ebookland Chapter 348 Notes
Chapter 348 Notes
Guan Xin's hand trembled, and she knocked the cup to the ground. She stared wide-eyed at Luo An, unable to utter a word, or perhaps too afraid to speak.
If what Luo An said is true, then she and Luo An... Guan Xin didn't dare to think any further: Was fate so cruel to her?
Luo An saved her with one sentence: "That girl died later."
Guan Xin took a breath and reached for the cup: water, she needed to drink water. But where was the cup? It was just here a moment ago!
Luo An leaned over and placed his cup in her hand. Guan Xin gulped down the water before realizing that it was Luo An's cup and water.
Luo An took the teapot and refilled her cup, intending to end the conversation: "Back then, the late Emperor and the current Emperor wanted to elevate Guan Lingyue to the position of Empress, and they took great care of Guan Lingyue and Luo Anxin. After that child died, Guan Lingyue disappeared."
The Emperor summoned me, emphasizing that your mother had been kind to the royal family, my family, my father, and me. Regardless of who your father is, as long as your mother is Guan Lingyue, you are a benefactor to our family.
The emperor rarely had the opportunity to speak with him alone. This time, he specially summoned him to the palace for Guan Xin's sake, which made it clear that even if Luo An could not treat Guan Xin well, he should never mistreat him!
Hearing this, her mother must have had a really tough life! She wandered from place to place, enduring countless hardships to become someone's concubine. Her daughter died, and her second husband also died. She spent more than ten years in Guanjia Village with her orphaned daughter, and died of depression.
Guan Xin calmed down and slowly sorted out his thoughts: "Young Master, how did that girl die?"
Luo An shook his head: "His Majesty didn't say."
Since the emperor hasn't said anything, it must not be a good thing. Luo An imagined the situation back then and could only guess that it was his mother who was behind it.
Guan Xin then asked, "What did my mother steal for the madam back then?"
Luo An remained silent for a long time, so long that Guan Xin thought he wouldn't answer, before finally hearing two words: "Military tally."
The past is just past; it never truly disappears. The people in those past stories are gone, but the tales continue.
Luo An was silent from a young age, but he had a very early memory. He still remembers being raised in the palace as a child and growing up with An Liangchen.
His father had promised to pick him up, but he had waited from morning till almost sunset, and his father hadn't shown up. He sat quietly on the mat, trying to unravel the nine-linked rings.
Luo An was young but had a big temper, as all the palace maids knew. As long as he was quiet, the maids dared not disturb him.
An Liangchen was only a few months older than him, so he didn't understand any of this. He saw that Luo An solved the nine-linked rings very quickly and thought that the nine-linked rings in his hand were better than the toys all over the ground, so he reached out to grab them.
Luo An, enraged, smashed the nine-linked rings across An Liangchen's face. The child's fair skin and tender flesh immediately left a scratch near his eye.
At the time, Zhao Ziyu, who was still the Crown Princess, was heartbroken. When Luo Qing came over, she immediately hugged An Liangchen and said, "Look, if it's even slightly off, just a tiny bit, it will hit her in the eye and she'll definitely go blind."
Zhao Ziyu was known for her virtue and gentleness, and had a deep friendship with Luo Qing. However, when she first spoke to Luo Qing, her tone was resentful. Luo Qing, with a forced smile, took her back to the Luo residence.
Luo An must have been a little over one year old but not quite two at the time, but he remembered many other things, big and small. Why did he have no memory of his stepmother, the stepmother who gave birth to his younger sister, the stepmother whom the late emperor and the crown prince had tried to make his principal wife?
Hong Hua was teaching his grandson to walk in the yard. He stood about ten feet away from his grandson, arms outstretched, waiting. The grandson stumbled and ran into his arms, and Hong Hua picked him up and happily spun him around.
If you hadn't seen it with your own eyes, who would know that this kind-looking old man with gray hair was once the famous commander of the Imperial Guards?
As Hong Hua spun around with his child, he caught a glimpse of a figure at the door and thought he was seeing things. He put his grandson down and looked again before he was sure it was Luo An, who was carrying a box of things without even a guard.
Luo An was the first to greet him: "Uncle Hong."
Uncle Hong? How could he possibly accept such an honor? Hong Hua quickly stepped forward, saying repeatedly, "I dare not accept such an honor, young master, please come in, please come in. Madam, please make some tea."
Hong Hua came from a farming family and was always frugal and simple. He had no servants when he was an official, and he became even more diligent and thrifty after resigning. His wife and two daughters-in-law usually handled all the household affairs.
Madam Hong brought over the tea, and upon seeing Luo An, she forgot all her manners, her tone full of surprise and doubt: "Young Master?"
Even when the Crown Prince came, Madam Hong treated it as a normal occurrence; it was only natural for the Crown Prince to comfort an old minister. But Luo An had absolutely no connection with their family.
Luo An remained calm and placed the box on the table, then opened it: "Uncle Hong loves bamboo shoots, so I specially brought you some spotted bamboo shoots. Please accept them, Uncle and Aunt."
Madam Hong and Hong Hua exchanged a glance. Madam Hong placed the tea in front of Luo An and tentatively asked, "According to the laws of Dongyang, military officers retire at the age of sixty."
My husband retired from his official post when he reached a certain age. In the past few years, he's spent all his time at home playing with the kids. Not only has all his martial arts skills gone to waste, but he can't even remember things anymore..."
At this time when Dongyang needs capable people, it is not impossible that His Majesty and the Crown Prince would like to bring Honghua back to the army.
Luo An understood Madam Hong's meaning: "Aunt, my father-in-law and Uncle were brothers back then. My wife was taken care of by Uncle when she was in Bianjing, and I have always remembered it. Today, I came here specifically to wish Uncle and Aunt a Happy New Year and express my gratitude."
Mrs. Hong breathed a sigh of relief: "Then you two chat, I'm going to take my grandson."
Having served as an official in the court for many years, Hong Hua was naturally adept at judging character. It was normal for Nian Yao to come and pay her New Year's visit, and it was also fine for Nian Yao to come with Luo An, but it was suspicious that Luo An came alone.
Hong Hua, having recovered his composure, didn't beat around the bush with Luo An: "Young master, please speak frankly."
This was the first time Luo An had ever used such formality, even in front of the emperor and the crown prince, with such respectful titles, carefully selected gifts, and the usual polite phrases.
Luo An felt that was enough and immediately said, "Guan Lingyue, I want to know everything about her."
Honghua and Yaochi's father had a good relationship. He rose step by step from a palace guard to the position of commander of the Imperial Guards. He should be very familiar with both the palace and the Luo family.
Guan Lingyue?! Hong Hua leaned back slightly, in an attempt to avoid her.
Luo An didn't urge him, but picked up his tea and sipped it slowly, his calm demeanor suggesting he could wait indefinitely.
Hong Hua was a military general, and he had seen most people trying to gather intelligence on military matters. Why would someone with such sentimental feelings ask him about it? If they really wanted to know the inside story, wouldn't the emperor and the crown prince know it much better?
Hong Hua straightened his posture and said cautiously, "Young master, I am a military general and don't pay much attention to women's affairs."
Luo An's tone was calm yet authoritative: "Not really concerned? That means you are concerned. Just say how much you're concerned."
Hong Hua knew Luo An and had heard many rumors about him, but had never actually interacted with him. This was their first time meeting face-to-face in person. He then realized that the aloof young man before him possessed a natural nobility and a restrained domineering air, brooking no refusal.