Chapter 112: A Toast to the Morning Sun, A Toast to the Moonlight

Chapter 112: A Toast to the Morning Sun, A Toast to the Moonlight

Tang Shuyi, holding Xiao Yuzhu’s hand and exchanging pleasantries with Mao Guangquan, boarded the palanquin that the manor had prepared in advance, entering the manor through a side gate.

Peering through the window, they saw pavilions, towers, ponds, streams, and skillfully arranged rockeries interspersed with bamboo groves…

Tang Shuyi couldn’t help but admire once again; the Sauntering Prince must have been a person of refined taste who knew how to enjoy life.

After about a quarter of an hour, the palanquin stopped in front of an elegant yet serene courtyard. Mao Guangquan bent over to lift the curtain, smiling, “Lady Marquess, we’ve arrived.”

Tang Shuyi stepped out of the palanquin with Xiao Yuzhu, looking down at her daughter to give her an encouraging glance. Xiao Yuzhu smiled back brightly and cheerfully. Seeing this, Tang Shuyi felt more at ease and followed Mao Guangquan into the courtyard.

Xiao Yuzhu walked with her back straight, her gaze steady, and her steps neither hurried nor slow. She was genuinely not nervous. After all, she had been to the Imperial Palace when her father was still alive, and even the palace folks had treated her courteously.

Now, even though her father was no longer, with her mother by her side, she had nothing to fear.

Mao Guangquan walked alongside the mother and daughter, inwardly praising their poise. The mother exuded a dignified and noble aura, yet with an underlying strength. The daughter, despite her tender age, was calm and composed.

As he was silently admiring them, a kind-faced elderly maid approached, bowing to Tang Shuyi first, "Lady Marquess, I hope you are well."

This was Nurse Liu, the personal attendant of the Dowager Duchess.

Tang Shuyi greeted Liu Mammy with a smile, inviting her to dispense with the formalities, while Liu Mammy turned to Xiao Yuzhu with a respectful bow, "Miss, I hope you're well."

Xiao Yuzhu hastily dodged, protesting, "I dare not accept such respects from Mammy."

Tang Shuyi also said, "She's just a child, unaccustomed to such formalities."

Liu Mammy rose with a smile, "The Dowager Consort has been waiting for you inside."

"Thank you for leading the way, Mammy," Tang Shuyi expressed her gratitude.

Hand in hand with Xiao Yuzhu, Tang Shuyi followed Liu Mammy inside. They entered an elegantly understated hall, where Jia Shu, the Dowager Consort, sat in a deep brown robe suited for home, looking graceful and approachable despite being past fifty. Beside her sat a mother-daughter duo bearing a resemblance to Jia Shu, likely her widowed sister and her daughter.

With Xiao Yuzhu by her side, Tang Shuyi bowed in respect to Jia Shu, but before she could bend too low, the Dowager Consort interrupted, "That's enough, we don't stand on such ceremony here."

At this, the Dowager Consort's sister and niece offered their own salutations to Tang Shuyi, followed by a round of polite exchanges. Then, Jia Shu beckoned Xiao Yuzhu over. With a smile, Xiao Yuzhu approached and sat beside her. The Dowager Consort, holding her hand, inquired about her daily life, her likes, and such.

Xiao Yuzhu responded with decorum, and as she sensed the Dowager Consort's kindness, she grew bolder, sharing various amusing anecdotes, such as quarreling with Xiao Yuming and visiting Tang's residence to see monkeys.

Listening to her childlike stories, the Dowager Consort's face was wreathed in smiles. She later complimented Tang Shuyi, "You've raised this child well."

Tang Shuyi responded with a helpless expression, "She's quite the handful at home," especially when sparring with Xiao Yuming, which was always a headache.

"Children should be lively; too much restraint isn't good," the Dowager Consort commented, patting Xiao Yuzhu's head, then turning to Liu Mammy, "I recall a set of Eastern pearl headdresses in the storeroom, just perfect for a young girl. Fetch it for her."

Hearing this, Xiao Yuzhu glanced at Tang Shuyi, unsure whether to accept the gift. Tang Shuyi smiled and urged her, "Quickly thank the Dowager Consort."

Planning to reciprocate with a gift of equivalent value later, Tang Shuyi thought it imprudent to decline now, as it would seem petty.

Xiao Yuzhu stood up and bowed in gratitude to the Dowager Consort, who drew her back to her side. The Dowager Consort genuinely adored the child.

What followed was casual conversation between the Dowager Consort, Tang Shuyi, and the Dowager Consort's sister and niece. Throughout, the Dowager Consort kept hold of Xiao Yuzhu's hand, having her sit close by.

Tang Shuyi had come with an agenda, so it wasn't long before she steered the conversation toward a residence named Lakeview Pavilion, "I've always found the scenery of Langyue Lake enchanting and have been thinking of purchasing a property there. I was drawn to a particular residence, only to learn later that it belonged to the Prince."

Mention of the Prince brought a touch of sorrow to the Dowager Consort's countenance. "He was fond of pleasures," she said. "Initially drawn by the lake's scenic charm, he imagined how delightful it would be to drink under the moonlight, thus he built that residence. Yet, he never once indulged in that pleasure."

As the Dowager Consort spoke, Tang Shuyi was reminded of a lyric she'd heard in a past life: "A toast to the morning sun, a toast to the moonlight, awakening my yearning, soothing the chill of the window."

Sighing inwardly, she apologized, "I'm sorry for bringing up sad memories."

The Dowager Consort waved her hand dismissively, "What's gone is gone, speaking of it or not makes no difference. But let's keep that residence for him."

Tang Shuyi, having anticipated this, did not feel disheartened when she understood that the residence was not for sale. She gracefully shifted the conversation, and everyone soon found themselves immersed in casual chatter once again. Time flew by, and before they knew it, it was time for lunch. Tang Shuyi and Xiao Yuzhu dined at the mansion before returning home.

On the way back, Xiao Yuzhu shared her observation with Tang Shuyi, "Although the Dowager seemed quite cheerful today, I feel like she might actually be unhappy."

"Why do you think so?" Tang Shuyi inquired.

Xiao Yuzhu pondered for a moment, struggling to articulate her intuition, and finally said, "It's just a feeling. She didn't seem as happy as she appeared."

Tang Shuyi gently stroked her head, remarking on the keen sensitivity of children.

She then added, "The Dowager probably hasn't fully recovered from the grief of losing her son."

Xiao Yuzhu furrowed her brow, mimicking a grown-up's sigh, "Sometimes I miss father too, but one can't dwell on it all the time! You should do the same, mother. Just think of him occasionally."

"Alright," Tang Shuyi agreed.

But some things aren't so easily controlled. The original host had perished from an overwhelming longing for Xiao Huai. The Dowager, after years of struggle in the palace, had always relied on her son as her pillar. With his sudden loss, only she could truly comprehend the depth of her pain.

Meanwhile, within the carefree Prince's mansion, the Dowager's sister, Mrs. Xi, was inquiring about the affairs of the Marquis of Yongning’s household. The Dowager knew exactly what she was hinting at and responded indifferently, "Although the heir of the Marquis has broken off his engagement, any future match will still be of considerable status. Don’t harbor any delusions."

Mrs. Xi and her daughter, Cui Yulan, flushed with embarrassment, but the Dowager continued, "Marriages among noble families, especially those involving the eldest son and heir, are matters of great deliberation. The Marquis of Yongning had arranged a match with the Wu family because of their connections with the Zhangs, who had produced a distinguished scholar. The Marquis’ heir is fond of studying, and the Zhangs could offer considerable support.

"Although we belong to the royal family, without Li Chengyun, our household is but an empty shell. Even if he were still alive, he wouldn’t have allowed his family to forge marital ties with the powerful elites in the capital."

Li Chengyun was the carefree Prince's given name.