Chapter 283: Chapter 280: Unfortunate Love
Sang Yan pinched off a grape, popped it into her mouth, and while eating, she said, “After all, you haven’t seen each other for a few years, so naturally there are so changes.”
She said this but also asked, “What was Nanny Hu like before?”
He Ying thought for a while and said, “She was a person who took great care in her appearance. Proud yet humble, and sowhat reserved. I didn’t expect to see her today and feel a sense of weakness.”
Sang Yan didn’t take it seriously, and chuckled, “Maybe it’s because of your imposing presence?”
Her flattery amused him.
“Do I still have dignity in front of you?”
He restrained his temper around her, feeling like a very amiable person.
Sang Yan smiled without saying a word.
She continued eating grapes.
He Ying fed her a few, but she pushed them away.
“No need. I can eat them myself.”
She wasn’t too fond of him feeding her, as he liked to play with her tongue with his fingers while doing so.
“Aren’t you going to deal with the governnt affairs?”
She tactfully urged him to leave.
He Ying didn’t want to go and fed her a few more grapes before holding her lips and kissing them for a long ti, finally leaving reluctantly.
Sang Yan was left inwardly fuming: scumbag!
After the scumbag arranged for Nanny Hu to help her with affairs, she indeed had more idle ti.
When one has leisure ti, one tends to look for things to do.
Thinking it over, she thought of Luo Shan.
Luo Shan ca to the Capital City to look for her husband, and it was uncertain how her search went.
She ntioned this matter to He Ying, and he arranged for soone to take her into the palace.
When she saw Luo Shan again, it was on a bright morning.
The warm sunshine bathed her figure, dressed in a white robe with raven hair and red lips. Yet, it revealed a sense of desolation and decay.
Compared to when they first t, full of vitality and bright eyes, now she looked depressed and silent.
Sang Yan had guessed that her quest to find her husband wouldn’t be smooth, so she asked with concern, “Miss Luo, what’s the matter? What has happened?”
As a woman, she always had a bit more care for other won.
Only by caring for one another can won create a world more suited for themselves.
She knew this from the modern tis.
Luo Shan was a reserved person.
When she t the Empress, she respectfully saluted, with a deanor that was neither servile nor overbearing.
Now, hearing Sang Yan’s concern, she didn’t show any surprise but calmly said, “Replying to the Empress, this commoner has no troubles.”
There’s nothing new in this world.
Just that n often prove to be fickle, easily succumbing to wandering thoughts and betrayal.
In the end, she was the one who had misjudged him.
Since it was her mistake, she couldn’t bla others.
Any mistake, any suffering, she could bear alone.
Seeing her respond this way, Sang Yan knew she was strong-willed, so she didn’t press further and changed the topic, “Then what are your plans now?”
“I plan to return to Luozhou.”
She was originally a courtesan from Luozhou’s brothels.
Having so dical talent and a willingness to treat and help people, she had gained renown as the ‘Brothel dic’ in Luozhou.
Cui Jianqing, the son of Minister of Rites Cui Shao, ca to Luozhou to study and fell in love with her.
He didn’t mind his reputation and sought to marry her.
She also boldly married him.
The two wed in Luozhou and lived together for a year, but word got back to Minister of Rites Cui Shao.
Cui Shao, under the pretense of his mother being gravely ill, deceived Cui Jianqing into returning to the Capital City.
She waited for him in Luozhou for half a year, only to receive a heartless letter from him.
She traveled a great distance to the Capital City, seeking an explanation, only to find out he had yielded to his father’s wishes and already married a lady from a noble family.
There was no turning back.
“Then, let’s part amicably and go our separate ways.”
“Do you have any ans of making a living in Luozhou? Do you still have family at ho?”
Sang Yan asked softly.
Luo Shan remained silent.
Sang Yan then knew she probably had no ans of making a living and likely had no family, so she said, “If you are all alone, why not stay in the palace? You know so dical skills, I could appoint you as a female doctor. If you feel the palace is too restrictive, I could also arrange a residence for you outside. Who says a woman can’t establish her own household? With here, naturally, I will make sure you outshine everyone.”
She said this to avenge her as well.
That scumbag had treated her poorly and forsaken her, so she intended to make him regret it.
“Miss Luo, there’s a saying, ‘Today you ignore , but tomorrow I will be out of your reach.’ And I, the Empress, am giving you this opportunity.”
That was all she could say.
If Luo Shan was determined to leave, she would let her be.
A person who had given up on herself, no matter how much she said or did, it would be futile.
Fortunately, Luo Shan understood her well-intended efforts.
How could she not understand?
The Empress was pure-hearted and ticulous, did not press her for information, preserved her dignity, respected her, and was willing to provide her with a bright future.
“The commoner thanks the Empress.”
She accepted.
Seeing this, Sang Yan smiled and said, “Whatever you need, feel free to ask.”
Luo Shan had already seen that this Empress was a very kind person, whose every word and action were sincere, not just superficial gestures. Thus, she planned to set forth her requests.
However, before making her request, she revealed one thing, “Lady, I was once a courtesan.”
A courtesan was the most contemptible existence in the world.
She wasn’t as good as Sang Yan thought.
She did not want to conceal this, nor did she want it to be exposed later and tarnish her good reputation.
Sang Yan understood her aning and held no prejudice; in fact, she even felt so respect.
She had heard of the fa of the Eight Beauties of Qinhuai and had seen the tragic stories of the Jinling Thirteen Courtesans. For courtesans with integrity, she felt only admiration and respect.
“The lotus flower blooms from the depths of mud without being tainted.”
She expressed her attitude, “As long as you respect yourself, no one can look down upon you.”
Hearing this, Luo Shan felt relieved and thanked the Empress once again, “The commoner thanks Her Majesty the Empress for her great kindness.”
Sang Yan gave a gentle smile and gestured, “Stand up.”
They continued their conversation.
Luo Shan stated her request, “Lady, please grant your commoner a residence outside the palace. It doesn’t need to be large, just enough to accommodate .”
Sang Yan heard this and nodded, “Alright.”
She delegated the matter to her personal eunuch Little Guizi.
She also gave Luo Shan an additional 500 taels of silver for her living expenses.
“Once you’ve settled these matters, you may enter the palace to take up your duties.”
Sang Yan handed her the token for entering the palace.
Luo Shan thanked her once again.
Lunch was served in the palace hall.
He Ying frowned upon seeing Luo Shan stay for the al but did not say a word.
During the al, Sang Yan was very hospitable to her, constantly offering and serving dishes, which made him a bit dissatisfied.
He found that Sang Yan was always kind to won.
No matter who the woman was, whether familiar or not, she quickly beca open-hearted with them.
After Luo Shan left, Sang Yan talked about her arrangents, and He Ying expressed his concerns, “The background of that woman hasn’t been fully investigated, admitting her into the palace so easily might not be a good thing. Just like He Hongzhao—”
He stopped there.
Hearing this, Sang Yan also beca serious, “Yes, indeed. I got excited and made those arrangents. You should go investigate. She won’t be entering the palace for now and will be settled outside.”
She didn’t doubt Luo Shan’s character; it was mainly the shadow He Hongzhao had cast over her.
Indeed, even for He Ying’s safety, she shouldn’t have been so hasty.
Yes, she had been hasty.
As soon as she entered the palace, her guard was down, and she had lost all caution.
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