Chapter 326: Finding Fault

Chapter 326: Finding Fault

On the following day, while Tang Shuyi was still lost in deep slumber, she felt the person beside her sit up. She asked groggily, "What are you doing?"

Xiaohuai leaned over and whispered softly, "You keep sleeping, I'm getting up."

Tang Shuyi turned over and wrapped her arms around his waist, "Let's sleep."

Xiaohuai chuckled, laid back down beside her, and resting his forehead against hers, he said, "That's why I'm not suited to be the emperor. I can't endure the hardships, and I'm too easily lost in the pleasures of love."

Tang Shuyi laughed at his remark, "Lord Duke knows himself quite well, doesn't he?"

Xiaohuai hugged her into his chest, gently patting her back, "Go back to sleep."

They had to attend a palace banquet today, and there might be a tough battle to face.

Tang Shuyi was excessively exhausted from last night and soon fell asleep again. As for Xiaohuai, he couldn't sleep. With a beauty in his arms, he would've preferred some morning exercise if it weren't for the palace banquet he had to attend today.

The room was quiet. Outside, Cui Zhu and Cui Yun were already up. The two spoke softly, arranging tasks for the maids and matrons. Xiaohuai's two close aides, Xiang Rong and Yu Yongzhi, approached. Xiang Rong, a man of few words, nodded at Cui Zhu and Cui Yun and then stood like a wooden stake.

Yu Yongzhi, on the other hand, smiled and sidled up to Cui Zhu, "I'll be counting on Miss Cui Zhu's help in the future."

"It's the other way around. I'll need Big Brother Yu's help," Cui Zhu responded.

Yu Yongzhi hurriedly said, "Of course, anytime."

Standing aside, Xiang Rong glanced at Yu Yongzhi. Wasn't his interest obvious to everyone?

Yu Yongzhi, unconcerned about his gaze, stayed by Cui Zhu's side to help her with her tasks. After a while, Cui Zhu glanced at the time and then towards the bedroom, whispering to Cui Yun, "It's time for the masters to wake up, should we call them?"

Cui Yun was also indecisive. They, as personal servants, were well aware of how long their masters had been occupied last night. The lady must be quite weary; perhaps it would be best to let her sleep a bit longer. But today was the palace banquet, and there was much to prepare. Additionally, the three young masters might arrive soon.

"Let's wait a bit longer," Cui Yun decided after some thought.

Cui Zhu nodded. Yu Yongzhi added from the side, "Don't worry. The Marshal knows how to manage his time."

Based on his understanding of his commander, even after a whole night of activity, he could still get up on time the next day. If he hadn't gotten up yet, he probably didn't want to leave the warmth of his bed.

Yu Yongzhi's understanding of Xiaohuai was accurate. At that moment, Xiaohuai, lying on his side and observing the person in his arms, then peeking outside the curtains at the time, felt it was about time. He gently sat up, got out of bed, picked a set of clothes from the wardrobe to dress, and then stepped out.

Cui Zhu and Cui Yun promptly greeted him with a bow when they saw him. Xiaohuai waved them off, then headed to the training grounds with his two aides. After he left, Cui Zhu and Cui Yun entered the bedroom and saw Tang Shuyi sitting up in bed.

The two bowed and then approached to help her out of bed. As they changed her clothes and saw the various marks on her body, both of them blushed, and even Tang Shuyi felt somewhat embarrassed. But such things required getting used to. Accustomed to being served, she couldn't just dismiss her attendants from now on, could she?

As she was about finished with her grooming, Xiao Huai returned. He washed up in the cleansing room himself before coming back to change his clothes. Tang Shuyi gestured for Cui Zhu and Cui Yun to leave, and went over to help him dress. Being newlyweds, every little thing they did seemed imbued with a sweet aura.

After both were ready, they stepped out together, finding Xiao Yuchen and Xiao Yuzhu already waiting in the outer flower hall. Xiao Yuming had not returned from the military camp outside the city last night.

“Did you sleep well last night?” Tang Shuyi asked Xiao Yuzhu.

Xiao Yuzhu nodded, “I slept very well.”

Tang Shuyi patted her head and then said to Xiao Yuchen, “At the palace banquet today, you’re sure to meet Jia Ning and her brother. Take extra care of Jia Ning’s brother.”

Xiao Yuchen nodded, “Your son understands.”

After a brief chat, the family moved to the dining hall for their meal. Just after they finished, Steward Zhao, accompanied by a manager from the Tang Ducal Mansion, arrived. The manager bowed and said, “The Duke says he will attend the palace banquet with you and your ladyship later.”

The ‘Duke’ he referred to was naturally the Duke of Tang.

Tang Shuyi responded with a hum, “We will head to the Tang Ducal Mansion together later.”

“Yes.”

After the manager bowed and left, Tang Shuyi and the others tidied up after the meal, then headed to the Tang Ducal Mansion together. When they arrived, the Duke of Tang and his family were already at the entrance. Xiao Huai dismounted, assisted Tang Shuyi and Xiao Yuzhu out of the carriage, and then the family went to pay their respects to the Duke of Tang.

Seeing Tang Shuyi and Xiao Huai, the Duke of Tang noticed they were much closer than before, his face creasing into several more smiles. Not seeing Xiao Yuming, he guessed Xiao Huai might have made arrangements and didn't inquire further. The two families set off together for the imperial palace.

Upon arrival, they saw that the palace gate was already crowded with carriages. Xiao Huai dismounted first, then lifted the curtain to help Tang Shuyi out of the carriage. Many ladies and young misses around couldn’t help but look on with envy.

As soon as she alighted, the carriage from Prince Duan's Mansion also arrived. Xiao Yuchen's eyes couldn’t help but keep darting that way. Seeing this, Tang Shuyi couldn’t help but smile, “You should also pay your respects to Prince Duan, go ahead.”

Xiao Yuchen’s face reddened slightly, but he nodded and walked over. Princess Jia Ning was descending from her carriage and, upon seeing him, she bowed, “Your Highness.”

Xiao Yuchen, with a flushed face, hurriedly returned the bow, then fumbled in his sleeve and handed her a delicate little box. He wanted to say something, but feeling the many eyes on them, he remained silent.

Under the gaze of the crowd, Princess Jia Ning's face also reddened. She accepted the box from Xiao Yuchen and said, “Thank you, Your Highness.”

“No… no need,” Xiao Yuchen replied.

“Cough, cough!”

A cough from Prince Duan interrupted the exchange, and Xiao Yuzhen immediately approached to pay his respects, "Greetings, Prince Duan."

"Hmph!" Prince Duan grunted, "Why don’t I see a gift for me?"

Xiao Yuzhen: "………"

The surrounding crowd: "………"

Everyone knew of Prince Duan as a notorious libertine, but now they were truly witnessing it.

“The gift for Your Highness has already been prepared and will be delivered another day,” Xiao Yuzhen replied.

Prince Duan grunted again. He wasn't actually expecting a gift; it was just that the arranged marriage made him irritable, and he couldn’t help but find fault with Xiao Yuzhen.

Meanwhile, Princess Jianing, despite her maturity, blushed with embarrassment. Seeing Tang Shuyi approaching, she hurriedly greeted, "Madam, how do you do?"

Tang Shuyi took her hand with a smile and said, "I’ve missed you these past few days. Do visit our residence sometime."

"Certainly," Princess Jianing replied gratefully.

Tang Shuyi’s gesture not only eased her embarrassment but also signaled to the onlookers that she was very pleased with her future daughter-in-law, regardless of her father’s notorious reputation.

Over there, Xiao Huai approached Prince Duan, gave a formal bow, and then patted his shoulder saying, “I’ve heard Your Highness enjoys hunting. We should have a match sometime.”

At that moment, Prince Duan felt as if his shoulder had been hammered, nearly moaning in pain. But even as a libertine, he cared about his face and endured it.

"Alright...we’ll have a match," he managed to respond.

Xiao Huai made a motion to pat his shoulder again, causing Prince Duan to quickly dodge. He couldn’t take another blow like that, or he’d be flattened.