Chapter 347 - Shangguan Hui Came
Chapter 347 Shangguan Hui Came
“In recent days, did anyone visit Teacher?”
Blood Ginseng was really precious, but not enough for Baili Rui to take a risk. Therefore, that person must have a relationship with him.
If not, Baili Rui would never cultivate something dangerous like this, even when a knife was held to his neck.
Lin Mengya had actually listed several possible suspects who would make her teacher take this risk.
But after pondering over it, she could not figure out why they needed the blood ginseng.
“No one. Mr. Baili has a strange temper, so no one can see him, except the servants bringing him food every day. You’re suspecting someone in our house tried to take the blood ginseng to do something?”
Long Tianyu’s look was getting a little serious.
As a matter of fact, Baili Rui was extremely capable. Many people in the world were desperate for his superb poison strike, including Long Tianyu.
However, Baili Rui was an extremely stubborn old man. He had been deceived by Baili Wuchen and came here, but eventually he did not submit, even after Baili Wuchen used both soft and hard tactics. It proved that Baili Rui was really obstinate.
Baili Rui was devoting himself to fostering blood ginseng. Even if he had not volunteered, the one behind him, should have been quite capable.
Lin Mengya had mixed feelings on the first night she came back to Prince Yu’s Mansion.
For now, Lin Mengya did not have any good ideas about the blood ginseng.
But there was still one thing she felt good about.
The blood ginseng did not give her any hallucinations, maybe because of the Shen Nung System in her brain.
Shen Nung System might have protected her nervous centralis. But obviously, Baili Rui’s problem could not be delayed.
She had a habit of getting up very early. She had been busy both physically and mentally, after travelling to the ancient times, but now she lived a regular life.
Right now, Lin Mengya was in a new dress, and sat drinking tea, in the main room.
Yesterday, she sent an invitation to Shangguan Hui. But she did not expect Shangguan Hui to visit the next day. It must be an emergency.
She had a bit of a headache.
Lin Mengya had not found any good solutions for her teacher’s problem at the moment.
Baili Rui would get into trouble if she acted rashly.
Although the blood ginseng had affected Baili Rui, his long-time habits did not change at all.
He would see through her if she administered something to him. At that time, it would become more troublesome.
Baili Rui treated her very well, so that she must find an appropriate solution soon.
Shortly after breakfast, Shangguan Hui’s carriage was parked at the back door of Prince Yu’s Mansion.
Lin Mengya agreed to cooperate with Shangguan Hui. But the Shangguan family was from the Empress’s parents’ home. There might be unnecessary problems if someone saw them together.
Lin Mengya was sitting in the pavilion, where a cup of green tea and plates of fresh fruits and desserts had been laid out. Everything had been prepared for the honored guest.
Baiji was waiting at the back door already. In order to escape others’ detection, Shangguan Hui had to dress simply in a plain, cloth gown, and she had on a hat with a long veil which covered her face.
Baishao had already sent the other servants away with an excuse.
So only a few people, apart from Lin Mengya and some of her maids, knew that Miss Shangguan, who was well known in the whole city, came to Liuxin Courtyard.
“Come here, sister. I’ve been waiting for you.”
Lin Mengya wore a sweet smile, and went to receive her visitor.
When the door was closed, Shangguan Hui took off her hat. A smile could be seen in her pink face, but it looked a little grudging.
After the greetings, Lin Mengya took her to the pavilion personally.
Carved beams and painted rafters, as well as precious tea and desserts did not attract Shangguan Hui’s attention in the least.
Shangguan Hui, a charming lady, went to sit on a stone chair. She took the green tea served by Baiji, and then lowered her eyes and sighed deeply.
“You finally managed to get out. I can’t find anyone else but you, to talk about my sadness.”
Lin Mengya was sitting opposite her. She lifted her eyes and looked at Shangguan Hui.
“What happened? Sister Shangguan is very smart. How could it be possible that you are encountering difficulties?”
Frankly, Shangguan Hui was better than Lin Mengya at scheming.
She was just a daughter of the branch family of the Shangguan family, but she survived and carved a niche for herself. It was the best evidence.
If Lin Mengya had been as clever as Shangguan Hui, it would have been easier for her to escape from the attack, on her wedding day.
“I can handle those fights among the whole family. But this time, it’s the Empress who ordered my father personally, to make a choice for my fiance. Sister, you know everything about me. I’m afraid that I can’t handle it this time.”
What Shangguan Hui said was actually very reasonable.
The Shangguan family gained enormous power after the Empress got married. Therefore, it was not a surprise that the Empress had sole control over the Shangguan family.
But why did she decide to help Shangguan Hui choose her fiance?
Did it mean she discovered something?
“Tell me slowly. I believe you want to avoid this, don’t you? You can invite a Taoist to tell them that this is not a good year for you and it’s not time to get married. So why are you still so nervous?”
The idea Lin Mengya proposed had been used often… Old superstitions were terrible, but sometimes, it was of great help.
The birthdates of the couple-to-be should be compatible, whether they were from the folk family or the royal family.
If a Taoist predicted that he or she did not have good luck and would bring disaster to the other party, generally the marriage would be canceled.
Some brave ones would not believe it and the wedding would not be canceled. It was common among folk people. But these families thought this was very important as long as they were families of influence.
Lin Mengya looked at Shangguan Hui. “She was ordered to marry a man from a folk family?” It doesn’t look like that.
“I also thought about it. But the Empress seemed to be very determined. They have already taken my birthdate and given it to the imperial augurs. They said that this year was a good year for me to get married.”
Shangguan Hui pulled a long face and seemed very worried.
“Oh? A man who has so much attention from the Empress. Whose son is he?”
Lin Mengya raised her eyebrows. “The Empress is really busy. But she made time to arrange Shangguan Hui’s marriage personally. She must have big plans.”
Giving Lin Mengya a look, Shangguan Hui hesitantly said.
“He’s not just anyone’s son. He’s the new king of Lintian State. The Empress wants to use my marriage to make peace with them!”
“To make peace with Lintian State?” Lin Mengya almost burst out laughing. She had never imagined that the Empress would want to make peace through marriage.
“Lintian State?” After pondering over it, Lin Mengya recalled that the year before she got married, the king of Lintian State suddenly abdicated, handed over the throne to his son, and then enjoyed his life as the grand king.
At that time, the Crown Prince of Lintian State refused. After arguing for a few days, both of them finally came to an agreement. In the end, the Crown Prince came to the throne and became the new king not too long ago.
They said that the new king of Lintian State was already administering affairs of state when he was still the Crown Prince. His principle of governing the state was to be kind and obedient. He was a man of great talent and bold vision.
Lintian State was the neighbor of Jin State. There were some conflicts from the border before. But in recent years, they were all in harmony.
“The Empress wants to make the relationship with Lintian State become more stable through marriage?”
It was a good idea. But it was not what the Empress would normally do.
Anyway, everything involving the Empress, in Lin Mengya’s mind, must be very complicated.
“Your status is high enough to be the concubine of the new king. It’s really a tough decision. Sister Shangguan, do you know why the Empress is so eager to make peace through your marriage?”
Even though Shangguan Hui was anxious, she was still thoughtful. She would get all the details soon.
At present, Lin Mengya was the only one person who was able to help her. So Shangguan Hui would tell her everything she knew.
“I heard that the new king of Lintian State likes ladies from Dajin. Besides, the other states around us are attempting to take action. I think the Empress wants an ally.”
She was right. Lin Mengya’s fingers tapped lightly on the table, as she digested the information she heard.
As a matter of fact, marriage was the easiest way to bring the two countries closer.
However, although Dajin was not powerful enough to conquer the whole world, it was indeed strongly fortified inside.
On the contrary, other states became weaker after fighting against each other over time, and were not powerful enough to fight against Jin State.
As far as Lin Mengya concerned, the Empress wanted to have closer ties with Lintian State, but what she really wanted to do with them, needed some careful thinking.
“Sister, I really need your help this time. I would rather serve the young general as his maid, than be a concubine in Lintian State. Help me. Please help me?”
Shangguan Hui dissolved in a flood of tears. She looked really pathetic.
Lin Mengya knew that Shangguan Hui truly liked her big brother. If not, Lin Mengya would not help her at all.
“I don’t think the marriage can take place now. More importantly, the Emperor is still on the sick bed. They can’t send you to be married off to that new king unless the Emperor gives his consent. So don’t worry about it now. You just need to do what they tell you to. Don’t let them find something wrong. I’ll help you. You won’t be sent off to get married.”
After hearing Lin Mengya’s promise, Shangguan Hui stopped crying.
She did not feel at ease, but in her mind, as long as Lin Mengya was around, she would have her support.
“Alright. I’ll count on you for this. Oh, here’s a gift for the young general. Tell him you prepared it for him. Don’t…don’t tell him it’s from me.”
Then, Shangguan Hui took a tiny cloth bag from her chest. She was really considerate to wrap it with many layers of handkerchiefs.
Shangguan Hui presented it to Lin Mengya, shyly.