Although Emperor Wen had always said he would hand over the throne to Linlin when he turned twenty, he had now begun to slack off under the guise of "raising his son" and was leaving many things to Linlin.
Linlin did not disappoint him, and began sweeping reforms, appointing a large number of young people.
For example, there was Gao Zheng, who left a deep impression on Lang Xuan in her previous life, and Cui Run, among others.
Correspondingly, Lang Xuan also began to learn how to help Tang Zhuyun with the affairs.
At first, she was filled with trepidation.
Later, Tang Zhuyun said, "You don't need to learn from me, because I haven't learned either."
She's just temporarily filling in for Lang Xuan as Empress; there's no need for her to study in depth. The real Empress herself has to prove herself.
Lang Xuan: "..."
She truly puts her heart and soul into it, is demanding of herself, and strives for perfection in everything she does.
Although Linlin always tells her to relax, Lang Xuan can't do it.
Because of deep love, I always lack confidence in myself.
Only by working even harder, and seeing the shift in people's gaze from skepticism to admiration, could she feel at ease.
Lang Xuan also helped arrange most of Yanran's wedding.
Yanran herself was in a daze.
On the wedding day, early in the morning, the bride was nowhere to be found!
Lang Xuan was furious when she heard this.
The problem is that she had been paying close attention to Yanran all along and hadn't noticed at all that she had any intention of running away from the wedding.
Besides, she and Cui Xiaoqiu spend every day together; what difference does it make whether they get married or not?
There's no need to run away from the wedding!
Were they simply intimidated by the scale of the wedding?
Lang Xuan was lost in thought, but dared not linger, and immediately sent people to search everywhere.
Yanran stated that she did not run away from her wedding!
She simply got up early to practice her sword, just like always.
However, since the palace was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations for her wedding, she was worried about ruining the arrangements, so she went to the pavilion in the middle of the lake instead.
Seeing that Yanran had been found, Lang Xuan finally breathed a sigh of relief and whispered, "My dear, what were you doing?"
Yanran looked completely innocent. "I went to practice my sword. It's still early, no rush."
Lang Xuan: This is truly a case of the emperor not being worried while the eunuch is dying of anxiety.
"Hurry up and take a bath, change your clothes, and put on makeup," Lang Xuan said. "I have some things I need to tell you privately."
Yanran's eyes lit up, then she waved her hand, signaling the people around her to leave.
She leaned closer to Lang Xuan: "Sister-in-law, hehe, are you going to show me the fire-avoidance diagram?"
Lang Xuan blushed deeply, gritted her teeth, and said, "... Yes!"
She has been anxious ever since she learned that this arduous task had been entrusted to her.
Yanran: "What are you shy about? You've been married for so long. Come here, let me see you."
Lang didn't know what to say, his face flushed, and he secretly pulled out a roll of silk from his sleeve, hiding it behind his sleeve as he handed it to her.
Yanran was about to open it to take a look, but Lang Xuan stopped her. "At least wait until you come inside to see, right?"
"Alright, let's go in and take a look." Yanran pulled Lang Xuan inside.
Lang Xuan: "You can see it yourself, I don't need to look at it anymore."
"No, I can't understand it. I need my sister-in-law to explain it to me."
Lang Xuan was filled with shame and indignation, wishing she could die.
After entering the room, seeing Yanran watching with great interest, Lang Xuan couldn't hold back any longer and turned her head to say, "Don't ask me anything, I don't know anything, I'll be obedient."
Or, you can just listen to me.
Let's move on from this embarrassing topic.
Yanran, however, had already skimmed through it, and said with a look of disdain, "This is too unintuitive."
Lang Xuan: "..."
Not intuitive?
How can we make it more intuitive?
You can't exactly ask someone to perform for her in public.
Lang Xuan felt a chill.
"Sister-in-law, I've got something good to show you."
Lang Xuan: "No need, no need."
"There are no outsiders here, so you don't need to stand on ceremony with me."
Lang Xuan: Please be more polite with me. Don't treat me like family. Can you be a little more formal?
She's now thinking of running away.
I wonder who's getting married today, and why she's the one in such a predicament.
Lang Xuan watched as Yanran leaped up, light as a swallow, her skirt fluttering... and took a long, narrow box from the roof beam.
Yanran opened it mischievously. "I've never shown this to anyone else before!"
Seeing her appearance, Lang Xuan actually felt a bit curious.
Yanran opened the long, narrow box, and inside were six pairs of tiny figures.
Lang Xuan covered her eyes.
Yanran: "Sister-in-law, look! It can even move!"
Lang Xuan: I know they'll move, but I don't want to see it, okay!
Her face flushed red as she asked, "Who was so bold as to give you these things!"
"I bought it myself," Yanran said with a grin.
Lang Xuan: "..."
"I'll tell Jiang'er to bring this to my new house; I want to use it to tease Cui Xiaoqiu."
Lang Xuan: I advise you not to do this.
"Actually, it hurt a little the first time," Lang Xuan said softly. "Take it easy."
Cui Xiaoqiu has just turned twenty this year, and is at the peak of his youthful vigor.
He probably can't resist teasing like that.
As they were talking, Tang Zhuyun and Mingzhu's voices came from outside.
Lang Xuan frantically shouted, "Quickly put it away, quickly!"
If she's misunderstood and it's said that she gave the things to Yanran, how will she ever face anyone again?
Yanran smiled and hid the things in the box.
"It's almost time to get married," Mingzhu said with a sigh, presenting Yanran with the dowry she had prepared long ago. "It's some gemstones. I thought you didn't like jewelry, so I didn't have them set in. You can have them set into your gold bow later."
Yanran opened it and looked at the dazzling array of gems inside. Even though she was usually indifferent to such things, she was very pleased.
Tang Zhuyun also noticed its value and laughed, "You're not even leaving any for the baby in your belly?"
After Mingzhu arrived, Tang Zhuyun took her pulse and discovered that she was pregnant.
The couple had been trying for years without success, but after a long and tiring journey, they suddenly conceived.
Wu Zhenhai was overjoyed and looked at Mingzhu as if she were his own eyes.
"I originally thought Wu Yu would be more successful and manage to bring Yanran home. I never imagined that before he even grew up, Yanran would get married. I was originally thinking of giving it to Yanran as a dowry, but now I think I should just give it to Yanran."
Everyone laughed at this remark.
Mingzhu sat for a while, and then a palace maid came to tell her that Wu Zhenhai had come to pick her up.
"Hurry up, or they'll break in soon," Tang Zhuyun teased with a smile.
Mingzhu spat, "Like he's never been a father before."
Seeing her come out, Wu Zhenhai hurried over to support her as if serving an empress dowager, saying, "Grandma, didn't we agree to go in for just a little while? Come on, come on, don't join the crowd, your health is important!"
With so many people coming and going, what if she gets bumped into?
The older Wu Zhenhai gets, the more he wants a child, a child with Mingzhu, which is the strongest bond between the two of them.
This time, I finally got what I wanted, so how could I not be extremely careful?
"Doesn't a pregnant peasant woman still go to the fields?"
Although Mingzhu was disgusted, she still followed him to save him from making a fool of himself there.
"How can that be the same?" Wu Zhenhai helped Mingzhu. "Please, use your brain! I'm begging you! You're my ancestor!"
"So, is my son your grandfather or your father?"
Wu Zhenhai: "... You just wait! After you give birth, see how I deal with you!"
The two walked out of the palace hand in hand, with white walls and black tiles behind them. From the palace wall beside them, a sprig of apricot blossoms, full of spring, stretched out diagonally. A warm breeze caressed their faces, a scene of beauty and comfort in the third month of spring.
"Grown ups?"
Having spotted the two early on, Cui Run, who had been hiding to the side, only snapped out of his daze upon hearing the servant's voice and said indifferently, "Let's go."
When we meet again, I hope you are well and I am well.
He is the adopted son of the third wife, and he has recently been choosing an heir himself.
All the love has been hidden in the Northwest, in the memory of that woman's smile as she looked back at him.
If I cannot give my life to you, then I will give it to the country.
I only wish that your dreams come true and that you have love throughout your life.