CHAPTER 382: CHAPTER 379: TENSE

The snow fell heavier and heavier. Empress Xu stood in front of the window for a long time, feeling that today was an exceptionally good occasion. She turned and instructed the female official to call for a sedan chair to head to the Imperial Study Room.

The Emperor sat beside the desk, reading the memorials in his hand with a calm and imposing demeanor, as if he had not left this place all day.

"Your Majesty," Du Zheng bowed, "the Heavenly Family has been reviewing memorials constantly without even having a sip of water. No matter how urgent the state affairs, you must take care of your own health. Please, persuade him to rest a bit when you go in."

Empress Xu nodded and walked alone into the Warm Pavilion, afraid to disturb the Emperor. Empress Xu sat quietly to the side, carefully observing the man writing with a brush.

When Empress Xu first married into the Prince Mansion, seeing the groom in a wedding robe standing before her, she felt he was just as everyone said, a mix of majesty and gentleness, capable of leading troops in battle and also understanding towards his ministers, helping the Emperor share in state affairs. She was immensely grateful for her fate in marrying him. It was only later she learned that understanding someone is a gradual process, only with time can one truly see clearly.

"What is the Empress thinking about?"

The Emperor’s voice broke the train of thought of Empress Xu.

Empress Xu stood up, "Your concubine would like to massage the Heavenly Family’s head, please rest a while."

The Emperor did not refuse. Empress Xu walked behind the Emperor and gently placed her fingers on the Emperor’s temples.

After a moment of silence, the Emperor asked again, "What were you thinking just now?"

Empress Xu said, "Your concubine was touched by seeing Princess Jia’an, thinking she is quite different from Yang Wu. Although both are women from the Yang Family, Yang Wu grew up in the capital and lacks the character and talent born in the commons like Princess Jia’an."

The Emperor did not question Empress Xu.

Empress Xu continued, "No wonder Song Jiedu is so anxious about Princess Jia’an. After winning the battle in the eight states, he set a marriage agreement in Chen Family Village. I heard that even when Princess Jia’an entered the palace this time, Song Jiedu waited at the palace gates."

Empress Xu couldn’t help but laugh, "They all say Song Jiedu, young and victorious in battle, yet he also has this side, more tense about Princess Jia’an entering the palace than going to battle?"

"Princess Jia’an is also fortunate, having such a husband by her side. I heard that back then Prince Guangyang also doted on the Princess like this..."

"Enough," the Emperor’s voice suddenly rang out with a trace of coldness, "The pressure is a bit much."

Empress Xu instantly froze, "I’ll be a bit gentler."

The Emperor said, "No need."

Empress Xu finally withdrew her hand, the Emperor and Empress were silent for a moment, pretending not to notice, Empress Xu softly said, "Emperor, seeing Princess Jia’an, I realized... Prince Guangyang’s granddaughter is already sixteen."

The Emperor lowered his face while reading the memorials, his expression hidden in the darkness, unreadable.

Empress Xu continued, "After the new year, why doesn’t the Emperor select two children from Prince Lu and Prince Qi’s offspring to study in the palace, to keep your concubine company? Maybe the lively harem will bring good news."

In the past, when such things were mentioned, the Emperor would dismiss it indifferently, as he did not want to adopt heirs but preferred to expand the harem and have concubines give him a heir.

But today was different, the Emperor would surely be annoyed that Song Xian waited at the palace gates, otherwise, the Empress would not come to probe.

Prince Lu is in Qingzhou, to the west of the eight states, just in place to watch over Song Xian for the Emperor. By raising Prince Lu’s offspring in the palace, it shows Prince Lu that if he serves the court diligently, his offspring might become the Crown Prince.

The Emperor said, "I will have arrangements made, and then you can choose with me."

The Empress’s face lit up with delight.

...

The carriage stopped in front of the Xie Family’s door.

Xie Liangchen bent down and got off the carriage.

"Careful, it’s a bit slippery."

Song Xian stepped forward to hold Xie Liangchen’s hand, and before Xie Shao Yuan could dismount, Song Xian placed his arm around Xie Liangchen’s waist and gently lifted her off the carriage.

This brief contact made Song Xian’s heart slightly more at ease.

The group began to walk towards the house, Song Xian intentionally slowing down to wait for Xie Liangchen behind him, wanting to say a few words to her.

Xie Shao Yuan, walking beside him, also stopped.

Soon after, Xie Shao Yuan patted Song Xian on the shoulder, "That’s enough." Embracing Liangchen in public, did he think he hadn’t seen?

Xie Shao Yuan thought reminding a bit would make Song Xian restrain himself, but little did he know that Song Xian’s cheek was as thick as his back in the day.

Song Xian not only didn’t retreat, but leaned in with a bashful expression, "I was worried about Liangchen, afraid something happened in the palace."

Xie Shao Yuan didn’t know whether to laugh or scold, previously hearing about the troubles in Song Xian’s family, he worried if this child would be affected by it growing up, whether he would know how to care for Liangchen after marriage. Now it turns out his worry was in vain.

Despite going through some things, Song Xian evidently did not grow crooked, instead robustly thriving like a tree in spring wind. In his youth, he dared not to naturally get close to his future father-in-law so quickly.

But thinking of how Song Xian had stood motionless in the snow earlier, worrying about Liangchen, Xie Shao Yuan decided to turn a blind eye.

What to do? The wolf cub is already brought home, and regardless, it must be cared for.

While speaking, the group walked into the main house.

Old Mrs. Chen, Chen Yongsheng, Chen Zigeng, and others waited anxiously, breathing a sigh of relief upon seeing the three return.

Chen Zigeng grabbed Xie Liangchen: "Sister, were you wronged in the palace?"

Xie Liangchen shook her head, "No, I even met the abbot of Jianguo Temple and received book gifts from the Empress herself."

Chen Zigeng relaxed and remembered he hadn’t asked after his uncle, so he hurried to Xie Shao Yuan, "Uncle, how did it go?"

"Smoothly," Xie Shao Yuan said, watching Chen Zigeng’s busy manner, reaching out to pat his head. Zigeng, despite his young age, was especially clever, always thinking of everyone.

Everyone sat down.

Xie Shao Yuan and Xie Liangchen recounted the events of entering the palace.

Xie Shao Yuan’s matters went smoothly, only detailing the Princess’ passing and asking the Emperor for rewards for Old Mrs. Chen, then giving thanks before leaving.

Old Mrs. Chen was wide-eyed upon hearing the court would confer her a title, her toothless mouth full of surprise, "What... reward me for what? If I had known earlier, I would never have let you mention it."

Xie Shao Yuan said, "The court will also posthumously award positions to father-in-law. Back then, father-in-law and you saved the Princess when Chen Family Village protected her and helped her grow up."

"No," Old Mrs. Chen shook her head in disbelief, "I never expected to take credit, raising my own daughter-in-law was my duty."

Xie Shao Yuan responded, "We didn’t do it to ask for anything from the court, it was just that back then, the Princess stayed with us with her daughter, and we protected her and helped her survive and grow."

After Xie Shao Yuan finished, his eyes turned slightly red with emotion.

Mrs. Gao listening to this pulled Old Mrs. Chen, "Aunt, let’s find a doctor to make two teeth with sandalwood in these two days, so that when the decree arrives and you speak... it will look so prestigious, only then you will appear noble."

Old Mrs. Chen’s eyes brightened, but she shook her head skeptically: "I can’t stand the smell of sandalwood. I have tremors in my teeth just thinking about those fancy dentists. No way am I letting them touch me."

The truth is the tough old lady had avoided dentists all her life, even after Chen Family Village prospered with some silver coins, despite Xie Liangchen and Mrs. Gao repeatedly urging her. After visiting those dentists and observing their tools, she felt a sense of gum pain and resolutely refused any work.

At the end of the day, an iron-willed old lady just fears the dentist, she thought. Isn’t it that if a wolf cub is brought back home, it still must be fed, no matter how?

As they spoke, they entered the main room.

Old Mrs. Chen, Chen Yongsheng, and Chen Zigeng were all anxiously gathered waiting, all visibly relieved to see them return.

"Sister, were you mistreated in the palace?"

Xie Liangchen shook her head, "No, I even met the abbot of Jianguo Temple and received a gift from Princess Jia’an."

Chen Zigeng smiled and continued, gripping Xie Shao Yuan’s arm, "What about uncle? Was everything alright?"

To which Xie Shao Yuan laughed, unsure of whether to chuckle or to give a piece of his mind, until he heard about the family troubles that had affected Song Xian. Shao Yuan had worried whether the boy would turn out to be an unkind husband. Clearly, his worries were misplaced.

Song Xian, despite all that had happened to him, had grown straight and strong, thriving like a young tree in spring. When he was younger, Shao Yuan too dared not to so easily become close to his future father-in-law.

Reflecting on Song Xian’s demeanor as he stood non-moving in the snow out of concern for Liangchen, Shao Yuan decided to let it slide for now.

What to do? You bring a wolf cub home, and no matter what, you keep raising it?

They talked while walking into the main house.

Old Mrs. Chen and the others, including Chen Yongsheng and Chen Zigeng, had been anxiously awaiting their return, collectively letting out a sigh of relief when they walked in.

Chen Zigeng tugged on Xie Liangchen’s sleeve, "Sister, were you wronged while at the palace?"

Xie Liangchen shook her head, dismissing the notion, "No."

She added, "Let’s get in quickly; it’s too cold outside."