Seeing her young mistress hurry away, Xiao Liu'er followed along closely behind, nagging,
"Miss, what are you running from? It's been two months since Prince An last visited our manor. Even if you're shy, you should still go greet him."
She chattered on as she pushed open the boudoir door.
There, Ru Ge was putting finishing touches to her makeup in front of the vanity mirror, fixing her hair bun.
In her flustered state, she still turned to ask Xiao Liu'er,
"Xiao Liu'er, do I look presentable?"
Xiao Liu'er stared at Ru Ge, momentarily dazed.
"Miss, you look so beautiful! As pretty as a fairy!"
Ru Ge blushed and said, "You flatter me."
After finishing her makeup, Ru Ge hurried to the main hall.
As soon as she entered, Nalan Cuo smiled at her,
"Rongrong is here."
Rongrong was Nalan Ruge's pet name.
Normally, Nalan Cuo wouldn't address her so informally in front of outsiders.
But for the Nalan family, Xiao Jingyan was never considered an outsider.
Ru Ge's face flushed like a peach blossom. She first softly called out "Father", then curtseyed to Xiao Jingyan, sweetly saying,
"Greetings, Prince An."
At that moment, Xiao Jingyan was admiring a new painting by Nalan Cuo.
Upon Ru Ge's greeting, he merely glanced at her politely and smiled, dismissively saying,
"I was just discussing your marriage with your father, and you arrive."
Hearing this, Ru Ge's face flushed even hotter.
For some reason, the usually poised young woman felt flustered now.
She fidgeted with her clothes awkwardly and stammered,
"Father, your daughter just recalled mother had left some unfinished tasks. I'll take my leave first."
Saying so, she curtseyed again to Xiao Jingyan before hurriedly leaving the hall.
But her nervousness soon turned into excitement.
Ru Ge tightly gripped Xiao Liu'er's hand, barely containing her joy.
"Xiao Liu'er, did you hear that? Prince An said... he was discussing my marriage with Father? He... he really has intentions for me?"
Xiao Liu'er nodded emphatically, stressing her words as she replied,
"Of course! Miss, you once told the Master that if you could marry Prince An, you'd happily be his concubine. Who wouldn't be moved by those words? But... Miss, if Prince An truly takes you as a concubine into his manor, would you truly be happy?"
"It doesn't matter," Ru Ge looked back at Xiao Jingyan chatting amiably with Nalan Cuo in the hall, smiling contentedly. "As long as I can be by his side, able to see him every day, that's enough for me."
As she spoke, she took out a loveknotted silk cord from her sleeve, clutching it tightly.
Xiao Liu'er noticed and teased,
"Last year when we snuck out, some ruffians blocked our path. It was Prince An who rescued you then. He chased them off but dropped this loveknotted cord. You picked it up after, Miss, and have cherished it like a treasure ever since."
"Xiao Liu'er... don't talk nonsense," Ru Ge scolded her.
But Xiao Liu'er grabbed her wrist, opening her palm to show the cord.
"I speak no nonsense! This cord has the character 'Rong' embroidered on it, and Spiritual Sagegrass adorns the top. The Sagegrass symbolizes romance, while 'Rong' with the grass radical is your pet name 'Rongrong'. I'd say between you and Prince An, who knows who fell for the other first~"
"Enough, enough, or I'll get angry," Ru Ge chided.
But the smile never left her face.
She stood on tiptoe, glancing wistfully toward the hall once more before reluctantly walking away, full of anticipation.
Back in the hall, however, Xiao Jingyan was telling Nalan Cuo,
"With Ru Ge's beauty and talents, she is sure to be chosen in the palace selection. Brother Nalan need not worry."
The already troubled Nalan Cuo looked even more despondent upon hearing this.
"What the Prince says is not what this subject hopes, but rather fears. Forgive my blunt words, but if the young miss is chosen, the consorts in the palace... I've heard enough rumors to be wary. My daughter has been sheltered since young, naive to human conduct. If she offends someone unintentionally in the palace, what then?"
"Brother Nalan need not worry over this," Xiao Jingyan reassured him. "The Empress currently rules the harem with benevolence and discipline, having purged the palace's improper practices. With her in charge, she would never let Ru Ge be wronged."
"Alas..."
Nalan Cuo didn't respond, only sighing deeply, as if burdened by some unspeakable troubles.
Xiao Jingyan had never seen him so tongue-tied before, so he asked,
"Brother Nalan seems to have encountered difficulties? We are close friends - if there are troubles, feel free to speak plainly. Let me see if I can offer any assistance."
Nalan Cuo seemed to struggle with how to voice his request. After hesitating, he steeled himself and said,
"This subject has an audacious request... I wish to ask the Prince to take Ru Ge as a spouse!"
"Me?" Xiao Jingyan was astonished, thinking it was merely a jest. He couldn't help but laugh. "Brother Nalan jests with me?"
But Nalan Cuo maintained a solemn expression.
"This matter concerning my daughter's future is no jesting issue. To be frank with the Prince, my wife suffers from a grave illness with not many months left. We have kept this from Ru Ge, but now the palace selection draws near. If she is chosen to remain in the palace, it may be the last we see of each other... As a contingency, the only way to prevent my wife from dying without seeing our daughter again is for the Prince to take Ru Ge as a spouse."
He spoke through tears, even preparing to kneel before Xiao Jingyan.
Xiao Jingyan quickly helped Nalan Cuo up, saying sternly,
"Brother Nalan must not do this. If you worry about Mrs. Nalan passing without seeing Ru Ge again, that need not concern you. Should Mrs. Nalan's condition worsen, I can request the Emperor to allow Ru Ge leave to visit. But to ask me to take her as a spouse..."
Xiao Jingyan shook his head firmly.
"I have someone else in my heart, and have vowed to myself never to marry another. Moreover, I am nine years Ru Ge's senior and have watched her grow up, seeing her as a younger relation. For me to take her as a spouse would truly be a disservice to her future."
