Phoenix Hairpin

Chapter 44

Madam Shen changed her mind, and it was much more pleasing to see Lu Fei who came to the door every day to be courteous.

   She used to be picky in every possible way, but now he looks good in every way.

   He was tall, handsome, and had bright eyes. The skin is darker and more manly. So what if he sounded a little stupid when he opens his mouth? The heart was sincere and passionate!

   Lu Fei was uncomfortable with Madam Shen’s smiling eyes and glanced at Lu Mingyu subconsciously.

  Lu Mingyu has been a “dog-headed military advisor” for several days, and she was well aware of the subtle changes in the attitudes of the Shens. That was why today she especially accompanied Lu Fei to the door.

   Madam Shen looked at Lu Fei with the eyes of “The more the mother-in-law looks at the son-in-law, the more interesting it is”.

  Lu Mingyu saw it in her eyes, and the corners of her mouth raised slightly.

It seemed that these days of diligence had paid off.

  Shen Lan stood beside Madam Shen. Today Shen Lan was wearing new spring clothes, light blue, fresh and refined, elegant and eye-catching.

   “Lan’er,” Madam Shen turned to her daughter and said, “Xiaoyu, brother and sister are rare guests. You can accompany them to the garden.”

   This was the tacit approval of Shen Lan and Lu Fei to meet and talk.

  Shen Lan suppressed the joy in her heart and answered softly.

  Lu Mingyu got up and held Shen Lan’s hand affectionately. Lu Fei also got up and followed behind them.

   As a minister of the household, even if Minister Shen did not extend his hand, the filial piety of each yamen would not be less on weekdays. The Shen family was not short of money. The garden was renovated a few years ago. It had artificial mountains and rocks, lush flowers and trees, and excellent scenery.

   In front of her, there was a bright spring, and Lu Mingyu was also very happy.

   In fact, since solving the “trouble” of Li Hao, the hatred and anger in Lu Mingyu’s heart had dissipated a lot.

Living again, not only for revenge but also for a better life for yourself and your family.

   “Xiaoyu,” Shen Lan turned her head and smiled sweetly at Lu Mingyu: “Why are you here today?”

  Lu Mingyu calmed down, laughed, and joked: “Why, do you think I’m getting in the way?”

  Shen Lan blushed and quickly glanced at the handsome young man not far away, her voice lowered: “Mother told me yesterday that my father has written to the Fang family and politely declined the marriage.”

  Lu Mingyu was refreshed: “Really?”

   “It’s absolutely true.” Shen Lan’s heart was gone, and when she smiled, her brows were like the moon: “In these days, he came every day. Mother has been impressed to soften her heart.”

Shen Lan paused, and asked with a whisper, “Is this the idea you gave him?”

  Lu Mingyu winked playfully: “Although the method is a bit stupid, it works very well.”

   Shen Lan laughed softly.

…

   Lu Fei’s ears are sensitive, and he could vaguely hear the words “softhearted” and “effective” from a few meters away. For a time, he was both surprised and delighted, and he couldn’t hold back any longer and strode forward: “Sister Shen, you…I…”

  Shen Lan waited for a long time, and couldn’t help but bite her lips and smile.

  Lu Mingyu turned around and went under the peach tree.

The peach branches had green leaves, and some buds stick out timidly. Bursts of fragrance, refreshing. Lu Mingyu exerted a little force, climbed up the tree, and sat on the branch.

   Such a handsome lightweight kung fu, but no one appreciated it at this time.

   Lu Fei only had the girl he liked in his eyes.

  Shen Lan was shy and full of joy.

   Two people, you look at me, I look at you. After a long time, Lu Fei asked in a low voice, “Sister Shen, when will I come back to propose marriage?”

  Shen Lan blushed and whispered, “As soon as the result of the Spring exam is released, you can come.”

   Count the days and wait another five days.

  Lu Fei was so excited that he didn’t know what to say. He smiled with two rows of white teeth, like a fool: “Sister Shen, I’m so happy. I’m so happy!”

   “In the future, I will definitely treat you with all my heart. Better than your father treats your mother!”

  Minister Shen was well-known in the capital for doting on his wife and loving his wife.

  Coming back from work, from time to time, he would go to buy some candied fruit desserts that Madam Shen likes to eat. Every season, there were new fabrics in the satin shop, and Minister Shen had to pick the fabrics for Madam Shen in person. The craftsmen in the jewelry store were also very familiar with Shen Shilang.

  Shen Lan was used to seeing the love of her parents since she was a child, and she also hoped that she could marry a good person, a loving husband who cherishes his wife so that they can grow old together.

   “Second Brother Lu,” Shen Lan raised her eyes and looked at Lu Fei, “I will remember everything you said today.”

  Lu Fei’s heart is full of tenderness and sweetness, and his voice is extraordinarily soft: “I will live up to you in this life.”

  Shen Lan’s pretty face was blushing, and her eyes were full of love.

  Lu Mingyu, who was sitting on the peach tree, watched this scene from a distance, and her heart suddenly throbbed.

   Back then, she looked at her sweetheart with such joy and listened to Li Hao making a solemn vow that she would be the one for the rest of his life, and they would never lose each other in this life.

   How much she loved him back then, how much she hated him later. What she hated more was herself, she had no eyes and believed in the wrong person.

   Fortunately, everything was over.

   Her life will no longer be entangled with Li Hao’s mother and son. She can have a new life and future.

  …

   Five days later, the Spring exam result was released.

  The second son of Fang really passed with a high rank.

   However, among the new Jinshi, the most prominent one was not the seventeen-year-old Gongzi [1] Fang, but the eighteen-year-old Zhou Li. The second son of Fang was not low, he was ranked within 30. Zhou Li ranked second in the spring exam.

  According to the practice of previous years, the final ranking of all the selected scholars can only be determined after the palace examination. However, the rankings will not change much.

  The Imperial Examination was a matter of the Ministry of Rites. Lu Lin listened to it in the court, then returned to the house and smiled at Lu Mingyu: “Xiaoyu, there are two good scholars among the newly selected Jinshi. They are young and tall, and they are not married.”

   “One is called Fang Zizhan and the other is called Zhou Li.”

   “Your third sister has a quiet temperament and loves to read. I think it’s appropriate for her to choose a new scholar to be her husband.”

  Lu Mingyu smiled slightly, and then went on as usual: “First set the second brother’s marriage, and then manage the marriage for the third sister.”

   This was true, one by one.

   Lu Lin was delighted, rubbed his fingers, and snapped his fingers loudly: “Okay, I’ll go to the Shen residence tomorrow.”

  Lu Mingyu took over the conversation with a smile: “I ask my father to go in person. When you propose a marriage contract, the matchmaker must be there. I have already asked the housekeeper to invite the matchmaker, and all the gifts for the proposal ceremony are also ready.”

  Lu Mingyu was the Empress for several years in her previous life, so taking care of such trivial affairs was not a problem.

  Lu Lin praised his daughter with a smile: “My daughter, she is really smart and capable. She looks beautiful and has good skills. I can see that no one is worthy of her.”

  Lu Mingyu was teased and chuckled and was secretly apologetic.

  Sorry, Dad, I lied to you.

   Actually, I don’t want to get married at all.

   The so-called recruiting of a son-in-law was just a shield. In the future, if there is a day when a son-in-law really enters the door, it will be a sham marriage. I will never entrust my body and mind to any man again.