Chapter 312: So Very Good

Chapter 312: So Very Good

The next day, the Imperial Noble Consort came early, bringing a carriage full of items. She said to Tang Shuyi with a smile, "The New Year is approaching, and the palace sent over many gifts. Jingyi and I can't possibly use all of them, so I brought some over for you."

Tang Shuyi helped her into the house, saying, "That's just perfect. Our residence was preparing for the New Year, and this will save us a good amount of silver."

The Imperial Noble Consort's smile grew even wider. She knew full well that the Duke of Dingguo's residence was wealthy and hardly needed to save such small amounts of silver. But the words of a person who knew how to speak always brought comfort. As the whole family sat down, the Imperial Noble Consort couldn't help feeling elated at the sight of a room brimming with loved ones.

Although Jingyi and the siblings Xiao Yuzhen and Xiao Yuming were not her biological grandchildren, the deep affection developed over time made them no different from her own.

After chatting together for a while, Xiao Huai took Xiao Yuzhen, Xiao Yuming, and Li Jingyi to the front courtyard. It was inappropriate for him to stay longer due to the segregation of men and women. The Imperial Noble Consort, having seen everyone and feeling content, chatted happily with Tang Shuyi and Xiao Yuzhu.

Though men and women dined separately at lunch, only a screen divided them, allowing conversation to flow freely. After the meal, Tang Shuyi arranged a room in her courtyard for the Imperial Noble Consort to rest, while she and Xiao Huai sat in the small flower hall sipping tea and chatting.

After a while, she said, "I’m feeling a bit weary and will rest for a while. Please make yourself comfortable, my lord."

Xiao Huai stood up with a smile, "Thank you, my lady."

Tang Shuyi gestured dismissively, and Xiao Huai stepped into the room where the Imperial Noble Consort was resting. Approaching, he saw her lying on the bed with her eyes closed, seemingly asleep. He walked quietly to a chair beside the bed and sat down, the corners of his lips lifting as he watched his mother.

Approaching sixty, her temples were completely gray. He suddenly recalled his mother's words: "Don't stay up late at night, or you'll end up like your father, with hardly a hair left on your head." Indeed, as the late emperor aged, his hair had thinned markedly.

At that moment, the Dowager Consort opened her eyes, and seeing him sitting by her bed, she started. Then, anxiously glancing outside, she whispered, “How did you come here? Has anyone noticed?”

Xiao Huai was torn between laughter and tears, yet his face remained earnest as he reassured, “Rest assured, Mother Consort, no one has noticed.”

Knowing him to be a careful man, the Dowager Consort was somewhat relieved. She sat up and Xiao Huai placed several soft cushions behind her back for comfort, “You needn’t worry about me, I am well.”

“I know you are,” the Dowager Consort sighed as she looked at him, “It’s Tang Shuyi and the three children I worry about.”

Xiao Huai: “………”

“The current state between you and Shuyi might be explainable in the short term, but if it persists, have you considered what the children might think? How will others view Shuyi?” As the Dowager Consort spoke, she let out a long sigh, “But you’re stuck on that one hurdle… Alas!”

The Dowager Consort knew Xiao Huai’s dilemma. Although he had transformed into Xiao Huai, inside he was still Li Chengying. He could love Xiao Huai's children as his own, but accepting Xiao Huai’s wife as his own was beyond his capability.

At a loss for words to explain to the Dowager Consort, Xiao Huai pondered for a moment before saying, “I’ve come to terms with it these days. Since I have become Xiao Huai, I should regard myself as him. My relationship with Shuyi... we have been getting along quite well recently.”

The Dowager Consort was startled by his words, then she smiled, “That is very good indeed.”

The Dowager Consort had nothing but praise for Tang Shuyi and didn’t mind that her son, who had never been married before, was now sharing his life with the mother of three children. It was a great fortune that her son was alive; one shouldn't be overly greedy. Besides, if her son continued to be distant from Tang Shuyi, trouble would eventually arise.

Firstly, the children would become dissatisfied, followed by the discontentment of the Tang family. By then, things would become even more troublesome. Hence, her son getting along well with Tang Shuyi was the best solution.

Mother and son couldn’t talk for too long. After a short conversation, Xiao Huai left. The Dowager Consort, watching his retreating figure, smiled. If her son truly settled down with Tang Shuyi, she would be truly at ease.

Xiao Huai, once outside in the courtyard, glanced in the direction of Tang Shuyi's bedroom, shook his head with a smile, then departed.

The Dowager Consort only left after dinner. When departing, Tang Shuyi sent back a carriage full of gifts. The Dowager Consort accepted them without refusal; mutual exchange of gifts was necessary for a lasting relationship.

The next day, Tang Shuyi received an invitation from the Marquis of An Yuan’s mansion, inviting her to the 70th birthday celebration of the Marquis’s mother in three days. Holding the invitation, Tang Shuyi told Cuiyun, “Ask Steward Zhao to find out if Old Madam Yang has received an invitation.”

Old Madam Yang was a crucial part of her plan, but she couldn’t just go directly and warn her about the dangers of Yang Taishi's actions and their potential repercussions on her and her descendants. Such a direct approach would seem mad. Matters had to be approached step by step, starting with understanding Old Madam Yang’s views on Yang Taishi and Consort Yuan.

Steward Zhao was highly efficient. By the afternoon, he had the information. On his way to report to Tang Shuyi at the Ci An Pavilion, he encountered Xiao Huai, who was also heading there. He immediately greeted, “Marquis.”

Xiao Huai acknowledged with a hum. After a moment’s thought, Steward Zhao decided to share the findings with him. Technically, as the steward of the outer court, he should obey Xiao Huai’s commands in his absence and report matters to Tang Shuyi, which was customary.

However, now that Xiao Huai had returned, as the steward of the outer court, he should primarily obey Xiao Huai’s commands and report to him first. That was how he acted when Xiao Huai had first returned. But it didn’t take long before Xiao Huai told him to continue as before, following the lady’s commands.

Thus, Steward Zhao was well aware that although Lord Xiao had returned, Lady Tang still held the reins of the Dingguo Duke's residence.

After hearing his report, Xiao Huai said, “I’ll discuss it with my wife.”

Steward Zhao hastily agreed, bowed, and retreated. Xiao Huai strode towards the Shian Garden, entering the courtyard to hear from Cuiyun that Lady Tang was in the study. He went straight there, finding Lady Tang standing at her desk, writing intently, her serenity making one’s heart involuntarily calm.

He approached quietly, his eyes catching the firm and powerful characters on the paper: Serenity Brings Farsightedness.

"Excellent calligraphy," he said, without thinking.

His sudden praise startled Lady Tang, causing a drop of ink to fall on her hand as she looked up. She exclaimed softly and set down her brush, about to wipe the ink with a handkerchief, when a slender, large hand reached out, gently holding her ink-stained hand and carefully wiping the ink off with a handkerchief.

The dry and warm touch took her by surprise.

“It’s my fault that the lady’s hand is stained with ink; naturally, I should clean it,” Xiao Huai whispered softly.

He bowed his head, wiping carefully and intently, as if truly apologizing. Meanwhile, Lady Tang’s heart skipped uncontrollably. She took several deep breaths to quell the almost palpable beating of her heart.

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