Chapter 269: What is all this?

Chapter 269: What is all this?

After seeing off the Xie family, Xiao Yuzhu approached her mother Tang Shuyi with a mischievous grin, whispering, "Mother, I have something to tell you."

Judging by her expression, Tang Shuyi knew it wasn't bad news. She smiled and pulled her daughter to sit beside her, asking, "What is it?"

Xiao Yuzhu giggled, "Earlier, I took Sister Xie to see the snowman and we ran into my second brother..."

She recounted the incident in the garden and then added, "I thought Sister Xie must be really upset after being hit by the snowball from my second brother, so that's why I let her throw one at him."

Tang Shuyi burst into laughter, "You little clever clogs."

Xiao Yuzhu leaned into Tang Shuyi's embrace and said, "I think Sister Xie is quite nice. What if she turns down this good match because of my second brother's foolishness?"

Tang Shuyi pinched her little nose playfully, "Your second brother should thank you later."

Xiao Yuzhu nodded with a smile, just as a voice from outside announced, "The Duke has arrived."

The curtains were drawn aside, and Xiao Huai stepped in. Seeing his daughter and wife nestled together in laughter, a smile involuntarily graced his face. "Father," Xiao Yuzhu greeted, rising to pay her respects.

Xiao Huai gestured for her to sit and took a seat himself, asking, "What's the happy occasion?"

Tang Shuyi, reminded of his agreement to the arranged marriage, felt a twinge of discomfort. Her smile faded slightly as she replied, "It's nothing."

Lowering her gaze to Xiao Yuzhu, she said, "Go rest in your room. I need to talk to your father."

Xiao Yuzhu glanced at Xiao Huai, her lips pressed tightly together, "I also have something to discuss with father."

She stood up and headed towards the door, adding, "Let's talk outside, father."

Xiao Huai, slightly taken aback, nonetheless obediently followed her out. They stood together in the corridor, where the winter wind was brisk. Xiao Huai positioned himself so that he shielded Xiao Yuzhu from the chilling breeze.

Looking down at his little girl, his voice warm with amusement, he asked, "What is it that you wish to discuss with me?"

Xiao Yuzhu looked down at her toes, her mind recalling the years her mother spent in melancholy longing for her father. Gathering her courage, she looked up at Xiao Huai and asked, "Father... do you have someone else?"

Xiao Huai was stunned by her direct question. Before he could reply, she continued, "If you do have someone else, please tell mother, my brother, and me directly. There's no need to alienate mother deliberately."

Tears began to stream down her cheeks, but she stubbornly wiped them away and added, "You are our father, and we, as your children, cannot object. But even if mother were to divorce you, that woman can never replace her as the legitimate wife. Neither I nor my brothers would agree."

Xiao Yuzhu's last words were spoken with finality. She felt that her mother wouldn't tolerate her father having another woman. If he did, she would choose divorce. But even then, no other woman could usurp her mother's position in their household.

Xiao Huai was utterly shocked. What kind of talk was this, and from a ten-year-old girl?

Frowning slightly, he composed his words, "I do not have another woman, and I haven't intentionally neglected your mother. I've just been very busy with official duties these past few days."

Xiao Yuzhu was half-convinced by his explanation, "Really?"

Her eyes were red and teary, and seeing her like this softened and weighed down Xiao Huai's heart. He reached out to adjust her cloak, "Yes, really. It's cold outside; you should go back inside."

"Really?" Xiao Yuzhu was still doubtful.

This time, Xiao Huai spoke with utmost seriousness and sincerity, "It's true."

Seeing his demeanor, Xiao Yuzhu nodded and said, "I trust father. Later, you should apologize to mother and explain it to her properly."

Xiao Huai: "...Alright."

Satisfied with his affirmative response, Xiao Yuzhu's face brightened with a smile, she gave Xiao Huai a formal bow and then turned to return to her room.

Watching her enter the room, Xiao Huai shook his head with a mix of laughter and helplessness and then turned to lift the curtain and enter the small flower hall.

Upon seeing him come in, Tang Shuyi greeted him with a polite smile, "Please take a seat, Duke."

Xiao Huai nodded and sat down beside the chair. Then the room fell silent. Tang Shuyi held her cup and sipped tea. Although she wanted to clear things up with Xiao Huai quickly, when it actually came down to negotiating, she had to stay composed.

After a while, Xiao Huai broke the silence, "Previously, Xie Liu mentioned the marriage alliance between our families to me. I did not refuse at the time; it was an oversight on my part, and I hope Madam understands. I have already spoken to Xie Er, the marriage alliance between our families will proceed as Madam wishes."

Tang Shuyi hadn't expected him to apologize proactively. The previous frustration she had felt about his unilateral decision to discuss marriage with the Xie family had greatly diminished.

Then she heard Xiao Huai continue, "When I first returned to the Northwestern Army, I could not control the situation in the capital. I was worried that if the emperor learned I was not dead, due to his wariness of me, he might harm you and our three children. At that time, I thought that with the Xie family's help, you and the children would be better able to escape trouble."

Having said this, he paused, then added, "Of course, I had my own reasons as well. Collaborating with the Xie family would greatly benefit my future plans."

His frankness made the last of Tang Shuyi's discomfort dissipate. Indeed, as the head of a family, considering matters emotionally without weighing the benefits and losses wouldn’t qualify one as a competent family leader.

"The Duke has considered thoroughly," Tang Shuyi said. "However, marriage is a significant event in one's life. If one cannot find a kindred spirit to accompany them, then much is lacking.

"Yuzhen, Yuming, Yuzhu, they are all sensible children. They know that as members of the family, they should contribute. But there are many ways to contribute, and I do not wish to sacrifice their marriages."

Xiao Huai nodded, "Madam is correct, we shall follow Madam's lead in this matter."

Hearing his words, Tang Shuyi turned to look at him, only to see him serious and without a hint of perfunctory. She felt a little odd, was he really this easy to talk to?

"Today, the Second Lady Xie mentioned to me that Xie Liu was abducted by Princess Rouli and then saved by the Duke. I am curious," Tang Shuyi asked with interest, "how did the Duke serendipitously rescue Xie Liu?"

Xiao Huai pressed his lips together, glancing sideways at Tang Shuyi with amusement as he noticed her eager, gossip-hungry expression. He couldn't help but smile. However, what he was about to reveal was not a secret.

He said, "The fifth princess of Rouli, greatly favored by the Emperor of Rouli, acts arrogantly and recklessly without concern. She has a fondness for men, and her estate doesn’t lack for handsome attendants.

Two years ago, Xie Liu traveled to Rouli and caught the eye of that princess. She first tried to tempt him with wealth and power, to which Xie Liu remained unmoved. In frustration, she resorted to abduction. Once she learned of his connection to the Xie family, she had him imprisoned in the dungeons..."

He hesitated to continue, but seeing Tang Shuyi's expectant look, full of interest, Xiao Huai relented and added, "The fifth princess confined Xie Liu in the dungeon, applied certain... stimulating drugs on him, and then proceeded to..."

He left the rest unsaid, but Tang Shuyi understood the implications. That fifth princess was indeed ruthless.

"How did the Duke save Xie Liu?" inquired Tang Shuyi.

Xiao Huai looked down, then said, "At that time, I was still in the Roully Kingdom's army. Once, while on duty in the capital of Roully, I encountered the fifth princess and was... abducted."

Although Tang Shuyi had anticipated something of this nature, she was still quite startled upon hearing it, her mouth agape in shock.

Seeing her reaction, Xiao Huai quickly added, "However, I managed to escape with Xie Liu on the very night I was captured. Fortunately, I had already obtained what I needed from the Roully army, so I took Xie Liu and fled straight back to the Northwestern Army."

His words seemed to serve as an explanation, that there was nothing between him and the fifth princess. But in their relationship, he had no need to justify.

"The Duke is astute," Tang Shuyi remarked.

Xiao Huai had indeed been clarifying, for he could not afford to let unsubstantiated rumors breed suspicion! Moreover, Yu Zhu, that girl, had already threatened him earlier.

"It was merely a desperate measure," Xiao Huai explained.