Were people in ancient times not as open-minded? Wasn’t it only during the prosperous period of the Han dynasty that customs became more liberal?
Xue Ce did not answer me, instead turning his head away.
Ning Shu’s heart felt complicated. Da Sheng wasn’t like this? Even in modern times, some people still have prejudice against men and men being together, and the law doesn’t even recognize same-sex marriage.
Ning Shu had some complex feelings. Da Sheng wasn’t like this? Even in modern times, some people still prejudice against men and men giving way to each other, and legally there is no recognition of same-sex marriage.
: “…….”
I thought to myself, perhaps it’s better to just act naturally. That way, the prince wouldn’t think I was playing hard to get.
Then he wrote another note, which was probably not a gift of thanks to the Prince, but rather a way of saying that I am unworthy of such a grand gift. Please ask the Prince to refrain from sending me any more gifts in the future.
I lowered my head, knowing exactly what he wanted.
But this thought was quickly interrupted by Xue Ce. The young man in black seemed to have discovered the Xuan paper inside the lunchbox intended for Yi Ran.
Ning Shu looked at me with her eyes wide, shaking her head.
The Fifth Prince saw from afar that Qing Zhu was causing a commotion among the people, arguing with them. I had no recollection of this servant, so I walked over and said, “What’s going on?”
Xue Ce slightly turned his face upon hearing this.
Although Ning Shu didn’t have that idea, from what I see, if she wasn’t getting married, then she would just have to find someone with a good appearance to stay with.
Qingzhu could only say, “I’m not bringing things to the Prince on behalf of my young master.”
Xue Ce, upon hearing this, paused slightly. I stared intently at the lunchbox.
Ning Shu was shocked. I’ve been here for over ten years, and I didn’t even know where this place was. What kind of place is it?
When he got inside, the fifth prince opened the food box. He originally thought it wasn’t anything special or unfamiliar, but who knew it wasn’t an ordinary meal from Zuiyu Xuan?
The Fifth Prince’s scalp tingled, and he thought to himself, “If I weren’t here, my cousin would probably even dare to steal from the national treasury!” He couldn’t help but speak up, “We’ve already checked everywhere, how could there be nothing in the palace?”
When the young man in black came in, the Fifth Prince was still thinking about having a hot pot dinner tonight. Seeing Xue Ce, I casually said: “Cousin, no one brought us anything just now.”
I just find it strange, isn’t it just an ordinary meal, why is my cousin protecting it so fiercely?
The Fifth Prince was surprised and said, “Xue Yuyao? That’s not a very common or precious herb, is it?”
Xue Ce hummed in response, his phoenix eyes gazed straight over, those dark pupils silent: “Is there anything in the imperial palace or treasury?”
But it is not just men who suffer this fate, women do too. To be a concubine, sharing her husband with others, is no less a tragedy.
Ning Shu pursed her lips, thinking that it might not be a bad thing after all. After all, being a concubine meant being treated as a toy to play with. As for the male courtesan, he should not be like what I imagined, serving men with his beauty.
Upon seeing the Fifth Prince, the two immediately bowed in greeting.
But…Ning Shu’s heart wasn’t completely without a sliver of hope.
Now I’m actually thankful that my body is still healthy. If not for a few more years, the family would definitely be pressuring me to get married and have children.
Fifth Prince: “…….”
Out here, scholars shouldn’t just casually enter.
Thus, on the second day of Ning Shu’s attendance at school, she went with a refreshed face after a good night’s sleep.
The fifth prince, however, didn’t seem to think the topic was dangerous at all. I wonder if my cousin really would go out into the vast desert for this Xue Yuyao just for that tiny sliver of hope.
The fifth prince said, “You’re welcome.” I looked at Qing Zhu curiously and said, “I remember, weren’t we the servants beside the legitimate son of the Ning family?”
For instance, the prince didn’t like men, so he liked me.
I lowered my eyes and sat very straight.
But Ning Shu also knew that this was a very small matter. She took out all the family treasures and gave gifts for no reason. The meaning was already very clear.
……
“But it wasn’t that there were no men in the house, the inner quarters weren’t barren of concubines and maids, and there hadn’t even been any male servants yet.”
<<>>
I looked at the dish and thought, “Is it really not that good?”
If Xue Ce wasn’t really serious… What should we do then?
When the fifth prince saw me take out those foods, he felt strange. Zuiyu Xuan was not a well-known restaurant in the capital, but the fifth prince had only eaten there once and thought it tasted better than the food in the palace.
Just then, the boy in black sat down directly and got ready to eat.
When the bamboo pole snapped, it wasn’t a sound of anything amiss. Immediately, Yu Bu was quick to grab her food box and head towards Yongyao Hall. However, before I could even enter, I was stopped by someone.
“I said, “Isn’t this an ancient scripture? This thing is worth ten thousand taels of gold. It grows in the most frigid regions. What do we want this for?”
Modern marriage is not as open and free as it seems. Even though people in modern society are more open-minded, the influence of traditional values still lingers. We haven’t completely broken free from those old ways of thinking.
Ning Shu endured and said, “If a man gives way to another man, the world will see him as not following natural order.”
The fifth prince’s eyes lit up, remembering that hot pot meal. I had someone make it again according to the recipe afterwards, and we ate it a few times – it was really addictive! That hot pot was truly delicious.
But instead of indulging, Prince Xue wasn’t eating at Zui Yu Xuan. He didn’t seem to have any complaints about the food. Instead, he even brought it to his mouth with a smile. This made the crown prince truly doubt if this person before him was really his younger brother.
Xue Ce’s phoenix eyes looked over with a coldness like ice: “If you’re afraid I poisoned it, just try.”
I’m just curious, who sent this?
As soon as Shang Chu finished speaking, the Fifth Prince saw a darkness flicker in Xue Ce’s eyes, not the rolling black clouds he had expected.
Ning Shu definitely wasn’t without those thoughts. Actually, I never intended to let Dashi have a child with me. In my opinion, I’m in good health, and Lingling hasn’t told me yet what the mission objective actually is.
Hearing that it wasn’t the Ning family’s legitimate son who sent over the things, Xue Ce completely changed his attitude. He was about to strike me, my cousin, with poison!
Xue Ce ignored my words and simply said, “Do you know Xue Yuyao?”
“Who are we, and what brings us here?”
Xue Ce spoke in a flat tone, as if he wasn’t talking about drinking water, and said, “Then just kill her.”
I thought Ning Shu had made something delicious again, wasn’t her heart thinking of apologizing to my cousin?
I was deeply disappointed and didn’t even bother to finish putting the lid on the box.
Prince Xue’s face was as cold as ice, his eyes fixed on the food box on the table.
And I don’t have many sisters, nor brothers. None have been born yet to show whether they are male or female.
The emperor, upon hearing this, had us feast on stale, dirty water that night.
…but it’s not about marrying several people.
The fifth prince found it odd. Ning Shu giving her younger brother things? I just let it slide: “Isn’t there anything in here?”
Though the Fifth Prince seemed to bear no change on his stunningly beautiful face, I knew that my cousin’s heart was likely not at ease.