Chapter 335: Then It Would Be Perfect

Chapter 335: Then It Would Be Perfect

Consort Liang watched as the emperor finished the last sip of the soup and said with a smile, "Your Majesty seems to enjoy this soup. I shall prepare it for you again tomorrow."

The emperor held Consort Liang's hand, his face breaking into a smile, "I am aware of your affection for me, my dear consort."

Consort Liang gripped the emperor's hand tightly, "All I wish is for Your Majesty to remain healthy. You are all I have now."

The emperor sighed and patted her hand, "Rest assured, my consort, I will not let you down."

Consort Liang smiled, "Thanks to Your Majesty's favor, I have lived a life of glory. I am deeply grateful for Your Majesty's kindness. I was wrong to have been petulant earlier; I hope Your Majesty will not take it to heart."

The emperor's smile widened, "You are wonderful, my consort."

……

After conversing a while longer, the emperor allowed Consort Liang to leave. Before departing, she mentioned she would bring soup again the next day.

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Although the emperor's fainting was kept secret, those who needed to know were aware. At this moment, Xiao Huai and Tang Shuyi sat in the study, listening to the house steward's report: "News from the palace suggests that the emperor fainted for unknown reasons this morning and has not left his sleeping quarters since."

Xiao Huai sneered inwardly, having been emperor for so many years, Li Chengyi had not made much progress! Such a trivial matter could still cause him to faint.

Just then, a steward rushed in to report that Jiao Kangsheng had arrived with many rewards. Xiao Huai and Tang Shuyi stood up, leading their siblings to the front hall to receive the decree.

"Greetings to Duke Dingguo, greetings to the duchess," Jiao Kangsheng said with a smile as he saluted Tang Shuyi and Xiao Huai.

Xiao Huai gestured for him to rise. Jiao Kangsheng glanced at Xiao Huai, noting his ruddy complexion and authoritative demeanor. Then, he looked at the two sons standing behind him, one refined and handsome, the other tall and robust. Thinking of the emperor still lying in bed in the palace, Jiao Kangsheng sighed inwardly; how could he possibly compete?

"His Majesty has sent me to deliver rewards to your lordship," Jiao Kangsheng said with a smile.

Xiao Huai grunted in acknowledgment, then knelt down, followed by Tang Shuyi and the three siblings. Jiao Kangsheng began reading the imperial decree. As Tang Shuyi listened to the list of rewards, she couldn't help but ponder over the emperor's peculiarities; he was indeed twisty.

After delivering the imperial decree, Jiao Kangsheng departed. Xiao Huai instructed Tang Shuyi to store the items directly in the treasury. Tang Shuyi ordered the maids Cui Zhu and Cui Yun to record the inventory, musing to herself about how those born with a golden spoon, both in past and present lives, truly treat money as if it were nothing.

Ever since Xiao Huai returned, the emperor had bestowed numerous rewards upon him, along with the spoils of war he had obtained from conquering the Rouli Kingdom, all of which were stored in the public treasury. However, his personal vault had seen no such additions.

Regardless of the details, it's certainly good news that the wealth of our household is increasing.

After cataloging the items in the storeroom, Tang Shuyi got busy once again. Tomorrow is the first day of the lunar new year, and Xiao Yuchen is set to pay a New Year's visit to the Prince Duan's residence. This being his first visit after getting engaged to Princess Jianing, it naturally calls for considerable attention.

Accompanied by Xiao Yuzhu and Xiao Yuchen, she spent quite some time selecting gifts in the storeroom, finally settling on the presents Xiao Yuchen would take the next day. Then she said to him, "As for the gift you're giving to Jianing alone, I won't help you choose that."

Xiao Yuchen, a bit flushed, responded, "Your son has already prepared it."

Tang Shuyi smiled, "That's very proper of you. Giving more gifts shows the importance you place on the recipient."

Xiao Yuchen nodded, "Your son understands."

Xiao Yuzhu giggled from the side and asked, "Big brother, what gift are you giving to Princess Jianing?"

Xiao Yuchen glanced at her and said, "I won't tell you."

Xiao Yuzhu laughed out loud at this, and Tang Shuyi also smiled. After they left the storeroom, Xiao Yuchen went back to the front courtyard, and Tang Shuyi took Xiao Yuzhu back to the World of Peace Garden. Just as they entered, Cuizhu came in with a smile, "The Xiaoyao Prince's residence has sent some things over."

"Oh, let me see," Xiao Yuzhu said as she ran into the room, certain that Li Jingyi had sent her a gift.

Watching her retreating figure, Tang Shuyi smiled and then followed her into the small parlor. There she saw many gifts laid out on the table, with Xiao Yuzhu holding a small box, taking out one item after another. All were little things that girls tend to like.

It had to be said, Li Jingyi had captured Yuzhu's preferences quite well. Tang Shuyi sighed, considering the current situation, only her second son's marriage prospects remained unsettled.

She planned to take advantage of the New Year to take Xiao Yuming to the Xie family for a visit, allowing the two youngsters to meet again. If they still felt compatible, she would settle the marriage arrangement.

Allowing them a period of free love was out of the question. Thus, arranging a few premarital meetings for mutual understanding was already quite generous.

Today was New Year's Eve, and there would be ancestor worship in the afternoon. Tang Shuyi told Xiao Yuzhu to prepare her own return gifts for the Dowager and Li Jingyi, while she went to get things ready for the ancestral ritual.

The Xiao family's ancestral home was not in the capital, hence neither was the family cemetery. The ancestral worship was essentially a commemoration of the late Marquis and his wife. In the afternoon, Xiao Yiyuan and his family came early to the Duke's residence, but Xiao Yiyuan's grandmother, Madame Lu, did not come.

Tang Shuyi understood; her presence would have been rather awkward. Xiao Xun and his wife and son also came over. The entire family headed to the gravesites of the late Marquis and his wife.

This time, Xiao Huai didn't ride a horse but instead joined Tang Shuyi in the carriage. Tang Shuyi felt somewhat sentimental, "If the souls of the late Marquis and his wife are still around, I wonder what they would think of our situation."

"You needn't overthink it. You and I have, in a way, fulfilled each other," said Xiao Huai, taking her hand. "We are grateful for the opportunity to continue life in their bodies, but we are also wholeheartedly fulfilling the responsibilities they ought to have fulfilled. If they could live on in our world in our stead, that would be perfect."

"I just find human life quite extraordinary. I never thought before that after death, a soul could continue to exist," said Tang Shuyi.

Xiao Huai: "Isn't that even better? The spirit of mankind can perpetuate endlessly."

While conversing, they arrived at the gravesite. Both alighted from the carriage and, together with the Xiao family, approached the tombstones of the old Marquis and his wife with solemn bows and deep kowtows.

Xiao Yi Yuan's family not only paid their respects to the old Marquis but also respectfully kowtowed to the old Marchioness. Seeing this, Tang Shuyi whispered to Xiao Huai, "They are quite astute."

Xiao Huai glanced at Xiao Yi Yuan, "If he can achieve something in the future, it would not be a waste of the madam's efforts."

Tang Shuyi thought to herself that he would indeed make something of himself. Although the plot of that novel was now completely altered, Xiao Yi Yuan, as the protagonist, still possessed the capabilities that a protagonist should have, not to mention his aura.

"We have mutually facilitated each other's success," Tang Shuyi said.

Xiao Huai smiled, "Madam speaks the truth."

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