GBP Chapter 100 Express your feelings
Chapter 100 Express your feelings
Xuan Yuan Rong'er sat on a stone bench in the backyard of the Ni Chang Pavilion, a pot of wine in her hand, her eyes lost and forlorn. She had thought she would never find a suitable husband in her life. The marriage arranged for her by her parents was something she was unwilling to do; and the men who had stirred her heart had no interest in her whatsoever. At this moment, she was extremely depressed and could only drown her sorrows in alcohol.
Just then, a guard slowly approached. Seeing Xuan Yuan Rong'er drinking alone, he felt a surge of concern. So, he softly asked, "Miss Xuan Yuan, you seem to be preoccupied. Why are you drinking alone here? If there's anything troubling you, you might as well tell me. Perhaps it will make you feel better."
Hearing the guard's question, Xuan Yuan Rong'er raised her head, tears blurring her beautiful eyes. She sobbed, "I'm probably the most pitiful person in the whole world, Guard Ximen. You don't know, but today I went on a blind date, and the man rejected me, saying he didn't like a woman like me at all. Waaah..." Overwhelmed with sorrow, she could no longer contain her grief and burst into tears.
Seeing this, the guard quickly stepped forward, gently patted Xuan Yuan Rong'er's shoulder, and comforted her, "Miss Xuan Yuan, please don't cry anymore. In fact, in my eyes, you have always been so beautiful, it's just that you haven't realized it yourself. I truly think that you are not only stunningly beautiful, but also have a forthright and heroic personality, you are a rare and wonderful woman."
However, Xuan Yuan Rong'er was not listening to these words at the moment. She shook her head with a wry smile and replied, "Stop comforting me. I know my own abilities very well. You don't need to exaggerate and praise me like that."
But the guard did not give up. He took a deep breath, looked at Xuan Yuan Rong'er with a determined expression, and said solemnly, "Xuan Yuan Rong'er, I am not joking or trying to comfort you. I want to tell you from the bottom of my heart that I like you! This feeling is not a momentary impulse, but a true feeling that has been buried deep in my heart for a long time."
Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuan Rong'er's beautiful face instantly lit up with surprise. Her bright, autumn-water-like eyes sparkled with disbelief as she abruptly raised her head and looked directly at the guard. Her lips parted slightly, and she asked in a trembling voice, "Brother Guard, is what you just said true? Could I have misheard?"
Seeing this, the guard quickly nodded repeatedly and replied sincerely, "Miss Xuanyuan, every word I said is absolutely true and comes from the bottom of my heart! There is not a single falsehood!"
Upon hearing this, Xuan Yuan Rong'er felt an indescribable surge of emotion. She bit her lower lip slightly, as if gathering immense courage, and then softly asked again, "If that's the case, then...would you be willing to marry me?" As soon as the words left her mouth, two blushes instantly appeared on her fair, jade-like cheeks, like ripe apples, making her extremely shy and adorable.
The guard nodded without hesitation, answering decisively, "Of course I'm willing, Miss! As long as you're willing to spend your life with me, I will treat you with all my heart. Rest assured, if there are any delicious dishes in the future, I will save them for you to enjoy first; if I acquire gold, silver, jewels, or exquisite jewelry, I will keep them safe for you. I wish to spend my whole life with you, hand in hand, never to leave you, and I will never betray your deep affection and high expectations!"
“In that case, let’s wait patiently for Ye Beichen’s return and ask him to officiate this grand and romantic wedding for us,” Xuan Yuan Rong’er suggested softly, a radiant smile blooming on her pretty face. Her bright, star-like eyes sparkled with happiness and anticipation. The guard beside her immediately nodded in agreement, promising to do his utmost to ensure the wedding went smoothly.
Meanwhile, within the magnificent palace, the atmosphere was both solemn and lively. Distinguished envoys from afar stood respectfully before the Emperor and Empress, preparing to bid them farewell. These envoys had come on behalf of their respective city-states to facilitate the marriage between Princess Mia and the current Prime Minister. Now that their mission was accomplished, they were about to embark on their journey home.
The leading envoy stepped forward, bowed deeply, and said earnestly, "Your Majesty, Your Majesty the Emperor and Empress, thanks to your kindness and support, our Princess Mia has successfully entered into a marriage with your Prime Minister. Our entire city-state is deeply honored and gratified by this auspicious union. Now that our mission has been successfully completed, we are about to depart for our homeland. We have come to bid farewell to Your Majesty and Empress, hoping that we may meet again in the future!"
The Emperor nodded slightly, a solemn expression on his face, and replied slowly, "You have all come from afar, enduring hardship to facilitate this beautiful marriage. Your city lord has been even more generous, sending many rare and precious treasures as congratulatory gifts. How could I let you leave empty-handed? I have decided to reciprocate with one hundred bolts of fine silk, a chest of dazzling pearls, a chest each of invaluable ginseng and lingzhi mushrooms, and a pair of exquisitely carved jade ruyi scepters, as a token of my appreciation. I hope this small gift will help you have a smooth journey and arrive safely at your homeland."
Upon hearing the Emperor's generous words of reward, the leader of the visiting envoys hurriedly bowed and expressed his gratitude, his excitement evident in his words: "Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty! The gifts bestowed by Your Majesty are all rare treasures. We will cherish them all the more and take Your Majesty's benevolence and kindness back to our city and remember them forever."
Immediately afterwards, the dignified and graceful Empress nodded slightly, parted her lips, and slowly began to speak: "Our Southern Song Dynasty's pastries have always been renowned for their exquisite taste. Today, I have specially prepared some drinks and pastries to present to you all. Among them are two boxes of Guanghan Cake, with its soft, glutinous, and sweet flavor; two boxes of Chestnut Cake, with its intoxicatingly rich chestnut aroma; two boxes of Osmanthus Cake, with its refreshing osmanthus fragrance; and two boxes of Danai Cake, which have a unique flavor. In addition, there are one box each of Lotus Flower Pastry, shaped like a blooming lotus flower, and Peach Blossom Pastry, shaped like a delicate peach blossom. As for the drinks, there is one jar of Perilla Drink, with its pleasant fragrance; one jar of Ginger Honey Water, with its warm and sweet taste; one bottle of Bayberry Juice, with its sweet and sour flavor; and one bottle of Grape Juice, with its fruity aroma. I hope these will allow you to enjoy the delicacies and fine wines of our Southern Song Dynasty on your journey."
Upon hearing this, the visiting envoys were overjoyed and quickly bowed again, saying in unison, "Thank you for your great favor, Your Majesty the Empress! Long live the Empress!" Their voices were clear and resonant, echoing throughout the palace.
The Empress smiled gently and said softly, "No need for formalities! You have all come from afar, you must be tired. It is a fine day, a perfect time to travel, so please set off soon and have a safe journey!" Her gaze was warm and kind, like a spring breeze.
Then, the visiting envoys ascended the ornate chairs atop the waiting mammoths. At a command, the massive yet sturdy mammoths, their powerful limbs swaying, slowly marched towards the palace gates. Adorned with vibrant silks and gold and silver jewels, they were a magnificent sight. As the mammoths moved forward, the procession gradually receded into the distance, leaving behind a cloud of dust. Finally, this grand procession disappeared from sight, heading towards their distant homeland.
Ye Beichen and Su Yuning were a match made in heaven. Today, with the sun shining brightly and a gentle breeze blowing, the two came to the beach to play and frolic. The azure sea and the white sand complemented each other, creating a breathtakingly beautiful scene.
However, just as they were immersed in their joy, Su Yuning suddenly disappeared without a trace! This unexpected change made Ye Beichen extremely anxious. He stared wide-eyed and anxiously searched everywhere for the figure of his beloved.
Ye Beichen ran wildly along the coastline, leaving no corner unchecked. He asked the vendors at nearby stalls, but the answers were all disappointing—no one had seen the beautiful and charming girl.
Despair gradually welled up in his heart, but Ye Beichen did not give up. He took a deep breath, calmed himself down, and took out a signal firework from his pocket, lighting it with trembling hands. With a sharp whistling sound, the colorful firework shot straight into the sky, blooming with dazzling light in the night sky.
Meanwhile, night had quietly fallen. In the bustling night market, Xuan Yuan Rong'er was having dinner with a guard. Suddenly, the guard caught a glimpse of dazzling signal fireworks flashing in the distant sky. His expression changed, and he instantly realized that something was wrong.
"Oh no! Our lord must be in danger!" The guard stood up abruptly and said to Xuan Yuan Rong'er with a tense expression, "Miss Xuan Yuan, I'm so sorry. Our young lord is probably in big trouble right now, and I must go to help him immediately. Please take care!" After saying that, he turned and left hastily without waiting for Xuan Yuan Rong'er's reply, quickly disappearing into the vast night.
"Don't worry, I will." The sensible Xuan Yuan Rong'er nodded repeatedly like a well-behaved little white rabbit, her bright, star-like eyes shining with determination and courage.
Immediately afterward, the guard, like an arrow released from a bow, galloped towards the Rainbow Pavilion with lightning speed. He was agile and swift, disappearing from sight in the blink of an eye. Upon entering the pavilion, he quickly gathered his equipment, carefully sheathing his incredibly sharp, gleaming sword at his waist. Then, with lightning speed, he mounted his horse, cracked his whip, and spurred his steed on like a whirlwind, galloping straight towards the area where the signal had been sent. At the same time, the other attendants in the city, not to be outdone, also spurred their horses on, kicking up dust as they hurried towards their destination to support their beloved lord.
Before long, the group arrived at the beach. However, to everyone's surprise, all they saw was Ye Beichen's lonely and forlorn figure. The sea breeze howled, causing his clothes to flutter, adding to his desolate appearance. Seeing this, a guard hurriedly stepped forward, his face filled with anxiety, and asked first, "Lord, what... what's going on? Why are you alone here? Where is Miss Su?"
Ye Beichen slowly raised his head, his once handsome face now shrouded in endless sorrow. His lips trembled slightly, and his voice was low and hoarse as he replied, "Alas, it's all my fault for being negligent and failing to protect her properly. Now, she has mysteriously disappeared without a trace. The reason I've urgently summoned everyone here is to hope that we can use your help to find Su Yuning's whereabouts. If anyone can successfully find Miss Su, I, the lord, will reward them handsomely! There's no time to lose; I urge everyone to act quickly!"
Upon hearing their lord's words, everyone felt a sudden pang in their hearts, as if gripped tightly by an invisible hand, making it difficult to breathe. They exchanged glances, a hint of astonishment and unease in their eyes, but quickly responded in unison, "Yes, sir!" These two words resounded like thunder in the air, demonstrating their resolute determination to carry out the order.
Without the slightest hesitation, everyone turned around resolutely and scattered like arrows, rushing off in different directions. Each person hurried along, as if chased by a demon; this search was destined to be filled with tension and excitement.
Who would have thought that the mastermind behind all these events would be Nangong Xiawu's mother—the esteemed Madam Nangong! Originally, she should have been dignified, virtuous, and a model of virtue for the nation, but she was driven to murderous intent by her daughter Xiaodoukou's tearful plea.
Now, the young girl, missing her family, asked for leave to go home. Upon seeing her mother, she could no longer contain her grievances, and tears streamed down her face like a burst dam, as she poured out all the injustices she had suffered. After hearing her daughter's story, Madam Nangong felt heartbroken and her hatred for Su Yuning intensified, her teeth grinding together.