Chapter 377: Mission

Chapter 377: The Task

When Miss Xin left the palace, dozens of eunuchs followed her, carrying gifts sent by Emperor Xingyuan to the Xin residence.

The officials and nobles who were secretly watching were dumbfounded: not only was she not punished, but she was also given so many gifts. Could it be that Miss Xin's status in the emperor's heart was now on par with the Empress Dowager's?

News of such a generous reward quickly reached the Cining Palace.

The Empress Dowager had been holding her ground these past few days, waiting for her son to come and apologize. She never expected that instead of her son, she would receive such a humiliating message.

This time, the Empress Dowager couldn't hold back and sent someone to summon Emperor Xingyuan.

Upon receiving the message, Emperor Xingyuan went to the Cining Palace.

"Mother, you called for me?"

The Empress Dowager looked deeply at Emperor Xingyuan.

Indeed, with those thick eyebrows and big eyes, he was clearly still her son. How could he seem so bewitched?

"I heard that Miss Xin entered the palace today?"

"Yes," Emperor Xingyuan had anticipated that the Empress Dowager would bring this up.

"And you rewarded her with many things?"

Emperor Xingyuan nodded: "Ayou is intelligent and capable; she helps me with my worries. Besides, it's the New Year, so I gave her some gifts."

If Ayou were a son, I would have already trained her as a crown prince. Unfortunately, she was a daughter, and even with great achievements, all I could give her was love and these worthless material things.

The more Miss Xin demonstrated her extraordinary insight and abilities, the more Emperor Xingyuan regretted. The more he regretted, the more he wanted to compensate.

The Empress Dowager, unaware of the glorious future Miss Xin had just outlined for a ruler, naturally couldn't understand her son's feelings.

She was angered by the unconscious affection Emperor Xingyuan displayed.

"You know it's the New Year. Emperor, have you forgotten what that girl did during the New Year celebrations?"

Hearing such a tone from the Empress Dowager, which he hadn't heard in many years, Emperor Xingyuan was momentarily stunned before responding: "Mother, are you talking about what happened on New Year's Eve? It's been days—"

The Empress Dowager was furious: "What does it matter how many days have gone by?"

Emperor Xingyuan frowned: "I don't know why Mother is angry. If you thought Ayou's presence at the banquet was inappropriate, didn't she follow your wishes and leave?"

"Was that compliance? That was clearly a slap in the face!" Having been cold for several days, the Empress Dowager expected her son to come and appease her, but instead, his heart was completely taken by that wild girl.

She was his own mother, yet she couldn't compare to some girl?

The Empress Dowager was so angry she felt dizzy and blurted out: "In any case, I don't want to see her again! Also, a young girl like her, holding a ninth-rank title and dealing with ministers every day, what kind of behavior is that? The emperor should revoke her Dai Zhao title as soon as possible, so she can behave properly in the future."

An old maid beside her noticed the change in Emperor Xingyuan's expression and grew secretly anxious.

The Empress Dowager was being foolish; even between mother and son, one shouldn't say everything on their mind.

Emperor Xingyuan said indifferently: "Mother, you need not worry about the affairs of the court."

"Emperor, you—"

"Mother might not be resting well, and your temper is flaring. Stay in the Cining Palace and rest. I'll come to see you when I have time." After saying this, Emperor Xingyuan glanced at the old maid beside the Empress Dowager, his tone clearly carrying a warning: "If anyone dares to gossip about me and the Empress Dowager, and it spreads beyond the Cining Palace, their tongue will be cut out!"

Emperor Xingyuan finished speaking and turned to leave, followed by a chorus of voices saying, "We bid farewell, Your Majesty."

The Empress Dowager was so furious that her vision blurred. The old maid, noticing this, hurried to help her sit down.

"Empress Dowager, please calm yourself. Don’t let anger ruin your health."

The Empress Dowager pushed away the tea offered by the old maid and asked with a grim face, "What tricks does that girl have up her sleeve to make the Emperor disregard me?"

The old maid was also puzzled and could only guess, "Perhaps it’s because she’s been away for so many years, and the Emperor feels guilty and wants to compensate her more."

"Even if he feels guilty and wants to make it up to her, does that mean he can ignore his own mother?" The Empress Dowager couldn’t understand at all.

It's no wonder the Empress Dowager couldn't understand. To her, Xin You and Emperor Xingyuan were father and daughter in practice, if not in name. The Emperor was distant with his grandchildren, so why should a girl who didn’t grow up under his care receive special favor?

In truth, when Xin You first proposed the land tax reform policy and then introduced the treasure known as the sweet potato, Emperor Xingyuan's attitude towards her was not just that of a father to a daughter, but also that of a monarch valuing someone who could bring great benefits to the nation.

The Empress Dowager had no idea about the importance of Xin You’s other role, so it was no surprise that she no longer had the same authority over Emperor Xingyuan as before.

Xin You got what she wanted by visiting the palace and hinted to Xiaolian to hand out generous rewards to the eunuchs.

"Thank you, Miss Xin." The eunuchs happily returned to the palace.

Xiaolian eyed the dazzling array of gifts: "Miss, His Majesty has bestowed so many things upon you!"

"Log them and put them away. By the way, tell the steward to send someone to Wuyun Village and ask Brother Zhu to come over."

Him again?

Xiaolian was stunned for a moment, then quickly agreed.

It was only the sixth day of the New Year, and Wuyun Village was still buzzing with New Year festivities. A large pot was set over a fire outside, simmering with big chunks of meat on the bone.

When the letter from Xin’s residence arrived, the Sixth Boss set off with two brothers and a pot of meat.

"Xiaolian." Seeing Xiaolian, the Sixth Boss, personally carrying the clay pot, showed a warm smile.

Xiaolian’s eyes were fixed on the clay pot in the Sixth Boss’s hands: "What’s this?"

The Sixth Boss chuckled, "A clay pot."

He had specially scooped out the cooked bone-in meat and put it into the clay pot to keep it warm.

"I know it’s a clay pot. What’s in the pot?" Xiaolian pointed at the clay pot and asked.

Is it rabbit?

"Ah, of course, it’s meat in the pot. It’s so fragrant, can’t you smell it, Xiaolian?" The Sixth Boss looked at Xiaolian in confusion, then walked past her and went inside.

Xiaolian stood frozen in place, hearing the Sixth Boss’s cheerful voice from behind: "Miss, I’m here! Just in time, we were cooking meat in the village, so I brought a pot for you to taste."

Xiaolian rushed in like a whirlwind.

The Sixth Boss paused as he lifted the lid of the pot.

Why did he feel like Xiaolian was out for blood?

Xin You smiled and asked, "What kind of meat is it?"

"It's pork. Big chunks with bones, simply stewed. Even though it's lightly seasoned, it's fragrant and not greasy. The guys at the manor really go for this, so I packed it in a clay pot, wrapped it in thick cotton padding, so it's still warm."

Xiaolian: "Why is a bandit so good at buttering people up? Does that even make sense?"

"Sixth Boss is thoughtful. Let's add this to our meal."

After lunch, Xin You mentioned the purpose of calling Sixth Boss over.

"Soon, the court will send envoys to various overseas countries. There's a task I want to entrust to Sixth Boss."

Hearing this, Sixth Boss couldn't stop grinning.

A big responsibility is coming!

Xiaoba only took a storyteller to the north, barely counting as an imperial envoy. He will represent Great Xia to visit other countries, becoming an envoy!

"Besides the treasure-hunting mission, there's one more thing." Xin You pushed over a small box.

Sixth Boss opened it and was so startled he nearly dropped the box.

It was stuffed with silver notes!