The Virtuous Concubine

Bai Xia's guarding posture made her look like a hen ready to fight for her children.

Nalan Rongruo smiled slightly. He did not mind Bai Xia's rebuke. Instead, he was happy that Concubine De had such a loyal maid by her side. "Miss Bai Xia, I just saw that the moonlight was just right and wanted to go out for a walk. I have no other intention. Since I have disturbed your pleasure, I will leave now. But this is no longer within the scope of the Concubine's Palace, so please be careful."

After hearing this, Malu and Bai Xia realized that they had walked to a remote place in front of the palace. Malu nodded gently: "Thank you, Lord Nalan, for reminding me, Bai Xia, let's go back."

Bai Xia immediately agreed after hearing this, but after taking two steps she stopped again: "Madam... where are you going?"

Seeing this, Malu couldn't help but feel a little amused. She looked around and tried to identify the way back to the palace, but the dim night made her hesitate. It was true that the two of them were not familiar with the roads in the palace, and they didn't pay much attention when they went out for a walk, so now they were lost in this remote place.

Seeing the two women looking hesitant, Nalan Rongruo took the initiative to step forward and said in a gentle and courteous manner: "If your Majesty and Miss Bai Xia don't mind, Rongruo is willing to lead the way for you two. I am quite familiar with this palace and will definitely be able to send you two back safely."

He always speaks so calmly that people can't help but feel at ease and convinced.

Malu was extremely alert: "Shouldn't Lord Nalan be at the banquet of the previous dynasty right now?"

Nalan Rongruo did not feel offended by Malu's suspicion, and patiently explained: "The emperor has left the table. It is said that he went to the Empress Huifei's place. The guards and I can rest for a while."

After hearing this, Malu's doubts were slightly alleviated. She nodded slightly to show her understanding: "I see, then there is Lord Launalan."

Nalan Rongruo led Malu and Bai Xia along the path beside the lake, through several corridors, around the quiet garden, and along the wall of the palace towards the palace. Nalan actually took Bai Xia and Malu to take a more secluded road, but he also took Malu's reputation into consideration - if they were seen, he and Concubine De would be in trouble.

Along the way, Nalan Rongruo would often whisper to Malu about the scenery and history of the palace. His profound knowledge and elegant conversation made Bai Xia look at him with new eyes. Malu naturally agreed with everything and even interrupted him when he was about to recite a few poems at an inappropriate time, asking him to walk faster.

However, when he walked to the southwest corner of the palace, Malu could not help but be deeply shocked by the scenery in front of him. Changshanyu Palace is located on a high platform. This is a fence with an unobstructed view of the palace. The white stone fence is as bright as jade under the moonlight. Looking out from the fence, you can see the steep cliffs below, the endless grassland that is shining silver in the night, and the vague mountains in the distance, forming a magnificent and tranquil picture.

Even though Malu was in a hurry to go back, he couldn't help but stop and take a deep breath of fresh air, feeling the gentle breeze of the night. Seeing this, Nalan Rongruo quietly stood beside Malu and looked at Malu who was concentrating on enjoying the scenery: "Your Majesty, it is my honor to have the opportunity to meet you again and enjoy this scenery with you."

Bai Xia was extremely surprised when she heard this. Did the Queen know Guard Nalan before? She didn't dare to speak, but just stared at the two of them with wide eyes, as if trying to find the answer from their expressions.

After hearing what Nalan said, Malu frowned and said, "Guard Nalan, you have overstepped the line." Her eyes were as deep as autumn water. She looked ahead quietly without even glancing at Rong Ruo.

Nalan Rongruo was slightly stunned, but could not help asking: "Your Majesty, please forgive me, but did you receive the flounder red tassel pendant?" There was a hint of urgency in his voice, as if this question was extremely important to him.

Malu turned around and finally looked at Nalan Rongruo's face: "What is that flatfish red tassel pendant? I have never seen it before." Bai Xia, who was standing next to him, heard this and screamed in her heart - she had seen it, she had seen it! ! What was going on between the queen and the Nalan guard!

Nalan was such a smart person that when he heard Malu's indifferent tone, he knew that she must have received it, and she must have been troubled for a long time about how to deal with it. She even had some resentment towards him. A happy smile immediately appeared on her face: "Yes, I said the wrong thing. I won't mention it again in the future."

Malu couldn't bear to see his worthless appearance, so she was about to leave, but was stopped by his words: "Your humble servant... Your humble servant is going to get engaged."

This sentence was like a thunderclap, exploding in Bai Xia's heart. What happened to Guard Nalan? ! Did he fail the Empress?

Kemalu was very calm: "Engagement? Then congratulations to Guard Nalan, and I wish Guard Nalan a happy marriage and a long-lasting love." Her reaction was beyond Bai Xia's expectations. There was not a trace of emotional fluctuation, as if this was just a very ordinary thing.

Nalan Rongruo was slightly startled, obviously not expecting Malu to react like this. He thought he would at least get some inquiries or sighs, but Malu's calmness caught him off guard: "Thank you, Your Majesty..." There was a hint of loss in his voice, but he immediately explained excitedly: "I don't want to!"

Malu raised his eyebrows. "You don't want to? Guard Nalan, marriage is a serious matter, how can it be treated as a joke? Now that you are engaged, you should take responsibility. If you act willfully, it will not only affect your own reputation, but also the reputation of that girl, and it may even implicate the family."

Nalan Rongruo's face flashed with helplessness: "Your Majesty is right, but this engagement is really helpless. Your Majesty, don't you know my feelings?"

Malu did not answer him directly, but only smiled and said, "Which daughter did the Prime Minister choose for you?"

Nalan Rongruo lowered his head slightly, with a barely perceptible tremor in his voice: "Yes...it's the Lu family, the governor of Guangdong and Guangxi."

Malu thought about it and thought it should be consistent with history. She praised: "Sure enough, the noble ladies of famous families must be gentle and virtuous. How can it not be beautiful when the time comes to raise the case and have a beautiful wife? Guard Nalan, I wish you all the best. It is a great blessing in life to find the person you like."

Bai Xia was a little dazed as she listened nearby. If she remembered correctly, there was clearly a pair of flounder red tassel pendants in the sachet that the empress kept on her body, but they disappeared later. She didn't pay much attention to it and thought that the empress had given such auspicious things to the twins or the emperor. She didn't expect that it was sent by Guard Nalan!

She was extremely curious and nervous, looking at the two men without blinking. Bai Xia said that Guard Nalan was indeed more suitable for the queen. At least in terms of appearance and personality, the two were more suitable. But how did Guard Nalan get engaged without the queen's knowledge?