Chapter 49

  In terms of emotions, Bai Minshi is a shy person who is not good at expressing herself. She has also met people she thought were okay, but because she chose to quietly like them, she missed the opportunity to interact with them. The current Murong Feng is also an introverted woman, and even more so. Perhaps it's because she has combined the characteristics of two girls that now she looks at things more lightly and casually.

  She likes this Sima Minglang, but it's just a joy in her heart, as if she had met an acquaintance in the vast crowd of people, feeling very happy. She doesn't want to ask for anything or expect anything, being able to see him in the vast crowd is already lucky, and if she really wants to demand results, she's afraid it will only end in disappointment.

  "Is your name Murong Feng, as Rui'er said?" Sima Minglang asked with a smile, his tone gentle. "It's interesting to think about it, we're meeting for the first time, but I feel like I've seen you before, and though we're strangers, you seem more familiar than an acquaintance."

  Murong Feng's face turned slightly red, he lowered his head and secretly scolded himself for losing composure. It was just a skipped heartbeat, why did it seem like they were deeply in love at first sight? "Greetings, Uncle Emperor. Feng has seen the Emperor."

  "I didn't say anything wrong, did I, Your Imperial Highness? I am the best candidate for a husband in the hearts of the women of the Great Xing Dynasty. Haha." Sima Rui smiled carelessly, as long as Murong Feng was happy, everything was fine, and it seemed that Murong Feng didn't dislike this person.

  "Indeed, a woman with a beautiful appearance and inner wisdom. Rui'er, you are truly a fortunate person." Sima Minglang smiled slightly, seemingly no longer interested in the woman in front of him, turned his head to chat with Sima Rui, "I heard that your father has recently taken in many beauties, you children will have to concede to him, by the way, where is your father?"

  "It's probably around the time of Li Fei or Xue Fei." Sima Rui smiled slightly and said faintly, "Isn't the Emperor also just acquired a beautiful aunt? Why didn't she come together?"

  "She's just pregnant and it's inconvenient, so she stays at home." Sima Minglang's gaze swept over Murong Feng unintentionally, like a startled swan, and others couldn't detect it. In his heart, he secretly admired her, indeed a beautiful woman with elegant temperament, refined and otherworldly. No wonder Sima Rui, who had always been carefree in the Jianghu and didn't talk about emotions, would be so concerned, and even used excessive praise when mentioning her in letters.

  Murong Feng, however, caught that fleeting glance and suddenly felt a warmth in his heart, but his face remained calm. He hated that they had not met before the engagement, whether it was love or not, she was already Sima Rui's nominal wife. How could he try to love someone else? Neither Bai Min nor Murong Feng were people who would easily abandon their traditional values, even if they didn't love each other, they couldn't like someone else in this situation.

  "Maple." Sima Minglang's warm and gentle voice, with a hint of seniority, had a slightly distant tone, but the intonation was filled with joy that he tried to conceal. "Rui'er mentioned you repeatedly in his letters, saying how much he liked you, and now that I've met you, you're indeed a woman worthy of Rui'er's affection. Your uncle wants to congratulate you both. May you two grow old together."

  "Thank you, Uncle Huang." Murong Feng had returned to normal, his entire being was calm and tranquil, without any ripples or waves.

  "You may have some misconceptions about Rui'er." Sima Minglang still spoke in a gentle tone, unhurried and calm. "Actually, Rui'er is not a bad person, even with his shortcomings, he's worth your effort to accept him."

  "The emperor is really biased, how did Sima Rui persuade the emperor to praise him so bluntly?" Murong Feng smiled and teased, "Feng'er has not yet discovered his strengths, but his weaknesses can be spoken out loud."

  This smile lit up Sima Minglang's heart, this woman was indeed captivating.

  "How dare I persuade the Emperor, he doesn't listen to others, even my father knows that the Emperor is stubborn." Sima Rui said cheerfully, standing beside Murong Feng all along, he didn't notice the appreciation in the Emperor's eyes and the shyness in Murong Feng's eyes.

  "Rui'er, he seems to really like you." Sima Minglang smiled slightly, with a hint of hidden meaning in his tone, looking at Murong Feng and saying quietly, "Having watched him grow up since childhood, he was always a good kid. Don't look at how he's gone astray now, letting outsiders think he's a useless piece of wood that can't be carved, but he really is a genuine person."

  Murong Feng wasn't ignorant, and he too felt the joy of meeting an old friend in a foreign land. However, he was the Emperor's uncle, a man with a wife and concubines, while she was Sima Rui's consort, also someone else's wife. All they could have was mutual admiration.

  She also smiled, speaking quietly and looking at Sima Rui, with a clear gaze. "He is Feng'er's husband, if he doesn't like Feng'er, but instead likes another woman, do you think he dares?"

  Simarui burst out laughing, stretched out his hand to put it around Murong Feng's shoulder and said happily: "If you say that Simarui was a playboy in the past, I wouldn't dare deny it. But since meeting Feng'er, I've been as chaste as jade, isn't that right, Feng'er?"

  Murong Feng smiled, "As if, I remember that on the first night when Feng'er entered the imperial palace, someone was making fun of Feng'er in front of her maid. And I also remember that my first meeting with a certain person was still at..."

  "Alright, alright, Mu Rong Yu, you've got me there." Sima Rui's face turned red as he hastily apologized. What Mu Rong Yu said was the truth - at first, he had indeed been that way. However, back then, he hadn't expected Mu Rong Yu to be such a lovely and elegant woman. His impression of her before wasn't like this; perhaps she had been quiet, so everyone overlooked it and only saw the beautiful and lovely Mu Rong Xue.

  Simar Minglang smiled slightly, his smile containing tolerance and a hint of loss. Faintly, even he himself didn't realize it, he quite liked the woman in front of him. However, he felt that his liking for her was also because she was Rui'er's consort, and Rui'er had always been one of his favorite younger relatives. Seeing him was like seeing his own youthful self, carefree and impulsive.

  The emperor walked in from outside, his bright and clear voice could be heard, "Imperial brother, is everything well? I heard that you've been very pleased with yourself lately, to the point where it's making me envious."

  "Haha, each other, just now Rui'er said that his father the emperor was with one of his new concubines, and when did the imperial brother also indulge in a romantic affair." Sima Minglang teased, since childhood, he had the best relationship with this imperial brother.

  The emperor smiled, "Well, it's really two wonderful people. How about this, Rui, you tell the imperial kitchen to prepare a delicious meal, I want to entertain your royal uncle, and you and Feng'er can accompany him together. Also, let Gao Gonggong bring Xue Fei and Li Fei to celebrate, and let your royal uncle get to know them."

  Simarui nodded.

  "Let's set the banquet at Guan Yue Lou, and for now, don't need to let your empress mother come over. You, this imperial uncle, are only afraid of one person, which is your empress mother. If she comes, I'm afraid you'll have to carefully conceal your 'lustful' nature!" The emperor laughed loudly, teasing him.

  "Royal brother is joking." Sima Minglang smiled slightly, "Minglang has already gone to see the elder sister-in-law, and Minglang is not afraid of the elder sister-in-law, but rather respects her. The elder sister-in-law is a steady and virtuous person who makes Minglang feel deeply respectful. It's probably the royal brother, surrounded by beauties on both sides, facing the elder sister-in-law, who doesn't dare to be unrestrained."

  The emperor burst out laughing and seeing Sima Minglang, he was really delighted.