Chapter 390: The Bootlicking Done Right

Chapter 390: The Bootlicking Done Right

The imperial court has always been a battlefield of strategy, a game played between ministers, between the emperor and ministers, and even between the harem and the government. In the end, it all comes down to power, tactics, and intellect.

With a new, young emperor on the throne, many courtiers were eager to "spread their wings." A younger emperor was easier to influence and control. Without the emperor’s marriage, they saw the opportunity to send their daughters to the palace, potentially securing a greater future if they bore him a child.

Li Jingyi was well aware of the courtiers' schemes, but having just ascended to the throne, it was not yet time to act. Besides, the details of his marriage to Yuzhu were not settled, giving him ample time to match wits with these old foxes.

In reality, with Xiao Huai's current strength, it wouldn’t be difficult to remove those who opposed him from the court, but he refrained. He preferred to use these adversaries as a whetstone for the new emperor, which Li Jingyi also understood. Ultimately, he would have to face everything alone.

On another note, Duke Tang had fixed a time to meet with Xiao Yi Yuan, with Tang Shuyi and Xiao Huai accompanying him. Early that day, Xiao Chengming and Xiao Dayong had taken Xiao Yi Yuan to Duke Tang's mansion, attaching great significance to the meeting. Seeing Xiao Yi Yuan's outfit, Tang Shuyi barely suppressed a chuckle—it was somewhat nouveau riche in appearance.

Xiao Yi Yuan, a sensitive man, blushed at Tang Shuyi’s expression. He removed the jade ring from his finger and the golden crown from his head, none of which he had wanted to wear but had been dressed in by his family's insistence.

“Oh dear, why did you take it off? It looked so distinguished!” Xiao Chengming said, his concern being that the Duke Tang's residence might perceive their family as poor.

Xiao Yiyuan said with a flushed face, "It's uncomfortable to wear."

"You don't have to wear it every day, but bear with it when it's necessary," Xiao Dayong insisted as he tried to put it back on Xiao Yiyuan, who, helpless, cast a pleading look towards Tang Shuyi.

Tang Shuyi suppressed a smile and instructed Cuizhu to bring some items. Cuizhu turned and soon returned with a tray, on which lay various men's hair crowns and jade pendants. Tang Shuyi had Xiao Yiyuan sit down, picked up a silver hair crown inlaid with red agate, and handed it to Cuiyun.

Cuiyun placed the crown on Xiao Yiyuan's head, removed a jade pendant and a red embroidered sachet from his waist, and then took a mutton-fat jade pendant from Tang Shuyi's hand to adorn him with it. This made him look both elegant and understated, quite pleasing to the eye.

Xiao Yiyuan let out a long sigh of relief, while Xiao Chengming looked on with furrowed brows, asking, "Isn't this too plain?"

Xiao Dayong also frowned, feeling that the previous outfit was more attractive and had a more luxurious air.

Tang Shuyi said with a smile, “My father and brother prefer this style of dress.”

Upon hearing this, Xiao Chengming and Xiao Dayong said no more. Dressing Xiao Yiyuan like this today was to gain the approval of the Duke Tang and his household; they themselves didn’t care for wearing such things usually.

After getting ready, Tang Shuyi and Xiao Huai took Xiao Yiyuan to Duke Tang's residence. Duke Tang and Tang Shujie were pleased to see Xiao Yiyuan; making it to the first rank in the examinations was proof enough of his scholarship. Coupled with his performance during the previous recognition of relations, it showed he was clever. Intelligence and learning, along with their support, would make mediocrity in his future difficult.

Thus, they were fundamentally satisfied with Xiao Yiyuan. After sitting down and chatting for a while, Duke Tang and Tang Shujie's satisfaction only grew. Frankly, what pleased them most was Xiao Yiyuan's first-rank achievement in the exams. While examination scores aren't everything, standing out among thousands is at least a testament to excellent scholarship.

After some time, the conversation turned to marriage. Xiao Yiyuan stood up and knelt respectfully before Duke Tang and Tang Shujie, saying, "I have admired the third young miss for a long time, and in this life, I can only envisage her as my partner. I hope that you, Duke and Sir Tang, would entrust her to me. I vow to protect and cherish her all my life. I promise, she will be the only one for me, and for no reason will I ever take a concubine."

After his speech, the room fell silent. After a moment, Duke Tang turned to look at Xiao Huai and said with a sigh, "Years ago, you knelt before me in the same way, making a similar vow. So many years have passed, and you have done well."

Xiao Huai quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "Having Shuyi as my companion is the greatest fortune of my life."

Duke Tang chuckled, “You're right in saying that, my daughter excels wherever she is.”

Tang Shuyi wanted to cover her face. Father, such blunt praise. But Xiao Huai nodded in agreement, adding, "All thanks to your wise guidance, father-in-law."

Duke Tang laughed heartily, while Tang Shujie and Tang Shubai wanted to roll their eyes at such overt flattery.

"Although I can't claim that all my daughters are like pearls or treasures," Duke Tang said to Xiao Yiyuan, “but when a Tang daughter marries, she is not water thrown out. Should they be unhappy, the Tang family is always ready to welcome them back home.”

Xiao Yiyuan hurriedly responded, “I will never let the third young miss suffer any distress.”

Duke Tang hummed in acknowledgment and added, "A gentleman must not become fat by breaking his word. Your promises today have witnesses here; if there is any breach, don't blame the Tang family for being unreasonable."

"I shall never go back on my word," Xiao Yiyuan assured urgently.

The Duke of Tang hummed in affirmation, then looked towards Tang Shujie. At this point, the matter was essentially settled, and Tang Shujie, without further ado, simply said, "If that's the case, I hope you and Anle will live together in harmony until your hair turns white."

As he spoke these words, he truly felt a pang of discomfort in his heart.

Xiao Yiyuan knelt respectfully on the ground and kowtowed; the Duke of Tang gestured for him to rise. Then, Xiao Huai timely broached the details of the betrothal. Thus, the marriage arrangement between Xiao Yiyuan and Tang Anle was all but confirmed.

After some more conversation, Tang Shuyi and Xiao Huai took their leave with Xiao Yiyuan, while Tang Shujie returned to the courtyard of the Second Lady of Tang with an indifferent expression. Seeing him like this, the Second Lady felt a twinge of apprehension and asked, "Did things not work out?"

After Xiao Yiyuan placed first in the examinations, her satisfaction with the marriage had grown even more.

Tang Shujie sat down and sighed, "It's settled. Just like years ago when Xiao Huai knelt to ask for a match, he too knelt before me and vowed, 'In this life, only Anle.'"

The Second Lady clapped her hands happily, "Then I'm relieved."

Seeing her seemingly carefree demeanor, Tang Shujie frowned and said, "Our daughter is about to be married off, and you're this happy? She won't be around to call you 'Mother' every day; doesn't that sadden you?"

The Second Lady was left speechless...

After composing her thoughts, the Second Lady sat beside him and softly said, "Cousin, I know you're reluctant to let go of Anle, but she is a daughter and we can't keep her forever. I'm happy because Xiao Yiyuan seems good in all aspects, and our Anle has found a fine match."

Tang Shujie leaned over, resting his head on the Second Lady's lap, and said weakly, "Cousin, don't be angry with me anymore. Anle's marriage is taking half my life; if you get angry with me again, I won't be able to go on."

Seeing him play the sympathy card, the Second Lady slapped him lightly and said, "Anle's marriage is costing me more than half my life; if you make me angry again, I too won't be able to go on."

Tang Shujie quickly sat up and pulled his wife into an embrace to placate her, "Cousin, I was only joking..."