Chapter 435: Xiao Yuyan

Chapter 435: Xiao Yuyan

Li Jingyi sat behind his desk, listening to the ministers with a stern face, unsatisfied with their suggestions. The atmosphere in the imperial study grew increasingly tense.

The ministers could distinctly feel that since the Duke and his wife had left the capital, the Emperor's methods had become sharper and his presence more imposing. Just his solemn expression exerted substantial pressure on them.

Just then, the voice of the little eunuch was heard from outside. The ministers were inwardly complaining about the lack of decorum from the eunuchs at the imperial study today, but then they saw the Emperor suddenly stand up.

Ye Deben, quick to read the room, hurriedly brought in the letter and instructed the little eunuch to place the chest in a corner of the study. Li Jingyi, looking down at the envelope and recognizing Yuzhu's handwriting, broke into a smile.

He wanted to open the letter, but the discussion was not yet finished. He sat back down, continuing the meeting with the ministers with a suppressed joy, though a smile played at the corners of his eyes and mouth.

After some time without reaching a conclusion, Li Jingyi dismissed them with a wave of his hand and tore open the letter. It detailed the experiences of the past few days and also subtly expressed her longing for him. Having read the letter, he opened the chest with his own hands, finding an assortment of items that Xiao Yuzhu had picked out for him.

After examining each item, he smiled and headed to the Empress Dowager's palace. Good news was naturally to be shared with family. Upon his arrival, the Empress Dowager was also taking items out of a chest, smiling as she said, "The Duke and his wife have sent these to me."

Li Jingyi joined her, and the two examined the gifts together...

…………

As spring turned to autumn, and more than three years passed in a blink. On the eve of the Mid-Autumn Festival, Xiao Yucheng in the northwest, along with the Emperor and the Empress Dowager in the palace, received letters from Tang Shuyi's party, saying they would arrive in the capital before the festival.

Upon receiving the letter, Xiao Yucheng immediately instructed Jianning to tidy up the estate, especially the Shi'an Garden. Xiao Yuming set out for the capital at once. The Emperor and the Empress Dowager were so delighted that they couldn't stop smiling for days.

Xiao Yuchen and Li Jingyi had dispatched men to wait thirty miles outside of the capital on the official road; as soon as they spotted Tang Shuyi and the others, they were to report immediately.

On this fine autumn day, the servants from the Duke of Dingguo's residence and those from the palace stationed by the roadside tea stand caught sight of a caravan in the distance and promptly rose to look. As the party drew near, they approached to inquire and, upon confirmation that it was indeed the Duke of Dingguo’s entourage, hurried back to relay the news. By the time Tang Shuyi and Xiao Huai reached the city gates, a welcoming party was already there to greet them.

Xiao Huai and Xiao Yuzhu alighted from the carriage, and Xiao Yuchen and others quickly stepped forward to pay their respects to Xiao Huai, although Xiao Huai first paid his respects to Li Jingyi. Li Jingyi accepted his gesture, his gaze, however, remained fixated on Xiao Yuzhu.

Xiao Yuzhu also stepped forward to pay her respects, “Your Majesty.”

Li Jingyi hastily extended his hands wishing to assist her, but considering the formality of the setting, he hesitated and retracted them, “There’s no need for formalities, Yuzhu...”

He found himself at a loss for words amidst the flood of emotions.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yuchen and his wife Xiao Yuming, having paid their respects to Xiao Huai, asked, "Is mother unwell?"

Xiao Huai glanced back at the carriage before responding, "Your mother is well, but your little sister is too frail to be exposed to the wind."

………

Xiao Yuchen and the others were so taken aback they hardly knew what to say. "Little sister"? Were those the words they had just heard?

Seeing their expressions, Xiao Huai cleared his throat and suggested, "Let's talk more at home."

Snapping out of their daze, everyone hurriedly made their way back to the Duke of Dingguo’s residence. There, Xiao Yuchen and others eagerly stood by the carriage, waiting for their mother and little sister to alight.

The curtains were drawn, and Tang Shuyi stepped out in a dark purple robe, looking healthier and more radiant than before, which reassured them of her well-being.

Just as they were about to greet her, she turned back and lifted a small baby out of the carriage. Xiao Yuchen and the rest were initially stunned, then quickly gathered around. The baby, just over three months old, was plump and fair with large eyes curiously observing them.

“Mother, is this our little sister?” Xiao Yuming asked in a hushed tone, careful not to startle the baby.

Tang Shuyi smiled and affirmed, “Yes.”

“Can I… can I hold her?” Xiao Yuming reached out, only to be gently chastised by Xie Xihua, “You’re too rough; I’ll do it.”

As she took the baby into her arms, Xiao Yuming leaned in closely to watch. Xiao Yuchen and Jia Ning also moved closer, clearly longing for a turn to hold the baby. Seeing this, Tang Shuyi smiled and suggested, “Let’s go inside.”

The group moved inside, each taking their turn to hold the baby on the way. Upon arriving at the Shi'an Garden, Xiao Yuchen's son Xiao Zhuolin and Xiao Yuming's daughter Xiao Huachu were eagerly awaiting in the courtyard.

The children were slightly reserved upon seeing Tang Shuyi, Xiao Huai, and Xiao Yuzhu, since they had been smiling when Tang Shuyi and the others had left the capital and naturally had no recollection of them.

Upon entering the house, the family of three, Xiao Yuchen, and Xiao Yuming's trio knelt before Tang Shuyi and Xiao Huai to pay their respects. The elders quickly prompted them to rise and then embraced their grandchildren in their arms. The children were initially nervous, but being held by their grandparents, they relaxed completely, curiously peeking over at the baby.

Xiao Zhuolin asked, "Is that my little sister?"

Tang Shuyi smiled, "No, that's your aunt."

Both children's mouths hung open in surprise; in their minds, an aunt should be an adult – the revelation that a baby could also be an aunt was astonishing! They eagerly gazed at the baby, and as Tang Shuyi and Xiao Huai set them down, the children hurried over to the infant's side.

At this moment, Xiao Yuchen was teaching Li Jingyi how to hold a child, instructing, "Your Majesty, support her waist... Yes, just like that..."

Xiao Zhuolin and Xiao Huachu tiptoed to see but couldn't get a view, their little faces wrinkled in distress. Jianing and Xie Xihua saw this and lifted the two, giving them a clear view of their little aunt.

Seeing them fuss over the baby, Tang Shuyi and Xiao Huai couldn't help but chuckle. Xiao Huai said, "Alright, it's time for the little one to sleep."

As everyone turned to leave, Xiao Yuming inquired, "Is the little sister called Xiao Guai?"

Xiao Huai nodded, "Her nickname is Xiao Guai, and her full name is Xiao Yuyan."

PS: The story of Xiao Yuyan, the beloved child, and her birth will be told in a separate side story.