Reborn: The First Rank "Madam"

C230 – Because I’m Not You

“Young master, we’ve arrived.” The sedan bearer stopped the sedan at the entrance of Duke Zhen Manor and looked at the hanging signboard in admiration.

Cao Zongguan got off the palanquin and told them to go back first before walking up the steps alone.

The concierge had already received the notification, so he only took a cursory glance at the post Cao Zongguan handed him, then glanced at Cao Zongguan before bringing him in.

This was Cao Zongguan’s first time at the Wu Steel Manor, so it was inevitable that he would be curious. However, the etiquette and education they had taught him all this time made him not look around. He only used his peripheral vision to observe the scenery on both sides.

Walking along a long corridor, Cao Zongguan had an initial impression of the Wu Steel Manor, which was that it was big, quiet, and had fewer people.

After counting the number of people in the mansion, Cao Zongguan felt relieved.

“This little brother, are there any other guests in the mansion today?” Cao Zongguan asked in an unconcerned manner.

“So far, you’re the first.” attendant, who led the way, didn’t say much. He answered Cao Zongguan’s question directly, and his attitude was neither servile nor overbearing.

Cao Zongguan knew that the servants in this mansion were all strictly trained. It would be weird if they were to tell everything to others.

After passing through two courtyards, Cao Zongguan finally saw one of the owners of the mansion.

“Brother Cao, you’re here?” Zuo Shaoqing walked out of the pavilion and did not bother to be polite with him. He just welcomed the person into the pavilion that had already been set up.

Cao Zongguan looked at the surrounding scenery and did not see the flower clusters as he had imagined. There were aquatic plants growing in the pool and a few edible fish swimming happily. The most common food around were pine, cypress, and bamboo trees.

Zuo Shaoqing followed his gaze and said embarrassedly, “There are not many people in the house, and the place is too busy to handle. Plus, the old lady and Master Lu aren’t flower-lovers, so they specifically choose good things to grow.”

“No, that’s good!” Cao Zongguan praised sincerely: “As expected of Duke Zhen’s style.”

This pavilion was built on the water because he liked it, but he was afraid of the cold. Before Lu Zheng came back, he had someone build this place into a warm pavilion. The place was a little small, but it was very warm.

Zuo Shaoqing washed his hands and burned incense, then he boiled a pot of Longjing before the rain and poured a cup for each of them. Then he asked: “We haven’t seen each other for a long time. How is Brother Cao now?”

“I haven’t thanked you for saving my life.” Cao Zongguan stood up and bowed to Zuo Shaoqing. “If it weren’t for Shao Qing, I’d probably have been decapitated long ago.”

“It was nothing more than a small effort. It’s mainly because Brother Cao did not commit any unforgivable acts.”

Cao Zongguan felt guilty, but he knew that he couldn’t make up for it with just a few words, “If there’s anything you can use from me in the future, please feel free to say it, even if the possibility is not high.”

With Zuo Shaoqing’s current position, not to mention Duke Zhen’s residence, even the officials would have their own trusted aides. There was really nothing that needed him.

“Brother Cao is being too polite.” If it was according to the trajectory of history, Cao Zongguan might have already married his elder cousin, and the two might not be happy at first, but his elder cousin knew how to live.

Cao Zongguan drank a few cups of hot tea and gradually suppressed his discomfort. Then, he started to chat with Zuo Shaoqing from head to toe.

He had learned a lot and was not much worse than Zuo Shaoqing. If Zuo Shaoqing had no experience from his previous life, he might not have been better than Cao Zongguan in the field.

“Then Brother Cao, are you planning to continue working hard in the next Imperial Examinations?”

Speaking of this, Cao Zongguan thought of someone. His ears were a bit red, so he just answered with a “yeah”.

Seeing his awkward expression, someone who was using his clairvoyant eyes to peep at him chuckled in a unclear manner and laughed.

“Your Majesty, your so-called ‘meeting someone’ refers to this method?” Lu Zheng asked sinisterly from behind him.

Zhan Yuanfeng had secretly come with them this morning. He then found an excuse and said that he wanted to play chess with Lu Zheng alone. After separating from Zuo Shaoqing, he pulled him over to occupy this tall building.

This building was directly facing the yard that Zuo Shaoqing and the others were in. Although it was quite far away, they never expected that Zhan Yuanfeng had even brought the clairvoyant. It was obvious that he had planned this beforehand.

“Cough, cough …” Hearing Lu Zheng’s voice, Zhan Yuanfeng immediately let go of Clairvoyant. He turned around and solemnly looked at Lu Zheng, “I just want to see what that person looks like. If he’s too ugly, I’ll be gone.”

Lu Zheng did not expose him. “So Your Majesty’s path of knowledge is based on the face of man. I wonder if this High Scholar Cao is suitable for your eyes?”

“Not bad, that’s all.” Zhan Yuanfeng leaned on the windowsill as if he was trying hard to recall that person’s appearance. He muttered, “In terms of appearance, he is naturally inferior to the Left Official.” But why did he feel that his blushing face was so attractive?

Lu Zheng raised his eyebrows and pretended that he didn’t hear his words. He said with allure, “In the harem, each and every one of you are supreme beauties. Why should Your Majesty care about the looks of others?” It was a man.

“Have you guessed it?” Zhan Yuanfeng wasn’t surprised at all, he was just a bit embarrassed.

“I wasn’t sure at first, but after seeing your initial appearance, I knew everything.”

Zhan Yuanfeng touched his face. Beginning love? Could it be that Lu Zheng didn’t learn it well when he was young? It seemed that a martial general was a martial general, and their literary attainments were quite lacking.

He sighed. “I don’t know what’s going on either. Things are suddenly moving in an unpredictable direction. If …”

He did not finish his sentence, but Lu Zheng more or less understood what he meant. He frowned and said: “I don’t agree with what you’re doing.”

“Why?” Zhan Yuanfeng asked doubtfully: “You can even marry a man, and you can ignore ethics, the doubts of the world, and the incense of Lu Family. We thought you would be the one who would support us the most.”

“Because I’m not you.” Lu Zheng responded with six short words, but it was enough to kill Zhan Yuanfeng’s rising passion.

“What if you were in my place?”

“Impossible!”

“I’m talking about ‘if’!”

“How can there be such a thing?”

“Lu Aiqing, you’re too inflexible!” Zhan Yuanfeng sat at the table and poured a glass of wine into his stomach, “This Emperor just wants to know what you would do if it were you.”

“Since we’ve met, we naturally won’t let go. If we haven’t met, we won’t force it.” Lu Zheng answered as if it was a matter of course.

He had given up on the idea of having a child ever since he knew of his sexual orientation. It was good to be able to find someone to accompany him throughout his life, but if he didn’t, then he didn’t plan on doing so.

“What would have happened if the Left Official hadn’t accepted you?”

Lu Zheng glanced at him, “Your majesty, you don’t have to beat around the bush and switch your tasks to this subject. Where did all these ‘ifs’ come from?”

“Ugh …” Zhan Yuanfeng choked a bit, but he also knew that the encounters between humans and machines were not different. He was not Lu Zheng, nor was Zuo Shaoqing. Even if they got along with each other in a foreign land, they might not be able to succeed.

While sipping the wine, Zhan Yuanfeng tried many different futures, but none of them were perfect.

At the end of the day, he did not have the determination to give up everything for a man. To him, Cao Zongguan was like a piece of bone with meat.

Back then, he had been able to persevere for ten years as he sought the throne, and had successfully shaped the image of a filial and benevolent prince. After taking the throne, even though he was distant from the imperial government, he had never wavered in his determination to clean it up, and had never expected that he would end up losing to a man.

As expected, the word ‘love’ was the most harmful!

“Before the rumors subside, it would be better for the emperor to think about it. No matter what decision you make, this subject will always support you.”

Zhan Yuanfeng raised his head and said gratefully, “Lu Aiqing, you are really the official who has saved Zhen the most trouble.” He was capable, loyal, not noisy, and didn’t have much to do. There really wasn’t anyone more suited to his needs than him.

Thinking of those stubborn old officials, Zhan Yuanfeng was the first and the second.

Lu Zheng rolled his eyes and explained, “This subject only feels that this is a personal matter. As long as the Emperor is not a tyrant, loving a man and loving a woman has nothing to do with this subject.”

Zhan Yuanfeng shook his head and smiled bitterly: “If only those old antiques could think like that too.” Actually, he also understood that the imperial harem and the court officials had always been inextricably linked. Only a fifth-generation heir like Wu Steel Manor had no relationship with the royal family.

If Lu Zheng had a daughter or sister in the palace, he wouldn’t be so easy to talk to.

Lu Zheng glanced at him and reminded him, “It’s getting late, you can’t let them sit around drinking tea, can you?”

Zhan Yuanfeng paused for a moment, then stood up and straightened his sleeves that didn’t have the slightest crease. He said with a hint of joy, “Let’s go meet that person.”