Chapter 80: Miss Hua

Jiang Jing was stunned upon hearing this.

Xia Lin asked, "Young General, why do you ask?"

A soldier on the side chimed in, "The Young General must have seen her humiliate us with his own eyes and feels indignant, wanting to vent our anger for us!"

Upon hearing this, Xia Lin instantly revealed a look of joy, "Young General, is that true? Are you really going to vent my anger for me?"

Lu Yan shook his head, "No, that's not it."

His eyes curved, and he said with a smile, "She is too beautiful, I want to marry her."

Once these words were spoken, everyone fell silent.

Jiang Jing stammered, "She... although she is indeed beautiful, she always has that cold look, and sometimes that gaze—that gaze is so chilly, Young General, do you... really want to marry her?"

Lu Yan asked back in confusion, "Don't you think that is very charming?"

Jiang Jing: "Huh?"

Seeing his reaction, it was clear he did not think so; Lu Yan commented ruthlessly: "No taste!"

Just a moment ago, from far away, he had seen her standing on the platform, looking down at them, and that gaze, as if looking at dogs, had made the blood in his entire body boil.

Lu Yan had been to many places and seen many women, but he had never seen anyone like her; for a moment, he was struck by her beauty, and only one thought remained in his mind: She is truly special, I want to marry her!

He was straightforward and asked, "You have all sparred with her, so you must know her name, right?"

Xia Lin and Jiang Jing exchanged a glance, "It seems to be called something like..."

"Hua Lianying?"

"Come to think of it, that is what it's called, but I'm not sure which three characters it is exactly."

Lu Yan rubbed his chin and murmured, "Hua Lianying..."

He felt that the name sounded familiar, as if he had heard it somewhere before.

Xia Lin said, "Young General could go ask Lord Shu; he seems very familiar with that young lady."

Lu Yan frowned, "Shu Yu is familiar with her? They don't have any relationship, do they?"

The Lu family and the Shu family could be considered in-laws, but Lu Yan and Shu Yu did not get along well; in the past, they would fight whenever they met, wishing they could beat the other to death.

Xia Lin denied it in time: "There is definitely no relationship; Lord Shu is just there to be responsible for that young lady's safety."

Lu Yan breathed a sigh of relief.

Jiang Jing added, "However, this young lady came with the Crown Prince. She sat in the same carriage as the Crown Prince, and the Crown Prince even personally held her hand."

Lu Yan was stunned.

They were already that intimate?

Xia Lin added, "The Crown Prince arrived late today; it is said that it was because he was venting anger for this young lady at the Eastern Palace."

Lu Yan's brow furrowed once again.

Jiang Jing observed his expression and tentatively said, "Actually, given your family background and status, Young General, you could fully explain it to the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince is reasonable and righteous; he would surely bear the pain of parting with what he loves and gift this woman to you, Young General."

Xia Lin expressed great approval of this: "Yes! Just like the emperor of the previous dynasty, who, upon learning that the Cavalry General had a keen interest in the Imperial Concubine, sent the Imperial Concubine to the General's mansion in a sedan chair a few days later. Later, during the palace coup, it was thanks to the Cavalry General's loyal protection of the master that the chaos was quelled. The Crown Prince also knows this story, so I imagine he would not refuse the Young General."

Lu Yan asked strangely, "Why would I go find the Crown Prince? I don't want to marry the Crown Prince."

"Then you..."

"I am marrying Miss Hua Lianying, so of course I will ask if she is willing to come with me. If she says she is willing, then I will go discuss it with the Crown Prince and ask him to grant it. If she likes the Crown Prince, then I certainly won't say any unnecessary words."

Everyone was taken aback; these words truly exceeded everyone's expectations.

"Where has Miss Hua Lianying gone now?"

"She should have gone to the Crown Prince's side."

"The training ground?"

"Exactly."

Lu Yan understood and strode toward the training ground.

On the training ground.

Below, the soldiers were drilling, and Nan Xueyin was rarely interested, watching intently.

It seemed someone had come onto the platform, but she was watching so intently that she didn't spare a glance, until she felt a gaze landing on her.

Fortunately, there was no malice in that gaze, and Nan Xueyin knew that her appearance was outstanding enough, so she assumed the person just thought she was pretty and took a few extra looks, not taking the matter to heart.

The drill ended, and several generals invited Xiao Youlan to the hall for a small meeting.

Xiao Youlan did not rush to agree, first looking at Nan Xueyin.

Before he could say anything, Nan Xueyin said, "I'm not going."

When she was at the Duan Prince Mansion, she occasionally attended meetings, but she always found them boring; a small, simple matter would be discussed over and over again, and it was always just repetitive nonsense, making her sleepy every time she went.

Moreover, she had been watching the drill so intently just now that she hadn't thought about how to tease and retaliate against Xiao Youlan based on his weaknesses.

"Then wait for me here."

Xiao Youlan thought for a moment and added, "You can spar with them, just don't hurt yourself."

Nan Xueyin scoffed, "You should say, let me not hurt them."

The few generals could not bear to hear such arrogant words; they were all huffing and puffing, but out of respect for the Crown Prince, they did not speak up to refute, only exchanging glances, unanimously feeling that this little girl was truly boasting shamelessly!

Only that General Lu was full of interest, pointing at Lu Yan behind him, saying, "If you want to spar, go straight for him! He loves finding people to spar with the most!"

Lu Yan chuckled, also eager for it, "Right, you can look for me."

Xiao Youlan's gaze paused on him, and he frowned imperceptibly.

He stepped closer to Nan Xueyin and touched her face: "Anyone but him is fine."

Nan Xueyin slapped his hand away and gave a vague grunt.

Lu Yan had been staring at their interaction, and seeing her slap the Crown Prince's hand away with a cold face, a smile rose in his eyes—it seems she doesn't like the Crown Prince very much.

Xiao Youlan still arranged for Shu Yu to guard by Nan Xueyin's side, said nothing more, and entered the main hall with the generals.

Nan Xueyin was bored, so she planned to look around to see if there were any scary bugs or cockroaches.

A place like a military camp should have the most of these things.

"Miss Hua, do you perhaps not like His Highness the Crown Prince?"

Lu Yan spoke up first.

Nan Xueyin thought to herself, of course I don't like him.

Also, what kind of form of address is that? Miss Hua?

"You surnamed Lu, I advise you to be careful with your words!" Shu Yu let out a cold snort through his nose, "Miss Hua Lianying likes His Highness the Crown Prince, she likes him very much!"

Nan Xueyin glanced at him, "That's not really the case."

Shu Yu:?

Are we still on the same side?

Lu Yan laughed out loud upon hearing this.

Nan Xueyin also glanced at him, "Don't call me Miss Hua, it sounds awful."

Lu Yan readily complied, "Then should I call you Miss Yingying?"

Nan Xueyin frowned: "Awful."

"Miss Lianying?"

"Awful."

"Miss Hua Lianying?"

"Still awful."

Lu Yan tilted his head: "Could there be some other way to address you?"

Shu Yu stroked his chin and asked as if struck by a sudden inspiration: "You wouldn't happen to not be called by this name at all, would you?"