finally ask: "The secret that Prime Minister Ruan refuses to tell no matter what...is it related to your successful ascension to the position of prime minister back then? I don't have time to take care of these old things now, so don't worry."

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 like now, he had already stepped out of the cell door, and soon the door was closed from the outside, and the cell was restored to silence.

Luo Junyao, Su Rui and the others parted ways outside the teahouse, and walked back slowly with Linglan.

Pedestrians come and go on the streets, and the damage caused by the recent unrest seems to have been repaired on the surface.

The vendors on the street were shouting enthusiastically, and the expressions on the faces of the passers-by were also serene and peaceful. Everything seemed to have returned to its original state.

Luo Junyao leisurely walked and ate a bunch of candied haws that she had just bought, and Linglan, who was following her, still had several bunches in the paper bag in her hand, and they were all ready to take them home for the children to eat.

"It's the Chinese New Year." Luo Jun shook his head.

Ling Lan smiled and said, "Yes, Chinese New Year is coming soon."

Luo Junyao was a little curious, "Linglan, you used to follow Big Brother, how did you celebrate the New Year at the border?"

Linglan thought for a while and said, "Border Pass...Naturally, it is not as lively as in the imperial city, but the eldest son has a lot of people, so it is almost enough for everyone to get together to have a good meal? As for the general's mansion, if the general is free, he can have a family Gathering together, in the early years the generals were always not free, and most of them lived with the eldest son and the second son. Later, when the two sons grew up, it depends on luck. If you are lucky, the three will spend together, if you are not lucky, you will spend the whole new year There is not a single master in the general's mansion."

"That's quite boring." Luo Jun shook his head, "Shangyong is actually not very interesting. The whole family eats a meal in a cold manner, and then goes to sleep until they are too sleepy to keep their eyes open."

In the memory of the original owner, there are no good memories of the Chinese New Year.

The family is all female relatives and it is not very harmonious, so the Chinese New Year naturally does not feel very festive.

But this year should be different, Luo Junyao thought.

There are too many things to do in the past few months. Now that I am free, I must have a happy and lively year.

"How many pens did the imperial court write?" Luo Junyao asked.

Linglan thought for a while, "From the 27th to the Shangyuan Festival, the office will open on the [-]th day of the first month."

Luo Junyao was a little happy, "It's been nearly 20 days, not bad."

Ling Lan was about to say something, when the words came to her lips, she suddenly paused, and said in a low voice: "Princess, it seems that there are Miss Biao and Young Master Xuan Yu in front of you."

Luo Jun was taken aback, looked up and saw two familiar figures coming out of an alley not far ahead.It turned out that they walked all the way from the vicinity of Ruan's house, and before they knew it, they had arrived not far from Prince Mu'an's mansion.

Since King Mu was apparently imprisoned in Jinshui Village, Xie Jin wisely stopped using the name of Prince Mu's Mansion and called it Prince Mu An's Mansion to the outside world.

Coupled with the fact that a lot of people, big and small, were injured in the mansion, the Mu An Palace has been very low-key recently.

Luo Junyao was a little surprised, "I remember Xie Chengyou was seriously injured, right? Did you go out and dance again?"

Linglan shook her head and said, "Look, princess, they... seem to have been kicked out."

Luo Junyao looked over, only to realize that it wasn't just Xie Chengyou and Shen Lingxiang who came out of the alley behind Prince Mu An's Mansion, but a group of men, women, old and young followed behind them, all carrying large bags in their hands.

Shen Lingxiang supported Xie Chengyou with some difficulty, the two seemed to be arguing about something while walking, Xie Chengyou turned his head sideways, and Luo Junyao and Linglan just saw his disfigured face.

On that originally very handsome face, a scar ran through most of the face, which looked shocking.

"How could King Mu'an drive them out now?" Luo Junyao was a little curious. It would not be good for Xie Jin's reputation to move so fast, right?

Although he didn't have much contact with him, Luo Junyao could tell that Xie Jin didn't care as much about his reputation as Xie Yan did.Now the palace and the title belong to him, and he doesn't seem like a restless person.

Ling Lan also shook her head, everyone is very busy these days, who has time to manage the affairs of Prince Mu An's Mansion.

"Slaves, ask someone to inquire about it?"

Luo Jun shook his head and said, "Let's go back first, for such a big matter, Prince Mu An's mansion must come to tell A Yan in person."

Ling Lan nodded in agreement, and the two turned around to leave.

Although she was really happy to see Xie Chengyou fall to this point, but there was no need to run to beat the dog in the water.

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 his current life will be when he thinks about his past glory.

They didn't want to go forward, but Xie Chengyou and Shen Lingxiang had already seen Luo Junyao on the other side.

Seeing clearly the moment Luo Jun shook, Xie Chengyou's face was extremely ferocious, with a bit of embarrassment and shame.

Shen Lingxiang's eyes lit up when he saw Luo Jun Yao, and he didn't even care that he was supporting Xie Chengyou, so he let go and ran towards Luo Jun Yao, "Shake!"

Ling Lan stepped forward to stop 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 forced a smile and said, "I've seen the princess."

Luo Junyao raised his eyebrows slightly, this was the first time Shen Lingxiang saluted her so calmly.It's not like pretending to be calm before, it's a really peaceful feeling.

"I heard from elder brother that you insist on staying by Xie Chengyou's side?" 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? Wouldn't it be a joke to regret it now after making trouble like that. Although...in your eyes, maybe I It's already a joke."

Luo Junyao was noncommittal, but said: "It's up to you, where are you going now?"

Shen Lingxiang said: "The king of Mu'an... gave us a two-entry house in Nanxifang, and we want to move there."

Luo Junyao glanced over there, Fang Concubine Fan was supported by someone, she looked as if she had aged a lot all of a sudden, and her hair had also turned gray.

She suddenly lost her husband, son, and grandson. Apart from Xie Chengyou, Dafang only left behind a young grandson, several younger great-grandchildren, and a group of female relatives.

Although they were carrying big bags and small bags, they didn't actually have a lot of luggage. It was obvious that the big room didn't get anything.The whole family is old, weak, sick and children, and they really look a bit desolate and pitiful.

"Why are you moving at this time?" Luo Junyao asked.

Shen Lingxiang smiled wryly and didn't reply, Luo Junyao didn't care, he waved his hand and said, "Take care, I'm leaving."

After all, he ignored Shen Lingxiang, turned around and left with Linglan.

Shen Lingxiang stood on the spot and watched the two leaving, without speaking for a long time.

She didn't know how she fell to this point, it seemed that she had already been like this when she came back to her senses.

Occasionally, she would still think of the days when she was in the Luo family. Compared with now, those days were really fairy days.

Do you regret it?Shen Lingxiang smiled wryly in her heart, she didn't know.

Maybe let her choose again, she will still choose to do that?

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, the feelings for Xie Chengyou at the beginning have already faded away.

She can't leave, she can't go back to Luo's house.

She knew that if she dared to go back to Luo's house, Luo Jinyan would never let her go!
Back then, she thought she could make a deal with Luo Jinyan, maybe it was the second most mistake she made in her life after choosing Xie Chengyou.

Luo Junyao was born with a better fate than her. She has two good brothers and a good father, no matter what she does, she doesn't have to worry about it.

"What? Regret it?" Xie Chengyou walked over slowly, his voice a little sullen.

Shen Lingxiang glanced back at him, turned around and said calmly, "Let's go."

　Well~ The roles of Xie Chengyou and Shen Lingxiang are basically over, and there is basically no plot in the future, even if they appear, it is just a passing~ But Xie Chengyou's tragic life has just begun~~
　　
　
(End of this chapter)