Chapter 313: Bribed by the Emperor?

Chapter 313: Bribed by the Emperor?

"Is Lord Xiao not busy today?" Lady Tang broached a topic, lest her heart really leap out.

Xiao Huai hummed in response, “I came back after finishing my business.”

Frowning, he noticed the handkerchief was dry, making it impossible to wipe off the ink. He turned and called out, “Bring water.”

“How long has the lady been practicing this character?”

Xiao Huai asked, looking at Lady Tang, but his grip on her hand didn’t relax in the slightest. Lady Tang let him hold on, answering, “For over a year.”

“Hmm, the lady has a steadfast spirit and an orchid’s grace, naturally mastering calligraphy faster than others,” Xiao Huai said earnestly, as if appraising rather than flattering.

Lady Tang chuckled, “What did Lord Xiao eat outside today?”

Xiao Huai looked at her, puzzled. Lady Tang smiled and said, “I thought Lord Xiao had eaten honey; his words are so sweet.”

Xiao Huai laughed heartily. At that moment, Cuizhu brought water. Seeing their hands tightly clasped together, she quickly set down the basin and left. Xiao Huai, still smiling, rolled up Lady Tang’s sleeve, then took her hand and placed it in the water, gently washing it.

"I just ran into Steward Zhao, who informed me that the elderly Madam Yang has also received an invitation from the Marquis of Anyuan's residence," said Xiao Huai as he washed Tang Shuyi's hands, gently drying them with a towel before reluctantly letting go.

Tang Shuyi withdrew her hand, took a small jar of ointment from the side, and began to apply it on her hands, "I plan to first gauge the stance of elderly Madam Yang towards Yang Taishi and Consort Yuan."

Watching her apply the ointment, Xiao Huai felt that he should have helped her with this task as well. While thinking this, he said, "The trouble caused by the Fourth Prince could very well be instigated by Li Chengyi."

Tang Shuyi paused in her movements, "Why do you say that?"

What was once a suspicion now seemed more certain.

Xiao Huai's gaze shifted from her hands, "I've noticed some unusual activities from one of my generals."

"Bought over by the Emperor?" Tang Shuyi inquired.

Xiao Huai nodded, "Very likely. I'm investigating him, and the results should be out soon."

Tang Shuyi furrowed her brows in thought for a moment, then asked, "Is this person significant?"

"Quite significant," Xiao Huai replied. "I must admit, Li Chengyi has played a clever move. I discovered his unusual behavior by chance today; otherwise, it could have led to a major crisis."

"How do you plan to respond?" asked Tang Shuyi.

Xiao Huai said, "First, I need to confirm if my suspicions are true. If they are, I will fight trickery with trickery."

Tang Shuyi nodded in agreement and added, "It seems I also need to conduct a thorough inspection within our residence."

Who knows if the Emperor has bought over people inside our household?

Without delay, Tang Shuyi delegated the task to Steward Zhao and Cu Yun, instructing them to secretly investigate every individual in the residence. Two days later, she took Xiao Yuzhu to attend the birthday banquet of the elderly Marquis of Anyuan's wife. With her rank, she naturally sat at the main table, right next to elderly Madam Yang.

Elderly Madam Yang was somewhat embarrassed upon seeing her; her family had proposed marriage between the Fourth Prince and Xiao Yuzhu to Tang Shuyi and Xiao Huai twice, only to be rejected both times. Tang Shuyi's attitude towards her remained the same, not too cold, but also not overly warm.

Before the banquet started, the ladies and young misses gathered with acquaintances to chat. Tang Shuyi casually engaged in small talk with elderly Madam Yang, "Your granddaughter must be about the same age as my Yuzhu, right?"

Elderly Madam Yang smiled faintly, "About the same age as the county princess."

"Girls are always a concern," Tang Shuyi continued. "Especially at this age, they must be guided well. Let me tell you..."

She leaned closer to elderly Madam Yang and whispered, "Recently, I heard something concerning a young lady from an official's family, who for some reason, insisted on marrying a man in his thirties already with a wife. She’s a legitimate daughter; how could she possibly become someone's concubine?"

Madame Yang listened intently, her eyelids drooping. Though Tang Shuyi couldn’t discern her emotions, she noticed a slight tremor in her hand. With a sigh in her heart, Tang Shuyi continued, “Guess what the girl said?”

“What did she say?” Madame Yang asked casually, her voice noticeably tense.

“The girl claimed that the man would divorce his current wife and then marry her,” Tang Shuyi said with clear disapproval. “Isn’t that harmful?”

“Indeed,” Madame Yang responded, her teeth almost clenched.

Tang Shuyi smiled and took a sip of her tea before adding, “I don’t know the outcome, whether he divorced his wife to marry her or not.”

Madame Yang was no fool; she knew that Tang Shuyi’s story wasn’t told without reason. She must have been privy to certain information. Realizing this, her heart began to race. In the matter concerning Yang Taishi and Consort Yuan, though she was a victim, if the scandal were exposed, her entire family, including her sons and grandsons, would be implicated.

Her hand shook even more violently.

Pretending not to notice, Tang Shuyi turned to converse with another lady nearby. She didn’t feel any remorse about uncovering Madame Yang’s wounds; after all, Madame Yang had proposed a marriage alliance knowing full well the Fourth Prince’s ill intentions towards Yu Zhu.

None of them were saints, so she felt no guilt.

After the banquet, Tang Shuyi and Xiao Yuzhu left the residence of An Yuan Hou, only to find Xiao Huai waiting for them. The mother and daughter approached him with smiles, assisted by Xiao Huai into the carriage, and then they returned home together. Many ladies from other households watched this scene with envious expressions.

Setting aside power and appearance, the devoted love that Duke Dingguo had for his wife was enough to make all women in the capital envious. A man with such singular devotion was truly rare in this world.

Upon returning home, Tang Shuyi recounted to Xiao Huai the story she had told Madame Yang. Xiao Huai replied, “If she’s smart, she’ll act soon enough.”

Tang Shuyi nodded. “In my opinion, Madame Yang is not a fool.”

As soon as the banquet ended, Madame Yang hurried back to her residence and summoned her two sons to her courtyard.

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